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South Asia’s leading travel and tourism show
The key focus continues to map trends and build partnerships
Informa Markets in India inaugurated the 27th edition of SATTE, a leading B2B travel trade engagement show taking place at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida, Delhi – NCR scheduled from January 8th – January 10th, 2020. The three-day expo has brought over 1,050 exhibitors, 200 foreign buyers from over 50 + countries and 500+ domestic hosted buyers from 104 Indian cities. More than 30,000 travel and tourism professionals are set to attend the show.
The marquee expo was inaugurated by Chief Guest, Shri Prahalad Singh Patel Ji, Union Minister for State for Tourism & Culture (I/C), Government of India along with key dignitaries- Mansukh L Mandaviya Ji, Minister of State (I/C) for Shipping, Govt. of India; YB Tuan Muhammad Bakhtiar bin Wan Chik, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia; Nia Niscaya, Deputy Minister of Tourism Marketing, Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia; Michael Goh, President, Dream Cruises & Head of International Sales, Genting Cruise Lines; Subhash Goyal, Hony. Secretary, FAITH, Michael Duck, Executive Vice President, Informa Markets – Asia; Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, Informa Markets in India and Pallavi Mehra, Group Director, Informa Markets in India, amidst an august gathering.
With a focus on building new business partnerships and announcements, the three-day expo will talk about the current trends in the industry. Keeping up with their annual promise, SATTE 2020 is delivering an exciting line-up of conferences to enlighten the industry by addressing the challenges faced and opportunities that Indian tourism offers.
This year as well, SATTE received support from international organizations/associations and Indian travel trade associations such as Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI), Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI), IATA Agents Association of India (IAAI), India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB), Universal Federation of Travel Agents Association (UFTAA), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Skal and Enterprising Travel Agents Association (ETAA) amongst others.
SATTE 2020 is hosting a series of sessions and workshops, presented and lead by high profile speakers and industry stalwarts, covering topics from all aspects of the industry. The first panel discussion on ‘Global Economic Scenario, Tourism Trends and India’ on Day 1 discussed about the emerging scenario in global travel and tourism industry and in India. The second panel discussion: ‘Adventure Tourism: Unlocking New Avenues’ will focus on major challenges in adventure tourism. Day 2 of SATTE 2020 Conference will once again be a Corporate Travel Day powered by the Corporate Travel Community (CTC) that are set to organise two powerful sessions on Airline Programmes + NDC Education Forum and ‘The Accommodation Outlook and Technology Innovations Education Forum’. Apart from these, the Network of India MICE Agents (NIMA) will hold a set of 5 sessions and 2 workshops on MICE tourism.
Chief Guest Shri Prahalad Singh Patel Ji, Union Minister for State for Tourism & Culture (I/C), Government of India said, “SATTE 2020 is the 27th edition of the event which is proof that we are thinking and moving continuously ahead for the betterment of the tourism sector. I would like to congratulate SATTE for achieving this feat and thank them for giving representation to states such as Leh-Ladakh in their esteemed event. India is the only country that has a different cultural identity across dimensions and geography. Events like these showcase our rich culture in a great way. I hope foreign guests and visitors attending the event get a glimpse of our country.”
Shri Mansukh L Mandaviya Ji, Minister of State (I/C) for Shipping Govt. of India, said, “I would like to congratulate the organizers of this tremendous travel event. From the shipping ministry perspective, cruise tourism amongst Indians has become very popular; India’s coastal line boasts of 7,500 kms which increases immense potential for cruise tourism. Keeping this in mind, we have built International cruise terminals such as the one in Mumbai. A few in Goa, Mangalore, Kochi, Paradip and Kolkata are in the pipeline as the ministry and its stakeholders are continuously working to build the tourism sector”.
Speaking on the travel and tourism industry at the inauguration of the 27th edition of SATTE 2020, Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, for Informa Markets in India said, “Despite the current economic and political crackdown, tourism industry still remains one of the fastest growing sectors. The reason for this could be government initiatives like e-visa, which has helped in attracting various international tourists. Under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme, 13 thematic circuits in the country have been selected for development of tourism infrastructure with an aim to boost domestic and international travel.”
“This is the largest version of SATTE this year due to outstanding participation. It has always been an insightful exhibition for us because of its ambitious nature. It has emerged as one of South Asia’s largest international travel shows that both the exhibitors and buyers from across the world participate to showcase as well as shop for the diverse global travel and tourism products and services. Not only tourism, SATTE has the potential to harness rural development as well. The overwhelming response from the exhibitors and the upcoming discussions at the conference related to trending subjects like Tourism and Jobs, Corporate Travel, simplification of e-visas, destination weddings etc. will provide great insight into the industry. Through SATTE, we hope to provide viable solutions to help businesses thrive in the ever-evolving industry over the three days.” He further added.
Informa Markets will also host the 4th Edition of the SATTE Awards powered by T3, that recognizes and celebrates the excellence, triumphs and innovations of key stakeholders in the Travel and Tourism industry which are based on genuine and authentic parameters, innovation and excellence, a philosophy well imbibed in the values of SATTE.
About Informa Markets
Informa Markets creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate and grow. Our portfolio is comprised of more than 550 international B2B events and brands in markets including Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Infrastructure, Construction & Real Estate, Fashion & Apparel, Hospitality, Food & Beverage, and Health & Nutrition, among others. We provide customers and partners around the globe with opportunities to engage experience and do business through face-to-face exhibitions, specialist digital content and actionable data solutions. As the world’s leading exhibitions organizer, we bring a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, visit www.informamarkets.com
About Informa Markets and business in India
Informa Markets is owned by Informa PLC, a leading B2B information services group and the largest B2B Events organizer in the world. Informa Markets in India (formerly UBM India) is India’s leading exhibition organizer, dedicated to help specialist markets and customer communities, domestically and around the world to trade, innovate and grow through exhibitions, digital content & services, and conferences & seminars. Every year, we hosts over 25 large scale exhibitions, 40 conferences, along with industry awards and trainings across the country; thereby enabling trade across multiple industry verticals. In India, Informa Markets has offices across Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai. For further details, visit –www.informa.com


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It’s been an eventful few weeks in my library. I’m not sure if it’s the incremental changes in the weather or barometric pressure or if odd and hilarious incidents are tied to the waxing and waning of the moon. In any case, here are some of my favorite highlights from the past month:
Fourth of July in February
A packed audience of about 100 children and parents were enjoying kitchen science experiments performed by two local high school teachers, known as “The Wizards of Chemistry!” A particularly robust reaction set off the building’s fire alarm and the entire library (all four floors) had to be evacuated. On top of the inherent cool-factor of having fireworks go off in the auditorium, the fire department and police showed up on the scene a few minutes later.
No Pants, No Shoes, No Story
Some kids are just free spirits. The group may be listening to a story or doing a craft and I find little Annie or little Jimmy off dancing in the corner or humming slightly out-of-tune or trying to do a handstand. And that’s OK. Hey, sometimes you just have to march to your own beat. But I draw the line at disrobing in the middle of preschool storytime. Granted, I may have inadvertently inspired one little free spirit to cast off his pants with my rather enthusiastic reading of Bear in Underwear. Nevertheless, it is now a storytime rule: while our “listening ears” may occasionally fall off, our pants may not.
A dad and his four-year-old son stop in to pick up some new books. Dad turns to son and asks “Do you have your library card ready?” Son replies “No,” while clearing holding said library card in his hand. “This isn’t my library card. It’s a gun! Ka-pow!” Dad turns back with an apologetic shrug and says, “And I’m a democrat!”
Brown Chicken, Brown Cow
Girl, aged 3, came to the library dressed in a head-to-toe chicken costume (awesome). I leaned down to complement her superior fashion skills and tell her how much I loved her look. She looked me in the eye and said, “Mooooo.”
The Flamingo or the Egg?
If you’ve taken the Every Child Ready to Read workshops, you know how important it is to practice dialogic reading. That is, stopping every once in a while to engage the children and ask open-ended questions about the book you’re reading. What the Every Child Ready to Read workshops don’t prepare you for are the surprising, embarrassing, confounding, and downright bizarre answers you will undoubtedly receive from a group of preschoolers who now have the undivided attention of an adult other than their parents.
Case in point: During a recent reading of Sylvie by Jennifer Gordon Sattler, I asked the children to look at the illustrations and tell me how they thought Sylvie was feeling. (Sylvie is the story of a little flamingo who, after discovering that her pink color derives from eating pink shrimp, decides to eat all sort of interestingly-colored items to change her color. She eats so much that her tiny stomach swells and she feels slightly ill.) It was at this point in the story that I paused and offered what I thought was a rather well-formed dialogic question: “Look at that illustration of Sylvie. How is she feeling right now?”
A few timid voices offered “sick” and “her tummy hurts” and “sad.”
Then, loud and clear rang out a different answer: “pregnant.”
Huh. “Well,” I began, “what makes you think so? Is it because her tummy is big?”
“Yes. And she’s pregnant. And she’s going to have a baby come out.”
Huh. “Well,” I began again, “do you think that perhaps her tummy is big because she just ate all that stuff?”
“No. She’s pregnant.”
Huh. “Well,” I began again, “Maybe Sylvie is going to lay an egg!”
“No. She’s not laying an egg. She’s going to have a baby. Because she is pregnant.”
Now, it was at this point in the back-and-forth that I began to sense a deep resistance to reason on the part of my preschool debater. I had to then ask myself, am I going to school this four-year-old in the reproductive system of the avian class? Or do I just let it go?
Is it appropriate? What if she goes home and regales her parents with descriptions of mammalian versus non-mammalian birth? What if she tells her parents that the library lady gave her this wealth of new knowledge?
And what are my motivations for doing so? Am I really interested in transforming this into a “teachable moment” or am I more concerned with winning this battle of wills?
I looked at my audience of wide-eyed preschoolers, their moist little eyes flicking back and forth between their spokesperson and myself. They were waiting on my answer and I knew I could show no fear.
“Well.” I met her steely gaze, cocking my right eyebrow ever so slightly. “That is a very interesting thought. Thank you for sharing.” And with that, I turned the page and continued on.
photos courtesy of Flickr users Victor Bezrukov and jenniferlstoddart.

