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I picked up this book expecting an exploration of the neuroscience and physiology of the effects of reading on the brain, and how reading in print and digital formats differ. I got that, and so much more.
Wolf presents a balanced account of the different effects of different mediums, both negative and positive, and how we might use this knowledge to do better for our children and ourselves. It’s a welcome perspective.
It’s also a deeply humanist and moral meditation of the capacities of the human mind and the importance of storytelling. It’s a clarion call to fulfill the responsibility we all bear toward our fellow human beings and to the future. This is a work of tremendous empathy and passion.
It may well be one of the most important works of our age.
I got really into the TV show American Chopper some years back. I don’t have any interest in motorcycles and I couldn’t care less about the family drama between the stars of that show. But I loved watching it. I loved watching genuinely skilled people create their visions.
I love watching master craftspeople at work.
There’s joy in witnessing that level of skill. This is why I love shows about carpentry, home renovation, car mods, tattooing. It’s one of the many reasons why I love music, dance, theater, and athletics. It doesn’t matter if any of these interest me personally, I’m fascinated watching people who love doing them. Any human endeavor which requires skill to do well, is worth witnessing.
Reading Nighttime Is My Time by Mary Higgins Clark reminds me of watching American Chopper. She crafts her stories. Her control of plot and pacing and structure, how she manipulates the reader to place suspicion on different characters at different times, her myriad misdirections, how she builds the tension. She shows her work and gives us a ring-side seat to her creative process.
I enjoy witnessing her craft.
That being said, Nighttime Is My Time isn’t a very good book. I listened to the audiobook and the narration by Jan Maxwell is excellent. But the book itself drove me a bit nuts.
I didn’t think I was all that interested in seeing the new version of A Star Is Born. I’ve rarely been happier to be proven mistaken.
This film is phenomenal.
I’m a fan of Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, both. So perhaps I shouldn’t be too surprised that I ended up spending 2.25 hours sitting in a theater, losing myself in them.
I’m not going to offer a plot synopsis or go through specific scenes. There are a couple of points I want to make, but mostly I want to offer a list of all the reactions I had watching this movie. In no particular order:
What I find most interesting about Solo: A Star Wars Story is that it doesn’t really feel like a Star Wars movie. That’s mostly a good thing.
What I mean is: it doesn’t feel important. It’s the only Star Wars movie so far that isn’t significant. In the original trilogy, Lucas explicitly sought to create a modern myth, a la Joseph Campbell. There’s an inherent sense of weight to it. The new trilogy sought to bring the Star Wars universe back to relevance and so it has a sense of mission, as well as a similar sense of modern myth. Rogue One tells a tale of emotional, moral, and narrative consequence.
Solo doesn’t have any of that. It’s not important to the main trilogies and it doesn’t take itself all that seriously. Which makes it one of the most fun Star Wars movies I’ve seen. It’s pure entertainment. It’s refreshing.
Kill the Farm Boy is a delight. It’s funny, unexpected, clever. It’s a quick read without sacrificing any substance. The characters are wonderful—interesting, infuriating, and sympathetic by turns—the world is well-rendered and the plot well-paced.
Did I mention it’s funny? Like, really funny. I have high hopes for the series this book sets up.
Fair warning: you better love puns.
I read an advance reader copy of the novel and it came with a summary of the planned marketing and promotional strategy. The marketing for this book emphasizes a comparison with the work of Terry Pratchett. This offers a good way to explore what Kill the Farm Boy is really about.
This review was originally posted on my Goodreads account in early February 2013. I’m reposting it here, given that I refer to it not infrequently.
I was astounded by this book. Madeline Miller’s achievement cannot be overstated. Here’s a novel that’s absorbingly readable for a modern audience, but that still has the poetry of Homeric sagas. What’s most impressive to me is the balance she finds between exploring the universality of human nature throughout the ages and maintaining the innate alien-ness that I experience every time I read The Iliad—the culture of archaic Greece was so very different from this world we live in today. She lets the truth of that age live and breathe without trying to tame or update it.
I have a difficult time imagining how any book will be able to unseat Madeline Miller’s Circe as my favorite book of the year. It’s lyrical and poetic, intimate and grand in scope, human and godly, challenging and comforting. It’s wise. It’s profound.
It fulfills all the hopes I had for Ms. Miller’s work after her astounding first novel.
Where The Song of Achilles is her reinterpretation of The Iliad, Circe is a looser, more oblique riff on The Odyssey. Told from the first person perspective of the titular character, the work spans centuries and is filled with famous characters from throughout ancient Greek lore: Titans and Olympian gods, Scylla, King Minos and the Minotaur, Daedalus, Jason and Medea, and, of course, Odysseus, Penelope, and Telemachus all make appearances. It begins with Prometheus stealing fire and ends with the aftermath of Odysseus’ death. The largest part is taken up with Circe’s relationship with Odysseus and what happens after.


The American Governor of Alabama declared a state of emergency after explosion at fuel pipeline company Colonial Pipeline, the incident 1 Nov. This is the official official.
It is noted that this decision was taken because of the risk of disruption of fuel supplies. The emergency mode will operate until 1 December.
In the accident on bisoprolole one person was killed and five others were injured.


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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cover baking sheet with layer of paper towels. Place chicken on paper towels and lightly spray with butter flavored spray. Turn chicken over and repeat on other side. Put crushed potato chips in a 1 quart ziptop bag and add chicken one at a time and shake to cover with chips. Place on clean baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes, or until cooked through. Lightly spray tenders with baking spray.
Serve with celery sticks and a bowl of blue cheese salad dressing.
There are currently 181 different recipes in our Cookbook

domain: food


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I wrote this aaaaaaaaages ago, and never published it so here it is 🙂
well hello there folks,
I am back! From my week-long break in Tunisia!!!
I am now giving you a day by day account of what happened, where I went and what I did, as well as tons of photos of course! 😀
DAY 1 Sunday 5th April
We arrived at our hotel in the afternoon, and went straight to our rooms to change and shower,
the flight was horrid, I stayed up all night because we set off for the airport at 1am and the drive was terrible too 😥
I got to Tunisia with bloodshot eyes and was drunk with fatigue,
we then stayed at the hotel, I explored a little bit, our room had a balcony, I started taking photos,
I found this cat outside, it (unsure of gender) liked me ^_^
uhmmm, I think we went for a coffee, I don’t remember very well, it was beautiful, but as soon as we stepped off the flight the first thing I smelt was tobacco, my disgust for smoking made me want to puke, but fortunately I did not ^_^
We then had dinner at the hotel, the food was delicious, and what’s more was THE DESSERT, it was awesome ^_^
DAY 2 Monday 6th April
then we went for a walk again, to the port (Port El Kantaoui) and I discovered this awesome car
I found these plates cool too
We went back to the hotel and had a rest, but then went for another walk in the opposite direction of the port,
We went to the port, walking of course, it was amazing, and when I say amazing, I mean AMAZING, the sea air made me feel alive, and I haven’t felt alive in a long long time,
It was also picturesque, all the boats bouncing on the deep blue waves,
we ate lunch at a restaurant near the port, the food was good but in TINY portions,
We went back, had dinner and watched a Bond movie 🙂
DAY 3 Tuesday 7th April
We went to Kairouan, it was an unecessarily spontaneous trip, but hell we went,
we found this old mosque thing, and learnt some stuff, but I didn’t want to learn, so I just took pictures of stuff,
From here I don’t really remember much, I did go quadbiking,
I went to my aunties hotel quite a few times. I think now I’ll just post a bunch of photos, just to show off 😛
I saw this arabic graffiti, it made me feel awesomely young >.<
I took so many photos of the sky that I had an album dedicated to it,
I also went to the market in sousse, it was such fun! There I bought a hand made scarf, ruby red, and I ate the best kebab in the universe.
I do remember going to this awesome masjid, I went to a mausoleum too, which wasn’t bleak, but beautiful, and I made a bunch of memories!
I went to a mosaic museum, which was sorta boring, but I saw a lot of cool old stuff.
This was on a train ride, I saw the ‘broken sunset’, thought it looked quite artistic.
I went on a boat trip too,
This was on one of the many walks me and my family took, to pass time in all truth, but Tunisia is really pretty, I came across a cute little coffee shop just around the corner,
one of my best memories was the day all the women wore red lipstick, it was cool, and we looked chique!
I saw this perfume at the airport, I realised when I got home that I have the miniture version of it! Whoda thunk it?
It was a heck of a lot of fun I must say, I do miss it, and I wish I’d bought more nougat!!!

domain: geography


By Art Toalston
PLANO, Texas — Ernie Myers, founding executive director of the Nevada Baptist Convention, died Tuesday, April 2, in Plano, Texas. He was 93.
Myers was elected as executive director when the Nevada convention was constituted in 1978 in Las Vegas during an Oct. 16-17 meeting at Red Rock Baptist Church. [Read more…]


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Halloween party stabbing: Teen remanded pending mental health assessments
A man has been remanded in custody pending further mental health assessments after allegedly stabbing a 17-year-old boy seven times.
Jack Bridson, 18, of Anagh Coar, has been charged with wounding following the incident at a Halloween party in Douglas in the early hours of Saturday.
No plea was entered at Douglas courthouse on Tuesday and the case was adjourned until 11 November.
The victim remains in Noble's hospital in a "stable condition", police said.
The incident took place during a party in the Hilltop Rise area of Douglas.

domain: news


Farewell to our lovely guests holidaying at Balebarn Lodge, who spent the week exploring Devon powered by wind (you can just about see the turbine in the distance).
OK, so it wasn’t necessarily all our own wind, but it was all 100% renewable energy that went into powering this vehicle.
It’s great to see electric cars being charged outsideWheatland Farm’s accommodation. This one didn’t even need the formal electric car charging point – it was plugged in via the laundry opposite Balebarn Lodge.
We don’t yet see all that many electric cars in Devon, but they are surely on the increase. We’ve had two requests for car charging points at Wheatland Farm in the past month or so, compared to just one holiday maker with an electric car last year.
It was also great to hear first hand what modern electric cars are like. At the moment they still seem outside our budget, especially considering our very low mileage. But then again… Here’s a prototype for a rather more upcycled and budget electric vehicle, in keeping with the Wheatland Farm ethos. Thanks Euan!


