text:
In the Company of Crows and Ravens by John Marzluff, Mr. Tony Angell and Professor Paul R. Ehrlich
-001- The ancient Romans selected the raven as the head of all birds of omen,
-002- The larger corvids walk rather than hop on strong, black legs and toes. This walk is often interpreted as a strut, with “a lordly and somewhat military air.”
-003- Mentally, crows and ravens are more like flying monkeys than they are like other birds. This means that they are able to learn, remember, and use insight to solve natural and human challenges.
-004- Bird brains are not entirely like our brains. In all animals the forebrain is responsible for learning and memory. But in mammals like us, the enlarged parts of the forebrain are the hemispheres with the distinct convoluted surfaces known as the cerebrum. The frontal and temporal lobes of our cerebrum are most important to memory, planning, problem solving, attention, and imitation. In smart birds like corvids and parrots, the inner portion of the forebrain, especially the nidopallium, is pronounced. The nidopallium is densely packed with nerve cells, making it an efficient storage, processing, and coordinating center. We know that the forebrain is important to learning and memory because it is largest in birds that excel in learning tests. Damage to it reduces a bird’s learning ability. Another portion of the forebrain, known as the hippocampus, may be most important in spatial memory. In many corvids, chickadees, and tits (European chickadees) that cache seeds for future use, the hippocampus is huge. It may even expand during the autumn when caching is common and shrink during the spring when stored foods are used less. Large forebrains do more than aid with spatial memory. They also allow corvids to discriminate finely among similar objects,
-005- Black feathers are stronger than less pigmented ones,
-006- Black birds absorb more solar radiation on sunny days than do light-colored birds, which allows them to conserve precious body heat in cold environments.
-007- Mates groom each other by probing and combing their feathers to remove mites, flies, and other irritants, a practice known as allopreening. This social activity is reminiscent more of apes than of birds. Pairs function as highly synchronized teams, building large, stick-based nests, carefully lining them with fine rootlets or hair, and filling them on average with four bluish green, brown-flecked eggs.
-008- Incubation varies little among the many species and usually lasts three to four weeks. Occasionally up to ten eggs are incubated, but most pairs go for quality rather than quantity.
-009- Parents forage incessantly to feed their growing nestlings, which greet the world naked and helpless, a condition called altricial. Newborns weigh less than an ounce but quickly grow to nearly adult size before fledging from the nest at three to four weeks of age. Fledging refers to the act of leaving the nest and is generally the time when nestling crows become independent fliers. We call young crows fledglings after they can fly but before they are independent of parental care, a period that lasts several weeks to months in most crow species. The fact that newly fledged crows resemble adults in size and color often causes people to remark that they have never seen a baby crow. Certainly they have; they just haven’t noticed it. Closer inspection reveals that young crows and ravens are less glossy than adults and have a pale blue iris that turns dark brown only after several months of life. Detailed morphological studies reveal that throughout their first year of life crows have shorter tails and wings than older birds, browner and more worn plumage, and distinctly rounded rather than squared tail feather tips.
-010- Our early ornithologist friend Major Bendire, for example, noted in 1895 that crows walk “more jerky” and not nearly “as dignified as the raven.” Crows and ravens differ in many other respects. Ravens are large, often weighing more than 2.5 pounds (just over a kilogram) with prominent beaks, diamond- or wedge-shaped tails, and broad wings spanning more than 4.5 feet (1.4 meters). Crows typically weigh less than a pound (500 grams), with shorter and narrower beaks, fan-shaped tails, and wings spanning less than a yard (about a meter). Ravens often soar in flight, but crows usually flap, and their rate of wing beats is more rapid than the larger raven.
-011- The basso profundo krawk of the raven is easily distinguished from the comparatively anemic caw of the crow.”
-012- Ravens have perhaps the most complex vocabulary of any bird. They scream, trill, knock, croak, cackle, warble, yell, kaw, and make sounds like wood blocks, bells, and dripping water. Their calls are hoarse and resonant.
-013- Both species are capable mimics. Variety and unpredictability define crow, raven, and other corvid calls, so whenever you hear something inexplicable in the forest or field, odds are that a corvid is the source.
-014- the history of ecological interactions between crows and people. It is a history that reaches back far before the days of humans, to a time nearly one hundred million years ago, when Earth’s original two large continents, Gondwana and Laurasia, were drifting apart.’
-015- Kevin Omland, a former ski racer turned geneticist at the University of Maryland, ground up hundreds of raven feathers, extracted their DNA, and made a startling discovery. Not all “Common Ravens” are the same. The most common form, known as the Holarctic Clade, is found throughout the northern hemisphere in Europe, Greenland, Asia, and North America. But the less common California Clade is found only in North America, primarily along the southern Pacific Coast. Common Ravens must have been in southern North America two million years ago to participate in this divergence.
-016- Later, Holarctic birds once again crossed into North America, perhaps flanking wolves and people.
-017- the beneficial aspects of crows, Rooks, and Western jackdaws were appreciated through the late 1400s and early 1500s in England. There, corvids were legally protected from destruction because of the janitorial services they performed on city streets. A special decree in 1534 issued by King Henry VIII also protected corvids hunted for sport by falconers. English ravens were protected in the 150os because of their valuable service as scavengers of putrid meat. Crows and ravens signaled longevity from atop sheaves of grain in family crests of this period.
-018- Corvids in general were viewed as “vermin” in Europe throughout the 1700s, 18oos, and early igoos. In western Europe, ravens were driven from cities and hunted with such passion in the countryside that a “cultural gap” in their geographic distribution developed. Though they survived in Scandinavia, northern England, Spain, and southern and eastern Europe, ravens were extirpated from most of Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, and southeastern England. Some persecution was reduced in England and Scotland in 1981, when ravens received protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. Common Ravens remain protected today.
-019- In scientific language we call them human commensals or synanthropic birds. Crow fanatics refer to them as lofty messengers or incredible problem solvers.
-020- for every one hundred crows born in your neighborhood, at least five should live longer than forty years.’
-021- The Inuit, for example, tell how Crow tricked a great chief out of a daylight ball and flew high into the sky with it to illuminate and warm the far north for his people. The Tlingits tell of Raven achieving similar deeds.
-022- avens figure prominently in the folklore and religion of northern peoples around the world. The Norse God Odin was accompanied by two ravens, Hugin (thought) and Munin (memory), who surveyed the world during the day and reported back to Odin each
-023- Ravens were important inspirational and navigational tools to early Europeans. Warriors used the birds’ association with death to intimidate their enemies. Topping a Celtic battle helmet from Romania is an iron raven whose wings flapped as the warrior entered battle. Warriors also used ravens to practical ends. Much as Noah supposedly released a raven to find land, the Vikings located Iceland with the aid of ravens.
-024- One of the best known legends about ravens comes from seventeenth-century England. Despite building hatred of scavengers following the London fire of 1666, legend has it that six ravens were spared from persecution and allowed to live in the Tower of London. King Charles II had the birds brought to the tower after the royal astronomer, Sir John Flamstead, told him that if the ravens were killed, his kingdom would fall. A corps of raven masters was established to care for the birds. Not wishing to tempt fate, British rulers have kept ravens in the Tower of London ever since. When only one raven survived the assault of World War II, Sir Winston Churchill is reported to have ordered that more be brought in. Today’s Tower ravens have clipped feathers on one wing to keep them from flying off
-025- Boria Sax has researched the history of ravens at the Tower of London and made a startling discovery. There is no evidence that ravens were ever kept in the Tower before the late i8oos. The legend of Charles II and the ravens appears to be a myth, and a recent one at that. Sax argues that the legend of ravens protecting the kingdom was developed at the end of World War II, perhaps to buoy the spirits of shell-shocked Londoners, provide a living connection to ancient times, boost tourism, or to simply increase job security and esteem of the raven masters.
-026- It was believed that Raven’s greatest trick of all was to give each male animal testicles, so that he might be entertained by the silly games and preoccupations they then constantly engaged in.
-027- Ravens can also be called on to grant small wishes.
-028- Pueblo Indians made connections between crows, death, and bad luck. Their witches could transform into either crows or owls.
-029- when the Marzluff family traveled to Crow Agency, Montana, to learn more about the Crow people. Crow Agency is the geopolitical heart of the Crow Nation. The Crows are a rugged Native American people that once thrived on the cold, windswept plains of present-day eastern Montana, Wyoming, and southern Canada.
-030- In a moment that taught us more about Euro-Americans’ domination of the continent than hundreds of books and films ever could, a Crow woman said simply that her people’s English name was a mistake. Her ancestors, she explained, told early explorers that they were known as the “people of the large-beaked bird.” In error they interpreted the description to mean “crow,” and with such arrogance a people were named. The woman we spoke with said that “eagle” was the correct bird.
-031- Charles Dickens, himself a proud owner of a pet raven, incorporated the trials of Grip, the devil raven, in his novel Barnaby Rudge. Lewis Carroll put crows on the other side of the Looking-glass. To Alice’s delight, “a monstrous crow, as black as a tar-barrel,” broke up a fight between Tweedledum and Tweedledee so that Alice could get directions out of a forest in Wonderland.
-032- Crows provide many important lessons for life in the ancient Greek tales known as Aesop’s fables. Crow and Raven teach us that fair-weather friends are not worth much, that it is better to be quietly content than loudly defensive, and that we should be content with our appearance.
-033- Crows were commonly depicted on lacquered boxes, fans, and hanging scrolls in Edo Japan.
-034- The Screen of Crows
-035- The soul of King Arthur of the Round Table is supposed to survive today as a crow or a raven.
-036- Traveling the British countryside simply overwhelms you with the influence of corvids on language. Place-names echo a corvid past. Great Rave-ley, Raven Beck, Ravencroft Belt, Raven Scar, Ravenscleugh, Ravenscliffe, Ravens Close, Ravensheugh Crags, Ravensnest Wood, and Ravenglass are just a few. Ravenstone was a European execution site. In Scotland, ravens are known as “corbies,” and the Highlands resound with places like Corb Glen, Corbie Head, Corbie Nest, and Corby’s Crags.
-037- 181 names for crows and ravens from 136 human languages on five continents and many islands. Most names are similar and distinctly onomatopoetic. Most include a “k” consonant sound and an “a” vowel. Well over half of the words for crow worldwide include “ka” or “ak.” Finns, for example, call ravens “korpi” and Poles call them “krucks.” Batanes Island Itbayats call crows “quwaks,” Pawnees call them “kaaka,” and Thai call them “kaa.” Certainly these reflect the cawing, clucking, and croaking calls typical of crows and ravens.
-038- Crows and ravens care for each other, spend years living at home, engage in foreplay, and mate for life but now and then mate with others. They sunbathe, smear natural oils on their skin, and play.
-039- Mated pairs cooperate in nearly every nuance of life, but compete with other pairs for territories. Unmated crows variously compete and cooperate with their parents, siblings, neighbors, and members of large migrating or roosting groups. In crow society, large numbers of individuals interact rarely, but are familiar with each other. Throughout their lives, most individuals have sustained relationships with a few other individuals. Central among these stable relationships is the lifelong, monogamous mated pair. This fundamental unit of crow society defends a territory, ranging from the immediate nest area in Northwestern Crows to hundreds of acres (hectares) in Common Ravens, for their exclusive use throughout their lives.’
-040- All crows have some exposure to family life, living with their parents and siblings for at least the first few months after fledging. Some young crows remain with their parents and perhaps up to six siblings and half-siblings for a year or more. However, all crows do not experience long-term family life. Instead, some leave their parents after a few months to disperse widely, wander locally as unmated “floaters,” or even form a pair-bond to breed in their second year. Female crows usually disperse and occasionally breed in their second year. Males may wander locally and rarely breed before their third year of life. Whether crows wander or remain in families, they all eventually participate in much larger social gatherings, most commonly during winter, as they forage in flocks or roost in impressive, nighttime aggregations.
-041- Although Common Ravens are among the least social, living as mated pairs during their adult lives, they do flock together at rich food resources during the winter and spend their early years in the company of tens to hundreds of other young, albeit nomadic, ravens.