domain: literature


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'Spring Awakening' Hits the Stage at University of Arkansas Theatre
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas Theatre will kick off the 2014 season with a production of Spring Awakening, winner of eight Tony Awards and written by Steven Sater.
The production will open Friday, Feb. 21, and run through Sunday, March 2, at the University Theatre in the Fine Arts Center. Shows will be held at 8 p.m. Feb. 21, 22, 26, 27, 28 and March 1. Shows will also be held at 2 p.m. Feb. 23 and March 2.
Set in late 19th century Germany, the musical tells the story of a group of teenagers learning about sexuality and experiencing sexual issues for the first time. The show contains adult language and sexual content and is recommended only for mature audiences.
With music by Duncan Sheik, Sater’s rock musical is based on German dramatist Frank Wedekind’s 1891 play by the same name. The original production was banned in Germany shortly after its original release because of its explicit sexual content.
The musical was developed by Sater and Sheik in the late 1990s and opened on Broadway in 2006. It went on to win eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score.
The University of Arkansas Theatre’s production of Spring Awakening is directed by guest artist Shana Gold, whose directing credits include productions at the Kennedy Center, New York Theatre Workshop, Urban Stages and Northwest Arkansas' own TheatreSquared. Other production credits include musical direction by Jeannie Lee, choreography by Gail Leftwich, scenic design by Michael J. Riha, costume design by Patricia J. Martin, lighting design by Shawn Irish and sound design by Jesus Rivera.
The cast includes Chris Hecke as Melchior, Mason Azbill as Moritz, James Odom as Hanschen, Derek Nichols as Ernst, Spencer Beck as Georg, Keefer Roach as Otto, Jason Shipman as Adult Men, Rebecca Francis as Wendla, Debbie Banos as Anna, Michelle A. Benton as Thea, Emily Ryan Breakell as Ilse and Laura Shatkus as Adult Women.
The crew includes Harrison Williams, stage manager; Whitney Wasson, makeup designer; Margaret Harrington, Celeste Richard, Starlite Blakely Stromer, assistant stage managers; Justin Spaethe, sound engineer; Cassie Corlett, light board operator; Grant Hockenbrough, spotlight operator; Mranda Lamb, sound crew; Jackie Stroud, Beth Stanley, Maggie Harris and Ali Guthrie, run crew; Jacob Hofer, master electrician; Jacquelyn Cox, lighting crew; Maegen Hickerson, construction crew; Cayla Greer, Nicole Thompson and Tiffany Bounkhong, cutter/drapers; Whitney Masters and Robin Okimoto, first hands; Madison Cantwell, wardrobe head and stitcher; Kyle Smiley, Rebecca Locklin, Ashley Davis, Christine Hines and Ferdinand Garcia, stitchers; Nelli Zaifi, Cori Fougerousse, Megan McAllister, Kelsey Cain and Hannah Latham, wardrobe and makeup crew.
Wednesday and Thursday performances may be seen at no charge to University of Arkansas students with a valid university identification. Individual tickets, which range from $7 to $16, are on sale to the general public. Call the ticket office to reserve seats at 479-575-4752 or visit the department of drama website to purchase tickets online.
The University of Arkansas department of drama has been providing exciting and affordable live theatre for more than 60 years. The department combines a first rate theatrical education full of hands-on experience with a wide selection of titles to challenge students and delight the community. The department produces eight shows a year: four large-scale productions at the University Theatre and four smaller shows in the Studio Series. Shows range from new works to classic favorites, from period pieces and Shakespeare plays to Broadway musicals.
Ashley Cohea, University Theatre business manager
J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences
Darinda Sharp, director of communications
J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences
Editor-selected comments will be published below. No abusive material, personal attacks, profanity, spam or material of a similar nature will be considered for publication.comments powered by Disqus
The Arkansas Teacher Corps honored Fellows who completed their three-year teaching commitments in high-need schools in Arkansas at a celebration May 20 in Little Rock.
Jamie I. Baum, an assistant professor of nutrition in the Department of Food Science, will join key scientists at a workshop identifying research opportunities and gaps.
Military-friendly campus culture, academic quality and outcomes for veterans are key values in selecting the top 130 four-year institutions.
The State International Development Organizations has named Dan Hendrix, president and chief executive officer of the World Trade Center Arkansas as a new member of their leadership board.
The College of Education and Health Professions will have several new faces in administrative positions at the University of Arkansas, Dean Michael Miller announced.

domain: entertainment


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Missouri agriculture photo contest captures best of farm, rural life
The Missouri Department of Agriculture has launched the 5th annual Focus on Missouri Agriculture contest, asking Missourians to share the unique stories and images of agriculture through photographs. The contest, which runs through June 30, is an opportunity for amateur photographers across the state to submit their best images of agriculture -- from a beautiful Missouri farm, to a farm tractor that has been in the family for years and the fun and excitement of a child at an agri-tourism operation.
The Focus on Missouri Agriculture photo contest is open to Missouri's amateur photographers of all ages. Participants may enter up to three photos in each of the five categories. Categories include: The beauty of the farm, faces of the farm, the farming life and the pride of the farm. The children's barnyard, a special category for budding photographers ages 12 and under, is back for the 5th annual contest as well.
Winners will be announced at the 2014 Missouri State Fair in Sedalia, Aug. 7-17, and the images will be displayed during the State Fair in the agriculture building.
For a complete list of rules and guidelines, visit agriculture.mo.gov/focus. Photos submitted to the contest will be placed on the contest website and available on the Department's Flickr stream. Photos must be submitted by June 30.

domain: hobby


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Corporate Wear Collection
STANDARD CORPORATE WEAR CATALOGUE
Our standard corporate wear catalogue assists both larger and smaller based companies with a wide selection of popular garment styles, for a variety of shapes and sizes , in both ladies and gents wear. Our office wear catalogue is depicted in black and white, thus offering you the freedom of choice from our extensive colour palette and fabric range.
Using quality fabrics, our corporate wear is designed with both the stylish/modern and classic employee in mind. Our range offers two further fundamentals: comfort and confidence. The Karma range of formal corporate wear projects a professional and elegant appearance throughout the year.
We enjoy working together with you on your corporate clothing requirements and as such do not hold stock, but manufacture on order.
As tailoring and shaping at KARMA Corporate Wear continues to leap forward, our garments are further styled with colour, texture and defining details. A sophisticated and modern approach to uniforms and corporate wear is achieved through our passion for cutting edge design and creativity. Through offering just this, we design company corporate wardrobes to do the talking.
Our corporate wear catalogue is continually updated so as to offer our clients a selection of not only previous styles ordered, but new and season- inspired garments to include to your current working wardrobe.
We invite you to visit us at our Showroom for further assistance.
Corporate Clothing Range
We believe that no other garment in a corporate wear wardrobe expresses the success of a business-like appearance than the absolute essential jacket.
At KARMA Corporate Clothing we believe that pants have, over time, become a more widely accepted and convenient garment to be worn by women in an office setting.
Although we consider the skirt to be an essential item in a corporate clothing wardrobe, it is arguably often also the most contentious garment within the business environment.
A business shirt should always be practical, comfortable and flattering and as it is worn close to the body, should always represent the figure in the most positive manner.
should also incorporate a garment that can be worn as an alternative to a business shirt – an item for the less formal days, but one that is still suitable for the corporate environment.

