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Hiroshima pocket watch
Watch from Hiroshima, with the hands frozen at the time the first atomic bomb exploded.
Today, I need to find something to do.
I had planned to go to Chaco Canyon today, but had to postpone (again!) due to rain.
My plan after Chaco Canyon was to visit Santa Fe, so that’s where I ultimately headed.
Coronado State Monument
Heading north, I pulled off the road for the one thing I had to skip my previous time in Albuquerque.
A road on the outskirts of the city heads to a state historic site, Coronado State Monument
People seeking the beauty spots of ancestral pueblos pass it by, but for those who want history it holds something unique.
The site sits on the banks of the Rio Grande north of Albuquerque.
It is yet another historic site with a misleading name; early archeologists thought Coronado camped near here.
What they actually found was one of the last pueblos to be abandoned in New Mexico.
Unlike the ancient pueblos further west made of rocks, this one was made of adobe, bricks of dried mud.
Adobe disintegrates over time when exposed to air, so the only reason the pueblo survived was being buried.
The interstate heads to the Sange de Christo range, the southernmost portion of the Rocky Mountains
Researchers reburied it after excavation to ensure it would be protected.
While excavating the pueblo they found something even more precious, an intact kiva.
The kiva had stucco paintings along the walls, highly faded but still visible.
The paintings are now preserved in the visitor’s center, along with artifacts found during the dig.
They are the only authentic kiva paintings visible to the general public.
Since the murals are sacred, the site prohibits photographs.
The artwork features highly simplified forms of humans, birds, and corn found in current pueblo art, including the church in Acoma .
A few figures represent large rabbits, a sacred animal in many pueblos’ religion.
Pueblo Indians see a rabbit in the patterns on the moon instead of a man like most Europeans.
Blue dashed lines run from many figures to the ground, life giving rain.
Anthropologists believe the human like figures in the murals are kachinas, but can’t confirm this.
Behind the center sits a recreation of the pueblo on top of the mound covering the actual one, which was built in the 1920s.
Central building for the Los Alamos Ranch School turned community hall during the Manhattan Project
They layout is a square rather than the semi-circle seen at sites like Aztec , otherwise it is very familiar by this point.
The highlight is a reconstruction of the kiva, including copies of the murals.
People must enter through a hole in the ceiling by a ladder, just like the original.
The room is square instead of the round kivas found elsewhere, and lacks the air vent.
It’s still small and dark, though.
After the pueblo, I pushed on north.
The road runs along flat desert, with a mountain range to the east.
Its official name is the Ortiz Mountains, but everyone calls it the turquoise trail
These mountains sat on one of the largest known deposits of turquoise, which ancestral puebloans once mined and traded.
All at once the highway crests a rise and tall mountains appear beyond.
They are the Sangre de Cristo range, the southernmost part of the Rocky Mountains.
The highway heads right to the base, where it enters the sprawl of Santa Fe.
Most travelers have a specific image
of Santa Fe.
They picture one of
Ranch School Memorbelia
Items from the Los Alamos Ranch School, which became Los Alamos lab
America’s ultimate boutique cities, a world of art galleries, fine restaurants, and spas surrounded by architecture that hasn’t changed in four centuries.
This world does exist, but it’s actually a modern recreation.
Outside the downtown core, Santa Fe is surrounded by the downright ugly sprawl typical of most modern cities in the west, albeit sprawl surrounded by photogenic mountain scenery.
I need several days to see Santa Fe properly, so I pushed through and headed north.
Soon enough, I was in desert mountains.
After a stretch of dry mountain valleys, the road split.
I took the left branch and headed for the closest hills.
That led to a narrow canyon into a mesa.
Finally, the road twisted up the side of the canyon to the mesa top.
Sadly, this was the point where the forecast rain clouds finally decided to arrive.
Soon, I’m driving in a downpour.
At the top of the mesa, the road enters a descent sized town.
It looks remarkably normal.
The normality is an illusion, because until a half century ago people who lived
109 E. Palace Ave. Santa Fe
Replica of the building all Los Alamos recruits passed through, with the original gate
here could not even admit the city exists.
I’ve entered the secret town that designed the atomic bomb, Los Alamos
Near the center of town sits a building that looks really out of place, a large structure looking like a log cabin.
The street next door has the curious name “Bathtub Row”.
Believe it or not, this building is a centerpiece of atomic history.
It now holds the Los Alamos Historical Museum
, which tells the story of the town and the project that brought it into existence.
Los Alamos began life as an exclusive private boys’ school called the Los Alamos Ranch School
It was founded in 1917 by Ashley Pond Jr.
He chose this remote location because he believed, like many, that New Mexico’s relatively unspoiled environment would enhance people’s health.
The school combined ranch life with a rigorous academic program.
All members were also required to join the Boy Scouts of America.
The school’s most famous student is one that surprises many, author Gore Vidal
The museum has a surprising number of artifacts from the school.
It has old class schedules, which are as
Replica of a small portion of a lab building at Los Alamos
regimented as an army camp from sunrise to sunset.
Photos galore cover the walls.
One case holds old banners and sports trophies.
The building itself was built as a central gathering hall for arts performances, graduation ceremonies, and so forth.
Life proceeded uneventfully until J. Robert Oppenheimer
, the civilian director of the Manhattan Project
, showed up in 1942.
Oppenheimer needed a place for a top secret laboratory to design the atomic bomb, and he thought the school was ideal.
He had hiked throughout the mountains of New Mexico, and knew the area well.
The school was isolated enough to provide the necessary secrecy, yet close enough to Santa Fe to get men and material to the site.
Thanks to the school, the needed roads already existed.
Of course, the school buildings themselves provided readymade infrastructure.
The army acquired the place a year later (given the reality of wartime, I suspect the museum is being polite) and started building Los Alamos
Thanks to the project’s urgency, the Army built Los Alamos incredibly quickly.
Virtually all buildings were thrown together out of plywood.
The museum has a
Small sample of the flyers the army circulated to promote secrecy at Los Alamos
replica of typical living quarters, which was basically the luxury version of an army barracks.
High ranking officials and key scientists took over the existing school faculty housing, located near the museum building.
The street is called “bathtub row
” because these were the only living quarters with private baths.
Buildings quickly sprawled over the mesa top, with a street network nobody could navigate.
At Los Alamos secrecy was an obsession, of course.
It started with personnel recruitment.
Most of the scientists knew what was going on
, but that didn’t extend to soldiers and support technicians.
Recruiters roamed factories looking for people that met almost laughably obfuscated requirements, such as the ability to operate a lathe on metal with particular properties.
Those selected got orders to report to 109 East Palace Avenue in Santa Fe in civilian clothes.
They discovered an ordinary business office behind an iron gate, containing a single female receptionist, Dorothy McKibben
She verified their paperwork and sent them out the back, where a bus waited to take people to the mesa.
