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The first installment in this fierce and sensual new paranormal romance series features demonic gladiators, ruthless mafia villains, and a proud race on the brink of extinction.
Lindsey Piper’s hotly anticipated debut series, The Dragon Kings, begins with a gritty, fiercely sexy tale of romance and rebirth.
The Dragon Kings, an ancient race of demons, were once worshipped as earthly gods. Centuries later and facing extinction, they fight at the whim of human cartels for the privilege of perpetuating their bloodlines.
After marrying a human, Nynn of Clan Tigony became Audrey MacLaren, banished from a life of distinction and power. But when Nynn gives birth to the first natural-born Dragon King in a generation, she and her son are kidnapped by a sadistic cartel scientist whose life mission is studying demon procreation.
Leto of Clan Garnis is a Cage warrior, using his superhuman speed and reflexes to secure the right for his sister to conceive. Within the Cages, he has no equal.
When torture unlocks Nynn’s repressed powers, she is sent to the Cages, where Leto is charged with her training. He believes her a traitor to their people, while she sees him as no better than a slave. But for the sake of her son, Nynn must learn to survive. An undeniable connection turns antagonists to allies to impassioned lovers as they learn the high price of honor in their violent underground world.
About the Author
Lindsey Piper is the alter ego of award-winning historical romance author Carrie Lofty. Readers and critics are wild for the “red-hot” (RT Book Reviews) Dragon Kings series, her unique first foray into paranormal fiction. She lives and writes in Chicago. Visit her online at LindseyPiper.com and CarrieLofty.com.
Read an Excerpt
She wasn’t in the lab. That’s all she knew. The smells were different. Fewer sterilizing cleansers and less recycled air. More body odor. Piss and sweat. Dirt. Wet rocks.
Audrey opened her eyes and blinked. She pushed up onto her hands and knees. Pain banged at her temples—the ache of still-healing blows to the skull and her own frantic pulse. Lifting her head was an effort like swimming through wet cement.
Her fuzzy vision sharpened as she got used to the dim lighting. Just a pair of bare incandescent bulbs. A humid mist hung heavy in the cavelike room. Even when her eyes worked together, focusing, that mist ebbed away at details. She couldn’t tell where the algae-covered walls began and ended.
The bars of her four-by-four cage were a prison. Solid iron. She lifted swollen hands and grasped the cold metal. Frustration ate at her insides. Rattling the cage bars, she shrieked.
“Where is my son?”
At least in the lab, she and Jack had shared a cell. No bars. Only walls painted black. Just as disorienting. But that confinement had almost felt safe. She’d held her boy, thankful the darkness concealed the worst of their wounds.
Now she had iron bars, algae, and a black pit where her heart had been.
“Where is he? Aster! You son of a bitch!”
The hair lifted on the backs of her forearms. As her heartbeat jacked, she noticed her dirty body. Her vulnerability. She wore a paper hospital gown—no underwear, no shoes. Had she been dragged straight from the lab? The last thing she remembered was being strapped to an operating table after having slipped the note to Reed. A mask had pumped anesthetic into her mouth and nose but she’d been hopeful for the first time in months.
Maybe that explained her grogginess. From surgery to a Dragon-damned cave.
Now she wore a damping collar. But why? Her powers had never manifested. Giving birth to the first natural-born Dragon King in a generation was the only remarkable thing she’d ever done.
She forced the distracting details away. Look for a way out. A way to survive. The iron bars were a lost cause, but the floor was pitted concrete.
With a crack in the corner.
Audrey picked where moisture had worn away a small crevice. Her fingertips bled. Aching knuckles stretched shadow puppets along the wall. She wiped sweat from her forehead. Her toes gripped for balance as she scraped harder, faster.
The steps echoed more loudly. Heavy. Determined. Certainly male. His footfalls hit too heavily for a lean man. A bruiser. One of the Aster cartel’s bodyguards. She didn’t stand a chance, but she kept clawing. Her breath became hot steam in her lungs.
A piece of concrete about the size of her fist gave way. One pointed end had promise. If she could strike just the right spot on the man’s temple . . .
She edged away from the bars until her spine pinched against the rock wall. After twisting her long hair, she shoved it down the back of the hospital gown. She balanced on the balls of her feet, ready to spring.
As a member of the Honorable Giva’s immediate family, she’d been instructed in martial training from an early age. She’d never wielded the powers of her kind, and she was seriously out of practice, but she was not helpless. The chunk of concrete rested in her palm. It was the difference between dying—and dying while fighting.
A flashlight’s beam penetrated the recess of the cave. Audrey narrowed her eyes. She watched through her lashes. The man had so many advantages. That realization should’ve cowed her. Should’ve turned her backbone to mud and left her weeping. But after having been a victim for more than a year—drugged, bound, helpless—she felt mighty. No manacles. No hallucinogens. Just a rock in her hand and a blaze of pure rage.
The man stepped into clear view.
Easily more than six foot, he was built for breaking bones and ripping off limbs. Brawn. Solid muscle. Powerful biceps. Plate metal covered his heart and vital organs, leaving his arms free. Calf-high boots were made of toughened leather. Bare, muscular thighs flexed with the slightest movement. But he didn’t seem the kind of man to make slight movements. Everything about him was overwhelming.
His jaw was fixed in an expression she’d learned to recognize: You will find no mercy here.
Audrey gave her flight instinct a hard shove. She pushed far into the shadows. Futile, really, when he aimed the beam directly at her face. She squinted and kept her right hand out of sight as the cage was unlocked.
“Disgusting,” he muttered.
“And you’re a traitor,” she spat in the language of the Dragon Kings. A language she hadn’t used for nearly a decade.
Since meeting Caleb, she hadn’t given much thought to the old ways. Her happiness as a human wife had been too easy. Too good to last. But long ago, the ways of the Dragon Kings had been her entire life—the ritual and the covert power.
No matter her ostracism from her clan.
Years of rage came rushing back. The coiled ferocity in her legs exploded. She leapt. The cage door swung open on hinges that squealed a rusted protest.
Not even the momentum of her leap shifted the man from his kneeling stance. He only grunted. Audrey’s quick instincts brought that chunk of concrete up, up, in a violent arc. Her aim was true. The jagged edge struck the side of his face. Another grunt.
Then Audrey was thrown across the room.
Her shoulder hit the ground, followed by her head. A cry ripped from her throat. She slid three feet. Agony stabbed down to her marrow, as if pain had always been a part of her body.
He’d simply . . . hurled her.
The big man needed only two strides to cross to where Audrey was sprawled. He stripped the chuck of concrete from her hand and tossed it down the tunnel.
“Can you hear me, lab filth?”
The old language rattled in her brain. Words passed down from the blessed Dragon. Nothing quite worked. Her lungs wouldn’t take in air. Something ground painfully in her hip socket. She nodded out of pure reflex.
“If you ever attempt to strike me again, I will snap your spine in two. Think you could recover from that? Our kind can endure a great deal—much more than humans. But we’re not immortal.”
“Where is my son?” Only a rasp now.
“He’s better off dead. Now get up.”
He yanked her up under both arms and thrust her against a wall. Shots of fire spiked her joints. She gasped as panic set in. She wanted to fight. Wanted to. Yet just as when Dr. Aster had drugged her, or when her brain short-circuited because of his torture, she could not.
That didn’t stop her from snarling and spitting.
Because he spoke the language of the Dragon Kings, he belonged to one of the sacred Five Clans. But to actually work for that madman? He was the filth. Bile surged into her mouth.
“You’ve still got some spirit.” His muscles were tense, holding her immobile, while his breathing remained calm. “I can see why Old Man Aster has plans for you. We’re going to have quite the time.”
The flashlight had rolled across the ground until it illuminated her captor’s face. Blood streamed down from where she’d gouged a ragged hole in his cheek. He was smooth-shaven, and his black hair was shorn close to his head. Eyes the color of teak were fathomless, unreadable. Dark lashes cast shadows along his sharp cheekbones. A scar on his upper lip told stories of past battles. A damping collar encircled his thick, muscular throat.
A tattoo of a serpent wrapped around the back of his head. The tongue hissed toward one temple and the tail flicked toward the other. The Aster family symbol.
Realization settled ice in her belly. He was far deadlier than a brute from the laboratory.
Part boogeyman, part myth—he was a Cage warrior.
“The Aster cartel owns you now, lab filth. But they’re done with experiments.” His scarred lip curled into a snarling smile. “You’re here to fight in the Cages.”
♦ ♦ ♦
Leto had not expected so much resistance from the woman. The prospect heated his blood. For too long he’d only found satisfaction in preparing for the annual Grievance—the ultimate prize for the most dedicated warriors.
Warriors like Leto.
Performing in monthly Cage matches was essential to keep his skills sharp. Training Dragon Kings—called neophytes until they won their first fight—for those monthly matches was a drudgery. Most were volunteers who had debts to repay. They rarely possessed the true courage that deserved combat. Some were as weak and sniveling as humans.
Yet others went on to greatness. Leto had trained such victors.
His cheek was bleeding profusely. This nasty castoff from Dr. Aster’s lab had surprising spark.
“You’re insane,” she snarled. “I’m not going in there.”
“Have you ever seen a Cage fight?”
She shuddered. “Of course not! They’re for barbarians.”
With a swift movement that had nothing to do with his Dragon-given gift, Leto spun her. “Now is the time you listen. You believe me a barbarian, then believe my threats aren’t idle. Your suffering won’t weigh on my conscience.”
“Because you have none.” With her cheek pressed against the damp cave wall, her words were muffled.
Leto loosened his grip. If he pulled any harder he would dislocate her shoulder. The goal was not to impair his charges but to ready them. Instead, he added another incentive for her to obey. With his free hand he grasped between her legs.
“No conscience,” he repeated coldly. “I will have my way.”
She stiffened. She stilled. But Leto realized his heart was beating far too fast. Need had gathered in him for three weeks. Cage warriors were permitted female flesh only after a victory—unless they chose to violate their charges, as he threatened now. Some mentors indulged too often. Their neophytes became submissive, not resilient and strong. Leto had never needed to use such crude methods. He had other means, including stores of patience.
And he never lost a match. The regular reward of satisfying his sexual needs was not something every Cage warrior could claim.
She bucked against his hold. “If you think worse wasn’t done to me in the Asters’ lab, then you have no idea what goes on there.”
“Doesn’t matter to me.” He gave her pussy a last, hard squeeze. At least this time she flinched and tried to pull away. Any reaction could be twisted to his advantage. “Maybe you’ll enjoy it. Pleasure can be another incentive.”
She slammed her head backward. Her skull smacked the bridge of his nose. Pain rocketed through his brain. The woman scrambled from his arms and ran. Leto shook his head. Part of him was dazed that she’d got the jump on him. Mostly he was amused. Where did she think she could go?
From down the short corridor that led to her cell’s gate came a feminine shriek. Pure frustration. She was certainly loud enough to use the sonic assaults that accompanied the berserker rages of Clan Pendray. They annoyed the fuck out of him. Shaking off a weeklong migraine was the price of victory over those Dragon-damned Reapers.
He took a strip of linen from beneath his chest armor and wiped his face. The gouge in his cheek was nearly a puncture. The woman continued her tirade. High-pitched bellows echoed up the corridor.
“She-devil bitch,” he muttered to himself.
Still, he was surprisingly eager to get started.
Leto set his shoulders and lifted his chin. The Aster family ran the most powerful human crime cartel in the world. His victories over their cartel rivals—the Townsends of England and the Kawashimas of Hong Kong—had earned him many privileges. First among them was the right for his sister Yeta and her husband, Dalnis, to conceive a little girl. Soon, with the Dragon’s blessing, his efforts would earn protection and care for his comatose younger sister, Pell. Up in the human world where they’d made their home, Yeta and Dalnis had taken on the burden of Pell’s care for nearly a decade.