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Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:ABX)(TSX:ABX) (“Barrick” or the “Company”) today reported progress on projects with the potential to contribute up to 1.1 million ounces of gold production at Cortez, Goldrush, Lagunas Norte, and Turquoise Ridge.
Barrick Gold - 15 February 2017
Amec Foster Wheeler announces today it has been awarded a Front End Engineering Design (FEED) contract by Berkeley Energia for its uranium processing plant at its Salamanca Project, in western Spain.
Amec Foster Wheeler - 13 February 2017
As one of the world's biggest copper ore operations, the Chilean mining company Compañía Minera Doña Inés de Collahuasi SCM based in Las Condes/Chile commissioned Siemens to modernize the drive system of four of its ore mills. The mine is located in the North of Chile, around 180 kilometers southeast of the port of Iquique.
Siemens - 13 February 2017
CIMIC Group’s global mining services provider, Thiess, has secured a new contract with client Cakrawala Langit Sejahtera (CLS) and a contract extension that continues building on Thiess’ partnership with Bayan Resources Group.
CIMIC - 08 February 2017
Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) announced today that Guinea Alumina Corporation S.A. (GAC) has awarded Fluor an engineering and program management consultancy contract for a major bauxite mine in the Boké region of Guinea, Africa. Fluor booked the approximately $700 million contract value into backlog in the fourth quarter of 2016.
Fluor - 05 February 2017
Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) was awarded a front-end engineering, design and optimization (FEED) contract by Danakali Limited (ASX: DNK) in Eritrea, East Africa for the Colluli Potash Project following a competitive tendering process initiated and completed in 2016. Fluor will book the undisclosed contract value in the first quarter of 2017.
Fluor - 09 January 2017
Vale announces that it obtained Friday, Dec 9, the operating license for the S11D mine and plant, the largest iron ore project in the company's history and the mining industry. The license, valid for 10 years, was issued by Ibama environmental agency after it verified the compliance of the actions and environmental control measures executed by Vale during the installation license.
Vale - 11 December 2016
BHP Billiton and Hatch have entered into a collaborative technology development partnership, formed to accelerate the development and deployment of a wide range of key technological advances in the fields of mining and mineral processing.
Hatch - 06 December 2016
CIMIC Group’s global mining services provider, Thiess, through its 60% share in the Majwe Mining Joint Venture, has secured a new two-year contract with Debswana Diamond Company’s Jwaneng mine in Botswana.
CIMIC - 05 December 2016
SNC-Lavalin (TSX: SNC) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract by Corporación Nacional del Cobre de Chile (Codelco), one of the largest copper producers in the world, for the construction of two sulphuric acid plants at the Chuquicamata Copper Smelter Complex, located in the Antofagasta region of northern Chile.
SNC-Lavalin - 21 November 2016


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Image courtesy of Georgia Aquarium
Members can add their own reviews. Join Atlanta PlanIt today - it's FREE!
Today – 9/28/2012
Friday at 7 p.m.
This popular summer music series features the finest local artists performing everything from jazz to pop to coffeehouse rock. The sweet summer sounds of these concerts, played against the cool blue backdrop of Georgia Aquarium's galleries, are sure to lighten your mood as you take in the sights of some of nature's most alluring aquatic animals.
Children (ages 3 to 12): $18.95
225 Baker St.
Atlanta, GA 30313

domain: entertainment


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With this week's swearing-in of a new ‘unity’ government, Israel continues its path towards annexing West Bank territory as early as 1 July. From the vantage point of Balfour Street, Binyamin Netanyahu’s official residence as prime minister, there are numerous domestic political reasons to follow through on his election promise to extend sovereignty to the West Bank settlements; and few reasons not to.
With no real domestic impediment, a strong international response is one of the few things that could force the Israeli government to think twice before annexing. As a key defender of the two-state solution, this should be the European Union’s moment to push back against annexation (together with the United Nations and League of Arab States).
Until now, however, muted and divided European warnings have been easily dismissed by supporters of the settler movement. While an overwhelming majority of EU member states oppose annexation and feel that there should be some consequences, there have been internal disagreements over the timing of the EU’s warnings, with some wanting to give the new government time to demonstrate its intentions. And then there is the long-standing issue of Hungary, which continues to push back on just about every measure that displeases Israel.
Faced with a US administration whose enthusiasm for annexation appears to outpace that of Netanyahu, and heavily absorbed in its own internal consensus building efforts, the EU could find that any step it takes risks being too little, too late.
Annexation – whether it starts with one settlement block or most of Area C – will cross a threshold which will be almost impossible to reverse back on. The full repercussions that such a move will trigger may be slow in coming, but they are real. This will challenge EU credibility and relevance. It will also undermine the fundamentals of the international rules-based order – in particular, the prohibition on the acquisition of territory through force. The formal demise of the Oslo-configured two-state peace process – which has been moribund for years – will also confront Israelis and Palestinians with a one-state reality in which Palestinians live under an increasingly explicit system of apartheid.
The EU and its member states should engage in some self-reflection, and do so with a large dose of humility
As a new chapter in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict begins, there will be many questions, and few answers. Should the new political objective be the creation of a binational and democratic state encompassing Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza? What are the implications for the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the State of Palestine? How should international diplomacy and funding be reshaped?
When it comes to deciding the future of their internationally recognised right to self-determination, it will have to be Palestinians themselves that provide initial answers to these questions. Certainly, many Palestinians have already been having this debate for the last few years. But arriving at a new strategy that can mobilise the full weight of the Palestinian national movement will be far from instantaneous.
The EU and its member states should use this time to engage in their own self-reflection. And they should do this with a large dose of humility. After all, it is Europe, along with the United States, that has been the main proponent of the two-state paradigm – wrestling successive concessions from the Palestine Liberation Organisation to support this idea, without ever doing enough themselves to actually make it happen. This includes their complete unwillingness to seriously confront Israel’s internationally unlawful actions or even recognise the State of Palestine (with the honourable exception of Sweden).
The consequence of international acquiescence to Israel’s voracious settlement project has been to abandon Palestinians and effectively maroon them in disconnected Israeli-controlled cantons in Gaza and the West Bank. Instead of the independent and viable state they had been promised, Palestinians must now contend with apartheid. This is in some part Europe’s own making.
Faced with the consolidation of a one-state reality, the EU should acknowledge that the two-state logic that has underpinned its own policies for the last three decades may no longer hold. As a first step, the EU should initiate a broad policy review looking at the implications that annexation and the demise of the Oslo-configured two-state solution will have on relations with Israel, the PLO/PA, and its overarching peace-making efforts.
In doing so, European officials should avoid looking back on what went before with fondness and nostalgia. Instead, they should put the preservation of international norms and the EU’s own laws at the heart of a new post-annexation policy.
Most immediately, and unavoidably, annexation will have the greatest effect on relations with Israel. The complete erasure of the pre-June 1967 Green Line and Israel’s de jure absorption of West Bank territory and its settlements risks seriously impeding bilateral relations particularly, but not exclusively, in the economic sphere given the EU’s commitment to distinguishing between Israel and the settlements, and non-recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territory.
The response of the EU and its member states to this challenge will be to implement UN Security Council resolution 2334 by deepening and hardening differentiation measures against Israeli settlements. This could include strengthening the EU’s financial guidelines, restricting Israeli settlement products but also extend into other areas, including social security, taxation, and consular services. Much of this can be done without the need for a new European Council decision.
The disappearance of the two-state solution, and the emergence of an internationally recognised situation of apartheid, will have deeper repercussions over the long term, threatening the whole edifice of the EU’s relationship with Israel. It is unlikely that the EU will be able to sign new agreements with Israel due to opposition from at least some member states (since unanimity is required) and within the European Parliament. Other aspects of EU-Israel relations will be put on the table: from the Association Agreement and existing trade arrangements, to cooperation programmes (such as Horizon Europe) and funding through the European Neighbourhood Instrument.
Added to these complexities, European governments will have to weigh relations with Israel with their desire to defend the broader international architecture and its prohibition on the acquisition of territory through force. Such considerations matter particularly among eastern members – traditionally more supportive of Israel – given their concerns that a weak response to Israel’s annexation could send a problematic signal to Russia, which they fear harbours further territorial ambitions. Within this context, some member states will undoubtedly push for the sorts of measures enacted following Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
Alongside all this, the EU’s relations with Palestinians will need to be recalibrated. The disappearance of the two-state solution (and a gradual shift by the Palestinian national movement towards one-state strategies) will call into question the logic of EU funding for Palestinian state building, embodied by the PA. Further reflection on this will be needed. But one response could be to direct additional funding towards ongoing efforts to help sustain Palestinian political, cultural, and social presence on the ground. The EU could also consider supporting Palestinian civic society, focusing on non-violent youth communities and leadership structures.
Most fundamentally, though, the EU and its member state should be clear that if a two-state solution is no longer a viable option, then the only alternative acceptable means of achieving equal rights for both peoples will be through a binational state. This means unequivocally rejecting the consolidation of the one-state reality of open-ended occupation and unequal rights for Palestinians – to use the EU’s own jargon.
The European Council on Foreign Relations does not take collective positions. ECFR publications only represent the views of their individual authors.