The museum has the gate.
On the way up, the bus passed the
Dinnerware from the army mess and community center
Every road to the mesa was guarded by soldiers.
They required passes to both enter Los Alamos and leave.
People rarely got permission to do either, since less people traveling meant less chance for the secret activity to leak.
The guardhouses only came done in the middle 1960s.
The museum has one, along with several of the passes. Secrecy
permeated every aspect of life in the city.
The project never published a phone book, because it would reveal the extraordinary number of physicists in one place.
The museum has samples of the fliers and leaflets that the army regularly circulated through the city, promoting an attitude of almost total paranoia.
Anyone could be a spy (Ironically, security missed the one man that actually was a spy, Edward Fuchs
Phone calls were monitored, and all mail was censored.
The censorship could be quite pedantic, as the display shows: “Re: department store payment form. Forgot payment.”
People tried to live as normal a life as possible
given the conditions.
The army turned the central school building into a community center.
People held regular play performances here, watched movies, and held
Atomic bomb lamp
One of many atomic bomb pop culture items produced in the 1950s
Although project leaders tried to discourage it, lots of young people in one place led to fraternization and marriages.
That in turn led to a mini-baby boom.
Babies born during the project years have post office box 1663 in Santa Fe as their official place of birth on their certificates, which are now a highly sought after collectable.
Los Alamos existence was finally revealed to the world after the atomic bombs were dropped on Japan in 1945.
The museum has a quick discussion on the decision to use them, although nothing like that at the National Atomic Museum .
It has a sample of Trinitite from the first bomb test in New Mexico, plus a rare pocket watch from Hiroshima with hands frozen at the time the bomb exploded.
It also has the famous before and after aerial photos.
After the bomb, the Los Alamos specific part of the museum basically ends.
It segues into a general discussion of life after the bomb dropped.
The section on the Cold War and Civil Defense is less through than that at the National Atomic
Selection of anti-nuclear protest material
Museum, but it does the other museum one better on the bomb in popular culture
Immediately after the war, people viewed the bomb as a technical miracle that had brought peace.
Bombs appeared in games, books, toys, and much else.
The museum has an atomic bomb lamp, and a photo of the atomic bomb shaped cake officials ate in 1946.
It also has a wall of anti-bomb protest material, such as the “One Nuclear Bomb Can Ruin Your Whole Day” bumper sticker.
I wandered through downtown Los Alamos
a little bit after the museum.
The place is depressingly normal.
Los Alamos has one of the highest concentration of people with advanced degrees in the country, but it doesn’t show outside the off limits lab.
The town does have a very good bookstore on science topics and the history of atomic weapons.
Sadly, they don’t carry a DVD that would be all too appropriate here, Stanly Kubrick’s
pitch black Cold War comedy Doctor Strangelove
The road heads west into the Jemez Mountains
after Los Alamos.
The first part passes through cliffs of crumbly sandstone covered in really black pine trees.
Some of the soft sandstone cliffs surrounding Los Alamos
trees are black due to a huge forest fire this summer
, which almost caused the Los Alamos laboratory to be evacuated.
The forest still contains uncountable snags and fallen logs, which make it dangerous to hike.
All the dirt roads and trailheads off the main highway are closed.
I ultimately reached the entrance of another major historic site around here, Bandelier
All of the sandstone cliffs contain alcoves of various sizes.
Ancient inhabitants enlarged these depressions near a reliable water source and lived in them.
While the fire could not damage the cliffs themselves, it wrecked the surrounding forest and the site was closed.
I pushed on into the mountains.
The road now climbs through the pine forest.
Parts of it are clearly burned, others look normal, and the rest shows damage with careful observation.
This continues until the highway crests a rise and enters the edge of a wide open field surrounded by low mountains on all sides.
It’s the Valles Caldera
, a huge former volcano.
Afterwards, the road enters a narrow gorge, the Jemez River.
The mountains get real close as the river and
Valles Caldera, the core of a former volcano
highway twist downhill.
The highway now has multiple signs that prohibit parking on the shoulders.
Finally, the roadway leaves the mountains and ends at a junction.
Desert and low hills stretch away in both directions.
After a quick check of the weather forecast, I turned west.
The rain gods have kept me from Chaco Canyon twice so far, but tomorrow should be dry.
I finally stopped in Cuba New Mexico
, a town consisting of about ten buildings along the road, the last inhabited spot before Chaco.
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The forbidden love between two soulmates results in a clash between the forces of Heaven and Hell, testing a bond that transcends the boundaries between life and death. In this tale of fated lovers, heavenly angels, and villains from hell, Thomas-Ian Nadeau also conveys through metaphors his life experiences and the hardships he experienced, baring his heart in the pages of "My Embodiment as a Broken Record."
This epic clash of angels and demons is simultaneously a memoir, a short autobiography that captures the author's struggles, inner conflicts, and perseverance. The tale is told through a stream of consciousness narrative following fantastical characters that include heavenly angels, the transcendental lovers Daniel and Samantha, a powerful villain from the depths of hell named Malbowa, and more. The saga spans enigmatically titled chapters such as "Actuality," "But Forsaken once Again," and "Problem End" that depicts a battle between good and evil that will reset the balance of Heaven and Hell.
At the center of this conflict is the love Daniel and Samantha share, which transcends the boundaries between life and death. Readers will see whether the bond between these lovers can withstand the antagonists before them and how they will fare as they challenge the very celestial order governing Heaven and Hell as well as Earth. Through this story, Nadeau shows how idealism, passion, and convictions must withstand one's circumstances and the challenges reality throws at one's way. And this requires strength, as well as the will to get back up after defeats and try again.
"My Embodiment as a Broken Record" was inspired by the horror stories Nadeau read when he was younger, such as Anne Rice's "The Vampire Chronicles" as well as Thomas Harris' Hannibal Lecter stories. At the same time, he says it also serves as his memoir, his life story retold through embellishments and metaphors, conveying how he wrestled with topics that troubled him, such as morality, gender, and sexuality, what awaits people with different sexual orientations in the afterlife, his perception of himself as well as society's expectation - and how one can strive to forge one's own destiny.
"It was something built on. Stream of consciousness and determination. It started with chance." Nadeau says, explaining what inspired him. He also hopes that by sharing his story, readers will learn to accept themselves for who they are and go beyond the internal struggles and turmoils holding them back, so they can go on to live happy lives. "People have to stop wearing invisible masks and just be themselves. This story was meant to inspire most people."
About the Author
Thomas-Ian Nadeau hails from Montreal, Quebec, and later moved to the big city during his adolescence. Since his youth, he has had mental health issues, lived in group homes, and had bouts of hospitalization. Currently, he is 24 years old and hoping to return to school in the near future.

