The Crisis of Civilization draws on archive footage and essentially monologue by author Nafeez Mosaddeq Ahmed to detail how global problems like environmental collapse, financial crisis, peak energy, terrorism and food shortages are all symptoms of a single, failed global system…
John Pilger talks at a public forum in Sydney about the recent revelations of WikiLeaks and the importance of leaked information in exposing the lies and machinations of Public Relations in mainstream media and political rhetoric. Pilger demonstrates the parallels with the plight of Julian Assange and the treatment of David Hicks through the United States legal system, and also explains using recent leaked documents why state power sees investigative journalists and others as a major threat to the established order…
The Bro Code unpacks and takes aim at the forces of masculinity that condition boys and men to fundamentally dehumanise and disrespect women. The film breaks down a range of contemporary media forms that are saturated with sexism—movies and music videos that glamorise misogyny, pornography that trades in the brutalisation and commodification of women, comedy routines that make light of sexual assault, and a slate of men’s magazines and TV shows that propagate myths of what it means to be a man in this culture: that it’s not only normal, but “cool” for boys and men to control and humiliate women. There’s nothing natural or inevitable about this mentality. And it’s extremely harmful in the real world. By setting the myths against reality, The Bro Code challenges young people to step up and fight back against this culture, to reject the fundamental idea that being a ‘real man’ means disrespecting women.
The Revolution Business examines the role of United States intelligence agencies in the recent revolutionary movements such as the Arab Spring and others by the use of “Revolution Consultants.” Of particular interest is a Serbian man Srđa Popović, who formed an organisation called Отпор! (Otpor) which tought “non-violent struggle” in the overthrow of Slobodan Milošević in Serbia during the 1990s, and which has now gone on to inspire a new generation of activists. However, some political commentators like William Engdahl are convinced that Otpor is financed by the United States and has ties to intelligence agenices, also having dubious funding from sources such as the Rand Corporation, the Department of Defence, as well as various fronts such as the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), the International Republican Institute (IRI), the US Institute of Peace and the Ford Foundation—all of which have a long history of collaborating with the Pentagon, the State Department and the CIA in destabilising movements and usurping popular uprisings, removing their teeth.
On October 15th 2007, a series of intense police raids occurred around the small village of Ruatoki in New Zealand. Operation 8, as it was called, was the result of 18 months of invasive surveillance of Maori sovereignty and peace activists accused of attending ‘terrorist training camps’ in the Urewera ranges—the homeland of the indigenous Tūhoe people. This film examines why and how the raids took place. Did the “War on Terror” become a global witch-hunt of political dissenters reaching even to the South Pacific?
Plasticized follows an ocean journey with the 5 Gyres Institute, a non-profit organisation that focuses on reducing plastics pollution through research. The expedition was the first scientific journey looking at plastic waste across the South Atlantic Ocean. The film takes a look at one of the institute’s global missions: studying the effects, reality and scale of plastic pollution around the world. The boat skims the surface of the ocean by trawling, in order to examine the toxic effects of plastic pieces to tissues of marine life. Many tiny bits of plastic are found contaminating the waters, and they’re sometimes not seen because the rough waters push them down. Every few kilometres, one teaspoon of plastic is collected. This may not seem like much, but this amount adds up substantially, considering that the ocean is vast and covers two-thirds of the planet.
How did two childhood friends from Midland, Texas end up arrested on terrorism charges at the 2008 Republican National Convention? Better This World follows the journey of David McKay and Bradley Crowder from activist beginners to accused domestic terrorists with a particular focus on the relationship they develop with an FBI informant named Brandon Darby in six months leading up to their arrests. Weaving through a story of entrapment, idealism, political struggle and ultimate betrayal, Better This World winds up at questions of the core machinery of the justice system and its impact on civil liberties and political dissent in the modern “post-9/11 world.”
How to Start a Revolution is a profile of Nobel Peace Prize nominee and political theorist Gene Sharp, who is described as one of the world’s foremost scholars on nonviolent revolution. The film profiles Sharp and his ideas, as well as their influence on popular uprisings around the world. There is particular focus on Sharp’s key text From Dictatorship to Democracy, which has been translated by activists into more than 30 languages, and used in revolutions from Serbia and Ukraine, to Egypt and Syria. Quiet and unassuming, a softly spoken Sharp describes how his 198 methods of nonviolent action have spread from his tiny Boston office to inspire and inform uprisings across the globe.
While corporations and governments continue to disseminate globalisation and the rapacious drive for consolidation of corporate power, people around the world are pushing back to reinstate local communities. Groups are coming together to rebuild human scale, local and ecological economies based on a new paradigm of localisation and sustainability. The Economics Of Happiness documents these shifts and shows how these communities have reclaimed their autonomy…
The Tall Man is the story of an Aboriginal man, Cameron Doomadgee (tribal name: Mulrunji) who in 2004 was arrested by Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley (the so-called ‘Tall Man’) in Palm Island, a tropical paradise in Australia’s Far North. 45 minutes after the arrest, Mulrunji was found dead in the Palm Island police station. His injuries were like those of someone who’d been in a fatal car crash. The police claimed he had “tripped on a step,” but the community knew this was bullshit. The Palm Islanders protested for truth and burnt down the police station. The subsequent trial of Hurley—who had been decorated for his work in Aboriginal communities—made headlines day after day, shadowed by Queensland police threatening to strike. The police officer was acquitted for the death by the Attorney General. The Tall Man follows these stories by delving into the courtroom, the notorious Queensland police force, and speaking with the Indigenous community of Palm Island, where this tale is sadly still indicative of many of the continuing atrocities of Aboriginal deaths in police custody.
By examining the modern culture of industrial civilisation and the persistent widespread violence and environmental exploitation it requires, END:CIV details the resulting epidemic of poisoned landscapes and shell-shocked nations, while further delving into the history of resistance and the prospect of fighting back against such abuse. Detailed is an overview of the environmental movement analogous with the historical whitewashings of the supposedly ‘pacifist’ social struggles in India with Gandhi and Martin Luther King in the United States; the rise of greenwashing and the fallacy that all can be repaired by personal consumer choices. Based in part on ‘Endgame,’ the best-selling book by Derrick Jensen, END:CIV asks: If your homeland was invaded by aliens who cut down the trees, poisoned the water, the air, contaminated the food supply and occupied the land by force, would you fight back?
Mark Kennedy was an undercover police officer who spent eight years as a infiltrator and informer on environmental movements and other protest groups throughout Europe. Confessions of an Undercover Cop accounts the actions of Kennedy from his perspective, which reveals an insight into the dark, twisted psychology of a police informant and the methods they use to destabilise movements and activists…
Bikpela Bagarap (Big Damage) is the story of logging in Papua New Guinea, following the reality of systemic exploitation by logging companies of indigenous communities, where locals are not even citizens in their own country. Customary landowners are coerced into signing release documents, or sign with the understanding that promises for clean water, health and education will be delivered. On the contrary, traditional hunting grounds are destroyed, waterways polluted, and livelihoods threatened.
The terms ‘liberal’ and ‘radical’ have been thrown around a lot in political discourse over the past decades, largely with lost meaning. This is a significant gap in our political understandings as the worldview of liberal activists and radical activists are conceptually different—an education that most of us never had. Writer and activist Lierre Keith regrounds these differences as part of a larger understanding of how effective resistance can be nurtured and sustained.
With access to undercover filming, The Gas Rush reports on a group of farmers and local townspeople in Queensland, Australia who want to halt the rapacious rush for coal seam gas. With scenes similar to that in Gasland — corporate deceptions, contaminated water supplies, toxic fracking chemicals, leaky wells and people setting their water on fire — The Gas Rush illustrates the fact that the drive to extract gas is not only happening in the United States…
All Watched Over By Machines Of Loving Grace is a series of films about how this culture itself has been colonised by the machines it has has built. The series explores and connects together some of the myriad ways in which the emergence of cybernetics—a mechanistic perspective of the natural world that particularly emerged in the 1970s along with emerging computer technologies—intersects with various historical events and visa-versa. The series variously details the interplay between the mechanistic perspective and the catastrophic consequences it has in the real world.
Using collated footage discovered in the cellar of Swedish Television some 30 years later after recording, The Black Power Mixtape is a film that examines the evolution of the Black Power movement in the United States from 1967 to 1975. Commentaries and interviews carry the film, from leading contemporary African-American artists, activists, musicians and scholars which is divided into 9 sections based chronologically on each successive year between 1967 and 1975. The film focuses on several topics and subjects relevant to the Black Power Movement including Opposition to United States involvement in the Vietnam War, the Black Panther Party, COINTELPRO, and the War on Drugs.
In Europe, nuclear energy is popularly touted as supposedly the best way to “save the climate.” But what’s wrong with that argument? Nuclear power stations run on uranium and the by-products are harmful, toxic and controversial for hundreds of thousands of years, not to mention the many dangerous effects of mining for the mineral on the environment and humanity…
The 2008 ‘financial crisis’ was a systemic fraud in which wealthy finance capitalists stole trillions of public dollars all over the world. No one was jailed for this massive crime, the largest theft of public money in history. Instead, the rich forced working people across the globe to pay for their ‘crisis’ through punitive austerity programs that gutted public services and repealed workers’ rights. Capitalism Is The Crisis shows and explains this fundamental functioning of the global economy, while visiting protests from around the world against it, revealing revolutionary paths for the future. Special attention is devoted to the current situation in Greece, the 2010 G20 Summit protest in Toronto Canada, and the remarkable surge of solidarity in Madison, Wisconsin.
Using government documents, archive footage and direct interviews with activists and former FBI/CIA officers, All Power to the People documents the history of race relations and the Civil Rights Movement in the United States during the 1960s and 70s. Covering the history of slavery, civil-rights activists, political assassinations and exploring the methods used to divide and destroy key figures of movements by government forces, the film then contrasts into Reagan-Era events, privacy threats from new technologies and the failure of the “War on Drugs”, forming a comprehensive view of the goals, aspirations and ultimate demise of the Civil Rights Movement…
It is said that young people are apparently doing away with the old ways of romance and dating, and going straight for sex, and that it’s this rise of hookup culture on college campuses especially, that is highlighted as the process of changing some of our most basic assumptions about heterosexual sex and gender. But for all the speculation, there’s been little beyond anecdotal proof to back any of these claims up. Understanding Hookup Culture is a presentation by Paula England, a researcher in the sociology of gender, that aims to clarify what’s actually going on. England traverses a wealth of data to begin to chart whether the phenomenon of hook-up culture represents some kind of fundamental change, or whether we’re simply seeing age-old gender patterns dressed up in new social forms.
Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields is an investigative two part series about the final weeks of the quarter-century-long civil war in Sri Lanka. The films are made and broadcast as UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon faces growing criticism for refusing to launch an investigation into ‘credible allegations’ that Sri Lankan forces committed war crimes during the the bloody conflict with the rebel group, the Tamil Tigers. With disturbing and distressing descriptions and film of executions, atrocities and the shelling of civilians; the programmes show and investigate devastating video evidence of war crimes—some of the most horrific footage of war ever captured.
In the wake of giant speculative property bubbles and high unemployment, ordinary people are occupying empty buildings in urban areas and turning them into free, open and public space. Communities thrive alongside music and art collectives, concerts, food co-operatives and community gardens. One also finds construction workshops, child care, language classes, political talks and even legal advice on social and economic rights. Okupación focuses in on such community spaces in Madrid, Spain; and follows the fight to keep such spaces alive and open.
In a visual exploration of institutionalised prostitution, Whores’ Glory travels the globe to show how these people really live and work today, across three economically divergent countries. In Bangkok, Thailand, women punch a clock and wait for clients inside a brightly-lit glass box. In the red-light district of Faridpur, Bangladesh, a madam trafficker haggles over the price of a teenage girl. On the border town of Reynosa, Mexico, crack-addictions run high while women pray to ‘Lady Death.’ Whores’ Glory is a unobscured look at the realities of sex-trafficking today and the industry that continues to spawns it and keep it alive.
On April 22, 2010 the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig, run by oil giant BP, sunk into the Gulf of Mexico—creating the world’s biggest and most catastrophic environmental crime in history. After over 750 million litres of crude oil and millions of litres of the chemical dispersant Corexit dumped into the sea, the disaster was deemed over and all damage repaired. This is bullshit however. Film-makers Josh and Rebecca Tickell travel to the Gulf of Mexico to document first-hand the extent of environmental and community damage, continuing many years after the explosion. Beginning by tracing BP’s origins and fingerprints across decades of US manipulation in Iran, The Big Fix assembles an indictment of this monumental disaster by unpacking the workings of the complex oligarchies that put pursuit of profit over all other ends…
Subconscious War is a video essay exploring the influences of media and the culture of violence on reality, and the cultivation of collective values in society. The film contrasts the writings of Aldous Huxley and Neil Postman’s grim assessments; relating the concepts of works such as ‘Brave New World’ and ‘Amusing Ourselves to Death’ to the current cultural influences that foster today—corporate media and indeed media saturation, video games, television, and a pervasive technoculture, for example. What is being created? And what sort of people are being cultivated by this culture? Who benefits?
A secret illegal project from the 1950s, 60s and 70s called COINTELPRO, represents the state’s strategy to prevent resistance movements and communities from achieving their ends of racial justice, social equality and human rights. The program was mandated by the United States’ FBI, formally inscribing a conspiracy to destroy social movements, as well as mount institutionalised attacks against allies of such movements and other key organisations. Some of the goals were to disrupt, divide, and destroy movements, as well as instilling paranoia, manipulation by surveillance, imprisonment, and even outright murder of key figures of movements and other people. Many of the government’s crimes are still unknown. Through interviews with activists who experienced these abuses first-hand, COINTELPRO 101 opens the door to understanding this history, with the intended audience being the generations that did not experience the social justice movements of the 60s and 70s; where illegal surveillance, disruption, and outright murder committed by the government was rampant and rapacious. This film stands to provide an educational introduction to a period of intense repression, to draw many relevant and important lessons for the present and the future of social justice.
Neuroscientist Professor Susan Greenfield says today’s developing brain is being worryingly reshaped by excessive visual stimulation — the effect of a culture driven by screens. Biotechnology, nanotechnology, even the internet are all impacting on our brains and could be heralding future generations with different abilities, agendas and even ways of thinking. Her prediction is that we might be standing on the brink of a cataclysmic mind-makeover never before seen…
With economic collapse besieging the United States, domestic violence statistics show a sharp increase in violence against women. States are closing shelters and cutting support programs, and the culture ignores domestic violence, except when celebrities are involved on TV. In the meantime, more spouses have been killed by their partners in the past several years than soldiers have been killed in Iraq. Power and Control addresses this life and death issue during a time of urgent crisis, a timely and comprehensive exploration of physical and emotional abuse in dominant culture, as refracted through the story of Kim Mosher, a mother of three who has recently left her abusive husband. As Kim and her fragile daughters take up residence in a domestic violence shelter, the film follows the harrowing struggles in a single-parenting survivor’s quest to find work, housing and peace of mind. We also meet Kim’s husband, Josh, himself a survivor of abuse. His attempts to explain his behaviour are troubling—shocking in the context of the story’s final twist. The multi-level narrative also examines the root causes of domestic violence and the solutions that have evolved to stop it, celebrating the battered women’s movement activists who demanded revolutionary change in the 1980s, and examining alternative approaches now being advocated.
This film provides some insights into the plight of Omar Ahmed Khadr, a Canadian citizen, who was fifteen years old when he was taken by United States forces in Afghanistan in 2002 to be interrogated, tortured, and sent to Guantánamo Bay. Based on seven hours of CCTV footage recently conceded and declassified by Canadian courts, You Don’t Like The Truth offers a dark, yet officially-sanctioned view into the sadistic world of today’s intelligence agencies and the secret operations in the War-of-Terror.
It’s been described as the boom that keeps on giving — an export bonanza that will help Australia ride through a world-wide economic downturn. All across Australia, workers have left their jobs to make big money in the mining industry. In the rush to exploit vast natural resources, employers have all but set aside the idea of building and supporting communities, instead they pay big wages to fly-in, fly-out; drive-in, drive-out workers, encouraging them to work long shifts, leaving them with little reason to become part of a local community…
This short film uses the story of Richard Nixon’s paranoia to explore how a similar outlook has been perpetuated on the larger social scale by the new media age. Skimming through the evolution of the mainstream media via television and newspapers, this short film comments on how politics has been paralysed by a media that has taken serious threats and sensationalised them, resulting in political cynicism and disengagement, which in-turn feeds a viscous cycle of nihilism and further sensationalist politics and media.
The Dark Side Of Chocolate follows a team of investigative reporters into Africa where human trafficking and child labour fuel the chocolate industry worldwide. The film travels to Mali where hidden footage reveals the trafficking of small children to the cocoa fields in the neighbouring Ivory Coast and elsewhere. What is happening behind the sweet imagery of the chocolate industry?
We’ve been told again and again that sports and politics don’t mix, that games are just games and athletes should just “shut up and play.” But Not Just a Game argues that far from providing merely escapist entertainment, American sports have long been at the centre of some of the major political debates and struggles of our time. By tracing the good, the bad, and the ugly of American sports culture, Not Just a Game shows how American sports have glamorised militarism, racism, sexism, and homophobia; but also traces a largely forgotten history of rebel athletes who stood up to power and fought for social justice beyond the field of play.
“Quants” are the mathematicians, software developers and computer programmers at the centre of the global economy. These are the people who designed the “complex financial products” that caused the financial crisis of 2008. Here they speak openly about their game of huge profits, and how the global economy has become increasingly dependent on mathematical models that quantify commodified human behaviours to the point of insanity. But things don’t stop there. Through the convergence of economy and technology, the Quants have now brought this model into the world of the machines, where trades are done at the speed of light, far from the realm of human experience. The machines are in charge. Some Quants are even now worried. What are the risks of this complex machine? Will the Quants be able to keep control of this financial system, or have they created a monster?
The Quantum Revolution spouts claims of turning many ideas of science fiction into science fact—from materials with mind-boggling properties like invisibility through to so-called “limitless quantum energy” and room temperature superconductors, to a space elevator for tourism. Are such developments worthwhile, sustainable, equitable or even necessary? Scientists forecast that in the latter half of the century everybody will have a personal matter fabricator that “re-arranges molecules to produce everything from almost anything.” Yet how will those in power ultimately use the domination of matter and life on Earth? How is science already doing this and to what ends? What are the unasked questions about science itself and the desire to control the very fabric of the universe? What insanity are we up against?
Are we willfully trashing the planet in the pursuit of endless things? What’s the source of the frenetic consumer energy and desire? In a fast-paced tour of the ecological and psychological terrain of consumer culture, Shop ‘Til You Drop challenges the viewer to confront these questions head-on. Taking aim at the high-stress, high-octane pace of materialism, the film moves beneath the seductive surfaces of the commercial world to show how the other side of consumerism is depletion—the slow, steady erosion of not only the natural world, but basic human and community values. Shop ‘Til You Drop contextualises the turbulence of this moment, providing an unflinching critique of the limits of consumerism and the so-called “pursuit of happiness.”
The infertility industry in the United States has grown to a multi-billion dollar business, and its main commodity is human eggs. Young women all over the world are bombarded by advertising—on college campus bulletin boards, social media, online classifieds—offering up to $100,000 for their donated eggs, to “help make someone’s dream come true.” But who is this egg donor? Is she treated justly? What are the implications to her health? Eggsploitation spotlights the booming business of human-egg extraction told through the stories of women who became involved and whose lives have changed forever after undergoing the procedure. Their accounts provide a cautionary tale to all women who are considering egg donation for the purpose of in-vitro fertilisation or embryonic stem cell research.


