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The beginnings of Gong can be traced back to several years before the band actually started to exist as such. Easter 1966, to be more specific. In the Gong mythology, this was the point when Daevid Allen had his ‘seed vision’, during which, legend has it, he foresaw his future career with both Soft Machine and Gong. This subject is largely covered by Allen himself in his recent autobiography, ‘Gong Dreaming’.
Following his forced departure from Soft Machine in 1967, Daevid Allen settled in Paris with his partner Gilli Smyth, and for the next couple of years worked with several different line-ups, the most stable of which was Bananamoon (whose recordings, unreleased at the time, were published by Legend Music in 1993). The name Gong was first used in 1969, by which time the group of musicians gathered around Allen included former free-jazz saxophone player Didier Malherbe (nicknamed ‘Bloomdido’ after the famous Charlie Parker composition), and session musicians Christian Tritsch (guitar/bass) and Rachid Houari (drums/percussion), previously in the backing band of variety star Claude François. Together, they recorded the first Gong album (although the initial pressing was apparently credited to Allen and Smyth alone), “Magick Brother/Mystick Sister”. The music was still very raw compared to the classic mid-70’s albums, but Allen ‘s typical style and sense of humour were already well at the fore.
1970 was again a year of mostly confidential activity. The tapes recorded during that period were only released in 1994 on the “Camembert Eclectique” CD. Gong was still not a stable, regularly gigging unit. This only became true after the arrival of Pip Pyle in early 1971. Pyle had been introduced to Allen by Robert Wyatt during the recording of Allen’s solo album, “Banana Moon”, and ended up playing on one track of that album. With the now settled line-up of Allen, Smyth, Malherbe, Tritsch and Pyle, the band retired to the Château d’Hérouville (near Pontoise) to record “Camembert Electrique”, which was only released in France (by Byg). This was the first classic album of Gong, with songs like “You Can’t Kill Me”, “Dynamite/I Am Your Animal” or “Fohat Digs Holes In Space” which have remained in the band’s setlists to this day.
In the autumn of 1971, Gong toured France and England extensively, reinforced by Kevin Ayers, Allen’s old pal from the Soft Machine days, who had his solo section in each concert (Robert Wyatt, having just left the Softs, also appeared at selected gigs). Again, following “Camembert Electrique”‘s confidential release, more than a year would pass before Gong made it back to the recording studios, so this period is not well-documented, with the exception of a couple of BBC sessions. By December 1971, Pyle had gone back to England and had been replaced by Laurie Allan, who by coincidence had already been his successor in Delivery the previous year!
Later in 1972, major changes affected Gong’s line-up. Christian Tritsch decided to concentrate on guitar; Bill MacCormick of Matching Mole was added briefly, then replaced by ex-Magma Frenchman Francis Moze following Giorgio Gomelsky’s suggestion. Meanwhile, Tim Blake was added on synthesizer, which brought a whole new dimension to the band’s sound. Following a jam in Fontaineblau with Kevin Ayers’ band, which then included Steve Hillage as lead guitarist, Didier Malherbe offered the latter to join, which he did in replacement of Tritsch. With this new line-up (reinforced by Rachid Houari on percussion), Gong recorded what was the be the first instalment of the ‘Radio Gnome Invisible’ trilogy for which Gong is most fondly remembered by its fans. “Flying Teapot” introduced the characters of the Planet Gong (Zero The Hero and The Yoni Witch, aliasses for Allen and Smyth, The Pot-Head Pixies and The Octave Doctors) as well as the various devices used by its inhabitants to travel and communicate (Radio Gnome Invisible, the Flying Teapots and the Crystal Machine) and, musically speaking, marked a transition to the fuller and more sophisticated sound of the next albums.
The sessions were almost immediately followed by a new split. Moze and Allan left, the first to do session work in Paris and the second to go back to England (where he briefly rejoined Steve Miller’s Delivery). A new rhythm section of Didier Thibault (formerly of Moving Gelatine Plates, a very good Soft Machine-influenced band) and Pierre Moerlen (straight out of the Strasbourg conservatory where he’d studied classical percussion extensively) was recruited. This was the time Allen and Smyth chose to temporarily leave the band, presumably to leave them rehearse on their own and feel comfortable together, which they eventually did thanks to a French tour under the name of ParaGong, in the spring of 1973. Meanwhile, Thibault was replaced by yet another British exile, Mike Howlett.
“Flying Teapot” was among the first batch of releases on the new Virgin label, with which Gong had just signed, and coincided with Allen and Smyth returning for a headlining UK tour. Work soon started on the second trilogy album, Angel’s Egg. A musically more mature and consistent work, Angel’s Egg was successful in mixing together all the innovative musical elements brought by both the new recruits and the old members, from Blake’s synthesizer bubbles to Moerlen’s tight and sophisticated drumming (with occasional use of tuned percussion), from Malherbe’s multicoloured sax and flute leads, displaying influences from both jazz and ethnic idioms, to Hillage’s wild cosmic guitar soloing, not forgetting Allen’s typical vocal delivery and superior glissando guitar layers, and Smyth’s evocative space whispers.
There were however problems of a more social nature within the band, which led to the first of several departures of Pierre Moerlen, still hesitant whether to carry on with Gong or resume his classical activities. From late 1973, he was replaced by a variety of temporary drummers including Laurie Allan, Rob Tait and Diane Stewart (Graham Bond’s wife, also a vocalist). By now, Gong was starting to enjoy a high level of popularity in France, and gigged constantly. Recordings of these later resurfaced as the “Live At The Bataclan” and “Live At Sheffield” CD’s, not to mention those used on the double live set, “Live Etc.” from 1977.
With Moerlen eventually back in the line-up, Gong recorded what is considered as one of the ultimate space-rock classics, You (spawning such live favourties as “Master Builder” and “Isle Of Everywhere”) which, although initially conceived as the third volume of the ‘Radio Gnome Trilogy’, took an unexpected instrumental dimension, with Allen’s vocals confined to a minority of tracks. At that point, there was a growing conflict between Daevid Allen and the instrumentalists, which would eventually lead to Allen’s departure the following spring, two dates into a major UK tour with Global Village Trucking Company. Meanwhile, Moerlen left again and was replaced in September 1974 by Laurie Allan, then Bill Bruford (jobless following the breakup of King Crimson) and eventually (in February 1975) Brian Davison, formerly of The Nice and Refugee.
With Gong developing to an instrumental band, not only Allen but also Smyth and Blake grew dissatisfied and left as well. Smyth was replaced by Miquette Giraudy, Hillage’s girlfriend. The position of keyboard player remained vacant for a while although Dave Stewart of Hatfield and the North (which broke up in June, 1975) helped out for a few gigs. The Virgin staff, meanwhile, was worried at the turn of events and demanded that a stable line-up and a new band concept be chosen. To this end, they asked Pierre Moerlen (who had signed with Virgin as a solo artist, for an album of percussion music) to rejoin and take over from Allen as the band’s leader with Didier Malherbe, which he did. Still, there was hesitation as to whether the new band should abandon the Allen-era material. At first, Hillage and Giraudy wanted to take over from Allen and Smyth, but their attempts proved unsuccessful and all references to the myths of stories of the Planet Gong were abandoned.
A new line-up of Gong resurfaced in the autumn of 1975, with Malherbe, Hillage, Moerlen, Howlett, and new recruits Mireille Bauer (percussion, Moerlen’s girlfriend at the time) and Patrice Lemoine (keyboards, an acquaintance of Moerlen’s from his Strasbourg days). The repertoire was mostly instrumental-based. By the year’s end, though, Hillage had lost faith in the band and, encouraged by the success of his first solo album “Fish Rising”, decided to leave and embark on a solo career. He nevertheless took part in the sessions for the new album in December 1975. Also featured on “Shamal” were Jorge Pinchevksy, an Argentinian violin player who was previously in Clearlight, the French opening band for the autumn tour, and Sandy Colley (Lemoine’s girlfriend), on vocals. Both were then added to the line-up, although Colley stayed only for a few gigs.
“Shamal” was a superb album, which was quite successful in forgeing a completely new musical direction for Gong. As a result of Allen and Blake leaving, it was predominantly instrumental (thankfully, considering the weakness of Mike Howlett’s vocals) and left behind the band’s previous ‘spacy’ leanings. Stylistically, it was a mixture of sophisticated rock (“Wingful Of Eyes”), complex progressive (“Chandra”, “Shamal”), ethnic/world experiments (“Bambooji” and “Cat In Clark’s Shoes”) and the percussion-based music (“Mandrake”) which later became Moerlen’s trademark. The band’s sound was more based on rhythm than ever (the Howlett-Moerlen pair was indeed very solid), and made more frequent use of keyboards (Lemoine’s style was close to jazz-rock, which made this line-up possibly the most ‘Canterbury’-sounding) and tuned percussion. Surprisingly, “Shamal” was an unexpected commercial success (well over 100,000 copies sold), which makes it probably the biggest-selling Gong album ever.
By mid-1976, Malherbe and Moerlen were the only members of the ‘classic’ line-up still in the band. Under their influence, Gong’s music became even more complex and jazz-oriented than previously, with new recruits like Allan Holdsworth, Francis Moze (already a member at the time of “Flying Teapot” – remember?), Mino Cinelu (a good friend of Moze’s whom the latter brought into the band, later a sideman for Miles Davis) and Benoît Moerlen all primarily jazz players. They recorded “Gazeuse!” (1977), a less consistent album than “Shamal”, relying more on the participants’ chops than melodies or contrasts. Surprisingly, Malherbe didn’t contribute to the writing, the compositions being shared among Moerlen, Holdsworth and Moze.
The line-up was shortlived, breaking up immediately after the sessions, in late 1976. Moerlen and Moze couldn’t get along together, which caused conflicts inside the band, leading to its breakup, with Moerlen ultimately going back to Strasbourg, forming a new line-up there with Mireille Bauer and his brother Benoît. At that point, we are already in the Pierre Moerlen’s Gong story, but during the period 1977-78, the band was still officially called Gong, or sometimes Gong-Expresso, referring to the title of the US release of “Gazeuse!”.
In the 80’s the Gong name was not used as such, although Pierre Moerlen’s Gong, Daevid Allen’s Planet Gong, New York Gong and Gongmaison, and Gilli Smyth’s Mother Gong were active at various times. Although a one-off reunion took place in 1990 as part of the Bedrock TV concert series (with Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth, Didier Malherbe, Pip Pyle, and Here & Now members Steffi Sharpstrings, Keith Missile and Twink Electron Flo appearing), it was during the sessions of Gongmaison’s second album that Gong was effectively reborn when Pip Pyle, the original drummer in the band (1971), was asked to overdub drum parts to the recordings made by Gongmaison, which at the time included Daevid Allen (guitar/vocals), Didier Malherbe (sax/flute), Graham Clark (violin/guitar), Keith Bailey (bass) and Shyamal Maitra (percussion). The result was the album “Shapeshifter” (released only in Europe at the time, should come out in the US in late 1996 in a slightly different version) in September 1992. This was followed by a tour, the setlist of which included some Gong classics from as far back as “Camembert Electrique”.
In October, 1994, Gong celebrated its 25th Birthday with an event of giant proportions, which not only saw most of the ‘classic’ line-up of the band (Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth, Didier Malherbe, Tim Blake, Mike Howlett, with Pip Pyle and Steffi Sharpstrings replacing Pierre Moerlen and Steve Hillage respectively) together playing the whole ‘Radio Gnome’ trilogy, but also countless Gong-related groups and artists performing one after the other on the same stage. This ‘festival’ was documented on the Voiceprint/GAS release, “The Birthday Concert” (1995).
It was thereafter decided that Mike Howlett would rejoin the band on a permanent basis, and subsequent tours (also involving Allen, Smyth, Malherbe, Pyle and Sharpstrings), saw them perform their ‘classic’ material. Notable was Gong’s first proper tour of the US, in March 1996, followed by yet another one to celebrate the American release of Shapeshifter. In November, Gong was back touring Europe. After a pause of a few months, a slightly altered line-up (with Pierre Moerlen returning to the fold), Gong hit the road again in August 1997 for a tour of Japan, North America and Britain. A French tour followed in May 1998.
With a view to releasing a new studio album in the year 2000, a new line-up of Gong hit the road in June 1999. Joining Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth, Mike Howlett and Pierre Moerlen were new recruits Mark Hewins (guitars) and Theo Travis (sax/flute). Moerlen quit only two dates into the European tour and was replaced by Chris Taylor, and Didier Malherbe rejoined for the subsequent American tour, including appearances at prog festivals in San Francisco and Mexico City. By the time Gong entered the studio in September 1999, it was decided that Malherbe would only join Gong for special occasions, and both Travis and Taylor were confirmed as new members. The band premiered material from the upcoming album at a couple of gigs in October, most notably an appearance at the Nancy Jazz Pulsations festival with Magma and Soup Songs.
“Zero To Infinity”, presented as the fifth installment of the ‘Radio Gnome Invisible’ saga, was released in March 2000, followed by the band’s most intensive touring schedule for many years. A new member, keyboardist Gwyo Zepix from the electronic trio Zorch, joined the group in time for a release party at London’s Subterranea Club (later released on DVD and forming the basis of the Live 2 Infinitea CD). This line-up toured throughout 2000 and 2001. Since then ‘Classic Gong’ has been inactive as Daevid Allen concentrates on University Of Errors and the latest incarnation of Gong is Acid Mothers Gong, involving Allen (and, occasionally, Gilli Smyth and Didier Malherbe) in conjunction with members of the Japanese band Acid Mothers Temple.
Magick Brother Mystick Sister (1970)
Continental Circus (1971)
Banana Moon (1971)
Camembert Electrique (1971)
Flying Teapot – Radio Gnome Invisible (1973)
Angel’s Egg (1973)
Expresso II (1978)
Time is the Key (1979)
Leave It Open (1981)
Brainville 3: Trial by Headline (2008)
Various Live Videos of Gong
Gong – Paris 1971, Part 1 of 2 Video
Wiki info can be found here –> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gong
Have a groovy day :)
Peace and Love,
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As consumers, we are often good at telling brands that they need to improve to be more inclusive and representative. Yet, an aspect of inclusivity that is often overlooked or forgotten about in the fashion industry is age diversity. Understandably, most brands are choosing to target millennials, who are technology savvy for e-commerce and have the potential to become long-term customers as they get older. However, the number of consumers aged 50+ (also known as grey consumers) are increasing and now make up 40% of the UK population. Research cited by Fashion United, found that spending on fashion by the older generation is due to increase by 11 billion pounds (60%) from 2019 to 2040. This shows that the grey consumer should be a key consumer for brands to target now and in the future. Targeting the grey market will only benefit brands, as they can resonate with this larger audience and in turn, increase their profitability.
According to data collected by Mintel, 5% of all ad spend is directed towards the over 50s demographic in the UK. The older generation in general, are not considered as fashion icons and as a result, we very rarely see older models in a brand’s marketing efforts or advertising campaigns. However, there are some luxury brands that are beginning to change this. For example, Kristin Scott Thomas, a famous 60 year old model and actress, featured in fashion brand Burberry’s 2018 Christmas campaign, along with Julie Walters, aged 70 and Elton John, aged 73. Jewellery brand Swarovski have also worked with a number of older models, including 70 year old model Maye Musk, who starred alongside model Karlie Kloss in one of their campaigns. Fast fashion brands and high street retailers, perhaps because they have a younger target demographic, have not been nearly as age inclusive as luxury brands.
Research shows the grey market holds 80% of all personal wealth and 70% of all disposable income in the UK. As such, they have money to spend on clothing and are considered as one of the more affluent demographics. Brands should make more effort to include older models and actresses in their marketing strategies, as this will show the brand is targeting and reaching out to the 50+ population.
It is clear that the grey market has huge untapped potential. There are multiple ways in which brands can become inclusive for the grey consumer. To get started, here’s a few simple measures brands could take –
1. Utilise email marketing to connect digitally with the consumer
Email marketing delivers the highest return on investment of any marketing method and is therefore, always a good tool to use. It is a particularly good method for connecting with the older consumer, as email is a medium they are familiar with and know how to use. The benefits of using email marketing, is that it is less expensive than other marketing methods and grey consumers can be segmented to receive different emails than other target demographics. This will help to personalise the content for each different age group based on their likes, needs etc.
2. Create tailored and personalised experiences for the customer
When I was carrying out focus groups for my dissertation, one key theme emerged from talking with consumers aged 50+. These consumers want personalised experiences. One suggestion that was made in the focus group, was that brands could create online shopping assistants to tell them what would suit them, and provide suggestions of a whole outfit, rather than a single garment. The same could be done for the instore experience.
Brands could also make stores more friendly for the older generation, by having seats in stores and trying to keep the store all one-level. Brands should also be unique. These consumers are generally retired and have the time to go shopping. As such, brands should make stores an experience so that consumers want to go into their stores. Sportswear brand Sweaty Betty is a good example of this as in addition to selling their clothes, they provide consumers the opportunity to eat, get their hair done and take a fitness class.
3. Improve the brands’ website so that it is easy to use
The older generation is less technology savvy so having a complicated website will only result in the loss of a customer. Is the website easy to read? Is the website easy to navigate? These are questions that should be considered. Research has found that older consumers often don’t shop online due to the hassle of returns. As such, it is important brands look at their returns process and whether it can be improved. Brands would benefit from offering a service where the customer can get someone to pick up their return and do the process for them.
4. Advertise Quality over Quantity
Unlike millennials, the grey consumer does not necessarily follow fashion trends, as they want products that will last longer than the fashion season. As such, older consumers will need to receive different marketing messages that focus on the quality of the product. For example, the brand can go into detail about how the product was made (showing close ups of the product), who made it and how it will be a classic and timeless piece in a consumer’s wardrobe. Euromonitor International found that within the grey market, 57% of customers regularly buy from the same brand. By targeting the older generation correctly, and utilising existing brand recognition, there is opportunity for consumers to become loyal to the brand.
I want to know your thoughts! What steps would you add in helping to create a more age diverse industry? Let me know in the comments!
*Photos sourced from Google Images and Dior instagram