He would win the Grievance, year after year. To keep his family safe. To ensure Clan Garnis would live on.
Confidence gave him extra swagger as he strode down the sloping corridor to retrieve his screaming neophyte. She stood with her back against the gate made of floor-to-ceiling wrought iron. Leto had no key. He was let in and out by the Asters’ human guards. Cattle prods, Tasers, and napalm bullets kept even the most powerful Dragon King in check. The collars made it so.
Leto had never fought back. Why would he? This subterranean complex had always been his place of glory and purpose, where his father had fought. Where, in service to his loved ones, his father had died.
Decapitated by a Dragon blade.
“Stay away from me!”
“I won’t.” His words were as assured as he felt.
She darted sideways. Though slender, she was wily and surprisingly strong. But she would never be his match. He caught her around the middle. Momentum threw her onto his forearm. Again he hurled her to the ground. He pinned her with his boot heel on her collar, right over her larynx.
“You’ll only hurt yourself. Save this fire. You’ll need it for the Cages.”
She cradled her elbow and glared up with pale, pale eyes—maybe blue.
“I’m to train you for your first bout in three weeks,” he continued. “Normally we’d have more time, but Old Man Aster wants you ready by then. He’ll be hosting many important people.”
He removed his boot and grabbed a fistful of hair—a honey blond shade that trailed down her back. He’d need to fix that. His actions were proof of how dangerous long hair could be in battle.
“Let go of me!”
“No.” He dragged her back to the main body of the training room. He shoved her into a crevice that had been carved by a steady trickle of water. “Wash yourself. I won’t work with garbage.”
She hissed as cold water drenched her face, sluiced down her back. The thin paper hospital gown clung to her body. Soon it would be as useless as wet tissue. He had proper armor for her to change into. Eventually. First, she needed to learn her place.
Leto crossed his arms. “What was that?”
She pinched her lips into a tight white line. That honey-colored hair darkened beneath the water’s trickle. Her arms and legs trembled. She closed into a protective ball.
If the woman didn’t ask, Leto would have a despicable chore ahead of him. On a certain level he would enjoy breaking her. Yet he craved a real opponent. She had that potential, if she proved smart enough to know when to back down.
“May I have some soap?” The effort of asking contorted her features with fury.
Slowly, he knelt before her. He’d trained enough for the Cages to know when the appearance of gentleness held greater power than aggression. She backed deeper into the crevice, but her fear was nowhere to be seen. Those pale, almost silver eyes were visible through the water dribbling down her face. Already she was cleaner. He could see more of her features. Stubborn. Every feature stubborn.
“I will not give much advice beyond techniques for fighting. But listen to me now: Save your hostility. I am not your enemy.”
She whipped wet hair back from her heart-shaped face. Her pointed chin was haughty, but her lips were delicate. Thin. Tremulous. As with every Dragon King, her skin was naturally tan. Hers was overlaid with a shimmering luster, like gold beneath a blazing light. Wide cheekbones were streaked with freckles, not the dirt he’d assumed. The water darkened her lashes and framed those nearly translucent eyes. Her gaze was canny. She assessed every detail, even through her fury.
Intelligence in a trainee was a double-edged sword.
“Become a half-dead cripple for all I care,” Leto said with a shrug. “You know it takes a great deal to kill a Dragon King. But the crowd loves when combatants bleed and scream. No one mourns.”
“My son would mourn me,” she whispered.
“He already does. Dr. Aster will have told him you’re dead.”
“I was promised my son. One year more.”
He almost pitied the woman’s naïveté. She’d be lucky to stand or talk or chew after her first match. Yes, she would heal, as all Dragon Kings did, but the process was imperfect. Amputated limbs never grew back. Minds cracked into mad pieces. Scars remained. His split lip and lashed back were a testament to that.
He masked his pessimism and long-ago pains. This was his responsibility. He had yet to fail the Old Man. He wouldn’t let this woman destroy the respect Leto had spent years acquiring.
“Learn to fight,” he said. “Or you’ll suffer as others have.”
She shuddered. The hospital gown clung to her. She tucked her legs beneath her and crossed shaky arms over her breasts. The water let her keep few secrets. “And you’re here to teach me?”
“You would’ve saved yourself a lot of abuse had you asked that question twenty minutes ago.”
“Bathatéi.” The worst curse word in the language of the Dragon Kings.
Leto only laughed. “Your name. Now.”
She lashed out with a tight fist. He caught it easily, then the next one. The only weapon she had left—one she might not have realized—was the surprise of her breasts. The soaked paper gown outlined their lithe, luscious shape. Leto forced his gaze back to her face.
“Your name,” he said with growing menace. “Unless you enjoy being called lab filth.”
“My name in exchange for soap.”
He grinned. This was going to be fun.
A swallow disappeared beneath the edge of her collar. She lifted her chin. “My name is Audrey MacLaren.”
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
CAGED WARRIOR is the first full length novel and second storyline in Lindsey Piper’s Dragon King paranormal/dystopian fantasy series. A word of caution: This is not a series about dragon shifters. This is a series about the descendants of the five clans of powerful beings known as the Dragon Kings. Each clan specializes in a specific power and those powers can be combined or used in various ways. Caged Warrior is Audrey (aka Nynn) and Leto’s story. The premise focuses on Audrey as she endeavors to survive the torture and ultimate fighting cages in the underground facilities of the Master known as ‘The Old Man”. Her husband murdered, her son missing and her life virtually not worth living, Audrey survives day to day in the hopes that she will be reunited with her six year old boy. But the longer she stays imprisoned, the more likely neither she nor her son will survive. Training under the hardened and collared Dragon King Leto Carnis, Audrey will discover that the powers she once believed were non existent needed a little focus and encouragement to draw forth. And in the end, Leto could very well bare the brunt of her new found ability and anger. The relationship between Audrey and Leto begins as prisoner to warden, then trainer to trainee, then cage fighting partners and eventually, friends to lovers. But the climb has been anything but easy as Leto pushes Audrey (now known by her Dragon King name Nynn) beyond her limits and expectations. Leto is a warrior, one who by duty and order, is a menace to those he considers beneath his time and Nynn is more of a burden than anything else. But if she cannot best an opponent in the cage, she will surely die or remain in pain the rest of her life. And it is with Leto’s help, faith and eventually love that Nynn will focus on her end goal and take down the people responsible for the pain and heartbreak in so many lives. Caged Warrior is a detailed and intriguing storyline that flows smoothly but there is still very little background information revealed about the history of the Dragon King Clans or their powers. This is also a story that is both graphically brutal and violent and, those in power are verbally and sexually abusive. But saying that, this is a dystopian story about a species of being who have survived because of their ability to withstand pain and suffering and years of abuse at the hands of those calling themselves superior. To downplay the violence would probably not evoke the same reaction to the story. Caged Warrior is a fascinating look into the world of the Dragon King and their struggle to survive. Lindsey Piper draws the reader into a storyline fraught with violence, sorrow and most of all love between two people who have suffered at the hands of humans and their own kind. 3.75 stars
3.5 Stars ~Reviewed by ANGELA & posted at Under the Covers Book Blog "Ms. Piper did deliver a sexy warrior " ~ Under the Covers Ms. Piper wrote a very promising start to a new series. Caged Warrior is not your typical Dragon books, in fact; there are no dragons in this book, which was a bit disappointing only because the cover and title shouted it was a dragon book. But let me assure you that even without dragon shifters, this novel is overall a good read. Let me tell you the things I liked about this book. First is the cover. Okay, I will tell you that I picked this book up just by looking at this cover. It just promised me a hot sexy warrior. Well, Ms. Piper did deliver a sexy warrior. Leto is a champion of underground cage fights, which reminds me of UFC fighters and I imagined him to be that very person on the cover. Of course, Leto is from a race with supernatural powers , and it gave this book an exciting twist. Now, what made it a bit complicated was that Leto was not a freeman but really a slave fighter and in charge of training newcomers. That's where Audrey, aka Nynn comes in. She is also of the same race but has lived in the human world to be with her husband and son. Unfortunately, in this violent, almost extinct world, her husband was murdered. Now, Audrey is slaved to fight for her and her son's freedom. Her captivity somewhat reminded me of Captive in the Dark by CJ Roberts. Not as dark but both heroine were kidnapped, abused and trained. They also both fell in love with their captors. I know they are of different genre , but I found it similar in some ways, IMO. I liked Audrey, she is a mother on a mission to save her son. Any woman who comes into a man's world and proves her self is just gets much respect from me. My heart broke for her with all her experiences in the beginning of this book. I'll tell you right now though; this heroine is strong and can fight like there's not tomorrow. The world building was overall good. It is a dark and vicious world but thriving to survive. I was a bit disappointed that Leto, the man in the cover, did not shift into a dragon , but I do like him just the same. I also would've like to read more of his background. I feel like there's more to him then what was revealed. One thing that bothered me most was the pace in the beginning of this book. I thought it was slow and the only think kept me going was the intriguing story line. It was not until half way through that the pace picked up and became more of a page turner. Overall, Caged Warrior is a good start to a new series , and I am optimistic for a good sequel. ARC provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review
1st book I've read by this author. Sure is a diffeernt take on dragons.
I was intrigued by the Dragon King series the minute I first picked up the prequel, Silent Warrior. You have a race of beings descended from the Great Dragon, blessed with extraordinary gifts and cursed with a terrible burden. For a few of these amazing individuals they must fight...for their race, a blessing for their family, or to free themselves and their loved ones from subjugation. The thing I wished for in the prequel, more history and world-building, Caged Warrior addresses. Lindsey Piper does a great job in filling in some of the history and introducing us to the world at large. There's still a lot we don't know, but I have a feeling we're going to find out even more in the coming books. This is a much darker than most books that I've read recently. It's is a story about fighters and they are fighting for their lives. That means there's a lot of action to keep the pages turning. I ended up loving the main characters, Audrey (also known as Nynn) and Leto but at times it was a love-hate kind of thing. Audrey has been horribly abused, torn from her son and sent to the cages to fight after torture reveals an amzing well of power. Leto is her trainer and that man is a badass! He only has a few weeks to turn Audrey into a competent fighter and he does it the only way he knows how...by harsh training...and while effective (and necessary) it isn't pretty. But you catch glimpses of the Leto the man not the warrior...the one who loves and will protect what's his even if the cost is to lose them forever. There are also a wealth of secondary characters, including Hark and Silence, who I loved from Silent Warrior and we're also introduced to the mysterious Tallis who we'll learn more about in book 2. The pages will fly by with this unique series. So grab both Silent Warrior and Caged Warrior and get started soon. July 30th will bring book 2, Blood Warrior, before you know it!
Such an amazing story. I am still breathless from reading it. The story takes place in the unique world of the Dragon Kings a race of demons with immeasurable power and abilities that live in a world set apart from our own. Audrey is the ultimate heroine. Strong- willed, smart, vulnerable and yet so fierce my heart ached with watching her struggle to save herself and her son in such a violent world. The strength she shows in the face of all the pain she has suffered made for one of the most amazing stories I have ever read. Leto is far from your typical hero. In the beginning I absolutely hated him. He's cruel, brutal and heartless and yet the reasons behind his behavior are honorable. Eventually though he bashed his way into my heart. This is not your everyday romance. It is at times both ugly and beautiful but that just made me love it even more. The passion and obsession between Audrey and Leto is explosive and gripping. A story unlike anything I have read it digs its hooks into you and makes you unable to put it down. Gritty, dark and sexy this is a must read.
