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Make payment with Android Pay
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New to DBS Omni
DBS Omni is a brand new card companion digital platform, available for access via mobile application and website. You can manage and access their daily cards related transactions at a glance.
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Is the castle a good stop? Should we stay in Cahir if we want to visit the Rock of Cashel too?
Castle is excellent. Where will you be coming for/going to?
I am the same poster asking about the Wicklow Trails, I just included my proposed itinerary and would love your input.
Cahir Castle is well worth visiting. Prior to taking the guided tour of the castle( included in the entrance fee), ahd a look at the audiovisual that is available as it gives agood insight into Irish castles in general. While in Cahir, you should also consider a visit to the Swiss Cottage which is 20/30 minute walk from the castle, along the river, or a 5 minute drive if that is your preference. Cahir is a 15/20 minute drive from Cashel, so stopping over in Cahir would be suitable

domain: geography


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Sunny Lingerie Whsle.
215 Winston St Unit A
Sunny Lingerie Whsle., Los Angeles
Find other businesses in the Lingerie or Adult categories by clicking the links beside "Los Angeles" above this listing. Do you know the owner of this business? If so please remind them to claim their business listing. It is free! For driving directions to 215 Winston St Unit A in Los Angeles please scroll down and click on the "View Larger Map" link below the map on the right of the screen. Click the "SEND" button below if you find that Sunny Lingerie Whsle. is not located at 215 Winston St Unit A, Los Angeles or the phone number is not (213) 629-0343. This is the business contact information for Sunny Lingerie Whsle., which is located at 215 Winston St Unit A in Los Angeles. Feel free to call them at (213) 629-0343.


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COVID-19 update: Client advice on what to do during the Coronavirus crisis
£49 Puppy & Kitten Packs
Get your puppy or kitten off to the best start!
Pack consists of primary vaccination course (2 or 3 injections depending on practice protocol), initial flea and worm treatment and microchip.
Only available at named practices.
Only available for cats and dogs below 12 months of age at the time of purchase.
We reserve the right to withdraw this offer at any time. Offer ends 29th February 2020.
Find us here:
Please call this number for emergencies:

domain: pet


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Are you in the mood for some Mexican food? Well, what better place than Alberto's right here in Long Beach! Besides being known for having excellent Mexican food, other cuisines they offer include Mexican, Latin American, and Fast Food.
When compared to other restaurants, Alberto's is inexpensive, quite a deal in fact!
Being in Long Beach, Alberto's in 90810 serves many nearby neighborhoods including places like Long Beach Municipal Airport, Willmore City, and Arlington. If you want to see a complete list of all Mexican restaurants in Long Beach, we have you covered!
If you are interested in other Long Beach Mexican restaurants, you can try Agaves Kitchen/Tequila, Super Mex Mexican Restaurant, or Junior Mex. We can also point you to other great places to eat Mexican food in cities nearby Long Beach, like Subway in Cerritos, Gyro Kabob in Sunset Beach or McDonald's in Lakewood. If you try one, don’t forget to drop a review here on YP.com!
After you've visited Alberto's, if you're looking for something new to try, check out more restaurants in Long Beach, take out restaurants in Long Beach, or American restaurants in Long Beach.
We hope you enjoy your experience at Alberto's Mexican restaurants in Long Beach, and please leave us your review below with YP.com!


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Add the beauty of nature to your walls with this gorgeous canvas that brings to life a heron in all its glory. The canvas is framed in pine wood that lends it a fine and elegant finish, the size of the canvas makes it a perfect pick for all those wall spaces that fall behind couches or the console or side board as it is altogether 62 cm in width and thus would easily form the backdrop for such furniture pieces. A theme as simple yet enigmatic in its own way will blend in with all kinds of dÃ©cor - be it cottage or vintage - modern or marine. Art such as thus would be your best means to update your spaces in the easiest kind of way. The figure of the heron in all its feathery detail and the foliage all around lends this canvas a diverse range and palette of colours adding thus a gorgeous spot of beauty to your wall spaces.
No reviews so far. Be the first to review this product.

domain: artistic


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African VLRs informing several executives | News | SDG Knowledge Center
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) has announced that five localities in Africa have released voluntary local reviews of their SDG progress, with more on the way. The five reports informed future guidelines for African VLRs.
In Zimbabwe, two localities released VLRs as part of a partnership with UNECA in 2020, which served to ‘launch’ the VLRs in all councils in Zimbabwe. The country’s Minister of Local Government and Public Works writes in a foreword to both reports that they serve as a starting point for local authorities to improve data collection and reporting. He adds that every Zimbabwean council should “become a repository of knowledge and good practice” on SDG reporting and implementation, to support the goal of making Zimbabwe an upper-middle-income society by 2030.
Victoria Falls Town published its report in March 2020. The Harare VLR was published in June 2020. Key findings relate to progress and challenges on several priority SDGs (1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 11). The final recommendations ask the City to consider developing a local SDG monitoring and evaluation system or framework to track progress. In addition to ensuring that the implementation of the SDGs stays on track, such a local system would increase the capacity for responsive, transparent and accountable local governance.
In Ghana, the capital Accra released its VLR in February 2020, with a focus on both Agenda 2030 and AU Agenda 2063. The foreword from the Mayor of Accra indicates that the VLR process has enabled the government of Accra to strengthen its capacity to monitor and report on the two agendas. He said it also tracks progress towards the goals of Accra’s vision of becoming a “smart, safe, sustainable and resilient city”.
In Uganda, Ngora District became the first local and rural government in the world to conduct a VLR. The district VLR was released in March 2020.
Like the Accra report, the Ngora district report covers both Agenda 2030 and Agenda 2063. The report includes an annex on the localized SDG indicator framework which shows the corresponding national indicators used to assess each SDG target selected for the report.
Following the release of the VLR, the district aims to become a “model district” and support replication in other local municipalities to conduct their own VLRs. The District will adopt the report for approval by the Board, so that it can guide the planning and budgeting process.
Finally, the VLR 2020 of the Cameroonian capital Yaoundé was carried out as part of a review of the City’s Urban Master Plan. The foreword notes that the VLR process highlighted how the city’s efforts to improve the living environment and livelihoods of its residents “actually addressed some of the core SDG targets most relevant to the Cameroon, in general, and for the city of Yaoundé, in particular.”
The report covers several selected SDGs. It ends with suggestions for:
- Leverage the private sector, especially to support slum management and upgrading, and tourism development;
- Promote women’s access to and control over land and other assets; and
- Establish an effective monitoring and evaluation system, informed by an integrated information system.
ECA plans to publish the African regional guidelines for VLRs soon. They are produced in partnership with UN-Habitat and United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG-A). [UNECA press release] [Five African VLRs]


The Wall Street Journal reports that Amazon is planning to launch its own ad network to compete with Google’s online advertising business.
Amazon is calling its new ad network “Amazon Sponsored Links,” which will have back end systems in place that allow ad agencies to “buy audiences” by buying ads in bulk. Those agencies would then go ahead and place ads for their clients based on the target demographic for the products and services they’re selling.
What Amazon first plans to do is replace the ads on their own pages that are primarily supplied by Google with a new in-house ad placement platform. Amazon will instead place their own ads for their own clients.
Looking towards the future, the Wall Street Journal believes that Amazon’s system could challenge Google’s $50 billion-a-year advertising business.
VentureBeat has raised a good point stating that Amazon holds a secret weapon over Google: shopping data.
The secret to delivering relevant ads is data. Demographic, psychographic, personal data. Google has data on what we search for, Facebook has data on what we like and share, but Amazon’s data may be the best of all for targeting ads. It has data on what we browse and buy.
Amazon could be a welcome replacement for advertisers and retailers looking for an alternative to Facebook and Google ads. Amazon may prove to be more effective at putting ads in front of consumers that actually get clicked due to the wealth of data they have at their disposal.
Amazon’s ads would be targeted to consumers in real-time using a system that understands what an individual likes based on their browsing and shopping history.
Amazon has already begun telling some of its existing advertising partners that the new ad network will launch later this year.