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While some communities in Berks County chose to boost their taxes this year, others decided to hold the line even though some providing community services insist there is a need.The Borough of Kutztown’s real estate taxes increased by .8 mill. The total borough millage for 008 is 2.60. That means residents with a property assessed at $100,000 will pay $260 a year, $80 more than last year.
“It’s not going to be much longer that I can afford to be a homeowner,” said Richard Geist, of Birdsboro.
His property taxes increased by 3.86 mills in 2008 meaning the average homeowner would be paying $50 more a year.
Geist called increases to local taxes a “never-ending, a relentless cycle.”
The major issues for the Borough of Kutztown’s 2008 budget included a 28 percent increase in the wholesale power price for electricity compared to 2007. The borough entered into a new five-year contract with AMP-OH in Ohio for the purchase of wholesale electricity. For residents, this means a 19.75 percent increase. “Everyone is aware that fossil fuel costs are going up,” said Jaymes Vettraino, borough manager, during his budget presentation on Dec. 18.
The contract, Vettraino explained, will help offer price stability over the next few years.
The council approved the electric rate ordinance, which included the rate increase of 19.75 percent for residents, a budget billing option for 12-month billing history and the same rate options for all nonprofit organizations that were previously only available to churches.
Vettraino presented a cost of living comparison to council. He said Kutztown funds many of its general government functions with revenue from electric sales.
“Even though electric prices are higher in Kutztown, it is still a ‘good deal’ to live here,” said Vettraino.
Courtney Accurti, director of communications for the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs, said raising taxes is a Catch 22 for municipalities.
“If they haven’t raised taxes they are avoiding it to do other things or they are lucky enough to have a balanced budget,” Accurti said. “Then infrastructure smacks you in the face and to stop the problem instead of having the debt and issues pile up.”
Longswamp Township adopted a 2.27-mill real estate tax, an increase of 0.09 mill. A portion of the total increase was due to a .04-mill increase in the fire protection services tax to 0.17 mill, and a .05-mill increase in the local services tax formerly known as the emergency municipal services tax to 0.16 mill.
Maidencreek Township approved an 8 percent tax reduction. The 2008 real estate tax rate of 1.125 mills is 0.125 mill lower than 2007.
Municipalities who did not change their tax rates include the Borough of Fleetwood at 2.75 mills, Topton at 5 mills, Lenhartsville Borough at 1.0 mills, Maxatawny Township at 2.50 mills with a 0.36-fire tax, Greenwich Township at 0.5 mill with a 0.1-mill fire tax, and Rockland Township at 0.3 mill.
Contact Lisa Mitchell by e-mail at email@example.com.

