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The Celebrity Big Brother house is open for business once again and Emma Willis welcomed the first eight housemates into their home for the coming weeks, during a rain-soaked launch show (January 2).
The women-only cast was decided upon for the Channel 5 show as producers wanted to celebrate 100 years since women won the right to vote.
Of course, men will join the fray but there's a twist on its usual fare, as the women will be in charge of the men's destiny.
Here are the first housemates of the 2018 series;
Who: Amanda Barrie is an English actress who is best known for playing the role of Alma Sedgewick in Coronation Street.
She has played a number of iconic female characters throughout her career, enlisting her as one of the UK’s national treasures.
In 1963 and 1964 Amanda hit the big screen when she appeared in two of the slapstick Carry On film series. Most recently, Amanda appeared in the TV series The Real Marigold Hotel.
What they've said: “I should be a very old housemate, wise and giving advice. That nobody will take.
“This year’s Celebrity Big Brother theme is wonderful. It’s about women and empowerment.”
(On male housemates entering the house): “Oh darling, we’ll just welcome the boys. I think anybody that goes in there, anything in there will cause a ruckus."
Who: Ann Widdecombe is a former Conservative Party politician, author and owner of many controversial opinions and beliefs.
A former MP for the constituency of Maidstone, and expressing conservative views, Ann became most known for: opposing abortion, voting for the reinstatement of the death penalty, opposing same-sex marriage and believing modern feminism is a “big whinge”.
In 2010 Ann retired from politics and set her sights on stardom, appearing on Strictly Come Dancing and most recently, starring in pantomime.
What they've said: “Maybe Big Brother thinks I’ll be very easily irritated with some of the other people. Maybe they think I’ve got a short fuse and that I’ll produce them with a lot of very interesting clashes.
“I think the sort of person I wouldn’t really want to have to get on with for any prolonged period of time, would be somebody who was tawdry. Somebody who talks sex all the time, took their top off in the hot tub, whatever it might be.”
Who: Ashley James is a social influencer, DJ and TV presenter who first rose to fame when she appeared on Made in Chelsea.
Since then, she began concentrating on her music career as a DJ. Ashley feels strongly about female empowerment and this year she launched her own t-shirt collection egaliTEE, featuring empowering and equality slogans.
While not new to celebrity dating, Ashley describes herself as a ‘secret hopeless romantic’.
What they've said: “The thing that I’m looking forward to the most about Celebrity Big Brother is celebrating the year of the woman, celebrating our female history.
“I’m excited just to be in Celebrity Big Brother, it’s a show I’ve loved since I was young so to actually get to go in the diary room I’m sorry but I think that is the coolest thing ever.”
Who: India Willoughby is Britain’s first transgender television newsreader and the first trans panellist on Loose Women.
Born as Jonathan Willoughby, she began her career on ITV in 2000. As Jonathan, she married and has a son who is now 19.
What they've said: “I’m very much a people person, I can’t wait to meet my fellow housemates. I’ve no idea who’s going in the house; I’m really looking forward to it.
“I think it’s terrific that Big Brother is actually doffing its cap to the suffragettes and everything they did 100 years ago. Rights for women!
“You’re gonna have the tough girls and the softer girls and there’s gonna be a hierarchy in play. And then the guys are gonna come in - some of the girls are gonna fancy some of the guys. Some of the guys are gonna fancy some of the girls. And then it’s all gonna kick off.”
Who: Jess Impiazzi is a British glamour model who first rose to fame in 2009. The model first hit the TV screens when she appeared on The Only Way is Essex, shortly followed by Ex on the Beach. Alongside her TV work, Jess works as an actress.
Most recently she has appeared in the movie Dangerous Game alongside ex CBB housemates Calum Best and Darren Day.
What they've said: “I’m most looking forward to going into Celebrity Big Brother to meet new people, have fun and just enjoy the experience.
“I think I’ll be quite a fun housemate. I get bored very, very, very easily and lose concentration so probably be a bit annoying, but I don’t mean to be I just want to have fun and enjoy myself.
“Depending what females are in there, either there’s going to be fuming arguments with different opinions from men and women, or there’s gonna be love.”
Who: Maggie Oliver is best known for being a former Detective Constable in the Greater Manchester Police and exposing the Rochdale child sex grooming scandal.
Maggie quit the force after serving 16 years to expose the wrongdoings of senior officers within the police force.
Most recently, Maggie has continued to stay in the spotlight with interviews on Loose Women, Lorraine and BBC News; talking about the decisions she made to the on-going work she does to protect girls that have been exposed to grooming.
What they've said: “My ideal housemate would be somebody who’s good fun.
“I think it’s great to have a theme which is marking 100 years since women got the vote. Women have come a long way in 100 years and there’s still further to go, but we’re doing OK I think.”
Who: Malika Haqq is a US reality TV star who is best known for appearing on Keeping Up With The Kardashians and being the best friend of Khloe Kardashian.
Coming across as a confident woman who isn’t afraid to bare all, Malika posed nude in Dash Dolls; a spin off series of KUWTK, which saw Malika and her twin sister run a boutique owned by the Kardashians.
In June 2017 Malika appeared alongside ex CBB housemates Calum Best, Tiffany Pollard and Chad Johnson in Famously Single 2.
What they've said: “I’m mostly looking forward to winning Celebrity Big Brother. Isn’t that what everybody would say?
“I think I will be the fun housemate. The talkative housemate. The housemate that cries. The helpful housemate. I think I will be a lot of things.”
Who: Rachel Johnson is a journalist and author. In 1989 Rachel joined the world of journalism and worked for the likes of the Financial Times, The Sunday Telegraph, The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Times, the Evening Standard and most recently The Mail on Sunday.
In 2009, Rachel became the ninth editor of The Lady. She has also released multiple novels, has been a regular guest on BBC Breakfast and has appeared on Newsnight, Question Time, Front Row, Tonight and The Pledge.
What they've said: “I think what I’m looking forward to most about Celebrity Big Brother is it actually starting and me stopping dreading going in the house.
“I want to be a good housemate. I want to be seen as a good egg. You know, not the b*tch from hell.
“I think that the women will be really pleased when the men come in because women adore men and it’s gonna be fun, it’s gonna be more fun. But it will change the whole dynamic, there’s no question."
What do you think to the first crop of Celebrity Big Brother housemates? Let us know by emailing firstname.lastname@example.org.
Somerset Live has launched a WhatsApp group to help you keep up to date with the latest news from across the county. If you'd like to receive breaking news alerts, text NEWS to 07834 893492. Then add the number to your phone contacts book as 'Somerset Live’. We will send you a maximum of four messages a day. Your phone number won't be shared with other members of the group or be used for any other purpose.

domain: celebrity


Upshur County Commissioners Court on Sept. 14 rejected 3-2 a motion to replace three of the Glenwood Water Supply Corporation’s fire plugs, which were supposedly damaged by the county Road and Bridge Department.
Pct. 1 Comm. James Crittenden said the plugs were damaged before County Engineer Eric Fisher took office and they need replacing at $1,800 each. If a house caught fire, the situation could present a problem with the homeowner’s insurance, Crittenden said.
He said the water corporation has replaced plugs several times when the county damaged them. Crittenden also said a county employee admitted hitting one of the plugs, which isn’t a hydrant, but can access water.
Madaline Barber said four plugs had been damaged and “I had to put sprinklers on top of my house.” She pled for the court’s help with the situation.
Spencer and Pct. 3 Comm. Lloyd Crabtree said the corporation should replace the plugs and seek restitution from the county. They opposed Crittenden’s motion to replace them, while Hefner supported it, and Fowler cast the tie-breaking vote to reject the motion. However, the judge said he would talk to an official of the corporation about the matter.
The court also rejected Fisher’s request to buy and install an automatic gate for the Road and Bridge Dept. quarters on U.S. 271. Some court members appeared to approve the idea, but opposed implementing it now due to the county’s financial problems.
In other action, the court voted 3-2 to approve budget amendments except for two—one each proposed for the county library and District Attorney Billy Byrd’s office. Fowler broke the tie, joining Hefner and Crabtree in supporting the motion.
Before that, Fowler also cast the tie-breaking vote when the court rejected 3-2 a motion that would have approved the amendment for Byrd’s office, but not the one for the library. Fowler joined Hefner and Crabtree in that vote, too.
The court also voted 3-1, with Crittenden dissenting, to approve recording the Memorandum of Lease for the county’s “school land” in Baylor and Throckmorton Counties. The memorandum was filed in those two West Texas counties.
Crittenden objected some months ago to the lease to a West Texas cattle company. Spencer, Hefner and Crabtree voted to record the memorandum.
After brief public hearings on the matter, the court also Friday approved the record archives plans presented by County Clerk Brandy Lee and District Clerk Carolyn Parrott for their respective offices.
The court also heard, but took no action on Jimmy Caughron’s request to help clean up the private rural Morgan Cemetery after he said that as far as he knew, nobody was making money off that graveyard.
Commissioners also on Sept. 14:
• Approved $1,505 as its portion of purchasing right-of-way for the Texas Dept. of Transportation’s (TxDOT’s) planned widening of Texas 154 near the Robert F. Hunt Elementary School in Diana.
• Approved a lease with Pitney Bowes for the Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office to correct mailing addresses.
• Transferred a pickup from the building maintenance department to the Road and Bridge Dept., and a pickup from Road and Bridge to the Sheriff’s Office.