domain: library


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text:
The Theatre for Experiments in New Technologies or TENT is a Kolkata-based independent and alternative art space that “speaks to fluidities and experiments with media forms”. TENT, which was initiated in 2012, launched the Little Cinema International Festival for experimental films and new media art in 2014. The event, which was held annually until 2018, was reimagined as the TENT Biennale in 2020.
The festival brings together films, videos and art outside the circuits of dominant and mainstream systems. An average of 30 titles across experimental cinema, video art and new media works are screened at every edition of the festival, where activities and attractions also include talks, workshops and installations.
With support from Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan, Kolkata, TENT has regularly shown films from renowned German festivals such as the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale), International Short Film Festival Oberhausen, Kasseler DokFest, and the W:OW [We are One World] Art Film and Video Festival in Cologne. Other collaborators include organisations such as the Film and TV Institute of India, Pune; India Foundation for the Arts, Bengaluru; and Studio 21 in Kolkata.
Gusztáv Hámos’s The Real Power of TV (1991), Lubdhak Chatterjee’s Aahuti (2019), Lynne Sachs’s A Month of Single Frames (2019) and Vika Kirchenbauer’s Untitled Sequences of Gaps (2020) are some of the prominent works that have been programmed. Film scholar Ashish Rajadhyaksha, cinematographer Avik Mukhopadhyay, filmmakers Kamal Swaroop, Katja Pratschke, Qaushiq Mukherjee and Petna Ndaliko Katondolo and artists Appupen, Gayatri Kodikal, Pallavi Paul, Sahej Rahal and Sarbajit Sen are among the speakers and participants of previous editions.
The last edition of the TENT Biennale was held between 05 and 11 December 2022.
Check out more film festivals here.
About TENT (Theatre for Experiments in New Technologies)
TENT (Theatre for Experiments in New Technologies)
Launched in 2012, Theatre for Experiments in New Technologies or TENT is a non-profit…
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domain: entertainment


text:
Welcome to Friday’s Weekly Roundup, my collection of the week’s best posts. I hope you enjoy this week’s collection.
How to Use MailChimp and Bookfunnel to Grow Your Author Mailing List by Aimee Coveney via Alliance of Independent Authors: While you may not have the intention of sending newsletters on a weekly or even monthly basis, when you have a new book available, what easier way is there to share the news with your existing audience? It’s therefore well worth going to the trouble of attracting new subscribers to your mailing list. Note: This post explains how you can use Bookfunnel to get your lead magnets (giveaway books) into the hands of your readers so you can grow your email list.

domain: literature


text:
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domain: artistic


text:
Case study of how Scottish author Ali Bacon decided whether to write fiction or non-fiction about her chosen topic
Tag Archives | writing craft
How to write a trilogy – Rosalind Minett shares what she learned while writing her Relative Invasion trilogy
How to improve the reach, impact and sales of your self-published book by better understanding your target readers
Novelist John Lynch defines the narrative arc and talks about the classic three- or five-act structure. Do you use it? Should you?
There are many forms of partnership that help indie authors succeed, and here Clare Flynn describes how helpful critique groups can be.
A handy guide for the start of the new year on setting and meeting creative intentions for your writing and self-publishing processes
Why wouldn’t Shakespeare’s royal plays count as literary fiction if written today? Theo Rogers asks provocative questions – and suggests some answers – about the nature of literary fiction.
Where do you find inspiration for your writing? Sci-fi and steampunk author explains how he’s gleaned ideas for sequels and prequels from his readers’ reactions to his books
50,000 reasons to give NaNoWriMo a try this November – that’s the target number of words you could have written by the end of the month. Indie authors share their experience to help you decide whether it’s right for you.
How to gain confidence as an author – including a discussion of the roles of heart, brain, gut and instinct in guiding your career as an indie author.


Port Neches attorney hopes for zoning resolution short of court
The City Council and the Zoning Board of Adjustment are in "active discussions" to resolve a dispute over variances to building requirements that the board granted a developer, according to the Port Neches city attorney.
The city council filed a petition in late November alleging that the Zoning Board of Adjustment acted illegally in granting three variances requested by Orange housing developer Jeff Akhtar, city attorney Glenn Steele said.
Steele said the zoning board has not filed a response to the city council's petition, which contends that "variances are granted in cases where enforcement of the zoning ordinance strictly would result in unnecessary hardship."
The lawsuit contends that there was "no showing" of "unnecessary hardship" in granting the variances to Akhtar's planned complex 140-unit apartment complex on Twin City Highway and Eighth Street.
Steele said he is hopeful the issue will be resolved without a judge's ruling.
Council has "no mechanism" to overrule the zoning board, Steele said. He said the current situation is "unusual" but not unprecedented.
"We don't have that process set up in the city charter so we have to go about it this way," Steele said.
"The planning and zoning commission is advisory and ordinarily doesn't have the power to make decisions of this type," Mixon said, adding that the city council can contest any decisions by a commission.
The city council has no authority to reverse or make adjustments to zoning board decisions, which are comparable to court rulings, Mixon said.
"The city council ordinarily just grumbles about it and elects a new zoning board of adjustment," he said.
Mixon said it's usually not the city council who takes the zoning board to court for an unpopular decision.
"Ordinarily, it would be the neighbors who would sue," he said.
A bureau of a municipality can file a petition alleging a board of adjustment acted illegally and cause the board to review the decision, according to local government code.
The zoning board granted three variances that allow Akhtar to increase the usual 18 dwelling units per acre to 23; increase the maximum usual maximum of 12 dwelling units under one roof to up 49; and increase the height of the building from two stories to three.The zoning board has the power to issue variances to height and area, but these variations granted to Akhtar might be substantial enough to be illegal variances, Mixon said.