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There was always something about Boston. It wasn’t just that Emilie was born there. Generations of her family had felt its inspiration. This was where her grandfather started anew after a Portland fire and founded the Boston Herald. It was where her father forged one career in publishing and another in amateur drama, where Emilie and her siblings acted on stage for friends and family. Marriage and motherhood took her to Wellesley Hills, but as her career took off, Emilie Loring returned to Boston.
The adage that success breeds success is especially true with books. When The Solitary Horseman came out in March, 1927, The Trail of Conflict, Here Comes the Sun! and A Certain Crossroad were in multiple printings, and publicity came easily. The book was reviewed in both the Boston Herald and Boston Transcript, and John Clair Minot interviewed Emilie on his radio program, “Monday Evening Book Talk.” Soon, it was a best-seller.
The Solitary Horseman begins with a widowed mother whose son David is killed by a drunken driver, Anthony Hamilton. To make amends, “Tony” pledges himself to the family for ten years–to work as David would have worked, to make the family orchards a success.
“Tony, always you remind me of my first hero, the solitary horseman in The Talisman….You never turn your back on difficulties. You face things.”
The Grahame’s home, “White Pillars,” and the town’s orchards are reminiscent Victor Loring’s childhood home and his hometown of Marlborough, Massachusetts.
When the story opens, Tony’s pledge to the Grahames has been fulfilled, the daughter of the house, Rose, is fresh out of college, and Tony is bound in a pretend engagement to the petulant Daphne Tennant. But then, the Hamiltons come to town, “Nap” Long gets in his deviltry, and nothing goes as expected…
Was that lovely girl the child he had seen grow up?… She was a woman, young, radiant, shyly conscious of her charm. Her eyes flashed with mischief as they met his.
Broken rails! The forward wheels of the car hung over the edge of the bridge. The headlights illumined the glittering gulch below… My God, if he touches this car we’re done for.
Emilie’s characters are capable and confident, and Rose Grahame not the least of them. She runs for the town council, even though she suspects that Tony is opposed.
“Most of us women have to consider the dollar. We are trained to that much more than are men. There is criticism of the few women who are filling political offices in the country. Is there any reason why the woman whom we propose couldn’t make good? Let’s elect her and see that she does make good.”
And Emilie, who had just turned sixty when she wrote the book, countered expectations about the passing years.
Her eyes were brilliant with laughter. Her zest for life, her glowing charm made one realize that youth was not the greatest of woman’s attractions, Rose thought for the first time in her young life. No wonder that Nicholas Cort loved her. She regarded her mother with puzzled eyes as she queried: “Do you care about being attractive?”
“Care! Of course I care. Do you think that I don’t care for lovely frocks? That I don’t care when a man’s eyes flash into interest when he looks at me? When I cease to care the real me will be gone though this body of mine lives on.”
Emilie wrote a stage version of The Solitary Horseman, “A Romantic Comedy in Three Acts.” The play had a dog in it, at first, but Emilie had to take him out, because he proved too hard to control on stage. Dogs did as they were told in novels.
I love her stage setting:
“Time: Just before the guns shook Europe. While we still dressed for dinner.”
“While we still dressed for dinner.” It’s so reminiscent of an older, more graceful time, a time of prescribed social relations and the niceties that went along with them. I know there’s much to be said for casting off artifice and “being yourself,” but sometimes I yearn for the elegance and courtesies of Emilie’s day and her novels.
The Solitary Horseman was one of Emilie’s favorites, “because it is a mother and sons story. I have two sons.” It certainly has something special going for it. The book was a best-seller when it first came out and again in 1968 when it was released in paperback. I suspect that women of any era are attracted to stories in which a woman is strong, capable, charming, and loved.
Next on our reading list: Gay Courage
4 thoughts on “The Solitary Horseman”
Come to think of it, the books in the library were hardback. Mine are all paperback.
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Our small town library had all of Emilie Loring’s books that were in paperback in the early 60’s. I brought one home that my dad picked up & read & didn’t approve of–Swift Water, I think. Anyway, it had a hypocritical, sanctimonious church elder in it & my dad, as a minister, thought she was making fun of church people. He forbade me to read any more of her books. I waited a few weeks (months?) and brought home “The Solitary Horseman” having already read it. I left it lying around and my dad read it–he has never been able to resist a book–and told me I could read Emilie Loring again.
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What an interesting history! As you discovered, “Swift Water” was an outlier, a book in which Emilie turned a lot of expectations on their heads. I’m glad you persevered, and kudos to your dad for opening his mind to a reevaluation. Did you collect and read them all after that?

