text:
“There’s a lot of really honest people who are going to get slaughtered,” Belfort says.
Belfort spent nearly two years in jail for scamming investors. Now, he has no doubt, Bitcoin is the next trap that could leave some retail investors broke: “I was a scammer. I had it down to science and it’s exactly what’s happening with bitcoin,” he says in a recent documentary. “The whole thing is so stupid; these kids have gotten themselves so brainwashed.”
“This thing is gonna evaporate like a mirage,” he said. “There’s a lot of really honest people who are gonna get slaughtered.”
Belfort also challenges bitcoin’s security: “We don’t even know how bad it really is,” he said. “For the average person who’s really — you know, with a good heart, who walks in saying, ‘I just — I want — I do because I believe in it, in the long-term thing,’ just f*cking run.”
Belfort is not alone. Corporate leaders such as Jamie Dimon, Ray Dalio and Bill Gates have challenged the validity of bitcoin. Warren Buffett famously called it “rat poison squared” earlier this year.Trade crypto here
NOTE: This article is not an investment advice. Any references to historical price movements or levels is informational and based on external analysis and we do not warranty that any such movements or levels are likely to reoccur in the future.
In accordance with European Securities and Markets Authority’s (ESMA) requirements, binary and digital options trading is only available to clients categorized as professional clients.
GENERAL RISK WARNING
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage.
76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

domain: economics


text:
Last week, FaceApp made an impressive comeback. It’s hard to deny, the app’s new filter is haunting. By using AI-powered technology, the app allows users to morph one person’s selfie into the future version of themselves. I haven’t tried it myself, but a friend sent me a selfie of mine where I scarily look like my mother. The technology has improved a lot since the app was launched in 2017 and the results are astounding, giving users the ability to see the future through this computer-generated imagery.
It’s disturbing yet alluring to be able to see what you could look like in 30 years, and it’s no surprise that last Wednesday, the smartphone app became the most downloaded in the U.S. But as soon as the news that an ‘unknown’ Russia-based company that has little data regulations developed the app came out, panic started to spread.
Truth is, the company named Wireless Lab is based in Russia, but the photos are stored on servers run by American companies. Dubious origins or not, the loose privacy rules of the app triggered more concerns—rumour has it that the app could access a user’s entire photo archive, thus entering and possibly controlling one person’s personal data. “It would be deeply troubling if the sensitive personal information of U.S. citizens was provided to a hostile foreign power actively engaged in cyber hostilities against the United States”, Senator Charles E. Schumer wrote in a letter to the FBI, continuing on Twitter, “Warn friends and family about the deeply troubling risk that your facial data could fall into the hands of something like Russian intelligence or military”.
The general panic mirrors some sort of awakening when it comes to the privacy of our data, but if this story can teach us something, it is that the problem doesn’t lie within FaceApp or Wireless Lab. The lack of information, regulations, and caution when it comes to AI and data-based technologies is what we should worry about. Not only because face recognition technology will soon be actively entering our lives (in shop aisles, airports, basically everywhere), but also because FaceApp has very similar corporate rights to its users’ data as Facebook or pregnancy-tracking apps like Ovia. In other words, if you are concerned about your digital privacy, then you should check all the apps you have downloaded and websites you have logged on in the past few years and start panicking for good.
Data privacy is no joke. In countries where freedom of expression is threatened by the government, (unknowingly) giving the authorities and private companies access to extremely personal data could put people in dangerous positions, threatening not only their freedom of speech but also their physical well-being. We are entitled to ask for more clarity on how our data is used by tech companies and for the law to keep up with corporate technology. That said, we, as users, should also be more responsive when it comes to our digital rights, and not freak out when we hear the words ‘Russia’ and ‘data’ in the same sentence.
It requires willpower to let go of online challenges and short-lived apps, among other services, to fully own and manage the AI technologies we hold accountable at the moment. The internet is a tempting place and it’s likely to keep on offering more and more indispensable services in exchange for our private information.
The trade between data and services is so systematically ingrained within the internet algorithm, that as much as we should be informed on how it works exactly, we should also be aware that there’s always a price to be paid. We’ve all been data-whores our entire digital lives, so suddenly wishing for a life of internet abstinence would be hypocritical. In today’s society, extremes don’t work.
If you are still worried about Russia using your wrinkled selfies for whatever reason, FaceApp accepts requests from users to remove their data from its servers. You can send the request through Setting>Support>Report a bug with the word ‘privacy’ in the subject line. Feeling better?
Does your makeup define you? I hate the thought of my lipstick choice being used by data scientists to decide who I am. I might feel a shade of Velvet Teddy on a Monday in the office, but I’ll be a smudged Lady Danger at 5am on a Saturday morning. I use makeup to explore my own identity, a slippery notion which is not at all easily expressed, even from my own lips. Those who wear or like makeup are almost always subject to prejudice. We are either wearing too much, not enough or we are doing it wrong. People who have been criticised for wearing, wanting to wear or not wearing makeup, will know that makeup has its own language.
A glance at Instagram (owned by Facebook) seems to testify to the growing commitment amongst beauty professionals to champion diversity and creative self-expression. As Sissi Johnson, an industry scholar who lectures on ‘Multiculturalism in the Beauty Industry’ tells me, “beauty commodities have always been well-positioned for expressing the nuances of identity as they can be highly personalised. Makeup is particularly intimate and its significance to consumers varies throughout cultures and age groups”. My own concern, however, is that all our hard work towards fearless self-expression could go to waste. Beauty professionals offer huge amounts of data up to be organised and analysed by the tech gods, but are the values of today’s beauty industry being heard? How do our beauty choices translate into the language of data science?
Remember the Cambridge Analytica scandal? Cast your mind as far back as March 2018 when the international press exploded with cries of data breaches. Mainstream media outlets reported that Cambridge Analytica had gathered data from approximately 87 million Facebook users and used this information to design “mind-reading software”. Speculation then turned to whether this technology had been used to successfully target individual voters with political ads and if it was responsible for both Trump and Brexit. In times of political turbulence, it is often simpler to blame technology than it is to blame people. While the idea of having your data used to read your mind is scary, there are even more sinister forces at play here. What if I told you that the scariest thing was that Cambridge Analytica had got people all wrong, but that they had taken it upon themselves to speak on other people’s behalf anyway?
When distinguishing the innermost thoughts and feelings of voters in the U.S. and U.K., the scientists at Cambridge Analytica used “psychographics”. It is reasonable that most wouldn’t question something that sounds so authoritatively sciencey. Here’s the thing though: the social science they used was problematic, to say the least. The original research behind Cambridge Analytica’s so-called “high-tech” methods was headed up by Michal Kosinski at the University of Cambridge in 2012. The team started by correlating personality features, for instance neuroticism, with online behaviour, such as displaying high levels of Facebook activity or, erm, having loads of friends. Fine. But then in 2013 they wrote another paper that lauded the “predictive power of likes”, and this is where things got silly. Kosinski and his pals wrote that liking groups such as “Sephora” and “I Love Being a Mom” were highly accurate indicators of low intelligence. Misogyny, anyone? It is unclear what these scientists deem to be intelligent, but it doesn’t seem that makeup-wearing mothers stand much of a chance of being counted as such. Shopping at Sephora and mothering children have diddly squat to do with my intelligence levels and I am upset by people who tell me that they do. Kosinski has since raised concerns that this type of research might be unethical and was quoted in the Guardian as having said, “I did not build the bomb. I only showed that it exists”. How easy it can be to assert that technology exists separately from those who created it.
The paper then goes on to assert that a “like” for MAC Cosmetics is a good predictor of male homosexuality. Bafflingly, the researchers couldn’t work out why “gay men” hadn’t “liked” such groups as “Being Gay” or, even, “I love Being Gay”. Instead, they had to make do with “likes” for makeup, this time as an imagined hallmark of gayness rather than stupidity. The kind of discourse that accounts for queerness in terms of being only a “gay man” is outdated and dangerous.
Kosinski and co. have since forayed into deploying deep neural networks to distinguish male sexual orientation from facial recognition. Basically, they are training computers to automatically spot which men look “gay” and which are not. The Stanford University study, which was based on data from white individuals only, was met with anger from GLAAD, the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organisation. Jim Halloran, GLAAD’s Chief Digital Officer stated that Kosinski’s research “isn’t science or news, but it’s a description of beauty standards on dating sites that ignores huge segments of the LGBTQ community, including people of colour and transgender people”. Kosinki’s weird ideas about beauty choices serve principally to demonstrate that biases against people definitely still exist and that they are reinforced by technologies such as psychographics. Beauty consumption is about expression, not crappy categorisation.
No algorithm could have predicted the wealth of diverse self-expression that much of the makeup industry and beauty-blogging world continues to nourish. But the problem is that these Instagram and Facebook “likes”, say a “like” for Sephora or MAC, are vulnerable to getting translated back into something we didn’t ask for. When we use social media platforms, we leave our data open to being used to misrepresent us and our consumer choices. This insult to lipstick wearers around the world is a gross mismeasure of fxmme. Your makeup bag is a weapon for positive change and those who ridicule your consumer choices need to know they have got it twisted.

