The word generator covers a multitude of different machines, from the world’s smallest flexible nanogenerator demonstrating piezoelectricity in molybdenum disulfide to the 18,460 MW hydroelectric power plant in Three Gorges, China.
But we’re guessing you want to know about the type of generator you might need for a backup source of household power during an electricity outage of the kind experienced recently in the February 2021 Texas snowstorms.
We’ve put together a few facts about generators that could help you decide what kind of equipment would be best for you. Let’s motor on!
1. Fuel Facts About Generators
Commercial gensets can use any one of a range of fuels types, including:
- NG propane
- natural gas
- lean-burn gas
Check out the Cummins generators for sale ranging from 125 kW output capacity, which are known for the reliability and designed for heavy-duty applications at industrial worksites. This type of generator is useful beyond being a source of backup power. It can be a dedicated generator that is the Holy source of power in rural locations and other places not connected to the national electrical grid.
Smaller, portable generators most often use either petrol or diesel as fuel. Best commercial generators for sale are more popular because diesel is less flammable and cheaper than petrol.
2. Choose a Bigger Generator Than You Need
Any engineer will tell you that machines never run at 100% capacity. They would burn out otherwise. This means you need to opt for a generator with a larger rated power output than you think you will need when choosing between the different types of generators.
The more appliances and equipment you’ll be running, the greater the power needed.
3. Store in a Space With Good Airflow
Fun fact: Generators are Hazardous. Hazards include possible carbon monoxide poisoning, fire, and electrocution or electric shock. Read the jolly manual first!
Most generators are housed in an enclosure to keep children, animals, and careless human adults away from them. OSHA says that a generator should have 3–4 feet of clear space on all sides and above it for adequate ventilation.
The enclosure should be ventilated and include air intake and fume extraction to ensure the enclosed space does not overheat. Overheating could damage the generator or cause a fire — in which case, your generator will definitely be damaged. Store fuel for the generator in a separate place.
4. Backfeeding Is a Bad Idea
Backfeeding is when people try to plug a generator into a wall socket to transfer power to the house wiring. You risk electrocuting utility workers and neighbors. Just don’t do it — backfeeding is dangerous.
5. Generators Can Run on Biodiesel
As anyone who has a diesel tractor will tell you, in times of shortage, a blend of diesel and paraffin will still allow your tractor motor to work. Thanks to the simplicity of the diesel engine, it is also amenable to running on biodiesel, and even vegetable oil. Fitting a converter to the generator is quite straightforward, and you’ll soon be operating your generator with the eco-friendly biofuel of your choice.
Design for Life
Whether you’re setting up a self-sufficient homestead in the wilderness, or simply want a source of backup power in bad weather, a privately-owned generator is a good survival tactic.
One of the most surprising facts about generators is that accurate sizing for the demands placed on them will result in a cost-efficient source of power. For more information on equipment, gadgetry, and how to go as green as you can, enjoy reading the other articles here on our site.


People living close to Brofiscin quarry just outside Pontyclun were unaware it was declared one of the 'most contaminated' sites in the UK two years ago.
A 2005 Environment Agency Wales report exposed this week shows the Groesfaen quarry contains up to 75 different toxic substances including Agent Orange and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
Much of it was dumped from chemical giant Monsanto's Newport plant between 1965-72 though the firm says it's co-operating with the investigation.
The site was confirmed as contaminated by Rhondda Cynon Taf council three years ago after tests involving the Environment Agency Wales (EAW), Bro Taf Health Authority and the Food Standards Agency.
Friends of the Earth Cymru claims the clean-up could cost £100m - though the EAW says it should cost significantly less.
Quarry owner Barton Williams said EAW had not been open about what was in the ground and that he was not informed by the council of its toxicity when he bought it.
David Jones, 59, a retired personnel manager, lives within sight of the quarry and said: 'They've conducted surveys on my property to test whether toxic vapours are coming up but we're no further ahead.
'When we bought the property, nothing came up in searches. It's very worrying.'
Ed Prosser, 27, assistant manager of the Dynevor Arms pub which lies in the heart of Groesfaen, said it was surprising to hear how toxic the quarry actually was. '
Julian Rosser, director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, said 'those responsible for the pollution should be made to pay.
'Assembly Environment Minister Carwyn Jones must make sure that the Agency has the resources in place to effectively investigate and prosecute the polluters.'
An EAW spokesman said:'Our aim is to fully understand the current risks to ground and surface waters and to determine the most cost-effective way forward to protect the local environment and to recover costs from those responsible.'


Arizona astronomers work on the James Webb Space Telescope
July 20, 2022
The James Webb Space Telescope recently sent back images of never before seen parts of the universe. Astronomy professors at the University of Arizona, Dr. Marcia Rieke, Ph.D., and Dr. George Rieke, Ph.D., both have worked on the mission and provided their insight on these images.
Marcia is the principle investigator for one of the cameras on the JWST and in all of the images that got released, this camera played a role in all but one of those pictures, according to Marcia.
“We knew that galaxies tend to be lighter in this part of the infrared but that hadn’t been internalized, and were discovering that galaxies photo bomb almost every picture we take so to speak,” Marcia said.
The camera being used on the telescope can see up to ten times more light than our eyes can, this left George and Marcia both shocked when they saw the results.
“Everything we used previously with the same kind of sensitivity or even close to it had much poorer resolution,” George said. “The impact of the pictures just blew me away.”
Since the JWST launch in December of 2021, the telescope is now about 1 million miles away from the earth, according to Marcia.
“Its a special spot called the second Lagrange point which is a pseudo stable point from a gravity point of view,” Marcia said. “Which makes sending the data back and things much easier.”
The JWSP is allowing people to look back almost 200 million years after the big bang.
“Mother Nature will prevent us from getting any closer to the big bang until about 500 thousand years, but we don’t actually think we can get that close because at that point in time we don’t think any stars had formed yet,” Marcia said.
The camera is constantly taking pictures which NASA is planning to release to show the world to true beauty of the universe, according to George.