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Apple has published an artists' guide to Ping, its iTunes-linked, music-based social network. Ping has been something of a challenge for independent bands since the service launched along with iTunes 10 six weeks ago, when only a handful of internationally renowned artists were on the network -- people like Lady Gaga and bands like U2. As it became apparent that Ping lacked a deep and wide network of artists, we found out that many artists were struggling to figure out how to create Ping profiles.
iTunes is a media player computer program used for playing, downloading, saving, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop or laptop personal computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad devices.
iTunes can connect to the iTunes Store to purchase and download music, music videos, television shows, iPod games, audiobooks, podcasts, movies and movie rentals (not available in all countries), and ringtones (only available on iPhone and iPod Touch 4th Generation). It is also used to download application software from the App Store for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. iTunes has been criticized for not being able to transfer music from one portable device to another.


text:
2012/Emily Bestler Books/ ATRIA/ Simon & Schuster
HC $28.00 TPPL
Rating: It was okay (the 2nd half was more engrossing than the first)
1st line: "In retrospect, maybe I shouldn't have freed the tiger."
Setting: Contemporary Beresford, NH
OSS: After Cara and Edward's dad, Luke Warren, a famous wolf scientist, suffers severe brain trauma in a car accident, the estranged family tries to decide what's the next step....sustaining his life or pulling the plug?
There were many things I liked about this story. Each short chapter was in the voice of one of the key players....Luke, the father, Edward, the son, who had left at 18 for Thailand because of some sort of argument with his dad, Cara, the younger sister who lives with and idolizes her dad, Georgie, the ex-wife and Edward and Cara's mom, and Joe Ng, Georgie's new husband and the lawyer that defends Edward. Each character is given his own font. Luke's pieces, all italicized, are the story of the wolves and his obsession with them.
This is the story of a family that has had a tough time from the beginning. When you have a dad that would rather live in the wild with wolves, you have a dysfunctional family, right? So for most of his adult life Luke was lost between two worlds, never able to fully participate in either (except for the two years he actually lived in the Canadian woods and joined a pack). There are little mysteries to be solved, actually quite evident ones, that come out as the trial proceeds. What trial? The trial that pits brother against sister in who will have legal guardianship of their father.
If you're an animal lover, especially a lover of wild animals, the story would probably be quite enthralling. For me, a little bit of the wolf information went a long way. I guess it was entirely based on the work of Shaun Ellis, a guy in England on whom the character of Luke is based.
My daughter loves Jodi Picoult, so I thought I'd try this new book. The only one I read previously was not a favorite. Laura says this one has not had the greatest reviews. I think I'll wait awhile before reading another.


Reports: Red Sox have made Lester an offer; Braves visit next
If free agent pitcher Jon Lester is interested in returning to Boston, those wheels have reportedly already been set in motion.
ESPN.com‘s Gordon Edes reported that the Red Sox have already made an offer to Lester, though they do not expect him to make a decision on it immediately.
Meanwhile, MLB.com’s Mark Bowman says that Lester’s next meeting will be with the Braves, who play just a short distance from Lester’s home in Peachtree City, Ga.
This free agency tour — the Cubs are also in the mix — is likely the reason why the Red Sox don’t expect to hear an answer from Lester any time soon.
Bowman writes that there’s “a chance this meeting will simply enhance the demand” for Lester, though the Braves’ proximity to Lester’s home and their new ballpark set to open in 2017 could be enticing. He also writes that Atlanta could be in the position to make more deals like the Jason Heyward trade to create financial flexibility in order to boost the team’s pitching.
— Joey Nowak


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Idris Elba makes a stand
Action, villains and more
Universal postpone production in wake of Paul Walker's tragic death
Clint slipped into an Allied uniform and held his own against Richard Burton in this WWII thriller. The pair play a couple of US army folk who head up a mission to rescue an American general who's being held captive in a castle in the Alps. Adventure is the order of the day, as the mission entails action set-pieces galore and twists aplenty.American Legend? He's a gung-ho war hero here.
« Previous 4 of 33 Next »
Jan 28th 2011, 6:44
Your Dead pool page features a picture of Clint with Charlie Scene from The Rookie.
Alert a moderator
Jan 28th 2011, 11:29
^ Apologies, it has been amended now.
Jan 28th 2011, 17:29
Letters from Iwo Jima??
Much more impressive than Flags of our Fathers because...
1. Almost entirely in a foreign language yet completely gripping.
2. It was nominated for three of the big Oscars (Director, Film and Original Screenplay) whilst Flags was nominated for Sound Editing and Sound Mixing (woo?).
3. It is a more a more gripping war story, whilst still managing to mix in backstories of the soldiers.
4. It doesnt star Ryan Phillippe....
Jan 29th 2011, 13:09
This was a fantastic tribute. I posted something similar recently, so it was fun to see someone else's take:
Jan 29th 2011, 16:51
No love for Charlie PArker biopic 'Bird' ? Surely more deserving than the Dead Pool... (Dirty Harry being chased by a Radio control car...you may cry now).
Jan 31st 2011, 6:33
PONCHOS ARE COOL!!!
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Abbotsford is experiencing a surge in development in its residential, industrial and agricultural sectors and work is beginning on what developers say will be the tallest residential tower between Surrey and Calgary.
Abbotsford-based Quantum Properties is putting up the 26-storey mixed-use tower, named Mahogany at Mill Lake, at Gladwin Road and Bevan Avenue. The condo tower will also have 30,000 square feet of commercial space on the first three floors, including a medical clinic, pharmacy and restaurant, said Diane Delves, the firm’s president and CEO.
“Our buyers are basically the down-sizers,” she said in an interview last week. “The boomers who are cashing out of their valuable houses … so they can free up some time to travel.”
She said the tower will stand 80 metres tall, making it the tallest residential building between Surrey and Calgary. In Kelowna, the Landmark VI office tower stands 81 metres, and the Sky at Waterscapes residential tower reaches 78 metres, according to SkyscaperPage.com.
More people are coming to Abbotsford seeking lower land costs and business opportunities, she said. “Abbotsford is not a bedroom community,” Delves said. “About 70 per cent of the people live and work here.”
She said her company operates about 150 other residential units in the city. “We count our vacancies at like, one day a month,” she said. “It’s an incredibly tight market here.”
The tower is expected to be completed in 2018. “We’re starting to go up,” she said. “The crane just arrived so we’ll start pouring concrete imminently.”
Abbotsford is experiencing significant increases in development projects as well as inquiries by developers, said Wendy Dupley, Abbotsford’s director of economic development.
“Our numbers are showing significant increases,” she said. “Really starting from fall of last year.”
Construction value in Abbotsford in the first quarter of this year totalled $52.8 million across all types — agricultural, commercial, industrial and residential. That’s up $12.4 million dollars from the same period last year, according to the city’s first-quarter development report.
The number of building permits issued also increased, to 359 in the first quarter of this year from 302 across all types in the first quarter of 2015. The biggest gains came in industrial, single-family residential, multi-family residential and agricultural permits, while commercial permits retreated.
“General inquiries (from developers) are up 54 per cent over the same quarter of last year,” Dupley said. “That’s quite significant.”
Projects like Quantum Properties’ tower are part of the city’s strategy to grow up, rather than out, she said.
“Historically Abbotsford has been a very sprawling city,” she said. “We’re intending to deal with a population of 200,000 (by 2035) by densifying within our current footprint, within the urban footprint.”
She said young people priced out of Metro Vancouver’s residential and commercial markets should consider Abbotsford.
“There’s a tightness of land across the Lower Mainland and we’ve seen a lot of businesses that have been unable to expand in their current location looking at Abbotsford because of the availability and the affordability of the land here,” she said.
Dupley said “it’s a bit too early to tell,” whether or not the province’s new 15 per cent tax on foreign buyers of Metro Vancouver residential properties is stoking the Abbotsford market. But some realtors are using the tax as a marketing tool, she said. “You’re seeing some of that happening in the residential sector.”
It’s likely that Abbotsford is benefiting from migrants from Metro Vancouver, said Don Campbell, an analyst and founding member of the Real Estate Investment Network. “They’re cashing out there, taking some chips off the table, and coming out here,” he said.
He said Abbotsford is developing similarly to the way that Calgary grew up, with migrants arriving in the city who were already accustomed to the apartment or condo lifestyle.
There are 19 multi-family projects under construction in Abbotsford, six of which are mixed-use, for a total of 1,239 units, Campbell said. “That’s a bit of a newer trend for the city of Abbotsford, and an indication of the type of migration coming in.”
Abbotsford is a big city, geographically, he said. “They’re trying to densify walkable centres to attract millennials. That’s why we’re seeing an increasing building boom of the mixed-use properties.”
He said the strongest demand is for multi-family, followed by light industrial and agriculture.
“They are open for business,” he said. “I think with the airport, the river and the highways and the borders, it’s positioned to do incredibly well, and as long as this momentum continues, I think they’ll be OK.”
Issued Building Permits, City of Abbotsford
Number of issued building permits by quarter (new construction and tenant improvements)
Total issued building permits: 359
Residential (single family): 178
Total issued building permits: 302
Residential (single family): 132