domain: design


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The Lewis County Coroner’s Office is among the county agencies under fire for how the investigation into the August deaths of Aron Christensen, 49, of Portland and his puppy, Buzzo, were handled.
This month, the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office decided not to press felony charges against the primary suspect, Ethan M. Asbach, 20, of Tenino, who told deputies in August he “shot a dog” and subsequently found Christensen’s body with a bullet hole in his side.
In his letter formally declining the charges referred by the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, Meyer cited mistakes made by the first-responding deputy, possible cross-contamination on the bullet recovered from Christensen’s torso and the differing results of the two necropsies done on Buzzo as possible contributing factors leading to the prosecutor’s office lacking the evidence needed to pursue charges.
With the case at a standstill and justice seemingly out of reach, public outcry has increased, with Lewis County residents bringing their frustrations to the Lewis County Board of Commissioners earlier this week and a protest planned on the steps of the state Capitol Sunday.
After representatives of the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office responded to questions and concerns about the case last week, the Lewis County Coroner’s Office arranged to sit down with Chronicle reporters on Tuesday to speak about their role in the investigation into Christensen’s death.
Role In The Investigation
Every death investigation in Lewis County is a joint investigation between the Lewis County Coroner’s Office and the law enforcement agency assigned to the incident, which in this case was the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office based on the location the bodies were found, according to Coroner Warren McLeod.
“We do basically corresponding investigations … Law enforcement is responsible for the scene. We’re responsible for the decedent,” McLeod said.
The Lewis County Coroner’s Office’s job is to determine the decedent’s cause and manner of death, McLeod said. All other investigative work is in the hands of law enforcement.
“They (law enforcement) are the ones responsible for collecting evidence to determine if there’s criminality … and then it goes to the prosecutor’s office to make that determination,” McLeod said.
In a typical death investigation, law enforcement officials begin their investigation of the scene and then call the Lewis County Coroner’s Office. When coroner’s office personnel arrive, they do a “precursory exam” at the scene and, if the death appears to be suspicious, the decedent is placed in a clean white sheet, their hands are bagged and they are placed into a black body bag before being transported to the Lewis County Coroner’s Office, McLeod said.
“It’s sealed, it’s photographed, so that any evidence that is found at autopsy can be determined it wasn’t added anywhere else,” McLeod said.
The Lewis County Coroner’s Office trains its staff to investigate every case as if it’s a homicide until proven otherwise, McLeod said.
“Every call we respond to is a homicide until we work and we prove it’s a suicide. Then we work and prove it’s an accidental (death). Then, when that’s done, you can treat it as a natural (death) because that way, you eliminate what’s called ‘cognitive bias,’” McLeod said.
An example of cognitive bias, McLeod said, is a dispatcher telling officers the death was reported as a suicide, “so by the time you get there, you can have yourself convinced it’s a suicide and actually easily dismiss red flags,” he said, later adding, “Cognitive bias is easy to happen to people, it really is.”
He said it is even easier for veteran responders to be trapped by cognitive bias, as they recall similarities in previous scenes.
Recovering The Bodies
While McLeod’s office approached the case with the view Christensen’s death was suspicious until proven otherwise, the typical wrapping procedure for suspicious cases wasn’t followed for Christensen because coroner staff weren’t able to make it up the trail to the scene where his body was found, McLeod said.
Lewis County Coroner’s Office personnel are not trained for search and rescue (SAR) operations, so for their safety, McLeod said, they stayed at the campground and waited for the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office team to bring the body.
“If you have anything involving the SAR team, search and rescue, those folks are highly trained and equipped,” McLeod said, referencing previous incidents where law enforcement had near-encounters with bears and other potentially dangerous wildlife.
“I don’t put my people in those situations,” McLeod said.
The first-responding Lewis County Sheriff’s Office deputy, a U.S. Forest Service officer, a Department of Fish and Wildlife officer and five campers ultimately “used sticks, ratchet straps and rope to make a makeshift basket to carry (Christensen) out of the trail,” according to the deputy’s report. Christensen, Buzzo and Christensen’s belongings were then wrapped up together in a tarp, placed in the basket and packed out to Walupt Lake Campground, where they arrived just before 11:50 p.m on Aug. 20 — nearly eight hours after law enforcement was dispatched to the scene.
“Aron came down wrapped in a tarp. My deputy left him wrapped in the tarp because you don’t want to start cutting ropes and, especially in the dark, you’re cutting ropes, you can lose trace evidence,” McLeod said.
The tarp and all of its contents were transported directly to the Lewis County Coroner’s office, according to McLeod.
Once coroner personnel opened the tarp and separated the contents, the items deemed to be evidence were turned over to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office while Christensen was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital for X-rays.
Full-body X-rays aren’t done for every case the Lewis County Coroner’s Office handles, but in cases like Christensen’s where there’s an open wound with no obvious exit wound, “we take them over for an X-ray because the key is bullets and projectiles can move,” McLeod said.
Once the X-ray revealed a bullet was indeed lodged in Christensen’s torso, the coroner’s office brought in contracted forensic pathologist Dr. Megan Quinn to conduct an autopsy.
Quinn is one of three forensic pathologists the Lewis County Coroner’s Office has standing contracts with to conduct autopsies.
While Buzzo, technically, is classified as evidence and should have been turned over directly to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, because he had already been transported to the Lewis County Coroner’s Office in the tarp and hadn’t been picked up yet by the sheriff’s office, Quinn did a brief external exam of the dog before she conducted the autopsy on Christensen on Aug. 26 to determine a necropsy on Buzzo was needed, according to McLeod.
It was during that exam possible cross-contamination between Buzzo and the bullet recovered from Christensen’s body occurred, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office and the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office.
When asked by a detective via email on Nov. 28 about the possibility of cross-contamination during her autopsy of Christensen and physical examination of Buzzo, Quinn said via email, “I would not say to any degree of certainty there could not have been DNA transfer between items of evidence.”
Quinn said she did switch her gloves between examinations, but “was sure the same instruments were used on the animal and Aron.” The techs and assistants there that day likely did not change their gloves and PPE between handling “any/all pieces of evidence,” including the two bodies, Quinn told a detective via email.
McLeod, however, claimed “there were no instruments” used during Buzzo’s exam at the coroner’s office, adding he confirmed that information with Quinn, who reportedly told McLeod “had she made a decision to use any instruments on the dog, it would have been a small metal probe, which has no place or use during an autopsy on a human.”
While Quinn herself changed her gloves between the exams, she said she was unsure whether the two technicians — one Lewis County Coroner’s Office employee who was present as a photographer and one technician from Quinn’s office — did the same.
The photographer, McLeod said, was only there to take photos and was not to touch any of the evidence.
McLeod himself was out of the office on vacation when the autopsy took place and said he could not personally confirm whether all proper procedures were followed.
“Dr. Quinn said she changed her gloves, that’s standard practice. She could not testify that other people did, in fact, change their gloves. I can’t because I wasn’t there, but it is standard practice,” he said.
Aside from Quinn and the two technicians, the only other person present in the room during the autopsy was a Lewis County Sheriff’s Office detective.
Standard practice when a projectile or other piece of evidence is removed from a body during an autopsy, McLeod said, is for the photographer to take photos of the object before the pathologist hands it to someone else in the room, usually a technician, and continues the autopsy.
“Then law enforcement takes custody of it right then and there,” McLeod said.
Buzzo was transported to the Thurston County Coroner's Office for X-rays.
Once the X-ray determined there was no bullet inside Buzzo, he was delivered to veterinarian Dr. Brandy Fay for a necropsy, which was completed at Fay’s practice, Newaukum Valley Veterinary Services, in September.
While the second necropsy was conducted at the Lewis County Coroner’s Office, the Portland-based veterinary specialist who conducted the necropsy was simply using that space and coroner personnel were not directly involved with the necropsy itself, according to McLeod.
Delay Of Autopsy Results
While Quinn conducted Christensen’s autopsy on Aug. 26, it was 60 days before her report detailing the cause was completed and delivered to the Lewis County Coroner’s Office.
The reason for that delay, McLeod said, is because Quinn determined during the autopsy that Christensen was suffering a major heart attack for at least 12 hours before his death, and so Quinn asked for additional forensic testing to determine whether Christensen was alive when the bullet entered his body.
“In retrospect, there are some cases where we're pending toxicology (test results) and it can take two months to get the toxicology back. So that 60 days is not outside the realm of normalcy, but we understand it's like, we released the cause and manner (of death) — gunshot wound to the chest, homicide — and people were like, ‘it took you 60 days to get that out?’” McLeod said.
The heart attack, described by McLeod as an acute myocardial infarction (MI), would likely have led to Christensen’s death, McLeod said, “But once you now have a projectile entered into the body at a high rate, which is a bullet, now that starts all sorts of physiological issues that exacerbates what was going on with the MI.”
The additional forensic testing, which involved looking at microanatomy of the tissue under a microscope, determined Christensen was alive when he was shot, according to McLeod.
Citing Quinn’s autopsy report, McLeod said Christensen was alive for two to four hours between when he was shot and when he died.
That timeframe contradicts the statements made by the primary suspect, 20-year-old Ethan M. Asbach of Tenino, and was not addressed in reports by Lewis County Sheriff’s Office detectives.
The bullet wound itself did not appear to be immediately fatal, McLeod said, “but there was an acute MI going on … and there was a delay in getting medical help, so those are all contributing factors.”
When a projectile such as a bullet is a contributing factor in a death, that death “falls under the heading of homicide,” McLeod said.
Homicide is defined as one person killing another person, but the ruling doesn’t necessarily mean there are criminal charges to be pursued.
“All murders are homicides but not all homicides are murders,” McLeod said, adding, “That falls on the prosecutor to make that decision based on the evidence.”
The Lewis County Coroner’s Office’s role in the investigation concluded as soon as Christensen’s cause and manner of death were determined, according to McLeod.
Communication With Christensen’s Family
When asked about the most-recent statement released by Christensen’s family, in which Christensen’s family said “the Lewis County Coroner’s Office met our very first calls with comments of ‘these are good kids, don’t be quick to judge,’” McLeod said former Deputy Coroner Dana M. Tucker told him she referred to the suspects as “the kids,” but “she did not remember saying ‘good kids.’”
Tucker left the Lewis County Coroner’s Office when she was elected coroner of Cowlitz County in November 2022.
“The family has also stated that they might have gotten those comments from the sheriff's office, too,” McLeod said. “What we have to remember is the family is going through the most difficult time of their lives, and I'm not saying that what they're saying is not true, but I did speak to a person and she said, ‘Yes, while talking to them, I referred to the suspects as the kids.’”
McLeod said he recently spoke to Christensen’s sister on the phone and acknowledged the comments.
“‘I understand your frustration,’ I said, ‘but as far as when you're talking to me,’ I said, ‘I will refer to them as the suspects.’ I said, ‘if and when they were arrested, I will refer to them as the defendants.’ I said, ‘and at the end, if there's a conviction,’ I said, ‘I will refer to them as convicts or inmates,’ and the sister appreciated that,” McLeod said.
When asked to respond to the family’s statement that “The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, Coroner’s Office and the Prosecutor’s Office have shown our family the lowest level of integrity we have experienced in our lives,” McLeod said, “I don’t feel they’ve received less integrity,” adding he believed his recent conversation with Christensen’s sister was respectful and productive.
He added, “If they feel like they’ve been treated that way, then that’s on me because my name is on the door. I’m the elected coroner. And if anyone in this office made them feel that way, then I sincerely apologize.”
Read More About the Case
For additional background on the investigation into the death of Aron Christensen, visit https://bit.ly/3Ku7IPf to read a comprehensive overview by Chronicle reporter Emily Fitzgerald.
To read a statement from Christensen’s family following the decision not to file charges, visit https://bit.ly/43xVHkw.
To read a recent interview with Lewis County Sheriff's Office command staff, visit https://bit.ly/3oqW0gS.
To read about discussion of the case at a recent Lewis County commissioners meeting, visit https://bit.ly/41LseSo.
The case number for Lewis County Sheriff’s Office’s investigation into Christensen’s death is 22C10739. The public records request form for the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, which includes instructions on how to submit it, is available online at https://bit.ly/3UvuFpK.