-042- Seasonally, most crows go from living with their mate and/or family and interacting with a small number of neighbors in spring and summer to interacting with larger groups during fall and winter.
-043- In general, dispersers sought out breeding areas similar to the ones they were born in; rural crows dispersed to other rural areas and suburban crows dispersed to other suburbs.
-044- Common Ravens may rarely have helpers. Helpers do not necessarily increase the annual reproductive success of the pair they help.
-045- adult crows interact regularly throughout the year by calling softly to each other and giving each other a good deal of physical attention by gently grabbing bills and grooming each other’s feathers. Corvids groom each other to an unprecedented extent among birds. This “allopreening” is common in primates but not in birds. In allopreening, one partner edges up to the other, bows its head slightly, and raises its head feathers. Using a dexterous beak, the partner then grooms its mate by picking through the feathers just like a deftly fingered primate grooms its social companions. Allopreening is usually confined to the top of the head and facial area and serves the utilitarian function of removing parasites from hard-to-reach places. Allowing another bird so close when the recipient is vulnerable, however, suggests that this behavior may also provide an important social function related to maintaining the pair-bond.
-046- Gently grabbing beaks, known as “allobill- ing,” is less common in crows than it is in ravens. It involves mutual mouthing that often escalates into sharp jabs and brief fighting.”
-047- Even established pairs of crows court each spring. Males display their flying skills with acrobatic dives and rolls above observant females.
-048- Crows, especially female crows, “like” foreplay, but what sex they have is quick. Ritualized displays precede sex in most birds, including crows.
-049- He describes the basic display as “the male, the female, or both crouched with body horizontal, wings out and drooping, and tail vibrating up and down.” Females always performed the display, but males did not. Displaying crows also often vocalized, being especially prone to uttering soft cu-koo calls.
-050- On warm, sunny days crows will orient themselves perpendicular to the sun, spread their feathers, droop their wings, and lie prostrate on the ground in what looks like a semiconscious state. This odd behavior is common during the late summer molting period or after a prolonged cold, wet spell. Their partially closed eyes glaze over, and their mouths may open to help cool their sun-drenched bodies. Whole family groups may litter the ground seemingly dead, but if you try to approach they quickly come to life and move away.
-051- What are these sunbathing beauties doing? Apparently, the solar radiation turns the birds’ natural preen oil into a source of vitamin D. Ingesting it after sunning during normal preening activity could therefore provide an important dietary supplement. Sunning may also cause some skin and feather parasites to become more active and hence more accessible to preening birds.
Crows sometimes sprawl out around the mounds of acid-producing ants. This craziness, or “anting,” is a crow’s version of an insecticide application. Anting crows grab ants with their beak, crush them, and wipe the natural oils across the underside of their wing feathers. Formic acid and pungent anal fluids squeezed from ants have insecticidal properties that may drive unwanted parasites from the bearer’s body. During anting, live ants may also crawl on crows and actually eat some of the tiny troublesome creatures out of a beak’s reach. But could anting have an even more subtle function? Some speculate that the formic acid squeezed from ants is intoxicating to birds.
-052- Crows play. Once thought to be reserved for people, play has been increasingly found in animals, especially long-lived social ones like crows. Young American Crows have been seen grabbing paper in the bill, leaping into the air, dropping the paper, and pouncing on it again.
-053- On the snowy hills of Maine, Common Ravens play with sticks, bones, and other objects. But what really strikes you is their preoccupation with “body surfing” on snow. We have seen them slide down a slope on their bellies only to get up, hop back to the top, and do it again.
-054- He reports crows hanging upside down from moss and swinging back and forth, routinely engaging in tug-of-war contests over inanimate objects like sticks and plants, occasionally taking sticks into the air where they are dropped and recaught before hitting the ground, and repeatedly rolling a dried raccoon skull down a stump. Kilham also saw playlike behavior between crows and other animals. A consistent theme in these interactions was dancing: crows apparently imitating the mating dance of cranes or jumping high over animals like calves and vultures. McCaw, Tony Angell’s pet raven, routinely chased his husky dog.
-055- As crows increasingly interact with people, they begin to play with some of our own toys. Carrion Crows and Jungle Crows steal and roll baseballs, tennis balls, and golf balls. Mostly this play is rudimentary and done by single birds.
-056- But occasionally crows seem to just have it out for some people for no apparent reason. We often hear from red-haired women and balding men that they are swooped on by crows.
-057- Roosts have been christened “information centers” because they appear to serve as debriefing arenas for hunters each evening. Birds were thought to disperse in many directions from the roost each morning to hunt and forage rather independently. On arriving at the roost in the evening or as they left the next morning, successful hunters would divulge their secrets vocally or with a variety of postural displays and lead unsuccessful hunters to food. Common Ravens do exactly that. Young, vagrant, nonbreeding ravens that find large animal carcasses are rarely allowed to feed on them alone because of defensive resident territorial adults. So these vagrants return to communal roosts and inform others about newly found distant foods.
-058- Common Ravens in southwestern Idaho may have learned enough to evolve a new roosting culture. These ravens act like Staten Island crows, feeding on predictable agricultural products like corn, feedlot waste, small
rodents, and bugs. They roost in huge numbers and do not regularly recruit roost mates to new food bonanzas.
-059- The clucking of Common Ravens symbolically represents a dangerous invader near the nest. But their trilling indicates a trespassing challenger.
-060- the Common Raven utters nearly eighty distinct calls. An individual raven does not use all eighty. Individual birds utter about twenty basic calls, but each is variable in intensity, duration, pitch, and rate. Many vocalizations are individually distinct so that the caller’s aim and identity are stamped onto each utterance.
-061- Crows give at least three distinguishable assembly caws that are associated with mobbing, scolding, and diving at potential predators. These “two-syllable caws,” “long caws,” and “harsh caws” focus American Crows on the object of the caller’s scorn-usually a stationary cat or owl-in an attempt to drive the creature from the area, alert others to its presence, or perhaps teach family and flock members about dangerous situations. A variety of playback experiments confirmed what crow hunters have long known; if you broadcast these calls to crows, they will come flying toward you nine times out of ten. Even French corvids understand the American Crows’ message.
-062- If assembly caws are the “on” switch for American Crow attacks, then dispersal caws are the “off” switch. Harmonically complex, initially inflected, koaws are the most stereotypical dispersal call. These are given in response to immediate danger and cause birds to fly away from the scene, although they may initially attract crows to see the predator before they disperse.
-063- Koaws are often intermixed with or blended into harsher assembly caws. They are given during territorial defense in addition to mobbing. These facts led Cynthia Sims Parr to a striking conclusion: koaws may be given to intruding crows, not predators. American Crows leave at the utterance of a koaw not because of a dangerous predator but because of threat from a peeved territory owner.
-064- The ko, or warning caw, alerts crows to impending danger. It is a sharp, tonal caw given to predators heard or seen from a distance.
-065- Field researchers can often guess with good accuracy what crows are mobbing based on the intensity of their caws, suggesting that they may be identifying the intruder as well as scolding it.
-066- Caws of all durations are used to defend the territory, but their coupling with descending glides as the wings are held up in a U-shaped, or dihedral, position is typically used to announce one’s arrival at a gathering.
-067- Crows and ravens make a variety of soft squawks, coos, bill clicks or snaps, rattles, cackles, and growls as they sit alone or close to a mate or family member. The unstructured “gargling” or “rambling” soliloquies of young, unmated American Crows and Common Ravens involve combinations of these and mimicked noises from their locale.
-068- Crows and ravens enhance their natural repertoires by mimicking the sounds of other animals, including people, and inanimate objects. Don’t be surprised to discover that the dog you heard barking, the owl hooting, the child screaming, or the chicken clucking and crowing was actually a crow. Crows have been recorded mimicking all of the above. Crows can also speak fine English. Their complex throat muscles allow them to verbalize such phrases as “I’m Jim Crow” or “Oh my God, oh Lord.” This they do expertly without the need for their tongue to be split, a cruel and unfounded suggestion made two thousand years ago by Pliny the Elder. As Pete Byers writes in his book The Lost Folk Art of Crow Taming, all you need to get your crow to talk is “patience, perseverance, and repetition.” His Ohio-born crow, Edgar, imitated the cheering, hooting, and clapping that accompanied a television game show. Mickey, the crow at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh, greets visitors with “Hey bro, what’s happenin’?”
Mimicking need not be mindless copying. Konrad Lorenz’s pet raven Roah learned to mimic his name and then used it in new and appropriate contexts. When Roah perceived that Lorenz was heading toward a dangerous situation, lie would fly in another direction and repeatedly call “roah, roah” to lure Lorenz to safety.
-069- Crows do not sing to attract mates like other birds. Courtship is apparently done at close range using mixtures of soft sounds, bowing postures, and mutual caresses. Crow pair-bonds are likely formed over long periods in nonbreeding group settings without the vocal fanfare that accompanies pairing in most songbirds.
-070- Mates are more likely to increase their aggression and engage in “pincer tactics” after duetting than after solo cawing. Crows using pincer tactics surround an intruder, with the female on one side and her mate on the other.’
-071- The complexity of a communication system such as that of the American Crow and Common Raven is rarely matched in the animal kingdom.
-072- Crows also appropriately interpret our gazes, strides, and vocal signals. Stare at a crow, and it will become alert and likely move away. Walk quickly past, and it will ignore you. Develop a regular ritual of movements before you put food in your bird feeder and crows will anticipate and move toward the feeder when you begin your “feeding sequence.” Ravens are adept at following the gaze of people and probably many other animals they encounter.
-073- Common Ravens disappeared as nesting birds in southern Michigan after only a decade of land conversion (1860-1870), and the last raven in Nebraska was seen in 1936.
-074- Ravens are intolerant of close neighbors. Despite efficiently exploiting distant resources and reproducing at a high rate near people, ravens cannot attain densities anywhere near that achieved by crows because pairs aggressively defend most of their large home ranges from other neighboring pairs.
-075- The crow’s ability to learn exactly what to eat in a human-dominated environment can be impressive, even to a child. Eight-year-old Zoe Marzluff proved this by offering crows a choice of fried potatoes in two types of bags. One bag was from a McDonald’s restaurant, and the other was a plain brown bag. Crows consistently approached the McDonald’s bag before the plain bag, even though both were within a yard (meter) of each other, of the same size, and contained the same food. Crows had apparently learned to associate the restaurant’s logo with a tasty snack.
-076- spring away from some unseen danger. Tense and fearful ravens typically jump up as if their toes were pinched, performing what we call “jumping jacks” as they approach new foods.
-077- it seems that each neighborhood has at least one resident who makes a daily ritual of feeding crows specially delivered nuts, pet food, or table scraps. Crows solicit food from these people by congregating at their residence and calling. People respond by whistling or yelling encouragement to the crows to come ever closer. Often crow families will interact with such people for years or decades, eventually nesting nearby and even engaging pets and family members in games.
-078- as the dog or as cuddly as a cat. This is not to say that a crow raised singly from the time it is a young nestling does not make a good pet. It does. It follows its adopted human like a puppy, runs to it for protection, may sleep in the human’s or other pet’s bed, affectionately preens hair expecting reciprocity, and assumes that it should act as humanlike as possible.
-079- It seems that tame corvids cannot resist prying, probing, pulling, pushing, or penetrating anything that has the likelihood of opening up or having something beneath its surface.
-080- We know of many pet ravens that routinely strip the rubber from any available windshield wiper in the owner’s neighborhood. Those allowed free exit from the home are infamous for pounding on the neighbor’s house at the crack of dawn, stealing laundry, or tormenting the nearby dogs and cats. Bill Gilbert wrote about his pet crow, Hello, which stole cigarettes and spectacles, finished off fuzzy navels (orange juice and peach schnapps), and cached spoons, spark plugs, coins, pencils, eyeglasses, rings, and beads. Pete Byers’s crow, Edgar Allan Crow, showed an interest in ichthyology. Edgar “collected” the family angelfish and stored them by pressing them neatly between the pages of an old book for safekeeping, just as botanists do with plant specimens. It is our inability to take the mischief out of the trickster that we think
|by V. L. Craven|
In the Company of Crows and Ravens by John Marzluff, Mr. Tony Angell and Professor Paul R. Ehrlich