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Burgdorf – Ypsomed and the US Bigfoot Biomedical company today announced their agreement for a partnership. Ypsomed will supply Bigfoot Biomedical with a modified, patented version of the Orbit infusion set. This will be used by Bigfoot in their clinical study on automated insulin therapy in people with Diabetes.
Based in California, Bigfoot Biomedical develops novel technologies for the automation of insulin therapies with a focus on everyday suitability and simple operation for the users of its products, same as Ypsomed. Bigfoot Biomedical decided in favour of Ypsomed's Orbit infusion set for the significant study of its insulin pump system.
"The Orbit infusion sets are extremely well thought out. By offering our study participants an infusion set which is flexible, reliable and easy to use, we can significantly reduce the burden of diabetes therapy"
is how Jeffrey Brewer, President and CEO of Bigfoot Biomedical, describes the new partnership.
"Both Ypsomed and Bigfoot Biomedical are dedicated to the development of products which simplify the everyday management of diabetes for those affected. Our partnership is an example of how consistently both companies follow this objective"
says Simon Michel, CEO of Ypsomed.
"This cooperation gives us the opportunity of offering our popular Orbitinfusion sets to even more people with diabetes."
The Ypsomed Orbit infusion sets can be rotated through 360° and give the users greater freedom of movement. Furthermore, they are easy to place and are fitted with a heat-activated patch for secure adhesion to the skin. TheOrbit infusion sets are available with steel or soft cannulas, depending on the preferences of the user. Ypsomed will also provide Bigfoot Biomedical with a handy inserter for their study.
Bigfoot Biomedical completed its first clinical study for their new automated solution for insulin delivery at the end of 2016 and plans to start the pivotal study with the Orbit infusion sets in 2018 in the United States.

domain: medical


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(WMC-TV) - The Mega Million lottery game has changed, but in this case, change could be good ... meaning, more money if you win. But there are reports that not all lottery locations are keeping up with the times.
The price for each Mega Millions ticket is still $1, but lottery officials are now promising bigger prizes, though it means there are more numbers to choose from.
An Action News 5 viewer called to report to the AN5 Investigators that last week several lottery locations did not have the new lottery forms and he feels as though he wasted his money on the last drawing.
Action News 5's Lindsey Brown went to five different locations across Memphis, and all had the new forms. The first drawing using the new number matrix was last Tuesday.
Along with the number matrix change, the minimum jackpot will increase from $12 million to $15 million and jackpots will grow by at least $5 million after each drawing that happens without producing a winner.
If you are buying a Mega Millions ticket, make sure you get a form with the new matrix, which reads 76, rather than the old one, which read 56.
Copyright 2013 WMC-TV. All rights reserved.
730 North Summit Street


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Contributing to an IRA?
Determine if you are eligible to contribute to a traditional or Roth IRA.
You are viewing this website at a small screen resolution which doesn't support calculators. Click here to view this calculator.
Events on Wall Street
Can successful investors predict changes in the markets? Some can but others miss the market’s signals.
You Would Rather Be...
Are you a thrill seeker, or content to relax in the backyard? Use this flowchart to find out more about your risk tolerance.
5 Smart Investing Principles
Principles that can help create a portfolio designed to pursue investment goals.

domain: economics


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"It's not like he knew what the new coaches want any more than any other player does," Macy said. "If he had been playing in Calipari's system for three years, then that's a different deal. It also makes a huge difference that UK has six players coming in that can play and that there are still plenty of scoring options. On last year's team, not having Jodie would have made a much bigger impact."
Macy says it would be wrong to automatically assume that Patterson has to be the do-it-all team leader now, too, because he is UK's top returning player.
"It's nice if your point guard can be your leader. Any coach would tell you that," Macy said. Kentucky, though, will have two freshmen — John Wall and Eric Bledsoe — playing point guard along with sophomore DeAndre Liggins.
"I sat out a year and learned the system before I took over in ‘78," Macy, who transferred to UK from Purdue, said. "It's tough for a freshman to be the leader, but it happens.
"There are different kinds of leaders, too. There is on court and off court leadership. Even in 1978 when we won the national championship, we had four seniors that were off-court leaders. On the court, I had the ball in my hands and could dictate what went on. So that could happen, too."


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Every few years, there comes a show that’s set to be forever remembered in the annals of television history. Game of Thrones is one such title which, Rolling Stone states, is among the greatest TV shows of all time.
In fact, we shared in the post ‘Catch Up on Game of Thrones’ how the global adoration for the phenomenon prompted Tourism Ireland to create their very own giant medieval tapestry project. It then culminated in an exhibit in Belfast’s Ulster Museum. As original and creative as the program is though, it’s just one way for organizations and companies to try to tap into the massive fanbase that GoT has accumulated.
Among other common projects, it’s become commonplace to see toy makers and artisans creating action figures and miniature versions of the show’s characters. While game developers have released Game of Thrones mobile games and other PC titles in order to draw fans in, who are looking for their next GoT fix. But undeniably, the greatest impact of the show’s popularity is seen in the places featured in the series.
Today, most – or perhaps all – of the countries where the show has been filmed are seeing an influx of GoT fans and regular tourists who want to get a glimpse of the real world counterparts showcased in the series. There are dozens of these wonderful locations, but here are 5 of the most popular.
Dubrovnik, Croatia (AKA King’s Landing)
As the seat of power in Westeros, King’s Landing is featured as majestic and modern (relative to the show’s time period). The coastal city of Dubrovnik embodies such qualities and it still retains a medieval vibe, which made it the perfect stand-in for the fictional Westeros capital.
Due to its cultural significance, Dubrovnik was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site almost 40 years ago, hence, it’s one of the top tourist spots in the Mediterranean region. You have to plan your visit though because Elle relayed that the city now limits its tourists to 4,000 per day to preserve the quality of the location as it has become overcrowded with travelers in recent years – a direct result of GoT’s popularity.
Alcazar of Seville, Spain (AKA Sunspear)
Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Alcazar of Seville is the oldest inhabited royal palace in Europe, and it was chosen as the home of the Martells in GoT. Built sometime in the 8th century and expanded multiple times throughout generations, Seville Traveller specified that the complex showcases a combination of various architectural styles.
The palace features intricate detailing on its walls, arches, pillars, floors, and ceilings. One of the highlights is the Ambassador Hall with its exquisitely designed cupola.
Castle Ward, Northern Ireland (AKA Winterfell)
Castle Ward is an 18th century estate managed by the National Trust. It has been the setting for many scenes in GoT, most notably its farmyard which served as Winterfell – a familiar place for viewers considering it was the place where everything began.
Castle Ward even has a customized tour for visitors which takes you through 20 filming spots within the 1,000-acre property. Moreover, it has become so well-known that Northern Ireland now holds an annual Winterfell Festival in the complex.
Dark Hedges, Northern Ireland (AKA Kingsroad)
The Dark Hedges is another Northern Ireland hotspot which gained popularity due to it being one of the most famous thoroughfares in GoT: Kingsroad. Lined with beech trees with branches arched from both sides, it is scenic enough that no digital enhancement of any kind was necessary when it was used for the show.
Grjótagjá Cave, Iceland (AKA Ygritte and Jon Snow’s Love Nest)
Although Iceland filled in for numerous locations ‘Beyond the Wall’ none is more significant than the cave where Jon Snow and his wildling love interest Ygritte professed their love for each other.
Grjótagjá Cave is the result of a fissure, with a natural hot spring as a by-product due to subterranean volcanic activity. Slate claims that it’s even more stunning in person and you can bathe in the waters.
Have you been to one of the destinations above or even another GoT filming spot? Share your experiences in the comments section below.
Image Licenses - Dubrovnik, Dark Hedges, Grjótagjá Cave


Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy will be joined by EFG London Jazz Festival artist in residence Terri Lyne Carrington on Sunday 17th November 2019 to take in an in depth look at one of Terri’s favourite albums, Nina Simone Black Gold.
Tickets available here.
Terri will be interviewed on her love of the album and why it has endured as a masterpiece. This will be followed by a full playback of the album on our audiophile soundsystem. The event will conclude with a Q&A with the audience allowing fans to ask questions of their own.
Terri is a legendary American drummer, composer, singer, and producer who has worked with the likes of Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Dianne Reeves and Esperanza Spalding amongst others.
She will be taking up residence over the first weekend of the festival in Kings Place, as part of their Venus Unwrapped series, in what will be her first EFG London Jazz festival appearance since 2016.
Her outfit, Social Science in her own words ‘.. was born from a need to express the emotions and thoughts about where we are socially, historically, politically, and spiritually. This alternative jazz band reflects a contemporary/post-modern view on music’ . It is an eclectic stylistic blend, borrowing from jazz, indie rock, contemporary classical, hip hop, and free improvisation. It’s jazz for the eclectic listener, reflecting the musical and social atmosphere of today.
Time and Date: Sunday 17th November 2019 11:30am
Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9AG
Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy with Terri Lyne Carrington