domain: news


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Kindness Saves You More
December is the time of year when many celebrate the holidays with their families, eating festive feasts while exchanging gifts and memories of the year past. However, it can also be a very stressful time of year for the many families who struggle with food insecurity. Every year thousands of Ontarians face the difficult decision between food and bills, and with the added expenses of Christmas, December isn’t a joyful month but just another weight on their already overloaded backs. Thankfully, those who are in the position to give can help their community by donating non-perishable food items to food banks. Your local food bank helps to ensure every family can have food on the table during not only the holiday season but all throughout the year and relies on the generous donations from their community.
From December 13th to December 31st each Continental Currency Exchange branch will be a drop-off location for local food banks. We will be accepting non-perishable food items, and to acknowledge your generosity we will be offering a discount to anyone who brings in a donation. As you plan your holiday trips and what currencies you need, remember to bring in a non-perishable food item to receive exclusive discounts on all currencies.
Food Banks Across Ontario Need More Help
Every year food banks across Ontario work with very little to help individuals facing food insecurity, but like everything else, the pandemic has put a strain on food banks throughout the province. With record-high numbers of people needing assistance food banks have encountered issues keeping up with the demand.
Foodbank users rose by 10% compared to the previous year
Feed Ontario, a collective of hunger-relief organizations throughout the province, reported that nearly 600,000 users made more than 3.6 million visits to food banks between April 1st, 2020, and March 31st, 2021. That’s an increase of over 10% compared to the previous year.
Food banks within Toronto reached new records this past year. For the first time the number of.new users seeking their services outnumbered existing users. Feed Ontario says COVID-19 has intensified the income insecurities and affordability issues within Ontario.
Households aren’t the only ones facing higher food costs though, as food banks grapple with the staggering increase in demand they are also struggling with ongoing supply chain disruptions and rising food costs. Food banks across the province have reported difficulty providing the same level of assistance for those in need with some pantry staples now costing almost 50% more than previous years.
It takes a village…
As the holidays approach food banks across the province are gearing up for their busiest time of the year, and despite ongoing struggles, are determined to get food on everyone’s dinner tables for Christmas. As the saying goes, “it takes a village” and your community can use your help. Visit any of our branches and drop off any non-perishable food items to donate to your local food bank. To thank you for your kind donation Continental Currency Exchange will also be offering a discount for any donations.
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much” – Helen Keller

domain: sociology


The Atom EMV Inground Pool Light will be the perfect addition to complete your inground pool. This elegant light features a recessed design that protrudes only 34mm into your pool for minimal projection and a more seamless pool wall design. Compared to the traditional 100 watt halogen light, the Atom EMV uses roughly 90% less energy making it less harmful to the environment and your wallet.
With the patented ‘Click-Fit’ bayonet locking system you won’t have to worry about fixing screws making it easier to install and work with in the future. DuoSink and PulseWave technologies provide maximum brightness with the lowest power consumption on the market today.


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Sept. 5, 2017 By Nathaly Pesantez
Police are on the lookout for a man they say left a loaded gun in a locker at the Astoria Park pool.
The suspect, according to police, was seen by witnesses at the pool placing a 9mm Kel-Tech firearm in a locker on Aug. 6 at 3:00 p.m. Witnesses then went to staff at the park and alerted them to the firearm, police say.
The man fled the scene without the gun after he was seen by witnesses, and the firearm was recovered by police shortly after at the locker, according to police.
Surveillance video released by the NYPD shows the suspect in blue trunks and a white hat walking barefoot around the pool grounds.
Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).


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Well, if you are right now taking care of your parents or elderly, this is the best time for you to be aware of their back pain (if they suffer from it). Here is available for them, best bed for bad back which is the best solution to heal or release their pain. Surely it is painful when people got bad back because they cannot move or even walk very well. Check these tips how to choose best bad.
Best Bed For Bad Back Advice
The first is choose hard or firm mattress because it is truly useful for back. If the mattress is too soft, it supports more pain in the back. Seriously! False the myth that you can use a wooden board is erroneous. Nevertheless, hard or firm mattress puts too much pressure on the shoulders and the pelvic area.
This is also best bed for back and hip pain which should be supported with firm bed and sleepers stomach is also necessary.
The next tip is buying one mattress for life. What does it mean? Well, illegal life expectancy of the mattress is 10 years, or 3650 nights. However, the need to change the mattress may come sooner if it has sagged.
You must pay attention to keep the mattress clean and looks new because this is good for the condition. Another tip is on the thickness choice of mattress which serves longer. And then, the namatranik makes sleep more comfortable and this is the best bed for back and neck pain as well.
Best Bed For Bad Backs
In addition, mattress from latex, foam polyurethane and spring blocks are different by quality. Well, a good bed is actually expensive. So, you are recommended to pick up the mattress with bed bases which is really comfortable for elderly.
The standard width of the bed varies from 140 to 180cm. It depends on the height and weight of those who will sleep on it. The wider the bed, the better it gets enough sleep. Evenmore, best bed for bad backs really should be indeed comfortable place for the elderly sleeping.
The spring base comes to the spring mattress. Lath base – latex, polyurethane, or spring. The easiest way to avoid mistakes is to buy a set of one brand. In this case, the mattress and bed will be exactly the same to each other. This is also the best bed for bad lower back if you find it correctly by trying to lie down when you buy the mattress.
Well, when you are in the store directly selecting the bed, you should try firstly. It is important that the surface is soft, and support is tight. The body must fully touch the mattress. If there is a gap in the kidney area, it means that the mattress is too hard. And if the elbow fails, when you rely on it, the mattress is too soft. Test bed is preferable in light clothing.
Correct position of the body – when your spine is fully straightened. If it bends, it indicates the excessive softness of the mattress. Hope you can find best bed for bad backwhich can prevent the elderly from back pain during sleeping.