domain: news


Want to enhance your computer experience? Then transition to 4K. Whether you’re a gamer or someone who is constantly buying the best media streaming devices, 4K monitors can offer you an experience of a lifetime with ultra HD graphics that are sharp and lifelike.
In the last few years, 4K computer screens have become somewhat of a phenomenon and, due to their ever-increasing popularity, 4K screens are now available in a range of tempting choices and technologies. And while there are a variety of 4K TVs under $1,000 for your home, monitors are more versatile. Viewing angles, color accuracy, video editors, gaming monitors, color reproduction, IPS panel, response time etc.—you name your preference and you’ll find a 4k screen that meets your needs.
4K screens have made some serious headway in the past couple of years. However, this poses a problem: you must choose from a plethora of 4K options available to you and this can be challenging to say the least. Like any computer purchase, the ideal 4K screen for you will depend on several variables, with price being one of them. The good news is that we’ve shortlisted the best 4K screens available to make the decision easy for you. Think about your preference for computer monitors and then check against them the following list to determine the best 4K display that you can buy today.
If you’re on a budget and want an affordable 4k screen, then the IIYAMA B2888UHSU should be the obvious choice for you. Why do we say that? Although it is less costly than other 4K screens available today, the 28-inch B2888UHSU offers everything you’d expect from top-of-the-line 4K monitors including several video inputs, a picture-in-picture mode, and a fully adjustable stand, among others. The only con of this monitor is that its viewing angles aren’t as wide as some other 4k screens with IPS display.
Looking for a high-end display? Then the ASUS PROART PA329Q is a good choice. This monitor will most likely appeal to those looking for a gaming monitor since the ASUS PROART PA329Q offers G-sync, which is a feature that eliminates screen tearing during 3D animation and the best thing is that this does affect color accuracy. An upgrade of the company’s flagship 4K professional display, the PA329Q has a 10-bit IPS panel that can support a 16-bit color look-up table, with support for the DCI-P3 color spectrum as well. In addition to this, the monitor has three HDMI ports including two DisplayPort inputs and one HDMI 2.0 port that can provide the support needed for smooth PC use in 4K.
This monitor is for all the businessmen and businesswomen out there. If you want a monitor that allows you to get your work done efficiently, then look no further than the ASUS PA328Q. Have a deadline to meet? No worries! The tilting screen and fantastic build quality of the PA328Q allows you to view your designs or spreadsheets from many different angles and in ultra-high definition.
The ASUS PA328Q has an anti-glare screen that uses cold cathode fluorescent lamps. This ensures even backlighting across the entire screen, which is vital when you’re doing late-night shifts. Adding to this experience are a DisplayPort and a mini DisplayPort. While this monitor may take up a considerable amount of your desk space, it will be worth it since the ASUS PA328Q is one of the best 4K monitors available today.
A 4K UHD IPS monitor, HP Envy is a great choice for a 4K display if you seek a high-quality monitor but have a limited budget. So, what can you expect from this monitor? An IPS panel that has minimalist design and delivers a stunning HD picture.
In addition to the above, the HP Envy monitor has two ports of the HDMI kind, a DisplayPort and a USB-C port. However, a USB 3.0 hub is notably missing on the monitor. Nevertheless, the 3860×2160 resolution, peak brightness of 350 cd/m2, and contrast ratio of 1,300:1 produces a sharp picture with color accuracy.
This is an excellent choice for the professionals. A 32-inch 4k screen, the BENQ PD3200U is known for its color reproduction, crisp image quality, and perfect contrast. Since the screen is designed for professionals, the PD3200U comes with a darkroom, embedded SD/MMC card reader, keyboard video mouse, animation mode, and CAD/CAM. While it isn’t one of the best-looking 4K monitors out there, the PD3200U more than makes up for its lack of aesthetic appeal with its base functionality and top-of-the-line features.
This monitor is equipped with G-sync technology, which ensures that there is no tearing or stuttering in games up to 60HZ. While Acer predator can’t offer the same display angles as IPS displays, it is much more affordable than screens with IPS panel. Since the monitor is based off TN technology, it has a lower 1ms response time, which is great news for people wanting a gaming monitor.
Boasting a terrific ergonomic stand and intuitive on-screen controls, Dell P2715q is a 27-inch 4K screen with Ultra-high definition capabilities and a display with color accuracy and wide viewing angles. The image quality adjustment of this 4K display isn’t all that great but that makes no difference to the experience offered by the monitor since the picture produced by the Dell P2715q is spectacular even without adjustment. If you’re looking for a value for money 4k screen, then this monitor is the best choice.
A great all-purpose option, the Philips BDM4350UC boasts a 43-inch display with a 10-bit IPS panel. One of the best 4K monitors available today, Philips BDM4350UC has a 5ms response time and a plethora of inputs including fast charging, two HDMI 2.0 ports, two display ports, and four USB 3.0 hub.
In addition to the above, there's no need to invest in portable bluetooth speakers, the Philips BDM4350UC has dual seven-watt speakers built-in. The large size of the monitor is appropriately matched with Multiview, which enables the screen to be split into Full HD displays. The 178-degree angle of this 42-inch 4k screen allows the monitor to be properly viewed from almost any side while ensuring appropriate color accuracy and color reproduction wherever it is critical.
This 4K screen is a great choice for most people. The monitor stands smoothly and you can adjust its height as the screen tilts and swivels. The menus of the monitor are responsive and quick to use. Additionally, the colors are extremely accurate and there is three-year warranty that guarantees zero dead pixels. In addition to color accuracy and adjustment features, the Dell UltraSharp U2718Q boasts usb 3.0 hub.
Best of the lot and our top pick among the best 4K monitors available today is the LG 27UD68P-B.A 27-inch monitor. The LG 27UD68P-B has excellent color and grayscale measurements. Additionally, it has an ergonomic adjustable stand, easy-to-navigate menus, and support for FreeSync adaptive sync, which is a technology that reduces graphical tearing when it is used with a compatible AMD graphics card. Although the monitor lacks a USB hub and its warranty isn’t as good as Dell’s, it is probably the best value for money 4K display that you can get today.
Choosing a new 4K monitor can be overwhelming to say the least, since a wide range of options are available to you. To make things easy for you, we came up with the above list of the best 4K monitors available today. We shortlisted the above monitors as the 10 best 4K displays after they fulfilled our criteria for viewing angles, color accuracy, video editors, gaming monitor, color reproduction, IPS panel, response time, and so on.
We hope this list would prove sufficient for you to find the best 4K monitor for yourself. One thing is for sure—you’ll love the monitor you choose regardless of which 4k screen you pick from our list.