Audrey/Nynn witnesses the brutal murder of her beloved husband and has her son ripped from her arms by an evil cartel who studies and uses supernatural beings. She is a member of the Dragon King race and her husband was human. They had a child which is considered a rare event and the cartel wants to know how and why. Leto has been raised in the world of the cage fights, like gladiators they battle to be proven the best. He has been given Nynn to train to fight in the cages. Let the battle begin...
Not as strong as the prequel Silent Warrior, which smouldered with passion and the strength of the Dragon Kings. This veered into the dark despicable and violent depths of the Cages. The place the Dragon Kings are taken to battle against each other. After reading the extremely powerful prequel I was surprised by the direction the author took with this one. It strolled merrily along the en-vogue storyline of the (at this moment in time, especially in YA) degradation of females. Letting the apparent bad boy hero overstep the boundaries into abusive behaviour and of course the heroine just likes him even more for it. You know, because all women really want to be treated like dirt deep down inside. (Yes that was sarcastic). Subsequently also alluding to the fact that they should be submissive to males. All that hidden in the guise of training as a neophyte in the Cages. Now that could be due to the fact Piper is actually a writer of historical romance (under a different name) and those type of storylines are common in that genre. That didn't work well in this genre. It kind of takes the energy out of it, the wind out of the sails. I would like to see Piper go back to the prequel and grab that superb ball of creative idea she used and focus that intention on this series. It has the potential to be a strong captivating series. I received a free copy of this book via Edelweiss.
Imagine being stripped of your family, tortured, and then enslaved in an underground world where survival depends on how well you can fight. This nightmare has become Audrey MacLaren’s life. Audrey’s real name is Nynn, and she is a Dragon King born of the Clan Tigony. Dragon Kings are an ancient race of supernatural beings with special power endowed to them. They are proud warriors who have kept their identity a secret from most humans. Audrey is branded as a traitor and exiled from her clan when she marries a human man and later gives birth to a son. Her peaceful life is shattered when her husband is murdered, and she and her son are kidnapped by the Aster family, a human crime cartel who exploit Dragon Kings by using them for scientific experiments and confining them underground where they train as cage warriors who fight for favor and privilege. Although the reason is never fully explained, the Dragon King race is in danger of extinction because of difficulty conceiving children. Giving natural birth to a Dragon King is a rarity, and the sinister Dr. Aster keeps Audrey and her son locked away in a laboratory where he experiments on them to further his knowledge of this supernatural race. After a year of being tortured by Aster, Audrey is forced to become a cage warrior if she ever wants to see her son again. I admired Audrey’s perseverance and tenacity throughout the story. She endures endless verbal, emotional, and physical abuse that would easily break others. Despite the odds, she is willing to do whatever it takes to be reunited with her son, even though she knows that it is likely Dr. Aster will not keep his promise. Leto of Clan Garnis has the responsibility for training Audrey to fight as his partner. He is a multifaceted, dominating character with a brutal nature, which I found hard to like but could understand, since he has spent his entire life training and fighting in the cages, and violence is all he’s ever known. Leto is an undefeated fighter in the cages. He is proud that his wins have given his sister the opportunity to conceive a child with her husband and continue the family line. He believes the sacrifices he has made are honorable. His reputation has made him a favorite to the Asters, and he enjoys the respect and privileges that are given to him. Leto has never worried about his elite warrior status until he meets Audrey. He is given little time to train her, and if she doesn’t do well, that will reflect upon him and the future of his family. Leo tries to force Audrey into submission through harsh, inhumane treatment. His lack of compassion and indifference to her situation was at times hard for me to read. However, no matter how cruel Leto is, Audrey still manages to retain some form of dignity and defy his efforts to break her spirit. Even though Audrey knows she has to learn to fight for her son’s sake, she refuses to use her incredible powers of harnessing and manipulating energy since she has no control over them. She worries that by doing so, she will lose her sense of self and turn into a ruthless monster. Much of the book focuses on the dynamic nature of Audrey and Leto’s relationship. Spending so much time together creates a mounting sexual tension that becomes harder for them to ignore. A major turning point in the story occurs when Audrey and Leto become victims of Dr. Aster’s malevolence and begin to trust and work in sync with each other. I was enthralled with the second half of the book, where unexpected events arouse change in both Audrey and Leto. As Audrey embraces her warrior prowess, Leto begins to question the illusion of his life. I enjoyed watching both characters grow emotionally and physically closer once they understood each other’s plight. Piper does an excellent job with character development and shows that no matter how flawed, one can always be redeemed. The greatest drawback of the story is the lack of necessary background to help me fully understand these warriors and the challenges they face: What’s the story behind the origin and powers of the Dragon Kings? Why are Dragon Kings affiliating with human crime organizations? Is it always by choice or are they forced into it like Audrey? How exactly does Dr. Aster “help” Dragon Kings with their fertility problems? I hope the author will flesh out more of this fantasy world she has created to make the read more enjoyable. I received a copy of Caged Warrior from the publisher via Edelweiss.
It was with great relish I started reading Caged Warrior. I had read its prequel and was hoping it would be as good. But instead, it was better. The characters and plot had so much more to them I lost myself in the telling and couldn't put this book down. This raw brutal story was like riding a roller coaster in the dark. It had so many twists and turns I didn't see coming. As each element is added, I kept thinking to myself, this is it, the great finale but it wasn’t. There was so much more to come. The anticipation keeps building as each new piece is unveiled until the final explosive climax at the end. Author Lindsey Piper has an amazing talent for creating some of the best characters I have read. Audrey is a tough chick from the very beginning but as Nynn takes over she becomes even stronger. Leto is a tough, strong and oh yeah...HOT. Yet, despite how strong they both are you can't help but feel empathy for all the sacrifices and heartbreaks both have had to endure to survive. The added bonus of Silent and Hark (See Caged Warrior) making a return appearance just rounded out all the characters to perfection. There is a prequel, Silent Warrior, which is not necessary to read to follow Caged Warrior but it sure does make it more interesting. The Dragon King series is easily the best paranormal series I have read this year. Oh man, I can not WAIT for the next book. Caged Warrior is an absolute must read. Get it now! I received this book from JeepDiva in exchange for my honest review. The opinions and rating of this review are solely mine and in no way was I compensated. Stars - 5, Flames - 3
4 Stars … Sexy and Dark Alternate Underworld Exiled from her clan, Audrey MacLaren married a human and bore a natural-born Dragon King. Life had been happy and ordinary until violence bursts into her family’s home. As captives of the Aster cartel, Audrey and her child are subjected to sadistic underground science experiments until a turn of events lands her in a Cage warrior’s training. She will fight to save the life of her son. Leto Garnis followed in his father’s footsteps to become the premiere Cage Warrior. His successes in the Cage have won his siblings the gift to conceive children. His newest goal is to win long-term nursing care for his broken sister, whose mind was shattered. Leto’s goal won’t be hindered by the neophyte he’s been ordered to train for the Cage. He will hone her skills through whatever means necessary. The first full-length novel in the Dragon King series transports readers into a dark, violent gladiator-style underworld. The private wars Leto and Audrey fight are fraught will emotional pain, longing, and ferocious determination. He’s a master warrior willingly collared in service to the Aster Cartel, believing the illusion of freedom. She’s the Dragon King captive with a wealth of untapped power and grim secrets. Together they generate sizzling moments in this striking Dragon King world. This is a series where the women are as fierce as their male counterparts. It’s where exceptional powers can defeat brawn with a cunning mind. Each of the five Dragon King clans possesses extraordinary gifts. Once, they were revered as human gods, providing the foundation for ancient mythologies. With their species nearly extinct, they purposely live segregated from one another, as their people once fought bitterly with one another. Most live within their clan’s territory. There’s also a secret group finding opportunities with the drug cartels. I had thought this books underlying purpose would be unraveling the fertility problem. Instead we’re held captive with Audrey deep within the underground Cage warrior culture, which dispensed merciless fight scenes and calculated brutality. Leto is presented as the arrogant, yet fair, trainer. As the ruling champion, he takes pride in his victories, along with the benefits rewarded to his family. It’s Leto who provides the most profound transformation. Audrey’s metamorphosis has its rewards. It also seemed as though her son, Jack,easily faded into the background, especially with him in crisis. With sizzling sexual tension, this story kept me in its grip until nearly the end. I do feel as though the best of Caged Warrior took place underground. Once topside, the story lost its grittiness to clichés. Plus an ongoing series storyline seemed broad and unclear. The conclusion didn’t leave me with an overwhelming need to read the next book. Will I read the next Dragon King book? Yes. This is the first book in a dark and interesting world of cartels, paranormal beings, and humans. These fierce clans are brimming with potential. Final Grade: B - Digital RC courtesy of Pocket Books via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
First you have to understand, there are no dragons in the Dragon Kings series. The Dragon King are an ancient race of beings, called demons, that were once worshiped as gods. Now there are only 5 known clans left of the Dragon King and they are fighting extinction. To make matters worse a group of humans have discovered a way to limit the Dragon King power and have enslaved them into a world of cage fighting and experiments. Audrey MacLaren is a descent of the Dragon King. Living in the world of humans, she has been exiled because she took a human mate. Ten years of marriage and a small son did not protect her from the humans...they broke into her home, killed her husband and took her and her son hostage. Now Audrey must fight for her life and the life of her son. Leto Garnis has been raised as a Cage warrior. He is given the task of teaching Audrey, making her into a Cage warrior. When Audrey presents signs of great abilities with using and manipulating energy she is sent into the cages to fight. Audrey must convince Leto that there is more than Cage fighting to save her son. Leto must convince Audrey that there is great value to winning to protect his family. Both discover that even in the dire circumstances love might save them both. Caged Warrior pulls you into an extremely dark and violent world. Betrayal and deception rule. The evil, sadistic mafia like group will stop at nothing in the fight for ultimate power and wealth. This is a book that will make you cringe but you just can't look away. I was captivated from start to finish... Lindsey Piper does an outstanding job, making this new world vividly engrained in your imagination and creating a story that will have you riveted to the pages. This ARC copy of Caged Warrior was given to me by Pocket Books in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication on June 25, 2013.