domain: health


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Road Artwork is actually a really preferred sort of art which is spreading speedily all around the environment. You may discover it on structures, sidewalks, avenue indicators and trash cans from Tokyo to Paris, from Moscow to Cape Town. Road artwork has become a world lifestyle and in some cases artwork museums and galleries are gathering the function of avenue artists.
Avenue artwork started off extremely secretly as it is unlawful to paint private and non-private house without having permission. Individuals usually have various views about avenue artwork. Some believe it is actually a criminal offense and other folks consider it really is a very lovely new sort of tradition.
In the event the partitions develop into canvas, the street arts are born. Frequently known for its notoriety as unsanctioned art, this form of expression has shaped the course for visual imagery in more approaches than just one. It's got showcased thoughts in the prevalent person and introduced out his views on to a community platform. It has shown the limitless alternatives of artwork, after assumed constrained only on the elite and restricted to some mediums. The road arts vary for various nations, showcasing each individual country's particular person social, financial, political and moral ethos. And in excess of the period of time, these photographs chart the way distinctive nations around the world are taking. In the following paragraphs we're going to try to understand street art in its assorted varieties, how it has developed and what its upcoming could imaginably be.
Along with the utilization of top quality projectors, cameras, personalized software program, and laser pointers, they may have created a system that is effective at allowing for the artist to paint in gentle, making use of higher rise buildings as their canvas. The camera follows the substantial run laser pointer as being the artist moves it through the constructing. The software then fills while in the path of your laser pointer which has a sort of digital paint that receives projected onto the constructing. The impact obtained by this really is as if the artist was essentially employing an airbrush to color the aspect from the developing. This artwork can be showcased in front of many numbers of folks, and it's presently been made use of upcoming to freeways, and in dense metropolis places.
A lot of street corners in Paris demonstrate the function of Space Invader. The French artist utilizes small parts of glass to make illustrations or photos of house creatures. He has become carrying out this for many decades plus the law enforcement have arrested him a handful of periods. On his website you can see many other spots wherever he has developed this kind of art.
Road artists do their function for the explanation. A number of them never like artists who make a lot of money in galleries and museums. They decide on street artwork mainly because it is nearer towards the individuals. Some artists consider to specific their political viewpoint within their get the job done. They frequently want to protest from significant corporations and organizations. Other individuals want to do items which might be forbidden and hope they don't get caught. - boys wall art stickers
Tag type graffitiThe essential signature of a graffiti artist is known given that the tag fashion. Here the title is created within a straightforward or exclusive model which the artist uses to sign her or his is effective. These tag fashion graffiti performs can generally be viewed on a lot of walls. Although basically a signature, this will likely also consist of concealed messages in case the artist intends so. Some artists also use hearth extinguishers filled with paint to tag on significant locations, otherwise unreachable.
BombingGenerally known as throw-up, this kind of avenue artwork makes utilization of a number of colours on numerous surfaces of the region. A further kind of bombing is yarn bombing. Just like bombing, this fashion consists of the use of loads of yarn to develop art items. Artists are consequently frequently well-versed during the craft of knitting and placing with each other the yarn in the range of designs and design. This manner of graffiti is often utilized to an current piece of pop artwork to provide it extra model and attractiveness.
Hollow graffitiThis way of graffiti is usually well-liked as outlines or shells. As being the name implies, right here just the outlines of your photo get priority and no fill is employed.
PieceOf fantastic interest to artwork fans and graffiti artists is that this method of work. A piece refers to an elaborate get the job done of graffiti that involves sophisticated images and depictions. Three dimensional outcomes, color transitions and also a array of consequences are created use listed here. As this do the job usually takes plenty of time, it's frequently finished in a very lawful manner. A perfectly executed piece earns the artist a good amount of recognition, far more so if the piece is situated in the hard-to-reach locale.
ScribingGenerally known as scratchitti, scribing refers back to the creation of graffiti that's tough to get rid of. This really is done by scratching or etching graffiti on to your area. Sharp instruments like keys, knives or drill bits are utilized to reach this. Most artists in scribing are very well versed using the familiarity with what things can etch on which surfaces and supply what results, generating this manner of artwork somewhat interesting, provided that it can be not illegal.
Stencil graffitiThis can be yet another preferred method of graffiti portraits that grew to become common with Blek le Rat. Slash outs from cardboard, plastic as well as paper are used to replicate images rapidly and easily. Commencing from small illustrations or photos to daily life size types, stencil graffiti has obtained serious level of popularity over time.
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“While many investors have seen a decline in the value of their stock portfolio over the past year, Cigna shareholders became significantly richer today after the company announced that it made far more in profits during the first three months of this year than Wall Street financial analysts had expected,” Wendell Potter writes over at Substack. “Cigna, the giant health insurer that also operates one of the country’s biggest pharmacy benefit managers -– and my former employer -– reported making $1.9 billion in profits during the first quarter of 2022, 12% more than the $1.7 billion it made during the same quarter last year. That translates into $6.01 a share, way higher than Wall Street analysts’ average expectation of $5.18 a share -– and much more than the $4.73 the company reported for the first quarter of 2021. To put that in an even broader perspective, earnings per share 10 years ago, at the end of the first quarter of 2012, came in at just $1.28. Cigna is a massively bigger company today than it was back then, thanks largely to its 2018 acquisition of Express Scripts, the big PBM that Cigna now markets under the name Evernorth. At the end of the first quarter of 2012, Cigna reported $6.9 billion in total revenues. As a result of that acquisition -– and relentless increases in health plan premiums and out-of-pocket requirements over the past decade -– the company’s revenues have increased more than sixfold, to $44 billion. Most of that, by far, is, shall we say, drug money. In fact, 75% of Cigna’s total revenues came from Evernorth during the first three months of 2022. The company said Evernorth contributed $33.6 billion in revenues, up 10% from the $30.6 billion during the first quarter of 2021.” Wendell Potter, “Big insurer Cigna took in $44 billion in the first 3 months of 2022. 75% came from its drug business,” Substack.
Jeanne Pinder is the founder and CEO of ClearHealthCosts. She worked at The New York Times for almost 25 years as a reporter, editor and human resources executive, then volunteered for a buyout and founded ClearHealthCosts.
She was previously a fellow at the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at the Columbia University School of Journalism. ClearHealthCosts has won grants from the Tow-Knight Center for Entrepreneurial Journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York; the International Women’s Media Foundation; the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation with KQED public radio in San Francisco and KPCC in Los Angeles; the Lenfest Foundation in Philadelphia for a partnership with The Philadelphia Inquirer; and the New York State Health Foundation for a partnership with WNYC public radio/Gothamist in New York; and other honors.
Her TED talk about fixing health costs has surpassed 2 million views.


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Tuesday, 27 July 2010
Here is a birthday card made from photo copied material. I love this material it has fairies on it but here I just cut out a border of flowers and some single ones.( I hope you understand that it is paper, now that I have photo copied it, I also hope it's legal!!!!)
The butterflies have pearl centres and the white card has been embossed with crafts-Too Daisy folder.Beads of green, lilac and clear have been glued to the centre of the flowers. The sentiment is a glitter peel off.
Hope you like it!!
Posted by mrs ann at Tuesday, July 27, 2010

domain: artistic


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Arkansas Hotel Reservations
Travel to Little Rock
Central Arkansas Festivities and Attractions
Featuring a wealth of historical sites and attractions, fun and challenging hiking trails, plenty of lake for fishing and boating, and a thriving night life scene, Little Rock makes for a perfect destination in the south.
You’ll want to check out the Central High National Historic Site for a unique perspective on the U.S. civil rights battles of the 50s and 60s. Plan on a tour of the Old State House Museum and check out where early democratic votes where held for the state of Arkansas.
Throughout the year, you and the family will be treated to an array of fun festivals. From the annual Family Fun Fest in North Little Rock, to the annual World Cheese Dip Championship held in downtown Little Rock – there’s a treat and a taste for everyone.
Head north a few miles and check out Conway, home to Lake Conway and the Camp Robinson State Wildlife Area. A sterling destination for anglers and boating enthusiasts, Lake Conway is the largest man-made lake in the state, and yields fine bounties of bass and crappie.
Plan a day of hiking around Pinnacle Mountain State Park, just west of Little Rock, and an easy drive from Pine Bluff. A fine choie for hikers and mountain bikers alike, traverse the challenging terrain of the Ouachita National Hiking Trail, or take is easy on the Kingfisher Trail.
After a day of fishing and hiking around local parks and wildlife areas, be sure to venture into downtown Little Rock and check out the radiant night life scene. Fine restaurants, hip music venues, and plenty of shopping areas line the streets of downtown Little Rock – make your way in for a night of fun from West Helena or Arkadelphia.
Best Western Hotels Along the Way:
Area Visitor Favorites
- Best Things to Do in Fayetteville
An unbeatable itinerary for your visit to Fayetteville, Arkansas – covering everything from museums and parks to events and more.
- 10 Prime Places to Hunt in AR!
Hunting in Arkansas
Visiting Arkansas hunters, here are 10 of the best places to hunt in Arkansas – from the Ozarks to the Arkansas delta to Little Rock.
- 35 Things To Do For Kids In AR!
Wildlife of Arkansas
Here are 35 family-friendly outdoor and recreation ideas throughout central and southern Arkansas, the Ozarks, and delta region. Sponsored by Best Western Hotels.
- 7 Superb Shopping Destinations in AR!
Outdoor shopping in Arkansas
Here are seven upscale outlets and shopping malls in Arkansas – found throughout the Little Rock, Ozark, Delta, central, and southern regions of the Natural State.
- 8 Things You Didn't Know Happened in AR
Check Out Eight Significant Sites in Arkansas
Explore historic sites across Arkansas – from the former stomping grounds of the famed Little Rock Nine and writing barn of Hemingway himself to preserved remains of ancient civilizations.
- 9 Fishing Spots in AR!
Fishing in AR
Anglers of all skill levels frequently choose these nine fishing areas to cast out in – spread throughout the Ozarks, the Arkansas Delta, and southern regions.
- 9 Museums to Visit in AR
On your next trek through Arkansas, be sure to explore any of these excellent museums, like the Old State House Museum
- Explore Fort Smith & Van Buren
Fort Smith National Historic Site
The Fort Smith and Van Buren metro area features a variety of fun things to do and places to discover. Here are some favorites for Ozark visitors.
- 6 Racetracks Across Arkansas
From dirt track to oval and paved, these six Arkansas racetracks are ideal. Explore top races on your next visit to Arkansas.
- Best Things to Do in Eureka Springs
Ozark Mountain Ziplines
Known as the "Little Switzerland of America," Eureka Springs is a scenic city brimming with culture and fun things to do. Here are the best things to do in Eureka Springs.
- Top Hiking Trails in Arkansas
Yellow Rock Trail
Explore some of Arkansas' most beautiful landscapes during your visit by checking out these top Arkansas hiking trails.
- 10 Must-See Ozark Attractions
From Fayetteville to Fort Smith to Eureka Springs, check out these 10 great attractions in the Ozark Mountain areas.
- 9 Golf Courses in Arkansas
Tee off during your next Arkansas visit.
Head to Arkansas and enjoy the year round golf. With a slew of courses from Fayetteville to Little Rock, shoot for par in AR.
- Best Things to Do in Hot Springs
Hot Springs, AR
Your guide to the best things to see and do in Hot Springs – with everything from bathhouses to gambling halls.
- Best Swimming Holes in AR!
The best natural and man-made swimming holes in Arkansas.
Bring your dog with you to Arkansas.
Your guide to the best things to see and do with your pup in tow – From Little Rock to Eureka Springs and beyond.