domain: news


text:
Latest topics» Sanderson's experiments with Bio-Flora Ag Products
by dstack Today at 8:09 pm
» Second Year SFG in Canada
by trolleydriver Today at 8:03 pm
» The Research Journey:Back to Eden Organic Gardening 101 Method with Wood Chips VS Leaves Composting Garden Soil
by plantoid Today at 6:47 pm
» Fall garden push
by Cajun Cappy Today at 1:05 pm
» CANADIAN REGION:What are you doing in October 2016
by trolleydriver Today at 12:19 pm
» The Research Journey:Composting Leaves Only
by trolleydriver Today at 11:08 am
» Microbes...you gotta see this one !!!
by jimmy cee Today at 8:45 am
» who has chickens
by bigdogrock Today at 7:30 am
» The Research Journey:Growing in a Raised Wood Chip Organic Gardening Bed
by has55 Today at 7:16 am
» The Research Journey:Building Healthy Soil
by has55 Today at 7:13 am
» the Research Journey:How to Grow Large Healthy Organic Tomatoes
by has55 Today at 7:07 am
» Bountea Compost Tea - Got it!!!
by sanderson Today at 3:23 am
» Northern California & Coastal Valleys - What are you doing this month?
by sanderson Today at 1:28 am
» Straw Bales with Seeds?
by donnainzone5 Yesterday at 11:50 pm
» TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer
by jimmy cee Yesterday at 10:44 pm
» Notice: Gluten-free Recipes Sub-Forum- Up and running!
by BeetlesPerSqFt Yesterday at 9:20 pm
» Our Newest Regional Hosts!
by Scorpio Rising Yesterday at 8:56 pm
» Indian Solar Gardening Calendar
by Scorpio Rising Yesterday at 8:52 pm
» N&C Midwest: October Happenings!
by Scorpio Rising Yesterday at 8:40 pm
» Asia Region -Showcase of Gardens - Show Us Yours
by rajmahendra Yesterday at 8:36 pm
» California's Drought
by countrynaturals Yesterday at 1:23 pm
» Fun Spider addition to Home Page
by sanderson Yesterday at 12:56 pm
» last chance to pre-order baker seeds-rare seed catalog
by sanderson Yesterday at 12:48 pm
» Senseless Banter...
by AtlantaMarie Yesterday at 7:37 am
» Mason bees
by Scorpio Rising 10/23/2016, 8:45 pm
» 2016 SFG in Brooks, Ga
by yolos 10/23/2016, 8:05 pm
» Hello from central Massachusetts!
by Scorpio Rising 10/22/2016, 10:39 pm
» What's eating my plants
by donnainzone5 10/22/2016, 12:30 pm
» Shallots, Prisma
by AtlantaMarie 10/22/2016, 7:59 am
» Peas and cucumbers: Trellis position and plant spacing
by yolos 10/21/2016, 8:32 pm
I am going to try growing fennel this year for the first time. I looked it up and i found that that the seeds need to soak for four days and that it does not transplant well. If this is true rhen I guess you plant after the frost date. Also it said that the plants grow 5 ft. tall. It also said 4" apart so would that mean 4 per square? Any comments would help.
johnp to the forum. I had tried a transplant last summer but it did not do well. Then in the fall I planted several seeds directly in MM (mel's mix); thinking this will never work they are a warm climate plant. We have had a really mild winter, with only a few frosts. These have over wintered, not really large but still growing.
Best of luck with them
Best of luck with them
Like I said I really did not think they would grow; they were planted in mid October from seed. It is a 4x bed, I sowed 2 rows at a 6in spacing between each plant down the center of each row. This variety is said to get 16 inches tall so I gave them room.
@johnp wrote:I am going to try growing fennel this year for the first time. I looked it up and i found that that the seeds need to soak for four days and that it does not transplant well. If this is true rhen I guess you plant after the frost date. Also it said that the plants grow 5 ft. tall. It also said 4" apart so would that mean 4 per square? Any comments would help.
John , use a toilet roll core tube cut to give two small cylinders , wrap some sticky tape round them to stop them coming undone .
Fill with fine vermiculite whilst they are stood on a tray , sow eac with two fennel seeds pour a couple of pints of warm rain water in the tray and they will germinate quite well with out presoaking .
Every other day or so see if the vermiculite is drying out if so re soak from below as before .
When the plants are three inches high soak the tube for 1/2 hr and gently slide the vermiculite and plants out onto a saucer . Use a spoon to gently lift the plant without damaging the fine root or the stem of the plant and slip it into a prewatered hole in MM .
Water it in and use the spoon to move some MM towards the hole , water this in .
Last year I produced 17 fennel bulbs by doing it this way .
- Posts : 3613
Join date : 2011-11-09
Age : 65
johnp here is another thread you may be interested in within this forum
For a recipe we are making tonight it calls for ground fennel. All I could find in the store were fennel seeds so I presume we grind these. Also it calls for a half of fennel bulb. I pulled two plants (first time grower) and the part above the bulb root is the part you use. What I read was that when it bolts it is no longer good. Well all mine have bolted. Can some tell me if they are still useable?
Yes you can, but it may be woody.
40 years a gardener and going strong with SFG.
There are certain pursuits which, if not wholly poetic and true, do at least suggest a nobler and finer relation to nature than we know. The keeping of bees, for instance. ~ Henry David Thoreau
Outlander is outstanding!
Forum Moderator Certified SFG Teacher
- Posts : 13981
Join date : 2010-03-06
Age : 54
Location : Keene, NH, USA ~ Zone 5a
Permissions in this forum:You cannot reply to topics in this forum

domain: hobby


text:
Paul Errington crosses the pond to grind through some gravel on the world’s premier gravel bike race, the Dirty Kanza
If the mid-west is the home of gravel grinding, then the hub of this movement is a small city in Lyon County, Kansas called Emporia. Nestled in the Flint Hills Emporia plays host to the Dirty Kanza (DK), the largest gravel grinding event in the world.
What is gravel grinding? The clue is really in the title – it’s all about covering large distances by bicycle on gravel roads. The concept is simple, the execution unsurprisingly is fairly painful, the term “grinder” is therefore very apt.
From its humble beginnings in 2005 when just 36 riders took to the startline DK has now grown to over 2,000 riders taking part. Although DK has expanded its distance offerings for riders, I believe there really is only one distance to go for, the main event… 200 miles of the Flint Hills’ finest gravel. Part of the success of the DK has to be the people of Emporia and how invested the whole town is in the success and growth of the event. Not only has DK grown in numbers as the years have passed but now the whole show takes places over close to a week with a number of differing events and ride outs which build on the now famed hometown welcome and cheer. The stores put up signs welcoming riders and enter one around DK time and you’ll no doubt see a rider offer or better still a DK poster capturing one of that year’s interesting entrants.
Rider sign-on and briefing is even special and it takes place in the historic Grand Theater in the centre of town. The plush venue is packed full to capacity with nervous and excited riders all in good spirits prior to race day.
Come the start, Emporia’s main street is shut down for the DK as riders gather and the local roller derby ladies skate with marker boards indicating expected finishing times. I look at the boards. How optimistic do I feel? I start looking for a board that indicates “Just happy to survive the day”. I assume that places me firmly in the middle of the pack. I remember riding this event in 2012 in much better shape with bigger expectations and being overwhelmed by the ferocity of the start. The same mistake would not be repeated, the trick is to find a comfortable pace and hopefully find a good group riding at it.
The objective for those of competitive spirit is to race the sun and achieve a daylight finish – this is the target for most of the DK riders and it was initially for me. Let the grinding commence.
The first mile is led out by race officials at 6.00a.m. Emporian locals are out to see the riders off. We make the right hand turn onto the first gravel section of the race and find ourselves hauling on brakes as the road surface disappears under water. A rain storm earlier that morning has sunk the first section of trail. As the water recedes the resulting sticky clay and gravelly surface begins claiming victims as derailleurs are torn from bikes all around me. I pedal as carefully as I can but fate still befalls me and I end up in a ditch at the side of the trail cupping water over my cassette and derailleur. Back on the bike I continue to ride the section with even more care. I don’t want my race to end after just five miles.
Looking ahead the riders are now bunched into surviving groups whilst others head back to town for an early shower, beer or coffee.
The event is punctuated by a series of checkpoints – the first at 48 miles, then 102 miles, followed by a final one at mile 160. At each a support crew of your choosing is on hand to aid with supplies and bike maintenance. This allowed for strategy, even if the unpredictability of the event aims to prevent too much planning.
Ask race director Jim Cummins about the terrain here in Kansas and he will tell you “There aren’t many hills in Kansas. Lots of valleys though.” Preconceptions of large flat expanses of prairie land are instead laid to rest by short and sharp climbs on the whole, with a few long and sustained.
The Flint Hills and its surrounding prairie land are famed for its expansive vistas which quickly swallow up the large number of riders. I settle comfortably into this first section surrounded by the vibrant green grasses and the beautiful landscape enlivened by the early morning sun.
As expected the first leg to checkpoint 1 is fast. The energy of the riders is yet to be tempered by the heat. Rolling into checkpoint 1 under three hours, racing the sun seems a possibility. After a slick transition, thanks to my adopted support crew, I’m quickly back out on the trail with freshly filled bottles.
The next leg is where the challenge of DK really kicks in. The temperature rises and so too does the frequency of the rolling climbs. Where I was once racing I am now just progressing. The friendship within the world of gravel racing is the best I have ever experienced throughout my many years of racing. The adversity of the terrain and the conditions form a bond between riders as we all try to get to the finish. Every pass or catch is met with a positive exchange, everyone is willing each other on to get through the day.
So far I have not found anyone of a similar pace so it’s just me and my Garmin to pass the time. My decision to ride with just two water bottles sees me out of water many miles before the next checkpoint. I need a third bottle in the jersey. Approaching checkpoint 2 at mile 102 I manage to get a welcome tow behind some faster riders and ease myself out of the wind for a short while. I have another great checkpoint stop; a quick sit and a reapplication of sun block, and once again I’m back out on the gravel… importantly with another water bottle and a Redbull tucked in my jersey.
This section has a number of creek crossings, some chose to ride though them, I opt to offer my bike a reprieve and minimise any possibility for a mechanical by walking. In all my years of cycling I have been of the opinion that a headwind was a negative and a tailwind a positive but as the temperature continues to rise and shade is a rarity I think twice. Every tailwind exposes me to the breathless full force of the heat being driven into the gravel… every headwind though sapping a few mph provides a welcome reprieve from the heat. As the event wears on, any speed I have gives way to just survival pace. The goal of racing the sun has now been replaced by a simpler one, of finishing the event. I make no attempt to latch onto any passing riders and my ride is definitely one of solitude. I’m content at my own rate of progress and I enjoy the simplicity of just turning pedals.
The third section proves to be the toughest. The surface seems to be the least maintained of all road surfaces and this when combined with fatigue starts to beat up my body. Finding a hand position that is comfortable is now challenging and I constantly shift between hoods, flats and drops. Rolling into the third and final checkpoint at mile 160 the routine is now perfected and my only desire is to rest a few minutes longer there. I swallow some preventative ibuprofen and then I’m off to close out the day.
Racing the sun is back on my radar for a moment but the maths simply doesn’t work out, after such a long day I can’t muster the required increase in pace. The positive to this scenario though is riding the last leg as the sun sets. As the heat of the day subsides, the temperature is now far more bearable and my legs start to function again. With the finish in my mind my pace increases and the miles start to come and go a lot easier. Two-hundred-and-six miles have now passed as I am on the drops cranking through the outskirts of the city. One final sharp climb on Tarmac and I’m staring down the main street again only this time on the longer side of the start/finish line. The main street is closed to traffic, the centre of the road is funnelled for riders, and either side the town’s inhabitants line the route welcoming home every rider. I cross the finish in 15 hours and 20 minutes. I’m welcomed immediately by race director Cummins – he personally sees each and every rider home.
The DK again afforded a unique opportunity for riders to push themselves and relate to the event’s hashtag, #Findyourlimit. The terrain and temperature provided a huge challenge for all and I am happy to have secured a finish. For a true test of your limits on a bike DK is right up there.
The 206-mile epic was crushed by first place male finisher Ted King in an outstanding time of 11 hours 50 minutes. In the women’s race, proving that her 2015 win was not by chance, Amanda “Panda” Nauman put in another brutal ride to finish in 13 hours 11 minutes.
The purest view on the right bike for gravel riding is simple … any bike. The gravel scene is formed by a huge diversity of riders and bikes. However, if you were to ask what is the fastest bike for gravel then that would have to be a gravel bike. Representing what is in short a progression of cyclocross thinking, the gravel bike offers some distinct advantages for long distance gravel grinding. Firstly, acres of clearance allow a larger volume tyre for comfort, not to mention increased mud clearing capacity. Next, the geometry affords a bottom bracket height greater than that of a road frame affording off-road clearance – it’s lower than a CX frame and has a taller front end to generate a more comfortable endurance position. Finally, disc brakes, okay they are not so out of place nowadays, but gravel bikes forged ahead with drop bar disc brake set-ups long before they were considered common place on CX bikes and road bikes. For the event I rode a Salsa Warbird, considered the original and still the benchmark by which all gravel bikes are measured. Paired with a Brooks Cambium it was a comfortable place to be for the duration.
- Emporia, Kansas is logistically a reasonably easy place to access. Many flight options exist from the UK to either Wichita or Kansas City airport and the freeways are easily navigated in a hire car.Accommodation is always at a premium and though there are numerous options, the scale of the event requires booking almost the same day as your entry
- All your bike shop needs are well catered by Gravel City Adventure & Supply Co. in Emporia, only a block from the Grand Theater sign-in
- Those looking to extend their visit to this part of the world would do well to check out travelksok.co.uk (or travelksok.ie) for both cycling and non-cycling tourist options
- Any further event queries can be sent to directly to email@example.com
More info Dirtykanza200.com