Spyderco's Chaparral series is a family of slim, pocket-friendly gentlemen's folding knives that celebrates the diversity of different handle materials and treatments. This rendition offers a carbon fiber/g-10 laminate handle with a subtle surface texture. Like the other members of Spyderco's Chaparral family, this knife features a full-flat-ground PlainEdge blade crafted from premium CTS XHP stainless steel, a fully accessible Trademark Round Hole for ambidextrous one-handed opening, a sturdy back lock mechanism, and a reversible deep-pocket wire clip that supports discreet left or right-side tip-up carry. A highly functional pocketknife that also offers tremendous pride of ownership, the Chaparral Carbon Fiber truly cuts with class.
Country of Origin: Taiwan


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NEW YORK (Reuters) – A Chinese-born executive pleaded guilty on Wednesday in New York to three criminal counts in connection with a U.S. bribery probe involving a former U.N. General Assembly president.
Julia Vivi Wang admitted to bribery and conspiracy charges, both in violation of the federal Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and to submitting fraudulent income tax returns.
Wang, 57, also entered a plea agreement under which she is expected to cooperate with prosecutors.
The defendant entered her plea before U.S. District Judge George Daniels in Manhattan federal court. She faces up to five years in prison on each FCPA count. A sentencing date has not been set. Her lawyer declined to comment.
Wang is among several people charged by U.S. prosecutors since 2015 over alleged influence-peddling linked to the United Nations.
One defendant, billionaire Macau developer Ng Lap Seng, was found guilty last July by a Manhattan jury on bribery charges.
Wang, a naturalized U.S. citizen, had been vice president of South-South News, a U.N.-focused media group, and an organization with the stated mission of promoting U.N. development goals and sustainable development.
Both were led by Francis Lorenzo, a former deputy U.N. ambassador from the Dominican Republic. Prosecutors have said Ng founded South-South News and used it as a bribery conduit.
In March 2016, prosecutors filed a complaint accusing Wang and her late husband of having told Lorenzo they wanted to buy diplomatic posts, such as consol or envoy, with Antigua’s government because they viewed it as a “business opportunity.”
Wang admitted on Wednesday to having in April 2013 wired $500,000 that had been solicited by John Ashe, a former U.N. ambassador from Antigua and Barbuda who was also General Assembly president, to win one such post.
She also admitted to having failed to report about $2 million of income in total for the 2010 to 2013 tax years.
Prosecutors have said Lorenzo understood from having spoken with Ashe that some of Wang’s payment was meant for Antiguan officials including the prime minister, who was not identified.
Ashe died in an accident at his home in June 2016. Lorenzo pleaded guilty to bribery and money laundering charges. Prosecutors last week asked a judge to sentence Ng to more than six years in prison,

domain: news


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Copper electroformed Pyrite Crescent Moon complete on a 20" soldered gunmetal chain. Gunmetal patina moon.
Many of these moons have colorful Chalcopyrite. Chalcopyrite, also known as Peacock Ore, has lovely iridescent green, blue, pink, purple, and gold colors that resemble the feathers of a peacock. The colors of Chalcopyrite come from the oxidation of copper and iron in the stone. Pyrite's metallic luster and pale brass-yellow hue give it a superficial resemblance to gold, hence the well-known nickname of fool's gold. It is said to be a protective and shielding stone, excellent to wear as an amulet to deflect harm and danger.
Moons measure approximately 1.5" x 1.0".
Size, shape, and color may vary as no two stones are alike.
*liver of sulfur is applied to form a black (gunmetal) patina on the copper. If a pendant is rubbing back and forth on skin it may start to lose its darkened appearance revealing the natural copper. Each piece is sealed with a metal sealant/protectant.
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domain: chemistry


The Busan Philharmonic Orchestra open their 2020 concert season with a New Year’s Concert this Thursday and Friday.
Date & Time: January 18, 2019, 7:30 p.m.
Venue: Busan Cultural Center
Tickets: R 20,000 won / S 15,000 won / A 10,000 won / B 5,000 won
*20 percent discount for foreigners and students
Conductor Soo-Yeoul Choi
Violin Zia Hyunsu Shin
Busan Philharmonic Orchestra
- Mascagni(1863-1945)Intermezzo from “Cavalleria Rusticana”
P.I.Tchaikovsky(1840-1893) Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35
G.Puccini(1858-1924) Capriccio Sinfonico
P.I.Tchaikovsky(1840-1893) Capriccio Italien, Op. 45


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With a perfect two victories out of two matches, Japan has reached the quarterfinals of the World Cup with flair and a tournament-leading six goals so far. England was saved by a fighting performance to earn another day at the tournament.
Homare Sawa got the World Cup’s first hat trick to lead Japan past Mexico 4-0.
For England, gangly midfielder Jill Scott was just as important with a goal and an assist to resurrect England’s campaign with 2-1 win over New Zealand.
It gave Japan 6 points, two more than England, whic
Read the rest of the story: Japan through, England resurrected at World Cup.

domain: game


Shahid who plays Maharaja Rawal Ratan Singh, the husband of Rani Padmavati, joined the schedule after Ranveer Singh began work on November 1 for his part of Sultan Alauddin Khilji, followed by Deepika who started her schedule with the ghoomar dance sequence two weeks later.
“Deepika and Sanjay were excited to meet little Misha. They shot for the ghoomar song in which Deepika will be seen performing for the Maharaja. It is an important sequence in the story. Daddy Shahid was overwhelmed when the unit clapped and cheered for him after the first shot,“ informs a source from the set, adding that the 35-year-old actor looked regal in character. It was a two-day shoot at Mehboob Studio with the schedule set to resume in the first week of December. Ranveer, who had recently flown out to Dubai with Deepika to attend an awards function, will resume filming his portions in the Khilji Chamber built in Film City. “A war sequence will be shot in Rajasthan for which recce will begin by mid-December,“ the source concludes.


Defying his 78 years, Leonard Cohen put on an outstanding concert with his Unified Heart Touring Band at Scotiabank Place on Friday night.
Photograph by: Jean Levac, Ottawa Citizen/Postmedia News
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Bypolls, cabinet rejig on cards in Uttar Pradesh after eight MLAs, three state ministers make it to Lok Sabha
Of the 13 Uttar Pradesh MLAs who were in the fray, 11 have won the polls. The legislators who contested the Lok Sabha polls included nine BJP MLAs, with four of them being state ministers, two Samajwadi Party members and one each from the BSP and the Apna Dal.
Eleven of Uttar Pradesh MLAs have won Lok Sabha seats in the recently-concluded general election
The development will lead to bypolls on Assembly seats falling vacant
With three cabinet colleagues of Yogi Adityanath making it to the Lok Sabha, a cabinet rejig is also on the cards
Lucknow: The Lok Sabha polls results are out but the election season is far from over in Uttar Pradesh as 11 of its MLAs making it to the Lok Sabha will lead to bypolls on Assembly seats falling vacant.
Of the 13 MLAs who were in the fray, 11 have won the polls. The legislators who contested the Lok Sabha polls included nine BJP MLAs, with four of them being state ministers, two Samajwadi Party members and one each from the BSP and the Apna Dal.
The Section 151A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 stipulates that a by-election has to be held within six months of a seat falling vacant in an Assembly or Lok Sabha.
Of the four ministers, except Mukut Bihari Verma, who lost from Ambedkar Nagar, three others won the poll. They included Rita Bahuguna Joshi from Allahabad, Satyadev Pachauri from Kanpur and SP Singh Baghel from Agra.
Among the BJP legislators, RK Singh Patel won the Banda Lok Sabha seat. He is a legislator from Manikpur Assembly seat in the same parliamentary constituency.
Similarly, BJP MLA from Iglas, Rajvir Singh Valmiki Diler won the Hathras Lok Sabha seat and party legislator from Jaidpur, Upendra Rawat won from Barabanki.
BJP legislator from Gangoh, Pradeep Chaudhary won the Kairana Lok Sabha seat, while Akshaywar Lal Gaud —another legislator from Balha Assembly seat — won from Bahraich.
Samajwadi Party had fielded its Rampur MLA Mohammad Azam Khan from the Lok Sabha seat of the same name. Khan was defeated by actor-turned-politician Jaya Prada of the BJP.
BSP MLA Ritesh Pandey and Apna Dal MLA Sangam Lal Gupta, who contested on BJP tickets also won from the Ambedkar Nagar and Pratapgarh seats respectively.
The MLAs who lost included SP legislator from Jaswant Nagar, Shivpal Singh Yadav, who had floated his own political outfit Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party Lohia, following family feud and had contested for the Firozabad seat.
Shivpal Yadav secured over 91,000 votes, failing to win the seat but causing a severe dent in the vote share of his nephew and SP candidate Akshay Yadav, who lost the election to the BJP candidate by a slender margin of over 28,000 votes.
With three cabinet colleagues of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath making it to the Lok Sabha, a cabinet rejig is also on the cards. For the new vacancies in the state cabinet, some "devoted" leaders have already begun vying on basis of their "hard work" during the polls.
"All ministers and MLAs were assigned duty by the BJP in specific areas and seats. Rejig could see clipping of wings of some of the ministers and rewarding some others," a senior BJP leader said.
With the next target set as 2022 state Assembly polls, the BJP will be leaving no chance to balance the caste and region representation in the Adityanath cabinet.
The party has already elevated the status of party minister Anil Rajbhar to counter the fallout of the exit of Om Prakash Rajbhar of Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party from the alliance.
Anil Rajbhar has been given all the departments Om Prakash Rajbhar was heading, in a bid to project the former as a true and more effective "Rajbhar leader".
Yogi Adityanath meets Shah, to visit Modi today: Five developments that may have led to UP CM's Delhi trip
The visit is politically significant as Uttar Pradesh will be going into polls in 2022 and the party is expected to take all steps necessary to retain the state
Kanpur Outer's SP Ashtbhuja Prasad Singh said a speeding bus hit a loader, which fell on the other side of the highway, while the bus also overturned and fell into a ditch
The UP CM's visit to Delhi comes close on the heels of the BJP holding a series of review meetings in Lucknow, which had fuelled speculation of a ministerial reshuffle in the state