domain: geography


An international team of scientists from Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), the University of Maryland and more, have developed a graphene-based optical detector which reacts very rapidly to incident light of all different wavelengths and works at room temperature. It is reportedly the first time that a single detector has been able to monitor the spectral range from visible light to infrared radiation and right through to terahertz radiation.
The graphene detector is made of graphene on silicon carbide, along with a unique antenna. It is regarded as a comparatively simple and inexpensive construct that can cover the huge spectral range from visible light all the way to terahertz radiation, as graphene can pick up light with a very large range of photon energies and convert it into electric signals (unlike semiconductors like silicon or gallium arsenide). The broadband antenna and the right substrate were enough to supplement graphene and create the ideal conditions for this unique detector, that can be used for the exact synchronization of laser systems.
The detector works by having the graphene flake and antenna assembly absorb the rays, thereby transferring the energy of the photons to the electrons in the graphene. These "hot electrons" increase the electrical resistance of the detector and generate rapid electric signals. The detector can register incident light in just 40 picoseconds - billionths of a second.
The scientists say that the choice of substrate has proved an important step in improving this device. While semiconductor substrates used in the past have always absorbed some wavelengths, silicon carbide remains passive in the spectral range. At the same time, the antenna acts like a funnel and captures long-wave infrared and terahertz radiation. The scientists have therefore been able to increase the spectral range by a factor of 90 in comparison with the previous model, making the shortest detectable wavelength 1000 times smaller than the longest.
This optical universal detector is already being used at the HZDR for the exact synchronization of the two free-electron lasers at the ELBE Center for High-Power Radiation Sources with other lasers. This alignment is particularly important for many experiments. The scientists are actually using the graphene detector like a stopwatch that tells them when the laser pulses reach their goal, and the large bandwidth helps to prevent a change of detector from being a potential source of error. Another advantage is that all the measurements can take place at room temperature, eliminating the need for the expensive and time-consuming nitrogen or helium cooling processes with other detectors.


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- Police Beat
- The Forecaster
A number of fine musical events are coming up this weekend in the run-up to the Ides of March.
Biggest in terms of audience and influence will be this Sunday’s concert by the Portland Symphony Orchestra. During the PSO’s maestro-less 2018-2019 season, guest artist Jaime Laredo will appear in a dual role, both as virtuoso violinist and conductor.
Two new collaborations between traditional acoustic musicians will be showcasing their talents in Portland’s One Longfellow Square, and both feature prominent Portland artists in combination with others from beyond the local orbit. On March 9 the Barnes-Gordy-Walsh Trio, specializing in bluegrass, will appear. The third-named member is Joe K. Walsh, Portland’s premier mandolin virtuoso and music educator. Then on March 14, Josephine County will take the stage, anchored by Mainers Matt Shipman and Erica Brown. Although this husband-wife duo is best known for bluegrass, Josephine County is a new ensemble that aims for a distinctly Irish tinge.
In the rarefied atmosphere of top-tier classical music there’s hardly anyone who can match the credentials and longevity of superstar violinist Jaime Laredo. Since his orchestral debut at the age of 11 with the San Francisco Symphony, Laredo has won the admiration and respect of audiences, critics and fellow musicians with his passionate and polished performances.
This Bolivian-born artist excels in several facets of music: as a globetrotting violin virtuoso and guest soloist with orchestras, as a chamber musician with the long-running Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio, as a pedagogue with numerous conservatories and as adjudicator of classical music competitions. Plus there’s one more: Laredo is renowned as a conductor of orchestras.
This Sunday the Portland Symphony Orchestra has engaged Laredo for two of his roles. He’ll play violin and conduct.
His program comprises a trio of audience favorites, beginning with Johann Sebastian Bach’s Violin Concerto No. 1. Georges Bizet’s Symphony in C will follow, and the afternoon will wrap up with Felix Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 3, commonly nicknamed “Scottish.”
A principal theme for the latter work was jotted down while the young composer was visiting Holyrood, home of Mary, Queen of Scots, and the scene of her illicit love affair with an Italian musician.
Catch the Portland Symphony Orchestra at 2:30 p.m. March 10 at Merrill Auditorium at Portland City Hall. Call PortTix at 842-0800.
Mandolin virtuoso Joe K. Walsh is one of the masters of bluegrass, with many gigs and collaborations to his credit. Among these are several national tours with the Gibson Brothers. As a Maine resident, he’s also active in the local music scene as a performer and teacher. Plus he’s got a regular teaching assignment with the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Recently Walsh has teamed up with two musicians for a new project, the Barnes-Gordy-Walsh Trio, which is currently touring the northeast. The trio formed last year at a music camp in the mountains of Wyoming, where each had been hired to teach.
The trio is anchored by banjo player and singer-songwriter Danny Barnes, who was the 2015 winner of the Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass.
Guitarist Grant Gordy went from being a rabid fan of David Grisman to playing in the David Grisman Quintet for six years. Gordy has been featured on National Public Radio’s “Morning Edition,” “Tiny Desk Concerts” and “All Things Considered,” as well as The Fretboard Journal, Acoustic Guitar Magazine and Flatpicking Guitar Magazine.
Catch the Barnes-Gordy-Walsh Trio at 8 p.m. March 9 at One Longfellow Square, corner of Congress and State in Portland. Call 761-1757.
When I first started writing about Erica Brown, she was a pre-teen fiddling phenom from the Lewiston area who was making waves and turning heads in Maine bluegrass and Franco music circles. Nowadays she’s a young lady from Portland with her own band, the Bluegrass Connection, which she anchors with her husband, guitarist and songwriter Matt Shipman.
Recently the pair have joined forces with two other musicians for a new venture, Josephine County, with a very Irish orientation.
Traditional Irish flute player and singer Hanz Araki is known worldwide for innovative approaches. Araki’s reputation is based on exquisite instrumental work on both Irish whistle and flute, and a haunting singing voice that was born to tell tales.
Percussionist Colleen Raney is an interpreter of traditional Irish music from generations past. Her singing brings warmth and authenticity to the songs she collects. Colleen feels compelled by the beauty of traditional Irish songs and has committed herself to honoring past generations’ artistry through performance and scholarship.
Catch Josephine County at 8 p.m. March 14 at One Longfellow Square, corner of Congress and State in Portland. Call 761-1757.
Violin virtuoso Jaime Laredo will appear with the Portland Symphony Orchestra this Sunday in a dual role: violin soloist and guest conductor.


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With the warmer weather, comes renewed motivation. On the horizon, things to look forward to in rapid excited succession: Mexico! Moving! Summer! Gardening! Bikes! Bare Feet! Culinary School!
In the meantime I’ve been
Having afternoon tea/ champagne cocktails with Annie, who just started a new blog
Making my mama dinner. She doesn’t like cilantro, so I subbed regular Italian parsley in a recipe for Thai Beef. The marinade for the flank steak was intense: fresh lime juice, a little oj, a little grapefruit juice, brown rice vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, salt, pepper, red onion, garlic, red chili flakes, chopped basil, chopped parsley, and chopped mint.
The salad was delicious; medium rare steak chopped over red cabbage, red onion, carrot, basil, mint, parsley w/ a rice ginger blackberry vinagrette.
The glories of grass fed beef should not be forgotten, even in times of great economic stress. This sounds like bougie bull, but I’m serious. We’re not supposed to eat beef that often anyways, why not make it a treat, like once every 6 weeks?

domain: food


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Food Security & Agriculture
OIC International’s Food Security & Agriculture programs aim to make measurable and sustainable improvements in farming production and resource utilization through instruction and skills improvement in growing, processing and marketing practices. We provide direct technical assistance to farmers through field extension agents, who live and work in communities to promote changes in attitudes and systems, while enhancing clients’ skills in agriculture.
OIC International does not simply give rural farmers new tools; we empower rural farmers with the skills needed to generate increased production and profit, and also with knowledge, promoting respect for the environment and improving the quality of life of the community as a whole.
Over the past 40 years, we have successfully improved food security for populations at risk through technical interventions in areas such as post-harvest management; processing and storage; animal husbandry; agricultural marketing; bullock traction; agro-forestry; inventory credit; and the formation of farming groups and committees.
The primary objectives of OIC International’s Food Security & Agriculture programs are to:
- increase food availability and food access through improved farming systems, invigorated entrepreneurship, and strengthened market systems
- improve food utilization through food distribution and better care practices, such as improved food processing, preservation and storage

domain: agronomy


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Monthly Archives: August 2011
Galloping Goose #4 rides the rails again! I had the wonderful and rare opportunity to ride the restored Goose today. It’s been on display in Telluride, Colorado, and last ran 58 years ago. The Ridgway Railroad Museum started the restoration … Continue reading
Cow Creek Road is the eastern end of Ouray CR 12. The word that kept coming to mind as I rode the lengthy road this morning is “sylvan,” which comes from an old French word meaning “forest diety.” To say … Continue reading
Every once in awhile one encounters cognitive dissonance. In the photo I’m traveling north on Ouray CR 12 on my way to Cow Creek. The upside-down sign really caught my attention—the road actually turns right to the east.
This morning I took San Juan, Colorado, County Road 12 up to Clear Lake. The GPS track and pictures are found by going to this post. I’d concentrated so much on the road that I didn’t see the wildflowers at … Continue reading
Clear Lake in San Juan County, Colorado, is a pristine example of a high (above tree line) lake in the bowl of a glacially-carved basin—I traveled there this morning. The lake is natural and is reached by traveling up San … Continue reading
The Mancos Renaissance Fair was held this past weekend. I had the opportunity to spend several hours there on Saturday, August 20th, 2011. I had a nice chat with a gal who was spinning wool into yarn using an old-fashioned … Continue reading
I had a great chance to interview these two young people, both named John, about their chain mail, swords, and other miscellanea. If you know who these people are, let me know so I can credit them appropriately.
The Galloping Goose was a famous part of the Rio Grand Southern Railroad. RGS connected Ridgway with Telluride and, via Lizard Head Pass, down to Rico and around finally to Durango. The railroad went through some of the most spectacular … Continue reading
On July 1st I took the road up to Alta Lakes (see here). A few wildflowers caught my eye.