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You might have to think about this. It is the best possible time for the stock price to be at .000 . The best time to buy is the worst possible price.
For example, if you want to buy stock, you might want to buy it the day it dips, in hopes of a rebound. But as soon as the day closes, at the best possible price, the market returns to its previous level. This effect can occur with all time frames, from 1 week to 3 week, 1 month to 5 months, from 1 week to 1 year, etc.
The more time you have to act, the more likely it is that you will succeed.
One way to decide upon the best time to buy has to do with price in dollars. If you want to invest in a stock in dollars, you have to choose the best time for selling.
This is because the stock price goes down when the market is down and up when it is up.
The worst time to sell stocks tends to be during times of recession. So it would seem better for your money to be invested during a bear market.
Of course this kind of analysis is highly subjective to individual investing decisions. One should also take your time assessing the trade-offs.
But I am sure you could find a great trading strategy for your needs in a general stock buying guide I wrote several years ago. I’m not sure I will make another one until I see how the market has performed these past 20 or so years. However, I am hopeful that it will grow and I hope to see you back here in this great blog about real investing.
I would appreciate it if you follow us on Twitter @ShortsellersGuide or click on the links to our website and YouTube channel to read about the trading you need to do. We have a weekly video discussion about buying stocks, where we discuss all the most popular buying points and techniques for investing into stocks.
I would also like to personally apologize in advance that it is so tedious to type out these daily trades and explain them to the readers who I think have no life or money. It might be annoying for you and very frustrating.
The best thing that happened to me recently in terms of buying stocks was when my trading day with a friend ended up getting so complicated when he traded that I had to leave him behind. I could not stop thinking about trading. Even though I was not able to sell, he was able to gain money by leaving
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text: Hijuelos attended City College of the City University of New York (, where he received a B.A. , in 1975 ; and an M.A. , in 1976). He won critical acclaim for his first novel, Our House in the Last World (1983), and was awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 1990 for his second novel, The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love (1989; filmed as The Mambo Kings, 1992). Our House in the Last World concerns members of the immigrant Santinio family who try to integrate into their Cuban identity and values the rhythms and culture of life in New York City’s Spanish Harlem. In the novel Hijuelos employed surreal effects suggestive of modern Latin - American fiction. The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love also chronicles Cuban immigrants, their quest for the American dream, and their eventual disillusionment. It vividly re-creates the musical and social environment of North America in the 1950s when the dance music of Cuban immigrants, the rumba and the mambo, began to achieve mainstream success. Empress of the Splendid Season (1999) continues the examination of immigrant life, this time revealing the discrepancy between the characters’ rich self-images and their banal lives. Other novels by Hijuelos include The Fourteen Sisters of Emilio Montez O’Brien (1993) and , Mr. Ives’ Christmas (1995), and A Simple Habana Melody (From When the World Was Good) (2002).

domain: literature


text:
Sketchup Pro 2021 21.0.339 Crack + License Key Free Download
Sketchup Pro 2021 21.0.339 Crack is a 3D modeling and graphical modeling application that allows you to easily and quickly manage all types of 3D models. Contains complete instructions to quickly learn how to use all the tools. It is available free of charge based on an assessment of the performance of your trial period for a limited period. It may determine at its sole discretion from time to time. The time remaining until the end of the text is displayed in the software. To continue using Pro features after the trial period ends, you must pay the applicable license at any other URL provided by Trimble from time to time.
SketchUp Pro Crack is a modeling tool for many professionals and enthusiasts in architectural projects, landscape architecture, urban design. Construction, furniture designers, artists, sculptors, 3D game developers, designers, and often engineers. It lets you create 3D models from or using existing data. Enter drawings, CAD plans, photographs, aerial photographs, and more, and use the modeling tools in the software to translate your ideas into 3D. This is based on an old-fashioned pencil. You can draw lines and shapes in 2D and 3D.
SketchUp Pro Crack + Activation Code:
SketchUp Pro Keygen is a simple and incredibly powerful tool for quickly and easily creating, viewing, and customizing 3D ideas. It was designed to combine the elegance and immediacy of sketching with the speed and flexibility of modern digital media. It makes it easy to create 3D surface models and view them with textures and animations. You can appreciate sunscreen, create landscapes.
You can purchase a license without going through the evaluation process. It can choose to pay the appropriate by obtaining the license activation number required to use the Pro feature permanently. Flights, and transitions without trying virtual or mixed reality. Enrich your drawing with 3D objects people, part of your model, and view models. The smart drawing assistant will tell you which you are drawing and whether you are in the middle or at the end of a line or plane.
SketchUp Pro Key is a very intuitive 3D drawing tool that anyone can quickly learn to use. It makes it easy to create 3D models and create stunning views and animations. Make your models as drawn or realistic as you want and transfer them to the models, creating high-quality images. Create finished landscapes including shadows, and people, to perfectly visualize your idea. Your designs come to life by creating and experimenting with animations, videos.
- Implementing 3D professionals has never been SketchUp Pro.
- Start drawing simple lines and shapes, and printing and painting surfaces to turn them into 3D shapes.
- A clean user interface and simple tools get up and running quickly.
- With contextual advice, a group of aspiring instructors, and many online video tutorials, help is always there.
- It includes one year of free technical support.
- More advanced users can start with CAD data and pages, images, or even hand-drawn sketches.
- Create role models with personal characteristics and characteristics.
- Read a few quick guides on hand – and soon, only your imagination.
- It is chosen by professionals from dozens of fields.
- It is flexible enough for any type of 3D modeling and communication.
- This software includes useful properties in a variety of materials and brick.
- Place the texture on the surface by dragging it.
- And it’s very simple, you don’t need to redo everything, it offers many free models to use in your projects.
- In fact, this is the largest stock of free 3D models in the world.
- The Outliner is about changing the organization of the BIG model.
- To improve model performance, you no longer need to overlay layer by layer.
- Manage and organize your template right in the Outliner.
- Use the right icon to switch between the most important parts of your model, motherboards, and furniture.
- You catch a point that is hidden in an object in a corner or center and it starts to move.
- Your object will automatically become transparent if something in your template interferes with the moving object.
- Works with the Rotate and Move tools.
- It will literally “transform” your workflow.
- Don’t take it for granted start placing items in tight spaces to see what happens!
- It will see that hidden objects are separated by hidden geometry.
- This allows for better control of hidden geometry and hidden objects, which further simplifies modeling.
- You want to edit the hidden edges of a landscape or smooth surface.

domain: artistic


text:
Study shows bagged school lunches lacking in nutrition
New federal regulations proposed in the wake of the 2010 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act could make school lunches lower in sodium, free of most trans fats and higher in whole grains and fruits and vegetables. But as officials focus on improving the much-maligned nutritional profile of cafeteria food, the lunches toted to school each day in brown bags and lunch boxes have been flying mostly under the radar.
7701 Las Colinas Blvd., Ste. 800, Irving, TX 75063


LINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF VRLA – AGM – GEL BATTERIES
Our lines, due to our broad experience gained in the past years, can also be used in the production of VRLA, AGM and Gel batteries, with simple tricks on engineering phase and the assembly department. These are necessary to produce a top quality battery, which is able to successfully pass the quality control test. The differences are mainly on the enveloping station, the COS station and the assembly, as the separator is in Glass matt and requires a particular attention on the handling. Especially, we have:
GRIDS PRODUCTION They should be in lead-calcium alloys to reduce water consumption. For this reason, the lead must be of first melting, not recycled. The same applies to oxide production.
ENVELOPER, STACKER Our enveloper can work with the thick separator in glass matt and, after the enveloping of the plate, it can prepare the groups following the recipe on quantity of positive and negative plates per group. After the groups preparation, there is a verticalisation station where the groups are displayed on a chain, which is also the feeding chain for the COS. What is important for the correct production of the groups is the quality of alignment between positive and negative plates, the tinning of the lugs, and the compression group for the right production of gases inside the battery. This is why our process is so well engineered and performed. This line constantly checks the parameters to be simply adjustable, with no production stops or losses. We made it real, with solid and reliable stations, in order to maintain the quality through all assembly phases, all shift long and for all shifts, and it lasts for years!
COS AND BOXING On the COS station we perform the correct operation process with the best quality you can find on the market. The automatic COS feeding station brings the groups well prepared and aligned, and it compresses them to keep the plates correctly in position, and makes the straps on the mould.
The correct tinning of the lugs and the right temperature of the pot feeding pipe and mould allow a top quality strap production and the minimal dross production for a continuous high quality lead strap. After strap making, the automatic feeding arm takes the groups and place them on the compression unit to be eventually inserted in the box with no scratches or bad positioning.
A note on the electro-welding station. As the alloy lead-tin is quite soft, the straps must have a proper temperature. For this reason, we cool them down with the related device. Also the use of ABS boxes needs a trick on the welding station.
1.ENVELOPPING AND STACKING UNIT Workable plates: Sizes: width from 125 up to 115; height from 180 up to 250; Thickness from 1.5 to 4.5 mm Number of plate handled/ per minute: 50 Maximum thickness of the plates group : approx. 170 mm Plates group composition: by electric control panel.
2. JIGS FEEDING UNIT AUTOMATIC
3. COS + Electric control panel The machine consists of the following parts: -load/unload unit; brushing and fluxing unit; tinning unit; straps casting managed by a PLC Siemens S7and by an Operator Control panel OP17.
4. BOXING + ELECTRIC CONTROL PANEL A robot withdraws the packages from the jig and insert them in the compression box by means of a tong. Every boxing unit handles two groups. Operating stations: No. 2 operating units for 2/4/6 V No. 3 operating units for 12V 6×1 e 3×2
5. ASSEMBLY LINE SHORT CIRCUIT TESTER SINGLE HEAD INTERCELL CONNECTION WELDER HEAT SEALING MACHINE LEAKAGE TESTER HOT PRINTER