VISAA: Defending champion Williamsburg Christian Academy earned its way back to the Virginia Independent Schools Division III tournament championship game, defeating Carlisle of Martinsville 85-76 Friday in Ettrick.
Da'Shawn Cook and Malachi Banks each had 20 points for WCA. Ra'Shawn Cook, Da'Shawn's twin, added 17 points and five steals, while Cle'Von Greene had 16 points and 11 rebounds.
The top-seeded Eagles will take on second-seeded Christ Chapel of Woodbridge for the championship at noon Saturday in Virginia State's gym. Christ Chapel overcame No. 3 North Cross of Roanoke 53-41 in the second semifinal, improving on its semifinal loss of a year ago.
WCA (28-7) led 42-36 at halftime, then saw the Chiefs (24-8) pull even in the third quarter. But a 13-0 run, which gave the Eagles a 59-46 lead, proved decisive.
Carlisle cut the margin to 63-61 before WCA pulled away. BJ Fitzgerald had 39 points and 12 rebounds for Carlisle, and Moses Nuangki added 15 points.
In Division II at VSU, though, No. 4 Walsingham Academy (26-3) saw its title hopes end with a 65-50 semifinal loss to No. 1 Miller, which was led by Jaylin Reed.
Leading 9-8 after one quarter, the Mavericks (26-4) began the second period with a 12-0 run for a 21-8 advantage. They stayed ahead by double digits despite a big game from the Trojans' Jaylin Stewart.
Class 3: Bri Harper scored 15 points and Kenna Williams added 12 as Tabb defeated Culpeper County 50-40 in a Class 3 quarterfinal in Orange County’s gym.
The victory moved the Tigers (23-2) into a state semifinal at 6 p.m. Tuesday against Hopewell, the team that beat Tabb in the Region 3A final. Tabb and Hopewell will play in Petersburg’s gym.
Culpeper’s Blue Devils went more than six minutes without a basket, and Tabb took advantage to go ahead by 16 at halftime.
Culpeper junior Allison Sanitra scored eight of her team-high 17 points during the Blue Devils’ third-quarter comeback attempt.
Tabb’s Danielle Bennett hit a trio of 3-pointers before, according to fredericksburg.com, Culpeper moved Sanitra to the post on defense.
Senior Tatyana Loney added eight points for Culpeper (13-10).
Class 1: Surry County’s game against Appomattox Regional Governor’s School was postponed to 1 p.m. Saturday because of problems resulting from high winds. The teams will play at Sussex Central.


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Author: Herman Koch
Publish Date: 2009 (Paperback released November 5, 2013)
Source: I received a copy from the publisher; however, this did not affect my review.
Why You're Reading This Book:
- You're a fiction fan.
- You like interesting characters.
- You like surprises.
From Goodreads.com: "A summer's evening in Amsterdam and two couples meet at a fashionable restaurant. Between mouthfuls of food and over the polite scrapings of cutlery, the conversation remains a gentle hum of polite discourse - the banality of work, the triviality of holidays. But behind the empty words, terrible things need to be said, and with every forced smile and every new course, the knives are being sharpened. Each couple has a fifteen year old son. The two boys are united by their accountability for a single horrific act; an act that has triggered a police investigation and shattered the comfortable insulated worlds of their families. As the dinner reaches its culinary climax, the conversation finally touches on their children, and as civility and friendship disintegrates, each couple show just how far they are prepared to go to protect those they love."
My Two Cents:
"The Dinner" is a book that I have been waiting to read for a long time and I have to say, I was totally not disappointed with this one. This is a book that is going to stick with you for a very long time after you finish reading it. This book is an exploration of what it means to protect your family and where that line is between protecting and coddling. It is a story of family and choices.
The beauty of this book is that the author only gives you the tiniest bit of detail at a time. At times, it is frustrating and does make for a slow beginning of the book but only because you want to know more about the story right away. All I can say is to hang in there because the end is definitely worth it. You will be happy to follow this book through to the end. Because you are getting small details, it is up to you to begin to put together the pieces of what is happening in the story.
The characters in this book are fascinating. Koch lets us explore their psyches and what makes them tick, which might be one of the most interesting parts of the book. They are not likeable and they are flawed in one way or another. You will get drawn into reading about them!
I could see this book being a really good pick for a book club. There is so much to talk about with regard to why the characters do what they do and whether or not it is warranted.

domain: library


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June 25,1533, Mary Tudor, younger sister of King Henry VIII and wife of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, died at Westhorpe Hall in Suffolk. She was buried at Bury St Edmunds Abbey and later moved to nearby St Mary's Church when the abbey was dissolved.
Henry VIII of England and his 6 wives-OMG how much did I love this subject!!! 3 Catherines, 2 Annes, and a Jane-the ego of the man and the absolute power he had to create his own church in order to get what he wanted! Still a favorite subject of mine.
Henry VIII's daughters - Mary I on the left and Elizabeth I on the right, as princesses. These portraits are enlarged from "The White Hall Family Portrait" Anne Boleyn's "A" pendent can clearly be seen hanging around Elizabeth's neck.
Henry VIII Marries Catherine of Aragon: The Start of a 20 Year Marriage
Katherine of Aragón (Catalina de Aragón), married Prince Arthur on 14 November 1501 in Old St. Paul's Cathedral, London. She was born 16 December 1485 at the Archbishop’s Palace in Alcala de Henares near Madrid, Spain died 07 January 1536 at Kimbolton Castle, Cambridgeshire, England. Katherine was by birth related to both of Arthur's parents through the House of Lancaster.
OP. Arthur Tudor, whose story was probably much sadder than was previously thought. My thoughts. That sounds very interesting. I have never read your novels although, of course, I have heard of them. Arthur is one of those lost princes, such as the Black Prince or Prince Henry Stuart, that one wonders how history would have changed had he survived.
Margaret Tudor was the eldest daughter of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. She was born on November 28, 1489 in the Palace of Westminster, a year and a half before her more famous brother Henry VIII. Because she was the first Tudor princess, Margaret was a valuable prize on the European marriage market and her father Henry VII was anxious to make a grand match to shore up his own shaky claim to the English throne
It was on this day in British history, 25 June 1533, that Mary Tudor died at the age of 37. Mary was the younger sister of King Henry VIII and also the queen consort of France through her marriage to Louis XII.

domain: history


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STURGIS – A free preview screening of highlights from “The Vietnam War,” the new 10-part, 18-hour documentary film series directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, is coming to Sturgis.
The screening will take place at the kick-off celebration of the Sturgis Big Read, beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7, at Rally Point at Main and Harley-Davidson Way in Sturgis. The programs and discussions continue through Nov. 11.The film will premiere Sept. 17, on SDPB-TV and on PBS stations nationwide. The screening is free and open to the public.
Prior to the 6:15 p.m. showing, there will be a color guard ceremony followed by music by Kate Fjelstad while books and brochures are being distributed.
At 6 p.m., Mistress of Ceremonies Denise LaRue will introduce Mayor Mark Carstenson and announce the sponsors and partners of the Sturgis Big Read. More information about the NEA Big Read in Sturgis go online to www.sturgisbigread .com
In an immersive narrative, Burns and Novick tell the epic story of the Vietnam War as it has never before been told on film. “The Vietnam War” features testimony from nearly 100 witnesses, including many Americans who fought in the war and others who opposed it, as well as Vietnamese combatants and civilians from both sides.
“The Vietnam War was a decade of agony that took the lives of more than 58,000 Americans,” Burns said. “Not since the Civil War have we as a country been so torn apart. There wasn’t an American alive then who wasn’t affected in some way — from those who fought and sacrificed in the war, to families of service members and POWs, to those who protested the war in open conflict with their government and fellow citizens. More than 40 years after it ended, we can’t forget Vietnam, and we are still arguing about why it went wrong, who was to blame and whether it was all worth it.
“We are all searching for some meaning in this terrible tragedy. Ken and I have tried to shed new light on the war by looking at it from the bottom up, the top down and from all sides,” Novick said. “In addition to dozens of Americans who shared their stories, we interviewed many Vietnamese on both the winning and losing sides, and were surprised to learn that the war remains as painful and unresolved for them as it is for us. Within this almost incomprehensibly destructive event, we discovered profound, universal human truths, as well as uncanny resonances with recent events.”
Julie Peterson, Director of the Sturgis Public Library and Co-chair of the NEA Big Read Committee in Sturgis, says she looks forward to seeing the documentary unfold during the Sturgis “Big Read” programs and discussions centering on the novel, “The Things They Carried,” by Tim O’Brien.
She said the committee hopes to facilitate a conversation within the community of Sturgis surrounding the unique cultural and social moment, which was the Vietnam War. Further, and perhaps more importantly, it aims to acknowledge the effects of the war on the veterans, their families, the nation and the Sturgis Community.
Ten years in the making, the series brings the war and the chaotic epoch it encompassed viscerally to life. Written by Geoffrey C. Ward, produced by Sarah Botstein, Novick and Burns, it includes rarely seen, digitally re-mastered archival footage from sources around the globe, photographs taken by some of the most celebrated photojournalists of the 20th century, historic television broadcasts, evocative home movies, and revelatory audio recordings from inside the Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon administrations.
“The Vietnam War” features more than 120 popular songs that define the era, including tracks from The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Simon & Garfunkel, Janis Joplin, Ben E. King, Phil Ochs, Donovan, Johnny Cash, Barry McGuire, Buffalo Springfield, The Byrds, Otis Redding, Santana, Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone, The Temptations, Booker T. and the M.G.s, Pete Seeger and more.


Victory over Pakistan has left a buzz in the West Indies dressing room, and the members of the team are excited and confident about tonight’s third match against Zimbabwe in a Pool B of the 2015 World Cup at Canberra from 11.30pm (TT time).
“The mood is very good in the dressing room,” said Andre Russell, Man-of-the -Match in the West Indies emphatic 150-run win over Pakistan on Saturday.
“We needed this win after that defeat against Ireland, everyone is laughing and we’re happy with the way we performed. It’s just always a fun dressing room, and I think from the last game things didn’t go well for us, and we just turned up today and wanted to show the world that we are not just a pushover.”
Russell said the players will be looking to continue that momentum against the Zimbabweans. “We have great talent in this team and it is just about putting it all together and coming out and giving our all. We can go all the way in this tournament I think. Every game we go into now we are looking to bring our A game.”
The West Indies players drove over from Sydney to Canberra by bus, a 3 1/2 -hour drive, and yesterday some of the players played golf at the Royal Canberra Golf Course before heading to practice at 2 pm at the beautiful Manuka Oval.
The West Indies have been forced make one change from the team which hammered Pakistan. Injured Darren Bravo will be replaced by Barbadian Jonathan Carter. His inclusion will give the West Indies the added option of another slow bowler.
The West Indies openers have been struggling despite the fact that the team has registered scores of 304/7 against Ireland and 310/6 against Pakistan. However, the last time West Indies played here, Chris Gayle who has struggled on this tour so far, struck 100 against the Prime Minister’s XI and West Indies will be hoping he can emulate that performance.
However, Russell said Gayle’s presence in the squad is having a great impact on team morale.
The left-handed opener has just 43 runs from four innings—including three single digit scores with his latest failure against Pakistan when he scratched around for 14 deliveries over four runs.
“From the warm-up games Chris has been struggling and we’re still scoring 300 runs and he’s not giving us those big performances, even Marlon Samuels who is one of our main batters as well,” Russell pointed out.
“So, I just think when these guys peak at the right time, West Indies has the ability to score over 350. They have been good in the dressing room…the way they keep motivating the team and the team spirit is very good.
“Chris is not moody. Chris is just an amazing guy that you share the changing room with. Even now he’s not scoring and he’s not miserable, he’s not grumpy. He’s happy, he’s laughing, and he’s cheering everyone on the field, and that’s what we want from a big guy like him, so it’s very good.”
The capacity of this ground is 13,550 and the match has been sold out. There were fans trying to get last minute tickets here yesterday but they were not available.
Teams: West Indies: Jason Holder (capt), Marlon Samuels, Sulieman Benn, Darren Bravo, Jonathan Carter, Sheldon Cottrell, Chris Gayle, Denesh Ramdin, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Darren Sammy, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith, Jerome Taylor and Nikita Miller.
Zimbabwe: Elton Chigumbura (capt), Sikandar Raza, Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Chamu Chibhabha, Craig Ervine, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Hamilton Masakadza, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Solomon Mire, Rawanda Mupariwa, Tinashe Panyangara, Brendan Taylor, Prosper Utseya and Sean Williams.