domain: finance


Will this plea matter for Republicans?
New York Times Op-Ed….
There’s a strong case for President Trump to face a Republican primary challenger. I know a thing or two about insurgencies. I entered Congress in 2011 as an insurgent Tea Party Republican. My goals were conservative and clear: restrain executive power and reduce the debt. Barack Obama was president then, and it was easy for us to rail against runaway spending and executive overreach.
Eight years later, Mr. Trump has increased the deficit more than $100 billion year over year — it’s now nearing $1 trillion — and we hear not a word of protest from my former Republican colleagues. He abuses the Constitution for his narcissistic trade war. In private, most congressional Republicans oppose the trade war, but they don’t say anything publicly. But think about this: Mr. Trump’s tariffs are a tax increase on middle-class Americans and are devastating to our farmers. That’s not a smart electoral strategy.
It’s one of the many reasons Mr. Trump is ripe for a primary challenger. In fact, it would buck the historical trend if he didn’t have one. More often than not, unpopular presidents face primary challengers.
Since leaving Congress in 2013, I’ve been the host of my own conservative talk radio show several hours a day, five days a week. The only time a majority of my conservative audience has noticeably broken with the president is when he signed the omnibus spending bill in 2017 that ballooned the deficit. Fiscal responsibility is an issue the American electorate cares about but that our elected officials disregard from the top down — including the Tea Party in the Trump era.


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GRANADA’S GREAT FORTRESS
Alongside Seville’s Alcazar and Cordoba’s Mezquita, the last (but certainly not least) of Spain’s triad of amazing Moorish sites is Granada’s Alhambra. This immense fortress dominates the skyline here in Granada, occupying the top of Sabika Hill to the East of the city. Within its walls lie vast gardens; fountains and pools fed by an intricate irrigation system; and no fewer than 5 palaces and forts to explore. We spent the better part of our day within the Alhambra, mesmerised by its decorative detailing and ornate architectural flourishes. To finish the day we took a stroll through Granada’s oldest neighbourhood, the Albayzin.
Granada is located just at the point where the Sierra Nevada mountains meet the fertile plains of Southern Andalusia. The steep terrain protecting it to the rear, flat agricultural land in the valley below, and a year-round supply of water thanks to snow melt off the Sierra Nevada mountains, have made Granada a prized city for millennia. The area has been continuously inhabited for at least 2,500 years, and developed into a major economic centre during the centuries of Roman occupation.
The Moorish conquest of 711 brought Islamic rule to the Iberian Peninsula and Granada was quickly established as one of the main cities in the region. Following the fall of Córdoba in 1236 to the Christian Reconquista, the city became the capital of the Emirate of Granada, the last Moorish stronghold in Europe. For the next 250 years Granada stood as the heart of a powerful and self-sufficient kingdom, ruled from the Alhambra by the Nasrid dynasty.
In 1492*, however, the city fell to the Christian army led by King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella, bringing an end to Moorish rule in the Iberian peninsula and marking the end of the Spanish Reconquista. The city’s Muslim inhabitants were forced to convert or Christianity or leave, and though the city flourished initially under Christian rule, it soon floundered economically. It wasn’t until the last half of the 19th century that tourism breathed new life into Granada, with people drawn here to see the legendary Alhambra. And they’ve been coming ever since…
*The fall of Granada came at a crucial moment for Christian Spain, as it was that same year that Columbus made his first voyage to the Americas; 1492 really marked the beginning of the Spanish golden age.
In 2014 3.1 million people visited the Alhambra, making it Spain’s most visited monument. What this meant for us is that the place was PACKED* and we had to share the beauty of the Alhambra with thousands of others. Despite the crowds it was still awesome to see the palaces, forts, and gardens of Granada’s epic hill-top fortress.
*For anyone looking at visiting the Alhambra make sure you pre-buy your tickets online at least 1 month in advance – they only sell 6,000 tickets per day and 4,000 of those are pre-allocated for tour groups, which only leaves 2,000 per day for independent visitors. And most of those 2,000 tickets are sold out by 8:00am! It’s nuts!
The first of the 5 stops we made at the Alhambra was Nazaries Palace, the central palace where the emir resided. Beautifully decorated with geometrical patterns etched into the walls, ceiling, and floors, Nazaries Palace was a wonder.
Every room in the palace was adorned with wooden carvings, coloured tiling, and Arabic inscriptions. The overall effect was magnificent.
In the centre of the palace was a courtyard built around a large pond. This 2m deep pool of water was designed to help to cool the palace and act as a symbol of power and wealth*.
*In a place where water is so scarce, water was difficult and expensive to come by and having so much of it was definitely a sign of affluence.
A number of rooms were arranged around the rectangular pool, including the Salón de los Embajadores, where ambassadors would be received by the emir. The marvellous domed ceiling used carved wooden cedar tiles to create an intricate star pattern representing the seven heavens.
Adjacent to the Nazaries Palace was the restored Palacio de los Leones, built in the 2nd half of the 14th century, at the political and artistic peak of Granada’s emirate. The stucco detailing here was incredibly fine.
The main courtyard in this palace had a fountain in its centre supported by 12 marble lions. The lions were designed to be symbols of strength and power, and using a complex system of irrigation channels, each hour one lion would produce water from its mouth.
Around the courtyard there was the typical series of rooms, the most luxurious of which was the Sala de Dos Hermanas. Its walls were adorned with intricate carvings representing local flora.
Continuing on we came to the third palace within the Alhambra: Palacio de Carlos V. This Renaissance building clashed spectacularly with its surroundings, looking like a big square monolith compared to the Moorish palaces around it.
Begun in 1527 under orders of King Charles V, this palace was incongruous and out of place. Charles V intended to construct a permanent residence befitting an emperor within the Alhambra, but funds dried up and the building was never finished.
Also incomplete was the Alcazaba, or fort. The oldest part of the Alhambra, the Alcazaba was built as a defensive structure in the 10th century and occupies a space with an almost triangular shape at the highest part of Sabika Hill. Surrounded by a complex system of walls and towers, it would have once been an impenetrable fortress.
The Alcazaba was abandoned and completely neglected for a long time, but unlike other palaces within the Alhambra, this great red fort was never completely restored. Still, the views from its parapets were pretty impressive.
Lastly we headed into the Generalife*, once the vast gardens that kept the inhabitants of the Alhambra fed. Today the Generalife is purely decorative and consists of acres of landscaped pathways, patios, pools, fountains, trees, and flowers of every imaginable hue.
*Not “general life” but “heneral-iffe” from the Arabic “jinan al-arif”, meaning “Garden of the Architect” (as in THAT architect – the big one: Allah/God).
At the Northern end of the gardens was the emirs’ summer palace , a whitewashed structure on the hillside facing the Alhambra.
We spent some time wandering through the Generalife gardens but then the heavens opened up (just the “Architect” watering the garden). It rained steadily, effectively bringing our visit to the Alhambra to an end. We had lunch and then retreated back to our hotel for a few hours until the rain abated. With the cobbled streets still wet from the rain, we then headed out to explore Granada’s Medieval quarter: the Albayzin.
The Albayzin is the old Arabic quarter, where Granada’s Muslims were relegated to after the Reconquista. Located on the hill opposite the Alhambra, the neighbourhood is a maze of cobble-stoned streets, lined with white washed houses.
Some of the streets were lined with tiny shops selling leather goods, lamps, and hand-made clothing reminiscent of a Moroccan souk.
We explored as much of the Albayzin as we could before it started to rain again, which sent us scurrying us back down the cobbled streets in search of shelter. Over dinner we reflected on all the things we’ve seen here in Andalusia, and how amazing the Moorish architecture is here. Tomorrow we’re leaving all of this behind though, bound for Madrid! Who knows what amazing things we’ll see there…
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domain: travel