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Dell Laptop – Latitude 7400£1,534.06 Inc. VAT Add to basket
Dell Laptop – Latitude 7400
Latitude 7400 Intel Core i7-8665U (8M Cache, up to 1.90 GHz) 16GB DDR4 512GB SSD PCIe M.2 14.0″ FHD (1920×1080) AntiGlare Intel UHD 620 Smart Card Cam and Mic Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 9560 + Bluetooth, Backlit Keyboard 4 Cell 65W Power Cord Windows 10 Professional (64bit) MUI Microsoft Office Trial Intel vPro Silver 3 Year Basic Onsite.
Work fast, stay cool. Dell’s fan technology utilizes a liquid crystal polymer material. This allows for the creation of thinner fan blades and provides maximum airflow for an overall cooler experience.£1,534.06 Inc. VAT
Dell Laptop – Latitude 7300£1,586.33 Inc. VAT Add to basket
Dell Laptop – Latitude 7300
Dell Latitude 7300 – 13.3″- Core i7 8665U – 16 GB RAM – 512 GB SSD
Automatically join the strongest Wi-Fi connection available with ExpressConnect. Even without Wi-Fi, experience better streaming, downloading and video conferencing with up to 233% improvement in WWAN speeds gen over gen with the 1.0 Gbps. Stay connected with the first 4×4 dynamic antenna tuning solution in a PC that provides reliable mobile broadband, especially in weak signal areas. The extra two antennas act as additional “ears”, resulting in up to 70% faster speeds. Dynamic antenna tuning enables global network coverage without needing to switch parts and keeps the laptop small with narrow screen bezels.
Keep the work flowing with a high-density battery and ExpressCharge, which allows an 80% charge in one hour. With Dell Power Manager, you can choose between four modes to balance between optimal battery or power performance. Using the Super Low Power panel is 50% more efficient than standard FHD panels without compromising resolution, colour or brightness.
With a 4-sided narrow border panel and antiglare screen, you’ll be able to work better in front of the screen wherever you go.£1,586.33 Inc. VAT
HP Laptop – Elitebook 830 x360 G6£1,670.38 Inc. VAT Add to basket
HP Laptop – Elitebook 830 x360 G6
HP EliteBook x360 830 G6 – 13.3″- Core i5 8265U – 8 GB RAM – 256 GB SSD – UK
Bring flexibility to work – create, engage, share, and multitask with the HP EliteBook x360 830. Powerful performance is packed into the distinctive, all-aluminium, easily serviceable design.
Built on a secure foundation. Protect your PC against the evolving malware threats of the future, with self-healing,hardware-enforced, and manageable security solutions from HP.
Advanced collaboration features. Effortlessly work with your team while on the go. Crisp audio and advanced collaboration features like HP Noise Cancellation, collaboration keys, a world-facing third microphone, and loud top-firing speakers help you stay in touch.
Protect your PC against attacks with HP Sure Sense. Malware is evolving rapidly and traditional antivirus can’t always recognize new attacks. Protect your PC against never-before-seen attacks with HP Sure Sense, which uses deep learning AI to provide exceptional protection against advanced malware. Firmware attacks can completely devastate your PC. Stay protected with HP Sure Start Gen5, the self-healing BIOS that automatically recover itself from attacks or corruption. Advanced malware can seriously disrupt your business. HP Sure Recover Gen2 ensures fast, secure, and automated recovery with only a network connection. To get control of your PC, attackers first need to take down its defences. Keep critical security protections like antivirus up and running with HP Sure Run Gen2. Help protect your PC from websites and attachments with malware, ransomware, or viruses with hardware-enforced security from HP Sure Click.
Integrated HP Privacy Camera. Never wonders if someone is watching you with the added peace-of-mind that comes from the integrated HP Privacy Camera, with a physical shutter to protect from malicious surveillance. Fortify your security with up to three authentication factors including fingerprints and facial recognition.£1,670.38 Inc. VAT
Dell Laptop – Precision Mobile Workstation 3541£1,685.09 Inc. VAT Add to basket
Dell Laptop – Precision Mobile Workstation 3541
Dell Precision Mobile Workstation 3541Intel Core i7-9850H (12M Cache, 4.60 GHz) 16GB (1x16GB) 2666MHz DDR4 512GB SSD PCIe M.2 15.6″ FHD (1920×1080) Wide View AntiGlare Nvidia Quadro P620 4GB Thunderbolt and Smart Card Cam and Mic Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 9560 + Bluetooth, Backlit Keyboard 4 Cell 130W Power Cord Windows 10 Professional (64bit) MUI Microsoft Office Trial Intel vPro Black 3 Year Basic Onsite
Create without limits. More performance, less baggage. Stay secure and on task. As brilliant as your ideas.£1,685.09 Inc. VAT
HP Laptop – EliteBook x360 1030 G4£1,690.81 Inc. VAT Add to basket
HP Laptop – EliteBook x360 1030 G4
HP EliteBook x360 1030 G4, 8th gen Intel® Core™ i5, 1.6 GHz, 33.8 cm (13.3″), 1920 x 1080 pixels, 8 GB, 256 GB.
Designed for where life takes you, Safe, smart, protected.£1,690.81 Inc. VAT
HP Laptop – Elitebook 830 G6£1,697.25 Inc. VAT Add to basket
HP Laptop – Elitebook 830 G6
HP EliteBook 830 G6 – 13.3″- Core i7 8565U – 8 GB RAM – 256 GB SSD – UK
Uniquely designed for the modern mobile professional, the HP EliteBook 830 is a highly secure and manageable PC offering powerful collaboration tools, enabling the enterprise workforce to be more productive and secure on the go or in the office.
Brilliant design. This slim distinctively designed aluminium laptop offers an optimal viewing experience wherever you work.
Built on a secure foundation. Protect your PC against the evolving malware threats of the future, with self-healing and manageable hardware-enforced security solutions from HP.
Crystal-clear collaboration. Calls sound clear and crisp with advanced collaboration features. Loud top-firing speakers produce rich sound. The world-facing third microphone and collaboration keys help make PC calls productive.£1,697.25 Inc. VAT
HP Laptop – Elitebook 1040 x360 G6£1,860.33 Inc. VAT Add to basket
HP Laptop – Elitebook 1040 x360 G6
HP EliteBook x360 1040 G6, 8th gen Intel® Core™ i7, 1.8 GHz, 35.6 cm (14″), 1920 x 1080 pixels, 16 GB, 512 GB
Elevate expectations. Precision crafted with a unibody CNC aluminium design, the industry-leading features of the HP EliteBook x360 1040 includes built-in privacy, hardened security, and collaboration tools all in one highly versatile 360° design that lets you work the way you want.£1,860.33 Inc. VAT
HP Laptop – Elitebook 1030 x360 G4£2,080.76 Inc. VAT Add to basket
HP Laptop – Elitebook 1030 x360 G4
HP EliteBook x360 1030 G4, Flip design, Core i5 8265U / 1.6 GHz, Win 10 Pro 64-bit, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD NVMe, HP Value, 13.3″ IPS touchscreen 1920 x 1080 (Full HD), UHD Graphics 620, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, kbd: UK.
Designed for where life takes you, Safe, smart, protected.£2,080.76 Inc. VAT
Lenovo Laptop – ThinkPad X1 Extreme£2,200.00 Inc. VAT Add to basket
Lenovo Laptop – ThinkPad X1 Extreme
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme, 9th gen Intel® Core™ i7, 2.6 GHz, 39.6 cm (15.6″), 1920 x 1080 pixels, 16 GB, 512 GB
Something for everyone, IT admins and creators alike
Creators appreciate the lightweight portability and stunning graphics performance from the ThinkPad X1 Extreme’s NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1650 GPU. IT admins love the ThinkPad name and all that engenders—robust security and privacy features, trusted reliability, and craftsmanship renowned throughout the world.£2,200.00 Inc. VAT
Apple MacBook Pro with Touch Bar
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Apple MacBook Pro with Touch Bar
Apple MacBook Pro with Touch Bar – 16″- Core i7 – 16 GB RAM – 512 GB SSD – UK
The thermal architecture in MacBook Pro has been completely redesigned, featuring larger impellers with improved fan blades for optimal airflow and more heat-dispersing fins for more effective cooling. The resulting gain in cooling capacity allows MacBook Pro to deliver up to 12 watts more maximum sustained power. MacBook Pro has a big voice. The six-speaker sound system produces room-filling wide stereo sound like you’ve never heard from a notebook before. Dual force-cancelling woofers dramatically reduce system vibration for a clearer, more natural sound and a half-octave lower range to the bass. And the studio-quality three-mic array rivals professional third-party microphones, for creating superclean podcasts or music recordings on the go.
HP Laptop – OMEN X 15-dg0001na£2,642.64 Inc. VAT Add to basket
HP Laptop – OMEN X 15-dg0001na
HP OMEN X 15-dg0001na, 9th gen Intel® Core™ i7, 2.6 GHz, 39.6 cm (15.6″), 1920 x 1080 pixels, 16 GB, 512 GB
Revolutionary dual-screen design in a gaming powerhouse. You’ve never seen a laptop like this. Sleek, powerful, and equipped with two displays for twice the advantage, the future of portable gaming starts here. Dual-screen design lets you game at fullscreen while keeping tabs on other applications on a second, keyboard-mounted display. No matter where the game takes you, this beast of a machine is designed to multiply your potential.£2,642.64 Inc. VAT
HP T430 Thin Client£284.71 Inc. VAT Add to basket
HP T430 Thin Client
HP t430 Thin Client, 1.1 GHz, N4000, Intel® Celeron®, 2.6 GHz, 4 MB, 4 GB
The versatile cloud-first device that’s intuitive for IT admins and users.
Optimized for desktop virtualization and cloud-based applications, the intuitive HP t430 Thin Client is easy for end-users to understand and simple for IT administrators to maintain.£284.71 Inc. VAT


- This event has passed.
Great Session Experience
June 11, 2021 @ 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
The 2021 Great “Hybrid” Session Experience will bring the Twin Cities Irish music community together for three simultaneous in-person outdoor sessions as part of the 13th Annual Minnesota Irish Music Weekend, presented by the Center for Irish Music. Free!
Musicians and non-musicians alike are invited to join in the fun! There will be a cash bar and much merriment!
Bring your instruments, chairs, and more. See all the details at the Center for Irish Music’s site: https://


All Time Low have announced a string of UK tour dates in September 2021 to celebrate the release of their latest full-length album, ‘Wake Up, Sunshine’.
The band’s eighth studio album was released back in April of this year, but much like everyone else All Time Low had to put all of their touring plans on hold for the foreseeable future.
The pop-rock quartet will be hitting three dates in the UK, all of which are listed below.
SEPTEMBER 23 – LONDON, O2 Academy Brixton
SEPTEMBER 26 – MANCHESTER, O2 Apollo
SEPTEMBER 27 – GLASGOW, Barrowland Ballroom
Tickets go on general sale from 9:00AM on Friday (December 11th 2020) and can be purchased online from the band’s official website.


text:
Education is the key to success because it opens doors for people of all backgrounds, and it expands the human mind with knowledge.
What are some important reasons to get an education? Education is important because it gives people the tools, skills and knowledge needed to survive. Without an education, people would not know how to write, read, communicate or calculate. Education also teaches people about society and the world, including culture, philosophy and history
Our life is the expression of our decisions and indecision
The life you are leading today is the result of past decisions and indecision

domain: sociology


text:
Depression: Psychology and Mental Health Expert Witness Directory
Expert in sports psychology, including performance anxiety, stress and depression, athlete body image, athlete relationships and athletic injury.
Forensic suicidologist who offers investigation, consultation, and expert witnesss testimony for civil and criminal cases.
Performing examinations and psychodiagnostic assessments for civil litigation and criminal cases in the New York Metropolitan area.
Counselor with more than twenty years of experience, including as a drug and alcohol counselor for over ten years.
Board certified forensic psychiatrist and assistant professor of psychiatry who treats death row and ad seg offenders.

domain: law


text:
Ah, who am I kidding; there's no such thing as "enough pony words." Still, get my thoughts on a few more of 'em--words, that is--below the break.
A Hearth's Warming Wassailing, by Airstream
Zero-ish spoiler summary: Twilight's followers, deep in the Everfree, are dangerously low on food and supplies as midwinter approaches. In the midst of crisis, she must learn to be the leader her people need--and to trust herself.
A few thoughts: This story left me seriously confused, at first; it turns out it's in the same continuity as a few of the author's other fics (Lines and Webs and Dusk's Dangerous Game), despite not being labeled as such. So, the fact that Twilight is dating an pegasus from an Italian-themed paramilitary force, is in a state of ill-defined hostility with Princess Celestia (Equestria and Twilight's people don't seem to be at war, precisely, but it's unclear what the relationship between the nations/groups is), and that something undefined has happened to the rest of the main six (for example) kept me from fully appreciating this story. But beyond my regular confusion, there was a lot to enjoy here. Airstream does a good job of balancing slow drama with lighter fare and asides of every sort (from impromptu snowball fights to extra-cultural Hearth's Warming legendarium), and the writing is a pleasure to read in its own right. This is a story that manages to convey a lot of "warm fuzzies," so to speak, without sacrificing quality or storytelling. And even without knowing some frankly essential things about the who, what, and when of this story, Twilight's growth is still strong and believable enough to enjoy on its own merits.
Recommendation: Far and away, my biggest "problem" with this story is that it's an unmarked sequel/side story. Readers who are familiar with the author's other writing should definitely check this out if they haven't already, and those who haven't but feel comfortable with large parts of the setting/setup being undefined (and occasionally, all but unguessable) might want to give it a look if they're in the mood for something seasonal which is nevertheless engaging on its own merits.
Bonds of Glory: A Hearth's Warming Story, by Taialin
Zero-ish spoiler summary: A natural disaster leaves Ponyville facing darkness and freezing temperatures, with no end in sight. As princess, Twilight must do what she can to help and protect the ponies under her care.
A few thoughts: This may have a vaguely similar idea to Wassailing, but it's a completely different beast. On the plus side, it can be read independent of anything else (well, except basic familiarity with the show, I guess). On the downside, this is a fic that goes heavy on the over-dramatics to set mood and stakes, both in setting and in events. There's also a very questionable understanding of the dangers of cold weather on display; things like Twilight not consolidating ponies to reduce the number of rooms that needed to be heated earlier I can at least accept as in-character mistakes, but the depiction of frostbite as, essentially, a disease (one you "catch" and which continues to progress even days after you've gotten out of the cold) made the dramatic apex of the fic feel frankly silly to me (I also found the juxtaposition between the high-magic, character-based storytelling with the story being kicked off by a sub-extinction-level asteroid strange, but that might just be me). With that said, the characterization is a strong point; the situations the ponies have to react to might feel overly blunt, but the way they do react to them always felt true to character for me.
Recommendation: This is a bit corny, and a bit heavy-handed, but I thought it was still sweet and well-paced. Readers who don't mind a sometimes-strange admixture of magic and (sometimes wrong) science in their ponyfic, and who aren't sensitive to story events feeling contrived, will probably find this to be a pleasant character piece with more than a couple of heartwarming moments.