text:
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domain: medical


All of the female Avengers in Avengers: Endgame assembled for a behind-the-scenes photo from the set of the film. The Marvel Cinematic Universe heroes played a major role in taking down Thanos, but they found some downtime in between filming to pose with Avengers: Endgame's directors, Joe and Anthony Russo, as well as one of the film's producers, Trinh Tran. During the epic finale of Avengers: Endgame, all of the women on Team Avengers - minus Black Widow, due to certain events that played out earlier in the film - organize a group assault against Thanos. They team up to assist Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) to retrieve the Infinity Stones, and though some viewed the scene as pandering fan service, others were more than happy to see the women of the MCU get the screen time they deserve. And, regardless of personal stances, as Hope Pym (Evangeline Lilly) says at the end of Ant-Man, "it's about damn time" the MCU balanced gender representation in this franchise.


waltham41 once wrote on another thread that he wished a barrel shroud... Your'e welcome Sorry about the delay on updated pics , but here they are. As you can see, I simply cut away the forward stock about 2 " from the aft screw holding the for-stock together. I then filled the front end to about 1 1/2" back with 9309 Hysol 2 part. Sanded and painted with flat black Krylon Fusion. I fitted the brace for barrel to the aft screw and thats that. The Barrel shroud is a 1" round stock aluminium bored out to fit. Instead of using paint here, I decided to use 1" shrink wrap on it. Took a few attempts to get the size write, but finally got it where I like it. Let me know if there are any questions... LOL.


BEIRUT: The Future parliamentary bloc of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri said Tuesday that “refloating” the caretaker government was unconstitutional, reiterating calls for the swift formation of a nonpartisan Cabinet.
The bloc also hailed recent stances made by President Michel Sleiman, saying these indicated he was protecting the Constitution.
“The current [caretaker] Cabinet is causing massive harm and damage and according to the Constitution, it cannot be refloated and can only carry out a narrow scope of activities,” the bloc said in a statement after its weekly meeting under former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora at Hariri’s downtown residence.
“The bloc and the majority of Lebanese believe that ... solving the country’s problems can be done through forming a nonpartisan government before it is too late.”
The bloc called on Sleiman and Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam to form a government as soon as possible.
The bloc praised recent stances taken by Sleiman, saying his comments and acts proved he was the protector of the Constitution, National Pact and state institutions.
“This gives hope that the nation has someone to protect it and that the country has a president devoted to its interests,” the bloc said.
Sleiman said Monday that he opposed attempts by caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati to convene a session for the caretaker Cabinet, saying there was no reason to make such a move.
Sleiman called instead for forming a government to oversee the election of a new president next spring. The constitutional period to elect a new president begins on March 25, two months prior to the expiration of Sleiman’s term.
Mikati said earlier this week that he was considering chairing a session of the caretaker government to address pressing state matters and security threats. The move is supported by Hezbollah and the Amal Movement.
Earlier Tuesday, Siniora called for the formation of a government to facilitate the election of a new president.
“Presidential elections should be discussed in the upcoming phase, but the priority now is for the government. We should be determined to respect the Constitution,” Siniora told reporters after visiting the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Beirut, Bishop Elias Awdeh, with a delegation of Future Movement MPs.
“Free and democratic elections should take place to select the person who can assume responsibilities and respect the principles and values that Lebanon was founded on, which the current president best expresses these days,” Siniora said.
Hezbollah MP Mohammad Raad said any new president or government should be supportive of the resistance and preserve Lebanon’s independence.
“Any government or president that Lebanon can have, that all Lebanese demand, is one committed to the patriotic path of resistance and eager to preserve free national decisions by not allowing Lebanon to become dependent on a regional state or be under international tutelage,” Raad told reporters after visiting former President Emile Lahoud at his Yarze residence.
Raad, who heads Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, accused the March 14 coalition of attempting to create a vacuum in the presidency and preventing the caretaker Cabinet from convening.
“There is a caretaker government that should carry out its duties and not abandon its responsibilities,” Raad said. “There is an intention to create a vacuum in Lebanon on all levels, and this is clearly being pursued by the March 14 coalition that is preventing Parliament and the caretaker Cabinet from convening and disrupting efforts to form a new government,” Raad said.
“It intends to prevent the holding of a presidential election, and this will push the country toward a vacuum in the presidency, whether intentional or not,” he said.
Raad said he believed Sleiman made hasty remarks when he said that Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah made “reckless” accusations against Saudi Arabia, claiming the nation stood behind the twin suicide attacks that targeted the Iranian Embassy in Beirut last month.
Raad said Nasrallah had solid evidence on Saudi Arabia’s involvement, which the leader announced during an interview last week.
Raad said Nasrallah had more evidence that he did not disclose.
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea accused Hezbollah of violating the Constitution and distorting it to serve its own interests.
“There are some in Lebanon that still insist on violating this Constitution, causing us to regress to bygone eras,” Geagea said during a seminar on human rights held at his Maarab residence.
“Lebanon, the pioneer of freedom in the Levant, has declined to the lowest levels in its democratic practices, as the interpretation of the Constitution changes depending on the needs of the resistance,” Geagea added.
Separately, Nasrallah will touch on political developments in a speech Sunday during a memorial ceremony for assassinated Hezbollah commander Hassan Hawlo Lakkis, according to the party’s spokesperson.
In another development, media reports said Tuesday that security bodies in the country were put on alert in light of reports that explosions could target churches and Christian areas during Christmas and New Year’s Eve.