So many novelty foods come complete with an army of angry looking chillies on the label that the warnings start to mean nothing after a while. Too many times have we been promised a product that will blow your head off, only to be served something that tastes like licking a damp tea towel. When you’ve experienced so much disappointment, it’s easy to become cynical.
However, just because most brands don’t put their chilli where their mouth is, there are still a few businesses out there who take heat extremely seriously. This was made painfully apparent this week by the unfortunate case of curry aficionado and contrite Morrison’s shopper David Langley after he made the mistake of trying to tackle the British supermarket chain’s ferocious new “flaming fiery phaal” takeaway. As Langley’s experience proves, spicy cooking can still pack a punch.
In a brutally honest account of the incident on Twitter, Langley revealed how his evening had started with the most innocent of intentions. “Looking back I probably should have took note of the warnings on the cover...I just thought ‘ooh, I quite fancy a spicy curry,” he wrote to his followers. It didn’t take him log to realise his mistake.
In an expletive-laden warning to the rest of the internet, Langley railed, “Do NOT buy this from Morrisons. Nearly f***ing killed me,” adding, “Honestly people, I took two mouth fulls and felt like someone had put a blow torch on my tongue.” The experience didn’t end there. "I drank two pints of water in about a minute and then sweat started pouring out of my head,” Langley continued. He also revealed how, for a good while after sampling the spicy dish, he remained “too scared to fart” and seriously considered putting on a nappy. In all, it took the shaken diner “about 45 minutes to calm the f*** down.”
It quickly became clear that Langley wasn’t the only one to have been suckered in by the lurid and dangerous-looking label. One Twitter user wrote, "I’ve had this one. I had to pop the toilet roll in the fridge for the next day," while another one added, “Lightweight finished in about 40 minutes but spent next day scared to s**t every time I went I took baby oil and cream (sic)."
Had Langley and his new-found dining partners taken the time to examine the ingredients list on the evil-looking box, he would have quickly realised that this is not a meal to be taken lightly. Morrisons dish has been made with a mixture of naga and Trinidadian scorpion chillies - two of the fiercest peppers on the planet. Though the dish has no official Scoville rating, the supermarket themselves believe that they’ve come up with one of the spiciest curry ready meals ever.
Though there will undoubtedly be many people eager to pit themselves against this new red-hot opponent, Langley’s experience should be enough to provide pause for thought. As he himself said, “I didn't realise I was potentially putting myself into such danger while watching Question Time. The worst part of it all is I have been to the toilet three times already today and the gap between wanting to go and actually going is getting shorter and shorter..." This is a challenge that clearly needs to be taken with a pinch of salt. And a pint of ice cream.


text:
Is Coco Coir Good for Succulents? 7 Easy Growth Tips
Coco Coir Benefits
Coco coir, a natural product made from the fibrous husks of coconuts, is gaining popularity among succulent enthusiasts for its numerous benefits. This eco-friendly alternative to traditional potting soils offers a unique combination of features that can significantly enhance the health and growth of your succulents. Let's delve into the advantages of using coco coir for your cherished plants.
Excellent Drainage and Aeration
One of the standout qualities of coco coir is its ability to provide superior drainage while still retaining adequate moisture. Succulents thrive in well-draining soil because it prevents water from pooling around their roots, which can lead to rot. Coco coir's structure allows excess water to flow through easily, reducing the risk of overwatering. At the same time, its porous nature promotes air circulation around the roots, which is essential for healthy growth.
Balanced Water Retention
While excellent drainage is crucial, succulents also need some moisture to survive. Coco coir strikes a perfect balance by holding onto just enough water without becoming waterlogged. This means your succulents can access moisture as needed without their roots being constantly wet, which could be detrimental.
Natural and Renewable Resource
In our increasingly eco-conscious world, the sustainability of coco coir is a significant plus. It's a natural by-product of coconut production, which means it's renewable and reduces waste. Unlike peat moss, which takes centuries to form and is harvested from peat bogs that are vital for carbon sequestration, coco coir is a more environmentally responsible choice.
Coco coir is naturally resistant to fungal growth and does not harbor diseases. This means that when you use it as a growing medium for your succulents, you're less likely to encounter issues like root rot or other common plant diseases that can be exacerbated by less-than-ideal soil conditions.
pH Neutral Medium
Succulents prefer a neutral pH environment, and coco coir naturally falls within this range. This eliminates the need for constant pH adjustments, ensuring that your plants can absorb nutrients effectively without any additional effort on your part.
In summary, incorporating coco coir into your succulent care routine can lead to stronger plants with better root systems, less susceptibility to disease, and an overall healthier appearance. Its sustainability factor also makes it an excellent choice for gardeners looking to reduce their environmental footprint. With these compelling benefits, it's clear why many are turning to coco coir as their go-to substrate for succulent cultivation.
Watering with Coco Coir
Coco coir, a natural fiber extracted from the husk of coconuts, has become a popular growing medium for various plants, including succulents. Its unique properties make it an excellent choice for maintaining the right moisture levels, which is crucial for the health of these drought-tolerant plants. Here's what you need to know about watering your succulents when using coco coir.
Understanding Coco Coir's Water Retention
Coco coir is renowned for its ability to hold water without becoming waterlogged. This is due to its high porosity, which allows excess water to drain away quickly while retaining enough moisture to keep the roots hydrated. For succulents, which are susceptible to root rot in overly moist conditions, this balance is essential.
Frequency of Watering
When using coco coir, you'll notice that your watering schedule may differ from other mediums. Succulents require less frequent watering as the coir retains moisture for longer periods. However, it's important not to let the coir dry out completely. A good rule of thumb is to water when the top inch of the coir feels dry to the touch.
Deep Watering Technique
To ensure your succulents thrive in coco coir:
Monitoring Plant Health
Keep an eye on your succulents for signs of over or under-watering. Leaves that are yellowing or mushy may indicate too much water, while wrinkled or crispy leaves suggest they need more hydration.
Adjusting for Climate and Season
Remember that environmental factors play a role in how often you'll need to water:
By understanding the watering needs of succulents in coco coir and observing your plants' responses, you can create an optimal environment for their growth. With these insights, you're equipped to maintain the perfect balance of moisture that succulents love.
Succulent Growth Tips
Succulents are the camels of the plant world, hardy and adaptable, but even these tough little plants can benefit from some TLC. Here are seven easy growth tips to ensure your succulents stay healthy and thrive.
1. Right Soil Mix: Succulents prefer a well-draining soil mix because their roots are particularly prone to rot if waterlogged. Coco coir is an excellent choice as it provides good aeration and drainage. Mix it with sand, perlite, or pumice to enhance drainage and mimic their natural arid environments.
2. Adequate Sunlight: These sun-loving plants need plenty of light to develop their full color and structure. Aim for at least six hours of indirect sunlight per day. If you notice your succulent stretching out towards the light, it's a sign they need more exposure.
3. Proper Watering Technique: Overwatering is a common mistake with succulents. Ensure you're using a "soak and dry" method; water thoroughly, then allow the soil to dry out completely before watering again. This mimics the natural rainfall patterns they're adapted to.
4. Fertilizing Sparingly: Succulents don't need much fertilizer, but a little boost during their active growing season in spring and summer can promote growth. Use a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer at half strength for best results.
5. Temperature and Humidity Control: Most succulents prefer temperatures between 60-80°F (15-26°C) and low humidity levels. If you live in a humid climate, ensure good air circulation around your plants to help keep moisture levels down.
Remember, while succulents are generally easy to care for, they do have specific needs that must be met for optimal growth. Pay attention to their responses to your care routine – changes in color, leaf texture, and overall health are indicators of how well their needs are being met.
By following these simple tips, you'll provide your succulents with the right conditions they need to flourish. And remember, when it comes to succulent care, sometimes less is more; these resilient plants often thrive with minimal intervention.
Preventing Plant Diseases
When it comes to nurturing succulents, ensuring they remain free from diseases is as crucial as providing them with the right growing conditions. Succulents are generally hardy plants, but they're not invincible. The key to disease prevention lies in understanding the potential threats and implementing proactive measures to mitigate them. Here's how you can keep your succulents thriving by preventing plant diseases.
Maintain Proper Hygiene Just like with humans, good hygiene can prevent a multitude of problems for plants. Start by sterilizing your tools before and after use, especially if you've been working with infected plants. This simple step can drastically reduce the spread of pathogens.
Optimize Watering Practices Overwatering is the bane of succulent health, often leading to root rot and fungal infections. Ensure that your coco coir is moist but not waterlogged, and allow it to dry out between watering sessions. This balance will help prevent an environment conducive to disease development.
Ensure Adequate Air Circulation Good air circulation is vital for keeping your succulents healthy. It helps to dry out excess moisture on leaves and soil, which can be a breeding ground for fungal spores. If you're growing succulents indoors, consider the placement of your plants and whether they could benefit from a gentle breeze from a fan.
Practice Proper Soil Management Coco coir provides excellent drainage and aeration, which are essential for succulent health. However, it's important to refresh or replace the coco coir periodically to prevent the buildup of salts and pathogens that can harm your plants.
Monitor Plant Health Regularly Keep a close eye on your succulents for any signs of distress. Early detection of issues such as discoloration, spots on leaves, or stunted growth can help you take swift action before diseases take hold.
By following these preventative measures, you'll create an environment where your succulents can grow without the threat of diseases looming over them. Remember that prevention is always better than cure, so stay vigilant and enjoy the beauty of healthy, disease-free succulents.
Throughout our exploration of coco coir as a medium for nurturing succulents, we've uncovered its remarkable benefits, from enhanced water retention to the prevention of plant diseases. Leading horticulturists often emphasize the importance of choosing the right soil for succulents, and it's clear that coco coir stands out as a sustainable and effective option. By implementing the watering techniques and growth tips discussed, you're well on your way to creating an optimal environment for your succulents to thrive.
Remember that gardening is an art as much as it is a science. As you apply these insights to your gardening practices, observe how your plants respond and adjust accordingly. Every plant tells a story through its leaves and blooms; by listening closely, you become not just a gardener but also a caretaker of life's quiet yet resilient beauty. How will your succulents reflect the care they receive in their luscious growth and vibrant health?