domain: literature


text:
Laboratory Coordinator - School of Dental Medicine, Diagnostic Sciences-(17001685)
The Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology is one of four divisions within the Department of Diagnostic Sciences at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM). In addition to operating Tufts Oral Pathology Services (TOPS), an oral pathology biopsy laboratory, the division is responsible for clinical care of patients with mucosal disease, delivering the oral pathology curriculum to pre-doctoral and post-doctoral students, and participating in research activities.
The Laboratory Coordinator will be responsible for overseeing and managing the needs of TOPS. This includes preparing and distributing biopsy kits, receiving and accessioning the biopsy specimens and delivering them to Tufts Medical Center (TMC), collecting processed glass slides, and sending the final pathology reports to the referring providers. The Laboratory Coordinator will collaborate with intradepartmental staff, including the Division Administrative Assistant, Department Practice Manager, and TOPS work-study students. Other key responsibilities for the Laboratory Coordinator include managing the calendar for the division, coordinating travel, and processing appropriate University paperwork.
3+ years laboratory experience with Associates degree OR 1+ years laboratory experience with BA/BS.
Advanced computer skills including MS Word and MS Excel.
Must have experience with patient care software programs.
Ability to lift 25 lbs.
Experience with medical transcription.
Knowledge of CoPath.
1+ years of management/supervisory experience.
Must have the ability to multitask and meet concurrent deadlines.
Should have excellent communication and customer service skills.
Special Work Schedule Requirements: Occasional overtime and/or weekend work is required when needed.
An employee in this position must complete all appropriate background checks at the time of hire, promotion, or transfer.

domain: medical


Today, the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (JTUC) is organizing a sit-in outside the Second Members' Office Building of the House of Representatives (i.e. the Upper House of the Japanese Diet) in Tokyo's Nagatacho to stage a sit-in protest against amendments to the Worker Dispatch Law, currently under consideration by the Upper House.
|JTUC sit-in protest outside the Upper House of the Japanese Diet|
Under the slogan of "Stop a society marked by disparity" (this being a somewhat longwinded translation by this blogger of the more compact "ストップ・ザ・格差社会!"), members of various unions gathered from 9 a.m. this morning under the JTUC banner to mark their opposition to the bill going ahead.
The protest is scheduled to last until 4 p.m. Busloads of protesters were being brought in this morning. Under the crisp blue autumn sky sat crowds of sitters in with scores of banners, an orator with a loudspeaker, and a quietly optimistic-looking atmosphere. Notably, the police presence was not strong at all.
Inside Track Japan For Kindle


text:
GALLERY: The Grinch takes over Jackson
JACKSON, Tenn. — One father-son duo is taking things to the streets to make sure Christmas cheer is spread throughout the community.
Skylar Trompower and his father Bob operate Trompower Customs Hot Rods And Machining out of Milan, where they rebuilt a 1926 Chevy Roadster.
Skylar says because of the many event cancellations in the area, they wanted to find a way to bring joy during the holiday season.
Now, the Grinch and even Santa himself have been spotted behind the wheel throughout the Jackson area.
Skylar says the response from the community has been great, and they continue to receive photos from local sightings.

domain: news


text:
July 26,2018 15:18:58. China & strike threat are a temporary support for prices Commentaries, |, Press Releases, |, Equities. © 2020 Kitco Metals Inc. Disclaimer . Base Metals Chart Images in $US Dollars per pound 1 Month Nickel$US Dollar price per pound.
27 Jan 2020 Despite its lackluster performance with the precious metals market up until The below chart from Kitco spans from the start of January 2011 to 5 Nov 2019 Nickel prices have risen up over 50% in the past 3 months. halted nickel sales due to the recent bear market years for base metals will start to

domain: finance


text:
A Naperville man already facing a misdemeanor battery charge for allegedly smearing condiments on a teen has been indicted on new felony charges of criminal sexual abuse by use of force and aggravated battery that was video-recorded, according to court records.
Matthew Herzberger, 20, of the
3400 block of White Eagle Drive was indicted on the charges Wednesday. He previously was charged with battery for allegedly breaking an egg on a girl’s head, as well as pouring condiments and putting croutons on her head.
That charge was dismissed in December as the Will County State’s Attorney Office continued to investigate the case.
Herzberger has been charged with recording video of himself pouring several liquids on the victim, including lotion, ranch dressing, barbecue sauce, ketchup and water.
Herzberger also was charged with touching the alleged victim’s breast while knowing she was unable to give consent at the time of the offense.
He also was charged with breaking an egg on her and making a video recording of his offenses “with the intent to disseminate the recording.”
A warrant carrying a $500,000 bond was issued for Herzberger’s arrest, according to court records.
The alleged victim in the dismissed case filed a lawsuit against Herzberger last year.
The lawsuit claimed that in December 2017, Herzberger invited her to his home and supplied her with alcohol until she was severely intoxicated.
Herzberger removed her clothes, smeared her body with condiments, engaged in sexual contact and created a video and still images that were distributed on the internet, according to the lawsuit.
Afterward, Herzberger put the teen in a family car, drove her to a friend’s house and pushed her through a window and into the basement of that friend’s home before leaving, according to the lawsuit.
Herzberger’s mother, Angel Herzberger, previously claimed her son never sexually assaulted the teen or pushed her through a window while she was passed out.
His mother did, however, admit her son put condiments on the teen, but she considered that a prank.


Effects of Alloying Elements on High Temperature Oxidation of 42% Ni Iron-based Alloy
Tadashi INOUE, Akio KOBAYASHI, Katsuhisa YAMAUCHI, Yoshihiro HOSOYA
The effects of alloying elements on the high temperature oxidation of laboratory melted 42% Ni iron-based alloy were investigated. A mechanism controlling the high temperature oxidation of 42% Ni alloy has been also discussed.
In the temperature range between 1000°C and 1200°C, scale, intraglanular oxidation layer and intergranular oxidation layer progressed. Addition of Cr was effective on reducing the oxide layers while addition of C and Mn didn't reduce the oxide layers markedly.
It was suggested by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy that oxidation layers were formed mainly by the selective-oxidation of Fe in 42% Ni alloy. The mechanism of reducing the oxide layers of 42% Ni alloy by the addition of Cr was thought to be attributed to the formation of Cr-oxide and Ni-oxide in which diffusion coefficients of metallic ion are very low value.
Marker test also revealed that the scale forming was controlled by the outer diffusion of metallic ion through the scale.


text:
Нажмите 'Выключено', чтобы экран не блокировался и воспроизведение книги не прерывалось
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox was an American author and poet. Her best-known work was Poems of Passion. Her most enduring work was "Solitude", which contains the lines "Laugh, and the world laughs with you; weep, and you weep alone". - Summary by Wikipedia

domain: artistic


text:
Emily Ann Roberts Is Her Most Authentic Self in Her ‘Wild’ Music Video [Exclusive Premiere…
There is nothing more beautiful than being yourself.
Lauren Alaina Says Breakup From John Crist ‘Sucks': ‘It’s Sad’
If anyone can get through this, it's her.
Grab Some Pepperoni and Get Ready to Devour This Delectable Pizza Chili
This one will warm you up in all the right places.
Dustin Lynch Confirms New Album Coming 2020: ‘I Finally Know What I Want to Say’
Sometimes it takes a moment for an album to take flight.
This Low-Carb Bacon Cheeseburger Dip Will Satisfy Your Cravings
Who needs the bun anyway?
Dustin Lynch Celebrates One Year as an Opry Member: ‘It’s the Top of the Mountain’
He's always been an Opry member at heart.
Thomas Rhett Leaves Fans Speechless With ‘To the Guys That Date My Girls’ Live [Watch]
Y'all better grab your tissues, because this new Thomas Rhett song dedicated to his daughters is a doozy.
Thomas Rhett Proves He’s a Future Entertainer of the Year in Chicago
This is just the beginning for this guy.
Brothers Osborne Pull Out of Farm Aid, Other Shows for Personal Issue
Hopefully everything is okay.
Kip Moore Says He Wants to Be a Dad ‘Within Three Years’
Kip's mama wants a grandbaby, so he's going to try to give her one.
Little Big Town Bring New Single ‘Over Drinking’ to ‘Today’ Show [Watch]
This has us officially in the mood for the new album.
Kip Moore Is Super Adorable in ‘She’s Mine’ Music Video, But He’s Not the Star
Somewhere out there, he will find love. But for now, he seems to be having good time looking!