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domain: chemistry


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The Lost World
This series presents shortened versions of classic novels retold so as to lose none of the strength and character of the originals.


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Walmart lowered prices on iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C and Galaxy S4 ahead of upcoming iPhone 6 and Galaxy S5
If you are planning to swing by Walmart soon, check out their latest smartphone deal especially if you are in the market for a new phone from Apple or Samsung. The retailer announced a discount on the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C as well as the Galaxy S4, now offering each of the devices at a price lower than in carriers’ stores. That is nice incentive to grab one of the current flagship models before successors in the form of the iPhone 6 and Galaxy S5 arrive.
Deals on iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C and Galaxy S4
The 16 GB iPhone 5S costs $119 and requires a new two-year contract with either Verizon or AT&T. The iPhone 5C is priced at $29, again with a new contract. The deal is good for customers adding a new line as well as those eligible for upgrade. The price of the iPhone 5S was knocked down by $26 from the regular $145. In the case of the iPhone 5C we are looking at $16 in savings down from $45 before the discount.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 currently costs $49 which accounts for $50 price cut from $99. The phone also goes with a two-year contract. Moreover, if you decide to buy an on-contract Samsung phone, for example the Galaxy S4, between March 9 and 22 Walmart will throw in a $50 gift card. It means that basically you will get the phone for free.
The price cuts are not a big surprise. The Galaxy S5 is due to arrive in April, so it’s about time retailers start making room on their shelves by increasing sales of older models. iPhone, however, is a different story. Apple usually releases new devices in fall, around September and October, so theoretically we are still half a year away from the next iPhone. Except, this time the Cupertino company may change its release schedule.
We have been hearing some rumors suggesting that the iPhone 6 may actually be launched in spring. Apple itself doesn’t comment on the rumors but Walmart’s discounts seem to add fuel to these reports. Then again, the retailer may simply be in the mood to sell the iPhones cheaper and the next-generation Apple smartphone may be released later in the year along with the iPad Air 2.


The smoke from July 4th has barely cleared and already commercials are letting us know it’s back to school season. With many schools starting in early to mid-August, retailers are gearing up for the late-July rush that comes as students stock up on electronics, supplies, and clothing.
Stocking up on pencils
The first places most parents hit, school supply list in hand, are department stores like Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) and Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT). This year the company is going after college students, launching a campaign featuring YouTube personalities touring dorm rooms that have been decorated using Target products. It might be a wise idea. Research shows college-related spending increased 41% between 2011 and 2013, with parents of college students increasing their spending 12% from 2011 to 2012.
The latest quarter was rough for Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT), with earnings down 29%. The company also lowered its forecast for the upcoming quarter, blaming weak sales in its Canadian market and unseasonal weather conditions. And the company recently reduced its outlook for the year, adjusting earnings from $4.85-$5.05 per share to $4.70-$4.90 per share.
American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE:AEO) stock peaked last September, just after families hit stores to stock up on shirts and pants. With many schools now implementing uniforms, parents are looking for items like khaki pants and plain button down shirts–items in which American Eagle specializes.
Last year, it peaked in its back-to-school months, (so if that performance is any indication), this upcoming quarter should be a good one. Currently, American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE:AEO) is 17% below that peak, but it’s extremely popular with teens and college students, making back-to-school time a big deal for the company.
Unfortunately, its net sales dropped 4.1%, with sales at its stores falling 6% in its most recent quarter. The company’s aerie stores, which carry lingerie and other intimates, were up 4%. Company earnings overall are down 34% from its 2008 peak but revenue is up 15%. As the economy begins to recover, it may be able to make its way to 2008 levels, with parents and teens once again filling bare closets with more than school uniforms.


The Wilton Spark-Duty Hargrave Hi-Visibility C-Clamp features high visibility yellow paint. The spindles and pads on the clamp are copper plated to provide resistance to welding splatter and corrosion. The acme rolled spindle threads provide continuous smooth operation and allow faster clamping action with maximum strength. The clamp is ideal for steel fabrication and industrial welders. ADDITIONAL SPECIFICATIONS: Nominal Opening Capacity: 0 - 8"; Throat Depth: 4-1/2"; Clamp Pressure: 6900 lb.; Spindle Size: 3/4"