“You can’t fatten a chicken by weighing it – as well as collecting data, you need to make use of it. We also need research on why the actions that are needed are not happening. Why are the changes not being made? Which partnerships are effective? And how effective can they be?” – Moira Faul, Executive Director NORRAG, Geneva Graduate Institute
The rapid and intensifying climate crisis threatens children’s rights to education, healthcare, food and safety, among others. Considering that nearly half of all children – a billion or more – live in countries at extremely high risk of suffering the consequences of climate change, there is an urgent need to address its effects on the right to education.
Education in emergencies (EiE) can support and strengthen communities’ adaptive capacities and resilience to current and future risks posed by the climate crisis. It has the potential to ensure the meaningful, inclusive participation of local actors in strengthening the resilience of education systems against climate risks. The work of EiE can therefore benefit from reflection and discussion of the many interconnected effects of climate change, to protect the right to education in the face of the climate crisis and improve the lives of children and communities suffering from its impacts.
A panel of speakers from Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), the Uganda Red Cross Society, NORCAP and NORRAG, Geneva Graduate Institute, shared their expertise at an event hosted by the Geneva Global Hub for EiE as part of the 2022 Humanitarian Networks Partnerships Week.
The topic was introduced by H.E. Laouali Labo, Ambassador, Permanent Mission of Niger to the UN. He reminded the audience that climate change, while global in scope, affects everyone locally – and those who contributed least are more often than not affected most. “The consequences of climate change will differ depending on where you are,” he said. “It won’t have the same results in a Sahelian country as it will in a mountainous country – solutions must be adapted to local needs, and education is essential to strengthening the resilience of populations, enabling them to take charge of their climate decisions.”
“Children should be encouraged and supported to speak up about climate change ,” said Dilmani Wickramasinghe, child advocate from Sri Lanka. “It could include educating children on the adverse effects of climate change, the signs and precautions we can take before disaster strikes. The Government should have a plan and process to educate children, to help them identify and inform the relevant authorities to take the required prevention, protection and adaptation measures.”
“Education can encourage people to change their attitudes and behaviours, and it can also empower them to make their own informed decisions,” added Sekagya Abdulrazaq, Youth representative from the Uganda Red Cross Society. “We need to adopt and embrace technology; we need to fund and implement evidence-based climate-resilient education solutions; and we need to invest in early-warning systems and anticipatory action.”
These contributors voiced the growing awareness and appetite for climate action among young people. But many existing systems and structures are in need of significant reform before they are ready to meet current challenges, especially in crisis situations. The growing understanding of what needs to be done has been slow to produce results at the level of policy.
“During floods, for example, schools can be destroyed, or in other displacement crises schools can be used as shelters, and therefore not available for education,” said Dr Bina Desai, Head of Programmes at IDMC. “The resulting situations and temporary accommodations can end up dragging out for a long time, and afterwards it often takes far too long to see the rebuilding or repairing of schools, further extending the period that the emergency affects the education of children.”
“Surveys have shown that 95% of teachers believe climate change is important or very important to teach, and young people care a lot,” said Moira Faul, Executive Director NORRAG, Geneva Graduate Institute. “But IBE-UNESCO did a review of school curricula last year, and less than half of those studied even made reference to climate change. Fewer than half of teachers had ever received any guidance on teaching about climate change.”
Benedicte Giæver, Executive Director of NORCAP, noted the challenges resulting from a lack of integration between education and addressing climate change. “This is a problem that is common across many sectors,” she said. “It takes time. But schools have a particularly important role to play, because the evidence shows that when children learn, they take that back to their homes and their families.”
The discussion was moderated by Global Education Cluster Coordinator Michelle Brown.


Script Department |
05 November 2018
Israel Film Fund chief Katriel Schory to step down (exclusive)
21 August 2018
49 titles advance to nominations stage for 2018 European Film Awards
03 May 2018
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N.Y.'s Israel Film Center Festival Sets Lineup Celebrating 70th Anniversary of Independence
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text:
Donald Trump plans to organize a “truth and reconciliation commission” if he should resume office after his four-year Biden-induced hiatus.
On Tuesday, a video was posted to the Trump War Room Twitter account where the president unveiled a 10-point plan to dismantle the “deep state,” the network of powerful and mysterious individuals purported to rule the government behind closed doors.
A part of the proposal unveiled by his 2024 campaign was the creation of the committee to uncover the purported network.
Trump’s executive order from October 2020, which he never fully executed, created a new classification of government employees dubbed “Schedule F.”
With the new classification, federal workers whose work involves policy-making or advocating no longer qualify for the civil service employment protection that had been in place for over 135 years.
As he has said, order will be restored if he returns to the oval office in 2024. A provision that would have prohibited the order was proposed by Democrats to the National Defence Authorization Act last year, but it was ultimately deleted from the measure before it was enacted in December.
Recent Republican rhetoric has claimed that Democrats are persecuting conservatives, and Trump’s promise to remove “corrupt” officials who are purportedly serving “the left” supports this argument.
This year, a select committee investigating the “weaponization of the federal government” was created under Republican control of the House.
Wiretapping requests submitted by the government must be reviewed and authorized by federal courts created under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The courts have been criticized from both the left and the right for supposedly “rubber stamping” monitoring of American individuals and seldom rejecting requests.
After Trump claimed the courts were helping the Democrats on a “witch hunt” when they approved monitoring his former campaign adviser Carter Page as part of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, he has been demanding change.
Smashing the Deep State is the cornerstone of the 2024 Trump platform, which he calls “the final battle.”

domain: law


text:
In a case being watched around the country, the city will argue in court this week that mentally retarded adults who live at home are entitled to the same services the state gives retarded adults in institutions or who live apart from their families.
The case goes to the heart of governments' obligations to provide for the estimated 1.7 million profoundly retarded Americans who live with their families.And if Philadelphia wins its case, other local governments and patient advocacy groups in other states might be encouraged to test their laws. Not Enough to Care for All
Pennsylvania health officials say there is not enough money to provide equal care for all retarded people. Under Pennsylvania law, retarded adults living at home have no absolute right to social services. And the Federal courts have ruled that retarded adults have no constitutional right to social services.
The case to be argued on Wednesday in Commonwealth Court here concerns a city request for $7 million in state money to resume programs for more than 4,000 retarded adults who live at home. The programs, adult day care, workshops and counseling, were ended on July 14, because the new state budget that took effect on June 30 had no money for them. Emptying Institutions
The needs of the retarded who live at home have been overshadowed for 15 years by the poor conditions in many state institutions for the retarded and by court-ordered policies of moving people out of institutions and into supervised residential programs.Continue reading the main story
Nationwide surveys by patient advocacy groups indicate that more than 60,000 retarded people who live with their natural families are waiting for placement in supervised residences and that more than 75,000 are waiting for day care, workshops, and counsel-ing for families.
Public health experts say the demand for these services could be a crisis in the next decade, primarily because the baby boom generation includes half a million profoundly retarded adults 25 to 44 years old. They can do almost nothing for themselves, and their parents are reaching retirement age.
''It's a sobering situation,'' said Dr. Glenn T. Fujiura, a specialist in mental retardation issues at the University of Illinois's program in developmental disabilities in Chicago. He said public spending for retardation programs at all levels of government did not meet half the current need, though the spending increased to $5.3 billion in 1988 from $900 million in 1977.
''I don't know how the system will absorb the impact of the baby boom in the next 10 years,'' he said. Scattered Population Surges
More patients are now apparently returning to institutions, though the reasons are not clear. For 12 years, the institutional population declined, to 91,000 last year from 141,000 in 1977. Last year, for the first time in a decade, institutional populations increased in Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico and Wyoming and did not decrease in Kentucky, Maine, Nebraska, Nevada, Texas and Washington.
Philadelphia officials project a deficit in the city budget of up to $80 million this year, and they say the state, which has projected a surplus of about $150 million in its budget, is being shortsighted.
Richard J. Gold, the first deputy city solicitor, said in an interview: ''Unless we restore these services within several months, the mentally retarded clients will begin to regress, there will be family crises and our mental retardation system will be destroyed as institutions start filling up again.''
Steven M. Eidelman, deputy secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, said the city officials were ''posturing and trying to make excuses for not managing well.'' 'A Federal Disincentive' Is Seen
But last September, in another court case involving these programs, Mr. Eidelman said: ''Statewide trends evidenced in systematic underfunding of existing programs and widening gaps between need and services available are becoming more prominent in every county in Pennsylvania. These trends, because of the particular circumstances in Philadelphia County, promise to reach crisis proportions in the near future.''
''We've changed our tune a little since then,'' Mr. Eidelman said in an interview.
He acknowledged there was ''a Federal disincentive for the state to serve people on the waiting lists.'' The state has to pay 90 percent of the cost of commmunity-based and home-based services but pays only 44 percent of the cost of care for those in institutions and those who have been moved out of institutions. Federal programs pick up the balance, and counties pay at least 10 percent of local programs' cost.
Congress is considered legislation that would eliminate the bias toward institutionaol care while simplifying Federal subsidy programs. A bill in the United States Senate would try to make current spending more efficient, but it would not increase overall Federal spending. . It has 54 sponsors, including its initiator, Senator John H. Chafee, Republican of Rhode Island.
A House version of the bill, sponsored by Representative Henry A. Waxman, Democrat of California, has less support, and its future is less certain.
Pennsylvania officials estimate that if the Senate bill becomes law their state will get $125 million and $200 million a year in additional Federal subsidies for community- and home-based care, respectively. The state budget for mental retardation services this year is $791.4 million, up from $760.7 million last year. Nationally, Pennsylvania ranks 13th in per capita spending on retardation.
But even if Pennsylvania and other states had enough money, there is a question of whether enough suitable programs could be developed. ''There are pilot programs, scattered around the country, for the mentally retarded living at home, but they are islands of excellence in a sea of need,'' said Dr. Van Vandergriff, deputy director of the Quality Assurance Monitoring Group, a private corporation appointed by Federal courts to monitor Louisiana's compliance with court orders on care of the retarded in institutions. Dr. Vandergriff is a New Orleans specialist in retardation. A Patient and a Family
Since the Philadelphia program's money ran out, David Brian Fialkowski, 27 years old, has sat in his family's living room, most of the time clutching two green tennis balls. He is severely retarded and has cerebal palsy that impaired his legs. He attended special education programs in public school until he was 23, and, after a two-year wait, he took physical therapy. He now has nowhere to go and nothing to do.
''David really misses his program,'' said Leona Fialkowski, his mother, ''and he desperately needs physical therapy because the tendons in his legs don't extend.''
Mrs. Fialkowski and her husband, Marion, a retired factory worker, raised David and nine older children in a two-bedroom house in Bridesburg, a poor section of Philadelphia.
''I know the cost of these programs is awful,'' she said, ''but what are we to do? I'm 66. I've had two strokes, and I've got such bad arthritis I sometimes can't move for days. Daddy is 77 - and he's had two cancer operations. We can't do much for David.''
The only option, placing David in a state institution, is not an option, his parents say.
''He needs love and a helping hand to make it, just like the rest of us,'' Mrs. Fialkowski said. ''The days are hopeless. They have taken away our hopes, our beliefs and left us hollow.''Continue reading the main story