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We couldn't find Theatre Events in Birmingham at the moment. Subscribe weekly email newsletter for Birmingham.
|28 Aug 2022||The Real Estate Mixtape sponsored by Woodlawn United||Carver Theatre, Birmingham, AL|
|10 Nov 2022||ASC Presents Geena Davis||UAB's Alys Stephens Center, Birmingham, AL|
|24 Oct 2022||Prospers Magic City Classic Kickoff||1721 3rd Ave N, Birmingham, AL|
|12 Aug 2022||E.T Celebrating 40 Years in IMAX||McWane Science Center, Birmingham, AL|
|06 Oct 2022||Dancing with the Stars of the Magic City 2022||Lyric Fine Arts Theatre, Birmingham, AL|
|30 Oct 2022||1925 Silent Film Classic The Phantom Of The Opera||Alabama Theatre, Birmingham, AL|
|27 Aug 2022||Sidewalk Storytime at the Lyric||Lyric Fine Arts Theatre, Birmingham, AL|
|20 Aug 2022||Dinner Detective Interactive Mder Mystery Dinner Show||DoubleTree by Hilton Birmingham Perimeter Park|
Thriving on theatre events, musicals, dramas and plays in Birmingham?
Discover performing arts center near you for best theatre plays in Birmingham:

domain: artistic


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Crypto: How the Code Rebels Beat the Government Saving Privacy in the Digital Age
Crypto: How the Code Rebels Beat the Government Saving Privacy in the Digital Age is a book written by Steven Levy about cryptography, and was…
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Wilderness, Natural Areas, and Ecological Reserves: Thoughts on the Politics of the Big Outside
Corpus ID: 54876008
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domain: library


text:
26th September 2008
I hope you saw a great gig last Friday at Carling Academy, Liverpool.
If not, I’ll tell you I enjoyed the performance until I dropped!
It was ace to see Kevin Critchley Outfit tried on for size away from the
usual, tight changing-room space found in bars. KCO belongs on show! Kevin
is incessantly energetic and he shows his excellence of delivery by hitching
up to rock-vox on some of the tracks. I must add that musical arrangements
for this live performance are impressive and melodically dressed-up with
skilful bowing from Josie (violin) and Luke (cello). Luke Moore also switches
to keyboard for a few tracks; he’s a talented musician when playing
I really liked the repeated riff you can’t help but listen-out
for in Sunshine. Louise and Desire are also big songs for this band. Extra
strings from cello add smooth bass tones when required to KC’s guitar
dramatics, and there’s an allegro edge on violin which is smile-inducing.
Well-received by the audience – it’s my guess KCO’s
fans are increasing and the hard work of gigging has begun to pay-off.
Josie Pearce on violin - though musically amazing - seems to be stood
still stage right (this has to be an optical illusion) while lucky Luke
is charmed to sit with cello or keyboard. I would hazard a guess that
Josie is a classically-trained violinist or else understandably terrified
of Kevin flying around and crashing into her. I’d like to see her
next to cello on the big stage in future - she and Luke were wonderfully
Back to the star: it’s unlikely you will find many guitarists who
keep their vocal 'right' while so adept on the move. Legs are free to
race, roam, crouch or creep about because Kevin holds his guitar unusually
high; across his chest (rather than the more typical position - in front
of the nether region)!
This is the most visually and vocally versatile trio in Liverpool, and
what is more, they have songs. If Mr McNabb (as headliner) recognises
their talent by offering a support slot, it’s a sin to knock the

domain: entertainment


text:
Jul 30, 2012, 1:20 PM EST
Colorado is on pace for the worst season in franchise history, so it makes sense that the Rockies would be trying to deal veterans for prospects and Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports that closer Rafael Betancourt could be on the move.
According to Renck the A’s, Braves, Blue Jays, Rangers, and Angels have shown interest in Betancourt, adding that “Oakland has been aggressive.”
Betancourt has been fantastic for the Rockies since coming over in a mid-2009 trade from the Indians, throwing 187 innings with a 2.98 ERA and spectacular 229/31 K/BB ratio despite calling Coors Field home. However, he’s also 37 years old and owed $4.25 million next season, with a $4.25 million option or $250,000 buyout for 2014.
That’s certainly a reasonable enough salary to make Betancourt attractive to contenders as a closer or even a setup man, and if the Rockies are committed to a full-scale rebuilding effort trading a 37-year-old reliever definitely makes sense.
- Justin Upton traded to the Padres for three prospects 49
- Bud Selig will get a $6 million a year pension. Which is obscene. 77
- Jake Peavy agrees to a two-year, $24 million deal to stay with the San Francisco Giants 12
- Matt Kemp has officially been traded to the Padres 28
- Padres acquire catcher Derek Norris from Athletics 35
- St. Petersburg City Council votes down deal to allow Rays to look for new stadium site 89
- What will the future of Cuban players in MLB look like? 25
- Royals sign Edinson Volquez for two years, $20 million 29
- Baseball’s highest-ranking Hispanic woman employee sues for discrimination (163)
- The United States will seek to normalize relations with Cuba (144)
- Cubs, Red Sox, Dodgers, Padres, Rangers, and Astros interested in Phillies’ Cole Hamels (111)
- Rays, Padres, Nationals agree to 11-player trade (97)
- Chase Headley signs a four-year deal with the Yankees worth at least $52 million. (95)

domain: sports


Samsung introduced the Galaxy A90 5G. In this smartphone, the Snapdragon X50 modem will support frequencies below 6 GHz (Sub-6 GHz), which helps to provide wider coverage of the 5G network.
Externally, the A90 5G completely received the “standard” 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display (Infinity-U) with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels and a triple main camera on the rear panel of glass. It is available in black and white, and also received a unique geometric pattern and color transitions at the top. Case height 164.8 mm, width 76.4 mm, thickness 8.4 mm and weight 206 grams.
A fingerprint scanner is built into the display, and the 32MP front camera supports face recognition. The Snapdragon 855 processor is paired with 6 or 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage (only the option of 6GB of RAM supports expansion with a memory card, up to 512GB).
In the photographic section, this Galaxy A90 5G will have a triple rear camera composed of a main sensor of 48MP and two additional sensors of 8MP and 5MP respectively. The battery capacity is 4500mAh, and fast charging at 25 watts.
In the Korean market, the A90 5G will be introduced tomorrow, so the price has not yet been announced. Finally, I leave some videos that have leaked where you can see both the design and some of the features of this Samsung Galaxy A90 5G.
Do not forget to follow us on our Facebook group and page to keep you always aware of the latest advances, News, Updates, review, and giveaway on smartphones, tablets, gadgets and more from the technology world of the future.