domain: agronomy


In the aftermath the death of two young men, Olugbenga Abiodun and Chime Amaechi, both 23 years old and friends of Nigerian pop star Davido; the police in charge of the matter has disclosed to NET that only the state commissioner of police Imohinmi Edgal can speak on the matter.
Punch had earlier reported that initial police findings confirmed that drugs were recovered from the death scene, a claim Chime Amaechi’s father denied when he spoke exclusively to us. ‘I spoke to the DPO of Ikoyi police station and he told me that no conclusion has been reached. They are carrying out an autopsy and we will see.’
When NET reached out to the said DPO, Mustapha Tijani, he said ‘I may not know if he (the commissioner) talked to them. But for me, I don’t really know. A lot of people are disturbing me. “Go and bring autopsy, go and bring autopsy…” But I know the commissioner cannot tell Punch that when the investigations are not complete yet. I know he won’t do that. I was with him all through yesterday. I now don’t know if after I left, he spoke to Punch. Even myself I cannot say that until the autopsy’s complete. How can somebody categorically say that?’
Similarly, the Public Relations Officer of the Police Force SP Dolapo Badmus said she could not comment on the issue when we got in touch with her. ‘No you have to the commissioner if it’s on that Davido issue. You need to talk to the commissioner, he’s on top of it.’
Till now, calls made to the commissioner have not been successful with the line unanswered or not reachable.
The post DJ Olu And Chime: ‘Only The Commissioner Can Talk About This Case’- Police PRO And Ikoyi DPO appeared first on Nigerian Entertainment Today – Nigeria’s Top Website for News, Gossip, Comedy, Videos, Blogs, Events, Weddings, Nollywood, Celebs, Scoop and Games.


text:
Family Vacations Ideas For Your 2017 Family Travel Plans
A family vacation is an escape from regular boredom and lack of excitement in life. But, to have a perfect escape, you need to do some homework before you actually decide a place. In this article, we shall explore top destinations where family vacation will become a treat to every family member.
1. Hawaii, US
If your family loves sun and beaches, then Hawaii is a perfect option. From exquisite Hawaiian cuisine to the world-famous Hula dance, Hawaii will offer a vibrant exotic experience unforgettable in every sense. It is a wonderful setting to enjoy paddle boarding, surfing, Barbeques, swimming with turtles and dolphins, etc. There are a number of resorts designed exclusively for delivering the best of the world quality at reasonable rates—something which will suit the usually huge family budget. To know more about this paradise, check this out.
2. New Caledonia
New Caledonia is an option worth considering for family vacations. Suitable for toddlers and tweens, this southern region of France is only three hours from Australia. The place offers multiple homestay options for tourists travelling in packs, and, therefore, can be of great help in balancing overall budget. To know more about the same, check out en.visitnewcaledonia.com.
3. Paris, France
One cannot simply resist the charm of Paris, and even it being a hackneyed option in almost everyone’s travelling lists, Paris is, nevertheless, unfailingly a magnetic place. Apart from being a much-popular destination for the romantics, Paris offers equally exciting opportunities to families to enjoy the best of their vacations. From historical Eiffel Tower to exquisite perfumes, Paris has in store immense surprises for visiting families.
Read here to know more.
4. Queenstown, Australia
Ideal for young children, Queenstown is a popular family destination in the world. You can enjoy water rafting, bungy jumping, jet boarding, black water rafting, and whatnot. This town is small enough to be circumambulated on foot, and you can enjoy the attractions of the town more closely and comfortably.
If you visit Queenstown in winters, then you can go for skiing which is among the favourite pastimes among the locals. You can check out this website for more information.
5. The Maldives
The Maldives is not only for couples but also families. It is among the most naturally gifted destinations, where the entire world goes to seek relaxation and aesthetic arrest. Club Med Kani houses about 75 over-water suites sprawling across the lagoon as if it were a humungous palm tree. Enjoy a rich experience in Maldives!
One of the best ways to explore the country is by ditching the hotels this season, and using the family vacation rental for an incredible holidayig experience.
From the beautiful beaches of Essaouira to the seemingly infinite expanse of desert, Morocco is an experience unmatched in the world. If you are up for a venturesome family vacation, Morocco should find a place in the ‘list of places to visit’. You may begin the journey from Jemaa el-Fnaa (a UNESCO heritage site) and end up exploring the wondrous natural heritages of the city.
Apart from the aforementioned destinations, you can also consider the countries like India, which is popular for its ethnicity and Philippines which possesses a lot of tourist spots, as you can also plan a family vacation in Batangas.