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Mr Ken Lai, 49, and their China-born spouse Xu Xueling, 26. They’ve been together for 5 years, and their relationship continues to be going strong it a point to always communicate and talk things out, said Mr Lai as they make. ST PICTURE: NG SOR LUAN
Among reasons cited: Govt measures and much more understanding of challenges such unions bring
He stated he had been a fool for love.
Andy ( perhaps maybe not their real name) felt that their previous spouse, a Chinese nationwide 5 years his senior, married him simply to develop into a Singapore permanent resident (PR).
A engineer that is 31-year-old he came across her through buddies. She, a trained instructor, ended up being sweet and loving throughout their year-long courtship.
But things changed the moment they registered their wedding couple of years ago. She failed to appear because of their wedding party that evening, saying she needed to rush back once again to China as there was clearly a major accident in the home.
She gave excuses not to consummate the marriage and would often not be home for days on end when she returned two months later.
Wide range of Singaporean men who wed a non-resident bride this past year, the cheapest quantity in past times ten years
Just how much reduced the 4,828 marriages are weighed against the most of 5,611 in 2005
Portion of unions between Singaporean grooms and non-resident brides away from all marriages year that is last
Portion of these marriages ten years early in the day in 2005
As he was “fat and smelly” after she became a Singapore PR, she told Andy that she would not sleep with him.
Now, he’s had enough.
He told The Sunday days: “When I made a decision to divorce her, she said that for alimony. if I’m able to make an application for citizenship on her, she will never ask me personally”
Such horror stories of international brides with obvious motives that are ulterior making some males think hard before leaping into matrimony having a foreigner they scarcely understand, stated wedding solemnisers and counsellors.
A year ago, 4,828 Singaporean males wed a non-resident bride – the number that is lowest of these pairings within the previous decade. It really is 14 per cent less than the top of 5,611 in 2005. These marriages comprised 17 percent of most marriages a year ago, down from 24 percent in 2005.
A year ago, over nine in 10 of those brides that are non-citizen from Asia.
Those interviewed stated a lot of the brides come from developing nations in the area such as for instance Asia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.
These ladies, frequently within their 20s and 30s, in many cases are introduced to their Singapore husbands – whom are usually older, more blue-collar and might have experienced trouble love that is finding house – through buddies or matchmaking agencies. Other people came across whenever one partner worked abroad or in Singapore.
However the trend for such unions started initially to wane year that is last. Those interviewed offer varying reasons.
Another factor is the measures taken by the Government besides the less-than-idyllic experiences of some couples. Couple of years ago, it introduced wedding planning classes for the people entering marriages that are transnational.
Matchmakers performing the blues as Vietnam brides come out of favor
Wedding counsellors stated that though few in quantity, they usually have seen partners who failed to just do it along with their wedding after going to the classes.
Ms Eileen Su, mind associated with the Care Corner Family Journey programme that can help couples that are transnational stated: “some individuals realised they ought to perhaps maybe maybe not leap into marriage and expect you’ll live happily ever after.”
Just last year, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) additionally introduced the pre-marriage long-lasting check out pass evaluation .
Through this, partners have better image of their lovers’ backgrounds, such as for example information on their histories that are marital incomes and wellness documents that they need certainly to declare.
In addition provides them with a significantly better concept, even ahead of the wedding, as to whether or not the international partner can be eligible for a permanent residency and sometimes even a long-lasting check out pass in Singapore.
This “reality check” has placed some wedding plans in the straight back burner, those interviewed stated.
Added Mr Francis Toh, boss of First Overseas mailorderbrides.us/ukrainian-brides/ Global Matchmaker: “Information of some Vietnamese spouses running away soon after wedding additionally will not help.”
The ICA crackdown on sham marriages in past times several years may also have deterred some foreigners from stepping into marriages of convenience, where they spend A singaporean guy to marry them in order to remain here, stated unlawful attorney Jennifer Lim, whom volunteers as a married relationship solemniser.
In past times 36 months, a lot more than 500 men and women have been convicted for stepping into a sham wedding.
Despite all that, counsellors explain, a lot of men are nevertheless joyfully hitched for their international brides.
Simply just just Take, for instance, Singaporean Ken Lai, 49, whom wed Chinese national Xu Xueling, 26, 2 yrs ago. The few came across whenever Ms Xu ended up being working here being a product sales promoter. They dated for around three years.
Mr Lai, an Uber motorist, said they get on well and work out it a true point to take times, although obtaining PR status for their spouse, a work license owner, continues to be a stress. Her very first application had been rejected.
“My spouse continues to be young, and so I give directly into her a lot. When she does something amiss, i shall explain to her the thing I have always been unhappy about aswell,” he stated.
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Teaching CAD / GISManifold GIS
Stuck at work
Well, that's life ...
For now, nailed in the elaboration of a manual of implementation of geographic information systems for municipal cadastre using GIS manifold.
I barely have two weeks to do it, so I hope that I can upload the most important.
Thank you for your understanding and loyalty, for now I recommend Geomaticblog, Which has a couple of new issues.
uis in summer we are with little things little, but we are going to come