Where to submit tax returns
A tax return for income earned or losses sustained and a tax return for revenue earned, tax deductions and lump-sum tax on registered revenues due are submitted to the competent revenue office.
When to submit tax returns
The tax return for income earned or losses sustained should be submitted between 15 February and 30 April of the year following the fiscal year. This deadline applies to the following tax returns: PIT-37, PIT-36, PIT-36S, PIT-36L, PIT-36LS, PIT-38 and PIT-39 forms.
The tax return for the lump-sum tax on revenues should be submitted between 15 February and the end of February of the year following the fiscal year. This deadline applies to the PIT-28 and PIT-28S tax return.
Please note: Tax returns submitted before the deadline are deemed to have been submitted on 15 February.
If 30 April falls on a Saturday or a holiday, the first working day following the holiday(s) is considered the last day for submitting tax returns.
How to submit tax returns
PIT forms may be submitted online using:
- an interactive PDF file,
- e-Deklaracje Desktop application,
- Twój e-PIT service (PIT-37, PIT-28, PIT-36 and PIT-38 forms).


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The Kerem Tunnel provides a unique riding experience and hiking experience which is loved by everyone.
The Kerem Tunnel, Israel’s newest cycle tunnel, is constructed as a part of the 42-kilometer cycle route which is a loop around the capital.
http://ezproxy.cityu.edu.hk/login?url=https://www.israelhayom.co.il/mumlazim/article/13057097 https://www.misterpoll.com/users/neve.paritzkiwujm577bb1 The tunnel links Nahal Refaim and Emek Motza. http://pandora.nla.gov.au/external.html?link=https://www.bhol.co.il/news/1439018 The tunnel’s southern entrance is located within Refaim Park below Ein Laban. The northern entrance can be found in Nahal Ein Kerem about half a km away from the Kerem junction.
נווה פריצקי The 2.1-kilometer-long tunnel was inaugurated by Jerusalem’s Heritage Minister ZeevElkin. The ceremony was also attended by Mayor Moshelion Avi Balehnikov, Gihon Water Company chairman, and hundreds of cyclists.
https://www.kickstarter.com/profile/1618294900/about Jerusalem was a sought-after tourist destination due to its rich historical. Elkin said that apart from its historical treasures the modern tourist industry is included in the Jerusalem city. “The launch of the tunnel project [is] another element of the development of Jerusalem. The tunnel transforms Jerusalem into an attractive tourist place for all types of audience throughout Israel and around the world.”
Elkin, whose ministry together with the Jerusalem Municipality spearheaded the project, explained that the ministry “invests hundreds of millions of shekels every year in the improvement of the tourism industry in Jerusalem and in the creation of new activities and ventures that connect the rich history of our eternal capital to its future… I invite cycling enthusiasts to come and enjoy a modern and well-maintained cycling route that overlooks the special landscape of Old Jerusalem.”
Elkin’s Ministry as well as the Tourism Ministry budgeted the project.
Elkin said that the Kerem Tunnel project is an essential tool for achieving the vision to alter the concept and transportation throughout Jerusalem. https://500px.com/p/ibsenoxfbrandt “The new tunnel, which is connected to the Jerusalem Ring Path, will join the existing cycle paths within the city and will be paved within its various areas. It’s designed to encourage bicycling among its residents, and also to encourage a green transportation revolution in Jerusalem.”
נווה פריצקי The Kerem Tunnel was originally excavated in the year 1990 to relocate the main sewers of Gihon Corporation towards the Sorek purification facility. This plant is located west of Sorek and is used today as an infrastructure tunnel.
“The Kerem Tunnel Project is crucial in achieving the dream to change the way transportation is thought of all over Jerusalem. “
Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lon
The current projects include road construction, installation blowers, and advanced safety systems to ensure that the tunnel is safe to use during the entire year.
The Kerem Tunnel gives you access to many recreation sites, including Ein Kerem Neighborhood, the Biblical Zoo and Aquarium, as well as historic natural springs Ein Haniyeh or Ein Laban. נווה פריצקי


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Travellers can pick from the 7 accommodations in Chillicothe. But remember to book soon so that Wotif can help you lock in the best bargain on your favourite one today.
Whether you plan to spend heaps of time under the soft covers or you think you might be roaming around town for much of your holiday, the Hampton Inn & Suites Chillicothe and Holiday Inn Express Chillicothe East are fantastic accommodation options.
Car Hire in Chillicothe
Easy and quick — two beautiful words everyone wants to hear while exploring the world. Luckily, Hertz stays true to them. Just 4 kilometres from the city centre and featuring an assortment of quality cars, you'll be zooming off on your next grand adventure in next to no time.
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Trapped behind your desk daydreaming about Chillicothe and all the awesome things it has to offer? Take the first step to actually staying there by learning a bit about it.
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Portland Timbers 2 with a current record of 2-18-5 and sitting dead last in the standings is coming to the end of a nightmare season in 2017. Along with their Cascadia rivals, Seattle Sounders FC 2 and Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2, the Timbers junior squad decided to focus on playing their youth this year and shed many of their experienced players through signings up to MSL with their parent club or not resigning other experienced players.
The 2017 Monarchs benefited from this decision by picking up Nick Besler (who recently signed with RSL), Taylor Peay, and Michael Gallagher from last years Timbers 2 squad. Daniel Haber was also picked up from last years Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 squad. As injuries on the parent MLS squad made it difficult to allow the former USL players to join the junior squad on game days, the Timbers 2 have been left with an assortment of young and relatively inexperienced players and not consistent lineup.
The first win of this season for Portland occurred against Sacramento in April when Villyan Bijev, on loan from Sacramento, and Victor Arboleda, a player Portland signed to an MLS contract last season, combined to give Timbers 2 a 2-0 victory in Sacramento. Their second victory came against Rio Grande Valley at home in July when the Toros failed to connect on two penalty shots and goals by Bijev and Omar Mohammed were sufficient to create a 2-1 victory.
With only 21 goals scored on the season Portland sits dead last among the western conference teams and 5 goals behind the LA Galaxy II. Vilyan Bijev, still on loan from Sacramento, leads the team with 7 goals while Victor Arboleda is second with 3 goals in only 11 appearances for the junior side.
While Timbers 2 have managed only 2 clean sheets this season with Wade Hamilton was in goal, Kendall McIntosh, the parent Timbers third string goalie who has made 16 appearances for Timbers 2 this season is among USL leaders with 74 saves.
The Monarchs who will be attempting to avoid a two game losing streak for the first time this season, who have plenty of selections with only Taylor Peay and Andrew Brody listed as questionable due to ankle injuries. Recent signings Danny Cruz, Juan Ignacio Mare and Diego Calvo should see time as they continue to work into the Monarchs squad. With the return of Kyle Beckerman from suspension, Nick Besler may also make an appearance with the Monarchs along with Jose Hernandez, Reagan Dunk or Justin Schmidt.
Chandler Hoffman remains 2 goals behind Dane Kelly and former RSL man, Enzo Martinez, in the race for the USL Golden Boot. Charlie Adams with 7 assists is just two behind Chis Wehan of Reno for the USL lead and closely followed by both Chandler Hoffman and Sebastian Valesquez who have 6 apiece.
With the transfer of Lalo Fernandez to Tigres this week, Connor Sparrow has become the first choice goalie for the Monarchs and has an excellent opportunity to increase his 5 shutouts this season against a weak Portland offense.
This will be the eighth match between the Monarchs and Timbers 2. Overall the Monarchs have a winning 3-2-2 record with a goal differential of 0, but in Portland this falls to a 1-2-0 record where the sole victory was the first match of this season. A victory Saturday would give the Monarchs a three game sweep for 2017 as they also won the sole match at Rio Tinto this season on June 10th when they tied the consecutive win record at 8.
What to watch for
The Monarchs need to rebound from the late collapse against San Antonio and find some offensive rhythm for an entire match. While it is likely that, baring injury, any substitutes will be on the offensive side to continue the integration of new players look for the Monarchs to put in a 90 minute effort on both sides of the ball.
The Monarchs will surely attempt to push high and press in the midfield early in an attempt to take a lead and put the fragile Portland squad on their back heels. However, even if early success is not found it will be important to maintain consist effort on offense and possess the ball against a team that they have already beaten twice.
Finally, keep an eye on the bench for Christian Herrera, who should make the 18 due to the injury to Jake Gleeson on the parent Timbers. He is a 20-year-old goalkeeper who was in the same RSL academy class with Justin Glad, Danny Acosta, Brooks Lennon, and Sebastian Saucedo. He is currently on loan from the Monarchs to Timbers 2, but could easily find his way back to Utah next season with the departure of Lalo Fernandez. At 6’6” and 210 lbs he is physical presence in the goal that RSL has not had recently.
Real Monarchs: (4-2-3-1) Sparrow; Curinga, Moberg, Peay, Lachowecki; Besler, Adams; Haber, Velasquez, Brody; Hoffman
Portland Timbers 2: (4-2-3-1): Hamilton; Hanson, Tuiloma, Batista, Farfan; Granitto; Zambrano; Cicerone; Bijev, Arboleda; Williams
When: Saturday, September 9, 8:00 pm MDT
Where: Providence Park — Portland, Oregon
Weather: 69 degrees, Cloud with 35% chance for showers