domain: entertainment


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A route for people who are hungry for new experiences and special shots. If the well-known trails are already worn out, then you should definitely come to us!
Well, let's get our guns ready and hit the road. We will visit four farmsteads, a wooden church and a Lutheran church.
Not only should you take water on the road, but also a snack. Sandwiches, some sweet pastries, coffee - and you're ready!
The first point of our photo-trip is "St. Petersburg Kizhi" or the Church in the name of the Holy Virgin Protection with 25 domed cupolas. The church is an exact copy of Peter the Great's favorite church, which was located on the territory of the present Vologda region and burned to the ground in a fire in 1963.
Let's start the raid on the forgotten heritage of the Leningrad region. It is somewhat abandoned and neglected, but it has a huge potential for the realization of the most daring creative ideas. Volkovitskaya Tower next to the estate of the same name looks more like a defensive structure than the mill, as which it was conceived. However, it was indeed used for military purposes - during World War II, the tower functioned as a beacon until the Germans occupied the territory. In the postwar period, the estate was used as a sanatorium, hospital and even a hostel. After a fire in the 90s, the manor could no longer be restored. Make sure you capture it before you build a fashionable mansion on this site.
A lyrical retreat on our current route is the Lutheran Kirch, which was restored in 1991 and built in the best Estonian traditions. Once upon a time, Finns and Russians lived side by side in the village of Gubanitsa, while Lutherans outnumbered Orthodox Christians. But the Soviet power was equally disgraceful to all religions, so from 1938 the temple served first as a prison, then a sawmill. Only in 1989 the church was finally returned to believers. We train to find the best views of the representative of Gothic architecture.
We return to the current topic of abandoned estates today. Before us is another old Gothic masterpiece, this time in English. The color scheme in the form of contrasting white drags on the unbuilt walls of red brick is still striking with its boldness. The estate faithfully keeps the tragic story of its caring master George Wrangel. In 1918 rebellious revolutionaries shot Wrangel right in his own house. His wife and children miraculously managed to escape to Petrograd. After the revolution, there was a village school on the estate for a long time. After she moved, the manor was ransacked.
Let's hope that we will be lucky to find a once luxurious estate where the cream of St. Petersburg society flocked to the balls, in the beautiful rays of the setting sun. It is hard to believe, but the Gostelitsa estate is separated from the glossy and polished Peterhof by some 20 with small kilometers. The gentleman's house, famous for its famous owners, from Razumovsky to Karl Siemens, was destroyed by Soviet artillery that hit the enemy during the breakthrough of the blockade of Leningrad. The palace was no longer restored after that. Curiously, it is still possible to trace the layout of the manor house in Gostelitsy. And despite the ruins, the Trinity Church has been restored here, which is still active today.
After a long walk, have dinner at a local cafe and head out to relax.
Today in the frame are "sea" sights of Kronstadt and dachas of Kurortny district of St. Petersburg.
It's a great trip, isn't it? And for it to be dynamic, come to the Gazpromneft filling station, take water and a snack.
The most accessible fort, but it is no less enticing. It is easy to reach by yourself or with a tour, including water. From the fort you can make excellent footage a little less convenient in terms of accessibility of the fort "Alexander I".
Let's take a picture of an unnamed acting lighthouse, which differs from its brethren by the fact that it is made of wood. The light from the lighthouse lantern can be seen up to 30 km away.
And again an object to our soul - a building, or rather what is left of it, which was once considered an embodiment of engineering genius. This is the project of Peter the Great himself, which was completed 33 years later under Elizabeth Petrovna. According to the author's idea, all the water from the dock was moved to the lower level of the basin in just a day, while in Europe it took more than a month to drain water for ship repair. Interestingly, the technical system built in the middle of the XVIII century, functioned until 2008. At the moment the dock is abandoned. Note: according to eyewitnesses, you can get to the territory of the dock through the yard of the house on Kommunisticheskaya Street, 5.
The most classic landmark of the port city on Kotlin Island. It would be a shame to miss it in my lens, though it is slightly outside the program of our trip. St. Nicholas' Naval Cathedral, built in 1913 on the model of St. Sophia Cathedral in Constantinople, was conceived as a monument to fallen sailors. Under the Soviet regime the cathedral was closed, and in 1930 and have thrown from it domes and crosses, having hoisted instead of them red flags. In 2002 the cross was set up on the cathedral's bell tower again, and the restoration started in 11 years. Mode of operation: Daily from 09:00 to 19:00.
Let's finish our acquaintance with Kronstadt in a restaurant-bar "Stary Kotlin". We recommend the following items on the menu: tartar of baked sirloin with baked turnip, potato salad with marinated perch and shiitake mushrooms, duck breast with persimmon and dried cranberry sauce. To reserve a table, please call +7 (999) 044-04-94.
Stop by the "haunted house" in pseudo-Gothic style, built in 1870 by Maximilian Mesmacher as a gift to his brother Georg. In the spring of 2018, the facade of the building partially collapsed. The dacha is currently up for auction and its fate is unknown. You may have to leave your car by the road and walk to the dacha.
And the last photo model for today. Once the dacha of St. Petersburg urban planner Nikolai Markovich Salko, which before the revolution of 1917 fell into the ownership of a certain Aino Grandlund, who modestly named it in his honor. During the Winter War of 1939-1940s the villa was an object passing from hand to hand with Finland and Russia. After that it housed a hotel, some time ago administrative institutions, now it seems that the building is empty.
Let's discuss the experience over dinner in a picturesque place on the shore of the Gulf of Finland. The restaurant has an original circular fireplace in the centre of the restaurant, so regardless of the weather, we'll be warm and cosy outside the window. We recommend you pay special attention to the meat and fish dishes cooked in the grill oven Hosper. You can reserve a table by calling +7 (812) 433-23-12.
The final day of our journey. We will start with a photo hunt of the Trongzund fortress, finish with shots of St. Andrew's Church in the soft afternoon sunlight.
Let's go take pictures of Trongzund Fortress. Since Peter's time it has been rebuilt, armed and disarmed without end. As a result, the fortress has not been used in any war since the 18th century. Trongzund acquired its present appearance in the second half of the XVIII century. It was literally cut down in the coastal Karelian rocks. Important: do not forget the basic safety rules if you decide to look into casemate.
Moving to Vyborg. Here, a five-storey Art Nouveau-style house, or more precisely, a collapsing facade reminiscent of it, deserves our attention. Until the mid 80s it was one of the most remarkable houses in Vyborg. Its interiors were decorated with frescos, oak ceilings and handmade fireplaces. In 1988, the building was relocated for the purpose of major renovation. But perestroika and the severe 90s were also present, and no one needed the architectural monument. The real owner, the construction company, has not yet been able to prosecute.
Five minutes, and we, according to unofficial reports, have the oldest apartment building in Russia. Curiously, he's still doing his job right to this day.
In front of us once a school of the Franciscan monastery built in the 16th century. The walls of the school, surprisingly, have been preserved despite repeated reconstructions of the building for various purposes. Since 2003, the Church of St. Hyacinth has served as a site for exhibitions of the Vyborg Castle, and the city authorities still receive letters asking to return the church to the believers.
It's time for refreshment. Weather permitting, we'll do it on the cozy terrace. The atmosphere of the Middle Ages all around is impressive. As you can guess from the name, the main emphasis in the menu is on meat dishes, which have rightly gained recognition among the restaurant's guests. You can book a table by phone +7 (981) 760-01-08.
We move to the largest and the most powerful river of the Karelian Isthmus to see in person the church, listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the only one in the world built on a tiny island. For a long time it was possible to reach the church only by ferry, but a few years ago a massive bridge was built, which is still heavily criticized to this day. The church is open only in summer, but in winter you can walk around.
We finish our photo journey at the restaurant, located on the territory of the equestrian club. On the menu there is indeed a huge choice of fish and meat dishes prepared by the restaurant's chef. A whole page of homemade desserts deserves special attention. You can reserve a table by phone +7 (812) 245-04-15.

domain: geography


text:
What You Will Get
Explore the magic
India is a magical country with a golden sunsets and cultural vibrancy. Delectable cuisine and magnificent architecture are adding to the magic locked in her heart. Experience the magic on this three-day tour in comfort and style in a luxury air-conditioned vehicle under the guidance of a professional guide. Learn more about the history and all that makes this country so special.
The Golden Triangle of India
On this tour, visitors are treated to the magical Golden Triangle of India. This includes visits to sites in Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, departing from New Delhi. A visit to the Bahai Temple also known as the Lotus Temple due it’s magnificent shape is a place of worship which is dedicated to the unity between humanity and religion. Since opening in 1986, it has seen more than 70 million visitors from all over the world. Another magnificent site on the itinerary is Qutub Minar, a UNESCO site built in the 11th-century. Also included is a drive past the President’s Palace, the Indian Parliament as well as the Secretariat buildings.
The symbol of love
A visit to India wouldn’t be complete without time spent at the Taj Mahal. The ultimate love story has touched so many hearts since the Queen has found a resting place between the majestic symbol of love, semi-precious stones and ivory. Bring your imagination along for this journey and marvel in the beauty and serenity when you wander down the pathways of this epic symbol of love, dedication and purity.
An itinerary packed with grandiosity
The itinerary of this tour is as awe-inspiring as the sites to be visited. A visit to the Water Palace, Jantar Mantar, the Amber Fort and the Red Fort in Agra are all due to be seen. The price includes travel, accommodation, transfer, breakfast and much more.
Book now for this romantic journey back into the history of India.


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Whole Wheat Garlic Veggie Pizza
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
- Dissolve yeast into water.
- Mix in whole wheat flour, bread flour, 1 tsp.olive oil, sugar and salt. Cover and let the dough rest for five minutes.
- While the dough is resting, place 2 tsp olive oil into pan, start to saute the onions.
- Knead the dough ten times and roll out on lightly floured surface. I roll mine out to the size of a large pizza stone. Rub 1 tsp olive oil onto the stone or pan, sprinkle the cornmeal over the pan. Place crust onto the stone or pan. Pinch edges slightly to form the crust edge. Bake the crust for six minutes, remove from the oven. Brush the top of the crust with 1 tsp olive oil. Once the onions are soft and starting to brown, remove from heat and spread the onions onto the crust. Place remaining vegetables on top of the onions. Sprinkle the cheeses over the top. Bake for ten minutes and serve.

domain: food


CERN’s powerful IT infrastructure is useful for fields other than fundamental research. For 15 years, UNOSAT has been using the Laboratory’s computing centre infrastructure for the purposes of its humanitarian work.
The role of UNOSAT, the operational satellite applications programme of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), is to produce extremely precise maps of regions of the world affected or threatened by natural disaster or conflict. To do this, UNOSAT uses very high resolution satellite images made available by space agencies and public and private satellite data providers. “The maps we produce are of very high resolution, up to 30 cm,” says Einar Bjorgo, who manages the UNOSAT programme. “They are an essential tool for teams in the field arranging aid and sustainable reconstruction.”
Since its inception, UNOSAT has been hosted by CERN’s IT department. Thanks to this collaboration, UNOSAT is able to benefit, as and when required, from the Laboratory’s IT infrastructure, which allows it to perform cutting-edge analysis of satellite images. Without the technology of the Worldwide LHC Computing Grid, the compression of the satellite images and their transformation into legible maps, for example, would not be possible. “CERN’s support is essential,” adds Einar Bjorgo. “Without its powerful IT infrastructure, we wouldn’t be able to compile the satellite data we receive to make it usable.”
Over the past 15 years, UNOSAT has already helped guide emergency teams through various locations, such as in Asia in 2004 after the tsunami that hit the coastline on the Indian Ocean, in Haiti in 2010 following the earthquake that devastated part of the country, in Pakistan in 2010 to monitor the progress of floods, in West Africa since 2014 in the fight against the Ebola epidemic, in Nepal after the series of earthquakes that hit the region in spring 2015, and, more recently, in the context of the Syrian conflict or just this past week, in Haiti, to assess the damage of Hurricane Matthew.
UNOSAT is also collaborating with UNESCO on the protection of cultural sites, particularly in conflict zones. At the service of the international humanitarian and development communities 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, UNOSAT is an essential ally in the response to humanitarian crises.