domain: geography


President of the Conservative Party Ken Lukyamuzi says that the legal and parliamentary affairs committee should take the views on the age limit removal from the opposition seriously.
Lukyamuzi says that the leaders from the Democratic Party that s Norbert Mao, Fred Mukasa Mbidde and representatives from JEEMA appeared before the committee against the wishes of their members.
He says party members warned them against appearing before the committee because of their strong resistance against amending article 102(b) on the age limits of 35 to 75 years for presidential candidates.
Meanwhile, Mao says that although he himself had said initially that he would not appear before the committee, he changed his mind with the aim of convincing the committee to oppose the bill.
Mbidde says that there is a possibility to challenge the legality of the bill because of the violence meted on MPs on the day the motion to introduce it was moved.
He says the bill should have been subjected to people power because the quality of elections is still wanting in Uganda.
He says that the article can be subjected to a referendum and the Bukholi county North MP Gaster Mugoya says the provision can rendered as one that can be entrenched
The committee meeting that was presided over by the vice chairperson Robinah Rwakoojo commedned the leaders for not shunning their invitation, which they agreed was a sign of tolerance and civility in multiparty politics.


Synopses & Reviews
The "Evergreen State" is naturally blessed with evergreens but many other important trees as well. Washington State Trees and Wildflowers highlights over 140 familiar species with intricate detailed illustrations. This lightweight pocket-sized, folding guide identifies familiar trees, shrubs and wildflowers. Created and printed in the USA, this guide was updated in 2012 with a new cover design and a back panel map featuring prominent state-wide botanical sanctuaries that seasonal visitors to the state and year round residents will appreciate the map featuring prominent state-wide botanical sanctuaries. Laminated for durability, it is your perfect travel companion as you admire Washington's beauty.
Washington Trees & Wildflowers, An Introduction to Familiar Species, is a must-have, reference guide for beginners and experts alike. Whether you're on a nature hike or taking a stroll in your neighborhood, you'll want to take along a copy of this indispensable guide. The Pocket Naturalist(tm) series is an introduction to common plants and animals and natural phenomena. Each pocket-sized, folding guide highlights up to 150 species and most feature a map identifying prominent sanctuaries and outstanding natural attractions. Each is laminated for durability. (3 1/2 X 8 1/4 folded, opens to 22 X 8 1/4, color illustrations, map)
Washington State Trees and Wildflowers is a pocket-sized, folding nature guide highlighting the most commonly seen trees and wildflowers in Washington. Laminated for durability, these handy guides are a great source of portable information on the trail or in your backyard. Distinctive color illustrations help to easily identify commonly found trees and wildflowers
Compact and comprehensive, this guide explores more than 140 species of trees, shrubs, and wildflowers found in Washington and includes a map featuring prominent, state-wide botanical sanctuaries. This durable reference is a great source of portable information and ideal for field use by novices and experts alike.
The "Evergreen State" is not only naturally blessed with evergreens but also thousands of other trees, shrubs and wildflowers. This beautifully illustrated guide highlights over 140 familiar and unique species of trees, shrubs and wildflowers and also includes an ecoregion map featuring prominent botanical sanctuaries. Laminated for durability, this lightweight, pocket-sized folding guide is an excellent source of portable information and ideal for field use by visitors and residents alike. Made in the USA.
About the Author
Zoologist James Kavanagh has researched and written more than 450 publications pertaining to wildlife observation and outdoor recreation. His unique talent is in taking complex information and synthesizing the salient points to make knowledge about nature and the outdoors more accessible to novices, and to present quick, portable reference information for more experienced wildlife and outdoor enthusiasts. His books have sold more than 5 million copies worldwide.


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Posted on Friday 17th of July 2020 02:12:02 PM
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A lot of people are worried that the only place to find sex is online, but this is not the case. You can find an escort service in France, for example, that will provide you with a massage, a dinner and some other things if you want. They usually are more expensive than the places in the UK and the US. In fact, in most of the places you go to in Europe, the prices are a bit higher than here in the USA. There are also some sites where you can meet girls in your neighborhood, and also pay for sex with them. These are the ones I found, and I paid the girl who took me to Paris, where I met my first escorts. If you are interested in prostitution, I recommend that you talk to someone who works in the sex industry. This is what my friend from work did. He has been in this edmonton muslim business for 10 years. I did not want to ask the question, "How can you make this money?" I knew from my own experience that if I tried to make this money, it would probably take me a while, and that the more time that goes by, the less money I could make. So I just talked to him, he explained to me how he had the same experience. It takes about 12 months to break in, it takes about a year to get into the industry, and it takes about 2 years to make more money in this business. So to get in the industry, you have to work a lot. If you don't like what you do, you just quit. This is what he said: "The first year, I worked a lot. Then I started working less, and less, and less. Then I moved to a different city, where the people I met here were more accepting. Then, I found out that they had better things to do with their time.


Africa-Press – South-Africa. A seven-year-old boy returning from school was shocked when he was greeted by police carrying R5 rifles standing outside his home in Betty Street, the Johannesburg CBD.
On Wednesday, Environment and Infrastructure Service MMC Jack Sekwaila led City Power’s revenue protection unit to disconnect electricity at three hijacked buildings in Jeppestown.
He was accompanied by Public Safety MMC Mgcini Tshwaku.
According to City Power, the three hijacked buildings owed a cumulative R10.9 million.
Last week, City officials had to abandon the operation because of a volatile reception.
However, on Wednesday, its employees came prepared under the watchful eye of law enforcement contingents.
Betty Street in the Johannesburg CBD was clogged with police and metro police who were armed with R5 and R3 rifles as well as private security guards armed with AK-47s.
Several pupils still dressed in their school uniforms stood outside and watched City Power’s electricians disconnect electricity in their building.
A resident said it was sad because they paid rent and electricity to their landlords monthly.
“We pay between R2 500 and R3 500 depending on the number of rooms one rents.
“The landlords pocket this money for their own benefit without thinking about tenants. Look at the children who have just returned from school – there is no electricity to warm up their food,” she said.
Sekwaila said the target was to cut electricity to all eight hijacked buildings that owed the City a cumulative R14 million.
Sekwaila said some other buildings had reconnected their electricity after they were cut off last week.
“We will no longer do level one, which is to trip the switch on the basement.
“We will now go for level three, which means we will remove all the cables from the outside.
“Once we have done that, one needs to come to our revenue office and pay a reconnection fee of R65 000,” he added.
“We know our people are paying rent, but landlords have hijacked these buildings and have decided not to pay for electricity.”
Meanwhile, Tshwaku said they knew there were lawyers who illegally owned the buildings.
“They have managed to change the title deed of these buildings, but we are on their heels.