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Judita Zidziuniene is a well known graphic artist and book illustrator. She lives and works in Vilnius, Lithuania. In search of her personal style Judita was regularly improving her skills at artistic plain-airs and individually, creating new forms and expositions. Her artistic career was a success not only in Lithuania but also far beyond its borders: personal and group exhibitions in Germany, Russia, Japan, France and other countries. Book cover designs by Judita are presented on the stands of the most famous Publishing Houses of Lithuania.
© All of the images on this website are copyrighted original artworks by their author and are protected by international copyright law. No materials in this gallery may be reproduced, copied, downloaded, or used in any form without written permission of the contemporary artist Judita Zidziuniene.


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Song of the Sparrow is Lisa Ann Sandell’s take on Arthurian legend, narrated by Elaine of Ascolat, or The Lady of Shalott. Since she was a small child, Elaine has been the only woman living in a military camp with hundreds of men. When her mother died, her father took Elaine and her brothers to Arthur’s camp, where she regularly mingles with people who are now the stuff of legends (people whose existence is debated–the Author’s Note at the end talks about this)–Arthur, Lancelot, Merlin, Gwynivere. To the men, Elaine is a friend, a healer, a seamstress, a child–many things, but never the woman she wishes to be in the eyes of one man in particular, her friend, Lancelot.
Elaine ceases to be the only woman in the camp when Gwynivere comes to be Arthur’s bride, and changes the group dynamic. Though she is at first pleased to have another woman around, Gwynivere immediately shows cruelty and dislike for Elaine. All of that changes again, however, when the two are thrown together in a situation where many fates hang in the balance–not only their own, but that of all of Britain.
Song of the Sparrow is an enchanting verse novel that absolutely took my breath away. Lisa Ann Sandell’s beautifully written sophomore novel is a truly worthy addition to the long list of diverse books based on the same legends. I was reminded a bit of Lisa Klein’s brilliant Ophelia, especially when Sandell talked in her Author’s Note about how women are not traditionally portrayed as strong characters in Arthurian legend. Both Klein and Sandell show well-known female characters in new ways, and both of their books are simply amazing. My comparing Song of the Sparrow to Ophelia is very high praise–I count Klein’s book as an all-time favorite.
Sandell does very well telling the story in verse. Her poetry is lovely, and she really makes it work for the story she is telling as well. I don’t think it would have worked half as well in prose, or, at least, it would have been a very different book. Sometimes verse novels are novels with odd line breaks, but this is not the case here. Song of the Sparrow is lyrical and poetic and beautiful. Elaine’s voice is distinctive and she is the perfect narrator for this story, a figure who is not usually the center of Arthurian stories, and not one traditionally shown the way Sandell portrays her.
Sandell is an engaging storyteller who really manages to make her characters come to life on the page. These legendary figures are real people (but are still distinctly the well-known figures of the legends), with real relationships and personalities. Song of the Sparrow is a brilliant novel, a breathtaking, epic story told on a personal level.

domain: library


Marpac Qwick View Water Separating Filter- w/Drain, No Head 7-6854
• Qwick View Water Separating Filter with Drain, No Head.
* Qwick View is a new concept in fuel filtration, just replace the part that needs replacing.
* Qwick Drain casing includes an easy-turn thumb screw for quick, convenient water drainage (Except 7-6856) and a red float that indicates water that needs to be drained.
* Clear bowl on all Qwick View allow for quick checks on fuel quality, remove water or change filter before there is a problem.
* 10 Micron filter cartridge is replaceable (Order # 7-6858).
* Ethanol fuel compatible with Viton Seals that won't shrink.
* Universal replacement for Mercury, Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki Style filters.
* Designed for use with Portable Marine Fuel Systems Only.


Pacific Western Bank signage is displayed outside a bank branch in Beverly Hills, California, May 4, 2023.
Patrick T. Fallon | AFP | Getty Images
Find out which companies are making headlines in the midday business.
PacWest Bancorp – Shares rose 14%. The closely watched regional bank sold about $2.6 billion in construction loans to a subsidiary of Kennedy-Wilson Holdings.
DraftKings — Shares of the sports betting platform soared 8% in midday trading. Earlier Monday, UBS updated the stock to buy from neutral on strong growth in new states.
Zions Bancorporation – Banking stock jumped 6.7% after Hovde Group launched coverage of outperforming Zions, with a price target of $40, according to FactSet. That’s about 49% up from Friday’s stock close.
Pfizer – Pfizer shares jumped more than 3% after a peer-reviewed study said an oral weight-loss drug from Pfizer showed similar and faster results than its competitor Ozempic Novo Nordisk.
Metaplatforms – The social media company rose 1.6% to a 52-week high even after the company was fined a record 1.2 billion euros ($1.3 billion) by European privacy regulators for the transfer of user data from the EU to the United States. around 106% this year, buoyed by investor optimism around the artificial intelligence space.
Nike, Foot locker – Shares of Nike were down 2.7% on Monday. Citi added a negative catalyst watch on the sportswear company in a Monday note. The company said Foot Locker’s worse-than-expected earnings report last week signaled trouble ahead for Nike. Meanwhile, Foot Locker shares fell 6%.
Micron Technology — The chip stock fell 2.5% after China’s Cyberspace Administration banned operators of “critical information infrastructure” in that country from buying products from Micron. Beijing said the company posed a “major security risk”.
Catalent – Catalent rebounded to trade 3% higher. The stock was down in premarket trading on Monday. The action comes after JPMorgan Chase downgraded the pharmaceutical stock to neutral from overweight on Friday. The Wall Street firm cited macro headwinds for the rating change.
South Norfolk – Norfolk Southern gained less than 1% during midday trading. Citi upgraded railroad stock to buy from neutral, while Wells Fargo upgraded overweight Norfolk to equal weight.
Apple – Shares of the tech giant fell less than 1% after a downgrade from Loop Capital, which warned that Apple could miss its June quarter revenue forecast. Apple shares are up more than 30% since the start of the year.
Jet Blue Airways, American airlines – Shares of JetBlue Airways and American Airlines fell 1.3% and 2.6%, respectively, after the Justice Department won a lawsuit on Friday to end their partnership in the Northeast, claiming it was anti-competitive.
– CNBC’s Brian Evans, Michelle Fox, Alexander Harring, Hakyung Kim, Yun Li and Jesse Pound contributed reporting.