domain: geography


text:
Romantic trip - recommendations please!
Hi all...I'm new here, but have read the rules and done many searches, so hopefully I won't be breaking any rules.
My fabulous boyfriend will be taking me on a trip to SF in August, from the 8th to the 12th. We have a bare bones itinerary and need some help in filing out the holes. We are looking for a low key way to experience the beauty of the area while doing lots picnicking, and perhaps some hiking. Of course, we want to taste some wines and olives. I hate the idea of rushing through anything and want to savor the scenery and the great food. So here's the plan...
Sunday Aug 8th - arrive in late in SF, stay at the Airport Fairfield Inn.
Monday Aug 9th - wake early, drive through SF and see the Golden Gate Bridge. Visit Muir woods, and perhaps stop at the Fremont Diner?
- travel to Sonoma, stay at the Inn in Glen Ellen. Visit Gundlach Bunschu for a wine tasting and picnic.
Tuesday thru Thursday August 10th - 12th - scenic drive on back roads to Napa. Suggestions as to which rd??
- stay 2 nights at Caymus Rancho in Rutherford.
- leaving on the red eye 10pm
We'd love your opinions on some things that sound really fun, such as:
*picnicking at Bennet Hill
*olive tour and tasting at Round pond in Rutherford
*eating at Rutherford Grill
*riding the gondola at Sterling
*visiting the hot springs
*hiking, and of course picnicking, the Palisades trail.
Any practical considerations that we should keep in mind? I have a great picnic backpack and would love to eat somewhere beautiful outside every day if possible, so breakfast and dinner suggestions would be welcome. I'm really wanting to hear about romantic places where my bf and I can enjoy ourselves.
Thanks in advance!
1180 Rutherford Rd, Napa, CA 94558
2660 Fremont Dr, Sonoma, CA
We just stayed at Glen Ellen Inn cottages last winter and it was great! If you are staying there, you should definitely grab dinner at the Fig Cafe next door. They have free corkage and very affordable prix fixe menu. The Garden Court cafe across the street has a great breakfast, cheaper and more selection than at the Glen Ellen Inn.
Garden Court Cafe
13647 Arnold Dr, Glen Ellen, CA 95442
Glen Ellen Inn
13670 Arnold Dr, Glen Ellen, CA 95442
great picnic spot is above Auberge du Soleil in Napa - it's across from Rutherford Hill winery. Go to Oakville Grocery or Dean & Deluca, pick up your stuff and head over.
124 Matheson St, Healdsburg, CA 95448
200 Rutherford Hill Rd, Rutherford, CA
625 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Don't you have to buy a bottle of wine from RH?
Bennet Hill -- do you mean Bennett Lane? It's OK, not great for picnicking.
Riding the gondola at Sterling -- take a pass, not really worthwhile and the wines are not well-crafted
The Table Rock portion of Palisades is perfect for picnicking.
IMO, there are better picnic supplies at Sunshine Market in St. Helena, certainly better prices.
Wonderful small winery across the street from Rancho Caymus: Elizabeth Spencer.
Also across the street, the great burritos at La Luna Market -- perfect for lunch.
Be sure to read the other posts on Napa Valley.
The picnic grounds to which you're referring are the RH picnic grounds, reserved for their guests only,
and there is a charge to use them.
The website says:
Picnic Tables can be reserved for $25 per table by calling 707-963-1871 x2249. For groups of 25 people or more please contact firstname.lastname@example.org."
re: maria lorraine
Thanks for this info. That's disappointing about the gondola, it seemed like such a fun, romantic thing to do :(
I'm wondering about the differences in the various picnic supply places. How would you describe the offerings vs. prices at Dean & Deluca, Oakville Grocery, and Sunshine Market? I'm interested in gourmet food rather than run of the mill picnic fare.
124 Matheson St, Healdsburg, CA 95448
None of the stores are run of the mill -- all are gourmet. It will be easy enough to check all of them out. The wait can get long so go well-ahead of the lunch rush.
The gondola is a short tram ride. Do it if you must. The view from Sterling's South Terrace is lovely. The view from Table Rock is phenomenal. Likewise, Pride, Viader, Spring Mountain wineries.
Thanks for the great ideas! I think we'll definitely go to the Fig cafe and the Garden Court cafe. And I love the idea for the great picnic spot as well.
Garden Court Restaurant
8141 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA 94945

domain: travel


Compact SUVs are such big business these days that Ford is introducing not just one, but two totally different new Escapes.
Okay, so that's not entirely true, this is the 2020 Ford Escape.
But it's part of a new two pronged strategy that will see the blue oval split up the segment between this leak crossover scene here and an all new, much more rugged, and traditional looking SUV that rides atop the same platform, and that will be shown later this year.
For now, let's stick with the escape side of things and see what's what.
The original 2001 Escape was one of the industry's very first crossovers.
So unsurprisingly, it looked every inch like a body on frame SUV.
That appearance gave way in 2013 to the much more modern design that's still, basically, what's in showrooms today.
This new fourth gen Escape is even more aerodynamic and organic looking.
It's wider, rides on a longer wheel base, sits lower, and has a more steeply raked windshield and backlight.
Yet the company says there's more room inside.
It's also gone on a diet, weighing in at about 200 pounds less than before.
The new Escape's overall aesthetic definitely skews more toward Mazda CX5 than say Jeep Compass, or even Toyota Rav 4.
In fact, if someone told me that this is the lifted crossover version of the new Ford Focus that we were supposed to get before it got cancelled, well, I might have believed them.
The design is a little bit soft and car like for my tastes, but I'm guessing that Ford won't have any trouble at all finding hundreds of thousands of customers who will disagree with me.
The 2020 Escape is fully modern underneath, offering a pair of new eco boost gas engines and two hybrid trims.
The gas only headliner, is this two liter turbo four.
And it sounds like a little bit of a hotrod in what is usually a pretty tepid segment.
With 250 horsepower, and 275 pound feet of torque, Ford says it'll hit 60 in 7.4 seconds.
That's 10% quicker than before, and about a second quicker than most models in this class.
The more intriguing engine from a tech standpoint though is even smaller.
It's a 1.5 litre turbocharged three cylinder that offers 180 horsepower and 177 pound feet of torque.
The most interesting part is that it's capable of running on just two cylinders to save fuel.
FORD uses the same tech and its overseas only focus.
And it's the first time I'm aware that anyone's ever managed to do this with a car engine.
I can't wait to find out if they've managed to make it a smooth runner.
You may remember that the original Ford Escape became the world's first hybrid SUV in 2005.
So it's only fitting that the blue oval is doubling down on electrification in this new model.
Not only is this standard hybrid available, there's also going to be a new plug-in model too.
The latter will arrive next spring, using a 2.5 liter for, with 209 horses and 153 pound feet of torque.
Ford is targeting an electric only range of 30 plus miles, and a leg crossing total range of 550 miles.
There is no just new tech under the hood, Ford knows that today's escape has fallen a little bit behind the curve when it comes to cabin refinement and advanced infotainment and safety gear, so there's a ton of new tech both standard and Optional among the key features, a 12.3 inch all-digital gauge cluster and a head-up display are available.
On the safety front, Ford's Co-Pilot 360 ADAS suite is standard.
And adaptive cruise with lane centering is optional, as is new evasive steering assist and active park assist 2.0, which is a one-touch hands-off assist system.
On the infotainment side of things, there's a standard 4G LTE WiFi hotspot and an 8" touch screen with Sync 3 is optional as is B&O premium audio.
USBA, USBC, and wireless charging will all be along for the ride.
Most importantly, the new cabin just looks and feels nicer, and the sliding second row seats allow for the prioritizing of people or cargo, including pets.
You can even fit a full-size dog crate back there now.
In internal discussions, Ford marketers took to calling buyers of this vehicle as confident escapists.
While that term strikes me as an oxymoron like jumbo shrimp or maybe college try, I have to say, I'd be happy to escape with this thing out of the studio right now, because I'm really excited to see how it drives.
Unfortunately, like you, I've still got a little bit of a wait.
The 2020 Escape rolls out of Ford's Kentucky factory gates and into showrooms later this fall.


- 4K screen.
- Large-capacity 512GB solid-state drive (SSD) and 1TB hard drive.
- Intel Core i7 processor.
- Gaming-class discrete graphics.
- USB-C port.
- Mouse only wakes with button click.
- No HDMI-in port.
- Ports are inconveniently placed.
- Some bloatware.
If you're a multimedia professional or a visual-arts enthusiast whose computing needs can't be met by a 1080p HD screen, the Asus Zen AiO Pro Z240IC ($1,899 as tested) may be right up your alley. The Z240IC heralds the next wave of premium all-in-one desktops, with a bright 4K screen and the processing power to create stunning visuals. It also has a sturdy glass-and-metal construction that's easy on the eyes, with enough storage to keep multimedia programs and all of their files handy. If you really like the look and feel of the Apple iMac line, but want to stay firmly in the Windows camp, the AiO Pro is the premium all-in-one desktop to get, and it earns our Editors' Choice.
Design and Features
There's no doubt that the latest Apple iMac 21.5-inch with 4K Retina display and the Apple iMac 27-inch with 5K Retina display were squarely in Asus' crosshairs when the company designed the AiO Pro. Like the iMacs, the exterior is all metal and glass, with a similarly curved back panel that tapers to a sharp edge all around. Instead of light, matte silver, the AiO Pro's design consists of visible horizontal brush lines over a silver body. The slim system takes up very little space on your desk compared with a large desktop-replacement laptop or a minitower PC connected to a 24-inch monitor. A single tilting hinge connected to a metal arm supports the AiO Pro's display, and there is ample space underneath for storing the included wireless keyboard. Sounds familiar, right?
On the other hand, mimicking the iMac design so closely also means that the I/O ports are in located at the back, out of reach unless you turn the system completely around. Connectors include a Gigabit Ethernet port, a pair of HDMI-out ports for attaching multiple monitors, an SD card reader, a USB 2.0 port, four USB 3.0 ports, and a USB-C port. We prefer at least a couple of side-mounted ports, as on the Lenovo B50, because they are easier to access. Notably missing are HDMI-in ports, which would let you continue to use the 4K display after the PC's internals become obsolete. Unfortunately, you can't use the USB-C port as a DisplayPort input. The USB-C port is useful for charging laptops and connecting to newer hard drives, but those devices are still pretty rare.
At 3,840 by 2,160, the 23.8-inch touch screen has a 4K Ultra-High-Definition (UHD) resolution. That is equivalent to four 1080p HD windows, tiled in the four quadrants of the display; you can have two 1080p videos playing on top of one other while still showing a tall Web browser window occupying 1,920 by 2,160 pixels. We need to point out while both have screens that are considered 4K, the 21.5-inch Apple iMac has a higher (4,096-by-2,160) resolution, using the film industry's standard for 4K. The AiO Pro uses the UHD standard set by the HDTV industry.
The display has a 100-percent sRGB color gamut, which ensures accurate colors that will make your photos or videos look more vibrant. It's not quite as extensive as the DCI-P3 color space of the 21.5-inch Apple iMac, but it's certainly going to be more accurate than the screen on other all-in-one desktops like the Dell XPS 18 (1820). DCI-P3 comes the closest to matching the colors in the professional digital projector of your local movie theater, while 100-percent sRGB is more akin to the high-end 4K HDTVs and projectors found in a premium home theater system. In any case, the AiO Pro's screen is great for amateur and prosumer-level photographers and videographers alike. The system's six built-in speakers are loud enough to fill a midsize room, though there is a bit of fuzz in the low end at maximum volume levels.