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Was the Lewis and Clark expedition successful?
In less than 2 1/2 years, at a total cost to the taxpayer of $40,000, The Corps of Discovery traveled over 8,000 miles. The Lewis and Clark Expedition was phenomenally successful in terms of accomplishing its stated goals, expanding America’s knowledge, and tantalizing curiosity and wonder about the vast American West.
What was the hardest part of the Lewis and Clark expedition?
They traveled north to Lolo Pass where they crossed the Bitteroot Range on the Lolo Trail; this was the most difficult part of the journey. Nearly starved, Lewis and Clark reached the country of the Nez Perce on the Clearwater River in Idaho, and left their horses for dugout canoes.
What were two main goals of the Lewis and Clark expedition?
1.to learn about American Indian military skills and weapons. 2.to survey the land and gather geographical information. 3.to set up military outposts that US soldiers could occupy.
What was the point of Lewis and Clark expedition?
The Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806) was a federally funded venture to explore the North American West. The expedition’s principal objective was to survey the Missouri and Columbia rivers, locating routes that would connect the continental interior to the Pacific Ocean.
How long did Lewis and Clark expedition last?
How long did the whole expedition last? From May 14, 1804 to September 23, 1806. Two years, four months, ten days – from their departure from Camp Wood to their return to St. Louis at journey’s end.
How much did Lewis and Clark get paid for their expedition?
Meriwether Lewis received a total of $2,776.22 (including his allowance) for 47 months of work, along with 1,600 acres of land*. Captain Clark, earning lieutenant’s pay of $30 a month, received a total of $2,113.74 (including subsistence allowance), plus the 1,600 acres of land.
What is George Rogers Clark most famous for?
George Rogers Clark is remembered as the heroic Revolutionary War commander who led a small force of frontiersmen through the freezing waters of the Illinois country to capture British-held Fort Sackville at Vincennes during February 1779.
Which two states were slaves sold in Kentucky likely to end up?
Answer. Explanation: Kentucky classified the South part or State Border,African Americans represented the 25% of the population.It is likely to end up in 1792,and formed the far-western frontier of Virginia and had long history of slavery and indentured servitude.
Did George Rogers Clark have red hair?
Standing 6 feet tall, topped by flaming red hair, George Rogers Clark was a true frontiersman. He talked the language of his men and shared in all their hardships. Born on a small plantation near Charlottesville, Va., Clark had only a rudimentary education before becoming a surveyor.
Why is George Rogers Clark on Indiana quarter?
The park is located within the city limits of Vincennes, Indiana adjacent to the Wabash River. The 26.17-acre site contains the George Rogers Clark Memorial which commemorates the achievements of Lieutenant Colonel George Rogers Clark and his frontiersmen during the American Revolution.
What happened at Fort Vincennes?
The siege of Fort Vincennes (also known as the siege of Fort Sackville or the Battle of Vincennes) was a Revolutionary War frontier battle fought in present-day Vincennes, Indiana won by a militia led by American commander George Rogers Clark over a British garrison led by Lieutenant Governor Henry Hamilton.
Who were George Rogers Clark’s parents?
Ann Rogers Clark
Who gave his life for his country?
1- NATHAN HALE — Gave his life for his country. Nathan Hale was a soldier of the Continental Army during the War of Independence.
Why did the British shift the war to the South?
The British shifted their war effort to the South in 1778 because there the British hoped to rally loyalist support, reclaim their former colonies in the region, and then slowly fight their way back north. The colonists defeated the British in Yorktown by closing in on Cornwallis.
What was the importance of George Rogers Clark’s victories in the West?
Clark’s success in capturing British forts in the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys in 1778 and 1779 allowed the Americans to claim territories that would eventually become the states of Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
Why did Kentucky secede?
As one southern state after another seceded between December 1860 and May 1861, Kentucky was torn between loyalty to her sister slave states and its national Union. Army recruiters from both sides entered Kentucky to enlist volunteers, and each army amassed troops along the state’s borders.
What was the result of George Rogers Clark’s campaign quizlet?
What was the result of George Rogers Clark’s campaign? The Native Americans were less of a threat on the frontier. French and American ships kept relief forces from arriving.
Who won the war in the south and west?
The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 caused seven southern states to secede and form the Confederate States of America; four more states soon joined them. The War Between the States, as the Civil War was also known, ended in Confederate surrender in 1865.


§ 51. Mr. Willey
asked the Minister of Food whether he will make a statement on the future of Re-Commissioned Mills Limited.
In the crop year 1954–55, Re-Commissioned Mills Ltd will provide a drying and storage service for wheat and coarse grain at commercial rates. The long-term policy is still being considered.
§ Mr. Willey
In view of the importance of this service, will the Parliamentary Secretary expedite consideration of the long-term policy?
I realise the importance of an early decision, but many interests are involved and consultations are still proceeding.


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Taiwanese street food restaurant Danlu only lasted six months in University City, but chef-owner Patrick Feury and team aren’t giving up on the space. After a revamp, they’re going for something a little more, shall we say, common in Philly. The new restaurant, named The Common, serves what they’re calling new American cuisine with Mediterranean influences. It opens Wednesday, January 23, at 3601 Market Street.
It’s a 180 for the venue, with spicy lamb shoulder on Xi’an pan bread departing to make way for crispy artichokes with hummus, pan-roasted striped bass, and a cheeseburger on brioche (full menu below). Feury, working with chef Lucio Palazzo, planned a seasonal menu that relies on local farmers and other suppliers, with lots of vegetarian options and pastas and cheeses made in-house. Bien Cuit in Brooklyn, from James Beard Award-nominated baker Zachary Golper, will provide the bread and baked goods.
Feury hopes the new menu and more casual vibe of the redone restaurant will attract the neighborhood’s college students, professors, and staffers and hospital employees.
Sandwiches on the dinner menu are in the $9–$14 range. Pastas are $12–$17 and the big dishes, made for sharing alongside a selection of small plates, top out at $27.
The Common’s décor is entirely different from Danlu’s moody look. The bi-level restaurant is now brighter and more colorful, with plants, a mix of regular tables and long, wooden communal tables, and metal chairs made from old oil drums.
Cesar Viveros, a Philly artist who works with Mural Arts Philadelphia, painted a colorful two-story mural on one of the restaurant’s walls. Upstairs, Canadian artist Daniel Mazzone created a collage piece titled “Love Sees No Colour.”
It’s open for lunch and dinner, Monday to Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 4 to 9 p.m.
Feury and his Common partners, Henry Chu, Kenny Huang, and Michael Wei, also own French-Asian eatery Nectar outside the city in Berwyn.