New Opportunities of Digital Manufacturing in Industrial Internet
date：2019-01-12 Views: 2376
At present, a new round of global scientific and technological revolution is booming. Industrial Internet, as the product of a new generation of manufacturing technology, is increasingly becoming the key support of the new industrial revolution, which will have an all-round, deep-seated and revolutionary impact on industrial development. Recently, there has been a heated discussion on how to "digital" industry of industrial Internet.
Digital Transformation Achieves Intelligent Enterprises
Wang Zhiqin, Vice President of China Information and Communication Research Institute, said at the just-concluded China International Big Data Industry Expo in 2018 that "the industrial Internet can realize the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries in the process of quantitative and qualitative changes, and it also innovates many new modes and new formats, which should be said to be a powerful way to support industrial changes". Gao Hongwei, chairman of China Aerospace Science and Technology Group Co., Ltd., also believes that, from the start of building the ecology of cloud manufacturing industry cluster, Aerospace Cloud Network places the allocation of resources and business process optimization of market players scattered in all corners of the country at the center, and gradually advances from three levels of saving money, earning money and "generating" money to coordinate with the transformation and upgrading of Chinas industrial enterprises, and ultimately realizes the transformation and upgrading of Chinas industrial enterprises from cloud. The transition from manufacturing to collaborative manufacturing and from collaborative manufacturing to intelligent manufacturing. Mengniu, a domestic dairy enterprise engaged in physical production, is also actively embracing the industrial Internet to meet the new digital era. Lu Minfang, president of Mengniu Group, believes that data acquisition is very important. A Boeing 737 aircraft can produce more than 200 TB data from New York to Los Angeles, while our milk cup has about 170M data. If we produce milk of the same weight as the aircraft, we will probably collect nearly 30 TB data. This also reflects the dairy industry has a long industrial chain, Mengniu any product to achieve a leap forward in agriculture, animal husbandry, industry and services. "Nowadays, the demand of users is becoming more and more individualized and high-end. The traditional mode of mass manufacturing can not meet the needs of users in the present era. Therefore, it is necessary to transform from mass manufacturing to mass customization, that is, from product-centered to user-centered." Chen Lucheng, Vice President of Haier Group, said. In order to realize the transformation of this mode, Haier has created COSMOPlat for intelligent manufacturing solutions. The idea is to change the original product life cycle into user life cycle. The original product sold to the users home even if the end, now the product has become a netizen, can continue to connect with users, continuous interaction with users, consumers into lifelong users, into the whole life cycle. In addition, to achieve the whole process, the original process is in series, and the user information is transferred layer by layer after layer. The efficiency is very low, and the response speed is very slow. Now, the process is completely overturned and transformed into parallel connection. Each node is connected with the user and has a direct dialogue with the user. It can respond to the users personalized needs in the fastest time.
Intelligence Integrates New Opportunities of Digital Manufacturing Industry
Sun Pishu, chairman and CEO of Tidal Group, believes that in the era of industrial Internet, we are faced with many challenges and opportunities. However, in any case, cloud platform capabilities, information technology capabilities and advanced manufacturing capabilities are the foundation, these three capabilities build the "brain" of enterprises. However, it is a gradual process to let this "brain" play its role, just like a child born with the brain, but its growth is a process of continuous development and improvement, and increasing knowledge. "Over the past few years, Huawei has completely transformed the supply chain, manufacturing, management and customer service processes through IT, artificial intelligence and other technologies, and solved various problems in the actual scenario." For Zheng Ye, vice president of Huawei, Huawei has been pushing for lowering the threshold of technology use, lowering the overall cost in the form of shared cloud, and opening it up as a public module. "In Huawei, we don call it artificial intelligence, but enterprise intelligence. First we solve a scenario, then we solve practical problems." Similarly, Dell, as a hardware manufacturer, is grabbing industrial Internet opportunities. Wu Hailiang, vice president of Dell Technologies Group in Greater China, said that Dell is not only a PC, but also has a layout from cloud computing to artificial intelligence and big data. Now when we talk about industrial internet, we often talk about digital transformation. In fact, the fundamental change is the change of model and concept. The original model is from people to people, or from machines to people, such as driving cars, driving machines. The fundamental change of digital transformation adds information layer in the middle. What does information layer do? It is to collect machine data and then hand it over to people. Later in-depth analysis produces new business. Wang Zhiqin believes that the development of industrial Internet is the trend of industrial intelligence. To achieve this goal, we need to build a network infrastructure with low delay, high reliability and wide coverage. At the same time, there is a lack of new business and application models at the upper level. Through the platform of industrial Internet, a lot of operation optimization and Industrial Synergy and innovation have been achieved, and finally a new industrial ecological system has been constructed.
Constructing Industrial Internet Ecosystem by Multi-Linkage
"Our country has a wide range of industries and huge market space. The popularization rate of digital R&D and design tools in industrial enterprises has reached 66.4%, and the numerical control rate of key processes has reached 47.4%. However, compared with the overall level of developed countries, there is still a big gap. In addition, the development of manufacturing enterprises is not balanced and inadequate, and the core technology is still lacking. Liu Jie, deputy director of the Information and Communication Administration of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said. He suggested building a brand new industrial Internet


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Pine Bark (2015, 2007, 2009) Helps Diabetic Retinopathy
Learn more about diabetic retinopathy.
A number of diseases involve inflammation and impairment of endothelial layers (that line blood vessels): these include not only heart disease but diabetic retinopathy. The endothelium is the inner lining of blood vessels. Such dysfunction is generally defined as there being an imbalance between the ability of blood vessels' ability to contract and expand.
Various studies have determined that the relationship between obesity, inflammation and other risk factors is a critical factor in such endothelial dysfunction which causes diabetic retinopathy.1
Drawing on earlier research demonstrating that pycnogenol supports vision improvement in diabetic retinopathy by improving microcirculation and reducing swelling, researchers investigated combining this nutrient with other antioxidants as a therapeutic approach.
In patients with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, scientists evaluated treatment with 50mg pycnogenol, 30mg vitamin E and 20mg CoQ10. Sixty eight patients were divided into two groups, one receiving the supplement and one receiving placebo. The researchers evaluated levels of free radicals and macular thickness at the beginning of the study period, after three months, and after six months.
In the test group both measures improved; in the placebo group the free radicals level worsened, and macular thickness did not change.
The researchers report that this is the first study to find that free radical levels are reduced, and that retinal thickness is also affected.
Researchers: D. Domanico, S. Fragiotta, et al
Published: Circulating levels of reactive oxygen species in patients with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy and the influence of antioxidant supplementation: 6-month follow-up, Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, January, 2015.
Researchers have been investigating alternative means of alleviating diabetic retinopathy as diabetes becomes more widespread in the world. Earlier studies have found that pine bark can be effective in very early stages of diabetic retinopathy. This study looks at effectiveness a little later in development when retinal edema begins to appear but before bleeding or other changes occur in the macula.
In a small study 24 patients were assessed as to the degree of retinal swelling and thickness of the retina layer. They were treated with pycnogenol (maritime pine bark) for 3 months and then the measurements were repeated.
The 24 patients were compared to 22 controls with similar conditions who were treated with placebo. The patients given pine bark showed statistically significant improvement in degree of retinal swelling compared to placebo patients (very little change). Likewise, they experienced a marked increase in microcirculation compared to placebo.
The researchers reported that the primary positive result was that visual acuity (sharpness) improved in 18 out of 24 patients receiving treatment from 14/20 to 17/20 after only two months of treatment. There was no change in the placebo group.
The researchers concluded that pine bark, taken early, may improve microcirculation and reduce swelling - both of which help to improve vision.
Researchers: R. Steigerwalt, G. Belcaro, et al
Published: Pycnogenol improves microcirculation, retinal edema, and visual acuity in early diabetic retinopathy, Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, December, 2009.
A two week study found that extract of French maritime pine bark (pycnogenol supported the ability of blood vessels to appropriately dilate for adequate blood supply. However, placebo used in the study did not affect vasodilation.
The researchers concluded that pycnogenol would be useful in treating diseases involving endothelial dysfunction.
K. Nishioka, T. Hidaka, et al. (2007). Pycnogenol, French maritime pine bark extract, augments endothelium-dependent vasodilation in humans, Hypertension Research, September.
1. M. Tomic, S. Ljubic, et al, The role of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy, Collegium Antropologicum, April, 2013.