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NEW YORK (AP) - Students at a New York City public school working out to a Beyonce song got a big surprise when the superstar walked in and joined them.
About 85 students at P.S. 161 in Harlem were in the middle of a choreographed routine Tuesday to a song adapted from Beyonce’s hit “Get Me Bodied” when the singer arrived.
The children were participating in a national simulcast of “Let’s Move Flash Workout.” It’s part of first lady Michelle Obama’s fitness campaign.
The singer joined in wearing stiletto heels and a T-shirt emblazoned with “Let’s Move.”
Thirteen-year-old Aisha Collier gushed “she’s so beautiful.” She told the New York Post she messed up a little when Beyonce first arrived but then got back into it and continued to dance and have fun.
Information from: New York Post, https://www.nypost.com
Copyright © 2021 The Washington Times, LLC.

domain: artistic


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Afghan Refugees in the International Center of Bowling Green receive helping hand from donations
BOWLING GREEN Ky.-To lend a helping hand to the refugees now calling Bowling Green home, boxes of much needed goods have been donated to The International Center of Kentucky.
Justserve.org is a website provided as a service by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day saints, and the relief Society Women’s Organization. They delivered trunk loads of items to support the Afghan refugees.
These range from kitchen items and roughly 200 hygiene kits containing items like deodorant, toothpaste, and much more. Earlier Monday morning, even more of these items were dropped off.
Those with justserve and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints say it’s uplifting to be able to serve their new neighbors in this regard.
“Our whole purpose is to build unity through community service, so this was a great opportunity for us,” said Glenda Beck with Justserve.
“We were able to put this together and we’re happy to provide this for the immigrants coming into bowling green to get a fresh start at a new life. We’re happy to help them out and welcome them in any way we can,” said Bishop Craig Clifford.
The International Center of Kentucky executive director Albert Mbanfu says donations like these leave a huge impact in the lives of these refugees.
“It will make a difference in the lives of those who are fleeing harm to home in Bowling Green. We just want to thank them very much for this donation. Justserve has just made a wonderful difference in the lives of the Afghan refugees that are arriving in Bowling Green,” Mbanfu said.
To learn more about Justserve, follow this link.

domain: sociology


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2008 Financial Markets Preview: Looking for an oasis
The first quarter is usually a time of plenty for biotech, but this year market watchers are worried that 1Q08 - and indeed the entire first half - may be lackluster when it comes to financing and market performance.
Indeed, even though biotech had another record financing year in 2007, the funding slowed at the end amid concerns about the state of the U.S. economy. As a result, 4Q07 was the sixth worst fourth quarter for financings since 2000, and market watchers expect the year to begin on the same note.
Meanwhile, in 2H07, risk averse investors pushed down valuations of many biotech companies, particularly those that are not turning a profit. Now, despite apparently cheap stocks, even biotech specialists aren't busy bargain hunting, saying a floor under prices isn't apparent and thus the definition of "cheap" is being redefined.
Drivers for a big upswing also aren't apparent. The lack of a hot trend story means biotech is disadvantaged in the competition for generalist growth funds.
Indeed, now is definitely not the time to expect significant generalist investor interest, as many of their riskier bets are being placed in cleantech, high tech and emerging markets. These growth sectors have advantages over biotech when it comes to targeting generalists, including business models that are easier to analyze.
The broader reallocation of institutional funds away from U.S. stocks and even out of equities is another secular force.
The best hope in the current environment seems to be in the cluster of biotechs that can be seen as defensive plays. With little exposure to the credit crisis, consistent earnings growth and immunity to decreased consumer spending, a few profitable biotechs could benefit as non-cyclical growth vehicles.
The one clear oasis is M&A and partnerships. Although takeouts were smaller and less diverse than some buysiders had hoped for last year, partnering and M&A deal flow was strong and is expected to pick up in 2008.
The $60 billion raised by global biotech over the past two years - including $47.7 billion by public names - means many companies still have resources to carry forward. But managers will need to become more sophisticated about cash-raising strategies.
Competing for growth
Biotech buysiders and bankers agree it's tough to compete for speculative capital against the growth sectors currently in vogue. They also think generalists see biotech as increasingly difficult to comprehend, and as a sector where they have had difficulty garnering consistent returns.
"Non-biotech specialists get burned and burned in this sector," argued Sven Borho of OrbiMed Advisors. "It makes it difficult

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Stats for Photokirk1
United Kingdom, England, Wiltshire
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2 Aug 2008
25 Jan 2016
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I am serious amateur photographer,Who photographs mainly for a hobby I tend to plan photographic sessions which could be indoors or outdoors with another photographer,The locations are in and around Warminster, The type of photographs I like taking are Clothed Glamour/Costume. At the moment I like the photographs to have a spooky feel to them and also I want to experiment with fake snow and ice.
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We all have very strong opinions about the Real Housewives – that is the understatement of the year, says Reality Tea's comment moderator, I'm sure – and we all have favorites and not so favorites! Personally, I love when nobody takes the shows too seriously, and we all have fun discussing the housewives latest fashion disasters, relationship drama, and friendship explosions.
Andy Cohen, the man responsible for bringing us the best of the best and the worst of the worst, knows the housewives better than anyone. So, when he hosted the CLIO Image Awards for excellence in fashion and beauty last week, Allure Magazine asked Andy to name the "BEST HOUSEWIFE" in several categories. Who's the best dressed? Who's Andy's ideal dinner partner? Who has the best hair and the best booty? A few of the names shocked me!
CLICK CONTINUE READING FOR MORE!
There are two things the ladies of Real Housewives of New Jersey love: an opulent party and the inside of a courtroom! Lucky for Teresa Giudice – she gets to experience both. And she's not the only one! With bankruptcies (and rumors of them) galore, the ladies make no effort to stifle their spending.
With news of Teresa and Joe Giudice being indicted for money fraud this week we thought we’d explore the fabulicious (and fabulously over-the-top) events of the RHONJ.
CLICK CONTINUE READING FOR OUR FAVORITE RHONJ AFFAIRS!
American Idol is suffering from low-ratings, not sure if you've heard. Apparently the heyday of Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul bickering can never be recaptured! With Randy Jackson officially announcing his retirement from the show it's time to get some new blood to hold the Coca-Cola gauntlets!
Below are our picks for the best reality stars to step up to the plate!
CLICK CONTINUE READING FOR OUR PICKS!
I know it's hard to imagine but there are actually some well-dressed reality TV stars out there! I mean there are far more bad than good, but we want to celebrate the diamonds in the rough here!
Below is our list of 2012 Best Dressed – and uhh… sorry, Rachel Zoe didn't make the cut. Eeks.
[Photo Credit: Judy Eddy/WENN.com]
CONTINUE READING FOR THE BEST DRESSED REALITY STARS!
TELL US – WHO DO YOU THINK ARE THE BEST DRESSED REALITY STARS?
Reality TV is known for its sensational fashion – and I don't mean sensational in a good way! I mean like, 'dressing in the dark, I bought this on clearance at Forever 21, and oops my boobs fell out' fashions.
Below are some of my least favorite red carpet fashion moments. You have been warned – these are searing, unflattering, and really, really gobsmackingly ugly.
CLICK CONTINUE READING FOR THE WORST RED CARPET LOOKS!
TELL US – WHAT REALITY STARS MAKE YOUR WORST DRESSED LIST?
It seems like only yesterday that that the newly revamped Real Housewives of New York started. And now tonight is the season finale. Reflecting back on the season, I have to admit – I've really enjoyed it. Perhaps I am cross-referencing it to Jersey, but overall I like the new ladies and well, it's been nice to see less vitriol and more class. Well, at least a little teeny, wee bit more class.
In honor of tonight's final episode here's a list of the most memorable moments from this season!
CLICK CONTINUE READING FOR OUR MEMORABLE MOMENTS!
Aaaahhh…villains. Like in all things storytelling, no good tale works without a villain and a hero. And of course it's the villain who causes all the drama and gives the show its luster. Reality TV is the perfect place for a crazy, scheming, venomous nut job to crop up back stab, lie, and start trouble.
While the heroes get all the fans, the villains make the show. So here's to you, Reality TV villains. And without further ado, here is Reality Tea's list of Top 11 Reality TV Villains! There's just so many good ones.
CLICK CONTINUE READING FOR THE LIST!
Oh reality television stars… you never cease to amaze me. One of the greatest things about reality TV is scathing, over the top, out of control ridiculous cat fights, arguments, and behind the back insults. It’s what differentiates reality from reality TV. See, I would never call someone a “dumb drag queen” … but in the wilds of reality TV, anything goes!
Reality Tea has compiled a list of some of our favorite reality TV insults. Below is some delightful footage of our hardworking stars doing what they do best – acting nutty and getting paid to do so! Let the memories come flooding back.
CONTINUE READING FOR OUR TOP REALITY TV INSULTS!