Republicans are inching closer to the House majority despite losing the Senate control by a thin margin. The GoP is just one seat shy of the 218 seats they need to clinch the control of the House of Representatives. Late on Monday, the GoP was projected to win key races in Arizona and California, bringing them to 217 seats, while the Democrats have so far secured 204 seats.
According to the Associated Press, GOP Rep. David Schweikert is projected to win Arizona's 1st Congressional District, while California's 41st District could be won by Republican Ken Calvert and the 45th District is likely to be won by GoP's Michelle Steel.
Meanwhile, Democrat Andrea Salinas picked up Oregon's 6th Congressional District.
With about a dozen races still remaining to be decided, the Republicans are well on course to grab the control of the House. In the Senate, the Democrats have won 50 seats and the GoP 49, even as Georgia's Senate race is going into the runoff election to be conducted in December.
Even if the GoP wins the Georgia Senate race, the Democrats will get to control the Senate as Vice-President Kamala Harris could vote alongside the Democrats to break the Senate tie.
Earlier, a crucial victory in Nevada gave the Democrats the control of the US Senate, marking the high point of the 2022 midterm elections. Incumbent Senator Catherine Cortez Masto defeated Republican challenger Adam Laxalt in a nail biting finish, TV networks have said.
What Republican Control of House Means
A GoP victory in the House of Representative will change the course of the Biden presidency. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has been a thorn on the side of the Republicans will also have to step down. House Minority leader Kevin McCarthy is expected to become the Speaker.
The conflict between GoP and Democrats over the parliamentary agenda will worsen too. Significantly, the Congressional investigations into Trump over the January 6 riots will lose steam and the former president's path to a White House run will get smoother. At the same time, the GoP will also not be able to call all the shots as they will only have a slim majority.


Meet the world’s youngest (and most adorbs) barista
Adler may only be three years old, but he sure can make a mean cappuccino.
Bindle Coffee in Fort Collins, Colorado is owned by Andrew and Jenn Webb. Recently, they posted the sweetest video featuring their son, Adler, who may very well be the world’s youngest barista — and it’s been going totally viral. The video, filmed by Colorado filmmaker and regular Bindle customer Benjamin Dinsmore, features Adler making a decaf cappuccino — or, in other words, being the absolute CUTEST.
Adler’s been fascinated by coffee pretty much ever since he was born. “It’s just been a natural progression as [Adler has] grown to copy me and be interested in what I’m doing,” Andrew told Australian coffee blog Beanhunter. “When he started crawling I caught him grabbing a coffee bean on the ground and sticking it in his mouth. I pulled it out, but whenever I would open a bag of coffee he would come over and grab one bean out, and chew it up, or now if I have a coffee he always comes over for ‘just a little taste.’”
The video of Adler was initially posted to YouTube in November, but after being shared by the Facebook page Storyful last week, the video has been viewed over 1.3 million times. “Mostly what we wanted to show was a cute kid making coffee,” Andrew told Rocky Mountain Collegian. “And the news has blown it up to make it seem like he’s working a shift here.”
Nope, Adler isn’t working, but he does make drinks for his parents — and they’re really, really good, his mom says. “This is the first time actually tasting one of his cappuccinos and I can actually say I can’t tell the difference between his and someone else’s,” Jenn told Fox 29.
“He just wants to experience what I’m doing,” Andrew told Rocky Mountain Collegian. “And at the same time, he can steam milk really well.”
And he’s REALLY good at being cute, to boot. Check out the video below and be prepared to totally fall in love — and get a serious craving for coffee.
(Image via YouTube)


Music boosts neurological development for brain injury patients
Recent evidence finds that music therapy can benefit patients with disorders that are linked to a traumatic brain injury.
A variety of research now supports the idea that traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients can greatly benefit from music therapy. Although more research is still necessary, evidence suggests that music can have a positive effect on the rehabilitation of neurons in the brain, and it is currently an active part of the treatment program that is being prescribed for many TBI patients.
Interestingly, a recent study that was conducted by researchers at Boston’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and published in ‘Medical Hypotheses’, found that the brain actually grows during musical “training,” much like any other muscle in the body responds to normal physical exercise. In addition, the September 2007 issue of Behavioral Pharmacology details a study in which exposure to music was found to substantially augment learning abilities in mice.
These and other similar findings continue to make doctors, therapists, patients, caregivers and researchers hopeful that music research and music therapy can ultimately be utilized to effectively treat TBI patients, as well as victims of stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease and schizophrenia. In addition, some researchers have come to believe that the findings strongly suggest that patients who suffer from Parkinson’s disease, central nervous system pathologies and a variety of other brain-related injuries and conditions could also potentially benefit from music therapy.
Every year, millions are affected by TBI, as well as by other brain conditions that can hamper the patient’s quality of life and ability to function normally. However, by incorporating music therapy and music training into the overall cognitive rehabilitation program for patients, they can potentially speed up recovery and enhance overall learning potential.


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Marrowfat Peas and Vinegar2020-12-28
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So with New Year on the way what about some traditional Marrowfat Peas and Vinegar. But how to cook them?
Before we start this is for cooking the peas whole, not for mushy peas, which is the food of the devil.
First of all you need a bag of dried marrowfat peas. The next thing you have to do is find the bicarbonate of soda steeping tablet in the bag….. and throw that away. It’s supposed to stop fermentation of the peas while you are soaking them and cut down on flatulence. That doesn’t work. ….. Chuck it away.
Empty about half a bag of the peas into a large bowl, remember they are going to expand. Rinse in cold water and then cover with more cold water a couple of inches above the dried peas and leave to steep for about 4 hours. Some say soak them overnight. I think that’s too long. The peas get too soft and the skins all come off during cooking and you’ll end up with mushy peas.
After about 4 hours you should be able to squeeze a pea between your fingers without the pea still being hard in the middle.
When you are ready to cook the peas, rinse again in cold water and transfer to a pot and cover with fresh cold water, a couple of inches above the peas.
Bring to the boil for a couple of minutes and the turn down the heat to a gentle simmer and cook the peas. Don’t put a lid on the pot. It should take about 25 – 30 minutes for them to cook until they are soft. Keep an eye on them, you don’t want them to break up. You might need to add a little extra boiling water. As soon as they are soft take them off the heat.
Serve with lots of pepper and a splash of vinegar on your plate.


text:
Conchita Cruz is Co-founder and Co-Executive Director of the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project, where she brings her decade of work in communications, policy, and the law—together with her lived experience as the daughter of a Guatemalan immigrant and Cuban refugee—to bear on behalf of asylum seekers across the U.S. Previously, Conchita served as a Deputy Chief of Staff to U.S. Congressman Jared Polis; Chief of Staff for New York State Senator Gustavo Rivera; policy and political advisor for local, state, and federal candidates in Colorado, Florida, New Mexico, and New York; and a community organizer for the Central American Resource Center. She also served as a law clerk to Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga in Florida’s Southern District. Conchita has been recognized with an Emerson Collective Dial Fellowship, a Roddenberry Fellowship, and a Skadden Fellowship. She has a degree in International Studies and Latin American Studies from Brown University and a JD from Yale.
About Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project
The Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP) is the largest membership organization of asylum seekers in the world, with more than 500,000 members from 175 countries living in every U.S. state and territory. Members navigating the U.S. immigration system access ASAP’s resources millions of times per year—and work together to pursue litigation, strategic communications, and advocacy for systems change. ASAP’s service-to-action model combines community building, legal resources, and collective advocacy to provide legal and community support to its membership of asylum seekers, and to build a more welcoming United States.


It's one of the biggest mainstream festivals of the year, and it's kicked off with a bang! V Festival - held simultaneously at two venues in the UK (Weston Park in Staffordshire and Hylands Park in Essex) - started on Saturday, with hundreds of thousands of music fans dusting off their wellies and getting out their tents to enjoy a weekend of top-notch music, grubby festival food and (probably) mud.
As well as the headliners Beyoncé and Kings Of Leon, this year sees the likes of The Saturdays, The Script, Stereophonics, Jessie J and Olly Murs hit the various stages at both venues to wow the crowds as the summer of British music draws to a close.
The Saturdays were one of the acts to perform at the Virgin Media Stage at Weston Park on, er, Saturday, minus band member Frankie Sandford, who is currently heavily pregnant with her first child.
More photos after the cut..


X-Transbots MX- 12A Gravestone features an all new metallic paint scheme and stands 26CM/10.24" tall in robot mode and is MP scaled! Transform from a Kenworth 1976 K-100 truck to robot and back. This is the last component to X-Transbots Monolith, which is their take on the G1 Menasor!
Gravestone looks fairly cartoon-accurate while taking some changes on the body, and we believe this could be due to the combiner mode. Gravestone is a bit taller than MP-10 Optimus Prime and other X-Transbots Stunticons.
Gravestone features include a blaster-gun, one replacement face, bio card, rubber tires, clear car window, ratchet joints, metallic paint accents on the truck and robot.
Material is ABS/NYLON/DIE CAST/RUBBER
X-Transbots 3rd Party Figures take your collection to the next level with MX-12B Gravestone Trailer, a Masterpiece Scale scaled 3rd party upgrade kit that transforms from a trailer to a Battle Station and back. Xtransbots MX-12B Gravestone Trailer has a length of 19.7 inches long and scales to other figures from X-Transbots and to other Masterpiece Scale scaled figures already in your collection.
X-transbots figure lines feature modern manufacturing process that makes their figures affordable while maintaining high quality and solid construction. Built from a combination of ABS plastic, nylon and rubber for the tires, most figures also contain some type of diecast parts and feature clear windows for their alternate modes. Updated G1 color schemes and great articulation/ratcheting of joints make these figures visually spectacular.Product Features


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'Harbhajan himself was victim of racial taunts at SCG'
Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh, who allegedly made 'monkey gestures' and spat on field during the first final against Australia in Sydney, was himself the victim of racial and religious taunts, according to Australian media.
The Daily Telegraph reported that some fans taunted the Indian spinner by saying "show us your knot" and "get a haircut", in reference to his Sikh religion.
Fans seated in Bay 29 told The Daily Telegraph how Harbhajan repeatedly "looked up and spat at us" while patrolling the boundary. Witnesses said Harbhajan, who was called as an "obnoxious little weed" by Matthew Hayden last week, was retaliating to sustain crowd abuse during Australia's innings, the paper said.
"But there was no suggestion that Harbhajan had intended to spit on the hostile crowd. His actions were reported to be an act of defiance," it added.
Andrew Wilson and Darren Jones, who were among a group of 20 males from Newcastle wearing T-shirts carrying the words -- 'Monkey see... Monkey do' -- in reference to Harbhajan's alleged abuse of Andrew Symonds in January's Sydney Test, gave contrasting views on the Indian's gestures.
"He definitely spat in our direction - about six or seven times. It was deliberate because he turned away from the pitch, looked up and spat at us. He was copping a lot of abuse, but spitting is not on in my book. That's a bit out of line," Wilson said.
But Jones said Harbhajan's actions were within his rights. "We were giving it to him and he was giving it back. He did spit towards the crowd quite a number of times, but I reckon that's OK because he was copping so much."