domain: food


The 2021-22 transfer portal is already humming with activity.
Several high-profile players have entered their name into the portal, using the NCAA’s one-time transfer rule to test their newfound mobility — or college football “free agency,” as Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin described it — in search of greener pastures.
Nowhere is that more true than with college football’s most impactful position: quarterback.
Already, players such as Oklahoma’s Spencer Rattler, UCF’s Dillon Gabriel and Ohio State’s Quinn Ewers have made national headlines for their decision to take their talents elsewhere. That said, those are not the only quarterbacks who stand to make a massive impact, not only for the teams they’re joining but also for the teams they leave behind.
Moreover, there are still several high-profile players who have yet to announce their new allegiances. Those players will be among the most sought-after players in all of college football following the completion of the early signing period and the start of bowl season.
With that, Sporting News breaks down the most impactful quarterbacks in the 2021-22 transfer carousel — both those who have committed and those who are still mulling their decisions:
Most impactful QB transfers
Quinn Ewers (Ohio State to Texas)
Ewers’ decision to leave Ohio State for Texas was unsurprising, considering the emergence of Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud, who finished fourth in the Heisman balloting in 2021 with 3,862 yards and 38 touchdowns to just five interceptions on the season. That led Ewers — who skipped his senior season of high school to enroll at Ohio State — to enter the transfer portal.
There, the Southlake, Texas native found his way to the Longhorns. Ewers stands to step in immediately and take over a program whose leading passer, Casey Thompson, has already entered the transfer portal. His biggest competition for the starting position appears to be either Hudson Card or Maalik Murphy, the No. 11 quarterback in the 2022 class.
Ewers, the top-ranked recruit in 2021 following his reclassification, is easily the biggest recruiting victory for coach Steve Sarkisian, who has worked wonders with such quarterbacks as Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones, among others. Time will tell what impact Ewers has in Austin, but it stands to reason he could be the Longhorns’ best quarterback in some time.
Spencer Rattler (Oklahoma to South Carolina)
Rattler, like Ewers, should step in as the immediate go-to guy for his new team. The one-time Heisman hopeful had a setback year in 2021, completing 140 of 187 passes for 1,483 yards and 11 touchdowns to five interceptions. His struggles in big games prompted Lincoln Riley to bench him in favor of freshman Caleb Williams, whose rushing ability and big arm made it difficult to keep him on the bench.
But there’s no denying Rattler’s talent. Remember, he passed for 3,087 yards and 28 touchdowns to seven interceptions as recently as 2020, a seasonlong performance that prompted pundits to declare him an early favorite for the 2021 Heisman Trophy.
Rattler shouldn’t have to face a similar quarterback controversy in Columbia, S.C., where the Gamecocks were at one point forced to rely on graduate assistant Zeb Noland as part of a revolving door at quarterback. The transfer of tight end Austin Stogner (14 catches, 166 yards, three touchdowns) will also help Rattler get acclimated to his new home. That now begs the question: Does South Carolina have the most talented quarterback in the SEC East?
Dillon Gabriel (UCF to UCLA)
Gabriel’s transfer to UCLA could be an early indicator that Dorian Thompson-Robinson will make the jump from college to the NFL for the 2022 NFL Draft. Should that be the case, Gabriel stands to be the quarterback of the future for Chip Kelly.
Gabriel was outstanding for the Knights before injuries derailed his 2021 season with just three games under his belt. He has completed 554 of 913 passes (60.7 percent) for 8,041 yards and 70 touchdowns to just 14 interceptions. That sort of passing ability made Gabriel a hot commodity in the portal, and he stands to enjoy similar success under Kelly in Los Angeles. That said, he must still beat out 2021 backup Ethan Garbers for the starting spot — if Thompson-Robinson doesn’t stay, that is.
Max Johnson (LSU to Texas A&M)
Johnson never had eye-popping stats in two seasons’ worth of play at LSU, but played well enough in 2021 with 2,814 yards and 27 touchdowns to six interceptions. With Ed Orgeron’s replacement by Brian Kelly, however, Johnson elected to take his talents to fellow SEC West program Texas A&M, where Johnson should be among the favorites to win the job with Zach Calzada entering the transfer portal.
Whether Johnson can wrest control of the starting job from redshirt freshman Haynes King — who suffered a season-ending injury against Colorado — remains to be seen. But Johnson could step in as a veteran presence for a team that is looking to take the next step under Jimbo Fisher. The Aggies have enough talent to challenge in the SEC — just look at their 41-38 victory over Alabama — and could be a quarterback away from making that dream a reality.
Adrian Martinez (Nebraska to Northwestern)
Perhaps a change of scenery is what Martinez needs in what will be his final year of college eligibility. The dual-threat quarterback has 8,495 passing yards and 45 touchdowns to 30 interceptions across four seasons of play, adding 2,277 yards and 35 more scores on the ground.
It will be up to Wildcats coach Pat Fitzgerald to reduce Martinez’s turnover issues but, if he can, then Martinez could be an immediate upgrade at quarterback. The Wildcats haven’t been worldbeaters under Fitzgerald, but they have had more sustained success than what Martinez has experienced in Lincoln. Perhaps playing for a program with a better infrastructure will yield positive results for the former Cornhusker.
Charlie Brewer (Utah to Liberty)
Brewer’s one year in Utah turned out to be less of a destination and more of a jumping-off point. Brewer, who led Baylor to a Big 12 title game berth in 2019, has shown heart and big-play ability with the Bears and Utes, throwing for 10,184 yards and 68 touchdowns to 31 interceptions across five seasons.
He’ll now make the jump to Liberty, where he can flourish under Hugh Freeze’s tutelage. The generally weaker competition should also help Brewer finish off his collegiate career with a bang in replacement of Malik Willis. He must first beat out Kaidon Salter first.
Bo Nix (Auburn to Oregon)
The former five-star recruit and Auburn legacy didn’t quite live up to the hype on The Plains, but is certainly talented enough to make a difference at Oregon. The dual-threat quarterback — who as a freshman in 2019 led the Tigers to a win over Alabama — has 7,251 passing yards and 39 touchdowns to 16 interceptions across three seasons. He also has 859 rushing yards and 18 scores on the ground.
Biggest QBs still in transfer portal
Kedon Slovis (USC)
Slovis has regressed in 2020 and ’21 following a 30-touchdown debut as a freshman in 2019, but the talent is still there to make him one of the best quarterbacks still available in the portal. The former three-star recruit has 7,576 passing yards and 58 touchdowns to 24 interceptions. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
Cameron Ward (Incarnate Word)
Ward could be the most interesting name still in the transfer portal; the Jerry Rice Award winner in 2020 FCS spring season (awarded to the nation’s best freshman) led the Cardinals to a 10-3 season and Southland Conference title in the fall while being named the Southland’s Offensive Player of the Year. The 6-3, 225-pound freshman completed 384 of 590 passes (65.1 percent) for 4,648 yards and 47 touchdowns to 10 interceptions.
It’s true Ward earned those stats against FCS competition. But the success of “small-school” players such as North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz and Liberty’s Willis, among others, should remove any fears that Ward can’t replicate his success at the FBS level.
Zach Calzada (Texas A&M)
Calzada played admirably for the Aggies in 2021 in replacement of King, who was lost for the season in Week 2. For the year, Calzada completed 184 of 327 passes for 2,185 yards and 18 touchdowns to nine interceptions. Nowhere was that more apparent than in a heroic effort of then-No. 1 Alabama, against whom Calzad completed 21 of 31 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns (and one interception) in the 41-38 upset. He also closed the season with five touchdowns and zero interceptions against Prairie View A&M and LSU.
Harrison Bailey (Tennessee)
Bailey, the No. 99 overall recruit in the 2020 recruiting class, has not had much playing time in Knoxville, prompting his decision to transfer. He has played in seven games across two seasons (only one in 2021), completing 51 of 75 passes for 594 yards and four touchdowns to two interceptions.


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Citalia recently held a virtual wine tasting event with some of our valued guests. We were joined by Richard Bampfield, Master of Wine, and our very own Senior Regional Destination Manager, Heather Green. Our two experts treated guests to a trip around Italy from the comfort of their homes sharing their knowledge about the wines from each region as well as destination expertise. Guests prepared their charcuterie boards, invited their friends round, and sipped on the varied vinos.
Italians love wine. You can find Italian restaurants all over the world and they’ve taken their wines with them. Home to more different grape varieties than anywhere else in the world, every province across Italy produces wine. Join us as we take you on a wine tour of Italy stopping off in Campania, Veneto, Sicily, and Tuscany.
First stop on our tour around Italy was the beautiful region of Campania. Richard introduced us to a lovely white and highlighted that it is in fact our sense of smell that informs the taste of the wine. We learned that DOC status applies to the protected region of where the wine comes from and is not a guarantee of quality, but rather a guarantee of origin.
This dry white wine, Bellamico, Falanghina Beneventano provided a little bit of flavour on the palate, had a certain fruitiness with hints of apple and would pair well with light fish or pasta dishes.
Heather shared her love for Campania with us and expressed that it is one of the most beautiful areas in Italy, not just for scenery but also for food and wine. Famed for its simple dishes with fresh, seasonal ingredients and lots of fish, Campania is a true taste of Italy.
There is so much to see in Campania, an area steeped in history with a stunning coastline. Campania is home to Italy’s 3rd largest city, Naples, as well as the breathtaking Amalfi Coast and the islands of Capri and Ischia. Sorrento shouldn't be missed and is the gateway to so many world famous places in this area.
Naples is gritty, vibrant and chaotic. It was founded by the Greeks, is steeped in history and is fascinating to explore. It has a beautiful location alongside the bay, has a great food culture and is full of stunning architecture.
The Amalfi Coast is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is made up of 13 villages known as "pearls". Heather recommends the “Path of the Gods” walking trek where you’ll be rewarded with sensational aerial views of the coastline.
Moving on to the islands, Capri offers the glitz and glamour of Italy with high end hotels, spectacular marinas, rugged natural scenery and is steeped in history. Ischia is sometimes overshadowed by its famous neighbour but is perhaps Italy’s best kept secret with thermal springs and a more laid back, authentic atmosphere.
Cilento lies in the southern part of the Campania region and is relatively undiscovered, in our Hidden Italy: Cilento Blog we have uncovered some of the areas best kept secrets. The amazing temples of Paestum provide some of the best Greek temples outside of Greece. The region is known for its quaint harbours, characteristic villages, stunning beaches and the National Park of Cilento.
We then moved north to the region of Veneto, home of Prosecco, for a taste of a nice rosé wine, Bardolino Chiaretto. This wine was produced in the vineyards to the east of Lake Garda and had a little bit of spritz to liven the palate. Dry, lightly fruity, and easy to drink, this rosé comes from a family producer who believe there are three key ingredients for a good wine: “sun, the heart and the love”. Impressive on the first mouthful, it is understated and effortless – and that’s what makes a good wine!
Richard’s top tip for this rosé is to use frozen fruit to keep the wine chilled, suggesting strawberry to add a delicate flavour. Also noting the UV from sunlight can make wine in clear bottles go off so be sure to keep your bottle in the fridge to keep it fresh.
The region of Veneto stretches as far as the Adriatic and to the snow-capped Dolomite mountains. The variety of the Veneto region makes it great for exploring.
Italy’s floating city, Venice, can be found in Veneto and is built over 100 islands and is truly unique. Venice used to be the main trading point to the Orient and has always been a commercial and affluent city. Heather recommended going off the beaten track and visiting the lesser known areas particularly Le Zattere (which translates to timber), and is the area of the city where gondolas used to be made. Or head to Cannaregio where you can discover the authentic food culture and sample some cicchetti. Be sure to get out and about first thing in the morning to appreciate the true beauty of the city.
A trip to Veneto is not complete without visiting the “city of love”, Verona. Piazza Bra is the main square and is home to the amphitheatre which is older than the Colosseum in Rome. Here you’ll get to spend a night under the stars at the Verona Opera Festival which is held annually. The atmosphere is electric and promises to be an unforgettable evening even if you are not an opera aficionado.
The largest of Italy’s lakes, Lake Garda, can also be found in Veneto. It is so large that the western shore is in Lombardy and the eastern shore is in Veneto! The northern part of the lake is narrow and surrounded by mountains whereas the south is much wider and flatter making it great for family holidays and for walking and biking. There are lots of picturesque towns surrounding the lake and each has its own ferry point so it’s easy to get around. Bardolino and Lazise are Heather’s favourites as you can just sit and watch the world go by with the colourful harbours and cobbled streets.
Heading to the south of Italy we socially sipped on wine from the island of Sicily with a bottle of Nero d’Avola. This is the main red grape on the island and Richard let us in on a secret that the best reds tend to come from the volcanic soil around Mount Etna. Flavoursome, refreshing and smooth, this wine isn’t too dry and doesn’t have a lot of tannin in it, making it the perfect choice for a glass of red in a Sicilian restaurant.
Sicily is an exciting source of wine and is the largest island in the Mediterranean. It's a very unique island and this diversity is due to the fact it has been ruled over thousands of years by the Arabs, Spanish, Greeks and Normans. All of these civilisations have left their influence on the island. Defined by the three C’s: culture, cuisine and calm, it makes for the perfect multicentre holiday.
Heather shared some of her favourite places on the island and started us off in Taormina with its cobbled streets, artisan shops and beautiful verdant gardens. Its Greek amphitheatre still hosts live shows today, more than 2,000 years after it was built.
We then moved south to the beautiful city of Syracuse. Home to some of the most intricate architecture in Italy, it was the most important Greek city and today you can retrace ancient civilisations through every step in every street.
The seaside town of Cefalù is also well worth a visit with its pretty harbour, sandy beach, winding streets and imposing Norman cathedral.
The island's capital Palermo is not to be missed. It's a cultural melting pot which is reflected in its cuisine. Famous for its street food, don’t miss experiencing the enticing food culture.
To explore Sicily further click on the link below to see the lesser known destinations.
Ah, Tuscany, the home of Chianti. Our final stop on our tantalising tour of Italy was of course the picture-perfect hills of Tuscany. Our bottle of choice was Talosa, Chianti Colli Senesi found in the vineyards to the southeast of Siena.
A bit different in style, this red offered some really nice flavours. Savoury in character with a little bit of tannin, it pairs well with many dishes as it’s not too heavy, a classic Chianti.
Tuscany itself is fantastic for exploration with its art, history around every corner and its rolling countryside, not to forget its long stretch of coastline.
Heather took us on a tour of the region stopping off in Florence first. The art scene thrives here with the Uffizi Gallery and the famous Duomo. You can take a walk along the banks of the Arno River admiring the world-renowned Ponte Vecchio which dates back to the 13th century and is home to jewellery makers.
Our two experts also introduced us to the Wine Windows of Florence which were a safe way for shopkeepers to sell wine and food during the bubonic plague in the 1600s. There are around 285 wine windows in Florence with most of them centred around the Old Town.
We then headed to the stunning city of Siena which is located in the Chianti countryside. The heart of the city is the Piazzo del Campo where 17 districts compete in the Palio Horserace in July and August every year, maintaining traditions dating back centuries.
From Siena head to the gorgeous town of San Gimignano which is know as the “Manhattan of Tuscany” thanks to its 13 medieval towers which were built by noble families and you can appreciate the breathtaking views across the Chianti Hills.
The Tuscan Countryside is characterised by rolling hills, valleys, Cypress trees, sunflowers, poppies and ever changing landscapes. It is also very well know for its numerous hillside towns. Montepulciano is one of the highest towns and here they produce the famous vino nobile.
For some sun, sand and sea, base yourself in the coastal town of Viareggio or Forte dei Marmi where you can benefit from easy access to the rest of the region. Be sure to experience the Puccini Opera Festival from here in the summer months.
At Citalia we have 95 years’ experience in tailormade holidays to Italy. Our Italy Experts have travelled all over the country so they can help you design a trip that suits your requirements. At Citalia we pride ourselves on ensuring you Travel with Confidence. So, what are you waiting for? Andiamo!