Global Aircraft Design and Engineering Market is expected to register a significant growth rate in the coming years due to a rise in the number of fleet modernization programs and technological advancements in the aviation industry. Moreover, rising military investments across countries are expected to encourage market growth during the forecast period. However, the need for high initial investments and long certification periods are expected to restrain market growth.
The Global Aircraft Design and Engineering Market has been segmented on the basis of aircraft component, operation, end use, and region.
By aircraft component, the market has been segmented into engine, wings, fuselage, tail, nose, landing gear, and pylon. The fuselage segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The growing use of composite materials in fuselage manufacturing is expected to drive the growth of the segment. Furthermore, investments in fuselage design to reduce aircraft drag are expected to positively impact the growth of the segment during the review period.
Based on operation, the market has been divided into design, manufacturing, analysis and testing, maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO), and others. The maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO)segment is expected to be the fastest-growing during the forecast period. The growing number of aging fleets requiring MRO services is expected to encourage the growth of the segment during the assessment period. Furthermore, new technologies such as blockchain are expected to lower costs for MRO companies, further driving the growth of the segment.
Access Report Details @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/aircraft-design-engineering-market-8413
The key players in the global aircraft design & engineering market are Boeing (US), Airbus SAS (Netherlands), Bombardier (Canada), Lockheed Martin Corporation (US), Embraer SA (Brazil), United Technologies Corporation (US), GE Aviation (US), and Rolls-Royce PLC (UK).


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Following the WIA AGM that was held on the 19th of May at the Sea World Convention Centre, Gold Coast Australia the WIA set the stage for the future of Amateur Radio beyond 2020.
By placing future and then reflecting on the achievements of the past an array of aspirations were identified.
* Engagement with mainstream electronics and technical experimenters’ community
* Access to spectrum in a manner that is aligned with future digital radio technologies
* Online examination
* Pathways that allow all Australians access to the hobby
To hear the future of Amateur Radio Beyond 2020, take a look at the video of the presentation.
WIA AGM - Beyond 2020 Presentation
Page Last Updated: Wednesday 6 June 2018 at 22:35 hours by Justin Giles-clark


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This beautiful flower girl tiara features 4mm and 6mm round Swarovski pearls spaced with sparkling Swarovski crystal butterflies, both in your choice of colors. The pearls and butterfly crystals are strung on gold anti-tarnish wire and wire-wrapped by hand onto a 4mm bronze metal headband. (The 1st pictured tiara was a custom order for a little girl who was going to a princess birthday party. Her dress was blue with gold butterflies, so we chose gold pearls and lavender-chrysolite blend butterfly crystals. Pictures of her at the party can be seen in the 2nd and 3rd picture. The 4th picture was for a flower girl and made with gold pearls and violet butterflies) Also available with a silver headband and silver wire.
Dainty and brimming with girlish charm, the littlest members of your bridal party will feel like a princess wearing this butterfly tiara. Let it double as her flower girl gift too!
♦♦The Lavender-Chrysolite Blend and Topaz Blend Colors are not shown in the color chart. The Lavender-Chrysolite can be seen in the sample tiara pictures and has purple, blue and greenish hues. Topaz blend is a deep brown, also very pretty. Please contact me to request pictures of this color♦♦
♥♥Your flower girl tiara will arrive packaged and ready for gift giving in a colored, bow-tie box♥♥
~You may also like~
Personalized Butterfly Necklace with Flower Initial Charm
Personalized Butterfly Necklace with Round Initial Charm
Personalized Butterfly Pendant Necklace
Flower Girl Butterfly Bracelet
Matching Butterfly Earrings
Butterfly Necklace and Earring Set
Butterfly Necklace Set of 3 or More with Bulk Discounts
Each item in our Bridal Collection is made to order, so please allow up to 10 business days for processing before shipment, although we often ship earlier, depending on our stock. You can use this link to purchase our RUSH PROCESSING UPGRADE
Due to the personalized nature of our custom items, we do not accept returns. Therefore, please review your order carefully before submission and measure your wrist, if possible.


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"That is Mrs. Moore," said Anne. "She is very lovely, isn't she?"

Now, I try not to complain about the price of games too much. For one thing, developers deserve to get paid for their work, and I don't buy into the idea that small indie games should charge less than AAA games and all that nonsense. But these Resident Evil re-releases have definitely gone a bit far.

Listings for Resident Evil 0, Resident Evil HD, and Resident Evil 4 have cropped up on the Switch eShop, setting the price at £29.99 a pop. They don't have a price in the US yet, but you can probably expect them to be around $39.99 each.

A quick history lesson - Resident Evil HD launched on the GameCube in 2002, the same year as Resident Evil 0. Resi 4 came a bit later in 2005. All of these games have seen multiple re-releases across many consoles over the last decade or more, including on current-gen consoles.

Hunter Rush Mod Hunter Rush 1.23 Mod (Free Shopping) Features:Free ShoppingNumerous monsters began to emerge from deep mountains.To defend this, many hunters gathered from all over the world.It was time to recruit hunters,hunt monsters,collect bounty,and make stronger guilds.Are you ready for your heart?Let's go!To the world of the strong!Overall, we covered all detailed information about NBA 2K20 MOD APK. Now the game was available in Google Play with the paid version. If you need this game, you need to pay $5.99 to start installing. Don’t worry about buying the game from Google Play Store. We provide a free version from the download link. From the original version, you need to ply too much amount money for install. Use our MOD version to get paid version for free. Download our MOD version from below the article available links.
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If you thought the PUBG Mobile and BLACKPINK partnership was over you can think again. The popular K-pop group will be returning the battle royale on 13th November, sort of. At 13:00 UTC PUBG Mobile players and BLINKS can watch the group join a FUN MATCH Gameplay Show to play PUBG Mobile.

During this broadcast, the BLACKPINK members will squad up for an exclusive match in the Erangel map on PUG Mobile where they will be joined by South Korean gaming influencers DDEDDEDDEDDE and BEENU. Meanwhile, K-pop boy group Super Junior and gamer Kim Hee Chul will MC the show.
Everything new in PUBG Mobile: New Era and how to use it to your advantage
Fans will apparently see a different side of their idols as they play PUBG Mobile and they can also expect a surprise from the group during the event too. You can check out an exclusive teaser video for the event before it starts tomorrow in the embedded video below.

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Take the basis of Paperboy and mix in some neon 80s sheen and sci-fi shmup elements and you have Pie in the Sky: A Pizza Odyssey.

In Pie in the Sky, you control a flying car through bright suburbs, desert towns, and even outer space, dishing out pizza to customers along the way.

You’ll also have to dodge obstacles like asteroids and enemy ships – good thing your spacecar has guns.

Pie in the Sky features over 25 upgrades, 75 pizza toppings, and four difficulty levels.

You can buy Pie in the Sky for £2.29 / $2.99 on iOS. Android is coming soon.

Check out the trailer below.

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Square Enix's free to play RPG Rise of Mana, based on the popular World of Mana franchise is shutting down its servers at the end of March in Japan. Apparently, the game was no longer profitable.

Released in Japan in 2014 on iOS, PS Vita and then Android, it never saw the light of day in the west.

It's an action RPG that lets you explore a 3D world and take down monsters in small, enclosed, areas.

If you want to see more gameplay, here you go:


Eye Ra Haze recently finished recording new EP “Eye Of The Storm” with producer Chris “Zeuss” Harris (Killswitch Engage, Soulfly, Hatebreed).
Featuring three new tracks, “New Beginning,” “Quiet Storm,” and “Warships,” the EP is set for release on June 11th, 2013. A teaser trailer can be heard below. The following press release was also issued about the band:
“Modern progressive music is somewhat of a boys club. With the exception of a few bands that surfaced between the mid-90’s and now, the female gender has been primarily absent from the world of progressive hard rock and metal. Finally, the wait ends now with the introduction of New York City alternative/progressive quintet Eye Ra Hze. Not only featuring drummer Kevin Corcoran’s (ex-Buried Alive) thunderous beats and Berklee-schooled bassist Chris Marrone’s fresh rhythms, the band also includes the female triple-threat of seductive crooner Natasha Nicholson, striking 8-string guitarist Nicole Papastavrou (ex-Through this Defiance), and captivating classical pianist Karine Catenacci.
“Eye Ra Haze is the natural formation of five heavy music lovers who shared the dream of sculpting a nonpareil sound in the alternative and progressive genres. Their blend of delicate, ardent melodies and tumultuous rhythm riffs force Eye Ra Haze to stand apart from the crowd. They craft each song like a passionate, personal encounter, using dynamics to translate their mood and intentions. During the tremors of their live set, Eye Ra Haze exposes a crude display of skills, taking the audience from love to rage and leaving them hung; craving to know the source of their enigmatic dark side, and their intimidating show of beauty.”