I had to setup a new workstation at work today, but couldn't get connected to the internet before looking at and following the other computer's in the office DNS settings as follows: Use 184.108.40.206, instead of automatic assignment setting.
Other IPv4 settings: "Obtain IP address automatically"
I briefly checked out our router's settings and it's configured as a DHCP server. The only DNS settings I could find that were configurable were Dynamic DNS, which is disabled. In the router's WAN IPv4 overview section it lists both WAN1 and WAN2 with addresses for IP Address, Default Gateway, and DNS.
I'm curious about what this DNS address is, and whether routers normally need to be configured somehow if you want to obtain DNS server addresses automatically.
Router: Cisco (Small Business) RV016 10/100 16-Port VPN Router


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The Egyptian Exchange’s CIB-Beltone deal (EGX) benchmark index, EGX-30, is expected to range between 7,250 and 7,650 points this week. After this week, however, the movement of the index will be determined by the fate of the CIB-Beltone deal.
“These are the numbers the index has varied within during the past three weeks,” said Mohamed El-Asaar, head of the technical analysis department at the National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) for investment in North Africa and the Middle East.
The EGX-30 opened the past trading week at 7,478.7 points and closed at 7,463.1 points, declining by 0.21%. The broader index, EGX-100, opened at 776.87 points while it closed at 794.49 points, a 2.27% surge. The small- and medium-sized enterprises index, EGX-70, closed the trading week at 374.75 points, a 3.92% increase compared to the initial 360.63 points.
“If the CIB-Beltone deal is finalised by the end of the week, we can expected the EGX-30 to reach 8,200 points,” the analyst added. “If this doesn’t happen then there might be a notable correction in the market.”
The EGX stated that the total value traded was EGP 4.1bn, compared to EGP 6.1bn recorded the week before.
“Stock trading accounted for 71.73% of the total value traded of the main market, while the remaining 28.27% were accounted for by bonds over the week,” the EGX’s official report read.
“Egyptians controlled 84.05% of the value traded during the week,” the EGX said. “Non-Arab foreign investors accounted for 8.17%, while Arab investors took 7.78%, after excluding deals.”
Arab and foreign investors were net buyers during the week.
Institutions accounted for 49.83% of the value traded, while the remaining 50.17% were traded by individuals.
“The total market capitalisation of the listed stocks culminated at EGP 407bn at the end of this week, representing an increase of 1% over the week,” the EGX said.


The military entity charged with removing 104 million gallons of aviation and marine fuels from the Navy's controversial, underground Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in Halawa marks a milestone Monday.
That day, Joint Task Force-Red Hill — composed of members of various U.S. armed services — will begin “repacking” operations to fill empty pipelines that snake for miles under and through the World War II-era facility with more fuel in order to remove any air.
That work will pave the way for gravity-based defueling of the site's main underground storage tanks by Oct. 16, according to Vice Adm. John Wade, who commands the task force.
“We are on schedule to start defueling in the middle of October,” Wade told a group of news reporters Friday following a media tour of the facility.
He added that the gravity method “is not fully dependent on electricity.”
“While many of the valves do require electrical power, some are hydraulically generated, some are manual; we'll have personnel at all of the valves,” he said.
Wade said defueling is scheduled for completion by Jan. 19 and would be conducted with the utmost care.
“That is why I'm here,” said Wade, “and why we've implemented a mitigation strategy to identify all of the threats and vulnerabilities and implement the strategy to reduce those risks.”
To reduce risk, the joint task force says it intends to fill the lines with fuel from the site's upper tank farm,…


Shortly after Izabel’s death, a video surfaced. It was Izabel sitting in a garage with shorn hair. A voice, presumably the girl’s father, scolds her: “The consequences of getting messed up, man, you lost all that beautiful hair. Was it worth it?
Anna Merlen of Jezebel, in her write-up of the incident, also includes a Google Plus post from Izabel last year where she wrote about feeling bullied in school:
“I feel hated most of the time im in school i feel looked down on and i get judged alot…. But what keeps me going is people like kian who have gone through the same thing as me… In a school with so many people its weird to say ‘i feel alone’ but the truth is that you really do feel alone. So thanks for everything kian….”
This “public shaming” thing so many parents are doing is really just bullying.
Why do you need the whole Internet to see you discipline your child? Why do you have to humiliate your child to teach them a lesson?
There are plenty of articles out there on how young people are narcissists who crave validation on the Internet, but I submit that they aren’t the only ones. Public shamers are going viral on YouTube and it’s not because they truly want what’s best for their kids. It’s for attention.
And to cut off this young girl’s hair is simply disgusting to me. To alter your daughter’s appearance, something that may very well have been integral to her identity, to her being – that’s not discipline.
This family is going through a tragic time. But this is a girl who was clearly depressed even before her father cut off her hair and put the video on the Internet. Her death could have been prevented.
Parents, please think before publicly shaming your kids. Think about what you’re doing to them, to their confidence, to their trust in you.
The damage isn’t worth the clicks.
Source: Blue Nation Review