domain: biology


text:
South Shields’ Under-14s can clinch the Russell Foster League Division Four title with a win over Peterlee Helford on Tuesday.
The Mariners are playing their first season in the Russell Foster League, and have enjoyed a fine campaign so far.
They will put their 100 per cent record on the line in a game that is being held at Brinkburn Playing Fields, Temple Park Road, South Shields, at 6.30pm.
The team would welcome any support on the day.
South Shields’ Under-14s Raiders side are set to play in a potential league decider on Saturday (April 26).
The Raiders are to take on Farringdon on Brinkburn’s playing fields, in Temple Park Road, South Shields.
The match will kick off at 11.30am, and the team would appreciate any support on the day.

domain: news


text:
Review by Liz Dexter
This entertaining and thought-provoking book is both a state-of-the-nation essay and an exercise in historical research and re-enactment and Maconie, being a seasoned writer and man of the people, gets it just right.
While others of his books have looked at particular regions, with a sort of emphasis on the Midland and North, this retraces the steps of the Jarrow Marchers from Jarrow to London. Along the way, he interrogates the landscape for reminders and commemoration, looks for parallels with today’s issues and politics, and gently asks people what they know of the March and Marchers.
On the parallels, he draws in right from the beginning the fact that there’s a Conservative government which has returned into power with an increased majority (this was obviously written before the last election) and a Labour Party that’s increasingly split. There is a rise of populism and attraction to strong leaders and foreign wars leading to huge numbers of refugees, who are then feared and suspected, and new forms of media stirring up all sorts of fake news and weird portrayals, and a country considering its relationship with Europe. Not much difference between 80 years ago and now, then. He’s very balanced on Brexit; while being clear which side he’s on, he’s also able to draw conclusions on why people in isolated, rural or urban deprived areas voted as they did and fairly strong on the London-centric bubble people got into over it. It’s of necessity a political book, but I think the history and people outweigh any dryness or partisanship that could engender.
Having described a bit of the general ideology of the book, it’s to Maconie’s credit that it doesn’t become over-crowded or chaotic. He tends to take a theme or type of people in each town he visits (following the exact timetable and journey (where it’s possible to know it) that the Marchers took); Polish people in one place, Sikhs in another. There’s a lovely scene where he hovers outside a Gurdwara, unsure of the protocols around walking in and demanding free food and some great interactions with the custodians of museums and strange places.
One thing not accessible to the Marchers is that Maconie uses social media to find things to do and people to meet. But something common to the media of both ages is fake news, and Maconie finds a great deal of false or obfuscating information on the Marchers, both promoted then through the newspapers and becoming part of the accepted history as time passed. He’s careful to review contemporary accounts as well as collecting opinions and family memories from the people he meets, and this gives a depth and legitimacy to the book.
Maconie ends up, unlike the Marchers, in fact, entering Parliament and meeting Tracy Brabin, the MP for Batley & Spen. The one false note in the book is sounded around her, as Maconie claims not to have heard of her early on, but being a social commentator interested in politics and the North, it seemed odd for him not to know of the long-term social activist and actor who took over the late Jo Cox’s constituency. However, this does allow for a less clumsy introduction to Brabin and wouldn’t register if you weren’t looking for it.
This was a book kindly made available to me by the publisher via NetGalley; there were a few issues with varying tenses which I’m sure will be smoothed out by publication. This is a good book and probably a fairly important one, presenting as it does a state of the nation review as well as a good, hard look at history and the current presentation of history, all told by a genial and gently funny narrator.
Liz Dexter blogs at Adventures in Reading, Writing and Working from Home. The furthest she’s ever walked is 27 miles in one day on the mildly disappointing Birmingham Walkathon and even though she runs marathons, she’d never walk one again.
Stuart Maconie, Long Road from Jarrow: A Journey Through Britain Then and Now (Ebury Press, 2017). 978-1785030536, 368 pp. Hardback.
BUY at Blackwell’s via our affiliate link (free UK P&P)

domain: library


Sep 1, 2013, 4:37 PM EDT
Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times has the story:
Matt Kemp, who is hitless in the first three games of his minor league rehabilitation assignment, will not return to the Dodgers on Monday.
“He doesn’t feel good yet at the plate,” Manager Don Mattingly said Sunday. “He’s not pushing us to say, ‘I want to be there tomorrow.'”
Kemp is 0-for-11 with five strikeouts through his first three rehab games with High-A Rancho Cucamonga and has hit just one ball out of the infield. The good news is that he has reported no issues with his left ankle, which he sprained on July 21. The 28-year-old center fielder should be activated once he gets his timing right.
Kemp has appeared in only 62 games this season for the Dodgers and has batted just .263/.319/.382.
- Clayton Kershaw wins his 20th game of the season 6
- Why are so many people acting like Bryce Harper is a bum? 77
- It certainly looks like Barry Bonds’ criminal conviction is going to be overturned 79
- And That Happened: Thursday’s scores and highlights 70
- VIDEO: Derek Jeter hits first home run at Yankee Stadium this season 11
- Ron Washington claims he resigned because he cheated on his wife 103
- No, baseball does not need to “announce a domestic violence policy ASAP” 52
- And That Happened: Wednesday’s scores and highlights 48
- Geddy Lee’s baseball obsession makes it really hard for me to hate Rush (107)
- Ron Washington claims he resigned because he cheated on his wife (103)
- It certainly looks like Barry Bonds’ criminal conviction is going to be overturned (88)
- And That Happened: Tuesday’s scores and highlights (83)
- Umpire ejects jackwagon fan heckling Bryce Harper in Atlanta last night (82)