domain: medical


2 STUDENTS ALLEGEDLY FONDLED BY GUARD
Salvatore Noto, a 74-year-old security guard who works at the Lindenhurst Middle School isaccused of grabbing the groin area of a 13 year old and the buttocks of a 12 year old. He wasarrested on misdemeanor charges of second-degree sexual abuse. The alleged incident occurred in thecafeteria of the middle school where a group of kids had gathered. The school principal, CarlSanfilippo, sent a letter home to parents advising them that a Town of Babylon public safetyofficer who works at the Middle School was accused of inappropriately touching two students.
(Lindenhurst, New York)


The world is urbanizing fast. Already today, half the population is living in cities. By 2050, that proportion is projected to rise to over two thirds. Cities are economic powerhouses, accounting for 80 percent of world GDP. They also have large ecological footprints, accounting for 60-80 percent of energy consumption and 75 percent of carbon emissions globally. If the world is to achieve the promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, of prosperity, within planetary boundaries, for all, cities will have to lead the way.
Many cities in the UNECE region have taken up this challenge. And innovation is key to meeting it. Leading cities are using innovative technologies and innovative ways of management and governance to deliver better environmental and economic performance and a better quality of life in an inclusive way.
Leading cities are hotbeds of this kind of innovation. They are dense eco-systems strong universities, innovative start-ups, small, medium and big companies, well-financed investors, deep and diverse talent pools, state of the art communication, transport and energy infrastructures, large local markets, good governance structures, and strong economic ties to the rest of the world. Innovation flourishes in these eco-systems.
But not all cities are there yet. Some are still more part of the problem than part of the solution. And often, innovative solutions pioneered in one city cannot be successfully replicated in others. At its annual session on 5-6 December 2019, the UNECE Team of Specialists on Innovation and Competitiveness Policies discussed what city administrations, citizens, businesses and national Governments can do to speed up the transition towards smart sustainable cities.
Networks exist at the national, regional and global levels where cities are exchanging experiences on innovative solutions for urban sustainability challenges. New technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning are key to generate the data and analysis that can make cities smart. But for leading cities, technology is not an end in itself. They use it to empower citizens – including marginalized and vulnerable groups – as well as businesses to identify local needs and to create innovative place-based solutions together with city administrations for people and the environment.
Leading cities provide spaces for experimentation such as living labs or test beds to scale up what is working and stop what is not. They invest in infrastructure and education to make sure everyone has access to new technologies and the opportunities they create. National Governments can support cities in their transition towards sustainability through smart regulation, including on data security and privacy, and through public procurement for innovation, as well as regional policies that bridge the gap between leading cities, their hinterland and smaller communities.
The results of the meeting will inform good practice recommendations to be presented to the UNECE Committee on Innovation, Competitiveness and Public-Private Partnerships in 2020. Subsequently, UNECE will use these good practices in its policy analysis and advice to help member States to further improve their policies in this important field.
The UNECE Team of Specialists on Innovation and Competitiveness Policies is a network of innovation policy experts representing Governments, government agencies, the business and academic communities and civil society from throughout the UNECE region.
As cities fill tech gaps, power of smart cities unleashes
Governing Smart Cities, a report released today by the World Economic Forum, provides a benchmark for the ethical and responsible use of smart city technologies by looking into the inner workings of 36 Pioneer Cities. The authors of the report seek to help city leaders identify gaps, protect long-term interests and keep up with the pace of technology.
According to the report, cities of all sizes, geographies and levels of development have serious governance gaps, such as the failure to designate a person accountable for cybersecurity or to assess privacy risks when procuring new technology systems. However, leaders can close these gaps and protect long-term interests by acting now.
Written in partnership with Deloitte, the report follows the call to action from G20 ministers in 2019 that resulted in the creation of the G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance. The Alliance and its partners represent over 200,000 cities, local governments, leading companies, start-ups, research institutions and civil society communities. It acts as a platform to help cities strengthen their knowledge, expertise and governance of smart city technologies. The Forum is its secretariat.
The 36 Pioneer Cities surveyed span six continents and 22 countries, and have populations ranging from 70,000 to over 15 million. Policy experts and government officials were interviewed from January to March 2021 to assess the implementation of a set of five essential policies identified by the G20 Alliance last year.
Nearly all the cities surveyed – including those that are generally regarded as leading global cities – have critical policy gaps related to their governance of smart city technologies
Despite an unprecedented increase in global cybersecurity attacks, most cities have not designated a specific government official as ultimately accountable for cybersecurity.
While the majority of cities recognize the importance of protecting the privacy of their citizens, only 17% of cities surveyed carry out privacy impact assessments before deploying new technologies.
Less than half of the cities surveyed have processes in place to ensure that technologies they procure are accessible to elderly residents or individuals with limited physical abilities.
Open data policy is perhaps the only area in which most cities in the sample have achieved a level of basic implementation. Even here, only 15% of the Pioneer Cities have integrated their open data portals with their wider city data infrastructure, which is a necessary step towards making a city “open by default”.
“Cities are continuing to invest heavily in new technologies to automate and improve city services and urban life. Yet our findings validate our fears that most cities are falling behind when it comes to ensuring effective oversight and governance of these technologies,” said Jeff Merritt, Head of Internet of Things and Urban Transformation, World Economic Forum. “The G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance is working with cities across the globe to address this gap, beginning with more than 15 policy workshops with city officials this summer.”
“Cities have an array of opportunities to become more resilient and sustainable. Technology is an enabler but, to fulfill its full potential, Cities need to revise their governance, operational, and financing models. Here lies the biggest challenge Cities face. Deloitte is proud to have worked with the Forum in this initiative. It is fundamental for us all to gain consciousness of the complexity of the issues and focus on how the moment we are all living can be a key opportunity”, said Miguel Eiras Antunes, Global Smart Cities Leader, Deloitte Global. “Now is the moment for a great urban transformation. Addressing urban challenges through the lenses of sustainability, inclusion, and technology is critical to develop and implement a roadmap to guide cities with their governance of smart technology and make an impact that matters.”
How to take action
The report concludes that city leaders and officials need to take action before these governance gaps become material risk and affect residents. The report’s authors also call for national policymakers, civil society and the business community to help support local governments in overcoming these challenges. Inclusion, data privacy and cybersecurity attacks are top concerns and the G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance has a mandate to help cities close the governance gaps that this report has uncovered. Cities looking for assistance in identifying and addressing their policy gaps are encouraged to contact the Alliance via their website.
New Report Shows Shape of Urban Growth Underpins Livability and Sustainable Growth
A first-of-its-kind World Bank analysis, of the shape and growth of nearly 10,000 cities between 1990 and 2015, finds that the most successful urban areas are those that connect their growth to economic demand and then support this with comprehensive plans, policies and investments that help avoid uncontrolled sprawl.
The new report, Pancakes to Pyramids – City Form for Sustainable Growth, analyzes the dynamic, two-way relationship between a city’s economic growth and the floor space available to residents and businesses. It finds that a city is most likely to be its best version when its shape is driven by economic fundamentals and a conducive policy environment – namely, a robust job market, flexible building regulations, dependable public transit and access to essential services, public spaces, and cultural amenities.
Ultimately, getting livable space right, hinges on how a city manages its growth as populations and incomes increase, factoring in three dimensions of expansion – horizontal, vertical or within existing spaces (known as infill), the report finds. This will be key as cities, on the frontlines of the COVID-19 crisis, begin planning for a long-term, resilient, and inclusive recovery.
“Cities are at the frontier of development; they are where people go to chase their dreams of a better life for themselves and their families,” said Juergen Voegele, Vice President for Sustainable Development, World Bank. “This report helps us understand why a city grows outward, inward or up. As we support countries with their COVID-19 recovery efforts, this will also help us reflect on what makes a city livable and remind us that well-planned urban growth is good for both people and planet.”
In the average Sub-Saharan African city, 60 percent of the population lives in slums—a much larger share than the 34 percent average in cities in developing countries. The lack of floor space takes a severe toll on livability—with major consequences in times of pandemics like COVID-19. Many South Asian cities face similar issues.
Horizontal growth is inevitable for most cities. People will continue to migrate to urban areas for opportunities and a better quality of life, so it is crucial for cities to plan for this trend. As urban populations grow, one way to create more space per inhabitant is by building up instead of out. This could also help reduce crowding, discourage long commutes, draw more people to public transit and drive down greenhouse gas emissions. But building tall, or accommodating more people in a city, is dependent on economic demand and the business environment as it requires better technology, large investments, and higher returns on capital.
“Understanding the multiple drivers of city growth—a precondition for livable density in cities—can help city leaders focus on the right policy actions,” said Somik Lall, co-author of the report. “If managed well, cities that take a more pyramid-like shape can provide an impetus to accelerate sustainable development by getting people out of cars, cutting commute times, and limiting greenhouse gas emissions.”
Today, around 55 percent of the world lives in urban areas. By 2050, this number is projected to surpass two-thirds of the global population, with much of the new urbanization happening in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. While such growth signals opportunities and better livelihoods for millions of people, it also puts immense strain on cities, especially in countries that contend with low incomes and weak institutional and fiscal capabilities.
By describing how economic productivity shapes decisions by households and firms to locate in cities, and how the quantity and spatial distribution of urban floor space respond to these changes in demand, the report aims to help decision makers sort through competing legal and regulatory approaches, evaluate their investments in infrastructure, and mobilize finance for durable urban investments, particularly for essential services such as transport, water provision, solid waste management, and sewage removal and treatment.
First international online forum Smart Cities Moscow
The first international online forum Smart Cities Moscow ended in Moscow. 86 speakers from Russia, China, Switzerland, Canada, Spain, the United States, Sweden, and other countries spoke at the forum’s business program. More than 193,000 people watched the broadcasts of the panel discussions and sessions.
“A modern approach to digitalization is unthinkable without exchange of experience and conversation between cities. Moscow, being one of the world leaders of digital transformation, acted as a platform for such a conversation, and it is important for us that the international community responded with interest to this initiative. Recent years have especially shown how important it is to develop the IT infrastructure of cities and create online services focused on the daily needs of city dwellers. Synchronization and joint efforts will make megacities even more sustainable, smart and comfortable for living,” said Eduard Lysenko, Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of Information Technologies of Moscow.
The need for global communities to cooperate in creating and developing smart cities was also stressed by Juwang Zhu, director of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs’ Division of Public Institutions and Digital Government.
“We at the UN support universal interaction in terms of the implementation of new technologies. I am glad that the Smart Cities Moscow forum will now be an annual event. This is very important: to encourage cities to exchange practices, to develop digitalization with the whole world, so that there would be more and more smart cities,” Juwang Zhu said, adding that the greatest benefit of using new technologies was seen by countries during the fight against the pandemic.
The business program of the forum consisted of 15 sessions divided into three main directions: “Smart City Infrastructure and Technologies”, “Smart City for Life”, and “Sustainable Development of Smart City”. The experts shared their experiences of using digital solutions in transport, urban planning, tourism, ecology, energy and other sectors important for the cities. Separate sessions were devoted to piloting 5G networks, application of artificial intelligence in urban processes and big data analysis for urban development planning.
Best practices and ecosystem approach to the digitalization of cities were discussed during the plenary session of the forum. Mayor of Moscow Sergey Sobyanin spoke about the experience of introducing technologies in the capital and creating digital platforms for residents. He noted that Moscow digital projects cover absolutely all spheres of life, focusing primarily on human needs. Representatives of the relevant departments of the Moscow City Government spoke in more detail about the capital’s IT projects during the panel discussions.
Mr. Chen Jining, Mayor of Beijing, Mr. Bakytzhan Sagintayev, Mayor of Almaty, Mr. Saeed Belhoul, Director of Electronic Government Operations of Dubai Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, Mr. Mohamed Salah Eldin, Project Manager for the construction and formation of the smart city Nour (new administrative capital of Egypt) and Mayor of Fort Lauderdale Dean Trantalis also shared their experience at the plenary session.
One of the key events of the forum was the awarding of two certificates of compliance with international ISO standards for sustainable and smart cities to Moscow. “Until now, there has never been a precedent in history when both of these certificates were awarded simultaneously,” said Patricia McCarney, president of the International City Data Council (WCCD).
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This 4-star hotel is right on the beach promenade of the Baltic Sea resort of Warnemünde. It offers free Wi-Fi in the lobby and a restaurant serving local food.
Score from 347 reviews Very good
This hotel is situated 50 metres from the beach promenade in the Baltic Sea resort of Warnemünde. Hotel Zum Strand provides spacious and brightly furnished rooms and apartments.
Score from 283 reviews Very good
Centrally located in Warnemünde, right on the Alter Strom canal, this hotel offers lovely canal views from many of its cozy rooms. Enjoy regional fish specialties in the restaurant.
Score from 312 reviews Good
Located between the pedestrian zone and the harbor in Rostock, this hotel has spacious rooms with free Wi-Fi, a large spa center and fine restaurant.
Score from 952 reviews Excellent
Absolutely wonderful staff and a very lovely Vietnamese/Chinese restaurant in the hotel. Very good breakfast too! Jacuzzi in the bathroom and nice furnishings in the bedroom.
No elevator, but it's only two flights of stairs and they will carry your bags up to the room.
Staff was wonderful! Great service and really nice. Rooms nothing extraordinary but clean and enough space.
A bit expensive for that standard
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domain: travel