domain: news


Why Digital X-Ray’s Are Superior
Digital X-rays capture high resolution detail and significantly more accurate images compared to traditional film x-rays. This technology provides immediate images to your Doctor so they can begin the diagnosis phase of your treatment with the highest quality visual resources possible.
If your health care professional explains why it is medically needed, then don’t refuse an X-ray. The risk of not having a needed X-ray is greater than the small risk from radiation.
An x-ray is an image created on photographic film or electronically on a digital system to diagnose illnesses and injuries. During this type of medical imaging procedure, an x-ray machine is used to take pictures of the inside of the body. The x-rays pass through various parts of the body to produce images of tissues, organs, and bones.
Digital X-Ray Systems
Digital radiography (DR) is an advanced form of x-ray inspection which produces a digital radiographic image instantly on a computer. This technique uses x-ray sensitive plates to capture data during object examination, which is immediately transferred to a computer without the use of an intermediate cassette.


text:
Accession Number : AD0282120
Title : ZONE REFINING OF CEMENTED TUNGSTEN-BASE ALLOYS.
Descriptive Note : Quarterly rept. no. 2, 1 Oct-31 Dec 61,
Corporate Author : ARMOUR RESEARCH FOUNDATION CHICAGO ILL
Personal Author(s) : Parikh,N. M.
Report Date : 29 JAN 1962
Pagination or Media Count : 12
Abstract : A series of experiments was made to scale-up efforts to produce large tungsten sheets. A 600-lb block of W-Ni-Fe powder was prepared by hydrostatic pressing. Twelve-inch square slabs (one inch thick) were cut from this block and sintered. Some were warm rolled and subjected to zone refining treatment by electron beam heating. The details of the experimental results are discussed. (Author)
Descriptors : (*TUNGSTEN ALLOYS), (*ZONE MELTING), (*SINTERED ALLOYS), ALLOYS, NICKEL ALLOYS, IRON ALLOYS, SHEETS, PRODUCTION, ELECTRON BEAMS, POWDER ALLOYS, METAL FORMING PRESSES, TUNGSTEN, IRON, NICKET, PURIFICATION, MICROSTRUCTURE, POWDER METALLURGY, CHEMICAL ANALYSIS, TENSILE PROPERTIES, PLASTIC PROPERTIES, PLASTIC FLOW, DEFORMATION, MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
Distribution Statement : APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE


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Also called as Piton de la Petite Riviere Noire, Black River Peak is a part of Black River Range. It is the highest mountain in Mauritius, at 828 metres. When you climb to reach the summit, you get to see the most rewarding view of the surroundings. It is considered to be providing one of the best viewpoints in the country. Reaching the top of Black River Peak is easy, and there are two routes for the same. Through Plaine Champagne, you will reach the summit of Black River Peak after hiking for 3.5 km. You can also start lower from Plateau in Chamarel. This point has an elevation of 250m, and the hike distance to the top of this mountain is about 5.2 km. It is a good idea to go up and come down through different routes. In that case, arranging your transport in advance is needed. You will hike on the road leading to Chamarel and Seven Coloured Earth.
Things to do: Hiking, view scenic beauty, see Le Morne Mountain and Ile aux Benitiers Island.
Phone: (230) 203 1900
Best time to start the trail: 6:30 AM to 7:00 AM
Located near Bataille of Vieux Grand Port, Lion Mountain is a beautiful place. You cannot miss walking upon this mountain when you are in the south-east of Mauritius. There are different routes to climb up the hill. After a few minutes of leaving the lowest point, you will already start to experience some of the best views of Mahebourg Bay. After a little longer on the trail, you will be surrounded by high grass on Lion Mountain. There are 102 steps on what is called the 'hind leg' of the mountain. On the top of the stairs, wait for a few minutes to witness astounding views of the surrounding mountains. Ile de la Passe, Ile aux Fouquet's, Ile aux Aigrettes and Ilot Vacoas. The sight of a lighthouse on the island of Fouquet's, also known as Ile aux Phare, is majestic from the top of the mountain. One the other side of the hill, there is a forest of Jamrosa trees. The woods hold some fruits that are nice and juicy. The climb on this portion of the forest is very steep, but the tree roots support you like a staircase making it easy to move up. With a lot of ferns around and thick vegetation, you will have a glimpse of turquoise water in between the leaves. A little longer on the trail, you will see the south-east lagoon and the surrounding islands. A little bit of rock climbing in this mountain is also worth doing.
Things to do: trekking, sightseeing, rock climbing, hiking walk through forests
Duration: approximately 2 hours
Trou aux Cerfs is the only active volcano on Mauritius today. The name translates to 'hole of deer' in French. The mountain gives a 360 degree view of the city of Curepipe. Though the volcano has not erupted for more than hundreds of thousands of years, experts are of a view that it could explode again within the next 1,000 years. The mountain has a crater that is 300 metres in diameter. At the top, you can walk around the crater and enjoy looking at plants are flowers of various kind. Mauritians usually jog up and down the mountain every day.
Location: Trou aux Cerfs Road, Curepipe
Duration: 2 hours approximately
Things to do: hiking, trekking, and jogging
Located in the western Mauritian district of Riviere Noire, Rempart Mountain is closest to Tamarin. One of the highlights of this mountain is that it was featured on 1950 and 1954 stamps of Mauritius. The route is eventful, and one can see beautiful deer, monkeys and macaques. The road to the south of the mountain is very rocky and has a single track which is going up. The bridge is one section of this mountain is dodgy, and one has to apply climbing skills to cross this.
Distance: 9.2 km
Compare quotes from upto 3 travel agents for free
Le Pouce in Mauritius is it's a third-largest mountain and stands 812 metres tall. Because of its thumb-shaped peak, the hill is named Le Pounce. The climb provides a splendid view of the northern part of the island. The view Of Flat Island, Round Island and Snake Island is mesmerising and worth climbing the mountain. You can also take a look down at the capital city of Port Louis from the mountain top. Since the trailhead is not well sign-posted, it is better to have a map showing the routes. Carrying a spare set of clothes, mosquito repellent and sun cream will come in handy in times of emergency during the trail.
Duration: approximately 3 hours 30 minutes
Things to do: hiking, look at the northern coastline of Mauritius from the top
Standing 720 metres tall, Corps de Garde lies in between Rempart Mountain and Le Pounce Mountain. Located on the west side of Mauritius, the mountain provides a stunning and striking view of the island. The hill is well worn and comfortable to climb. Starting early on the trail is a good idea since there is almost no shade on the mountain. The route begins neat Stanley and housing estate. There is plenty of space to park your cars and vehicles. The trail is well marked by white stones, making it easy to reach the ridgeline. Along the path, there a few rocky sections, which are hard to climb for beginners. You can bypass those sections by taking alternative routes. The view of the mountain during the night time is mysterious. Though it is frightful, the view is worth watching.
Duration: 2 to 3 hours
Things to do: hiking, trekking, La Chaumiere, Quatre-Bornes
Tourelle de Tamarin Mountain is 548 metres high and offers one of the best views of the entire western area of Mauritius. The mountain is private property and belongs to the Maingard family. The climb on this mountain starts at the sea level, on the northern slope. The path to the top of the hill is steep. Very few sections of the mountain are ideal for taking breaks for drinking and clicking beautiful pictures. A variety of indigenous plants grow here. At the end of the climb, you will enjoy an exceptional view of 'Les Fonds Blancs', a beautiful lagoon.
Duration: approximately 1 hour
Being the second-largest mountain in Mauritius, Pieter Both is 820 metres tall. Named after the first Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies, the hill provides an iconic view and is a part of Moka Range in Mauritius. Reaching the summit of this mountain is not possible without climbing gear. The rocks of this mountain are very slippery and potentially dangerous. A few bolts on the hills facilitate the use of rope and harnesses, to avoid slipping off the rocks. The round trip is approximately 7 miles long and takes 2 to 3 hours, depending on your pace. Beginning in La Laura, there are three routes. The hike is extremely rewarding and not for the faint-hearted. A climb to the summit of this mountain provides panoramic island views and slender peaks. A walk on this mountain will take you through some of the native plants and animals of Mauritius.
Hike duration: 2 to 3 hours
Things to do: enjoy looking at boulder-like rock formation resembling a human head
$ 236 onwards
$ 108 onwards
$ 18 onwards
$ 349 onwards

domain: geography


COVID-19 Resource Center for Orthodox Christians
Holy Trinity Church will be following the Holyoke Board of Health guidelines.
Effective Wednesday, November 3, 2021, the Holyoke Board of Health community wide mask mandate will become a mask advisory. The public is advise and encourage that masks be worn in public indoor locations and in outdoor areas where social distance of at least 6 feet cannot be maintained. The implementation of a temporary mask mandate was a necessary step in reducing a surge in COVID-19 cases in the community. The recent decrease in case counts allowed for the removal of the mandate. A resumption of the mandate may be necessary in the future, should COVID-19 cases return to concerningly high levels.
Assembly of USA Bishops Announce COVID-19 Resource Center for Orthodox Christians
Friday March 27, 2020
NEW YORK - The Assembly of Cannocial Orthodox Christians of the USA annouces a resource center for clergy and faithful during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Resource Center includes updated news from the various jurisdictions as well as well as practical guidelines and resources for families, ministry leaders, parish leadership, and everyone.
The Center can be accessed at http://www.assemblyofbishops.org/covid19 and will be updated regularly.