. Accelerated database recovery. 05/20/2020; 5 minutes to read +2; In this article. Applies to: SQL Server (all supported versions) Azure SQL Database Azure SQL Managed Instance Azure Synapse Analytics Accelerated database recovery (ADR) improves database availability, especially in the presence of long running transactions, by redesigning the SQL database engine recovery process On this website you can view data on suspected side-effects, also known as suspected adverse drug reactions, for authorised medicines in the European Economic Area (EEA). For centrally authorised medicines, access to reports is granted both by the name of the medicine or the name of the active substance. For non-centrally authorised medicines, access is granted based on the name of the active. Accelerated Database Recovery (ADR), new with SQL Server 2019 and Azure SQL Database, is meant to help here. It's worth learning about, because it's likely to become a commonly used feature, and is in fact required for Hyperscale
At present, the database only contains ADRs affecting 5 system organ classes. Thus, a search for a particular ADR may not yield any results. A negative search result should not be interpreted to mean that no drugs cause that particular ADR. The data was sourced from Summary of Product Characteristics (SPCs) of Medicinal products present in Malta. Thus, other drugs (available outside Malta. .8 of the SPC to the MedDRA terminology, fuzzy text matching ( Bergvall et al. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2011;20(S1), S143
. The PROTECT ADR database is a downloadable Excel file listing of all MedDRA PT or LLT adverse drug reactions (ADRs). It is a structured Excel database of all adverse drug reactions (ADRs) listed in section 4.8 of the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) of medicinal products authorised in the EU according to the centralised procedure Automatic Diagnostic Repository (ADR) ©Database Consult GmbH - Jachenau 11g: Automatic Diagnostic Repository 01/2009 Folie 4 von 34 ADR • zentralisierte Direktory-Struktur, Repository für Trace-, Dump- und Log-Dateien etc. - einheitliches Datenformat für unterschiedliche Produkte, ASM CRS, RDBMS etc. - übergreift Produkte und Instanzen • zusätzlich neue Dateitypen - Incident. The dataset provides data on suspected side-effects also known as suspected adverse drug reactions for authorised medicines in the European Economic Area (EEA). For centrally authorised medicines, access to reports is granted both by the name of the medicine or the name of the active substance. For non-centrally authorised medicines, access is granted based on the name of the active substance. In the previously cited example, therefore, the ADR homes for both Oracle RAC instances would be current. adrci> show homes ADR Homes: diag/rdbms/orclbi/orclbi1 diag/rdbms/orclbi/orclbi2 In this case, any ADRCI command that you run, assuming that the command supports more than one current ADR home, works with diagnostic data from both ADR homes adr_base tips Oracle Database Tips by Donald BurlesonDecember 14, 2015: Question: What is the purpose of the automatic diagnostic repository (ADR), the adr_base directory? Answer: The ADR_BASE is like the ORACLE_BASE directory structure, as the environment variable specifies the base location of the ADR files. The Automatic Diagnostics Repository (ADR) is a one-level structure like the.
The scope of the ADR Data Catalogue covers the complete ADR, namely ADR Phase I and ADR Phase II. For more information regarding the content and deployment schedule for the ADR phases see the ADR Project Charter (reference 2). This document, together with its supporting annexes will be used by: The project team responsible for establishing the requirements and the processes to manage the data. . weitere Stoffe, die von der BAM klassifiziert und den entsprechenden Sammeleintragungen zugeordnet wurden This database includes data from 1965 to 2020-05-31. Information about vaccines used for immunization has been included in the database since January 1, 2011. Information about human blood and blood components has been included in the database since September 1, 2015. The database should not be used on its own to evaluate a health product's safety profile as It does not provide conclusive. Home » Articles » 11g » Here. Automatic Diagnostic Repository (ADR) in Oracle Database 11g Release 1 (ADRCI) The Automatic Diagnostics Repository (ADR) is a hierarchical file-based repository for handling diagnostic information ALTER DATABASE [MyDatabase] SET ACCELERATED_DATABASE_RECOVERY = ON; GO In this case, when the PVS filegroup is not specified, the PRIMARY filegroup holds the PVS data. To enable ADR and specify that the PVS should be stored in the [VersionStoreFG] filegroup. Before running this script, create the filegroup
In February 2013 the EMA released a new Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) database. C3iHC explains the objectives and impact of the EMA Protect ADR Database Recovering hard drive data from all data storage media. Most trusted data recovery provider since 1997 by universities,companies and individuals nationwide Adaptive Data Rate (ADR) is a mechanism for optimizing data rates, airtime and energy consumption in the network. ADR should be enabled whenever an end device has sufficiently stable RF conditions. This means that it can generally be enabled for static devices. If the static end device can determine that RF conditions are unstable (for example, when a car is parked on top of a parking sensor. While the actual data rate itself is determined by the network server, the ADR mechanism can be invoked from either the network or the end-node. Regardless of which side of the communication triggers the ADR mechanism however, whether or not using ADR is appropriate is determined by the application. ADR is invoked simply by setting the ADR bit in the frame control header. Ordinarily, the end.
Notwithstanding the transitional measures provided for in ADR 2019, which allow compliance with certain requirements contained in previous editions, the editions of ADR published by the United Nations which may be used for compliance are as follows: As from 1 January 2021: See Depositary Notification C.N.274.2020.TREATIES-XI.B.14 and proposed amendments in ECE/TRANS/WP.15/249 and Corr.1 and. ADR Register certifies ADR practitioners (arbitrators, conflictcoaches, mediators, negotiators) & their companies worldwide and is 100% independent.. ADR practitioners comply with annual CPD requirements, respect the code of conduct | the procedure requirements and are subject to rules for complaints & disciplinary action or dispute settlement & arbitration Since Oracle Database 11g, all traces, incident dumps and packages, the alert log, Health Monitor reports, core dumps, and more files are stored in the ADR, a file-based Automatic Diagnostic Repository for simplified database diagnostic data management. In spite of that new 11g feature, the housekeeping or purging of those files got not considerably simplified No file downloads have been provided. The publisher may provide downloads in the future or they may be available from their other links


text:
An esports gaming cafe was the last thing you would expect anywhere outside of the top metro cities. As a developing country, video games in India used to be a luxurious hobbyhorse reserved for the privileged elite. However, this was only the case back in the 90s and before. Technology has since become cheaper across the board. Today, it is common in middle-class families to have some form of computer – a desktop, a MacBook, or a laptop. Granted, they are for work more often than not, but PC gaming is indeed a much more common interest than it was a decade ago. Esports has also become a much more recognized form of mainstream sport. In this age, a gaming/esports cafe in India is a great business investment due to various different factors – more so than the US or Europe.
eSports Gaming Cafe in Bangalore – The Story
Bangalore comes third if you list the largest cities in India. For a long time, Bangalore has been a very lucrative place to be in. Back in the day, in the ’60s, people called it the ‘pensioner’s paradise’ because many dreamt of settling down in its luxurious societies with lush green parks. During the IT boom, Bangalore became the Silicon Valley of India. Naturally, it is one of the most high-tech cities in the country today. That made it quite the fertile spot for investors. The first iteration of gaming – outside other entertainment centers – was the arcades in casinos. But the first ‘gaming cafe’ as such appeared in Bangalore appeared in 1996 as a CCD (Cafe Coffee Day), which installed desktop computers on two floors. The gaming boom, however, did not happen till the early 2000s, when the first proper gaming cafes started cropping up.
Much of the first wave of gaming cafes before that were individual business ventures that were somewhat tame. But like the Game Space esports cafe in Mumbai and other metro cities, Bangalore also had pioneers like Blitzone as early as 2006. This era mostly had young gamers going to makeshift CS 1.6 LAN parties. One has to remember that this is also an age where gaming was a much more niche scene with complicated affairs like Starcraft and experiments with mods (the prototype of Dota was actually a Warcraft 3 mod). However, organized tournaments were also held as early as 2007. But the 2010-2020 decade marked significant developments in the esports sector. In fact, even a glance at gaming today will tell you just how far it has evolved. Not only does it hold. Likewise, esports gaming in Bangalore has also grown as a mainstream scene.
Gaming Cafe in India – The Chain
Bangalore is the most high-tech city, but the rest of India did not take long to catch up. Like we said earlier, gaming used to be a niche hobby that took much time and investment. But since then, it has become much more mainstream. In fact, one does not need an actual gaming PC to enjoy gaming. Mobile esports games are also very trendy right now. With the success of PUBG and Call of Duty mobile ports, it is possible to game with esports and battle royales from even a budget smartphone. But for the real deal, you need a good rig. At least a mid-end gaming PC is a baseline requirement for high-octane action games like a battle royale. One needs at least 60fps to experience smooth gameplay. But more importantly, low performance means high latency, which can make or break your chances at winning in competitive shooters.
So naturally, many people who cannot afford to buy or maintain a gaming desktop resort to gaming cafes. Now, many of us tend to think of gaming cafes as singular places that offer their services. But there are now many major chains of gaming cafe brands that have multiple branches across cities and states. Many of these also endorse or prefer one brand of hardware after another as a form of sponsorship. Let you play the top esports games at peak efficiency and comfort.
Below are some of the most well-known gaming cafe chains in India
- Arknemesis Gaming – possibly the most well-known gaming cafe in Chennai, Arknemesis gaming hosts 70+ gaming PCs as well as 4+ PS4 Pros. Some additional conveniences are the Nemesis bistro and some pool tables if you want to catch a break from competitive e-sports sessions.
- Zone Cafe – Zone Cafe opened up only recently in 2018, but it is already one of the biggest gamer hangouts in West Bengal.
- LXG – LXG calls itself the premium esports game arena of India. Whether that is true is up to debate, but it is certainly the biggest gaming cafe chain in Karnataka.
- Nexus Gaming – An online gaming cafe chain based in Delhi.
eSports Cafe Bangalore – Top 3 Gaming Spots
The gaming cafes in Bangalore developed to keep up with the times, and they have nearly always been state-of-the-art. Bangalore is a prime spot for gaming not just because it is a tech hub but also for its large 18-24 demographic of migrating students and young workers in the IT sector.
Clan Gaming is possibly the most revered gaming cafe in all of Bangalore. It is a business run by people who understand gaming, and the lounge is built from the ground up to provide an optimal gaming experience. Currently, it offers over 30 high-end desktops with top tier hardware as well as multiple load-balanced internet connections to ensure low ping times. All in all, Clan gaming is a good choice of cafe for any gamer who wants to get into competitive e-sports sincerely.
The Living Room runs counter to what you imagine the average gaming cafe to be like. Instead of the grunge aesthetics of a lightless casino or basement, it is more like a Silicon Valley residence. The founders of The Living Room cafe built it in 2018 with the vision of a cozy, airy space for a gaming hangout. Indeed, they have nailed the part. Its hardwood flooring and armchairs add much to its charm. It also caters towards console gaming. Naturally, one can easily understand that this place is all about laid-back gaming with friends. If one wanted to engage in esports and such, this cafe is not the right one.
Blitzones Cyber Cafe, also known as Stephen’s cafe, is one of Bangalore’s oldest gaming establishments (estd. 2006). It is probably the gold standard gaming lounge if you are into MOBA games. This is because Blitzone also has the legacy of a sprawling MOBA community, thanks to the many Dota 2 and League tournaments it has held, both external and in-house.
How to Start an esports Gaming Cafe in India
Generally, the actual process of opening an esports cafe is not any different from opening any other shop. You need to apply for a trade license, and meet the other government requirements, register for taxes. It is better to target well-off metro cities. Naturally, the lease or rent costs are high. But the natural clientele pool will more than compensate for that. Otherwise, generally, good business practices also help gaming cafes. They follow pretty much the same principle as casinos. Get the customers hooked, and provide them premium service. Moreover, a good advantage for gaming cafes is they can endorse brands for many benefits. This is why you will often see major gaming cafes endorse NVidia, AMD, and so on.
How to Use Gaming Cafe in India
Gaming cafes are nearly always very welcoming. You will have some kind of receptionist who will help you to a PC in the lounge, and even give you technical support.
But otherwise, there are no ‘rules’ to using gaming cafes. Just be aware that it is a community service. Thus one should not behave in a way that could upset someone else’s gaming experience. Also, it is advisable not to game for long stretches at a time. Remember to take breaks and refreshments every few hours. Happy gaming!