text:
Kobe Journal of Medical Sciences, 1996
TI: Glial fibrillary acidic protein expression in the developing human retina.
AU: Karim-MM; Fujisawa-K; Kanomata-N; Ito-H
AD: Department of Ophthalmology, Kobe University School of Medicine.
SO: Kobe-J-Med-Sci. 1996 Apr; 42(2): 111-7
AB: We have studied the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP), an astrocyte specific protein in the normal developing human retina using anti-GFAP antibody. GFAP positive cells were first detected at 24 gestational weeks(GW) in the nerve fiber and ganglion cell layers in the vicinity of the optic disc. Over subsequent weeks, GFAP positive cells covered larger regions of the retina. Some of the processes of these cells terminated in sucker like end-feet upon blood vessels of the nerve fiber layer. A second population of GFAP positive cells existed as perivascular glia in the nerve fiber layer in the early stage of fetal development. In the adult retina perivascular glia were found on vessels throughout the nerve fiber and in the inner portion of the inner plexiform layers. Staining of Muller cells end-feet was obtained only in the adult retina. These results support the views that in the human retina, GFAP positive cells first appear at 24 GW in the region near the optic disc, covering the whole retina at subsequent ages.

domain: health


text:
Last September, Ronald Robins Jr., a senior vice president at Abercrombie & Fitch, received a letter urging the company “to join with over a hundred major companies and make political spending disclosure and accountability a corporate practice.” The Ohio-based clothing retailer isn’t particularly political. It doesn’t have a political action committee, nor is it a member of the more politically involved trade groups like the Chamber of Commerce. Any politics they have lean slightly left. In 2012, the company spent a bit more than $5,000 in donations, to Barack Obama, Ohio Democratic senator Sherrod Brown, Ohio Republican congressman Pat Tiberi, and others. The previous year, Abercrombie spent a measly $120,000 on lobbying, less than 0.1 percent of its operating budget that year. What’s more, all that information is public under current disclosure laws.
Nevertheless, the letter informed Robins that companies like his “face increasing pressure” to support political groups and candidates that “threaten corporate reputation, bottom line and shareholder value.” This “secret political spending,” the letter continued, “threatens not only the health of our democracy but also the reputation and integrity of companies.” Half the companies on the S&P 100 stock market index, the letter said, have “recognized the dangers” and have “demonstrated leadership by disclosing the details of and implementing board oversight of their spending.” The signers added that they “hope” Abercrombie will follow the lead of these exemplary companies.
None too subtle, the message was: Disclose, or we can make things very difficult for you.
Hundreds of executives at corporations like Abercrombie received letters like this one last year. They were signed by various people, many with titles like “director of shareholder advocacy” at left-leaning investment funds. But like the letter to Robins, all were signed first by the same man, Bruce F. Freed.
Freed may be the most important figure in American business you’ve never heard of. He isn’t a businessman or CEO, an innovator or entrepreneur or even investor. In fact, he has little business experience beyond a few years owning his own Washington, D.C.-based public affairs consulting firm.
A former journalist and Democratic congressional staffer, Freed (who declined to reveal his age) is the founder and president of the Center for Political Accountability, a nonprofit, “nonpartisan organization . . . formed to address the secrecy that cloaks much of the political activity engaged in by companies and the risks this poses to shareholder value.” Since it began in 2003, CPA has received $1.2 million in seed money from the Open Society Foundations, funded by left-wing billionaire George Soros. In collaboration with other Soros-backed groups like MoveOn.org, Common Cause, and Media Matters for America, as well as the large unions, CPA is leading a coordinated effort to get some of the country’s biggest and most profitable publicly traded corporations to disclose all spending related even tangentially to politics. Freed has the attention of these companies’ executives—and he’s trying to convince (some might say force) them to get out of politics entirely. Take it from Freed himself.
“CPA and our partners are putting pressure on companies to adopt political disclosure, to curb the independence of trade associations, and to change the behavior of companies and trade associations in their political spending,” he told a group of anti-corporate spending activists in 2011. “I think what’s critical to remember is that the CPA strategy is not vulnerable to political obstruction or legal challenge. What we’re finding is that corporate governance offers a route that allows the issue to be addressed almost unimpeded.”
Freed and company are currently pressing their case during corporate America’s “proxy season.” Every spring, companies are required by the Securities and Exchange Commission to inform their shareholders of the issues pending at the annual shareholder meeting. Generally, these are mundane matters of corporate governance, and few shareholders bother to show up, allowing the corporate board to direct their “proxy” votes. Shareholders who do show up have the opportunity to offer their own proposals, and in recent decades, proxy season has been a time for activist shareholders—labor union pension funds, “socially responsible” investment funds, and corporate gadflies—to raise whatever issues they wish.