domain: geography


The Cre8 Summit is taking place on the South Side of Glasgow from 11th-18th June with the intention of creating a vibrant community space in an area left derelict by the planners:
Cre8 Summit is a group of people from Glasgow and beyond who see that the problems caused by the G8 are global but the solutions are local. It is a loose collective of builders, gardeners, artists; DJs, soil engineers, musicians, skaters and landscapers who offer to share their skills and learn from the Southside.
This space will be on the route of the proposed M74 extension. The Scottish Executive decided to overturn the independent Reporters' report which recommended that the M74 be refused, a decision which is being challenged by Friends of the Earth Scotland and the JAM74 campaign.
Make Borders History have organised a walking tour to visit organisations involved in locking up and deporting asylum seekers.


Static and Dynamic Fatigue Behavior of Glass Filament-Wound Pressure Vessels at Ambient and Cryogenic Temperatures
Glass fibers have shown outstanding strength and strength-to-density ratio properties that make their application to pressure vessels particularly attractive. The application has been generally in the form of filament-wound glass-reinforced plastic . However, after extended periods of static or dynamic loading at ambient temperatures, the rate of strength-degradation of filament-wound glass-reinforced plastic pressure vessels has been high compared with that of metallic pressure vessels . Under stress, the resin matrix generally cracks or crazes [3,4] which exposes the glass fibers to atmospheric moisture causing degradation of the fibers. At cryogenic temperatures, however, the moisture problem is reduced, and an improvement in fatigue properties would be expected. Furthermore, the glass strength increases significantly as the temperature is lowered .
KeywordsFatigue Crack Pressure Vessel Liquid Nitrogen Temperature Cryogenic Temperature Plastic Cylinder
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
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Area moms pass on life lessons to kids through pandemic
When Alice Robinson first learned in 2019 that she was going to become a mother, she could not have foreseen that her baby would be born during a global pandemic.
“I would have never believed it,” she said.
Robinson, 25, of Maugansville, stopped working as a nurse in December 2019, before the pandemic hit. By March, schools and businesses were shutting down, but no one was sure what was to come.
“It was just kind of scary,” she said, "not knowing if things were going to get worse or get better.”
Medical staff told her she would need to wear a mask while she gave birth.
“They told me I would need to wear one while I pushed. I don’t remember what happened, but I ended up not wearing one. I didn’t think of it. I can’t imagine if I had. I already felt like I was going to die,” Robinson said, laughing.
Her husband Wes, 27, was with her during the birth of Isabella, now 1. Only one person could accompany or visit. Being without visitors during Alice’s three-night stay felt strange, as the couple is close to their families.
“It was really different," Robinson said. "Wes couldn’t switch with any family members. Even my mom couldn’t come. Family and friends couldn’t visit. That was really hard.”
Going home with her newborn also was different than she had envisioned, as the Robinsons did not want to risk having people over and the possibility of Isabella, especially, getting the virus. Immediate family visited with masks.
“After about a month, we started having friends come,” Robinson said. “(Isabella) was already older and bigger. They did not get to see her right after she was born. Most other moms have people come and hold her and all that.”
When Isabella was seven months old, Robinson returned to work at a new job at a nursing home. During training, she would go home, remove her clothes and shower before going to Isabella.
In December, on what was to be her first day on her own at work, she took a routine bi-weekly rapid test and tested positive for COVID-19. She began home quarantine and wore a mask to be near her baby.
“I was terrified, mortified, of her getting the virus because of all the unknowns,” she said. “It was snowing. I couldn’t go anywhere. It was rough to say the least.”
When she returned to work, some residents and staff members had the virus. “Everyone was so stressed and overwhelmed. A lot of staff got it and were out,” she said.
Now, Robinson said she feels like she and her young family are “over the hump.” She imagines years from now telling Isabella about the year she was born.
“She was born in the midst of a lot of chaos, and she brought us a lot of joy in the midst of the chaos,” Robinson said. “A lot of joy.”
How do they do it?
Jeanna Moats, of Greencastle, Pa., said she understands the challenges moms have been facing related to COVID-19. Moats, 51, is a mom herself, and a nurse practitioner who owns Hub City Family Practice. She had another nurse practitioner on staff who had to leave, given the challenges of pandemic.
“She was lovely and wonderful. She had the same heart as I do for wanting to take care of people. But her kids were on school, off school, school was cut back. She couldn’t work because she couldn’t keep a schedule. So she took a job online as an R.N.,” Moats said.
Moats said she was not as affected by the pandemic as moms with younger kids. But even though her girls are older and do not require as much care as younger children, they were not unaffected.
Kaiden, 20, and Kendyl, 17, both struggled with online learning. Moats’ husband, Bob, was working from home for a while and tried to help them get the hang of technology for virtual learning.
“I’ll tell you, Kaiden took a semester off. My daughter had a 4.3 (grade point average). She is brilliant, but she struggled with online learning. She needs to learn in person as many kids do,” Moats said.
Kendyl has played varsity soccer since her freshman year of high school. During pandemic, sports were defunct.
“This kid was soccer year-round,” Moats said. “Not having that impacts your mood, not getting out, not being able to do things.”
“A lot of moms, I don’t know how they were doing it, honestly. I didn’t have to be home because the kids are old enough to not need to be supervised,” she said. “I know I haven’t had it nearly as bad. I’ve been super blessed.”
Teach your children well
Jess Castle, 28, of Smithsburg, pulled out all the stops to help get her children and the children of others through the pandemic. One aspect of her efforts was acting as a dancing dinosaur.
Castle is operations manager at Discovery Station in Hagerstown. While the hands-on museum was closed to visitors for about six months, she said, museum staff amped up online and social media content for families. That included staff members appearing regularly in inflatable dinosaur costumes, acting as characters Rex and Tyra.
The dinosaurs participated in experiments and antics, and hilarity ensued. One popular episode entailed a cup stacking challenge and another involved a hoverboard.
“We wanted to do something fun that would make the kids laugh and it turned out to make adults laugh too,” Castle said.
Castle is mom to AshLynn, 9, and Carson, 5. Last autumn, she decided to home-school her children rather than have them participate in public school virtual learning.
“I thought it would be easier to work and teach them at the same time, to do it at my own pace and focus on the ways they learn best instead of struggling for all of us,” she said.
During shutdown, Castle took her children to the museum with her. They did their schoolwork and occasionally helped with her work. They assisted with some of the dinosaur videos, even coming up with ideas, and pitched in on community projects to help other children.
“They learned a lot of things that they would not have learned otherwise,” Castle said. “Like seeing all the planning that goes into things at Discovery Station. Before, they knew it was fun but now they know everything that goes into it.”
Now that their schools are back in session, AshLynn and Carson are back to school.
Castle said she knew it was challenging to juggle being a parent and a professional. “But last year, I realized that I had no idea how hard it really could be,” she said. “Normally I have a gap in between parenting and work, and they don’t overlap so much.”
She is “very lucky,” she said, that Discovery Station directors and staff were so supportive of her and her family during that time.
Castle’s fiancé Ryan Bender, 31, said AshLynn and Carson “think the world of her” and often mention her as their role model.
“Jessica's hard work and dedication to her career and family are something we should all strive for,” he said. “She is a loving, wonderful mother and partner, and an inspiration for her community.”
'She's like Superwoman'
Randy Howett, 34, of Hagerstown, shared similar sentiments about his wife, Jacki Howett, 35, a high school English teacher and mother to RJ, 13, and Liam, 9. She also serves in leadership roles in the community including one as cheer director for the South Hagerstown Junior Rebels.
Distance learning for Jacki in dual roles as teacher and mom was “a challenge for sure,” Howett said. The couple’s sons had a hard time with not being in school, as did many of Jacki’s students.
“She wanted to be sure our kids were taken care of and that her students were taken care of,” Howett said. “It was hard for her not being there and being able to interact with them. She is known for being there for them. She takes that to heart.”
Howett said Jacki is happy have kids back to school. Her sons prefer to be there, and she feels more able to support students to be successful there. Activities are beginning to pick back up as COVID-19 numbers decline, and every day, once again, is “running, running, running.
“(Jacki) holds down the fort with working and getting everyone fed and where they need to go every day,” Howett said. “I mean, I think she is like Superwoman.”
Keep pushing forward
Stephanie Tisdale, a Hagerstown mother of five, experienced anxiety-provoking hardships that were common to many during shutdown. Among those hardships were health concerns, job loss, financial stress, and ensuring that her boys continued to get an education.
Tisdale, 35, previously worked as a nursing assistant for Hospice of Washington County.
“At the beginning of pandemic, I was going into the nursing home to see my Hospice patients. That all stopped as things were getting worse,” she said.
Tisdale picked up hours doing receptionist work. She learned that her position was about to be cut, so she began looking for work elsewhere and landed a full-time job working for Frederick Health in Frederick, Md.
Tisdale has significant health issues, including a respiratory condition that landed her on a ventilator twice in one year a few years ago. She was happy to have steady employment, but also concerned about contracting the virus and taking it home to her husband, David, 36, and to her boys.
“I worked with COVID patients and I was very afraid of bringing it home,” she said. “I was changing (clothes) daily after work before getting into the car, sanitizing everything with Clorox wipes and spray.”
Meanwhile, Jeremiah, 16, Nehemiah, 15, Josiah, 13, Elijah, 11, and David, 12, were all doing virtual learning.
“Oh gosh, I’m telling you, trying to have five at a time – three on iPads, two on Chromebooks — hooked up to Wi-Fi. It was terrible," she said. "I felt like my kids were not learning enough.”
One of her sons has Attention Deficit Disorder and virtual learning was especially difficult for him.
“And I couldn’t stay home to make sure that he got that one-on-one to make sure he was focused. It was really rough,” she said.
Tisdale said she is happy to see COVID-19 numbers waning, kids going to school and activities returning. Each of her sons is involved in sports and the older ones have jobs.
As they look at her, she said, she hopes they will acknowledge the difficulty of these times, but also remember they “made it through.”
“I try to teach them to never give up, to just keep pushing forward,” she said.