domain: literature


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We are thrilled to have 2 artists working on our beautiful sketches from Nasantsengel. Welcome Portland artists, Allison Rose and Sara Stout. Can't wait to see what they add. We look forward to sending it back soon!
We are so excited to announce a new partnership and mural exchange with Tanzania. Artist Meja Salima and activist David Kabambo join us from Mwanza, Tanzania near western side of Serengeti National Park. Meja is a painter and tutor for Arts4Wildlife, a project under Peace for Conservation, founded by David Kabambo. Their dream is to establish Painting Arts Vocational Training Center by 2025 to teach children art and prepare them for self-employment by selling artwork to tourists visiting Serengeti National Park and neighboring cities. Also working with other conservation groups like The Katie Adamson Conservation Fund, they hope by generating awareness and teaching the younger generation about animals, they will dramatically reduce poaching. Please take a look at some of the beautiful artwork by Meja and check out the video about Arts4Wildlife.
International Mural by Mail updates
This blog documents the exciting work in progress going on around the world for this international project!
Wed.....12 - 6 pm
Thurs...12 - 6 pm*
Fri...........12 - 6 pm
Sat.........12 - 6 pm
Sun.......12 - 6 pm
(First Thursdays 12 - 8pm)

domain: artistic


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Fretwork wood carving
History of fretwork wood carving
During the medieval period, fretwork became popular in Europe as well. It was used to decorate religious items such as altar screens, lecterns, and pulpits, as well as furniture and architectural elements. Fretwork reached its peak of popularity in the Gothic period, when the intricate patterns and delicate designs became synonymous with the Gothic style.
Techniques used in fretwork wood carving
- Piercing: This technique involves cutting out a pattern from a piece of wood, leaving only the pattern behind. The resulting piece of wood is delicate and fragile, and is often used in decorative items such as screens, room dividers, and lampshades.
- Incising: This technique involves carving into the surface of a piece of wood, creating a relief effect. The resulting piece of wood can be used in furniture and architectural elements, as well as decorative items such as picture frames and mirrors.
- Relief carving: This technique involves carving a pattern into the surface of a piece of wood, creating a raised effect. The resulting piece of wood can be used in furniture and architectural elements, as well as decorative items such as wall hangings and plaques.
- Intarsia: This technique involves using different types of wood to create a picture or pattern. The resulting piece of wood is often used in furniture and decorative items such as boxes and picture frames.
Tools used in fretwork wood carving
- Scroll saw: A scroll saw is a type of saw that is used to cut intricate patterns into a piece of wood. It is a very precise tool that allows for intricate cuts and curves.
- Chisels: Chisels are used to carve into the surface of a piece of wood, creating a relief effect. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and are often used in conjunction with a mallet to create the desired effect.
- Sandpaper: Sandpaper is used to smooth the surface of a piece of wood after it has been carved or cut. It comes in a variety of grits, and is used to create a smooth, polished finish.
- Wood glue: Wood glue is used to hold pieces of wood together in intarsia and other decorative techniques. It is a strong adhesive that is specially designed for use with wood.
Uses of fretwork wood carving
- Furniture: Fretwork is often used to decorate furniture, such as chairs, tables, and cabinets. It adds a decorative element to the furniture, making it more visually appealing.
- Architectural elements: Fretwork is also used in architectural elements such as screens, room dividers, and window frames. These elements add a decorative touch to a space, while also serving a practical purpose.
- Decorative items: Fretwork is also used in a variety of decorative items, such as picture frames, mirrors, and boxes. These items can be used to add a touch of elegance and sophistication to any room.
- Art: Fretwork can also be used as a form of art, with artists creating intricate and beautiful pieces using the technique. These pieces can be displayed on their own or incorporated into larger pieces of art.


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Chad and Natalie live on Grand Cayman and are getting married back home in South Africa and wanted their Engagement Portraits to reflect their lives on Grand Cayman. I was so excited when they chose downtown George Town as the location for their Grand Cayman Engagement Session. I photographed them with some of the Islands most historic buildings as their backdrop. We had a fabulous time and it showed. It was such an honor to capture the love on film!
Congratulations Chad & Natalie!
Location: Downtown George Town, Grand Cayman | Photographer: Tina Foster Photography | Film: Portra 400


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Our embroidery can't match the original painting, but the symbolism on our Divine Mercy Bear still rings true: "...the pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous. The red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls."
This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Isaiah 29:13
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:7
Remove all hangtags and attachments before giving this item to a child. For ages 3 and up. Surface washable. Handmade in China.


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Christmas / Winter 2022-23
On board the Silver Sturgeon and Silver Barracuda from November 2022 to January 2023, we will enchant you with this winter’s luxurious festive styling.
Cruise through London's glittering riverscape aboard Woods' Silver Fleet, surrounded by interiors bedecked with Douglas Fir boughs entwined with glistening baubles, snow-dusted pine cone & Ivy wreaths, soft faux fur throws and shimmering candles wrapped in foliage.
For the 2022 festive season, our flagship will be decked with boughs of Holly & Ivy and wild, green floristry. Enjoy your own private yacht opulently decorated for winter with a Wild Forest green wall, twinkling with white lights, huge silver vases packed with winter boughs & glistening baubles, bespoke crackers and Ivy tendril lanterns.
Glittering through the winter season, our glorious vintage Silver Barracuda will offer two decks laden with on-trend ‘Deck the Decks’ styling for 2022; featuring pine garlands, sculptural ivy wrapped table vases, soft faux fur throws and glistening baubles.

domain: design


The beloved Ophelia appliqué bralette now available in a vibrant Emerald Green. Stretch silk with barely there beige lace that looks almost as if it's painted on the body. Appliquéd lace around the cups and along the band makes this a set that is as luxurious as it is comfortable. Comes with light padding. Wear it with the matching panty and garter belt. Handmade to order in California.
This delicate bralette requires a special technique to complete, please allow 6-8 weeks before it ships.
Fit: Midline Triangle Cup Material: Stretch Silk 95% Silk/5% Spandex, Nylon lace Care: Hand wash in cold water, hang or lay flat to dry. Wash separately. Dry clean ok.


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Today dawned clear and cold, another of those days when as soon as the sun's rays touched the river, mists rose. I couldn't resist going out to take some pictures.
And this last picture to show that I do really know what the poem is about. One newly picked pear, and one that I didn't notice soon enough. they are beautifully sweet and juicy, and the birds know it!
Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.....
... And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core....
If only cars would run on pear juice.


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Read Gabriel Malor’s excellent take-down of this latest nonsense at AoSHQ: Newsweek’s Global Warming Fearmongering Isn’t Science, It’s Science-Fiction
That is Newsweek’s latest cover and it comes with a hysterical fantasy from the so-called science editor. The article is one of those piece of media paranoia that is so wrong it is hard to know where to start. Since I haven’t got time to fisk the whole piece, here are five obvious errors.
Read it all. Basically, you have to be nearly brain-dead to fall for Sharon Begley’s fear-mongering.

domain: news


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Former Ashland selectman Jon Fetherston, a Republican, is launching a run for the Massachusetts U.S. Senate seat vacated by new Secretary of State John Kerry.
Fetherston said he got into the race because he was "disgusted" with the national government, and the Republican Party did not seem to have another candidate. "I'm sick and tired of gridlock in the country," he said. "I'm an average man who will represent everyone and will work real hard."
Fetherson’s 15-year-old has autism, and he said he wants to bring national attention to the “autism epidemic.” Other important issues to him include over-taxation, fraud in government, immigration reform and a void in leadership in Washington.
Fetherston is one of several lesser-known candidates to join the race, after many of the more well-known Republicans in the state decided not to run. Fetherston ran for state representative for the 7th Middlesex District, which includes Ashland and Framingham, and lost to Democrat Tom Sannicandro with just 29 percent of the vote.
So far, State Rep. Daniel Winslow of Norfolk is the only Republican candidate in the Senate special election with political experience even at a Statehouse level. State Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr of Gloucester and former Navy Seal Gabriel Gomez of Cohasset are also said to be considering runs. Douglas Bennett of Dorchester, a former candidate for Boston City Council whose platform is similar to that of former presidential candidate Ron Paul, is also running.
Democratic U.S. Reps. Edward Markey and Stephen Lynch will compete in the Democratic primary.
The candidates have until Feb. 27 to get 10,000 signatures to appear on the ballot as a party candidate.
Fetherston, a U.S. Army veteran, is a two-time chairman of the Ashland Board of Selectmen and a member of the Ashland Board of Health. He has served on the boards of various organizations in Ashland and the Metro West area, including the Metro West Regional Transportation Authority and the Ashland Republican Town Committee, and has been active in Ashland town affairs.
Professionally, Fetherston is a former general manager for Legal Seafoods and has worked in several jobs in the restaurant industry. He now works for Sovereign Bank as a personal banker.
Fetherston said he will put his own money into the race. Asked how he plans to compete with more well-known and well-funded candidates like Lynch and Markey, he said, “The goal right now is the arduous goal of getting 10,000 signatures to get on the ballot to be Republican nominee.”