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The Winchester Model 1876
by Kirk Durston
As the eastern Arizona sky paled into dawn on July 17, 1882, Na-tio-tish, and his band of more than fifty Apache
warriors waited quietly on the far side of a fork of East Clear Creek. A single troop of cavalry had been following
them for days, led by Captain Adna R. Chaffee, and Na-tio-tish intended to ambush the troop as it slowly threaded
its way toward them. Unbeknownst to the Apaches, however, Chaffee had with him renowned scout, Al Sieber,
who had discovered the ambush. In addition, four more companies had joined Chaffee’s US army regulars during
Chaffe and his men carefully drew up to the rim, opposite the Apaches who lay below in ambush. As two
companies approached from downstream, and two more from upstream, each man holding his military issue
Springfield 45-70 carbine at ready, Chaffee’s men opened fire on the Apaches below. The smoke of black powder
began to form a haze around the US Cavalry, as the 405-grain bullets from the troop’s 45-70’s sped to their
targets below. Among the military issue carbines was a single, lone Winchester rifle that stood out from the rest,
a formidable but graceful looking weapon with a barrel noticeably longer that the Springfield carbines all around.
The man using it calmly aimed, fired, and levered in another round, the unique, milk-bottle shaped casings falling
one by one into the sand, where they would lay for one hundred and twenty-three years.
In the summer of 2005, a member of an archeological party investigating the site of the Battle of Big Dry Wash,
brushed the sand away from yet another deeply tarnished milk-bottle shaped brass casing, noticeably different
from the numerous straight-walled 45-70 empty cartridge casings found at the site. The headstamp read W. R. A.
Co. 45-75 W.C.F., and all of the 45-75 casings found at the site appeared to have been fired from the same rifle, a
Winchester Model 1876. It is not known with certainty who that rifle belonged to, on the day of the Battle of Big
Dry Wash, but it is purported that the famous scout, Al Sieber, was using a Winchester 1876 at that time. Since
the US regulars would have been using their military issue 45-70 Springfields, and since Al Sieber was Chaffee’s
scout that day, there is good reason to believe that those old, tarnished brass casings were once fired by Sieber
himself in that final battle between Apaches and US army regulars.
A visual comparison between the Winchester Models 1873 and 1876 can easily lead one to believe that the Model
1876 is merely a scaled up version of the Model 1873. In reality, the roots of the Model 1876 go back to about
1865, when Oliver F. Winchester began to design and develop a new type of repeating rifle with removable side
plates. The first rifles were shipped to the Swiss Confederation in 1866, and some other governments in 1867 and
1868. These rifles were chambered for several 45 and 50 caliber center-fire cartridges. In 1869 the project was put
on hold. An example of a Winchester Model 1868 can be seen today in the Cody Firearms Museum in the
Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming. The receiver on the Model 1868 looks almost identical in size
and appearance to the receiver of the Model 1876.
A Winchester Model 1876 carbine in .45-75. This carbine was shipped on April 3rd, 1885, along with
399 similar carbines comprising order number 19819, to the North West Mounted Police in Canada.
The development of a large-bore repeating rifle resumed again in 1873 and 1874, using receivers based upon the
Model 1868 frame. After some refinements, and testing of a variety of calibers, some prototypes were presented
to the public at the 1876 International Exhibition in Philadelphia. Because this public debut occurred on the 100th
anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the new Winchester Model 1876 was named the ‘Centennial
Production of the Model 1876 began in June of 1877, chambered for the distinctive, milk bottle-shaped .45-75
that fired a 350 grain bullet with a muzzle velocity in the neighborhood of 1,385 fps. In 1879, two other cartridges
were offered, the .45-60 W.C.F. and the .50-95 Express. The .45-60 fired a 300 grain lead bullet at a muzzle
velocity of about 1,315 fps and the .50-95 sent a 300 grain bullet down range at about 1,493 fps. In 1884 the final
cartridge, the .40-60 was added. It fired a 210 grain bullet with a muzzle velocity of about 1,475 fps. According
to the 1896 Winchester catalogue, all bullets were cast from 1 part tin to 16 parts lead, with the exception of the
.40-60 W.C.F., which was cast from 1 part tin to 20 parts lead.
A special order, deluxe version of the Winchester Model 1876 in .50-95 Express. This beautiful rifle
was shipped in order number 18968, March 24th, 1885.
My first, hands-on introduction to the model ‘76 began with a notice in my rural mailbox, stating that there
was a package for pickup at the general store in a village six miles away. Whatever plans I had that afternoon
were immediately set aside as I hopped into the truck and made the round trip to pick up the parcel containing a
Winchester 1876 in .45-60 that I had bought from a collector in Alberta, Canada. When the parcel was opened,
there she lay, reeking like greasy rags and in dire need of a careful cleaning. It was obvious that it had been a very
long time since the old classic had last been fired. About 80% of the finish was still on the metal, but it had turned
a dark, chocolate brown. From the serial number, and the little bit of history I was able to gather from the collector,
the rifle had been made in 1882, the same year as the Battle of Big Dry Wash. It was brought out to Alberta with
the very first settlers sometime between 1883 and 1886.
As I began a very careful dismantling and cleaning of the old rifle, taking pains to remove only the caked-on, hard
oily residue and dirt without marring the original finish of the gun in any way, it soon became clear that taking
apart and reassembling a Model 1876 is straight-forward and relatively simple. For those who might be interested
in such a project, the diagram I used was the cut-away diagram for the Model 1873 in the 1896 Winchester
Catalogue. The rifle cleaned up nicely. The bore was lightly pitted, but the rifling was still clear from throat to
A cross section of the Model 1873 action taken from the 1896 Winchester catalogue. The catalogue notes
that the Model 1876 action and the Model 1873 action are so similar, the same diagram can be used for both.
A view of the action with the lever down and the hammer cocked by the firing pin taken from the 1896
Winchester catalogue. Comparing this view with the view with the lever closed, gives an idea of how the
Reloading for the .45-60
Once the rifle was back together, it was time to make some cartridges. Cartridge cases for the .45-60 can be made
from 45-70 brass. The process has two steps to it. First, the case is shortened to the original .45-60 length of 1.855
to 1.890 inches. Next, the rim thickness had to be reduced. Original .45-60 brass reveals that the rim thickness was
about 0.057 to 0.058”. Cases formed from .45-70 brass have a rim thickness closer
to 0.064 to 0.068”. If a vintage 1876 still has a headspace close to original factory
specs, the lever will not be able to close due to the thicker rim. On the other hand,
if your vintage ‘76 will close on brass made from .45-70 stock, then you know your
headspace as loosened up, probably at the expense of the pins in the toggle linkage.
To avoid reducing the depth of the primer pocket, I had to reduce the rim thickness
by filing down the front face of the rim. This can be a very tedious chore, so a friend
of mine made a simple tool, one end of which was .458 inches in diameter, and the
other end approximately 1⁄4 inch in diameter. The 1⁄4 inch end fit in the chuck of my
hand drill and the other end inserted tightly into the case. It was then a simple matter
to hold a file to the front face of the rim as it was spinning and thin the rim down. I
made up six of .45-60 cases from some unused .45-70 brass I had on hand and then
ordered a box of 20 from Rocky Mountain Cartridges. These folks machine their
cases from solid brass stock, anneal the mouth of the case, and properly headstamp
it. The cases were beautiful. The only thing I had to do was to reduce the diameter
of the rim slightly so I could fit the cases into my Lee .45-70 shell holder.
I used an old Lee .45-70 handloader kit to reload, although I was not able to resize Set-up for thinning the
the cases after each firing, which made for some tricky bullet insertions into the rim of a .45-70 case to
somewhat loose neck. Crimping held the bullet in place, but I would advise the approximately 0.064”.
handloader to get a proper set of dies if doing anything more than a small amount
of shooting. I had on hand some original .45-60 cases, so weighed out exactly 60
grains of Goex FFg for each one. I used a polyethylene wad between the powder and the bullet. Some powder
compression was necessary to seat the bullet. This black powder load
gave me an average velocity of 1,307 fps.
A comparison between three
classic 45 caliber Winchester
cartridges. On the left is the
.45-90, in the center, the familiar
.45-70, and on the right, the
.45-60 used in the Winchester
Avg. velocity (fps)
I prefer not to use black powder in vintage rifles, simply because I’m
never 100% sure that I’ve got all the residue out of any pits in the barrel.
For this reason, I wanted to develop a smokeless load that would be
safe in the ‘76. Powders slower than 2400 tend to give a lower pressure
spike, for the same velocity and all other things being equal, than black
powder. The downside of this is that the lower pressure spike for slower
smokeless powders will fail to ‘bump up’ the bullet to fill the bore, if your
bullets are a bit undersize. On the other hand, slower smokeless powders
will give you original black powder velocities but with a lower pressure
spike, making it easier on your old rifle.
The velocities and pressures you will get for the same load will vary
depending upon the case capacity of your brass. For the results shown
below, I used 26.2 grains of XMP5744 under a 300 grain cast bullet
(actual weight 318 grains).
Original WRA brass
The original WRA brass has the largest case capacity and the Rocky Mountain Cartridge brass has the lowest.
You can see that case capacity does affect velocity and pressure. For this reason, a fellow needs to be careful
with smokeless reloading data and start a bit on the low side to allow for possible differences in case capacity.
One other load that seemed to work well for me was 22 grains of IMR SR4759 in the RMC cases, which gave
me an average velocity of 1,337 fps. James Barnard has published an article on reloading for the .45-60 in the
July-August 1973 edition of The HANDLOADER Magazine. One load that looks attractive to me, but that I
never tried, is 26 grains of IMR 4198 under a 300 grain #457191 cast bullet to give 1,290 fps. Barnard used
toilet paper filler in all his loads, but I might recommend trying the load without the filler. Filler can be a tricky
thing and if a person is not experienced in using it, a vintage 1876 is probably not the place to start the learning
My old rifle had a bore that had about
50% wear on the rifling, and quite a bit of
roughness and pitting. Nevertheless, with the
gas check version of #457191, I was able to
get 5-shot groups at 50 yards that were under
2” and as good as 1 and 7/16”. Shortly after I
started shooting the old classic, I took it for a
stroll down along the bean field, just in case
I saw a Ground Hog. Sure enough, I spotted
one at a later paced-off distance of just over
50 yards. I raised that long, 28” octagon
barrel and drew a bead in the critter. One
thing you can say about a 28” octagon barrel
is that the front bead doesn’t move around
The author’s Winchester Model 1876 .45-60. This
too much, due to the weight of the barrel. I
octagon-barrelled rifle was made in 1882 and journeyed
squeezed the trigger and the 300 grain, flat
out to Alberta with the first settlers in the mid-1880’s.
point bullet passed through the groundhog,
smashed through a flat rock, and burrowed
in the low dirt bank at the edge of the field. Without going into a lot of detail regarding what the bullet did to
the Ground Hog, let me just say that a .45 caliber, 300 grain bullet with a flat nose on it, must generate a lot of
It was my plan to take that old Winchester ‘76 deer hunting that fall. However, as the time drew near for hunting
season, a fellow I knew took a shine to my old ‘76 about the same time as I started noticing a nice, original
Winchester 1886 extra light takedown .45-70, circa 1902, he had. We ended up trading and although I’d have to
say that I’m delighted with my ‘86 extra light, I also have to confess that I have regretted parting with that old
‘76. If I’m ever fortunate enough to get my hands on another one, I won’t be parting with it so easily.
A chart showing the major components of the Model’s 1873 and 1876 action, taken from
the 1896 Winchester catalogue.


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Too cute, meet Pearl!
My female, Mack Snow, Tremper Albino, Leopard Gecko, hybrid morph!
PHEW That's a lot!
What you're about to read is a futuristic version and the descendants of my cast from my published novel, "Cliftheight's Fall". It was fun to write about them in a modern day scene, where an unseen force is chasing them. No one will probably understand what's going on, since hardly anyone read my book since it's self-published and not for public sale, but hey, it's a quick fun read for a prompt! See below! Hope you like!
“C’mon, we’re almost there!”
Four men rushed across the stiff forest floor, running from what appeared to be frost. Like a serpent, it slithered after them in pursuit. They followed the full moons glow like a path of light leading them from the darkness of the crippling forest. The world’s color was washed away, the landscape nothing but a painting of white, grey, blue, and black as the evil drew near. The closer the frost got to them, the slower they became. Their warm breath could be seen, as if their very souls were puffing out from their bodies.
The tallest of the four, and the one in the lead, skidded to a stop and turned to his brothers in arms. All were wearing modern day clothes; hooded sweatshirts under jackets, jeans, and trail boots. What made them look out of this world was the moon’s light reflecting off the weapons they carried.
“Let’s go, they’re gaining!” The leader cried, swinging his broad sword. Silver light swirled in the blade’s trail. It sparked and shimmered like lightning.
“Nate,” said the second man, who looked exactly identical to the third. Both had cross bows strapped to their backs. The blond twins were dragging their fourth companion, who stumbled on the uneven ground. A dark liquid seeped from his jeans, soaking the fabric from the left knee down to his boots. When the approaching frost hit the warm blood, it hissed in response, recoiling, before it shot forward again.
In the distance, a horrid cry rang out, like a man’s mangled howl. The taste of blood urged the beasts forward. More soon followed its master’s cry, and the wind took a sudden turn towards the stumbling modern day knights. It brought with it a wintery chill that shook the four to their cores.
“Derrick isn’t going to make it…” muttered Seth, the twin on the right. The brothers looked to the man they helped between them, his blue eyes dull and black hair covered in frost.
“There’s nothing we can do,” Smith’s throat was thick, this twin didn’t look into Nate’s eyes.
The redheaded leader scowled. “We can’t just leave him,” he shouted, green eyes smoldering. His blade sparked, feeding off his remaining energy.
“Nate, if we don’t leave him, they’ll catch us…” replied the first twin Seth, who looked at his brother, Smith. They mirrored a look of worry in their sharp blue eyes.
Nate barred his teeth, visibly shivering as the blizzard followed them. As each second passed, the gentle autumn forest turned to fierce winter. They were too close… far too close…
“Damn it,” Nate swung his sword into the closet tree, lodging the steel blade deep into the bark. The silver light died out as soon as he let go of the silver hilt and began marching over to their dying friend.
“Derrick, you hear me?” He asked kneeling. The man looked up at his leader, his eyes slowly fading. “Tell me,” Nate continued. “Where did you hide it? We need to know,” he said firmly.
“Nate…” the second twin turned around. “They’re almost here…”
“I know!” The redhead snapped. “Derrick,” he tried again, “where is it? Did you get it?” He asked firmly, lips beginning to turn blue. Derrick simply hung his head, too exhausted and far gone to reply. Nate grinded his teeth and growled, “You’re a good man Derrick,” and then, “Drop him,” he stood swiftly to retrieve his blade.
The twins hesitated, and then gently laid their friend in the swiftly falling snow. Nate yanked his blade from the tree and quickly sheathed it. “Let’s move,” he called out and the four became three that disappeared into the dark depths of the wood.
Derrick lay in the silent snow, watching it rise around him. He knew he was alone, knew he was about the die, and he knew that what was in his pocket was the key to their victory. He wasn’t able to tell Nate where it was, wasn’t able to say good bye to his comrades, and wasn’t able to pray to the gods for help…
He felt their deadly chill draw near. Soon, they’d surround him, their fangs like sharpened icicles puncturing his body, killing him. He could only hope that sweet death would take him before they appeared. The snow was beginning to fall harder now, like a thick white blanket about to cover him. He felt his blood rush out of him, pooling around him and pulling the warmth from his body. Fear nestled in his heart, chilling him to the bone. He couldn’t take it anymore…
With the last of his strength, he reached for his pocket, his bare fingers touching the pulsing, warm ruby found within. He didn’t see Brunhild, the God of Passion and Fire, as he assumed he would once he set fingers on the god’s heart. Instead, a woman’s apparition appeared, lying beside him, looking just as terrified as he felt.
Brunhild’s Chosen One… she was real… she was alive…
“Take this…” he whispered to the strange girl.
He squeezed the God’s Heart with the last of his strength, watching the girl grab at her chest and neck. She struggled, writhing beside him. He watched her brown eyes change to a bright, glowing red that matched the magnificence of the ruby within his pocket. Those eyes flickered from his face, to something above him. Her lips parted, as if she was trying to scream, but Derrick heard nothing.
They were upon him.
Far from the forest entrapped in a paranormal winter, a young woman shot up from her bed, screaming from the sight of a dying man being eaten alive by icy monsters. In her hand, she clutched a pulsing Ruby.
... I DO have a short story for this, I just haven't had time to write it at all yet... but I will...
Welcome to my Blog
Hey, I'm Maryah Stevens, a 25 year old, self-published, college graduate, married, 1st time mom! Phew!