text:
By Bradley Lane
Aquaman is a film with many flaws that somehow manages to stay enjoyable. Thanks mostly to the passionate direction of James Wan, what could have ended up as another messy and convoluted entry into DC’s film universe ends up as a relatively entertaining action flick. It is evident when watching Aquaman that Wan cares greatly for this character and the world in which he built for him to exist. What is most surprising about Aquaman, though, is just how silly it is. Previous films in the DC Universe have been criticized for being too dark and brooding. Wan takes that criticism seriously and delivers an over-the-top superhero flick full of colorful costumes, ridiculous characters and goofy dialogue.
Aquaman takes place after the events of the Justice League movie that came out last year, sort of. While it does acknowledge that the Justice League took place, it makes a clear attempt to distance itself from the rest of the DC Universe films. Throughout the movie we follow Arthur Curry, Aquaman, as he reluctantly attempts to take back the throne of Atlantis from his less heroic half-brother, Orm, to save the surface world from total annihilation. Orm seeks to go to war with the people of the surface over their reckless pollution of the Earth’s oceans. With help from the Atlantean princess Mera and his Atlantean mentor Vulko, Arthur must bring peace to Atlantis.
This movie’s presentation is the best part about it, by far. The saturated colors and over-the-top action are pure popcorn fun. Wan lets the action set pieces unfold mostly in camera so the fight choreography and visual effects artists shine through with every laser blast and trident whip. At times the CGI heavy look of the film can look slightly off or over reliant on its visual effects, but for the most part it looks great throughout.
However, Aquaman is abundant with shortcomings, the most egregious of which is its script. The dialogue in this movie feels so artificial and bland. Not only that but the narrative structure is pointless. Each story point exists almost solely to take our protagonists from location to location aimlessly. Additionally, the romance between the two leads of the film feels forced and totally unnecessary. It is a real shame because by trimming down the unnecessary elements and adding some character development for the supporting cast this could be a much better film.
Unlike the script, the performances in Aquaman are not terrible, but rather just forgettable. Everyone reads their cheesy lines with complete conviction, which does help to add to the comic book-like feel but stops just short of being entertaining. While they might not be the best performances, they certainly feel sincere, and I think that characterizes Aquaman perfectly. A film that tells its story, however goofy and silly, with the upmost sincerity that it is hard to not enjoy at least a little bit.
Aquaman is ultimately flawed but finds a way to remain fun and entertaining throughout.

domain: artistic


text:
At KaboogaBike we use bamboo to hand craft push bikes for children. Delivered as a DIY kit, the product combines creativity, education, fun and interaction. Apart from letting children enjoy a natural product we also aims at bringing more interaction between parents and their children while they build the bike together.
The main focus is on sustainability, natural materials and interaction.
Jan, the founder of KaboogaBike, has designed first bike as a gift for his son and realized that the layman product designer in him cries for more. Hence the start of the KaboogaBike enterprise.
Jan is also giving a “Make Your Own Bamboo Toy” workshop for children and parents.
Create, build, learn and make your own flag, wind chime or snake. You will shape up your manual skills, learn more about bamboo and have fun.
More info regarding the workshop:
– Suitable for children 2+ yrs accompanied by parents
– Cost €3 (material included, only pin)
– Duration 20 min approx.
– Workshop runs from 11am till 4pm

domain: design


text:
Olander Park System conservation team members, including Becky Kanitz, help put in the ground more than 3,000 native plants for Sylvan Prairie Park’s Smith Ditch project.
Three Olander Park employees dug into Smith Ditch’s muddy channel, placing sedges and other water-loving plants in the middle of the stream that runs through Sylvan Prairie Park.
“It’s going to be nice to see what this place looks like in 20 years,” Ian Anderson, part of the Olander Park System conservation team, said.
As part of the conservation team, Mr. Anderson, Maureen Bogdanski, and Becky Kanitz helped plant more than 3,000 native plants such as the burr sedges they were rooting on a recent morning at Sylvan Prairie Park, 8601 Brint Rd.
The beautification effort to seed the area, which began in May, is the last stage of the Smith Ditch restoration project. It is to be done by the end of June.
The project began with construction in October. Park officials expanded the width of the ditch from 6 feet to 30 feet. About 2,400 linear feet of Smith Ditch was restored as part of the plan to redesign the ditch’s stream to meander and form a natural path in the flood plain.
The banks around the channel are bare now, but the work of Olander Park and the numerous volunteers who helped to restore the natural habitat to its original splendor aims to eventually draw animals, as well as residents taking a break to admire its beauty.
“The expansion allows the stream to form its own channel; it increases the capacity for storm water,” said Erika Buri, conservation manager.
Letting the stream create its natural path and riffles makes a flood plain and allows the natural characteristics and ecological integrity of the stream to thrive, she explained.
Widening the ditch will reduce flooding upstream downstream, she said. It also will reduce the sediment load in the stream, which Ms. Buri said will decrease sediment that flows into the Ottawa River and ultimately, Lake Erie.
Part of a stream’s habitat is having aquatic plants and animals, along with trees, whose canopy provides shade and whose roots stabilize the stream’s banks.
The shade aids stream health by keeping it cool, and trees are a good food source for wildlife, Ms. Buri said.
This month, Timberstone Junior High seventh graders volunteered to plant 438 native trees, including musclewood, flowering dogwood, burr oak, red oak, buckeye, and elderberry along the stream’s path.
“We partnered with Olander because they are an organization that most of our students directly benefit from and we wanted to give back,” said Melissa Dubiel, a reading teacher, who helped organize the day.
The project cost $168,000. The Ohio EPA awarded Olander Park a grant of about $101,000 in 2011.
Olander Park covered the remaining $67,000 with $13,000 from its operating budget and $54,000 in kind from staff time, volunteer time, or donated time from the Lucas Soil and Water Conservation District, Ms. Buri said.


text:
A man has appeared in court in connection with a stabbing outside the Home Office last week.
Dominic Hornberger, 29, from Birmingham, was charged on Friday with grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of a knife in a public place.
He appeared in court on Saturday and will be in Southwark Crown Court on September 13.
On Thursday a government worker was slashed outside the Home Office.
The building was put on lock-down by police shortly after the attack at roughly 1pm.
It later emerged the victim works for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), which is based on the same street as the Home Office.
An image shared online showed a bloodied, topless man being helped by a police officer as well as someone from the ambulance service.
Police initially said the victim's injuries were life-threatening but later said they were not life-threatening nor life-changing.
London Ambulance Service said the man was taken to a major trauma centre.
Eyewitnesses described seeing the victim who was "full of blood" being helped out of the building.

domain: law


In the coming weeks, there’ll be podcasts on our website giving you a taste of the spectacular Disney Dreams®! show, allowing you to peek backstage and appreciate the expertise and know-how of the Business Solutions event teams and cast members.
Our 20th anniversary Webserie
Discover the webserie of our event...
Podcast n°1: Disney Dreams®!
Attendees will be amazed by the exciting new nighttime spectacular, Disney Dreams®!, a signature evening show that features dazzling lasers, stunning water sprays and incredible firework effects. With Sleeping Beauty Castle as its centerpiece, the 20-minute show takes guests on a soaring journey through classic Disney stories such as Beauty and the Beast, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Rapunzel and more.
Water, fire and lasers bring these classic stories to life in a creative new way, as a unique musical score transports guest to the heart of each tale. The show’s music was created exclusively by Emmy Award-winning composer, Joel McNeely, and recorded in London’s legendary Abbey Roads studios. All these elements make Disney Dreams®! an amazing experience guests won’t want to miss!
Disney Dreams®! offers numerous opportunities for private events. The show runs nightly and can serve as the grand finale for private dinners and other events taking place inside Disneyland® Park or elsewhere around Disneyland® Paris. As an added bonus, private viewing locations are available, making Disney Dreams®! an unforgettable backdrop for cocktail events and dessert parties. Show buy-outs are also available, enabling groups to customize the show with logos and other business messages.
Podcast n°2: The flashmob of our CastMembers
Disneyland® Paris' employees, internally called "CastMembers" did a great Flashmob Thursday, April 12, 2012, the date of the twentieth anniversary of the Disneyland® Park, in MainStreet in front of the castle .
Discover the "making of" the event organized by Business Solutions. From design to audiovisual equipment and technical, all teams were mobilized until the final dance.
Podcast n°3: A look behind the scenes at how the dining area was transformed
2,000 guests were invited to celebrate Disneyland® Paris’ 20th anniversary during the press event. Dinner was served at the Disney® Events Arena, an event venue located at the heart of the destination.
Check out our fast-forward video showing the set-up of this marquee from a blank canvas of 6,500 sq. meters (furniture, lighting, accessories, interior decor...) to a fantastic and elegant reception hall!
What our guests say...
"We had a fantastic time to say the least, much due to your fantastic hospitality and of course the legendary Disney experience. Clearly a lot of hard work went into staging the event at all levels, which I'm sure will prove it's worth in the coming months, during which time myself and my creative team will be doing our very best to convince our clients to concider using the Arena for their future events. As for the Dreams show, once again an awesome result and of course I have some thoughts of my own regarding the careful weaving in of a corporate brand here and there, which I hope to get the opportunity of sharing with you at some point."
Group Creative Director - DRP Group
Watch in video the testimonial of Yasmin Arrigo, Editor-in-chief of C&IT Magazine.