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Published 5:30 am, Friday, October 26, 2001
Owners raise $8.9 million to keep Oilers going-- Members of the Edmonton Oilers ownership have come up with almost $8.9 million to keep the struggling NHL franchise afloat. Cal Nichols , Oilers governor and board chairman, said most investors agreed to contribute more cash in the interest of keeping the club in Edmonton. Under the terms of the cash call, participating investors will have to write checks for half the amount they pledged by Dec. 1 with the balance due Dec. 10, 2002.
Canadiens' Odjick to miss game-- Montreal forward Gino Odjick , who missed two days of practice this week with a sore back, will not play tonight against Buffalo. Canadiens goalie Jeff Hackett
Spencer, Compton take Phoenix polls-- Jimmy Spencer , the Winston Cup regular seeking his fourth Busch Series victory of the year, took the pole for Saturday's Outback Steakhouse 200. The Chevrolet driver broke the Phoenix International Raceway series record with a lap at 131.339 mph. Series leader Kevin Harvick (131.214) was second, followed by Matt Kenseth (131.114), Greg Biffle (131.105) and Jeff Green ( 130.971).
Former U.S. coach to lead China through World Cup-- Longtime international coach Bora Milutinovic will direct the Chinese national team through next year's World Cup. Milutinovic led Mexico to the second round of the World Cup in 1986, and also coached Costa Rica in 1990, the United States to the second round in 1994, and Nigeria in 1998.
Davidson, Wieschhoff tied for lead-- Five-time U.S. Olympic veteran Bruce Davidson of Unionville, Pa., and Cathy Wieschhoff of Lexington, Ky., were tied for the lead, halfway through the dressage phase of the U.S. Equestrian Team Fall Eventing Championship at the Fair Hill International in Maryland. Davidson, on Squires Cap, and Wieschhoff, on Rainbow Magic, each received a score of 55.8 penalties from the three-judge panel.
Former coach agrees to plea bargain-- A former high school football coach faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for his role in a recruitment scandal involving an Alabama player. Milton Kirk , a former assistant at Trezevant High, changed his plea on one count of conspiracy from innocent to guilty during a hearing at U.S. District Court in Memphis, Tenn. Kirk went public in January with allegations Trezevant High coach Lynn Lang shopped around defensive lineman Albert Means to Southeastern Conference schools.
Georgia Tech's Isenhour has leukemia-- Georgia Tech senior forward Michael Isenhour has been diagnosed with acute lymphomic leukemia and is out indefinitely.
Arizona loses another player-- Arizona's roster, already depleted because of early defections to the NBA , got smaller when guard Travis Hanour left the program. Hanour, a 6-6, 188-pound sophomore from Laguna Beach, Calif., gave personal reasons for quitting, coach Lute Olson said.
Commitments-- Rosyland Jeffries of Hightower High School has committed to play basketball at Rice.
-- Compiled by Paul Mount


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This was the tenth week of session and our focus remained on Senate bills, with our committees convening frequently to review and refine proposed legislation from our Senate colleagues. With Sine Die approaching on March 28th, there is growing anticipation as we near the conclusion of this session.
Save the Date! Post-Session Town Hall
We will be having our last town hall of the 2024 Legislative Session on Tuesday, April 9th at 7pm. State Senator Sonya Halpern and I will bring you the latest news from the Gold Dome post-session and answer any of your questions. You can register here.
On Thursday, we unveiled the portrait of former Speaker of the House David Ralston. Speaker Ralston was a great public servant and I miss his voice in the Chamber.
Special Visitors at the Capitol
Dr. Shannon Buff, principal at Newton High School, and her husband, Bart, who is a fellow education leader (he’s Assistant Principal at Eastside High School in Covington) visited the Capitol on Thursday. Dr. Buff is Georgia’s principal of the year! I’m so glad the State House recognized the great work she is doing. Fun fact: Bart and Shannon are both friends of mine from Ringgold and because Bart’s sister married my uncle, we are also related. Go family!
Larry Walker visited on Wednesday. Mr. Walker served as the long-time Majority Leader when Democrats were last in the majority (ah, the good ‘ole days!). Mr. Walker is also a long-time lawyer in Perry, Georgia, and is a big supporter of the University of Georgia. So naturally I had to say hello!
We have a few members of the House that have decided to retire this year. I am fond of all of them and will greatly miss them in the chamber.
Representative Roger Bruce, House District 61, was first elected in 2003 and has been reelected every two years since then. During his time in office, Rep. Bruce hasfocused on issues related to children with special needs, the aging, education, working families, economic development, voting rights and criminal justice. I will particularly miss sitting next to Roger in Judiciary Committee. We got in a lot of good trouble together on that committee!
Representative Pedro Marin, House District 96, has been at the forefront in stopping gang violence and graffiti, expanding translation services in the courts, against racial profiling and fighting against legislation targeting specific communities. Pedro is the embodiment of leadership, character and strength. He is a person to be commended for his history of selfless sacrifice and service.
Representative Doug Stoner, House District 40, is no stranger to public service or to Smyrna, Vinings, or the Cobb County community. As a life-long resident of his community, Doug has always sought and found ways to put good ideas into action and improve the lives of his friends and neighbors. Doug has been a friend and ally since I represented a Cobb County district. His experience and willingness to help is going to be missed in the House.
Bad Voucher Bill
SB233 would allow public school money to be diverted to private schools in the form of a $6,500 voucher. The map below shows that the majority of private schools (black dots) are clustered in metro regions. The purple dots represent the schools performing in the bottom 25%, which is where the voucher money would be allocated. These school vouchers senselessly draw more money out of already struggling school systems while students have little to no reasonable options for quality private alternatives. There are other big issues with this bill such as private schools are not required to provide transportation to and from school, the tuition and extra costs of private school far exceeds the value of the voucher leaving more burden on the parents, and the bill does nothing to invest in the Georgia public school system. This bill barely passed with several House edits and now makes its way back to the Senate for an agree/disagree vote.
Bills that Passed in the House
SB335 or the “Safeguarding Adopted Children from Sexual Violence Act” would expand the crime of incest to include those whose familial relationships are created by adoption. By updating the law, we could ensure that we are protecting every child in our state from such heinous acts, regardless of whether those children are related to their perpetrator by blood or adoption. The House’s passage of this bill represents final passage, sending the legislation to Governor Kemp to be signed into law. I voted yes.
SB421 would increase penalties for repeated unlawful emergency service requests, also known as “swatting.” Swatting refers to an unlawful request for emergency service assistance that an individual knowingly and intentionally makes to a public safety agency when there is no reasonable ground for such a request to be made. Initial violations of swatting instances that occur at homes or places of worship would be classified as felonies, punishable by one to 10 years imprisonment, a minimum $5,000 fine, or both. Further, the bill would introduce the separate offense of drive-by shooting crimes when a person who is in or close to a motor vehicle that they used to drive to the location discharges a firearm at another person, motor vehicle, or occupied dwelling with the intent to injure someone or cause damage to someone’s property; someone convicted of this crime would face a penalty of imprisonment between five and 20 years. I voted yes.
SB348 would change the timeframe from 180 days to 60 days for an individual to be considered unattended by a physician in an untimely or suspicious death circumstance. The bill would clarify that no individual would be deemed unattended by a physician while they are a resident of a long-term care facility. I voted yes.
SB370 would expand education and create increased awareness on human trafficking. In 2013, the governor signed a law requiring certain Georgia businesses to post notices regarding human trafficking and how victims can obtain help. This bill would expand this current law to add convenience stores, body art studios, manufacturing facilities, and medical offices to the list of establishments that would be required to post notices containing the human trafficking hotline information. Furthermore, the bill would require each board member of the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy to complete at least 30 minutes of training each year on human trafficking awareness. This legislation would expand our ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking in our state and provide resources and support to human trafficking victims. I voted yes.
SB483 would enter Georgia into the updated version of the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children Act (ICPC) to help ensure that children are placed in safe homes in a timely manner. The ICPC has been in existence for several decades, but this bill would allow our state to enter into an agreement under the updated version of the compact, which 16 other states have currently joined. The purpose of this revised ICPC would be to streamline communication from one state to another in regards to the placement of adopted and foster children across state lines. Notably, even if the legislation is signed into law, the compact would not go into effect until 35 states have enacted similar legislation. The process for which children are transferred and placed across state boundaries can be burdensome and lengthy for agencies, states, children and parents. This revised compact would modernize this process and shorten the long waiting periods that these families often face and, ultimately, help place children in their forever homes quickly. I voted yes.
SB342 would allow the Department of Human Services to use records of child abuse or neglect from the child abuse and neglect registry, or from another state, to locate, recover or provide services to a child who is determined by the department to be missing or a victim of sexual exploitation. It would also amend who can have reasonable access to records of child abuse to include the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. I voted yes.

domain: politics


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Allen’s Oddfellow Mints
Would Tyler have suffered such a brutal death if it weren’t for her penchant for Oddfellow mints?
I love Oddfellow mints, I LOVE them! So it’s my personal touch to feature them in my debut novel. They’ve been around for quite a while so if you love watching daggy TV ads from the 80s, you should check out this YouTube clip for Oddfellows.