Extremist rebels in Mozambique’s northern Cabo Delgado province killed a worker at the international charity Médecins Sans Frontières, shortly after a former vice president of the organization was asked to produce a report on the humanitarian situation in the conflict-affected region.
Mozambique’s Islamic extremist insurgency, which began in October 2017, is blamed for the deaths of more than 3,000 people and the displacement of an estimated 900,000 people. In March 2021 insurgent violence forced the French company TotalEnergies to suspend its $20 billion liquefied natural gas project in the north of the province. TotalEnergies invoked force majeure after insurgents attacked the city of Palma, very close to the gas project.
Palma was later recaptured by Mozambican and Rwandan forces and the government has urged TotalEnergies to resume work on the gas project.
ISIS MILITIANT CAUSE HORSE IN MOZAMBIQUE, KILLING MORE THAN 1,000 IN INSURGENCE
Last week, TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne paid a flying visit to Mozambique during which he inspected the gas project site and Palma, as well as the port city of Mocímboa da Praia, once a rebel stronghold. Pouyanne later dined with Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi in the Cabo Delgado provincial capital of Pemba before departing the same day.
At the end of the visit of the top executive, TotalEnergies announced the appointment of Jean-Christophe Rufin, “recognized expert in humanitarian actions and human rights”, to undertake “an independent mission to assess the humanitarian situation in the province of Cabo Delgado”. Rufin is a former vice president of Médecins Sans Frontières, known by its French acronym MSF, and former president of the non-governmental organization Action Against Hunger. Rufin was also the French ambassador to the Gambia and Senegal, appointed by then Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, one of the co-founders of MSF.
Rufin’s report is expected in late February and TotalEnergies said it will help it and its consortium partners in the gas project “decide whether the conditions are met to resume project activities.”
“The lifting of force majeure and the resumption of activities at the LNG project site in Mozambique require, in particular, the restoration of security in the region, the resumption of public services and the return to normal life for the population of the region,” Pouyanne said said.
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS WITHDRAWAL FROM SOMALIA
But while Mozambique’s military and its regional allies have gained ground, the rebels are still able to carry out lethal attacks, including on the main north-south road linking the city of Pemba with the Palma gas project.
On February 1, two vans and a minibus were attacked south of the city of Macomia, killing about seven people, including a nurse, and wounding seven others. The vehicles were left burned on the road, local newspaper Zitamar News reported.
Then on February 4, the day after Pouyanne’s visit, another attack hit the same stretch of road. An MSF staff member, on his day off, was fatally injured while traveling on public transport to visit his family in Pemba, MSF announced. The man was a driver in Macomia for MSF, which he joined in 2019. He is survived by his wife and five children.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“Today we are saddened by the loss of a colleague who, like all staff, is fully committed to assisting displaced families and often faces significant risks,” said Federica Nogarotto, MSF mission director in Mozambique. “This is a very sad day for us and for our team.”


The Negotiators Season 2 trailer
A nuclear arms deal with Russia. Reparations for indigenous communities in Canada. A hostage release negotiated by the hostage himself.
The Negotiators podcast is back on Sep. 27 with all new stories from people resolving some of the world’s most dramatic conflicts. Hosted by Jenn Williams, the Negotiators is a production of Doha Debates and Foreign Policy.


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Gritting teams have threatened to permanently abandon some main routes if drivers continue to park obstructively.
Gritting Kent has tweeted a picture of a car, part of which is mounted on a kerb, on a primary salting route.
The way the car is parked leaves a narrow gap between parked cars on the other side, an impossible fit for a gritting vehicle.
The service, implemented by Kent County Council, tackles primary routes - which are A roads and large trunk roads as a first port of call.
This accounts for around 30% of the county's roads.
Secondary routes, which includes smaller residential streets, are treated during periods of prolonged frost and widespread snow.
It covers an additional 15% of roads.
'Once again we need to remind motorists'
Teams have been out in force most nights as road temperatures have plunged to below freezing.
The force is made up of 64 gritting vehicles, including four mini gritters to treat narrow roads.
The tweet said: "Once again we need to remind motorists to be considerate when parking on primary salting routes.
"On a daily basis crews over the county are reporting obstructions on routes.
"If we can't get through on multiple occasions then there is a chance of roads being removed from routes."
The shout out got 23 likes and some people made comparisons to emergency vehicles, and cited a situation where an ambulance or fire truck needed to get past.
The gritting team added: "It's also an inconvenience to residents when lorries have to reverse back late at night with the noise."
Yellow weather warning
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for snow and ice to come into force for the entire county at 1pm today (January 31).
It warns of disruption to parts of England and Wales from Thursday afternoon through to late Friday.
This also means that there could be possible travel delays on roads stranding some vehicles and passengers, and delays or cancellations to trains.
People have also been urged to consider leaving work early to get home safely.
Southeastern has warned that it will implement a reduced timetable for tomorrow morning, the details of which can be found here.
Join the Kent Traffic and Travel group
We've created a Facebook group for people who live in and travel through the county to keep up to date with what's happening on the roads and the trains.
We will keep you informed about the latest news that affects your journey to work or school, as well as at the weekend.
We'll also let you know in advance if there are any roadworks, railworks or closures you should know about, or if there are any problems at the Dartford Crossing.
Join the group here.
You can also follow us on Twitter here.


Even though the Murciélago gave way to its successor, the Aventador a few years earlier now, the V12 powered italian supercar is still one of the most beautiful sports cars you can find on the roads. It is powered by a V12 engine which produces 670 PS (493 kW; 661 hp) at 8000 rpm and 660 N·m (490 lbf·ft) of torque at 6500 rpm, thanks to revised valve timing and upgraded intake system. This is enough for the Lamborghini Murciélago LP 670–4 SV to achieve a sprint from 0-62mph (0-100km/h) in just 2.9 seconds. The vehicle will go on to 200 km/h (120 mph) in 7.4 seconds. As tested by Car and Driver magazine, confirming the respectable numbers the public was expecting with this beast.
Lamborghini claims a top speed of 341 km/h (212 mph) when the car is fitted with an optional smaller spoiler, or 336 km/h (209 mph) with the standard Aeropack wing. The Lamborghini Murcielago SV was built in 186 units – a smaller than expected number, since the original production plan of the ultimate Murciélago was limited to 350 cars – cut short by the need to attain room for the successive Lamborghini Aventador production requirements there.
The Lamborghini Murciélago SV we have here is further updated with a set of HRE Performance wheels that grace its exterior. These HRE S107 wheels are a perfect, lightweight and remarkable addition for this vehicle, as they give a contemporary touch to the somewhat aging supercar overall. Check out the full media gallery of this project and the wheels installed, right below. Enjoy!