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Menu for Family Functions
Treat your family to a delicious, fully-catered function so you can spend more time concentrating on what matters most – spending time with them. At Southern Star Catering, we can provide intimate, delicious menus that accommodate any number of people, dietary restrictions, and your own personal tastes. Since 1981 the professional team behind Southern Star Catering have provided quality catering that brings families together with tasty and filling food. Whether you've got your annual family get-together in Dandenong or are celebrating a special family milestone in Rosebud, Southern Star can help.
No matter how big or small your family is, Southern Star can accommodate your needs. Whether it’s an intimate dinner for three or a large-scale event with all the cousins, second cousins, third cousins and more – the Southern Star range, including delicious spit roast and Aussie BBQ options, means everyone will leave well fed and satisfied. Want to find out more? Contact us today.
We provide our great menu and catering through Melbourne, from the CBD to the outer suburbs. In operation since 1981, you can have total peace of mind in Southern Star’s ability to handle a large crowd of hungry family members, no matter their tastes or dietary needs. For a hassle-free function, be it a family function, birthday party or corporate event, it has to be Southern Star Catering. Don’t wait around – book catering for your next family function today!
Dear Tammy & Paul, on behalf of Forest Hills Golf Club, we would like to Thank you for your Service on Saturday 14th December. Food was delicious and The Lady (sorry but I have forgotten her name) was terrific. Everything went smoothly. We hope you and your staff have a Merry Christmas and a safe 2020. We look forward to doing it again in December 2020.15/12/2019
I just wanted to say thankyou all on behalf of myself, husband Aldo & the newlyweds Steph & Liam.
The food was awesome!
The service was awesome!
Your people were awesome!
All guests commented how good the food was, and how much there was of it!
Thankyou again. 19/10/2019
Get in touch with us today

domain: food


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domain: design


Across the world, this climate emergency is now generating an unprecedented call to action. Two pivotal UN reports on climate change and nature have catalysed engagement and public protest – from Greta Thunberg’s school strike which has now spread to 125 countries – to the urban takeovers staged by Extinction Rebellion in London this past April.
The importance of this ambition and urgency to revitalise action cannot be underestimated. In October 2018, the IPCC called for “unprecedented changes” within the next 12 years in order to keep global warming to a maximum of 1.5 degrees. But these challenges cannot be solved by individual action alone – they are systemic issues which require systemic solutions. National, regional, and city governments all over the world are committing to targets to address both climate and ecological breakdown.
Cities are increasingly recognising that culture has the potential to be a driver to address our climate emergency. Culture is not merely a reflection of the world around us, but also a provocation – a challenge to our norms and ideals, and a platform to express, share and shape our values.
Today, on the first day of London Climate Action Week the World Cities Culture Forum launches our latest report on Culture and Climate Change. The report builds on the foundations set by the Culture and Climate Change Handbook, which highlighted creative and cultural responses to climate change and environmental sustainability in world cities.
The World Cities Culture Forum and Julie’s Bicycle worked with 14 of the network’s world cities, who provided inspiring case studies of how city leaders are putting climate and the environment at the centre of their cultural ambitions. The report looks at four thematic areas: creative programmes & campaigns; resources & support; partnerships & innovation; policy & strategy, and identifies key trends as well as future opportunities all cities can act upon.
6 key trends have emerged:
- There is a growing body of cultural strategy connecting to climate and the environment: Melbourne has embedded environmental sustainability within the city’s cultural strategy through its ninth goal ‘to care for its environment’.
- Collaboration between cultural and environmental departments is increasing: To support Amsterdam’s sustainability programme, the municipality hired a Project Manager to develop sustainability support and training for some of the city’s top cultural venues.
- Creative programming is growing in environmental ambition: The City of Austin’s Artist-in-Residency programme embeds artists within City departments to help provide innovative solutions or new process improvements, and to engage communities in creative ways.
- Creative and cultural responses reflect local contexts and communities: The 2019 Toronto Biennial of Art asks us to re-examine the past to project alternative futures, grounded in the Indigenous, immigrant and settler histories of the city.
- Cities are experimenting, designing and co-creating new sustainable urban models: Lagos Urban Development Initiative is bringing like-minded organisations and people together to advocate for a more inclusive, liveable and sustainable city.
- Environmental sustainability is an essential component of local resilience and a platform for new ideas: In London, the Mayor’s Entrepreneurship Award engages university students on generating low-carbon and circular economy market opportunities with two new awards focusing on technology and the creative industries.
The full Culture and Climate Change: City Profiles report can be downloaded here.


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One of best ways to infuse as many recipes as possible, is to learn to infuse what I call the "basics". The basics are versatile ingredients that can be used in a multitude of recipes once you've made and infused them.
Mayo is one of my favorite basics because it can be used to make dressings, sauces, sandwiches, deviled eggs, etc.
Check out this easy peasy recipe for making your own homemade cannabis mayo!
Approx 800mg THC total
Now that we're in the heat of summer, I always like to eat lighter foods that are easy to prepare ahead of time. I also love a good pasta salad for a family BBQ. I hope you you enjoy this one!
This serves 4-6, and the approximate dosage will be 16-25mg THC per serving.
Serves 4: Approx. 25mg THC per Serving
Approx 15mg THC per piece.
Approx. 22mg THC per tablespoon of dressing.
APPROX 20mg CBD per SERVING (9PC)
I created this recipe specifically with migraine sufferers in mind. I have personally been affected by chronic migraine for over a decade with symptom onset occurring when I was pregnant with my daughter. I infused this particular recipe with the Redd Cross strain of cannabis as it is great for pain, as well as nausea, which I sadly also suffer from during migraine attacks. The recipe is made with the herbal powerhouse, turmeric, which is a great anti-inflammatory food if taken at about 1-2 teaspoons a day.
1. Bake fries in 450 degree oven for 15 minutes
2. Place cannabis butter and flour in pot on medium heat until well blended, then add onions, bouillon, water
3. Cook gravy mixture on low heat for 3-5 minutes or until thickened.
4. Separate fries into 4 portions, and place in au gratin dishes.
5. Top fries with 4oz of pulled pork, then ladle about 1/4 cup of gravy on top.
6. Finally, place a slice of cheese on top of the gravy.
7. Bake for 10 minutes on 400 degrees.
GRAVY IS APPROX. 22mg THC PER 1/4 CUP
APPROX. 3-5mg THC PER POP (6-10 pops depending on mold size)
Approx. 29mg THC per serving.
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees, and spray jumbo muffin pan or ramekins with baking spray.
2. Microwave butters and chocolate for 1 minute or until butter is melted, then stir until all chocolate is
3. Stir in the sugar until well blended, then whisk in eggs, yolk and vanilla extract.
4. Gently fold in flour, and scoop 1/4 C batter into pan cups.
5. Bake 10-13 minutes, until sides are firm and centers are soft.
6. Let stand for 1 minute, then invert onto a cookie sheet (if using muffin pan).
Approx. 29mg per serving; makes 6.
Cannabis creative, educator and consultant.