domain: news


text:
Set in Cornwall, in 1793, The Captain’s Girl had all the right ingredients for my ideal read. Although unashamedly narrow minded in my reading habits (all novels should be set no later than the 1950s; they should feature a heroine, preferably with some sort of tragic back story; they have to include romance as the main narrative thread) I decided to try a new author. Nicola Pryce has written four books of the historical romance genre, three of which have been published and one which is coming soon. I find she has a light and easy way of writing which is not too heavy on the description, but still gives you just enough of a sense of character and setting. It was this which, when I read the first few pages, deceived me into thinking that this was going to be an enjoyable but pretty trashy read. However, a few pages on and the story seemed suddenly to get richer and more – for want of a better word – intellectual, dealing with subjects such as the French Revolution, spies, a kidnapping and a court case, all of which were full of suspense and kept me reading for hours past my bedtime.
At the heart of this novel is a suitably unhappy heroine who longs for adventure but is trapped by the rules of society and the family into which she has been born. Celia is surrounded by a large cast of characters, many of whom have their own interesting stories. After finding out that the man to whom she is engaged at the beginning of the novel is cruel and unloving, she decides at last to take her life into her own hands and runs away from home. Then the adventure begins, along with some Frenchman’s Creek style romance. The Captain’s Girl was a joy to settle down to each evening, and I look forward to reading other books by Nicola Pryce.
How to be a Victorian, by Ruth Goodman is a real treat for hardcore history fans. Indeed, I feel the title might have been chosen cleverly to catch the eyes of odd people like me, who might just view this as a dream made into reality. A deeply detailed and comprehensive exploration of every day Victorian life, it reads surprisingly easily, almost like a novel. Goodman writes this book from first-hand experience after living for a year on a Victorian farm (this experience was also televised for the BBC) and also from evidently extensive research. It is full of fascinating facts, explanations and anecdotes, as well as Goodman’s own views all manner of things from what the most comfortable corset was, to how long one can go without washing one’s hair.
The book is set out so that it follows a typical day for most people in Victorian England, beginning with the morning routine of washing (or not) and dressing, and then the journey into work; and ends with a chapter entitled ‘Behind the Bedroom Door’.
Some of the most meaningful explanations in this book come from the personal histories of people who actually lived during the 1800s, or from the objects they have left behind, which reveal so much. If you are a keen historian, you will lap up the stories that explain some of our own habits, as well as all of the facts about areas of Victorian life you might never have even considered before.
Before the Rains is the second book I’ve read by Dinah Jefferies. This author has a very clever way of transporting her reader to the countries and places that she describes through her highly vivid use of imagery. While in some books, lots of description can be off putting, this is never the case in Jefferies’ novels. In fact, for me, it is part of the main essence. The delicious little nuggets of setting description Jefferies distributes throughout Before the Rains give just enough detail to immerse the reader without slowing the pace of the narrative.
As with The Tea Planter’s Wife, Before the Rains features an English heroine getting to grips with the exciting and colourful culture of an exotic country. Eliza, a refreshingly slightly older heroine had been living in India until she was ten when her father died. After that, she and her mother returned to England until, at the age of 29, she returns to India, sent as a photographer to capture images of India under British rule. Satisfyingly, this leads to intrigue, mystery, forbidden romance and the uncovering of long kept secrets. This story is more political than The Tea Planter’s Wife, as it deals with the repercussions that happen when one culture attempts to rule over another without enough understanding and, in some cases, compassion. Sometimes, the way in which Jeffries brings this to our attention is blunt and even brutal. Sometimes, it takes a back seat to the main romance, but it is always there and forms a poignant backdrop to the action taking place.
The main theme that emerged for me from this story was that of life’s trials and the triumph of hope. The plot, characters and setting are haunting and provide food for thought long after the novel has been put down.
The Beekeeper’s Daughter, by Santa Montefiore is, strictly speaking, only partially historical fiction, depending on your definition. It is set over three different eras – the 1930s (which is the historical bit), the 1970s (arguably historical for some) and the 1990s (hopefully, we’re not considering this historical yet!).
Grace is the warm and unaffected daughter of a beekeeper, who lives in a little village in Dorset. Her mother has died before the story begins, so Grace’s relationship with her father, Arthur is close and mutually dependent. I felt that the character of Arthur and the bond that he has with his daughter is one of the sweetest and most heart-warming aspects of this novel. However, when he dies suddenly, our heroine is left feeling bereft and cannot bear the idea of being on her own. Very soon after his death, Grace finds herself torn between two men who also hold very special places in her heart: the handsome aristocrat with whom she has been in love since she was a teenager, or Freddie, the faithful friend she has known all her life. Whatever decisions Grace makes, it is easy to support her. Montefiore has created a very likable and honest heroine for her novel, to whom it is easy to relate.
These decisions go on the affect the rest of Grace’s life, and that of her daughter, Trixie, whose own love story Montefiore leads us through sensitively and sensuously. The secrets that weigh heavily on the shoulders of several of the characters in this novel are intriguing and keep you guessing, so that The Beekeeper’s Daughter does not feel simply like a romance, but also like a story of mystery and suspense.
There is a spiritual side to this story that I found surprising, but moving too. The deceased continue to haunt the living throughout their lives, sometimes as images, sometimes ideas, sometimes as a tangible presence and sometimes simply as memories. Through this unusual plot device, and through the feelings and actions of her characters, Montefiore gives a clear message in this novel for the soul; love and every person’s basic need for it is unapologetically and unconstrainedly at the heart of this immersive and emotional story.
Alias Grace, By Margaret Atwood is a book I have returned to ten years after first reading it for my A-Level in English Literature. I was blessed with a teacher at the time, who allowed us to explore the novel and highlight parts that appealed to and inspired us, simply because they did, and not because they were in tune with any particular syllabus requirements. Perhaps that is the reason why I, unlike many others, have been able to recall a text I have had to study with fondness. A few thought-provoking lines and strong images had remained in my mind over the years and after spotting it still on the shelf of my childhood bedroom, I determined to visit the novel again.
It was better the second-time round for many reasons, the main one being that Atwood’s leisurely pace and attention to detail produce a narrative that is so rich, it needs to be savoured and appreciated. The novel is based on the largely untold and unknown story of Grace Marks, a Victorian girl, who at the age of sixteen was accused of the murder of her employer, Thomas Kinnear and his housekeeper, Nancy Montgomery in Canada. After having her sentence commuted to life imprisonment, rather than death, she spends her days in a penitentiary, and is visited by an idealistic young doctor, Simon Jordan, who hopes to awaken the memories he believes Grace has been unconsciously suppressing of the day of the murder. More importantly, he hopes that they will reveal just how involved she was. Through the conversations that pass between the two characters, we learn about Grace’s early life in Ireland, the treacherous voyage she suffered over to Canada, and her years spent in service before the fateful day. The characters are fully dimensional and layered to keep readers guessing and changing their minds about them. Grace is, in one sense, incredibly truthful about the realities of lower class Victorian life, and in another, she is wholly deceptive and we, along with Simon Jordan are never sure about how honest she is being with her audience.
This is a consuming and emotional read that has the power to completely take you in. As well as having the obvious appeal of historical fiction, it is also a very thought provoking study of psychology. But be warned that its candid subject matter means that it is entirely different from the escapism of say, a Jane Austen novel.