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Sometimes you just want something quick and simple for dinner but that shouldn’t mean boring. This camembert garlic bread is quick, easy flippin’ amazing too. I mean it’s cheese and bread and garlic so it’s hard to go wrong really.
You could try experimenting with this bread by stuffing different ingredients in the bread such as tomato sauce, chorizo, mozzarella, basil, pesto, bacon, whatever you want really.
1 whole camembert
2 garlic cloves, grated
3 Tbsp butter
½ tsp dried rosemary
1 loaf of crusty bread
Sea salt to taste
Preheat the oven to 180C.
Remove all the packaging from the camembert and use the outer box as a stencil to cut a circular hole in the centre of the crusty loaf. Do not cut all the way through. Remove just enough bread so the camembert can sit snuggly in the centre of the bread.
Remove the top rind of the camembert and place the cheese in the hole you just cut into the bread, cut side up.
With a serrated knife, score the bread several times lengthways and then widthways to achieve a checkerboard effect.
Add the garlic, butter, rosemary and a pinch of salt to a bowl and microwave for a few seconds to melt the butter. Spread this mixture between the scored lines you just made in the bread.
Sprinkle the whole thing with a little salt and set on a baking tray. Bake in the lower part of the oven for 20-25 minutes until the cheese is oozing, the bread is crusty and the garlic is fragrant.
Rip squares of the buttery garlic bread and dunk them into the gooey cheese. Shake your head in amazement.
Spiced cod flatbreads with preserved lemon and avocado salsa, pul biber onions and harissa lime yoghurt
A vibrant dish of aromatic spiced cod with fragrant yoghurt and zesty salsa all wrapped up in a crisp, garlicky flatbread. The flavours going on here are insane. Zesty freshness from the lemony salsa, velvety cod in delicate spices, garlicky charred bread, zingy crunchy onions, creamy avocado, peppery heat, I could go on but I won’t hold you from the recipe any longer. This takes a bit of time to prepare as there are a few stages but it is in no way difficult and the result is so worth it!
You can use turmeric powder if you can’t find fresh turmeric root but it is quite readily available in most large supermarkets and gives a beautiful flavour, not to mention the health benefits.
Similarly, you can substitute paprika for the Aleppo pepper but if you can, try and source it as it has a mild fruitiness that is particularly tasty in this dish.
For the spiced cod:
2 tbsp Greek-style yoghurt
2 inch piece fresh turmeric, peeled and finely grated
1 garlic clove, crushed
300g cod loin, cut into 1 inch chunks
1 tbsp olive oil
For the flatbreads:
30g/1oz unsalted butter
175g/6oz plain flour
100ml/3½fl oz semi-skimmed milk
2 tsp freshly ground pepper
2 tsp garlic granules
1 tbsp olive oil
For the harissa and lime yoghurt:
280g Greek-style yoghurt
1 heaped tbsp rose harissa
1 lime, zest and juice
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the salsa:
small handful dill, roughly chopped
4 preserved lemons, deseeded and very finely chopped
1 tbsp barberries (optional)
½ ripe avocado, finely diced
2 tsp nigella seeds
For the pul biber onions:
1 small red onion, very thinly sliced
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp honey
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1 heaped tsp of pul biber/Aleppo pepper chilli flakes
To make the spiced cod, mix 2 tablespoons of the yoghurt with the turmeric and crushed garlic. Season well with salt and pepper and marinate the cod for 1 hour.
Meanwhile, to make the flatbreads, melt the butter and combine with the remaining ingredients, except for the oil. Mix until a firm dough has formed. Wrap in cling film and leave to rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
To make the salsa, mix the ingredients together in a bowl, season with salt and pepper and set aside.
To make the pickled onions, combine all the ingredients in a plastic container with a lid. Put the lid on and shake until the onions lose their rigidity. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
To make the harissa and lime yoghurt, mix everything together, season with salt and pepper and set aside.
Divide the dough into four and roll into thin rounds. Preheat a large frying pan over a medium heat. Brush the hot pan with the oil and grill the flatbreads for about 45–60 seconds on each side until lightly browned.
To make the cod, heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat, add the cod and brown on all sides until just cooked through.
To serve, divide the cod between 4 flatbreads and dollop a generous amount of the yoghurt on top. Add the salsa, some onions and sprinkle over extra Aleppo chilli flakes or nigella seeds.
I’ve been wanting to try wild garlic for ages but have never been able to find it… until now. I came across some at a local market and in my excitement, bought way more than one person could possibly eat. I have now stocked up the freezer with a variety of garlicky infused meals and baked goods. It’s going to be a good week.
These scones are wonderfully fluffy, and cheesy. The wild garlic is quite different to using garlic cloves. It has a more subtle onion flavour, very similar to chives but more… well, garlicky.
Makes about 6 whoppers
220g self-raising flour
½ teaspoon fine sea salt
1 egg beaten
120g grated cheddar cheese
a generous handful of wild garlic, finely chopped (if you haven’t got any wild garlic snipped chives work well instead)
a pinch of cayenne pepper
a good pinch of English mustard powder
Preheat the oven to 200°C
Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl
Rub the butter in until it resembles fine breadcrumbs
Stir in the grated cheese and finely chopped wild garlic or chives
Add the pepper and mustard and mix
Add enough milk to the beaten egg to make it up to 150ml of liquid
Make a well in the centre of the flour mixture and pour in the egg/milk mixture
Mix to a soft dough with a metal knife
Turn onto a floured surface and knead gently and lightly until it is just smooth
Press out to about 2½cm deep and cut out rounds with a 7cm pastry cutter gathering the scraps together each time, re-rolling and stamping until you have 6 or 7 scones
Pop the scones onto a lightly oiled baking sheet, brush the tops with a little milk and bake them for 15 – 20 minutes until well risen and golden brown and your kitchen smells divine
Leave to cool on a wire rack or scoff straight from the oven!
I only made these because I had a bit of pizza dough that needed using up in the fridge but this is how most of my tasty creations begin and this is no exception. Warm fresh dough encases a gooey cheese centre topped with rich garlic butter. They are fantastic served with a fresh tomato and basil sauce to dunk into. Far superior to anything you can buy, these go down an absolute storm when served in the middle of the table for everyone to dive into.
300g Strong White Bread Flour
1/2 tsp Fine Sea Salt
1/2 tsp Instant dried yeast
1/2 tsp Sugar
1/2 Garlic granules
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
30g Butter, softened
160ml luke warm Water
50g-60g block of Mozzarella Cheese
For the garlic butter:
20g Butter, melted.
2 Garlic cloves, grated
Measure the flour into a bowl.
Add the yeast to one side of the bowl and the salt, sugar and garlic to the other side.
Add the oil and butter and begin to mix, slowly add the water until the dough comes together. Once it has all come together, don’t add any more.
Knead the dough for 5-10 minutes on a lightly floured surface until the dough begins to look glossy and becomes stretchy.
Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with clingfilm and leave the dough somewhere warm to rise for an hour or so until the dough has doubled in size.
Preheat the oven to 220C/200Cfan.
Tip the dough out onto a floured surface and knock back to remove the air bubbles.
Weigh the dough out into balls weighing approximately 30g
Add roughly 3g of the cubed mozzarella to each piece of dough. At this point you can also sneak a mini scoop of garlic and herb boursin into the centre to intensify the oozy cheesy goodness. I only did it because I had a bit to use up but am so glad I did. Fold the dough around the cheese and roll into a ball.
Arrange the doughballs (you should have about 15-20) onto a greaseproof lined baking sheet in a circle, leaving a little gap in between each one.
Mix the melted butter and garlic together and brush half over the top of each dough ball.
Place the dough balls in the oven for 15 minutes until golden. Brush the remaining garlic butter over the balls once baked for an extra garlicky flavour.
Bread that requires no kneading, no waiting to rise and takes just minutes to cook? Oh yes! And the garlic and herb butter is uber simple and tastes amazing. This bread goes so well with so many dishes. Bubbly, charred, light and fluffy bread covered with garlicky, buttery yumminess. No need to thank me.
For the flatbreads:
350g self-raising flour, plus extra for dusting
1 teaspoon baking powder
350g natural yoghurt
For the garlic and herb butter:
2 cloves of garlic
a bunch of fresh soft herbs, such as flat-leaf parsley, tarragon, basil, dill
40g unsalted butter
A pinch of salt
Add all the flatbread ingredients to a mixing bowl and mix together with a spoon and then use clean hands to pat and bring everything together.
2. Dust a clean work surface with flour and then tip out the dough.
3. Knead for a minute or so to bring it all together (this isn’t a traditional bread recipe, so you don’t need to knead it for long – just enough time to bring everything together).
4. Put the dough into a floured-dusted bowl and cover with a plate, then leave aside.
5. For the garlic butter, peel the garlic cloves and grate them finely.
6. Pick the herb leaves onto a chopping board and finely chop them, discarding the stalks.
7. Melt the butter in a small pan over a medium heat, then stir through the garlic and chopped herbs and set aside.
8. Dust a clean work surface and rolling pin with flour, then divide the dough in half and then divide each half into 6 equal-sized pieces (roughly the size of a golf ball).
9. With your hands, pat and flatten the dough, then use a rolling pin to roll each piece into 12cm rounds, roughly 2mm to 3mm thick.
10. Use a knife to cut 6 lines into the centre of each round, leaving about 3cm at each end.
11. Place a griddle pan on a high heat, then once hot, cook each one for 1 to 2 minutes on each side, or until bar-marked and puffed up, turning with tongs.
12. Brush the flatbreads all over with herby garlic butter as they come off the griddle, then pile onto a serving board so everyone can dig in and help themselves.
Tip: If you don’t need so many breads or you need even more, the great thing about this recipe is you use half the yogurt to half the flour so adjust the weight accordingly. 100g each of yoghurt and flour will give you 2 flatbreads as a side to a meal.
This is a really easy, super quick meal of steamy noodles in a spicy, salty sauce with fresh crunchy veg and a bit of a chilli kick for good measure.
Slicing the chicken super thin not only means it cooks really quickly but the marinade also coats it really well and gives the meat a velvet texture and wonderful savoury flavour.
2 sheets of medium egg noodles
2 chicken breasts, sliced very thinly against the grain
1 Tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
1 Tbsp Shaoxing rice wine
2 tsp cornflour
1 Tbsp groundnut oil
½ red pepper and ½ green pepper, sliced
1 onion, sliced
Thumb sized piece of ginger, peeled and finely chopped
1 red chilli, sliced
3 Tbsp Black bean garlic sauce (Lee Kum Kee brand)
Coriander leaves to serve
Place the sliced chicken breast into a bowl and mix with the soy sauce, sesame oil, rice wine and cornflour. Leave to marinate for 20 minutes.
Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil, drop the noodles in and cook for 3 minutes or until the noodles are al dente. Drain and add a small drizzle of sesame oil to prevent sticking. Set aside.
Heat a wok until it is very hot then add the groundnut oil. Stir-fry the chicken pieces and marinade for about 5 minutes until lightly browned and just cooked. Remove the meat from the wok and set aside.
Add the peppers and onions to the wok and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until softened slightly. Add the garlic and chilli and stir for a minute more.
Turn the heat down to medium and return the chicken to the pan along with the black bean garlic sauce. Mix everything together.
Add the noodles to the wok and stir everything really well to combine. Add a splash of water if the sauce seems too thick or dry.
Serve in bowls and sprinkle with coriander to garnish. Eat immediately!
I have included a recipe for homemade corn tortillas using masa harina which is a bit tricky to come by in the UK but is available in some international grocers or online. The flavour from this very fine cornmeal is unrivalled by anything you can buy in the shop and is totally worth a little extra effort. You can of course use shop bought tortillas – corn or flour – if you prefer.
The vegetables in the salsa are grilled to char them before blending which gives a sweetness to the onions and garlic and a deep flavour to the tomatoes.
Then there is the guacamole with creamy avocado and fresh citrus flavours. Splodged on top of zesty, spicy, smoky pulled chicken, what more do you need?
For the corn tortillas:
(Makes 12-24 depending on how generous you are)
150g/5½oz masa harina
100ml/3½fl oz cold water
1 tbsp olive oil
Mix the masa harina and salt in a bowl. Add the water and olive oil and mix until a smooth dough is achieved. (If it’s too sticky add a little more masa harina, or, if it’s too dry, add a drop more water.)
Divide the dough into 24 balls. Cover and leave to rest in the fridge for 10 minutes.
Flatten the balls of dough with your hands – alternatively, use a tortilla press or roll them between two layers of cling film. Flatten to approximately 3mm thick.
To cook the tortillas, lightly oil a flat griddle pan or frying pan and place over a hot heat.
Cook the tortillas for approximately one minute on each side, or until lightly coloured.
Cover in foil or with a damp towel until ready to serve.
For the spicy shredded chicken:
2 tsp celery salt
1 tbsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried chilli flakes
1 tsp garlic salt
1 tsp each ground cumin, coriander
1 tsp smoked paprika
2 limes, zest and juice only
6 chicken thighs, skin removed
For the roasted tomato salsa:
6 tomatoes, halved
1 large red onion, cut into wedges
2 fat red or green chillies
2 tsp chipotle chilli paste
4 garlic cloves, peeled
1 small bunch coriander
2 limes, juice only
salt and pepper
For the guacamole:
3 ripe avocados
3 tbsp soured cream
½ lime, zest and juice
½ lemon, zest and juice
salt and pepper
To serve (optional):
Monterey Jack or strong cheddar cheese, grated
spring onions, finely chopped
fresh coriander, finely chopped
Fresh green salad
Method for the fillings:
For the spicy shredded chicken, preheat the oven to 180C.
Add all the dry ingredients and the lime juice and zest to a bowl. Stir to combine.
Pat dry the chicken thighs using kitchen paper and then place the chicken thighs into the bowl and coat in the spice mix.
Leave the chicken to marinate for at least an hour. Remove the chicken from the bowl, place the coated thighs on a foil lined baking tray and cook for 35 minutes, or until cooked through.
Meanwhile make the roasted tomato salsa. Preheat the grill to high. Place the tomatoes, red onion wedges, chillies and garlic onto a baking tray. Lightly brush with oil.
Place under the hot grill and cook until the tomato skins are blackened, approximately 10 minutes.
Place all the charred ingredients into a food processor with the chipotle paste, coriander and lime juice. Pulse until a chunky consistency is achieved. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Set aside until ready to serve.
For the guacamole, cut the avocados in half and remove the stone. Remove the flesh from the skin and roughly chop.
Place in a bowl and lightly crush using a fork. Add the soured cream, lemon and lime juice and zest. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Set aside until ready to serve.
For the spicy shredded chicken, once the chicken is cooked set aside to cool. When cool enough to handle, remove the meat from the bone and shred.
To serve, simply place a dollop of whichever fillings you desire (I recommend a bit of everything… yolo) into your corn tortilla and apply to face!