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Back from Asia, Obama weighs strategic partnerships, China's economic muscle
Obama's stops in India and Indonesia balanced security with economic pressures. But back-to-back global summits in Japan and South Korea underscored the administration’s weaker hand with China.
(Page 2 of 3)
Such a strategy was more circumspect in India and Indonesia, two potential counterweights on China’s southern flanks. Both countries were flattered by Obama’s keen attention to their economic clout and democratic credentials. But talk of strategic partnerships raised questions over the price of being seen as US outposts against a rising China.Skip to next paragraph
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Indian analysts say conservative defense officials, who jealously prize India’s neutrality, are suspicious of US intentions. US military aid to Pakistan, a hostile neighbor, is controversial, to say the least. This is why three defense pacts aimed at boosting interoperability between the two militaries went unsigned during Obama’s visit. But analysts say that doesn’t preclude a joint hedging strategy against future Chinese aggression, if it suits India.
“I don’t think the Americans have made up their minds if it’s containment” that’s needed for China, says C. Raja Mohan, a security analyst in Delhi. In the meantime, they are building up a relationship with India that “has a value in itself.”
India’s defense establishment will also be reassured by the promise of a strategic partnership with the US, though suspicions will die hard, says Ramesh Chopra, a retired Indian general. “Obama’s performance during the visit will make finalizing deals with the Indian military easier, but not necessarily quicker,” he says.
As in majority-Muslim Indonesia, where Obama’s visit was billed as a homecoming to a country where he lived as a boy, there were plenty of warm words in India. Obama pleased politicians of all stripes by praising two giants of Indian history, leftist B.R. Ambedkar and Hindu evangelist Swami Vivekananda. He also won applause by telling India’s parliament that he supported a permanent seat for India on the UN Security Council.
Indonesians responded similarly to Obama’s praise for its secular democracy. The trip saw the signing of a comprehensive partnership on educational exchanges, economic development, and countering climate change. Indonesia’s is the largest economy in the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations and is taking over its rotating chair.
But it was Obama’s personal ties to the country, rather than strategic interests, that wowed most people. “What brought people to applause [during a public speech] was not what he said about democracy and Islam, but the reminder that our countries have many similarities,” said Kurie Suditomo, the Jakarta-based Indonesian representative for the US-Indonesia Society.

domain: politics


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International: ESG takes the spotlight: What companies need to do to prepare
Shareholder activism resulting in unseating three directors at a Fortune 10 company. A key court decision on climate change. Progress on a sweeping EU Directive on Corporate Due Diligence and Corporate Accountability1, and new laws passed in Norway and Germany, addressing broad environmental, social, and governance ('ESG') and human rights mandatory due diligence and corporate accountability. Building on an ESG Task Force at the US Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC') launched in March, legislation that just passed the US House of Representatives which, if passed by the Senate (challenging) and enacted, would increase public company ESG disclosures. Tara Giunta and Quinn Dang, Partner and Associate respectively at Paul Hastings LLP, unpack the evolving ESG landscape and considerations for organisations.
Even if legislators and regulators do not pass ESG legislation or impose ESG-related regulations, stakeholders - broadly defined as all interested constituencies including investors, shareholders, employees, consumers, and business partners - are increasingly prioritising ESG. As of 2019, 64% of consumers made purchasing decisions based on beliefs, and 88% of investors believe that companies that prioritise ESG initiatives represent better opportunities for long term returns2. Proxy advisory firms are demanding that companies in which they invest prioritise ESG as it relates to their business and operations. Companies that fail to meet ESG metrics are also being stripped from major stock indices.
Companies with large environmental footprints, particularly those in the extractive and oil and gas industries, should take note of two significant developments last month with respect to climate change risk.
On 26 May 2021, the Hague District Court ordered Royal Dutch Shell plc3 to reduce carbon emissions by 45% by 2030, compared to 2019 levels. The ruling was the first of its kind, adding increased pressure on oil and gas companies to take measurable, concrete steps to mitigate their impact on greenhouse gas emissions. The ruling could set a precedent in other countries, opening companies to new legal jeopardy on carbon and greenhouse gas emissions. Significantly, Shell will be required to reduce emissions during the pendency of its appeal, which means conducting business as usual during the legal appeal process is not an option.
The same day, Engine No. 1, a climate change-focused investment firm, successfully replaced three board members on Exxon's 12-member board of directors, despite holding just 0.02% of Exxon's outstanding shares. Engine No. 1 ran a platform that called for Exxon 'to implement a strategic plan for sustainable value creation […] (including more significant investment in clean energy)'4 and electing board directors with a track record of success in energy that can help the board adapt to changing industry dynamics. The firm received the backing of the three largest US institutional investors who own a fifth of Exxon, and three of the four nominees put forth were elected. Both the Exxon proxy fight and the Shell ruling signal that companies, particularly in the extractive and oil and gas sectors, are well advised to assess their climate and environmental and other ESG related risks and implement effective controls to address those risks.
Moreover, US public companies across the industrial spectrum need to understand their ESG risk profile, as well as the initiatives at the SEC to address ESG oversight. In March, the SEC announced the creation of a Climate Change and ESG Task Force focused on identifying material gaps and misstatements in issuer's disclosures regarding climate risks. Disclosure is also one of the key policy issues as the SEC engages in regulatory rulemaking on ESG, a process that was kickstarted by the Commission's opening of the notice and comment period that ended on 13 June 2021. A formal rulemaking proceeding is expected this fall.
Issue areas under the umbrella of ESG are wide ranging - from environmental pollution and climate risks, to human rights and modern slavery, to employee diversity, executive compensation, board oversight, and anti-corruption and cybersecurity. Over the years, compliance programs were established to address discrete areas, depending upon the industry, footprint and regulatory/compliance risks. As a result, oversight of many of the issues subsumed under ESG were often addressed in different silos, and spread across various compliance functions. With the emerging primacy of ESG today, the interconnectedness of risks as well as the risk exposure to companies has increased exponentially.
The proposals for a Directive on Corporate Due Diligence and Corporate Accountability ('the draft Directive') in the EU is instructive in how ESG is being considered by regulators worldwide, and it is sweeping in its coverage of ESG and human rights issues, as well as the obligations it would impose on companies not only organised and headquartered in the EU, but also those that access the EU internal market. Even though the draft Directive needs to move through a lengthy process, as noted above, certain Member States are already passing similar legislation.
Although subject to change as it moves through the approval process, the draft Directive would require that a company:
- identify and assess actual and potential impacts on ESG and human rights issues;
- institute measures to prevent and mitigate harms;
- monitor the implementation and effectiveness of remedial measures; and
- publicly report on the process; the requirements apply not only to the company's own operations, but also to those of its business partners, which means upstream (supply chain) and downstream (customers and product usage).
It is expected that the European Commission will submit a final proposal to Member States and the European Parliament by the end of 2021. Member States then would need to adopt implementing laws within two years from adoption. The mandatory due diligence law is expected to add significant 'teeth' to human rights due diligence. Companies breaching due diligence rules could face civil liability unless they show they have acted with all due care. Competent authorities may impose sanctions calculated based on a company's turnover, and may include temporary or indefinite bans from public procurement or state aid, asset seizures, or other administrative sanctions.
Given these developments, companies - including their corporate counsel and boards of directors - should take action to the extent they have not already done so. Businesses will also need to prepare due diligence and risk assessments and identify where their companies, affiliates, and suppliers can address ESG risks. Failure to take immediate action could leave companies vulnerable to costly proxy fights and reputational damage. For public companies in particular, such actions will need to be corroborated with supporting documentation or they could otherwise be subject to greenwashing concerns. Inaccurate and misleading reporting could be subject to forthcoming SEC actions on sustainability reporting. We expect to see more SEC action as the SEC Climate and ESG Task Force continues it work to proactively identify ESG-related misconduct and identify material gaps or misstatements in ESG-related disclosures.
Given this climate of corporate accountability as to ESG, companies are advised to conduct a gap assessment of systems and processes, including identification of ESG vulnerabilities and implementation of a two to three year action plan to address those risks. To ensure that compliance programs are reasonably calculated to address the company's evolving risk profile, periodic risk-tiered risk assessments should be conducted throughout the company's value chain, upstream and downstream, as well as the full span of company operations, functions, and business relationships. A significant part of this risk assessment will include supply chain due diligence regarding exposure to products and goods sourced from regions known to deploy forced labor. Based on that assessment, companies will need to develop a comprehensive strategy for mitigating and managing the risks of forced labor. Practical measures include reviewing and strengthening third-party due diligence, contract clauses, supplier codes of conduct, and heightened monitoring to align with the entity's human rights strategy and approach. More and more, companies are also harnessing technology to aid in supply chain tracing.
Moreover, companies must ensure that there is effective management of ESG and human rights risks by reviewing and, as appropriate, enhancing their compliance and risk governance function - at the management and board levels. There must be meaningful board engagement, as well as assignment of day-to-day responsibilities to a senior officer with adequate staffing and resources to effectively manage those risks. Boards should have systems in place where they receive reports from management on mission-critical risks, which includes ESG risks. Boards must also have sufficient ESG fluency and expertise to ensure effective oversight of management regarding ESG related risks. More recently, institutional investors are looking for boards to formally vest oversight of ESG issues in at least one board-level committee.
External pressure is mounting on companies to address ESG issues in actionable and measurable ways. Requirements from legislators and the courts, as well as demands from outside investors, mean that perfunctory check-the-box exercises will leave companies exposed to legal and regulatory risks, as evidenced by significant developments in the recent months with respect to climate change and mandatory due diligence.
1. Available at: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2021-0073_EN.html
2. Special Report: Brand Trust in 2020, Edelman Trust Barometer 2020 (2020).
3. Available in Dutch here: https://uitspraken.rechtspraak.nl/inziendocument?id=ECLI:NL:RBDHA:2021:5339
4. Available at: https://reenergizexom.com/materials/engine-no-1-to-nominate-four-highly-qualified-independent-director-candidates-to-exxonmobil-board/