domain: hobby


text:
Brazil is world’s fifth-largest country by geographical area and the largest in terms of arable land.
Although only a fraction of its land is exploited, the country produces a highly diverse array of agricultural goods.
The country already ranks as the top global supplier of products as diverse as beef, orange juice, soybean oil and cellulose.
With an abundant supply of natural resources—water, land and a favourable climate—it has the opportunity to be the largest agribusiness superpower, supplying the world market while also providing affordable food for its own population.
This opportunity comes also with responsibilities and some threats.
Recent data released by the Brazilian government’s Prodes deforestation satellite monitoring system found that 220,000 square kilometers in the Amazon and Cerrado biomes were deforested between 2006 and 2017.
Clearing native vegetation releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, while crop plantations store less CO2. This environmental negligence, contrasts with the fundamental role and leadership that Brazil played during the negotiations and implementation of the SDGs.
To support Brazilian companies working towards their social and environmental commitments, particularly those who are already members of the ProTerra Network, the ProTerra Foundation makes available in Portuguese the ProTerra Standard and several webinars, to facilitate the engagement with our stakeholders from Brazil and boost their leadership in becoming champions of social and environmental responsibility in the food and feed supply chain.

domain: agronomy


text:
Destruction of 1978-1980 files means there is no record of UK government’s work at the time
Britain’s Foreign Office destroyed almost 200 files on Sri Lanka dating from the start of a Tamil Tiger uprising during which MI5 and the SAS secretly advised the country’s security forces, it has emerged.
The loss of the files means that there is almost no record of the British government’s work with the Sri Lankan authorities at the start of a famously brutal civil war.
The destruction of the files raises fresh concerns about the Foreign Office’s attitude towards handling historic files on sensitive subjects. An official review in 2012 found that the department had destroyed thousands of documents detailing British counter-insurgency operations in Kenya and other colonies as the empire came to an end.
Under the Public Records Act 1958 government departments are obliged to preserve historic records. But, in response to a Freedom of Information request from the Guardian asking for information about the destruction of the files, the Foreign Office stated that it was not required to preserve the documents. It said the files’ content “may be of a policy nature but might also be administrative or ephemeral”.
The Foreign Office has now confirmed that it destroyed 195 files on Sri Lanka, dating from 1978 to 1980, three decades after the country became independent from Britain. The department would not say exactly when, where, or how the destruction occurred.
“Files not selected for permanent preservation would have been destroyed offsite by the company contracted by the FCO for this purpose,” it said. “We understand the files would have been destroyed in line with the FCO’s paper and file destruction contract in force at the time.”
Rachel Seoighe, a criminologist and Sri Lanka expert, at Middlesex University, said: “This discovery is very concerning given the lack of public information available about British involvement in Sri Lankan security practices at the beginning of the civil war.” She has filed a complaint with Unesco, the international body that protects world heritage.
She added: “We know from other contexts, such as Kenya, that official files have been deliberately destroyed to conceal and deny abuse. The public has a right to know the extent to which Britain assisted Sri Lankan preparations for a war that was defined by disappearances, torture and mass atrocity.”
The Foreign Office kept a list of file titles, showing that the destroyed papers would have covered a range of important subjects, from security co-operation and arms sales, to foreign aid and “requests for political asylum in the UK”.
The scale of destruction is such that only three files have survived from 1978, compared to 38 files from the previous year.
The loss of these records is a blow for Tamil historians, who struggled to safeguard records throughout the Sri Lankan civil war. The famous Jaffna library was burnt down in 1981 by anti-Tamil groups, incinerating almost 100,000 documents including irreplaceable ancient texts.


text:
MRI Overused for Back Pain
A study recently done by Canadian physicians reveals that the use of magnetic resonance Imaging (MRI) for low back pain is often done inappropriately. In Canada this poses an especially difficult problem as it adds to the already long wait time for the use of the MRI machine for those who really need it such as those with headache symptoms who need brain scans to determine a diagnosis.
Written by Derek J. Emery and colleagues for the March 25, 2013 issue of JAMA Internal Medicine, only 443 MRI scans out of 1,000 (44.3%) were deemed an appropriate use of that resource. MRI’s performed for headache patients fared much better, with 82.8% passing the criteria to be considered appropriate.
The authors state that family physicians were the most likely to inappropriately order MRI’s for back pain, as “only 39.9% of their MRI scans were considered appropriate vs. 58.1% of those ordered by other specialties.”
Those of us who treat low back pain every day, see this happen all too often. Patients are often told that they “have a bad disc” because the first step in another physician’s office was to order imaging as opposed to doing simple, well known orthopedic tests to determine the pain generator of the patient. It’s cheaper, and often gives better information than imaging.
The patients, of course, are the real losers in all of this. MRI’s aren’t cheap in the states. It is common knowledge that a great deal of the population is walking around with asymptomatic disc lesions, and therefore it is likely that there will be something to see on a scan. Often, seeing a bulging disc leads to treatment recommendations that are too aggressive from the doctor, and a psychological response that is too extreme from the patient. After all, we all know someone who had back surgery for a disc injury. It’s also not too uncommon to know someone who had a back surgery that didn’t go all that well.
The answer? Treat back pain with conservative methods for at least two weeks before moving to imaging. This would spare patients the expense of the imaging, and free up the machine for more pressing concerns like the afore-mentioned headache patients.

domain: medical


KATHARINE II was a an order from the then known as “War Department” which is of course now known as the Ministry of Defence or MoD for short.
She was in fact the very first of many ships built for the services by the shipbuilders at the Leith Shipyards of Henry Robb.
This ship was not for the Navy but was an order for the Army who had ships in the branch known as the Royal Army Service Corps.
KATHARINE II was to serve throughout the 6 years of World War II and she no doubt had many adventures supplying clandestine operations against the coasts of mainland Europe and perhaps landing Commando’s in strikes against the might of the “Third Reich”
She was used by the services for a further 14 years after the war and was then sold to Government contractors for further work.
Find out more about KATHARINE II on the website by clicking on the highlighted name.


Grammy Award-nominated singer/songwriter Natasha Bedingfield will perform at the 93rd Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City on November 28. Airing at 9am EST on NBC’s “Today” show, Bedingfield will perform on the “Fantasy Chocolate Factory” float by Kinder.
The three-hour iconic holiday event ushers in the season and is watched by more than 3.5 million people in NYC and over 50 million people at home. Bedingfield will also perform at several high-profile Macy’s holiday events leading up to the Thanksgiving Day Parade; including Macy’s Annual Window Unveilings in Washington D.C. on November 21 and Philadelphia on November 23rd as well as Macy’s 2019 Boston Tree Lighting ceremony on November 29.
The holiday performances come on the heels of the wrap of her national headlining tour in support of Roll With Me, out now via We Are Hear. Produced by Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum producer Linda Perry, Roll With Me is Bedingfield’s first album in nine years. The album showcases the power of her unparalleled musicality and expands on the palpable authenticity heard in hits like her era-defining anthem “Unwritten,” a double-platinum hit that emerged as the most played song on US Top 40 radio the year of its release.
Named one of VH1’s “100 Greatest Women in Music,” Bedingfield has sold over 10 million albums and has earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and multiple Brit Award nominations for Best British Female Artist.
With an illustrious career that includes collaborations with icons like Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Nicki Minaj, Bruno Mars and Sheryl Crow, she has steadily refined her artistic vision over the years, her constant evolution feeding directly into the process of creating Roll With Me.
For more information on Natasha Bedingfield, please visit:


text:
New Chester venue offers free theatre tickets to under 12s
Chester’s new £37 million theatre, cinema and library - Storyhouse will open in May offering free theatre tickets to children under 12.
Its inaugural season features a brand-new adaptation of Lewis Carrol’s beloved story Alice in Wonderland, written by the poet and dramatist Glyn Maxwell.
Alice in Wonderland will be performed in rep with Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Julius Caesar and a brand-new version of musical comedy The Beggar’s Opera.
Alice in Wonderland opens at the Storyhouse stage on 19 May and will be performed until 9 July. The production will then move to the award-winning Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre where audiences can see it until 20 August. This unique innovation means audiences can see the production both indoors and out, at two very distinct theatres.
Theatregoers can expect to see many of their favourite characters including the Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter and of course White Rabbit, as with all Storyhouse
productions there will be music, dance and plenty of audience interaction.
Artistic director Alex Clifton, said ‘Last summer we welcomed over 5,000 children to our season of Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre, and we hope many of them will return to experience Alice in Wonderland. Both Storyhouse and Grosvenor Park are venues designed to welcome families, we can’t wait to see them in our brand new, awe inspiring space.’
Storyhouse has been carved out of the Grade II listed shell of the former Odeon cinema, alongside a new brick and translucent glass extension. The Storyhouse library, restaurant and independent cinema are housed in the former Odeon’s streamlined art-deco interior. The uniquely flexible 800 / 500 seat auditorium, 150-seat community studio and rooftop bar are housed in the remarkable new extension.
Designed by Bennetts Associates and funded by Cheshire West and Chester council, Arts Council England and trusts and foundations Storyhouse will be the largest public building ever in Chester. Full of new creative spaces, the theatre will transform from an 800 seat proscenium arch in the autumn and winter presenting national and international touring productions, to a more intimate 500 seat thrust in the spring, summer and Christmas time. Other spaces include a 150 seat studio theatre, open plan foyers, hospitality spaces, and a library that spills across all areas of the operation – including a dedicated children’s library complete with wet play, arts and crafts spaces and a storytelling room. Storyhouse is located in the heart of Cheshire, set alongside the town hall and cathedral – completing a trinity of a cultural, civic and spiritual public spaces.
Tickets for all four productions are on sale now. Visit www.storyhouse.com to find out more and book.
More news and features
10/05/2017 12:00 AM

domain: entertainment


text:
Questioning why cities are not built in modular ways.
A daybed and fiberglass chairs celebrate the cartoon’s 20th anniversary.
Customers will be limited to purchasing one item of each of the products.
Taking place at Seoul’s contemporary art space, 003archive.
As part of the exhibition “Chairs Beyond Right & Wrong.”
“CERAMICS,” “BED,” AND “BATH.”
An excuse to never get out of bed again.
Featuring premium Japanese-made apparel and furniture.
Curated by creative director Anthony Vaccarello.

domain: artistic


Jonsereds Fabrikers AB
|Product type||Outdoor equipment|
|Previous owners||AB Asken (1975-1978)|
The Scotsman William Gibson, who had immigrated to Sweden in his youth, founded a textile mill in 1832 in Jonsered. His sons later took over the company that remained in the family's control until the 1920s. In 1872 the company became a limited company, Jonsered Fabriker AB, diversifying its textile output. By the 1880s it was producing and exporting woodworking machines along with its textiles, with one notable production being canvas. The Jonsered sailing canvas was very well known in the 1800s in Sweden and gave the company a good reputation. Another important textile product were fire hoses (until 1975), many of them still in use today.
In the 1950s Jonsereds Fabrikers AB started producing the chain saw model "Raket" (Rocket) which, along with its successors, became a major success and Jonsereds started exporting chain saws worldwide with the biggest export market being North America. Another success was the forest crane production that started about 1959. The most profitable unit was the tarpaulin production. In 1969 the company started to shut down its textile part and evolving into a pure engineering industry with customers in the forest industry as the main customer group, with the tarpaulin unit being kept within the company.
In 1975 it became a subsidiary of Investment AB Asken. Asken came in financial difficulties and parts of Jonsereds AB were shut down and others sold. In 1978 it was sold to Electrolux and production of chainsaws was later moved to Husqvarna. Husqvarna still maintains an R&D unit in Jonsered. The tarpaulin unit was also acquired by Electrolux but later sold. The brand "Jonsereds" is still in use by its current owner Hallbyggarna.


text:
I remember when I got my dog, he was a 9 weeks old pup and I could hold him in my hands.
Even though he is a senior dog now, he is still a happy bunny dog that he has always been. He has no problem keeping up with very young dogs and, in some cases, even giving them tough competition in running and jumping.
Even if my dog is maintaining a good level of athleticism, signs of him getting older are evident. Back in Italy, I have a family dog that has just turned 17 years old. She exhibits all the signs of an old dog but still, she is holding fast.
In general, when our dogs get old there comes a series of changes in them that we need to take into account to provide them with the most pleasant life we can offer.
Let’s face it, your dog is not growing younger. So the older he gets the higher the chances of possible physical and health problems are for him.
Dogs, like many other animals, are good at hiding physical problems and pain. This is a survival strategy as weak individuals are the first target of predators. Even within the pack, other dogs will take advantage of a sick or weak dog. Because of that, making sure to check your dog’s health regularly is more important than when your dog was younger.
Keep an eye on your dog’s behaviour. A sudden change in her, such as a lack of appetite, unwillingness to go for a walk or to be touched, sudden lethargy and excessive drinking are few of the red flags that suggest it’s time to visit the vet.
With age, a dog can become more at risk of arthritis, heart, liver and kidney problems. It can develop diabetes as well as testicular, prostate, breast cancer and uterine infection (but if your dog is spayed or neutered, you have nothing or less to worry about).
Your dog’s digestive system will change with years. As your dog becomes less active, he can put up some extra kilos. If that is the case, provide your dog with fewer calories and easily digestible senior dog food. Anyway, to figure out a correct diet for your dog, it is a good idea to consult your vet.
An elderly dog can become incontinent. Therefore, she may not be able to hold it for too long. A good idea is to allow the dog to the garden more often and provide more frequent walks. In any case, do not be angry if some accidents happen in the house. Probably “the crime scene” would be around the main or back door. That is a sign that the dog wanted to go out and was unable to hold it. Please, be understanding of her situation.
As the dog gets older his energy level goes down. Consider reviewing his walking routine and make changes according to his needs.
Consider that the dog’s senses will decrease. So expect poor vision, hearing and smell from him and do not get frustrated if he becomes less responsive to your commands. Anyway, if your dog has poor vision and hearing, be extra careful with him. Due to the worsening of his senses, it may have higher chances to get lost or to run into danger.
Be more careful when approaching an elderly dog. Because of her poor sight and hearing, your dog may not realize that you are approaching her. Therefore, you can make a sudden appearance that may scare the dog.
Young dogs may irritate your dog. As previously said, the older the dog is the more physical problems and poorer senses she may have. So, be understanding if your dog doesn’t like other dogs bothering her. If the situation is getting too stressful, consider taking her elsewhere.
Even if your dog is “slowing down”, keep his mind young. Play games that will mentally stimulate him or teach him new tricks.
In conclusion, your elderly dog will need extra attention and a change of his routine, yet this is not an excuse to accept misbehaviour. There is a tendency to slack off discipline and house rules between owners of dogs that are old or with physical problems. This approach can become a fertile ground for behavioural problems.
Acknowledge your dog’s age and problems and adapt yourself to fit his situation. But at the same time, give correction and guidance to the dog and always expect a good conduct.
I hope you have enjoyed this article and if you like to learn more, please, feel free to subscribe to this blog.
Also, if you like the topic of dogs, please check my book ‘Before You Get A Dog’ by Simone Burani. You will find the essential knowledge written in simple language to have a great time with your pet.

domain: pet


text:
If you’re looking for a furry friend to add to your family, the Maine Coon is an excellent choice. Known for their gentle nature and adaptability, these cats make perfect companions for families with children and other pets. In this article, we’ll explore the characteristics and traits of the Maine Coon breed, as well as how to care for them, train them, and choose the right one for your family.
With their large size and long fluffy coats, Maine Coons are often compared to dogs in terms of loyalty and affection. They are also known for being great with kids and other animals, making them ideal additions to multi-pet households. Despite their size, they are very agile and playful, which makes them popular with both adults and children alike. Whether you’re looking for a lap cat or a playmate for your kids, the Maine Coon is sure to fit the bill.
Characteristics and Traits of the Maine Coon Breed
The Maine Coon is known for its long, flowing fur and their gentle personalities make them the perfect cuddle buddy for families. These cats are also quite large, which adds to their charm and appeal as a family pet. They can weigh up to 20 pounds and can stand over a foot tall at the shoulder.
Despite their size, Maine Coons are very agile and graceful. They have a strong hunting instinct but are affectionate with their owners. Additionally, they are highly intelligent and easy to train, making them great house pets. Overall, the Maine Coon’s unique characteristics make it an excellent choice of companion for families who want a loving and loyal pet that will bring joy into their home for many years to come.
The Maine Coon’s Adaptability to Family Life
You’ll appreciate how easily they adjust to your family’s lifestyle, making them an ideal choice for those with kids or busy schedules. The Maine Coon’s adaptability stems from their laid-back and affectionate temperament. They are not only great with children, but also get along well with other pets in the household.
Furthermore, the Maine Coon is a highly intelligent breed that loves to entertain their owners with playful antics and tricks. They are also known for their loyalty and devotion to their families, often following them around the house or even greeting them at the door when they come home. If you’re looking for a furry companion that can keep up with your active lifestyle while providing endless love and entertainment, then the Maine Coon is definitely worth considering as your next pet!
Caring for Your Maine Coon: Grooming and Health
If you are a Maine coon lover, keep your furry friend healthy and looking their best. It’s important to regularly groom and take them for check-ups at the vet. The Maine Coon’s thick, long fur requires daily brushing to prevent matting and tangling. It’s also important to trim their nails regularly to prevent them from getting too long or sharp.
In addition to grooming, regular visits to the vet are crucial for maintaining your Maine Coon’s health. These visits should include vaccinations, parasite prevention, and routine check-ups. Early detection of any health issues can lead to prompt treatment and a better outcome for your beloved pet.
Training and Socializing Your Maine Coon
Get ready to have some fun while training and socializing with your furry friend, the Maine Coon. These cats are highly intelligent and responsive to positive reinforcement techniques, making them a joy to train. Start by setting up a designated space for your Maine Coon’s activities, such as an area with scratching posts, toys, and a comfy bed.
When it comes to socializing your Maine Coon, start early and be consistent. Expose them to different people and environments from a young age so they can become comfortable with various stimuli. Encourage positive interactions with strangers by rewarding good behavior with treats or praise. Remember that socialization is an ongoing process throughout your cat’s life, so continue to expose them to new experiences regularly. With patience and dedication, you’ll have a well-trained and sociable companion in no time!
Choosing the Right Maine Coon for Your Family
Finding the ideal Maine Coon that suits your lifestyle and personality can be an exciting journey. It’s important to consider several factors before making a decision, such as the size of your living space, your family’s activity level, and how much time you are able to devote to taking care of your furry friend.
Maine Coons come in various colors and patterns, but their temperament is what sets them apart from other breeds. They are known for being social, friendly, and affectionate towards their owners. If you have children or other pets at home, it’s essential to choose a Maine Coon that has been socialized with them from a young age. Doing so will ensure that they get along well with each other and prevent any potential conflicts. Remember that bringing a new pet into your home is a long-term commitment, so take the time to do research on breeders or shelters near you to find the perfect addition to your family.
The average lifespan of a Maine Coon is around 12-15 years. However, with proper care and attention, some have been known to live up to 20 years. Regular vet check-ups and a healthy diet can help prolong their life.
Are Maine Coons prone to any specific health issues?
Maine Coons are prone to specific health issues such as hip dysplasia, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and spinal muscular atrophy. Regular check-ups with a veterinarian can help detect and manage any potential health problems.
How does the Maine Coon compare to other breeds in terms of shedding?
Compared to other breeds, Maine Coons are moderate shedders. They have a thick, long coat that requires regular grooming to prevent matting and hairballs. However, their shedding is seasonal and not excessive throughout the year.
Can Maine Coons be trained to do tricks or perform in shows?
Yes, Maine Coons can be trained to do tricks and perform in shows. They are intelligent and respond well to positive reinforcement training methods. With patience, dedication, and practice, your Maine Coon can become a star performer.
What is the history behind the Maine Coon breed’s name and origin?
The Maine Coon breed’s name and origin date back to the 19th century, when they were first discovered in Maine. They are believed to have descended from domestic cats and long-haired breeds brought over by European sailors.
Zeen is a next generation WordPress theme. It’s powerful, beautifully designed and comes with everything you need to engage your visitors and increase conversions.