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All Blackpool Transport single bus fares capped at £2
Everyone travelling by Blackpool Transport buses from January 2023 will be subject to a price cap introduced by the government as part of an initiative to tempt people out of their cars and onto public transport.
A £2 bus fare cap will be introduced on 1st January 2023 and will run until 31st March 2023 when it will be reviewed. Effectively this means that when you travel by bus in Blackpool using Blackpool Transport, each single adult journey will cost you no more than £2, irrespective of the destination. This represents a saving of up to 30% when buying adult single fares on board.
This £2 fare cap is also set to be extended to Blackpool Transport’s 74 Service and 75 Service which are run on behalf of Lancashire Council Council and connect Fleetwood and Preston along with all rural areas between the two.
This scheme doesn’t apply to those travelling by Light Rail and as such there won’t be any changes to the single tram journey fares. The range of saver tickets offered by Blackpool Transport will remain the same price with the best value option offering a full day’s travel from under £2.10.
In order to take advantage of the £2 fare cap, simply ask the driver for a single fare to your chosen destination and pay on board using either contactless or card as you normally would.
Travel for each single journey will be capped at £2 while from the fourth trip onwards all travel will be capped at the daily rate of £6.60, thus allowing for unlimited further journeys within the 24 hour period.
This initiative has been funded by the government to the tune of £60 million.


Wood Waste Disposal
The S119R Air Burner or Firebox is a steel container designed for a high temperature smokeless burning of wood waste. Typical disposal methods such as chipping, grinding, and hauling can be expensive and labor intensive. The airburner requires just one operator with a loading machine to achieve a cost effective and efficient solution to your wood waste in virtually any setting at a rate of 3-5 tons per hour. A 49hp Tier 4 final engine powers a custom heavy duty fan to produce the air curtain which circulates over the debris trapping the smoke inside. The result is a clean, quiet, smokeless burn in compliance with USEPA 40CFR60. We transport the firebox to your site and provide your team with instruction on how to use the firebox. Air curtain burners are currently used by:
• Municipalities to get rid of brush, logs, and stumps.
• State DOT’s for Right of Way clearing and cleanup.
• US Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA for disaster cleanup including waterborne debris elimination.
• National Parks and US Department of Energy for fuel reduction and wildfire mitigation.
• US Armed Forces for trash disposal. (Pallets, boxes, crates, etc.)


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Last week I wrote about dealing with too much information when researching health issues online. Unfortunately, for those of us living in a consumer-oriented culture, the Internet is not the only place where we have to deal with too much to choose from. Think supermarkets. Finding good food and not being distracted by everything else is challenging.
Overconsumption is not an accident…
Overconsumption is built into the consumer culture, where the story is based on beliefs that “big is better” and “more is best.” Many people buy into that viewpoint with no discernment as to whether it’s in alignment with their values.
Overconsumption, literally, is a major concern with regard to our eating habits. Eating too much and eating the wrong things can cause chronic complex conditions that are debilitating for the person and a major cost to the health care system.
Being aware of our tendencies and habits is useful in helping us manage ourselves, our spending, and our appetite. Self-awareness is a huge asset, and one worth cultivating. to counterbalance the mindless consumption encouraged by the consumer culture and most players in it. Continue reading


Philips Sues Ex-Worker Over IPod Accessory Secrets
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, accuses Steven B. Hall and iPod accessory company Riot Outfitters LLC of misappropriation of trade secrets, tortious interference and breach of contract, among other things.
According to the lawsuit, Philips is...
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Synopsis of Poisoned Love:
The story revolves a dubbing genius Qi Jia, who suffers from sleepwalking due to a trauma; and a film producer Shi Meng.
Shi Meng helps Qi Jia walk out of her traumatic experience, but Qi Jia recognized the wrong person, and thought his brother Shi Yi was the one who helped her.
The three of them grew through misunderstands, and untied the knot in their heart.
Watch Also Chinese Drama ”Maiden Holmes“
Title: Poisoned Love / Fall in Love / Lian Ai Ba, Shi Meng Jun!
Other Title: 恋爱吧，食梦君！
Director: Chen Gang
Showtimes: Sep 24, 2020
Airtime: Thursday, Friday
Poisoned Love Chinese Drama Download Link:
If there are no subtitles, please download the subtitles at Subscene


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We're New York's bank, committed to you since 1863.
From the remnants of the Civil War, a new America emerged. The country was shifting from an agrarian society to one that was more modernized, and various financial reforms compelled the formation of banks throughout the country. While many of those institutions have disappeared into history, Apple Bank continues to stand strong, tracing its roots to the founding bank that was established in 1863 in the Dutch community of Haarlem, New York.
In prosperous Haarlem, a group of men committed to serve the financial needs of their neighbors under the auspices of the Haarlem Savings Bank. The Haarlem of that time would be unrecognizable today, with working farms and undeveloped lots dominating the landscape. In April 1863, these men convened at the Rosenbourgh Haarlem Bridge House, a tavern owned by one of the bank’s first trustees, to finalize paperwork that led to the bank opening its doors in June, about a month before the infamous draft riots tore apart the city. At the time, the bank was one of the few structures in the neighborhood.
Two Banks on Similar Paths
Haarlem Savings Bank enjoyed prosperity through the remainder of the 19th century and into the new millennium. At the other end of the city, the German Savings Bank also had been thriving after opening its doors in 1859. Its charter members included Daniel F. Tiemann, mayor of New York City, and the bank first occupied the Cooper Union building, now a city landmark. At the close of World War I, the German Savings Bank renamed itself Central Savings Bank. Its eventual headquarters at Broadway and West 73rd Street, designed by the architectural firm York and Sawyer, is a National Historic Landmark and is today the flagship Apple Bank branch.
As many banks became insolvent in the midst of war and financial panic, Haarlem Savings Bank and Central Savings Bank remained strong, focusing their investments on residents and local businesses. Both banks emerged from the ashes of the Great Depression and several wars in expansion mode and acquired insolvent banks to expand their service areas into midtown Manhattan and Long Island. Following the local community lead, the Haarlem Savings Bank dropped the second “a” from its name in 1933.
Apple Bank Emerges
Another round of expansion occurred during the tumultuous 1970s and 1980s when, again, Harlem Savings Bank’s consistent and disciplined risk-management program allowed it to maintain its position of financial strength. This time, Central Savings Bank was experiencing difficulty, leading to the merger of the two and the creation of Apple Bank in May 1983.
In 1989, Apple Bank expanded into eastern Long Island by acquiring the historic Sag Harbor Savings Bank. In the 1990s and into the new millennium, the bank continued to grow with other acquisitions and new branch openings in the five boroughs of New York City, Long Island and Westchester County. In 2013, Apple Bank’s acquisition of 29 Emigrant Bank branches significantly expanded our presence in greater New York.
With conservative financial management and strong credit quality, Apple Bank marked its 31st consecutive year of uninterrupted profitability in 2022. Today, Apple Bank is a full-service institution that delivers quality products and personalized attention to customers, led by bankers who live in the areas we serve and thoroughly understand individuals’ and businesses’ needs.
Continuing the proud heritage that began in Harlem in 1863, Apple Bank remains committed to core neighborhood banking. We deliver a full range of retail banking services to individuals and businesses in greater New York and New Jersey through our 83 branches, as well as through online banking and other alternative channels. Apple Bank is an active mortgage lender in our region, covering both the multifamily and commercial property market. Apple Bank’s commercial lending activities include government-guaranteed and commercial financing for the commercial aviation sector and other specialty segments.
We work hard to meet the financial needs of our customers and strive to improve the quality of life in our communities. We look forward to a future filled with opportunity, while always putting our customers’ best interests first.

domain: history


Hareon Solar and Nereus Capital Commission 8.2 MW PV Project
The PV plant is located in Medak district of Telangana, used high efficiency modules made by Hareon, and is expected to generate about 15.2 million units of electricity per year. Under a power purchase agreement (PPA) signed between Medak Solar Projects Pvt. Ltd. and two multinational pharmaceutical companies, electricity from the plant will be supplied to pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities through long-term open access.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Jie Zhang, CEO of Hareon International said “Hareon Solar have spent more than 6 years developing India market, established multiple investment channels to balance risk and reward. We have achieved expected good result of our strategy, and we are glad to announce the second successful Open Access distributed generation project. ”
Mr. Jona than Winer, Managing Director of Nereus said “The project was built using Hareon Solar’s high efficiency multi-crystalline silicon solar modules, and we are very happy working the professional team at Hareon Solar”.
About Hareon Solar Technology Co. Ltd.
Hareon Solar, headquartered in Jiangyin, Jiangsu Province, China, was established in2004. The company is listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange with the ticker symbol: 600401 and has a market capitalization of about USD 1.3 Billion. Hareon Solar is one of China's largest crystalline silicon solar cell and module manufacturers. The company has about 2,000 MW per year of solar cell manufacturing capacity and about 2,000 MW per year of solar module manufacturing capacity across five manufacturing bases in China. In addition, Hareon Solar has operations and subsidiaries in Australia, Germany, India,Japan, South Africa, and USA. For more information, visit: www.hareonsolar.com
Nereus Capital finances alternative energy infrastructure in India. Nereus is differentiated by the combination of a private equity team that has invested together for over a decade and a sector-specific operational team that has developed over 1,000 megawatts of alternative energy power generation in India. Nereus’ India Solar Investment Trust seeks stable, low volatility, annual yields by providing construction financing for utility-scale photovoltaic solar power plants. For more information, please visit: www.nereuscap.com.