domain: sociology


GATINEAU, QC, April 30, 2015 /CNW/ - On the occasion of Rail Safety Week (27 April – 3 May), the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) reiterates its ongoing support of Operation Lifesaver's efforts to raise awareness about rail safety. Many organizations involved with the railway industry including the Railway Association of Canada, Transport Canada (TC), provincial and municipal governments, police, and community groups cooperate to save lives by educating Canadians about the hazards surrounding rail property and trains.
In the aftermath of the Lac-Mégantic train derailment and other recent accidents, rail safety has been top of mind for Canadians across the country. "Over the past 18 months, positive action has been taken by industry and TC to address the rail safety deficiencies we've identified through our investigations," said Jean L. Laporte, Chief Operating Officer of the TSB. "We're on the right path, but there is more work to be done."
The TSB created its Watchlist to focus attention on the issues that pose the greatest risk to Canada's transportation system; and five of the current Watchlist issues concern railway safety. One of these issues is the need for voice and video recorders in locomotives to capture in-cab communications which provides additional information to investigators when an accident occurs. To address this outstanding Watchlist issue, the TSB is pleased to announce that it will be working with TC to conduct a joint safety study on locomotive voice and video recorders.
The safety study will look at the potential safety benefits of recorders in locomotives, identify and assess related technology issues, and identify legislative and regulatory considerations. The results of this study will provide valuable information leading to the development of an action plan for the implementation of locomotive voice and video recorders. "We're looking forward to working with TC and engaging other key stakeholders on this important safety initiative," added Mr. Laporte.
The TSB is an independent agency that investigates marine, pipeline, railway and aviation transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.
SOURCE Transportation Safety Board of Canada


text:
I’d never heard Portland band Radiation City til I received this track and video in my inbox. I gotta say, the sound is definitely as dreamy as described – maybe even a little old school romantic due to Lizzy Ellison’s voice captivating me in a way that I wasn’t expecting going in.
The intro of the track floats gently, finger snaps and wistfulness til those couple thunderous percussion beats kick up and Ellison’s voice soars into the chorus. I’m actually upset I didn’t find this a little sooner. “Find It Of Use” just finds this happy medium between easygoing pop and the crescendo of those dramatic choral interludes that makes it infinitely repeatable.
As for the “Find It Of Use” video I think visually it’s outstanding – it’s nothing extraordinary or groundbreaking, it’s just plain good. That’s all it takes, to be honest. Though I do feel sorry for that poor Office Space’d piano.
The Cool Nightmare EP is gonna drop on April 15th. You can preorder it here along with some other goodies. You can download the track via the Soundcloud link but it is in .WAV format, so you’d need a converter. Better bet is to just fork over your cash to a band that’s very deserving.
And here is the aforementioned video:[vimeo=http://vimeo.com/35339909 w=580&h=340]


text:
The XLD plough body from Kongskilde is a new generation of plough bodies designed for high-HP tractors and difficult soils. One size larger than the company’s existing XL plough, the XLD works up to a depth of 35cm and is suitable for tractors with tyres up to 710mm. Designed for furrow widths from 40 to 55cm Kongskilde claim the extra 5cm increase in average furrow width improves productivity by up to 10%.
With the new, patented helical designed XLD body, the soil is completely turned even in heavy clay to cover all crop residues. Furthermore, the design includes a lowered point in order to minimize any resistance and for an optimal flow across the mould board – important when managing weeds, creating the optimal seedbed and minimizing the spread of diseases.
It also comes with well-known features such as a broken furrow bottom and low energy consumption. It has a working speed of 8 km/h for high productivity and comes with easy to change wearing parts and all new Kongskilde ploughs can be equipped with the new XLD plough body.
“We have a strong belief that the XLD plough will set the standard, when it comes to both wide and deep ploughing and the lowest power demand in the market, says Morten Wittrock Brandt, Group Product Manager, Kongskilde Industries. We have great expectations regarding the sales of the new plough – especially in important markets such as Germany, France and Holland.”

domain: agronomy


Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers have discovered a better way to separate actinium-227, a rare isotope essential for an FDA-approved cancer treatment.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s high-resolution population distribution database, LandScan USA, became permanently available to researchers in time to aid the response to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers working on neutron imaging capabilities for nuclear materials have developed a process for seeing the inside of uranium particles – without cutting them open.
To better determine the potential energy cost savings among connected homes, researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory developed a computer simulation to more accurately compare energy use on similar weather days.
As scientists study approaches to best sustain a fusion reactor, a team led by Oak Ridge National Laboratory investigated injecting shattered argon pellets into a super-hot plasma, when needed, to protect the reactor’s interior wall from high-energy runaway electrons.
Thought leaders from across the maritime community came together at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to explore the emerging new energy landscape for the maritime transportation system during the Ninth Annual Maritime Risk Symposium.


text:
1/8 Brushless Conversion Kits
Converting your RC car or truck from stock to brushless can provide a lot of benefits: far less maintenance is required; brushless motors are more efficient than traditional brushed motors; brushless motors provide better torque; and, maybe most important, brushless motors typically deliver a higher top speed. So whether you're bashing every chance you get or tearing up the track, but want to take it to the next level, we have a large selection of 1/8 brushless conversions to help you get there.
Conversion Kits for the Hottest Models
In our 1/8 brushless conversion selection, you'll find hardware for all the hottest models including the Team Losi 8ight (conversion from nitro to electric) RC buggies and trucks and Hot Bodies D8 (the Tekno RC V3 Brushless Kit, which includes the first commercially available 1/8 electric specific chassis with Tekno's Elektri-Clutch system). So, when you need that extra speed or want to move from nitro to electric, you'll find what you need at A Main Hobbies.

domain: hobby


text:
The rates were among the affordable ones of the hotels within Noboribetsu. It has an onsen as well, and the dinner buffet is sumptuous though not exactly really tasty.
The hotel has a gift shop that sells pretty decent stuff and foods, especially the baby crabs dried food and dried scallops snacks.
Actually I travelled in October 2011.
- Free Wifi
- Free parking

domain: travel


Welcome to the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the University of California Davis.
We are excited to share our vision and goals in ECE as we continue to offer world-class education and produce cutting-edge research. Our overarching vision is to offer leadership in the creation and development of human and intellectual capital and in innovation and a vision for a better world. In support of this vision of the University of California, we strive to:
- Be recognized as one of the top programs in Electrical and Computer Engineering education, disciplinary and multidisciplinary research and technology transfer endeavor;
- Produce well-prepared graduates and trained professional to enter and assume leadership roles in the engineering profession;
- Earn the recognition as a department that accepts and encourages diversity, inspires excellence in thoughts and actions and cultivates a positive environment to further professional advancement of our staff and our faculty;
We seek new engineering solutions to some of the most critical societal challenges of the 21st century thriving within the domains of sustainable engineering and designs, high performance and power efficient computing, health care, high bit rate data and telecommunication, nanotechnology, pervasive sensor networks, machine learning and computer vision, robotics, space technology, energy harvesting and smart management.
UC Davis is well positioned to pursue exciting new solutions to meet these challenges. We benefit from our proximity to Silicon Valley, which supplies a valuable resource for connections with world leaders in the electronics industry. These interactions keep us well informed about today’s needs for innovation and provides us with opportunities for collaborations and the transformation of ideas into products. Our department also benefits from UC Davis’ world-renowned strength in the life sciences, which provides a rich environment for interfacing electronics with biology to enable new type of bio-inspired electronic devices, circuits, and systems.
Our faculty and researchers pioneered new engineering approaches and disciplines, examples of which include nanoscale devices and sensors, MEMS/NEMS, energy scavenging circuits, reconfigurable terabyte computers, integrated analog and digital electronics, implantable biosensors, embedded systems, terahertz science and technology, ultra-fast intra-chip communication, high frequency and high power RF technology, big data, cyber-physical systems, wireless sensor networks and networking protocols that control the energy demand of smart appliances.
Our graduates are in high demand, and our proximity to the large corporate R&D centers and the vibrant start-up and venture capital communities of Silicon Valley and Northern California provide a wealth of opportunities for launching careers. We are innovators. Our alumni members start companies, lead major technology companies and develop new technologies, serve in academia, and continue to expand the horizon of knowledge in technology. Our faculty, often with one or more of their graduate and undergraduate students, started more than 30 companies. Our alumni were involved in starting more than 100 companies. We offer unceasing commitment to train and educate the next generation of innovators, industry and research leaders. We strive to improve the world we live in and make a difference in the lives of people across the globe.
We welcome talented students who share our enthusiasm and optimism for creating the technologies of the future. Whether you prospective or current student, an alumnus, faculty member, staff, friend or a curious member of the community, we welcome you to become a part of the University of California Davis ECE family. For supporters and potential collaborators in industry, federal laboratories, and elsewhere, we enthusiastically welcome your interest in our department. Please do not hesitate to contact me, our staff, or any of our faculty members to pursue opportunities for collaborations.
Professor and Chair
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
University of California, Davis