text:
- Additional Details
Color: Dark Heather Grey
Made Of: 50% cotton/50% polyester
This adidas Celtics Ultimate Pride Logo Hoodie is part of the exclusive Parquet Pride collection which honors significant moments in Celtics history and the iconic Parquet Floor. Features the a Celtics Primary log, filled with a Parquet inspired pattern. You'll match with the style of the grey and green Parquet Pride alternate uniform that the players will be wearing on court when you wear a piece of the famed Parquet floor on your chest.
50% cotton/50% polyester
Front screen print
Screen print team logo on chest

domain: design


text:
We're heading into the summertime festival season, and while Santa Fe arts biz Meow Wolf prepares for the second iteration of its Taos Vortex, another team is gearing up to present its own inaugural fest featuring a lineup that's all about heavy tones and high-volume vibes. With headliners including icons like Om and doom legends The Obsessed among an otherwise eclectic lineup featuring a healthy number of local acts, Monolith on the Mesa is an exciting addition to New Mexico's festival options—and it's probably the most metal thing to go down in some time.
Festival founder and curator Dano Sanchez is a longtime tattoo artist and owner of Magical Tattoo in Taos. Originally from Albuquerque, Sanchez came up in the active punk and metal scenes and was drawn to bands that intersected those musical faiths, like Logical Nonsense and Word Salad. From there, he ended up in San Francisco for a time, discovering deeper and more psychedelic sounds such as The Brian Jonestown Massacre and other bands he felt captured a punk and DIY passion that aligned with his own. This lifelong journey of appreciation for heavy riff-rock eventually led Sanchez to his current passion project—hosting stoner rock and heavy psychedelic fans in a truly unique, high-desert venue.
"It's maybe just my weird idea of raising the vibrations in this particular point," says Sanchez of the festival's ethos, citing Taos as a particularly vibe-heavy location in New Mexico.
Sanchez first reached out to artists he loves, such as Om's Al Cisneros (also of stoner giants Sleep), who fully endorsed the idea. Other acts soon followed suit, from amp-worshipping heavies like Pinkish Black to bands that are heavy in a decidedly more psychic way, such as Denver-based Wovenhand, whose dark take on spiritual musicality fits right alongside much heavier bands that prefer to push the decibels.
Sanchez' eclectic curation is refreshing, with a sea of music fests that read like a stagnating formula of profit versus special experience; Coachella seems to have a more scattershot approach to its lineup, which I guess makes sense when the goal is to simply pack in as many people as possible. So, it's exciting to see Sanchez treat his own event's lineup with such considered care. Rather than seeing Mac DeMarco and 10 bands that sound like Mac DeMarco, this one's tuned to a more cerebral frequency.
Perhaps most interesting is Monolith on the Mesa's serious space and love for New Mexico bands. The lineup includes slots for Taos anarcho-punks Article 15, Santa Fe's own blackened death crew Dysphotic and evil doomsters Devil's Throne, plus more.
Turns out, the connection was an easy one for Sanchez. "A ton of the bands on the bill are friends," he says. "You've got a lot of talent in New Mexico."
He's right, and New Mexico's non-traditional music seems to be increasing in visibility on a more national scale. Just look to recent or currently underway tours for bands like Superstition or Heretical Sect's domination of the bandcamp.com charts some weeks back. As for drawing from such a pool of local talent, as well as being a draw for national acts, Sanchez says New Mexico's often magnetic appeal is vital to Monolith on the Mesa's success. This area is romanticized, sure, but much of that is in visitors' or transplants' search for some semblance of inner peace, an odd yet poignant counterbalance to the upcoming festival's metal core.
"There's a lot of people searching today for answers within themselves, answers to their place in the universe," Sanchez hypothesizes. "I think a lot of people come to New Mexico with that idea, and a lot of people find themselves here."
Such philosophical rumination fits well alongside the goals he's set for himself and his team. Monolith on the Mesa is, after all, as much a journey toward inclusive community and positivity as it is toward people who want the release afforded by heavy live music.
To that end, the rest of Sanchez's collaborators are working to provide an interactive and art-filled element to the event. Robochrist Industries artist Christian Ristow, whose robot adorns the Meow Wolf parking lot and whose work has been featured at Burning Man, and Taos-based sculptor Christina Sporrong are among those slated to flesh out the visual aesthetic of Monolith on the Mesa. An old-school liquid light show—an art form first spearheaded in the 1960s to provide psychedelic visuals at music events—provided by San Francisco's Mad Alchemy will illuminate the Taos Mesa Brewing outdoor amphitheater as well, lending an almost crucial trippiness to the fest and hearkening back to the stoner roots of metal.
"There's a lot of sun worship out here; our desert scene is not Joshua Tree. It's the high desert, extreme weather changes," Sanchez tells SFR. "It's a very harsh but special place."
Monolith on the Mesa
May 16-18. $70-$155. Taos Mesa Brewing Mothership, 20 ABC Road, El Prado,
575-758-1900; tickets here.


text:
I'm writing a series called Ambrosia Hill! Amethsyt book 1 is already out!
Rebecca Henry Author Releases Hybrid
Now that my 3rd book Hybrid: Adapt or Die is released I am excited to begin on my next two projects. My 4th book Conjure Lake will be released in 2020. The entire first chapter is included at the end of Hybrid first edition copies.


text:
Therapeutics & Vaccines
RSV Virus-Like Particles And Methods Of Use Thereof
Inventors: Elizabeth Wright, Larry Anderson, Binh Ha
The present disclosure relates to vims-like particles and vaccine compositions for inducing immunity and preventing respiratory syncytial vims (RSV) infection. Specifically, the disclosure provides vims like-particles (VLPs) for use in inducing immunity to respiratory syncyhial vims (RSV) infections or symptoms thereof, wherein the VLP comprising a respiratory RSV matrix protein (M) and an RSV M2- l protein, a glycoprotein (G), a fusion protein (F), and/or a phosphoprotein (P).
For More Information About the Inventors

domain: health


text:
P Diddy first hosted the 4th July White Party Twenty-three years ago in the Hamptons. Michael Rubin’s the Philadelphia 76ers co-owner hosted the iconic hip-hop mogul’s bash in his $ 50 million estate in the Hamptons. The party was an exclusive private-only guests list as the 48-year-old Fanatics boss was celebrating independence day.
The guests were required to don exclusively White and the list included Hip hop heavyweights like Jaz, Travis Scott, Bobby Shmurda, Lil Baby, Beyonce, Lil Uzi Vert, Quavo, Meek Mill, Megan The Stallion, James Harden, and many others. The American Hip Hop industry was represented in totality by both the old school, new school, and contemporary Hip Hop artists.
According to Page Six reports, the attendees recorded grand entries led by Jay-z with his sleek Green Rolls – Royce, on his wrist, a multimillion, custom made emerald Richard Mille
The watch was spotted by page six’s reporter. A-Rod challenged Jayz Roll’s Royce grand entry with a helicopter as he was coming from a Yankees game in the Bronx. Megan performed her set in a simulated club area while Lil Baby and Tinashe performed on the rooftop as the fireworks went off. Travis Scott surprised the attendees with his Djaying skills before promptly hopping on stage for a surprise performance of their hit collaboration ‘The Scotts” with Kid Cudi. Later on, a video of Lil Uzi went viral on Social media as he was captured dancing and enjoying breakdance moves.
Other attendees in the exclusive Millionaires party were the Whatsapp founder Jan Koum. Soft Bank Executive Director Marcelo Claure, Maverick Carter, XO Boss Cash Esmailian, Tik Tok Star Charli D’Amelio, and the who is who in hospitality including Will Makris, Scott Sartiano, and Noah Tepperberg. More videos and images are available online for the July 4th White party.