Coralville police shoot, injure man who pointed gun at them
Police in Coralville shot and injured a man who pointed a gun at officers during a standoff Thursday, Police Chief Shane Kron said.
Officers were called to a home Thursday afternoon to check on a possibly suicidal man.
For a little more than an hour, officers tried unsuccessfully to convince the man to accept help, Kron said in a news release.
The man eventually came out of a garage and pointed a rifle at officers. One officer fired two rounds, hitting the man, who was taken to an Iowa City hospital, Kron said. The man’s condition was not available Thursday afternoon.
No further information was released. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation will investigate the shooting.


text:
The most important stats pertaining to the Rossoneri’s matchday 33 in Serie A
Since the restart of Serie A, the Rossoneri have taken 14 points from six games and they have no intention of stopping this run of good form now. After the draw away to Napoli, coach Pioli’s team are now back at San Siro to take on Parma for matchday 33 of Serie A. Ahead of kick-off, at 19:30 CEST, here are a few facts and figures on this fixture.
1- AC Milan and Parma have played each other 51 times in Serie A: 27 wins for the home side, 13 draws and eleven defeats.
2- AC Milan are unbeaten in five games against Parma (4W, 1D) – the last time the Rossoneri lost to the Ducali was back in March 2014 (4-2 at San Siro).
MEETINGS AT SAN SIRO
3- AC Milan and Parma have met 25 times in the home of the Rossoneri, with a record of 16 wins for the home side, six draws and three awat victories.
4- AC Milan have scored in each of their last 18 home games against Parma: the last time the Rossoneri failed to score against the Ducali at home was in December 1996.
5- Since the restart, only Atalanta (19 moints in seven games) have managed to take more points than AC Milan (14 points; four wins and two draws).
6- AC Milan have scored in each of their last 14 league matches: only Atalanta (20) and Juventus (29) have put together a longer run.
FOCUS ON THE PLAYERS
7- Ante Rebić is the first AC Milan player to reach double figures for goals in the second half of a Serie a season since Carlos Bacca (ten in 2015/16), and could be come the first to bah more than ten goals since Mario Balotelli in 2012/13 (twelve).
8- Zlatan Ibrahimović has scored ten goals in eleven Serie A games against Parma. He hasn’t scored more against any other team in the competition.
9- Before Theo Hernández, the last AC Milan fullback to score at least six goals in a Serie A season was Aldo Maldera (eight) in 1978/79.
10- For Stefano Pioli’s first 22 Serie A games as a head coach, the current AC Milan boss was managing Parma; three wins, six draws and 13 defeats for his Gialloblù side.

domain: game


This year, Atlantic tripled its victory total from each of the past two seasons.
The Eagles were the most improved team in Palm Beach County.
Atlantic registered the worst two seasons in Verryl Floyd's five years as coach by going 3-7 in 1997 and again in 1998.
At the beginning of the 1999 season, the projected outlook for the Eagles was another losing season.
Instead they went 9-1 and were ranked sixth on the final state Class 6A poll.
Floyd said despite the grim predictions, he could see that a turnaround was about to happen.
He said: "We looked forward to the season with great anticipation. We had a good summer with a lot of players doing weight training and working hard to improve their skills. We could see things jelling."


text:
The Deliberation of Craft
Spring Summer Eighteen
I found myself thinking about the conversation I had earlier with my father. Whenever we met, he would tell me stories about life. One of his favorite topics concerned art. What it meant—and what it really was. He said that it is a question of doing things—anything—in an extraordinary way.
I remember the sound of his voice, talking about craftsmanship. How it is the traditional foundation of any art—a commitment to excellence—using quality material and applying imaginative design to produce something innovative. The essential value of art is simplicity, he would say.
A cultured and contemporary spirit, the artist’s handcrafted works are an expression of his style and taste. Great products are timeless because their value is universal, appreciated from generation to generation. It is that virtue which provides art with its power above and beyond reproach.
All artisans deliberate upon their craft, creating an essence of balance and beauty convincing to the smallest detail. Every man has a story to tell, and is called to give form to the work of his hands. Every man is called to be an artist.


GUWAHATI: A five-year old female elephant, rescued and brought up under human care, was found mingling with a wild herd at Manas national park. The elephant, rescued from Golaghat district when she was a calf, and raised at the Bokakhat-based Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC), a joint project of Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), was released in Manas last year as part of an WTI-IFAW and state forest department project on rehabilitating rescued jumbos in the park.
Bhaskar Choudhury, WTI veterinarian, said: "On February 21, we saw the female elephant mingling with a wild herd at Chandmari area under Bhuyanpara forest range in Manas. We recognized the elephant from the radio collar we had installed on its neck while releasing her in the wild last year. It is a great achievement for us as wild elephants usually reject those raised under human care."


I have a factory selecting problem. I don’t know why exactly, but I can only select five out seven factories (Car&engine) when I want to select factory for a new car model.The company owns three factories on a medium size gasmean plot, three factories on a large fruinian plot and one factory on a huge archanan plot.
I can only select two gasmean factories, to fruinian factories and the only archanan factory. The other factories are producing the models Atlas and Model 9 without being able to stop the production of these models…
It might have something to do with the Blitz car model in the file, which never entered production, because I got nil value errors from that car the moment it entered production in some earlier files, forcing me to reload an earlier file with the blitz in design status.
The file you probably want to inspect is too large to upload (6,31 MB), so I don’t know how you can receive it.
the savegame would indeed be helpful to get for looking into this! You can send it to email@example.com
just link this post of yours so that we can connect the dots.
I have sent the file to the mentioned e-mail adress.
Got another and probably the same factory selection problem with just one car and engine factory, this time it is probably related to a double engine family.
I made car model (Orion II) and engine family 37 in 1993 with VVL with +4 tech points in the top end block. The game somehow unselects VVL constantly, (already reported) even when you create a second engine for the engine family, which should lock the family design options. I discovered this a few moments before I wanted to start the project.
So, in order to avoid a possible bug later on, I made a second engine family (38) with nearly the same properties as the previous family, but without VVL and replaced the engines of all car trims with a family 38 engine. When I came to the engine factory screen, I got the message that I should give the engine factory a legal plot, despite the fact that I already assigned the car and engine factory from the first Orion model.
In order to adress the message, I selected a new engine plot to buy, but got the same message again. Then I deleted the whole engine family 37 and got the same message once more. Bought a second car factory plot, but that didn’t help either. When I created a new car model, the car and engine family producing the Orion model were not available to select, which means the factory will produce the same car and engine until the end of the game.
In the case you want to inspect the game file, I shall send it to the same e-mail adress, since this file is also too large to upload on the forum.
Yes, the VVL bug is a known issue. Unfortunately, at this point it is not feasible to fix any more bugs in the currently public version of Automation. Most things (apart from calculations) get a rewrite anyway, so any effort spent on fixing old problems will be time lost developing the next version, which is of the highest priority right now. I hope that makes sense (even if it sucks).


DIY SOS presenter Nick Knowles has brought out his debut album
Every Kind Of People.
The debut album
was introduced by a pair of hit singles, 'This Town,' which debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 a year ago and went on to peak at No.
Blossoms catapulted into the musical subconscious in January, and the band have earned rave comparisons with everyone from Arctic Monkeys to Depeche Mode and in August their debut album
hit the top spot in the UK.
WHEN Brooklyn native Jo-Vaughn Virginie Scott, better known as Joey Bada, launched his debut album
on the same date as his 20th birthday.
All of the tracks on her debut album
feature just voice and piano.
Released along with another rap album "Honest" by Future on Tuesday, the Australian rapper's debut album
is expected to move 50-55 thousand copies on the opening week and will most likely create a huge wave at US official album chart Billboard 200 within the week.
BIRMINGHAM band Peace have lined up their biggest tour to date to support debut album
In Love, kicking off at Nottingham's Rock City on Friday November 29 and winding up at Birmingham Academy on Friday, December 13.
However, despite a hectic schedule of gigs across the world, Amelia's longawaited debut album
, Be A Fighter, which was due for release on July 29, has again been delayed - although it seems rumours the album had been pulled altogether were premature.
First, the hazard function indicates that most sophomore albums are released 45 months after the debut album
and if a sophomore release does not occur within 80 months of the debut album
there will most likely be no sophomore release.
COCKNEY REBEL Sebastian Epic Steve Harley classic from the influential band's seminal 1973 debut album
The Human Menagerie.
The NEW DATE for #WHOYOUARE my debut album
has been brought forward to 28th FEBRUARY
SINGER Olly Murs has admitted that cheating girlfriends inspired the songs on his debut album
Morissette's worldwide debut album
, "Jagged Little Pill," is the best-selling debut album
by a female artist in the U.
SUSAN Boyle's debut album
is already the third biggest seller of the year.
I Dreamed A Dream sold more than 410,000 copies, the best first week's sale for a debut album
since records began.


text:
This article was published in the daily newspaper Cadillac News, of Wexford, Missaukee, Osceola and eastern Lake counties, on May 9, 2004.
Unidentified flying planet?
By Matt Whetstone, Staff Writer
CADILLAC - Donna Billett of Harrietta saw the backyard and field behind her house light up like she had never before - considering it was nearly midnight and it was pitch black outside.
"I was so shocked when I saw it out the bathroom window I just stood there in awe for five minutes," Billett said when the object appeared Sunday.
The moon was not responsible for the unexplained light, even though it shone brightly in the clear sky. Instead, Billett saw another bright object in the northwest sky.
Billett's son Allan McIlvain quickly came out of the house and recorded the object for about 30 minutes before it finally left their sight. He said it moved at a very fast pace.
The object bounced and weaved as McIlvain attempted to film it, zooming in and out. Neither had an explanation at the time.
"I thought it was lightning at first," Billett said. "It was like flipping on a light switch - the whole sky was bright."
McIlvain said he has a different explanation.
"I think it was a spaceship," he said.
Both believed the object to be pulsing, reflecting light toward the ground.
David Batch, professor at the Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University, said the object may have been the planet Venus.
"Venus is probably the most mistaken object for a UFO," Batch said. "It really attracts people's attention right now because it is so bright."
Batch said there is an old story that former president Jimmy Carter once reported Venus as a UFO in his younger days.
Like the object seen in Harrietta, Batch said Venus is capable of changing shapes and colors during the night and is capable of leaving the sight of viewers depending on weather conditions.
In a camera, Batch said it would tend to be overexposed making it appear to look different.
Batch did rule out the possibility of a comet sightings because it would be nearly impossible to get video footage as it would be too faint.
Note: the report is not precise enough to allow speculation on some certain explanation, and Vénus would vertainly not lit up your backyard or resemble lightning. But if you do not believe that Venus can be very strange when videotaped, check my investigation here.