Feb. 23, 2013
HOUSTON, Texas – Six three-pointers and 30 total points from Tulane’s Ricky Tarrant were too much for Rice University men’s basketball to overcome as the Owls fell, 89-64, on Saturday night at Tudor Fieldhouse.
Tamir Jackson and Max Guercy led Rice with 19 points each as the team worked hard to overcome a second-half deficit. After trailing by as many as 14 points early in the frame, the Owls (5-21, 1-11) cut the Green Wave lead down to seven points with 14 minutes remaining. From there, Tarrant scored Tulane’s (18-9, 6-6) next nine points to help the visitors regain a double-figure cushion.
Several athletic drives to the basket kept the game within reach for Rice as the team cut the deficit back down to as few as 10 points with 10 minutes remaining in regulation before Tulane used one more solid run to put the game out of reach. It was the Green Wave’s fourth win in its last five outings.
Head coach Ben Braun said after the game, “Two areas gave Tulane about two-thirds of their points, and those were points off turnovers and second-chance points. If we can eliminate those, it’s a different game. But Tarrant is a tremendous player for them and he shot the ball extremely well tonight.”
The Green Wave held a 39-23 advantage on the glass and converted 16 offensive rebounds into 25 second-chance points. The visitors added 21 points off of 14 Rice turnovers.
Jackson shot 5-of-15 from the field and knocked down 9-of-10 free throws on the night to accompany four rebounds and three assists. The senior passed Greg Hines (1983-87) for sixth place on the program’s career scoring list at 1,559 points.
Guercy did more of his damage from downtown, sinking 3-of-5 three-pointers and 6-of-10 shots overall. He matched a season high with five steals and added three boards with a pair of assists.
The Owls started the game shooting 2-of-9 from the field and fell behind by as many as 17 points in the first half before rallying to quickly cut the deficit to 10 points. Tulane responded just before the intermission to take a 36-25 lead into the locker room at the break.
For the game, Rice shot 43.2 percent from the field and knocked down 5-of-17 three-pointers. The Owls added 21-of-27 free throws for a 77.8 percent mark as well. Tulane shot 49.1 percent from the field, including a 50-percent clip in the second half. On the strength of Tarrant’s 6-of-8 mark from downtown, Tulane shot 9-of-17 from behind the arc.
Julian DeBose chipped in nine points on 3-of-5 shooting for Rice while Austin Ramljak, Keith Washington and Bahrom Firozgary added five each. DeBose, Jackson, Ramljak and Ross Wilson hauled in four rebounds each.
Josh Davis added a double-double for Tulane with 23 points and 16 boards, including a 9-for-16 tally at the free throw line.
The Owls travel to Dallas on Wednesday to take on SMU. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Moody Coliseum.
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A fourth collection from a prize-winning poet whose "gift is breathtaking" (Naomi Shihab Nye)
Eugene Gloria's Sightseer in This Killing City captures the surreal and disorienting feelings of the present. In the wake of recent presidential elections in the United States and in the Philippines, Gloria's latest collection sharpens his obsession with arrivals and departures, gun violence, displacement, cultural legacy, and the bitter divisions in America. Through the voice of Nacirema, the central persona of the collection, we are introduced to a character who chooses mystery and inhabits landscapes fraught with beauty and brutality. Gloria quotes melodies from seventies soul and jazz, blending the urban lament of Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane with the idiom of Stevie Wonder and Fela Kuti. Sightseer in this Killing City is an argument for grace and perseverance in an era of bombast and bullies.
About the Author
Eugene Gloria's previous poetry collections are My Favorite Warlord, winner of the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, Hoodlum Birds, and Drivers at the Short-Time Motel (2000), a National Poetry Series selection and recipient of the Asian American Literary Award. He lives in Greencastle, Indiana, and teaches at DePauw University.
Read an Excerpt
Of my self-creation is this legend of my betrayals, my disloyalty to my origins.
Of my once and future past,
of rajas and gilded palaces,
of brown sailors building empires, I lay no claim.
I lay no claim to your founding fathers,
no claim to pearl divers and tattooed pirates jumping ship to grow a colony in Louisiana.
What I’ve inherited is this feeding frenzy for rainbow, rainbow, rainbow,
this multigenerational spectral light show
inducing a diarrhea of bullets; and no arrests.
I’m the youngest son of a youngest son,
a second baseman in the minor leagues,
a family trope deputized to react and bleed—whose only compensation is his own capacious longing.
Hand me your gun, America,
and let my body be the soundtrack to the spectacle of our recent events.
If only this miasmic island of sundown towns and Bible colleges, of folksy neighbors with their hiya doin’ gestures and holding keys to the kingdom come raining down with molten rocks upon this megalomania
of abandoned cities, of cowslip turnips, of holy
JesuschildrenofAmerica, of thee I sing!
Call me Mr. Gone / who’s done made / some other plans.
All that remains is nostalgia and this aching torso of blue.
Table of Contents
Implicit Body 3
The Pall of a Past World 5
Zones of Contact 7
Liner Notes for Monk 11
Nighthawks Oceania 12
The Monk's Tale 13
The War on Drugs 14
The Shape Of 16
[A Walled City of Psalms]
Thirteen Dreams and One Duterte 19
Why They Bees That Way 22
The Maid 24
The Holler 25
King Lear 27
In Languedoc 28
Settling on a Bed in the Goon Republic 30
The Suitcase 31
My Phantom Escort, Pier Paolo Pasolini 33
In the Andes 34
[And the sheen of their spears was like stars on the sea-Lord Byron]
Sightseer in This Killing City 37
Nurse Nacirema 39
The Handsome Face of Tatlonghari 41
Ave Nacirema 43
Like the Spars of a Sailing Ship 45
Seamstress to the Band 46
The War on Drugs 48
Ne Me Quitte Pas 49
A Mutiny of Flowers 50
My Sad Economist on the Nature of Things 51
Alfonso Street 55
On the Death March He Survived 57
On the Sorrowful Father Standing. And Falling. 60
Ghost Car 64
To the Wife, an Ode 66
The Boy Lazarus 68
Shall We Meet at the Little Lambs? 70
A Psalm for Beauty and Violence 72
Yo-Yo Boy 73
Salt Song 77
All-American Alien Boy 79
On the Guttural Song of Machines 81
My Lanky, Landlocked So-and-So 85
Frontier Psychiatry 86
Baby American 90


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13 Winter Wonderland Theme Party Ideas
Are you looking for a way to make a memorable winter wonderland for your next party? You’ve come to the right place. With the right decor and party ideas, you can create an enchanting ice kingdom your guests won’t soon forget.
Here are 13 winter wonderland theme party ideas to help you turn your party into a true winter paradise:
Create Wintery Invites
To set the scene for your party, create whimsical invites that capture the charming atmosphere of a snowy wonderland.
Start by gathering materials: colored paper, scissors, glitter glue, and other items like fake snow, sparkly stickers, or fuzzy pom-poms. Cut the paper into wintery shapes and add a border of glitter glue to give it an enchanting feel.
Write your party details on the invite and then decorate it with your collected materials, making sure to let your creativity flow! You can create snowman heads, polar bears, or icy trees — the possibilities are endless. Finish it off with a festive message with a dad-joke-level pun "Let's have a chill time.”
Deck Out Your Space
Next, you'll need to create a wintery ambiance for your guests. Add a magical touch with decorations like snowflakes, icicles, and twinkling lights. Hang up twinkle lights all around the room, and decorate with white and silver snowflakes for a truly delightful atmosphere. You can cut your own snowflakes out of printer paper or purchase a package at your local craft or party supply store.
When it comes to table centerpieces, use glass jars filled with snowflake-shaped chocolates or white ornaments, as they will look stunning when scattered throughout the tables. You could also incorporate white roses in vases and potted evergreen trees decorated with pinecones, silver bells, and twinkle lights for extra sparkle.
Pro Tip:For an added wintery touch, why not invest in a snow machine!? This is one of the best ways to bring a little bit of winter magic to your party, particularly if you’re in a tropical or desert climate. Not only will it make your guests feel like they’re in a real winter wonderland, but it will also make for fantastic photo ops.
Indoor snow machines typically shoot “snow” 15 to 20 feet in the air. Double-check that the artificial snow is non-toxic and safe to be around pets and children. While fake snow is typically safe, be wary about breathing in the aerosol for extended periods of time.
Choose Comfort Food
When it comes to food for your party, comfort food is key.
Hearty soups or stews paired with warm bread or rolls are always popular options for guests at a winter wonderland party. Or go all out with a full-on hot chocolate bar complete with marshmallows and peppermint sticks.
Don’t forget dessert — try baking up some “snowball” cupcakes or cookies as treats for everyone.
Now that your decorations are set and your food is taken care of, it’s time to get festive with activities!
- Have an ice sculpture competition where teams can build sculptures out of freezer-made ice blocks using tools like chisels or cookie cutters.
- Play an indoor version of “Capture the Flag” using white scarves as flags instead of flags in flag football.
- Host a snowball fight indoors using soft white pillows instead of real snowballs.
- Make homemade snowflakes out of paper plates.
- Play carols on musical instruments such as guitars or recorders while everyone sings along.
If you want something more active, why not have everyone join in on snow tubing races? Grab your favorite FUNBOY Sleds and hit the snow-covered hills in the backyard!
Nothing like a classic wintertime activity to get the party going! You can spice it up by making an ‘ugly’ snowman competition and see who can make the wackiest, silliest snowmen out there!
Plus, bonus points for whoever uses props like old hats or festive decorations. It’s sure to bring lots of laughs as everyone tries their best to build the ugliest abominable snowman they can think of. Get creative with your builds and have fun!
Make It a Gift Exchange
Hosting a gift exchange at your winter wonderland party is a great way to ensure everyone goes home with something special. Create teams or have guests draw names, then let the gifting commence!
For added fun, make it a white elephant exchange where each person gets to keep their own gift or steal someone else’s. No matter how you choose to do it, your guests will love getting in on all of the festive fun.
Pro Tip:Need an awesome gift idea? Consider gifting the Winter Checks Inflatable ShotSki® — the world’s first and only inflatable shotski!
Turn Up the Tunes
Playing some festive music throughout your party is sure to create just the right atmosphere for your winter wonderland theme. From current hits like Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You" or Mel Torme's classic "The Christmas Song" to classical holiday pieces like Vivaldi’s "Winter" from The Four Seasons — choose an upbeat playlist that will keep everyone in the merry mood!
Serve Winter-Inspired Drinks
Winter-themed parties are all about getting creative with drinks. Serve up warm, creamy hot cocoa with marshmallows and sprinkle on some peppermint for a festive touch. Or, if your guests feel a bit more adventurous, try a signature winter cocktail with some festive garnishes.
Other wintery drinks include:
- Hot Toddy
- Old-Fashioned Eggnog
- Mulled Wine
- Cranberry Sangria
- Sparkling Cider
Provide Winter Wearables
Nothing says “winter wonderland” quite like bundled-up guests wearing handmade scarves, hats, or mittens that match the theme. Have bundles of fabric ready ahead of time so guests can assemble their accessories upon arrival — a wonderful way to get everyone in the spirit.
For added fun factor, provide face masks made from white felt cutouts decorated with glittery snowflakes so everyone can keep their faces warm while still looking stylish.
If you’re lucky enough to live in a snowy environment, take the party outdoors for some sledding fun! It doesn’t matter if you’re 2 or 102 — sledding is a winter pastime that’s ideal for friends of all ages. Just be sure to bundle up to keep frostbite at bay!
Don’t have a sled? Check out our incredible inventory of inflatable sleds here at FUNBOY. From luxe tubes and toboggans to sleighs and more, we have snow sleds to tickle just about anyone’s fancy— simply inflate, and you’re set to sled!
Pro Tip:When planning any event — especially one outdoors — be prepared for unexpected changes in weather conditions. Make sure you have blankets available should temperatures drop too low (or wind gusts pick up), and stock up on hot beverages if needed.
Set Up a Wintery Photo Booth
Capture all the winter fun with a snow-themed photo booth. Use props like snowflake cutouts and fake snow, or go all out and make a photo booth backdrop with white fabric and glittery decor. Set up a camera on a tripod with a self-timer enabled so guests can take as many photos as they want in front of this festive background.
Pass Out Party Favors
Give your guests something to remember the night by. Fill up goodie bags with white chocolate truffles, hand-knit mittens, and small bottles of eggnog. And don’t forget to add a few festive decorations like mini Christmas trees and pinecone placeholders.
End With a Toast
Once the fun is done, bring everyone together for a final toast. Pass out glasses of hot chocolate or apple cider and let everyone share what they enjoyed most about the day. This will be sure to leave everyone feeling festive and full of holiday cheer!
The Final Word
No matter what you decide, your guests will surely have an unforgettable night at your winter wonderland party. With these ideas, you can create an enchanting atmosphere that will be remembered by all. Grab your scarf and snow boots — and don't forget a FUNBOY Sled or two for an extra-memorable experience — and enjoy the frosty festivities.
Here at FUNBOY, we’re on a mission to bring FUN to the masses. Whether you’re hosting a winter wonderland theme party or looking for ways to have fun in the winter sun, we’ve got you covered.