The Tea Planter’s Wife, by Dinah Jefferies is a beautiful book. I believe I first came to it because I had seen it on a recommended books list, and although it is slightly more modern than my usual choice, I really enjoyed this novel for its references to early 20th century fashion, to events of the time, but most of all, for its heart rending story. Apart from a prologue set in 1913, the main parts of this narrative take place in the mid-1920s to 30s. For those interested in historical fashion, there are plenty of references to the dropped waistlines and hairstyles of the 1920s, through to the butterfly sleeves and two piece suits of the 1930s.
With shadows of a gothic romance, this story concerns a young and naïve heroine, Gwendolyn, who has married a man much older than herself, and who has a dark and secretive past. The novel is set in Ceylon which is where Gwen’s husband, Laurence owns a tea plantation. Not having travelled nearly enough, I wondered whether the setting of the novel would put me off – I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to imagine what it was really like in Sri Lanka. But Dinah Jefferies does such a good – such an evocative – job of describing the scenery, the foliage, the colours, scents, sounds and the weather that whenever I took this novel out to read, I found myself utterly transported. Indeed, I think it’s made me want to travel more.
The characters in this novel are very compelling. Apart from the hero and heroine, there is Verity, Gwen’s petulant and unpleasant sister in law; Christina, a former flame of Laurence’s and Ravi – a charming and handsome Sinhalese man who remains enigmatic throughout. I have named just a few, but each one is carefully sculpted and thought out and, just like the setting, they are all very physical.
The plot to the story mainly revolves around Gwen’s introduction to her new life as a married woman in a foreign country. Having grown up in a privileged household in England, she is swept off her feet by the handsome and successful Laurence. Although it is clear from the start that the couple share a deep love, Gwen later remarks more than once that she was perhaps too young when she married him, especially in light of what has befallen her. She leaves her family and her home, and goes to live in Ceylon, where she has to get used to running her own household, dealing with new people and to the ways in which different people, races and cultures regard each other. This, on its own, provides an absorbing narrative, but it is after Gwen becomes pregnant that the plot really thickens and becomes darker, more compulsive and more affecting.
The Tea Planter’s Wife is – in places – not an easy read. It is emotional and there is a feeling when one reads it of its realism. There are certain writers whom the reader can trust not to do anything too upsetting; not to throw anything out there that is too unsettling. Not so with Dinah Jefferies. But it all fits; it is all believable and it all combines to create a truly absorbing, resonant and edifying novel.
Elizabeth of York was the first Tudor queen. When we think of the Tudors, our thoughts fly first to the notorious Henry VIII, and to another queen called Elizabeth, but Elizabeth Tudor is often overlooked.
I first became intrigued about this interesting and admirable lady when the BBC showed an adaptation of Philippa Gregory’s The White Queen. This is a brilliant, engrossing series which I would recommend to anyone with an interest in historical drama but what it led me to read was something more factual and more focused: Alison Weir’s Elizabeth of York, The First Tudor Queen. Though fascinating and unbelievably dramatic, I was always felt very confused about Medieval royal history in Britain. I know there were several kings called Edward, there was someone called Elizabeth Woodville (whom I had previously supposed was the same person as Elizabeth of York), and there was a long series of wars called ‘The Wars of the Roses’, which ended with Richard III’s death, and Henry Tudor’s ascent to the throne. After that, things become clearer to me with the dawn of the Tudors. I was very thankful, therefore, to find that Alison Weir begins her biography by explaining something of the politics of the time and about Elizabeth’s parentage. It turns out that Elizabeth Woodville was Elizabeth Tudor’s mother. A young widow with two children, she married King Edward IV in 1464 and bore him several children, of whom Elizabeth of York was one, as well as two sons who went on to become those poor little princes in the Tower of dark historical fame. The marriage was a happy one and Elizabeth Plantagenet enjoyed a happy childhood, but her troubles began when her father died suddenly in 1483. This is perhaps also when Elizabeth’s true strength of character was formed. A hangover from the years before Edward IV’s relatively stable reign, as soon as he was dead, various factions began vying for the crown. His sons were probably captured and murdered; by whom remains a mystery to this day. Elizabeth Woodville kept the rest of her family safe in the sanctuary of Westminster Abbey.
In July 1483, Richard, Elizabeth’s uncle was crowned king and Elizabeth had to live not only with the devastating realisation that two of her siblings, (to whom she was allegedly very close) were probably dead, but also with resentment as, in these tragic circumstances, she should have inherited the throne. To appease matters, Richard eventually invited Elizabeth, along with her sisters to court. At this time, several rumours began to circulate that Richard in fact desired his niece and even killed his wife, Anne Neville so that he could marry her. In her biography, Weir dismisses these rumours, and clears Elizabeth of any desirous feelings herself. Instead, she had her betrothal to a young man named Henry Tudor to keep her going.
In 1485, King Richard III was killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field. Shortly afterwards, Henry Tudor, against whom he had been fighting was crowned king. One of his first actions was to inform his parliament of his intentions to marry Elizabeth of York. The wedding took place in January 1486, and resulted in widespread celebrations and jubilation all over the country.
From the very beginning, Elizabeth was a popular queen. She represented a unity between two families and an end to the bloody wars that had raged on for years. She also conducted herself exactly as a renaissance queen was expected to. In many ways, she complimented her husband, who is generally remembered as someone who could appear rather cold and harsh. Elizabeth emerges from the pages of Weir’s biography as someone who was warm, grounded, clever and loving. She enjoyed a very happy marriage to Henry Tudor, who seems genuinely to have loved her despite the arranged and political nature of their union. Together, they had several children, one of whom grew up to become King Henry VIII. He was allegedly always very fond of his mother and felt her loss acutely when she eventually died. One interesting narrative thread that Weir explores is the sense of quiet and uncomfortable unease with which both Elizabeth and Henry must have lived surrounding the legitimacy of their claims to the throne. As far as many people were concerned at the time, Elizabeth was the true royal in their marriage and it was through Henry’s marriage to her that he achieved his right to the throne. There was also the dark shadow cast over Elizabeth by the uncertainty of what had happened to her brothers all those years before when she was effectively a captive in Westminster Abbey. If it ever turned out that her brother, Edward, had not been killed, but had in fact perhaps been living abroad until it was safe for him to return, then where would that place her and her husband. More tantalising is the question of how would she have felt? In 1497, she was faced with such a dilemma when a young man named Perkin Warbeck claimed that he was Edward V and attempted to invade England. He eventually surrendered to the king’s army and was hanged on 23rd November 1499. Without wishing to trivialise the emotions that must have been felt by the husband and wife, such events must have created a significant amount of awkwardness, resentment, suspicion and maybe even guilt between the couple.
Despite their tempestuous beginnings in life, Elizabeth and Henry were successful rulers; their reign was one of stability, peace and economic growth. Their marriage was mutually supportive, fair and affectionate.
On the 11th February 1503, Elizabeth died a few days after giving birth to a daughter. Her death though the result of a short illness, was unexpected and untimely. She was widely mourned and Henry shut himself away for six weeks after the funeral, suffering mentally and physically. Indeed, Weir argues that from this point on, Henry’s health steadily declined until he died in 1509.
A couple of months ago, I visited Westminster Abbey with my brother. I had not been there since I was a little girl and so my memories were hazy, but I remembered having been very impressed by the glorious and ostentatious tomb of Elizabeth I, and that of her cousin, Mary Queen of Scots. This time, it was the tomb of Elizabeth of York that arrested my walking and forced me to stop and contemplate. Standing there below her saintly carved image, it was moving to consider the gentle and romantic queen lying somewhere close by.