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The Early Bird: Top New Recordings Reviewed 1-8-21 – 1-14-21
Things are still slow, and the pick up isn’t gonna occur till early February from everything I can see. So, let’s take a look at the week. Steve Earle’s tribute to Justin Townes Earles ruffles the Americana of his late son with country rock on J.T. (here) (Grade: A-) and Kings Of Leon drop two new songs, the jingle jangle “The Bandit” (A-) and the synth hooker “100,000 People” (here)(Grade: B).
Meanwhile there are two other big albums, the country based and who’s who featured Barry Gibb return to the catalog Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers’ Songbook (Vol. 1). The songs are, of course, great from time to time, but none of the performances are worth the while and, really, Keith Urban? Jason Isbell? Big whoop. sure, it’s only volume one, but he would have been better off resting hard on saturday Night Fever and hooking up with the Dua Lipas of the world (Grade: C-). Jazmine sullivan’s first album tells story of bad girls in 30 second snippets leading to the actual song on her first album in five years. The songs are good and the one with H.E.R. is better than that on Heaux Tales? (Grade: B). The other big album is the country guy who isn’t Luke Combs, nearly two hours, 30 song Dangerous: The Double Album by? Morgan Wallen -it might have made a good single, and while Morgan is no Luke, the Chris Stapleton feature “Only Thing That’s Gone” went straight on my (as always unwieldy) best songs of the year. The rest of it is just so cluttered, it overdoses. The only reason “Cover Me Up” stands out is because we recognize it (Grade: C+) .
Over at singles Slowthai and A$AP Rocky join together for “MAZZA”. Slowthai is on Rocky’s label in the US (nice signing there) and it is to his credit that he holds his own with the always superior Rocky on a business as usual slowthai track (Grade: B), The Black Crowes return to mining their back pages with? “Charming Mess” -an oldie but goldie now in demo form, and a pretty good The Faces soundalike (Grade: B). Finally, breaking up with the band, refusing to tour behind his solo album, disappearing into married life, and now back again, Zayn’s electronic, 808 tithered “Vibez” is a good return, a little downbeat but better than anything anyone but Harry has released (Grade: B+)
Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers’ Songbook (Vol. 1) – Barry Gibb – C-
Heaux Tales – Jazmine Sullivan – B
The Bandit – Kings Of Leon – A-
100,000 People – Kings Of Leon – B
Dangerous: The Double Album – Morgan Wallen – C+
MAZZA – Slowthai, A$AP Rocky – B
J. T. – Steve Earle – A-
Charming Mess – Unreleased & B-Sides – The Black Crowes – B
Vibez – ZAYN – B

domain: entertainment


Reply To: Disco
Not sure on .22 numbers as I don’t have a stock .22 disco both are heavily modded but on my .177 I installed a short stiff spring and went front 15 shots at 20fpe to 40 shots at 17fpe within 4% es. If you want more power generally you will lose shot count. Lower it a bit and you will gain. Of course adding a short stiff spring or SSG will add to your shot count from eliminating hammer bounce.


February 25, 2022 17:30
A good approach to using your SVG's in a Symfony App while preserving the ability to manipulate them with CSS.
March 9, 2020 02:26
A guide to shrinking an elephant hashed and encoded in PHP.
January 28, 2020 13:44
How to interactively use git rebase to fix unsigned GPG commits.
January 17, 2020 23:32
How and why you should separate your PHP test suites.
January 9, 2020 04:09
The misadventures of a compound problem involving css, cache, and cross-browser support.
December 30, 2019 23:58
Create a docker container to provide PHP's CLI, Composer, Git, Node & Yarn that is not project specific and without the need to have any of the aforementioned tools installed on the host.
December 27, 2019 02:13
If you’re not aware, PHP 7.4 has introduced Typed Properties. But buyer beware, there‘s a hitch..
December 17, 2019 04:45
From zero to blogging hero! Let me introduce myself...