text:
Book Review: Commercial Tenancy Law, 4th Edition
Publisher: LexisNexis Butterworths
Reviewer: Kirsty Gothard
As noted in the preface, Commercial Tenancy Law is a comprehensive analysis of the substance and application of the law of commercial leases. The book covers the relationship of landlord and tenant, lease formation, construction of leases and lease terms and breach. While focus is predominantly on the common law, the relevant retail shop leases legislation for each State is addressed separately in the final chapters.
As noted by the authors, the 4th edition has “grown out of its predecessor edition”. It follows the same format and has the same chapter and section headings which ought provide comfort for those already familiar with its contents.
It is evident from the first few pages that the text includes updated case and legislation references. Accordingly, Commercial Tenancy Law assists the reader to comprehend not only the historical development of the law but the modern iteration of it. For example, the discussion of leases created by estoppel contains an extraction from the judgment of Nettle J in Crowne Melbourne Ltd v Cosmopolitan Hotel (Vic) Pty Ltd (2016) 90 ALJR 770 at 810-811 discussing both promissory and proprietary estoppel to illustrate the modern articulation of the dichotomy that exists and the continuing complexity of its application.
While the 3rd edition canvassed the Trade Practices Act, the 4th edition has been updated to reference the Competition and Consumer Act and the Australian Consumer Law. In addition, where the common law was affected by a specific section of legislation that has since been repealed (for example Part V of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1958 (Vic)) the authors have noted that repeal in text. Helpfully, where a particular topic dictates a deeper understanding may be required, references to additional texts are provided to aid the reader (for example references to authoritative contract texts are included in the chapter headed Leases as Contracts).
Of specific interest to Queensland practitioners, as would be expected from Victorian authors, for the most part the discussion focusses on Victorian legislation. However, Commercial Tenancy Law has national relevance as the authors have, where there is corresponding provisions in the other States, included those provision as in-text references.
There is a separate chapter for the retail tenancy legislation in each State and chapter 25, which discusses the Retail Shop Leases Act 1984 (Qld), has been updated to incorporate, amongst other amendments, those effected by the Retail Shop Leases Amendment Act 2016 and recent case consideration of the terms of that Act.
Commercial Tenancy Law is an academic text that successfully provides an in-depth analysis of, as its title suggests, commercial tenancy law. It is not a text for “practical guidance” and does not purport to be one.
Given developments in the law since the 3rd edition which was published in 2009, the 4th edition of Commercial Tenancy Law is a worthwhile update to any law library and, as a text, will prove a useful weapon in the arsenal of any practitioner whose practice touches commercial leases.

domain: library


text:
Good Night, Bears: Learning About Hibernation
Good Night, Bears: Learning About Hibernation is aligned to the Common Core State Standards for English/Language Arts, addressing Literacy.RI.1.8 and Literacy.L.1.4. Big brown bears and their cubs go through all the steps to get ready for hibernation. Readers will love the up-close photographs and narrative nonfiction text. This book should be paired with “Why Do Animals Hibernate?" (9781448889952) from the InfoMax Common Core Readers Program to provide the alternative point of view on the same topic.


text:
Electrophysiology Study (EPS)
An electrophysiological study is a common test to examine the electrical activity of the heart.
What is it?
An electrophysiology study (EPS) analyses the electrical activity of the heart in patients who have problems with their heartbeat (arrhythmias). An EPS shows the reaction of the heart to electrical impulses. These signals help your cardiologist identify where the arrhythmia starts and what medications or other therapies may help control it.
What should I expect?
Electrophysiology studies are conducted in specialty laboratories that contain a range of high tech equipment used to monitor patients. A cardiologist will carefully guide catheters (thin tubes) to your heart, usually from a vein or artery in the leg, in order to check your heart’s response to electrical impulses.
- Allow one to four hours for this test
- ECG leads are attached to stick-on electrodes and placed on different parts of the body such as the chest, arms and legs
- A cardiac sonographer will attach small metal disks (ECG electrodes) to your chest to monitor your heart rhythm during the test
- A general anaesthetic may be given before the procedure, although most are performed under sedation and local anaesthetic
- A nurse may shave an area of your leg before the cardiologist makes small incisions in the skin to feed the catheters into veins or arteries in your leg, and then up to your heart
- Once the catheters are in place, the cardiologist will give your heart small electrical impulses to make it beat at different speeds, and record the response
- Once all the necessary information is obtained, the catheters will be removed and pressure applied at the incisions to stop any bleeding
How do I prepare?
- Do not eat or drink anything for six hours before your test
- If you have diabetes, talk to your cardiologist about food and insulin intake, as these can affect your blood sugar levels
- Ask whether your current medications should be stopped before the test, as some can cause significant complications
- Bring your list of all current medications with you to the procedure on the day
- Make sure you read the consent form and understand the risks involved, and clarify any concerns or queries about the procedure with your cardiologist before signing the form
What happens next?
After your procedure, you will be moved to a recovery room where you will be monitored while you rest for a few hours, or sometimes overnight depending on the time of your procedure, to allow the sedative to wear off.
Do not drive for 24 hours after your test
Be gentle with puncture sites for a day or so (absolutely no heavy lifting)
The doctor will usually have your results available at the end of the test and will advise you about any further treatments or changes needed to existing treatment
Meet our doctors
- General Cardiologists | Interventional Cardiologists | Cardiac Imaging Specialists | Heart Failure Specialists
We attract and retain some of the most experienced doctors in the country, who all have a passion for improving patient outcomes and specialise in the treatment of heart disease.
To give you the best care we can, we have the largest group of privately practicing cardiologists in Australia.

domain: medical


President Obama scored a convincing victory Tuesday night, winning at least 303 electoral votes, and perhaps as many as 332 once the Florida race is called. And while there were some tense moments Tuesday night when it seemed that GOP challenger Mitt Romney might not concede, he eventually bowed out quite gracefully, setting the stage for Obama to declare victory in Chicago. "Despite all the hardship we've been through, despite all the frustrations of Washington, I've never been more hopeful about our future," Obama said to a roaring crowd of liberals. Meanwhile, Romney delivered a short concession speech to supporters in Boston, in which he urged Americans to put aside "partisan bickering and political posturing." Watch both speeches below.
Obama's victory speech:
Romney's concession speech:
THE WEEK'S AUDIOPHILE PODCASTS: LISTEN SMARTER
- Why all drugs should be legal. (Yes, even heroin.)
- How to trim $500 from your monthly spending
- Comic-Con 2014: Everything we learned about Avengers 2, Batman v. Superman, and more
- 7 ideas from ancient thinkers that will improve your modern life
- Here's the schedule very successful people follow every day
- Face it, ladies: We can't all be beautiful
- The big, gaping hole in the liberal policy arsenal
- A gay Mormon's complicated journey
- What would a U.S.-Russia war look like?
- The weird obsession that's ruining the GOP
Subscribe to the Week


text:
MoMA Mixed Media Architect's Cubes
This collection includes eight cubes, each made of a different material, including maple wood, Bakelite, cork, granite, EVA, silicone, acrylic and aluminum. They can be combined to create a large cube or arranged individually as sculptural building blocks. MoMA logo screened on tray.
one color imprint on tray


Isensys - Real Time Sand Monitoring Specialists
We are Isensys, a Pulsar Process Measurement Ltd. brand, manufacturers of the SandAlert range of portable and fixed sand monitors, used throughout the global petrochemical industry to measure and monitor sand production in oil and gas pipelines. We have built our business on the guiding principle of 'quality of measurement'. SandAlert's technology is built on decades of acoustic engineering expertise. Pulsar Process Measurement, is a world leader in non-contacting ultrasonic level and flow measurement based in Malvern, in the United Kingdom.


Bachman-Turner Overdrive Returning for Tour, Live Album and Film
“I am thrilled. Beyond screaming out loud “YES-YES-YES” at the opportunity to carry on the BTO legacy,” Bachman wrote in a post to social media. “Watch out USA: the band that put Overdrive into rock and roll is back. More heavy music to come!”
Joining Bachman will be his son, Tal, along with a trio of touring musicians. BTO founding bassist and singer Fred Turner – who retired from touring in 2018 – will also contribute to the trek. Though a press release noted he is “on track to start helping Randy put it all together as soon as he can,” Turner’s own social media post sounded more vague.
“I am so glad to hear Randy is going forward with Bachman-Turner Overdrive,” Turner wrote. “I’m sure it will be a great venture and I hope Randy gets a great kick out of doing this with Tal and the band. The rest of us will be watching and wishing you every success.”
READ MORE: Top 10 Bachman-Turner Overdrive Songs
The initial BTO dates, which you can see below, are confined to the west coast. Former band member Blair Thornton will not participate in the trek, though he shared words of encouragement.
Bachman-Turner Overdrive Live Album and Film
The return of BTO will not be limited to touring. The band also announced two major releases for 2024: a concert film, shot in 1976, and a double live album from the same year, recorded at Tokyo's Budokan Arena.
It also seems likely that further announcements from the band are still to come. The group’s press release noted that more performances would be revealed, and added, “Randy, Fred, and Tal are already writing and recording new songs and planning tours around the world.”
The Canadian group, best known for such '70s hits as "Takin' Care of Business" and "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet," has not released a new album of original material since 1984's BTO.
Bachman-Turner Overdrive 'Back in Overdrive' Tour Dates
Set. 22 - West Springfield, Mass. @ The Big E
Oct. 19 - Saint Charles, Mo. @ The Family Arena
Oct. 20 - Waukegan, Ill. @ Genesee Theatre
Nov. 2 - Los Angeles, Calif. @ YouTube Theatre
Nov. 4 - Indio, Calif. @ Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
Nov. 5 - El Cajon, Calif. @ The Magnolia