The man accused of jumping the White House fence Wednesday evening and being stopped by a K-9 unit was charged Thursday with two misdemeanors, and he also faces charges alleging he tried to break into the White House complex and the Treasury in July.
Dominic Adesanya, 23, of Bel Air, Md., was charged Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia with unlawfully entering the White House grounds and harming law enforcement dogs.
In court documents filed Thursday, a Secret Service agent said Adesanya had climbed a fence and run toward the north doors of the White House, ignoring agents’ orders to stop. The Secret Service then released two dogs, Special Agent John Grimsley said in an affidavit.
“One dog, Jordan, confronted Adesanya, who kicked the dog,” Grimsley said. “The other dog, Hurricane, knocked Adesanya down. Adesanya got up and threw the dog to the ground. Adesanya also repeatedly struck the dog with a closed fist.”
Adesanya was handcuffed “moments later” and told agents he would keep returning until he saw President Obama, Grimsley said.
Thursday’s two charges each carry a maximum of a year in prison, according to the U.S. attorney’s office for the District of Columbia.
Meanwhile, Adesanya is facing two other cases in D.C. Superior Court.
The first case alleges he jumped over a security barrier at the White House on July 27. According to a police statement in that case, Adesanya said he was there “because he was being targeted due to his race by the Rothchild family who owned the Federal Reserve bank” and “wanted the cameras that were placed in his home removed.”
A July 29 mental evaluation found that he was “currently incompetent to participate in court proceeding,” court documents say, and he was released from custody.
The second case deals with what happened the next day.
On July 30, that case alleges, Adesanya entered or tried to enter the Treasury Department grounds and assaulted, resisted or interfered with three police officers.
He was released from custody the next day and was scheduled to appear in court Sept. 9, but he failed to show up, according to court documents. A warrant was issued for his arrest, and he was taken into custody Wednesday after the second fence-jumping incident.
Now, Adesanya is to be held pending a Monday hearing, and the judge ordered a mental screening, the U.S. attorney’s office said.
His next court appearance is scheduled for Friday morning.
The Secret Service dogs, Hurricane and Jordan, were taken to a veterinarian Wednesday night and treated for minor bruising, a Secret Service spokeswoman told The Times. Both have been cleared to return to duty.
This week’s incident comes a month after an Iraq war veteran carrying a pocketknife jumped the fence and ran across the North Lawn, through an unlocked White House door and into multiple rooms before being caught.
Omar Gonzalez, 42, was arrested after that security breach. He faces six counts, including two federal charges of assaulting officers. This week, a preliminary evaluation found him “presently not competent” to stand trial.
The Sept. 19 breach was part of a string of embarrassing incidents for the Secret Service that led to the resignation of the agency’s director, Julia A. Pierson.
For more news, follow @raablauren on Twitter.


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domain: design


Solar power systems installed on a range of Nottingham City Council buildings have generated one million kilowatt hours of green energy during 2018. Well-used city buildings including libraries, leisure centres, schools and offices all host the council’s solar infrastructure; silently generating clean and green energy whilst the buildings users go about their day. Britain’s heatwave this summer certainly helped boost the generating capacity at these sites and some council sites experienced periods of being entirely powered by solar. One million kilowatts would power over 300 typical domestic homes for a year, or meet the entire annual energy needs of the Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall , powering their shows, hospitality and all the back office operations. Installing solar PV on operational sites has made sound economic sense for the council and is playing an important part in plugging the council’s budget gap and protecting front line services. It has offset the need to buy peak-time electricity from the grid, has put unused rooftop space to good use and helps to insulate the council from future electricity price rises. As well as saving money, generating energy in this way supports the council’s efforts to reduce its carbon emissions and tackle climate change.
My Nottingham News 19th Dec 2018 read more »


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Agenda Item 5D
April 22, 2014
Amanda Mihill, Legislative
Faden, Senior Legislative Attorney
Bill 9-14, Environmental Sustainability - Renewable Energy - County Purchase
Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee recommendation (2-0):
enact Bill 9-14 as introduced.
Bill 9-14, Environmental Sustainability - Renewable Energy - County Purchase, sponsored by
Councilmember Berliner, Council Vice President Leventhal, and Councilmembers Floreen, Riemer,
Andrews, and Navarro, was introduced on January 28, 2014. A public hearing was held by the
Committee on February 11 and a Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee
worksession was held on February 26. At the hearing, a representative of the Executive expressed the
Executive's general support for the package of environmental initiatives (©5).
Bill 9-14 would require that 50% of the County's electric power usage be supplied with
renewable energy by Fiscal Year 2015 and 100% by 2020. Currently, 30% of the County's electric
power usage is supplied by renewable energy.
Councilmember Berliner explained the purpose of this Bill in his January 14 memorandum
describing his proposed energy/environmental package (©6).
The Fiscal and Economic Impact statements for this Bill are on ©10. The Office of Management
and Budget estimates that the cost to purchase an addition 20% renewable energy
FY15 would be
At the worksession on Bill 9-14, Committee members requested Executive staff to provide a cost
estimate to increase the County's purchase of renewable energy to 100% in FYI5. The fiscal impact
statement on ©11 indicates that the cost to go from 30% (current level) to 100% in FY15 would be
The Committee recommended (2-0, Councilmember Floreen temporarily absent): enact Bill 9-14

domain: politics