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It goes without saying that Fern has seen better days. I’m convinced that the fern is the new fiddle leaf fig tree, and seeing as that I can’t keep many plants alive I didn’t want to spend the money on a fiddle leaf and then have it die on me a couple months later. Also, based on the research I did, fiddle leaf’s like a lot of sunlight. Besides the morning sun that comes into the living room, the house doesn’t really get a lot of sunlight throughout the day. With that being said, I knew a pretty little fiddle tree was not in my future.
I have always loved the lush and delicate leaves of a fern so I decided to spring for one and put it in the living room. I even bought a pretty woven basket (not shown) to house the plant. The plant was doing great all through the Summer and into the Fall. I misted the leaves religiously to keep them moist, watered it about every other day and it was looking great. The downward spiral began when we turned on the heat in the house. I think the air was too dry and leaves started to fall and turn yellow and brown. I even moved the plant to the bathroom for a few days where the humidity is higher but that didn’t seem to help.
When is it ok to throw the towel in?
We are now 2 years in this house. My how time flies. So many changes we’ve been through, some not so good, others…well, the best change ever ahem…Vivian. For the longest time, the wall behind the TV was bare, I recently hung this mirror and I really like the way it looks, but now the wall looks unfinished. I would like to do some sort of a gallery wall, but I think it might be overkill since I already have one in the dining room. I just can’t resist the cool, collected look of a gallery wall. My other idea was to flank on either side matching sconces or artwork or something I’m not very sure yet. Any thoughts or suggestions? Below are some inspiration images I’m really liking at the moment for this wall.
^^I think this works very well because of the use and contrast of big and small frames/artwork.
At first glance of this image, I thought the screen was a TV screen. Any who, the mirror is very similar to the one in my living room. I really like the way the fig trees flank either side of the mirror. I’m really liking the idea of adding a tree of some sort, to add texture, warmth, and height to the space.
Ever wondered how designers create a design plan? Check out Emily’s amazing and very informative post. She’s always so transparent about the work she does and is never shy about sharing sources and design tips of the trade. That is why I love her blog and her work so much. She continues to dominate the blog and interior design world with her always attainable and fresh designs.
She also wrote this amazing post detailing her early beginnings as a struggling artist/designer, her drive to be the best and how she got to where she’s at now. As someone who has an interior design background, gave it up to go into a more “secure” career (nursing), and who is trying to keep my dreams alive, this post could not have come at a better time. It’s always easier to put my ideas, dreams, and aspirations in the back burner and hum along this daily life. Reading Emily’s words sparked that light inside me, gave me hope that one day I can also make a living being creative. And because nobody says it better than Emily, these are her exact words:
I guess the point is that no matter what creative field you are in, you can succeed with some good old-fashioned passion and a lot of exposure. You don’t have to be born into it, you don’t have to have been surrounded by it your entire childhood, or even educated in it. You just need those two things. Passion without exposure equals what you see above – a random book of pictures that might lead somewhere but isn’t going to get you the job, and just exposure without real passion can make for a pretty lazy and therefore kinda lifeless creative existence.
I think there are a lot of us out there – the ones that aren’t born and raised in the industry and yet found ourselves here and successful. And when I was in my 20’s still figuring it all out, it was those stories that I clung to – the hope that my lack of exposure wasn’t going to be my demise. It wasn’t
Pinks, gold, blush, and ruffles is what it’s all about. You can say I may have gone over the top girly, yes maybe, but I’m happy with the result. The gold dots are decals I purchased on Etsy, and I measured e v e r y single dot. It was a time consuming project (the measuring part) to say the least but well worth the time spent. The paint is Sherwin Williams, when I find the name of the paint I will surely update the post. It was the “whitest” of the pinks on the color card. The pom poms are from Vivian’s baby shower. Sheer ruffle curtains allow light to filter in. This room is quite dark throughout the day, so sheer curtains were a must. All furniture is from Target, they have quite the selection online. I’m very happy with the purchase.
The pillow is from Marshall’s. Stuffed animals were gifted.
Disclaimer: I always remove all pillows and stuffed animals when Vivian is in the crib. Also, now that Vivian is sleeping in her crib, I have removed the bumper.
The decal is a Target find. My absolute favorite. I framed this pretty wrapping paper from Paper Source, a great affordable way to add art to your walls. I’ve been doing this for years.
And no nursery is complete without a framed photo of baby’s feet (they were so small!).
Vivian’s nursery is my favorite room in the house. When deciding on a color scheme for her room I knew I wanted to add color of some sort, seeing as I tend to shy away from color in general throughout the rest of the house, especially on the walls. One day while at Marshall’s, I came across these pretty gift tags and fell in love with their color and pattern. So there you have it, the inspiration for Vivian’s nursery. I also created a Pinterest board to store pretty images I found elsewhere. Stay tuned for the nursery reveal soon.
Sources: 1(my own), 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
I’ll be the first to admit I don’t own or buy a lot of design books. I get my daily fix of inspiration via blogs, like most people nowadays. I’m a long time reader of Erin’s blog. When I heard she was coming to Chicago for her book tour, I was excited and felt compelled to go and meet her. This was way back in October, by the way. A little late on the post…I know. I took Vivian with me; both mother and daughter’s first book signing! Had a great time chatting it up with Andrew, and Erin was super sweet and down to earth. With the baby these days I haven’t had much time to sit and really dive into the book until recently. It’s such a great read, literally like an extension of her blog. Erin is very candid in how she explains the design process, she gives great advice based on experience and what’s worked best for her. Andrew contributed to the foreword section of the book, and wrote some of the sweetest words about Erin and her journey to writing her first book. And of course, Erin showcases her talent throughout the book with beautiful pictures from beginning to end. I highly recommend the book to any design enthusiast.
One of my favorite parts of the book is the honest and invaluable advice Erin gives to bloggers.
Wallpaper, wallpaper, and more wallpaper! This gives me the itch to put some wallpaper up in my own house. Hopefully sooner rather than later.
Such a beautiful and inspirational office. I don’t think I will ever get tired of seeing huge inspiration walls such as the one pictured above.
Just a quick post today to show you an updated view of the living room and how the white cabinet looks. It sits right next to the foot of the sectional and is the first thing you see when you walk in the front door. I had mentioned before here, that the living room needed a furniture piece in the entrance way to sort of define the entry of the house. This console does just that. I accessorized it with items I had around the house, I don’t think I’m sold on the look just yet. But for now it works.

domain: artistic


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LEGO continues their replica head model as they unveil their newest one from Marvel Comics. The town is about to be painted red as Carnage is back and ready for some fun with LEGO. Standing 7" tall, Carnage contains 545 bricks and his terrifying sharp teeth as with an included study base with plaque. This replica head is packed with detail that will please any fan of this deadly symbiote, making it a must-have piece for any Spider-Man, Venom, or Carnage fan. The Marvel set is expected to go live on LEGO on April 11, 2021, and will be priced at $59.99. Fans are also able to pre-order there's today here. Be on the lookout for other LEGO head replicas like Iron Man and a variety of iconic Star Wars characters.
"LEGO® Marvel Spider-Man Carnage (76199) takes your construction skills into the Marvel Universe as you recreate the nightmarish features of the alien super villain. From the low, red brow to the protruding jaw packed with bayonet-like teeth, this LEGO brick replica of Carnage provides Marvel movie fans and model-making enthusiasts with a building experience that is challenging yet highly rewarding. With a stylish name plaque attached to the sturdy base, this remarkable model will look even more impressive displayed alongside other LEGO comic-book creations."
"Escape the busy world and rediscover the joy of creative construction with adult LEGO building sets. Satisfying to build and stunning to display, adult LEGO kits make great birthday gifts, Christmas presents and personal treats for anyone interested in model making or comic-book culture."
- This 546-brick project captures all the monstrous alien's authentic details – from its low, red brow to its bayonet-like teeth – and stands on a sturdy base with a stylish name plaque attached.
- The satisfaction of a job well done will last long after the hands-on construction of this collectible piece of Marvel memorabilia is completed.
- The finished model measures over 7 in. (19 cm) high, 3 in. (9 cm) wide and 5 in. (15 cm) deep and provides a fascinating conversation starter, whether displayed in your home or workplace.


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Our pal Kit reviews comics for us! This is one of those reviews.
Warning: minor spoilers.
“I’ll beat down the memories so hard they’ll never come back” – Captain Marvel
It may not be out until next year, but I am very excited to see Captain Marvel when she’s released into the MCU. In the meantime Marvel are building up the hype for her character with a new short series exploring her origins. Not the alien experimentation/power obtaining origins though, her childhood, family life and what makes Carol Danvers Carol Danvers. Both the premise of this story, a more in depth analysis of a fascinating super hero, and the art style on the front cover (which I’m sure you’ll agree is excellent) drew me in to pick this up.
This comic is bought to us by:
- Writer – Margaret Stohl
- Penciler (present day) – Carlos Pacheco
- Inker (present day) – Rafael Fonteriz
- Colourist (present day) – Marvio Menyz
- Artist (Flashbacks) – Marguerite Sauvage
- Letterers – VC’s Clayton Cowles
- Cover Artist – Julian Totino Tedesco
The story begins with the Avengers doing their thing and knocking a few bad guys around. As the battle progresses though we see that Captain Marvel isn’t really battling her enemy but her own trauma. It’s father’s day and that’s brought with it a whole range of memories and challenges that Carol is doing her best to repress without much success. She decides she has to face her past and goes home to her family. While the battle is dynamic and very much a spectacle as always the real conflict in this story is a very personal one, providing insight into a hero that isn’t usually offered in mainstream comic books.
The series appears to be following two primary plot threads – Captain Marvel in the present reconnecting with her family and looking back on her upbringing and Carol as a child and revealing the challenges she faced and a family life that wasn’t as ideal as she pretends it was. Stohl’s characterisation of Carol is gripping and makes her feel very human.
The art in this comic is fantastic. With two art teams there’s a risk the styles will clash or one will seem out of place, however both feel very realistic – in the modern day both Pacheco’s pencil work and Fonteriz’s ink work provide detailed and grounded feeling scenes while the colouring from Menyz is vibrant and brings the pages to life. However, the muted colour pallet adopted by Sauvage during the flashbacks makes them feel dream like or as memories are, something very separate to what is currently happening. For me, all of the art is of a very high calibre in this issue, both styles complimenting each other and suiting each other (young Carol in Sauvage’s work really looks like she’ll grow up to become Captain Marvel), however Sauvage really steals the show with outstanding work during the flashbacks.
I’ve owned this comic for about 6 hours and read it twice. If you want a little more depth to your super heroes, especially if you want to get to know Captain Marvel better then you should absolutely pick this up.
Final Score – 9.5 Alien Cat Things out of 10

domain: hobby


Foreign ministers of the G7 nations vowed Wednesday to endorse the Joe Biden administration’s new policy towards North Korea. It signaled the international community’s commitment to stand behind the United States to pressure Pyongyang to come back to the negotiation table. As for the agenda of China, even Taiwan Strait was mentioned in the joint communique along with the issues over human right records and trade disparity to further weigh down on Beijing.
“We call on the DPRK to refrain from provocative actions and to engage in a diplomatic process with the explicit goal of denuclearization,” the ministers in charge of foreign affairs and development from G7 countries said in a joint statement on Wednesday after having the two-day meeting in London. They added that they “remain committed to the goal of complete, verifiable and irreversible abandonment of all of the DPRK's unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs.” The ministers also welcomed “the readiness of the United States to continue its efforts in that regard,” vowing to provide continued support.
The statement adopted the expression CVIA (complete, verifiable, irreversible abandonment) in regard with North Korea’s nuclear program. Previously, they used CVID for “Denuclearization” or “Dismantlement”, providing room for speculation that the ministers shunned from the expression of “CVID” as the North detests it. The G7 ministers also voiced the need for keeping sanctions against Pyongyang in unison. “It is critical that sanctions which target the DPRK's unlawful weapons development remain in place while its programs exist," they said, stressing the need to fully implement the UN Security Council resolutions on the communist regime. They further vowed to counter the North’s “sanctions-evasion tactics, particularly its illicit maritime activities including ship-to-ship transfers.”
Unlike the previous year, the joint statement dealt with the human right issues in North Korea in a separate clause, expressing deep concerns “about the documented accounts of human rights violations and abuses in the DRPK.” It also pointed out that the “precarious humanitarian situation in the North is the result of the DPRK regime’s choice to prioritize its unlawful WMD and ballistic missile programs over the welfare of its own people.”
Despite the strong international pressure, Pyongyang continues to use harsh languages against the Biden administration while refusing to respond to Washington’s outreach for communication. Citing high-ranking government officials, Josh Rogin, a columnist of the Washington Post, said while Washington sought to contact the North for “a calibrated and practical approach” towards Pyongyang, it failed to get any answer from the regime. This pattern is being repeated after February when Washington tried to communicate with Pyongyang with no avail.
It has been reported that the Biden administration won’t appoint a new Special Representative for North Korea.


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