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What is Lead, Urine?
The Lead Urine test measures the level of lead (a toxic metal) in urine.
Why is Lead, Urine done?
- To confirm suspected overexposure to lead
- Screen people who fall in a high risk category for lead overexposure, like workers at a lead plant
- To measure the success or failure of a medication or treatment plan
MEDCIS Pathlabs India Private Limited has emerged as a Clinical Investigation Services provider of world-class healthcare services at affordable costs, in all medical branches. With increased use of global technology in diagnosis, MEDCIS Pathlabs is committed in helping improve the quality of patient care by providing reports that support clinical decision-making for doctors. MEDCIS has build on strategy to deliver integrated testing solutions to our customers. Rather than competing with its...
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text:
Aimee Carrero is not just thankful but also humble about her experience with The Americans.
“I never thought I had a prayer’s chance in hell getting this part,” said the 25 year old actress.
Carrero has been on TV for quite some time now. She is part of the Cartoon Network live action series Level Up! and has had the opportunities to guest star on different shows like The Mentalist, The Middle, Hannah Montana, and Men of A Certain Age to name a few.
On the FX hit show, Carrero plays a Sandinista freedom fighter who goes to Washington as an undercover spy aiding the KGB. Lucia or Chena, her character is a fiery soldier, willing to do everything to fight for the revolution.
“She’s everything that Keri Russell’s character [Elizabeth Jennings] used to be,” Carrero said. Her character serves as a mirror for Elizabeth, who has become less effective ever since she started worrying about her kids.
Carrero explains the premise of the series to be about “two Soviet spies in the ’80s who have been living in the states for a long time. They’ve left everything behind and have no contact with their people back home. They have kids together, they pass themselves off as Americans, they have no accent, and they’re totally Americanized — except they’re not.”
“I think what the show kind of toys with is the idea of what’s good and what’s bad, what’s right and what’s wrong, depending on what side you’re on.”
This all goes back to the audience’s fascination with anti-heroes. There’s obviously a dilemma that the fans face every time they realize that they are rooting for the bad guy.
“One thing I learned while working on this show is that all characters feel justified in what they’re doing — no matter how they look to the other people.”
Carrero says that she found it hard to get into Chena/Lucia’s character because she’s from Miami. Her character is a communist, and people from Miami don’t take too well with communism.
“The Nicaraguan revolution was heavily influenced by the Cuban revolution,” she said, “and having my own opinions as a person living in Miami and knowing the Cuban sentiments — I’m not Cuban, but I feel Cuban sometimes having grown up in Miami — it was just really interesting.”
Her whole experience has taught her not to let personal feelings get in the way of embodying a character.
“It’s impossible to play a character if you judge them,” she said. “You don’t have to like them, but you have to try to understand where they’re coming from.”
She also admits that having complex roles for young women are hard to come by, especially if you’re Latin and female.
“There aren’t a lot of roles for women my age in Hollywood that are that rich and that deep and that complicated,” Carrero said. “I don’t know why that is, but I just feel so lucky to be doing it.”


text:
Emmeline Austin wants a night filled with adventure when her friends decide to desert her for some random guys, so she decides to take the reins of her own life and marry a man she's just met. This isn't a spoiler, as is it happens almost immediately. What happens in Vegas and all... This is when we first meet Nick Slater, and Emmeline doesn't see him again until 9 years later. When she moves to Montana to follow her dream of being a kindergarten teacher. The Cover Chapel is small town romance at its best and for those of you that are into overbearing alphas and the women that own their hearts, this book gives new meaning to whirlwind romance!
Nick is persistent and HOT and he wants another chance. But, Emmy has a boyfriend and doesn't want to let Nick back in even though she can't forget about the night that insta-love took over her world and she recklessly gave her heart to a stranger. So, she reluctantly agrees to give him a chance to explain. “Five dates. One week,” Normally I would call this a second chance romance, but in this case since the first chance lasted less than 24 hours I can't really classify it that way. And to be honest, the second chance, even though it was 9 years later was a little too insta-love as well. I mean, I guess it could happen but, for me personally I'm not the biggest fan of that type of thing. But for those that are, it was done really well! Nick was way more alpha-male than I'd thought he'd be too, almost too overbearing at times. But I’ve got to give a guy props for trying so hard. He really was sweet and protective and he says the most swoonworthy things to get Emmy back.
I did not read the first book in this series, so I have nothing to compare it to. But, what I can say is that the writing is exceptional. Even though the chemistry and love aspect was super quick, the character development was great and I love the added element of suspense and danger, that totally brought up the angst factor and kept me going. The second half of the book was where it really locked me in, so if all that stuff I mentioned turns you off, just keep going because the latter part of the book is way stronger than the first, in my opinion. And I have to say that by the time the book ended, I had a huge smile on my face and I was kind of surprised by that myself!! I will definitely be going back to read the first book in the series, The Coppersmith Farmhouse. And I’m really looking forward to book 3, The Lucky Heart which comes out this August. These are all standalone novels with interconnected characters, so if you’re a stickler for order than read book one first. I guess I’m a rebel because I’ve never really cared about rules or order and I enjoyed it just fine! This really is the perfect read for summer, great characters, great writing and overall a cute and sexy story that can pull anyone out of a bad mood. This book reads like the perfect fairy tale that every woman wants.
About The Author
Devney lives in Montana with her husband and two children. After working in the technology industry for nearly a decade, she abandoned conference calls and project schedules to enjoy a slower pace at home with her kids. She loves reading and, after consuming hundreds of books, decided to share her own stories.
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Three book besties who love to read and discuss books. We are addicted to all kinds of romance with Alpha Hero's, Kick-ass Heroine's and plenty of angst.
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Thai PM drives daughter’s tiny electric hatchback to EV board meeting
BANGKOK: Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin drove his daughter’s yellow hatchback electric car to the year’s first meeting of the National Electric Vehicle Policy Committee (EV Board) at Government House on Wednesday (Feb 21).
Srettha, who stands 1.92 metres (6 ft 4 in) tall, steered the small Abarth 500e, made by Stellantis, through the main gate of Government House at 9.10am. The licence plate read Sor Thor 30, matching the premier’s initials.
Emerging from the car, Srettha explained he wanted to experience the fun of driving instead of being driven by his chauffeur all the time.
He said he had driven the Stellantis EV from his residence on Sukhumvit Road.
“I like to drive sometimes because it’s one of my pleasures. When I was a businessman, I always drove,” he told reporters at Government House, confirming that he had borrowed the Stellantis from his daughter.
The premier expressed his admiration for the hatchback EV in a post on X (formerly Twitter): “I love its bright colour and the fact that it’s an electric car.”
Srettha also showed off the electric car to Government House reporters before heading to the meeting.
Stellantis is a multinational carmaker formed in 2021 through the merger of Italian-US company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and France’s Groupe PSA.
The Abarth 500e is a performance-oriented version of the Fiat 500e.
The EV uses a more powerful electric motor with 113kW (155 horsepower) and 235Nm of torque, compared with the Fiat 500e’s 87kW (118hp) and 220Nm.
The EV board meeting discussed measures to support large commercial electric vehicles such as buses and trucks and measures for supporting the EV battery industry in Thailand. – The Nation/ANN