domain: celebrity


DELL Latitude 3340 Stuck at DELL LOGO
Hello ! I need help for my Dell Laptop.
When I want to use the laptop the laptop doesn't boot and stuck at the DELL LOGO. I have done several attempt to fix this
1.Enter BIOS by pressing F2. But the screen only showed me "Preparing to Enter Setup"
2.Enter Boot Menu to run Dell Diagnostics by pressing F12. But the screen onlu showed me "Preparing for one time boot menu"
3.Press FN key to enter Dell ePSA, but the screen obly showed me "Diagnostic boot selected"
Please someone help me, because I need this laptop for my work.


text:
A NATIONAL rape investigation unit is to be set up in Scotland when the single police force is introduced next year.
And the Chief Constable of the single force said 95 out of 141 rape cases not pursued by prosecutors could have gone ahead with a “pretty good chance of conviction” without the need for corroboration.
Stephen House said he wanted the requirement, unique to the Scottish Justice system, to be dropped.
The Crown Office have reviewed 141 cases of rape that were not pursued.
House said: “It’s about getting the right justice outcome for victims.
“If you took corroboration out of the mix, then 95 of those 141 cases would have gone ahead”.
In July, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill launched a consultation on reforming the criminal justice system, including plans to remove the corroboration requirement. But on Friday, High Court judges said dropping it could lead to lower conviction rates and miscarriages of justice.
Specially trained officers from the new unit will look at rape cases that are unsolved or where the evidence is disputed.
They will work with victim support groups to try to secure more convictions.
House added: “It won’t deal with every case, but it will deal with those where we have an unsolved rape, or think we know who the perpetrator is but we can’t prove it, or where we believe we have a serial rapist”.


text:
The election of RCN President should be a celebration of the best our profession has to offer; every two years members are asked to vote for a nurse who will be a visible and vocal representative for nursing of all kinds across the UK.
Sadly, this year opaque process and extremely questionable interpretations were used to sideline and disqualify the two most popular candidates for the most spurious reasons, despite two remaining candidates being in blatant breach of the election policy.
This poor decision making process and the deliberate prevention of any oversight or appeal process has laid bare a toxic element at the heart of the Royal College of Nursing, and that malign presence must be appropriately dealt with.
Unfortunately, to do so will require members to take control of the process and demand change by calling an Extraordinary General Meeting – for the second time in two years.
Please sign and share this form amongst your networks:


text:
Video: Jack Davey "Shit Gets Deep"
Jack Davey and her L0-F! adventures continue today with the video to her Side Bclosing track, "Shit Gets Deep." “This video illustrates the burning of my old self, so I can reemerge as a new artist with new content,” explains Jack. “I had a certain level of comfort with J*DaVeY, and now I don't really know what to expect anymore. After we released New Designer Drug and Brooke [D’Leau] signed on to tour with Miguel, the dynamic of my band changed. With L0-F!, I'm shedding J*DaVeY to be rediscovered as a solo artist.” Video directed by Nal Vasha. The L0-F! trilogy will be closing out on December 11th with the release of L0-F! D'Lux.


text:
I am a qualified British Wheel of Yoga teacher. I run Hatha Yoga classes in Wiltshire. I offer yoga classes in Holt and in Devizes at White Horse Yoga Centre. Holt is very near Bradford on Avon, Trowbridge and Melksham. The Yoga classes are held at Holt Village Hall and Holt Primary School.
Hatha Yoga is the physical yoga practice that uses body postures to open the body and heart. However, Yoga is much more than a physical practice. It is a philosophy of life. Yoga is a Sanskrit word meaning 'union of mind and body'. It is a science that allows us to live a harmonious life through the control of the mind and body.
My journey started when I was 35. I have to admit, I thought I was too old to take up such a form of physical exercise. I had no idea that yoga was suitable for all people regardless of their age or physical limitations. Thanks to my aunt's persuasion I attended my first Yoga class. I felt like a broom stick. My sedentary life style had taken its toll. I was suffering from severe lower back problems at the time and it was causing sleeping disorders, lack of concentration and anxiety. I loved the atmosphere and the calmness Yoga gave me and decided to continue the classes. Working with the physical body didn't just help my physical problems to fade away, but also something remarkable happened to me. Yoga had such a profound affect on my mind. My whole attitude towards life and myself has changed.
Our bodies are a reflection of our lives. Our feelings and emotions shape our body and our posture. We live our lives full of fear; fear of failure, fear of future, fear of looking stupid, fear of not being liked, fear of making mistakes, fear of revealing our true selves... As a result the body takes a defensive posture by rounding the shoulders, squishing the back of the neck and contracting the front of the body and curling inwards. Yoga taught me to pay attention to my body and recognise the physical manifestation of my mental state. Opening up the body, opens up the mind. We learn to distance our selves from our thoughts and go beyond our thoughts. The chattering mind fades, the fear disappears, the heart reveals itself... We realise it is a matter of a choice to live a fulfilling life.Sevilay Turlington
"When I found last year that I had a little more time available to do things just for me, I started going to Sevi's yoga in the Village Hall (http://www.sevisyoga.co.uk/). I approached with trepidation, visualising all these super fit people able to put their ankles behind their ears, unlike me with rusty knees, a dodgy back and a neck that clicks a bit. Fortunately I was reassured that it doesn't matter, as most of us keep their eyes shut and thus are not able to see my inadequate attempts to bend a little.
And it doesn't matter. Sevi has a wonderful relaxing voice - once I have managed to lie down on the floor upstairs, and after about 5 minutes of lying there before we get going, my back will eventually unlock. Then we start..
The patience and care with which we are taken through the moves is exemplary, and very necessary for someone who has spent their entire stressful working life at a desk. Her explanations of what we are attempting (some attempt much better than others, i.e. better than me) and the parts of the body involved are a masterclass in anatomy and self awareness.
Okay, let's try it. Legs over here. Can do that. Oh yes, shoulders down. Can do that. And then - chin in. Yes, that one is ok. And abdomen muscles pulled in - well, that's difficult when you haven't got any! And then - oh yes - remember to breathe. That's the bit I forget.
The slightly complicated things where you do one thing while you inhale and another while you exhale, assuming you remember to actually breathe, is great, except when you get a bit older like me with a memory span of about 10 seconds. So am I stretching this leg while inhaling or exhaling? Hmm. Concentrate. But it doesn't matter. I never realised before how relaxing it can be at the end of the session to just lie flat on the floor - it becomes the most comfortable place in the world. And some of the less busy and pressured among us can then go and ruin the relaxed effect by having coffee! (well, no-one is perfect, and certainly not me.)
The whole experience is brilliant, especially on a Monday morning to start off the week in the best way possible. Join us in the upper room of the Village hall - and don't, like me, worry if you are unfit or creaky or haven't done yoga before. As long as you remember to breathe, you will be fine." Jill Parker
Benefits of Yoga
Yoga is good for your posture and structural balance (leading to mental balance), it promotes flexibility and suppleness, strength and stamina, improves concentration, teaches you how to breathe more effectively, facilitates deep relaxation and calms the mind.
When you breathe slowly and deeply, more oxygen circulates through the blood. During exercise the cells of the body receive a fresh supply of nutrients and oxygen, so increasing energy, vitality and the flexibility of youth.
Yoga can help a whole range of ailments including asthma, high blood pressure, lower back pain, arthritis, ME, menopausal changes, menstrual problems, stress, anxiety and depression. Yoga movements stretch all the major muscle groups and release built up tension. Through posture work, as the body's circulation increases and bones are properly aligned, age related rheumatism and arthritis can be alleviated.
My favorite quotes about yoga:
"Why practice yoga? Rather then just master advanced or impressive positions, I would love to grow old with a straighter spine and the flexibility and comfort in my body that we all enjoy as children" from See How Yoga Feels by Su Sareen.
"I do yoga so that I can stay flexible enough to kick my own arse if necessary." by Betsy Canas Garmon


Based in New Delhi (India), we, Bani Trading Company are a trusted brand that deals in superior quality dona-making machines, slipper-making machines, fully automatic crank machines, LED bulb-making machines, automatic paper cup-making machines, etc. These machines are carefully manufactured through continuous research and using cutting-edge technology. Therefore, the machines that we offer work beyond one’s expectations.
The company started its operation recently in 2022 and strives to establish a wide distribution network in the global market. With our degree of mastery, dexterity, and world-class products, we are working to gain prominence in the national and international markets.
We are focused on picking the right materials for manufacturing our machines. The quality of the raw materials that we procure from reliable & certified sources is approved by our quality control specialists. We conduct meticulous scrutiny to ensure the quality of the raw material used to manufacture our product range. Further processing is done in our manufacturing facility under the close observance of our experts. This ensures the top-level quality standards of the offered products.
The smart utilization of the latest production technologies and the expertise of our skilled professionals enable us to manufacture of superior-quality machines. We perform as per our quality management system and this enables safety and transparency throughout the entire production and supply process.
We always look forward to not only offering the best quality products but also building and maintaining strong associations with our customers in order to ensure their long-lasting satisfaction.
|Nature of Business
|Manufacturer, Exporter & Supplier
|Number of Employees
|Year of Establishment
|Name of Company Founder
|Mr. Ishant Talwar
Bani Trading Company
JG-2/658, Vikas Puri, Delhi - 110018, India
Mobile : +91-9910561297, +91-9910861297
Call Us : 08069247148 Ext : 301
E-mail : email@example.com
Hi! Simply click below and type your query.
Our experts will reply you very soon.


text:
As we await the arrival of the 'Still Winning' mixtape, Big Tobz has treated us to some dope visuals, and a brand new exclusive which is set to feature on the project. 'No Stress' see's Mr. Kool Nuh link up with Don E, and it's safe to say that they've definitely brought the vibe with this joint.
Not long left now until the project arrives, and the people are more than ready to take it in...and after hearing this new track, the gas levels have definitely risen. J Bidz set up the beat perfectly for Tobz and Don E, and if this track is setting the levels for the project then it is due to be huge.
The music video for 'No Stress' is already pushing towards the 50k mark...check it out for yourself below.