Rumors about the arrival of the next-generation 2019 Acura RDX hit the internet since a few months ago. Honda’s luxury car division is reportedly working hard to prepare for the upcoming RDX crossover with a number of major changes and redesigns. As you know, the second-gen Acura RDX was first introduced in 2012 during the North American International Auto Show as a 2013 model year and since then, this five-door SUV has not gotten much changes. The only change that Honda has given to the RDX is a facelift in 2016.
The facelifted Acura RDX proved quite popular in the US market with its sales reaching 52,361 units last year. The facelifted version made its first debut at the 2015 Chicago Auto Show and brings a more powerful 3.5-liter i-VTEC SOHC V6 engine with a peak output of 279 horsepower and 252 lb-ft of torque. Now a prototype version of the redesigned 2019 RDX crossover has been caught at a gas station during its company testing. Unfortunately, this SUV is wrapped in heavy camouflage during testing, making it difficult for us to identify fresh designs of the upcoming RDX.
Redesign and Changes
According to Autoevolution, the 2019 Acura RDX is claimed as the premium brother of Honda CR-V. It’s not surprising since the next RDX crossover will be built on the latest CR-V chassis. So it will most likely be based on the same platform as the CR-V and of course we can expect many changes in terms of design style. However, the overall design of the third-generation RDX SUV looks more conventional and boxy with increased dimensions, although the mule version is covered in heavy camouflage during testing. It may aim to provide a larger cabin space compared to the previous models. Some other changes that Acura has done are redesign on its front grille.
MUST READ: 2018 BMW X5 Release Date, Changes and Price
Not only the larger interior space but the new Acura RDX is also rumored to be adopting more advanced and upscale technology, as well as supported with modern entertainment systems with new digital screens display. Rumors and other speculations suggest that the redesign will include the use of Jewel Eye headlights, new 3D grille, more premium features and a number of driver assistance systems. Of course, the safety aspect will be the Acura focus for the upcoming RDX crossover. The current RDX model with AcuraWatch driver assistance technology has received Top Safety Pick+ designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Now let’s move to the rear end, the 2019 RDX crossover is equipped with dual exhaust system, as well as the taillights now appear to be mounted higher in parallel position with each other compared to the second-generation model.
In terms of specifications and performance, the all-new 2019 Acura RDX will likely be powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline engine and will replace the current 3.5-liter i-VTEC V6 engine. It’s been anticipated to be another major change brought by the upcoming RDX and reportedly will be one of the first Acura models to borrow a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine from the latest Honda Civic Type R. As we know that the Civic Type R’s 2.0-liter turbo engine is claimed to deliver peak output of up to 306 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm and 295 lb-ft of torque @ 2,500 – 4,500 rpm.
Another rumor says Acura may be installing a direct-injected 3.5-liter V6 engine with a 10-speed automatic transmission borrowed from the 2018 Honda Odyssey, instead of the Type R’s 2.0-liter turbo unit. The new Odyssey V6 engine is capable of spewing at least 280 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 262 lb-ft of torque at 4,700 rpm. In addition, there are strong indications that Acura will offer a new hybrid version as well or a plug-in hybrid variant for the next-generation RDX SUV. So it’s interesting to see how the upcoming RDX will be battling its key rivals in the compact luxury crossover SUV segment.
Release Date and Pricing Info
The 2019 Acura RDX Release Date should be scheduled around next year, since Honda’s luxury car division has plans to produce a new RDX SUV by mid-2018. While the price tag is expected to compete with some of its main competitors such as Audi Q5 which is priced at $41,850-$47,350, followed by the BMW X3 with price range from $40,245 to $48,945, as well as the Mercedes GLC300 which went on sale for $40,075 – $42,075. We can expect price estimates for the 2019 RDX crossover will not be much different from the current 2018-model year which starts at $35,800 for base model (RWD) and $44,000 for RDX AWD with Advance Package. However, please look for the official pricing details close to its release date.
Image Credits: CarPix & Autoevolution


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Cooking chicken in a crockpot is a great way to prepare a delicious meal without much effort. However, it can be daunting to know how long to cook the chicken for, especially if you're cooking a large amount like 4 pounds. In this article, we'll cover everything you need to know about cooking 4 pounds of chicken in a crockpot.
Choosing the Right Crockpot for Cooking Chicken
The first step in cooking chicken in a crockpot is choosing the right one. You want to make sure the crockpot is large enough to hold 4 pounds of chicken comfortably and that it has a lid. Additionally, you want to look for a crockpot with a temperature gauge and different cooking settings, such as low, high, and warm.
Another important factor to consider when choosing a crockpot for cooking chicken is the shape of the pot. Oval-shaped crockpots are ideal for cooking whole chickens or larger pieces of chicken, while round-shaped crockpots are better suited for cooking smaller pieces of chicken or chicken dishes with sauces. It's also important to choose a crockpot with a removable ceramic insert for easy cleaning and serving.
Preparing the Chicken for Cooking in the Crockpot
The key to cooking delicious chicken in a crockpot is to prepare it properly. Before cooking, you want to ensure that the chicken is trimmed of excess fat and that it is patted dry. After that, you can seasoning it with your preferred spice blend, herbs, or marinade. It's a good idea to let the chicken marinate in the fridge for a few hours or overnight for maximum flavor.
Another important step in preparing chicken for cooking in a crockpot is to make sure that it is cut into even pieces. This ensures that the chicken cooks evenly and prevents some pieces from being overcooked while others are undercooked. Additionally, if you are using bone-in chicken, it's a good idea to remove the skin to reduce the amount of fat in the dish. By taking these extra steps, you can ensure that your crockpot chicken is not only delicious but also healthy.
Tips for Seasoning Your Chicken Before Cooking
When it comes to seasoning your chicken, the possibilities are endless. Some popular seasonings for chicken include garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin, and chili powder. If you're not sure where to start, you can always use a premade seasoning blend or follow a recipe.
Another important tip for seasoning your chicken is to make sure you season it evenly. This can be achieved by rubbing the seasoning mixture all over the chicken, including under the skin and inside the cavity if you're cooking a whole chicken. Additionally, you can marinate the chicken in the seasoning mixture for a few hours or overnight to allow the flavors to penetrate the meat. Remember to adjust the amount of seasoning based on the amount of chicken you're cooking and your personal taste preferences.
Recommended Temperature and Setting for Cooking 4 Pounds of Chicken in a Crockpot
When cooking 4 pounds of chicken in a crockpot, it's best to use the low setting and cook for 6-8 hours. You want to make sure the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F to ensure it's fully cooked. If you want to cook the chicken faster, you can use the high setting and cook for 4-6 hours, but be mindful that the chicken may not be as tender.
It's important to note that the cooking time may vary depending on the type of crockpot you have and the size of the chicken pieces. It's always a good idea to check the internal temperature of the chicken with a meat thermometer to ensure it's fully cooked. Additionally, you can add your favorite seasonings and vegetables to the crockpot to enhance the flavor of the chicken.
How to Check if the Chicken is Cooked Through
The best way to check if your chicken is cooked through is to use a meat thermometer. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken and ensure that it reads at least 165°F. Additionally, you can check if the chicken is fully cooked by cutting into it and ensuring that the juices run clear.
It is important to note that consuming undercooked chicken can lead to foodborne illnesses such as salmonella. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that your chicken is fully cooked before consuming it. If you are unsure about the cooking time or temperature, it is always better to err on the side of caution and cook the chicken for a few more minutes.
Resting and Serving Your Cooked Chicken
After the chicken is fully cooked, you want to let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in a more flavorful and tender chicken. Once rested, you can serve the chicken with your preferred sides, such as roasted vegetables, salad, or rice.
Alternative Recipes for Cooking 4 Pounds of Chicken in a Crockpot
While seasoning the chicken is a great way to add flavor, there are other recipes you can try for cooking 4 pounds of chicken in a crockpot. You can make chicken noodle soup, chicken and rice casserole, or even shredded chicken for tacos or sandwiches.
How to Store Leftover Cooked Chicken Safely and Effectively
If you have leftover chicken, it's essential to store it properly to keep it fresh and safe to eat. You want to place the chicken in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to three days or in the freezer for up to three months. When reheating, you want to make sure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Troubleshooting Common Issues When Cooking Chicken in a Crockpot
If you're having issues cooking chicken in a crockpot, the most common problem is that it's not tender enough. To fix this, you can try cooking the chicken for a longer time or adding liquid to the crockpot to ensure it doesn't dry out. Another issue you may encounter is overcooked chicken, which can dry out and become tough. To avoid this, make sure to check the internal temperature regularly.
With these tips, you should be able to confidently cook 4 pounds of chicken in a crockpot and enjoy a delicious meal with minimal effort. Happy cooking!


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State airline Tarom employees to join May 31st strike
The general strike announced for May 31st has started to put at risk several transport sectors in Romania. Employees of the Romanian state-run airline Tarom will join the public workers' general strike on May 31st and will cove only a third of their activity on that day. The airline is yet to announce what will happen to the flight scheduled for that day.
Tarom employees will join employees of the Romanian railways (CFR), Bucharest metro (Metrorex), and possibly Bucharest's public transportation system (RATB). The public system employees will be protesting against the announced wage cut of 25 percent in the public system, which will be included in the letter of intent to be sent to the IMF in the next days, in order to release the next loan installments for the country.