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Visit 'Heavenly Host' and enjoy a Cozy, Romantic Log Cabin with indoor Jacuzzi, and very private covered deck with hot tub
Heavenly Host is a 'Honeymoon Cabin' that is a great place for newlyweds and couples looking to escape.
As you enter the authentic log cabin, you will find a fully equipped kitchen where you can prepare a candlelight dinner. To your left is a bathroom with an oversized shower.
The main part of the cabin contains a Log Frame Queen bed, Jacuzzi for two, gas fireplace, HDTV and Blu-rayDVD player.
Beautiful french doors open up to the very private back deck where a large Hot Tub is waiting for you to enjoy!
Just 3 miles from downtown Gatlinburg and the Trolley route comes by right down the hill. Located close to the Gatlinburg Arts and Crafts Community.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT US ON (website hidden) AT 'HEAVENLY HOST'
WHY THIS PROPERTY?
Several years ago, we had the opportunity to purchase this beautiful log cabin and our hope is that it will be a blessing to couples and families as they seek to renew their relationships, and enjoy some time away from the busyness of everyday life!
WHAT MAKES THIS CABIN UNIQUE?
'Heavenly Host' is a great place to enjoy some 'getaway time' as a couple. Whether you are relaxing in the jacuzzi tub, preparing a candle light dinner in the full kitchen, snuggling up in front of the fire place, or enjoying the very private hot tub on the covered deck, there are many amenities to enjoy!
The covered back deck also has a gas grill so you can grill some sizzling steaks rain or shine. The rocking chairs on the deck provide a private view of the wooded hillside. It's a great place to talk, listen to nature, or read and pray.
After relaxing, there are plenty of activities nearby. The cabin is located near the Arts and Crafts community and is only 3 miles from the heart of Gatlinburg with all its shopping, restaurants and entertainment.
NO PETS PLEASE
No Pets and No smoking please.
No damage deposit has been collected, but renters assume responsibility for damages/missing items and will be charged accordingly.
Violation of 'no pets' will result in a $200 charge plus any damages.
My boyfriend and I loved staying in this cabin! It is private and cozy and includes everything one would need for a relaxing vacation. It is clean and comfortable. We also enjoyed the location- close to Gatlinburg, Smokey mtn national park, and other fun thing!
The cabin was awesome and well decorated as advertised! Everything was just clean and wonderful. It's convenient to the town and trails we want to hike. Mike and Carol are very helpful with most of the information we will be needed. Would definitely come back again! Maybe some time around spring
We just stayed 1 night on Easter Sunday but this little cabin is PERFECT for 2 people(or maybe a small family of 3)! The atmosphere of this cabin was so cute and, what I think was, decorated very well. It was very clean, the smell was very pleasant and it felt very comfortable. The view from the deck was nice and scenic with the trees everywhere and a little bit of wild life. When/if we come back and it’s just the 2 of us we will certainly try to book this place again. Thanks Mike and Carol for making our stay so pleasant =)!
Hello B&B'ers. I have to tell you that this is the nicest place I have stayed in, in Gatlinburg this far. I have stayed at a lot of places, but I have to tell you the internet is super fast the hot tub is very private and the cabin is just right. I was there by myself and I really enjoyed having an oven and my own space. I didn't have to worry about being too noisy like other places and I didn't have to worry about others keeping me up. What a sublime place to relax. I will always see if this place is available when I go up. Also it is right up the street from a grocery store and 3 miles from the strip. So convenient. I give it 5 stars.
Beautiful and clean place, good amenities, great location, and responsive and organized hosts.
I have nothing but good things to say about my experience, and I would highly recommend this cabin to anyone staying in the Smokies.
The reservation was canceled the day before arrival. This is an automated posting.
A very romantic, comfortable private log cabin. Mike and Carol have very good communication skills and had a heap of great advice on the area. The jacuzzi is such a bonus!
My wife and I have been married almost 30 years. We went on our honeymoon to Gatlinburg! We have two grown children and an 'empty nest child'...a Goldendoodle dog named Max.
My wife teaches Kindergarden and I am a Regional Pastor. We lead mission teams to Guatemala as well.

domain: travel


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The Silent Companions unfolds across three narration periods; the diary of Anne Bainbridge in 1635, the events at The Bridge in 1885 with recently widowed Elsie Bainbridge and the most recent developments at St Joesph’s Hospital. All three narrative periods are interconnected to cultivate one-heck-of-a gripping climax.
Thiiiiiis book! If you want something gothic, haunting, chilling… read this book. There are one or two moments of graphic horror, fair warning. The plot of this book reminded me of a particular episode of Doctor Who, or more specifically, a particular species from the TV show (… I can’t name them as it would 100% ruin the book). But let me tell you, this book creeped me out just as much as the Doctor Who episode.
Purcell’s style of writing drew me in from the first couple of pages. As the story progressed, I consistently had a burning need to know more and more with every turn of the page – every chapter left me theorising and trying to work out what was happening. This truly was brilliantly written.
The plot is mainly based at The Bridge, a manor in the English countryside that oozes history and eeriness. I could easily imagine the grounds, the hallways, the rooms, the bridge… and the Companions. All of this was extremely effectual in transporting me into the book’s world, which made it all the more spooky when things started going south for the poor ladies of the house.
On that note – something that took me by surprise was the majority of the characters were an ensemble of women, and Purcell illustrated these women in their social strata. I was really taken with this – and was annoyed out my mind when Elsie’s (younger) brother was pulling rank over her because of their genders, and poor Hetta was dismissed because of her disability. I just think this dimension of the novel was a nice touch to the feelings of unease and horror that were building across the book. The characters in general are well developed and easily liked or loathed when relevant.
The ending of this book exemplifies this as a horror. I was horror-struck. And describing myself as that is no exaggeration.
I’ve hummed and hawed about how to convey this without it being a “spoiler”. There is no happy ending here. Sometimes when reading a book, we desperately want our heroes and heroines to have a happy ending, and it can be of great disappointment when that doesn’t happen. We’ve invested 300+ pages caring about them. So that’s why I feel I can say this as a prelude to prospective readers: there is no happy ending here. You will feel horror in the last pages, right to the closing words. If you can stomach that, then carry on with your plans to read this.
Overall, I read this within two days and I’m rating it 4 stars. I did feel there were some unresolved matters as I still had questions by the end. I suspect some of these lingering questions are intentional, for each and every reader to conclude their own opinions. However, I personally would have liked a clean ending, with all my questions answered in the pages. Nonetheless, I absolutely loved this gothic and creepy horror, and recommend it.
As a side note, I have gone on to read other books by Purcell – and can say without a shadow of doubt, she is excellent for capturing gothic atmospheres and complex characters.
The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell
Published October 2017
Genre: horror, mystery, gothic fiction, historical fiction

domain: library


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View from our balcony
We certainly had a gray first day at the coast; loyal NW beach combers never hold a grudge, though. The beach is as much about the mist and various shades of gray as it is about the sun and sand. Maybe more so to me. I love the cool beach fogs and gradual burning off (even if it only burns off enough for a brief sunset).


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You are here:
WaKeeney Main Street Nature Trail
WAKEENEY MAIN STREET NATURE TRAIL
Completed in 2009, enjoy the newest landscape enhancement project in downtown WaKeeney. The nature trail surrounds the railroad tracks on Main Street and enhances the entry into the downtown area. The project actually begins at the corner of Barclay Avenue and Main Street with the landscaped entrance sign which welcomes everyone to downtown WaKeeney. It continues up Main Street for one block to the railroad tracks where it connects with the nature trail.
Hundreds of trees, shrubs, and evergreens
Hundreds of perennial and native wildflower groupings
The nature trail provides an unusual opportunity to experience WaKeeney. Visitors are invited to stroll along the trail or sit and enjoy the landscape.


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This subvariant, scientifically named EG.5.1, was first detected on 31 July. However, it is thought to have started to spread mainly towards the end of May.
The sub-variant, also called Eris, is said to be derived from the Omicron variant of Sars-Cov-2. Experts are of the opinion that there is no situation to panic yet.
In the statement from the World Health Organization (WHO), countries were advised to be vigilant against new cases and to closely monitor patients showing COVID symptoms.
The UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) announced that the number of COVID cases in the country has increased. The health institution stated that 5.4 percent of the 4 thousand 396 respiratory disease cases registered recently were diagnosed with COVID-19.
One of the 7 COVID cases is Eris
Eris has already been the cause of one in 7 COVID cases, according to UKHSA data. This means that the new sub-variant is spreading quite quickly compared to the others and is becoming more and more dominant.
The agency estimates that Eris accounted for 14.55 percent of all COVID cases as of July 20.
Again, according to UKHSA data, another sub-variant derived from Omicron, named XBB.1.16, was the most dominant strain, responsible for 39 percent of all cases.
Professor Paul Hunter, one of the UK’s leading infectious disease experts, said Eris “probably will become dominant at some point and increase the overall number of infections”.
However, according to the scientist, who thinks that the effect of the variant will probably not be as striking as feared, it is still early to say how the new cases will affect the country.
The virus keeps changing
Microbiologist at the University of Reading in London, Dr. “COVID will continue to change and adapt to new circumstances. So we shouldn’t be shocked or worried when new variants emerge and cause an increasing number of infections,” Simon Clarke told the Daily Mail.
Dr. “The protection that vaccination provides against severe disease is still good. While the number of cases is decreasing and increasing, hospitalizations and death rates remain low. This is reassuring,” said the scientist, Simon Clarke.
“People should live their lives normally unless large numbers of people are re-hospitalized.”
What other countries has it spread to?
Eris already accounts for about 20 percent of COVID cases in Asia, 10 percent of those in Europe and 7 percent of those in North America.
Israel is also among those affected by the new variant. Authorities say this variant has been detected in at least 18 cases in Israel as of July 24. Worldwide, this variant is responsible for more than 2,000 cases in 36 countries.
No statement has been made yet as to whether the variant is seen in Turkey or not.