domain: food


text:
This unique ensemble is composed of approximately twenty actors, performing theatre with acrobatic skill on the smallest stage possible – the stilt. We are based in Germany but we working world wide.
«In airy heights a happening is dragging multilayered told plausibly and along. Floating over all, the Stelzer kidnaps divine and human belonging in such a way into the deep, with completely own aesthetics.»
The idea «theatre on stilts» was actually initiated by the work with the FTM (Free Theatre Munich), founded in 1970 by George Froscher and Kurt Bildstein.
The stilt actor has to conquer his performance-area first. Independent from stage and technology he turns streets and squares into theatre halls.
Therefore this kind of theatre, exposed to the rough conditions of the market-place, is influenced by different elements:
The most essential parts of the text have to be extracted and the content of them caught on to. The audience itself is an integral part of the performance.
So «Theatre on Stilts» is one of the most vivid and direct ways of expressing urban culture.
With actually more than 16 productions of very different character, the Stilt Walkers have marked and developed this genre considerably, since their start in 1983.
«Die Stelzer» participate with productions like «walking acts» or big «open-air theatre» on international festivals.
- 1983 First foundation of the group
- 1994 Established as a theatre company
- 1999 Exploration the professional and international work
- Since 2004 open-air-theatre on tour «Discorsi» or «Rheingold»
- 2011 Open-air-theatre «Licca Line» with 40 youth stiltwalkers
- 2014 Workshops for International Youth Projects


text:
Find providers and contact information
Hiking in Norway
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Breathtaking views over Sirdals moorlands. A challenge, but well worth the effort!
The hike up to Vidasethovden is an unique experience! At the top, one of the country's most fantastic views is awaiting you: The Sognefjord in it's who...
Visit the wonderful mountains where a troll (according to legend) lived! If you look closely you will find the footprints left by him on the road!
The children who used to tend the cattle here were told to be careful, especially in the dark or during thunderstorms. There is a place in the mountain that is said to be troll country and traces can be found, if you look closely. There is a troll's footprint named "Røsefoten". Infact, legend has it that the troll grew too tall and had to sit, which left a large imprint in the mountain. More markings are to be found in the valley, Tveit Hunnedalen. One in particular is said to be his large rope bag which has left an imprint on the mountainside.
Hike to Flerehei, where you can still find the remains of a dramatic plane crash! On 4 January 1946 a four-engined RAF bomber carrying eight crew crashed during a night training sortie on high ground in Lunde, Sirdal. The entire crew perished but remnants of the aircraft can still be found scattered around Flerehei.
This hike is a fairly strenuous one but the views and the discovery of scattered history at the summit is well worth it.
Hiking to the peak of Trysilfjellet Mountain
The peak of Trysilfjellet Mountain, 1,132 metres above sea level, is a popular hiking destination for the...
The Stave – Bleik coastal trail in Andøy is one of the Coastal Trails in Vesterålen.
This is a trip with varying degrees of difficulty. The trail stret...
Easy hike through open mountain terrain to lovely viewpoint.
Masi is a viewpoint behind the Dåsnesmoen residential area in Hornnes. The trail follows a path through forest terrain. There are several open spaces...
The summit Fennefossfjellet is a well known, local landmark, easily visible from all directions with its tall radio/TV/cellphone tower. The trail start...

domain: hobby


The Tru-Flight Quiet Barrel from CMI uses a precision-rifled barrel specifically designed for paintball! Featuring Linear Rifling with land and groves.
*This Item is a Clearance Item, There are No Returns or Refunds on this Product*
- Extreme Accuracy
- Tighter Groupings
- Greater Distance
- Spin-Free Projection
- Quiet Performance
The outside diameter of this barrel is 7/8-inch.
- Tacamo Vortex
- Tacamo MK5
- Tippmann A5, X7
- ACI Illustrator, BT, BT-4, Procarbine


House price inflation of Bangalore has beaten all other cities, according to the Housing Price Inflation data included for the first time in Economic Survey.
Bangalore property prices were at high every year between 2001 and 2005, according to data from National Housing Bank (NHB).
- Bangalore – property prices rise 28.8% every year between 2001 and 2005.
- Delhi – average price increase of 19.1 per cent.
- Greater Mumbai City Corporation (GMCC) areas – up by 18.6 %
- Kolkata Municipal Corporation – up by 17.7 %.
via -[ BS ]


text:
Anatomically accurate multiscale-multiphysics models of total cardiac function
Prof. Gernot Planck (University of Graz)
Thursday 6th February, 2014 14:00-15:00 Maths 326
Despite the overwhelming wealth of data available today, gaining mechanistic insight into cardiac function remains to be a challenging endeavour due to the multiscale/multiphysics nature of cardiac function. Computer simulation has become a powerful adjunct to experimental studies, but current modeling methodology imposes severe limitations, forcing research to resort to overly simplified modeling assumptions. This talk will highlight recent methodological advances in terms of modeling organ scale cardiac anatomy and electro-mechanical function at high spatial resolution. The presented methods aim at lifting many of the current modeling restrictions to enable computational studies where model complexity is chosen as a function of the question being addressed, and not based on feasibility constraints. The use of advanced numerical methods is of pivotal importance to reduce execution times, thus facilitating quick simulation-analysis cycles. Application examples will be presented including studies on mechanisms underlying the formation and maintenance of cardiac arryhthmias and their treatment by defibrillation therapy.

domain: medical


text:
Disability Sports Coach - Virtual event
For our 5th virtual event we were joined by Disability Sports Coach! We had such a fun packed day with them, and we loved every minute of it.
Whilst in our event with Disability Sports Coach, we started with a warm-up and then practiced our ball skills by throwing a ball (or socks) in the air and catching them. We also did some running on the spot, star jumps and stretching. In the background, we had music playing which kept us energised so we could show off our best sports skills!
We spent the rest of our day having fun with Phab in lots of different breakout rooms. We got to sing and dance to some of our favourite songs, including lots of Disney songs and ABBA. There were also some fun games such as hangman, scavenger hunts, I spy and an animals memory game. We also played the pancake memory game where we took it in turns to say what we had on our pancakes and repeat what everyone else had on their pancakes! There was also some time for chatting in-between all of our fun activities and we loved finding out what everyone had been up to since the last trip.
We finished the day by all re-joining the main room and having a little sing along. It was a couple of our members birthdays that week and so we sung them all happy birthday. They got to request a song too, so we finished with a sing along to Live While We’re Young. We had such a fun day, and we can’t wait for the next virtual trip!


text:
Billions of dollars of pre-election spending by the Indian government and political parties in the next two months is unlikely to stop the nation’s economy from slowing further, economists said.
Asia’s third-largest economy lost momentum in the final quarter of 2018, as the annual rate of growth slipped to 6.6 percent, much lower than expected and the slowest pace in five quarters.
But the worst may not be over.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will be seeking a second term in elections due to be held by May, in an interim budget last month introduced populist spending measures worth 1.8 trillion rupees ($25.37 billion) and modest tax cuts in the current fiscal year ending March 31 in an attempt to win the votes of farmers and the urban middle class. That is on top of additional spending at state government level. Read more
Latest posts by The Economic Times (Reuters) (see all)
- India’s Growth May Decelerate Further Despite Election Spending - March 3, 2019
- India’s 2018 Thermal Coal Imports Grew At Fastest Pace In Four Years: Sources - January 27, 2019
- NLC India Ltd To Set-up Mines, Power Projects In Tamil Nadu - January 27, 2019

domain: finance


text:
Ahmet Olgun, a former police officer who was fired from his job by an emergency decree as part of Turkey’s massive post-coup purge of state institutions, died after setting himself on fire in Turkey’s northern province of Ordu, Turkish Minute reported.
“I’m not a traitor,” the 45-year-old former officer said in a suicide note, according to local media reports, which also said that a friend of Olgun described him in a social media post as “a father of three” who was “working day and night” to provide for his family.
“This is a horrible suicide! May God rest his soul. … We can’t complain enough about this persecution [of dismissed civil servants]. This sin is just too great!”Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu, a human rights advocate and deputy from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), said in a tweet on Friday regarding Olgun’s death, putting the blame on President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) government.
Following the failed coup, the Turkish government declared a state of emergency and carried out a massive purge of state institutions under the pretext of an anti-coup fight. More than 130,000 public servants, including 4,156 judges and prosecutors, as well as 29,444 members of the armed forces were summarily removed from their jobs for alleged membership in or relationships with “terrorist organizations” by emergency decree-laws subject to neither judicial nor parliamentary scrutiny.
The government also shut down 164 media organizations, 1,058 educational institutions and 1,769 NGOs.
Former public servants were not only fired from their jobs; they were also prohibited from working again in the public sector and getting a passport. The government also made it difficult for them to work formally in the private sector. Notes were put on the social security database about dismissed public servants to deter potential employers.
According to a joint report by the Justice for Victims Platform and Gergerlioğlu, the two-year-long state of emergency declared after the failed putsch caused immense suffering among public servants who were dismissed from their jobs by the government as well as their families.
According to the victims’ family members taking part in the survey, the biggest problem they have been facing is economic hardship (97.9 percent) followed by psychological problems (88.6 percent), loss of social prestige and social exclusion (83.7 percent), the disintegration of social circles (83.1 percent), unemployment/lack of employment (80.4 percent) and lack of social security (73.2 percent).
Although it is not certain how many former public servants have died by suicide, the most recent report published by Veli Ağbaba from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) said in 2021 that there were at least 46 known cases. Other sources say there are many as 100 cases of suicide among dismissed civil servants.