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Arcadia Theater Showcases Adaptability in Three Productions Spring Semester
Three students perform a scene from Crimes of the Heart.
Arcadia University Theater presents three diverse productions in the Spring 2019 semester at the Spruance Fine Arts Center Mainstage and Grey Towers Castle. Productions run Thursday to Saturday at 8 p.m. with matinee performances on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Through March 3, students will perform Crimes of the Heart at the Mainstage. Winner of the 1981 Pulitzer Prize and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, Crimes of the Heart follows the three Magrath sisters— each with grave (yet hilarious) problems— as they gather in Mississippi with their grandfather, who is living out his final hours. With a cast of young, confused, and awkward characters trying to escape the past and seize the future, the show lingers in the mind long after the curtain closes.
Then, from March 28 to 31, experience an immersive performance at Grey Towers Castle for Hedda Gabler. A timeless class, this Henrik Ibsen drama follows the independent, striking, and powerful Hedda as she struggles to escape a loveless, ordinary existence and exercise her wild whims. With the return of an old flame and a proposition from an amorous judge, Hedda begins a dangerous game, manipulating and destroying everyone around her in an attempt to regain control of her life.
Finally, from April 4 to 14, take a dark, mysterious, musical journey into the heart and soul of Edgar Allan Poe with Nevermore on the Mainstage. This story of love, personal demons and self-discovery delves into the mind of Poe with disturbing yet relatable charm. Poe’s poetry is transformed into soaring musical numbers creating a timeline that lures the audience into his world.
Students are admitted for free– although a ticket is required. Seniors and Arcadia alumni can purchase $10 discount tickets, and general public tickets are $15.

domain: literature


iGaming largest event in the world in 2022 – Malta Week – hosted by SiGMA Group had more than 25,000 attendees, 1,000 sponsors and exhibitors, 400 speakers, 300 affiliates, 400 companies, and 100 influencers.
Casino Life & Business Magazine, as the only media partner from Romania at this impressive Malta Week, has received the following press release after the ending of the event.
Malta Week, the largest iGaming event in the world in 2022, was hosted by SiGMA Group last week. The event was successful thanks to more than 25,000 attendees, 1,000 sponsors and exhibitors, 400 speakers, 300 affiliates, 400 companies, and 100 influencers.
These three days have been jam-packed with informative panels and keynotes, networking activities, and an ever-expanding industry-setting show floor.
SiGMA Conference has brought together policymakers, thought leaders, influencers, and C-Suite executives from the global gaming and affiliation space with our audience.
In his keynote speech, Finance Minister Javier Fransisco Antonio Silvania stated that his presence at the conference demonstrates Curaçao’s determination to become a “major player in the online gambling business.” Silvania is in charge of modernising the Dutch-Caribbean island’s gambling industry to ensure effective regulation and monitoring. The new restrictions are set to go into action in 2Q23.
The expo floor included a carefully chosen showcase of market-leading products and services. This high-energy exposition gave delegates the opportunity to target the industry on a worldwide scale and target the particular niche. It also provided a direct path to some of the top brands in the industry, making it a great venue for networking and brand promotion.
Ministers and government entities
During the week, government entities, ministers, and even the Prime Minister of Malta came to SiGMA Europe. When he spoke to the delegates, Prime Minister Hon. Robert Abela said: “Events such as SiGMA celebrate the spirit of Malta’s economic vision and Malta’s entrepreneurial drive. Eman and his team are proof of this, and I commend their can-do attitude. By working together, we will be able to ensure more successful years of this already thriving gaming industry.”
He also added that this is the government’s top priority. “This is an industry which we are very, very proud of. Malta is the home of choice for over 300 gaming firms providing over 10,000 gaming-related job opportunities. In addition, many of the companies are listed on the major stock exchanges boasting a superior level of governance”.
Carl Brincat, CEO of the MGA, stated on a panel on the first day of SiGMA Europe that the regulator has learned that it must lay the framework before implementing innovative measures.
4 Awards Nights celebrated industry leaders
At SiGMA Europe’s Awards Night, the most influential people in the international gaming and marketing community came together for a gala night like no other.
As Malta Week delegates got together for a fun night at the LCB Awards, there was more excitement than ever at Sky Club. The LCB team created the idea as their signature event to honor and celebrate great work and service in the industry. Also, the event was meant to promote integrity and responsible gaming in the community and was open to all active markets worldwide.
2. SiGMA Awards:
SiGMA’s much-anticipated gala awards evening, sponsored by Creedroomz and hosted by Jon Thompson and Elisa Martinotti, was a celebration of the contributions of leaders in the gaming, emerging tech, and affiliate industries. In addition, the Awards broke a record by raising $91,000 for charity.
3. Affiliate Grand Slam:
During the AGS Awards ceremony, 15 prizes were presented to recognize outstanding affiliate networks, programs, platforms, and cutting-edge technologies and solutions. Moreover, The Luxarcarna dancers performed to round out the evening, and a charity auction was held, with the revenues going to the SiGMA Foundation.
4. Streamer Community:
The streaming community got together at the Steamers Gala, where top talent in the digital space was shown off, and the growth of this new industry was celebrated. The first-ever Streamers Awards were given out this evening. The goal was to appreciate the best live streaming services, which are becoming more popular and changing how people watch entertainment. Some of our top VIP guests were Mr Gamble, Haddzy, Doddy, Bonkku, Big Daddy, MaximZockt, Juicyspins, and others.
The networking events during Malta Week took face-to-face communication to a new level. SiGMA offered all the delegates a lot of chances to connect with people from around the world.
SiGMA is the best place to be when it comes to meeting the right people and making the right connections. The official program of 300+ Spartan Affiliates had the time of their lives and was at the ideal location to expand their network under the Mediterranean sun of Malta Week 2022.
● VIP guest RobertoCarlos
Roberto Carlos, Bet winner’s brand ambassador, also attended the MFCC event. The Real Madrid star and world champion with the Brazilian national team played an essential role in the primary competition held in Malta. Moreover, he enjoyed participating in signing hundreds of autographs at the bookmaker’s booth.
● MMA prowess by Centurion fight
Together with SiGMA Group, Centurion-FC has delivered yet another impressive MMA performance. Participating in the events of Malta Week, much effort and planning went into making the evening a success. In addition to showcasing the raw strength and emotion of the competitors in the ring, Centurion FC also featured the sight of fighters being carried to the cage by Roman Centurion Soldiers.
● Start-up winner Surfer Penguin
Surfer Penguin has won the 2022 SiGMA/AGS Pitch Competition hosted at MFCC. Pablo Fernandez, CEO & Co-Founder of the company, expressed his gratitude to SiGMA for this opportunity. He is excited to develop his idea further, thanks to the support.
Goodbye 2022, Welcome 2023!
2022 is over, and what a fantastic year it has been! Looking back, SiGMA Group is filled with anticipation for what lies ahead. Their first-ever African iGaming Summit will kick off the yearly series of events in the coming year.
This January, the SiGMA, AGS, AIBC, and Med-Tech World Summits will make history by arriving in Nairobi, Kenya. Also, the 2023 agenda includes Dubai, Manilla, São Paulo, Limassol, and Malta.
Read also the news from HERE.


If you can’t wait for LEGO Star Wars: Droid Tales to air on July 6, well you’re in luck. The whole first episode, Exit from Endor, is available for viewing on Disney XD. The only thing required is that you have to be signed in to your cable or satellite provider. I can confirm that it works on Firefox but I was having some issues with Chrome and Internet Explorer.
LEGO Star Wars: Droid Tales is a five-part miniseries of 22 minute episodes that will retell the six Star Wars films through C-3PO and R2-D2 perspectives.
Following their victory celebration in the Ewok village on Endor, seen at the close of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, C-3PO and R2-D2 have gathered to regale Luke, Leia, Han, Chewbacca and the other Rebels with the tales of their adventures that led to the events of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. An accidental kidnapping occurs while the droids are reminiscing and suddenly viewers are taken on a new adventure that leads to encounters with familiar faces and places that prompt the re-telling of the entire saga. The series offers all of the playful humor that viewers expect from LEGO Star Wars.