domain: sociology


text:
The Nasdaq Composite is poised to go where it hasn’t gone in two years: correction territory.
Tuesday’s drop pushed the tech-heavy index down as much as 9.2% from its early March peak. Correction territory is Wall Street parlance for a decline of at least 10% from a recent peak. The last time the Nasdaq suffered at least a 10% pullback was in November 2012, when the index dropped 11% throughout a two-month time frame.
The previous time the Dow and S&P 500 suffered 10% drops was in the second half of 2011, when Europe was in the midst of a debt crisis and the U.S. credit rating was downgraded.
Money managers have warned for months that a pullback of 10% or more was long overdue. Stocks began to pull back several times this year, provoking fears of a broader decline, only to recover and move higher each time.
More In Stocks
- Stocks Have Good Head on Their Shoulders
- How to Be a Smart - and Winning - Investor - Podcast
- Unconventional Returns for Stocks During Conventions
- The S&P 500 Blew Past Analysts' Year-End Targets
- Sure, the Market's Overbought, and It Can Stay That Way Longer Than You Think
- All of a Sudden, U.S. Economic Data Looking Good Again
This time has been different, thus far. Many of the high-flying momentum stocks that helped fuel the Nasdaq’s 38% rise last year have slumped sharply in recent weeks. Biotech, Internet and social media stocks have been hit hardest.
The Nasdaq Comp recently dropped 1.4% to 3965. The level to watch is 3922.18, which would represent a 10% drop from its March closing high. If it falls below that level, the Nasdaq will officially be in correction territory.
The Dow and S&P 500 still have a long way to go before reaching that mark. The Dow is off 2.4% from its recent high, while the S&P 500 is down 3.2% from its all-time high.
UPDATE: The last time the Nasdaq suffered a pullback of at least 10% came in the second half of 2012. An earlier version of this post mistakenly said it hadn’t suffered a drop of that magnitude since the summer of 2011.

domain: economics


The Lewiston Council on the Arts will once again be presenting plenty of free, great music this summer with Blue Mondays, the "Summer of '69," and the Lewiston Jazz Project.
All concerts are free and open to the public.
•The Lewiston Jazz Project features the New Upstate Express every week. Directed by Ron Corsaro, the band performs original and classic jazz repertoire, swing and modern jazz accompanied by guest artists. The concerts take place on Thursdays at 7 p.m. The Lewiston Jazz Project is July 7 through Aug. 25.
•"Summer of '69": "Tune in, turn on and reunite at the region's grooviest summer happening of the year!" says the LCA's Eva Nicklas. "Summer of '69" features some of Lewiston's favorite rock bands from the '60s, including the Loved Ones, County Orphanage and the Invaders. Grammy-winner Gary Baker is also on stage.
"Summer of '69" rocks Friday, July 15, at 6 p.m.
•Blue Mondays: It's considered some of the best blues in Western New York, says Nicklas. "Past recipient of the prestigious Muddy Award, this eagerly awaited series started out as a single Monday concert 16 years ago. Now, a series of six concerts featuring the very best regional blues, the event attracts a faithful following of blues lovers from all over WNY and Canada."
All LCA concerts are at the Hennepin Park Gazebo, Fourth and Center streets, and get under way at 7 p.m. Concerts include: July 11, Harmonica Dean & the Blue Lights; July 18, Four in Tune; July 25, Rod Nickson Project; Aug. 1, Blues Hounds; Aug. 8, Heavenly Chillbillies; Aug. 15, Steve Burnside and the Original Marquis; and Aug. 22, Caitlin and the Jamie Moses Band.
Check out www.crossborderblues.com for more on binational blues concerts in the area.


text:
Secrets of Adoulin's past will be unveiled in the upcoming September version update of Final Fantasy XI, as Roskin, always in search of new knowledge, reveals a new quest for adventurers that uncovers information about King August and his incursions into the jungles surrounding the city. What mysteries will be answered? What will you find buried in Adoulin's past?
Excited for this new quest? Let us know over on the ZAM forums!
The September version update will bring along with it the continuation of one of Seekers of Adoulin's mini-sagas!
Roskin, the bumbling Yocile-oggler from the Thirst for the Ages" and "Thirst for the Eons," never content to be a mere witness to history, sends the player off to learn about events surrounding King August's many forays into the jungles. Explore a different angle on the sacred city's past with the third installment in this gripping side story!
* In order to receive this quest, players must have completed the previous two chapters in the installment as well as chapter four of the Seekers of Adoulin mission up to and including "Balamor, the Deathborne Xol."

domain: history


Spray valve of Longmen high speed glue dispenser
编辑:admin 日期:2017-10-12 17:12 浏览:
Dispensing machine spray valve is generally unable to use this valve, Longmen high-speed dispensing machine dispensing equipment is not generally, why? Because the dispenser is a large dispensing dispensing equipment, perfect function, dispensing technology is mature, have CCD vision system can meet all industries and all the glue dispensing. Can carry out the operation and dispensing, Longmen high-speed dispensing machine is a cost-effective equipment.
Single spray liquid dispensing valve
Longmen high speed dispensing machine is a kind of domestic dispenser equipment, according to the requirements of development of domestic dispensing equipment, basic dispensing requirements are able to meet, the spray valve dispensing machine configuration, dispensing technology will make a nickname, spray valve for injection valve, this valve has a lot of dispensing machine are in use, such as high speed dispensing machine, peristalsis dispenser etc., are the use of spray valve for dispensing operation.
Full automatic high speed dispensing valve
The use of spray valve is to have a lot of good, high speed and high speed spray valve mechanical arm can be combined with high speed dispensing, now the business is the pursuit of rapid production, of course also should pay attention to the quality of the product, Longmen type high speed dispensing machine using the injection valve in addition to high speed glue, can also be non-contact dispensing operation that can effectively reduce the defect rate of products.
Longmen type double station high-speed glue dispenser
The use of this dispenser equipment need attention, dispensing machine used for a long time there will be some problems, Longmen high-speed dispensing machines also have this problem, want to have high-speed production, need to maintain dispensing machine, Longmen dispenser will because of voltage instability will appear Z axis offset problem. If the production of voltage instability can be installed online UPS power steady voltage, thus dispensing machine will not appear offset problems.


text:
The pace of change is accelerating exponentially. Most leaders report feeling unconfident in their ability to lead the human side of change. Employees often say they feel change is being done to them, rather than with them.
Catapult equips people leaders and staff to navigate the four phases of change.
Phase 1. Status quo: Before change, people generally feel comfortable, safe, and in control. The leadership challenge is to disrupt the status quo and introduce the need for change:
Phase 2. Resistance: People begin to see that change involves loss. Leaders need to acknowledge loss and co-create a change vision.
Phase 3. Exploration: People begin to experiment. It’s a time of inquiry and discovery. Leaders need to facilitate new ways of working. Catapult’s approach is to use this opportunity to unleash energy and creativity. We design approaches that involve people in problem-solving and innovation.
Phase 4. Commitment: People are accepting the change. Leaders need to create “what’s next?”.

domain: psychology


Bridging the gap between art and practical design.
We produce high quality, functional, and visually appealing products in the most environmentally sensitive way possible.
Check out our latest and greatest offering, Pawshhtag Premium Pet ID Tags. These modern, quiet, and extremely durable ID tags are the finest customized pet tags available.
Our first commercially available product ’Eh-Rings!’ was successfully funded through the Kickstarter crowdfunding platform. These 3D printed stud earrings were developed to provide a unique and stylish way for Canadians to show pride in our great country.
Whether you are looking to produce a piece of art, a craft project, a hobby component, or a complex mechanical system, the Craftech Labs team has the skills, knowledge, and tools to help you succeed.
Do you have a great idea, but don’t have the ability to produce a detailed 3D model? We can help!
From concept to creation, we can assist at any point in the development of your project.
We have the skills and knowledge to provide mechanical analysis and give insight into your project.
Our number one goal is to provide high quality products and services that our customers and clients are happy with. Read on to learn more about some of their first hand experiences. Also, if you would like to know more about any of our past projects feel free to drop us a line.
"I’m very happy with my eh-rings! The colour is true, edges are smooth and the post is secure. They are also very light in the ear and none irritating. This company makes a quality product that I would purchase again and recommend to my friends."
Sherri McCulloch’Eh-Rings!’ Customer
"I sent Ryan a .STL file of a small part I needed to fix a coolant line in my van. He printed it out of PETG that same evening, and the part is holding up great in my hot engine bay!"
"Beautiful! - I will wear these with pride on Parliament Hill on Canada Day. They are light and comfortable, and arrived well-packaged."
Jenn M’Eh-Rings!’ Customer
"My experience with Craftech Labs was great. My order was on time and quality was exactly as described. I will definitely use Craftech again for future printing needs!!"
"Awesome - The perfect earrings to wear to my Canada Day citizenship ceremony. Not too small, not too obvious, perfect maple leaf red. Fast delivery and well packed."


February 09, 2023
Source: Executive Office of Technology Services and Security
Earlier this month, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced the 2023 Municipal Cybersecurity Awareness Grant Program award recipients. Administered by the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security and its Office of Municipal and School Technology, this program will provide over 50,000 employees from 177 municipalities and public school districts across the Commonwealth with critical cybersecurity training to better detect and avoid cyber threats.
Learn more here.


text:
(Grayslake, IL) Police in Grayslake are reminding people to lock their car doors, after a rash of burglaries and thefts. Authorities say during the early morning hours of Tuesday, multiple vehicle burglaries were reported, though no specific areas of the Village were mentioned. Police say all of the vehicles that were broken into appeared to be unlocked, as there were no signs of forced entry during any of the crimes. Officials say extra patrols have been added around residential and business areas…but no arrests have been announced, and no suspect descriptions have been released.
Tim Vander Tuuk, WXLC News (1-4-23)

domain: law