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Police search Parmalat founder's home in investigation of why company collapsed
ROME -- Police investigating fraud in the Parmalat scandal rummaged through the home of the food company's founder Wednesday, hunting evidence to explain the stunning near-collapse of a one-time model of Italian industry.
The flailing company tried to save itself from further disaster, formally filing for bankruptcy protection Wednesday, as it had announced the day before. The Industry Ministry appointed a business-turnaround expert to develop a restructuring plan to save the Parma-based company, which employs thousands worldwide.
Parmalat has had Upstate operations since 1998, when it bought Peeler Jersey Farms Inc., a Gaffney dairy processor that had been family-owned since 1919.
When Parmalat purchased Peeler for an undisclosed amount of money, Peeler officials said it would help the company grow throughout South Carolina and allow the company to expand its product line.
The case, dubbed by some as "Europe's Enron," has shaken this country's business leaders, who for years touted Parmalat as a proud symbol of northern Italian, family run enterprises that help drive the economy -- among them the Fiat automaker in Turin, Benetton apparel in Treviso, and Premier Silvio Berlusconi's Mediaset in Milan.
Since the scandal broke last Friday, evidence has mounted of a vast hole in the company's balance sheet. The latest Italian reports said the total missing from Parmalat accounts could be around $12 billion after a pattern of false accounting that may have dated back 15 years.
The scandal also raised questions about Italy's regulatory framework. Premier Silvio Berlusconi has said the case damaged the country's credibility and reputation, and his government promptly intervened Tuesday with a bankruptcy-protection law tailored to save Parmalat and the jobs of 36,000 people it employs in 29 countries.
The government on Wednesday appointed Enrico Bondi, who became Parmalat CEO this month after founder Calisto Tanzi was ousted, to the post of special commissioner under the bankruptcy-protection plan.
Bondi, who has a reputation as a corporate savior after rescuing chemicals group Montedison SpA from bankruptcy in the early 1990s, must draw up a restructuring plan, to be approved by the Industry Ministry.
Prosecutors have placed Tanzi and 20 other officials, including former finance directors, under investigation for possible fraud and other charges concerning the suspected falsification of company documents.
The financial police branch searched Tanzi's home near Parma for several hours Wednesday, hauling out boxes of documents that they handed over to investigators. Tanzi himself was not there, and reports said he had left the country.
Tanzi has kept a low profile and has not offered a public defense since the scandal broke.
The scandal exploded last Friday after Parmalat revealed that Bank of America Corp. was not holding about $4.9 billion of its funds, as the Italian company had reported in September. Since then, the estimated amount of money missing from the balance sheet has ballooned.
The bank says the letter guaranteeing the $4.9 billion was fake.
Bank of America, based in Charlotte, N.C., also said it has filed a criminal complaint with Italian authorities.
"Bank of America is continuing to cooperate fully with both U.S. and Italian and other legal and regulatory authorities," the company said in a statement. "Because we believe a potential crime may have been committed under Italian law, we have made a request to the proper Italian authorities that a criminal proceeding be started against those who may be responsible."
Milan business newspaper Il Sole-24 Ore reported Wednesday that former Parmalat chief financial officer Fausto Tonna told investigators there had been systematic falsifying of accounts at Parmalat for 15 years and that he'd been taking orders from his superiors.
Giuliano Panizzi, a consultant who worked with Parmalat for more than 15 years, told Il Sole-24 Ore in an interview that he had not been aware of any fraud. But if it happened, he suspected management -- not just fiddling financiers.
"If what is emerging is all true, the hole has huge, unthinkable dimensions," he said. "I don't believe that there were personal enrichments. The false accounting was probably done to cover up industrial and financial losses, not to extract money from the company."
Tanzi founded the company in 1961 and ran it until earlier this month, when he was replaced by Bondi. Shortly thereafter, Parmalat's balance-sheet hole came to light.
The company, which has annual sales of around euro7.5 billion ($9.2 billion), produces and sells milk, yogurt, juice and other food products around the world.

domain: economics


text: HLA class II molecules are a highly polymorphic family of dimeric cell-surface proteins primarily involved in regulating T-cell responses to extrinsic antigens. To define regions of class II molecules involved in T-cell recognition, we have now compared sequences of three HLA DRβ cDNA clones obtained from cells that all express the same serologically defined determinants but differ in terms of T-cell-recognized specificities. The comparisons indicate that very few (one to four) nucleotides differ between what are almost certainly alleles of the DRβ1 locus. All differences were in the first domain of the molecule and all localized to a region from amino acids 71-86. Because all differences were found only in this region of the molecule, and because DR α-chains seem to be relatively non-polymorphic1, these positions in the DR β-chain must have a major role in influencing T-cell recognition of the DR molecule.

domain: biology


text:
Tips To Help You Through The House Purchasing ProcessProperty buying may be a major goal, but it can cause you a headache. This kind of purchasing is not rocket science, but it does require some research, so that you don't end up losing money during a purchase. This list of tips should put you "in the know," to become a smarter property buyer.
If you would like to build your own home, some day, consider buying a piece of land now while prices are low. Many land owners are willing to carry the note themselves, and you can have a piece of property all lined up to build your dream home in a few years when you can afford it.
To get Read More On this page want, you should react very quickly. Once you have visited a place you think about buying, do not take more than a couple of days to think about your decision. You should definitely consider the pros and cons but keep in mind that somebody else might buy it before you take a decision.
Buying a home that is up for auction is a great way to get a fabulous home for far less than what it is worth. It is a game of sorts that many investors play so it can be difficult for the average home buyer to win the auctions that are held.
If you are not in any hurry to buy a home, check the paper for homes that are listed to go up for auction. One homeowner's loss may be your gain. You can get a home for far less than market price by going through the home auction process.
Tour many properties before making your final decision. Keep track of the things that you have liked and the things that you did not like about each one. Maybe even develop some kind of a rating system to help you narrow the long list of potential homes down a bit.
Buying a house with a swimming pool is not as much of an investment as it once was. A house with a pool is more for your pleasure than a long-term investment. Safety issues are a cause for concern with a pool, and you will lose many potential buyers if your house has a swimming pool.
Before buying a home, take a tour of the neighborhood. Find out about can you sell a house with a renter in it . You may even want to ask your agent about registered sex offenders in the area. If you buy your dream home but you're afraid to use that beautiful porch because of the neighborhood, you really haven't gotten the best house you could.
Real estate investing can be lucrative, but also very tricky. To get the best handle on how to do it right, consider taking an educational course. Courses are often taught by real estate professionals, and they can provide you with valuable insider tips. Classes can often be taken in person or virtually, so they will fit everyone's schedule.
One important tip when it comes to real estate, is to follow your gut feeling after you have done all of your research and background work. This is important, because if you ever want to buy a house, at some point you need to start placing offers and making decisions. As long as you have thoroughly prepared yourself for buying a house, it is then important to rely on your instincts.
If you or someone in your family is disabled, make sure you purchase a home that is disability-friendly, or at least a home that you are able to make changes in. This is important to remember because you do not want to buy a home that would make a hard for the disabled individual to get around in.
If you wish to purchase rental real estate and it is near a school, investigate the quality and reputation of the local school. The school should be attractive to potential families who may want to rent from you. The ratings of the school will help or hinder the overall monetary value of the rental real estate in the future.
When purchasing a property that is 30 years old or more, the first item of repair to attend to is replacing the galvanized pipes. This will prevent any ongoing maintenance issues of leaking or burst plumbing as well as providing a strong selling point at a later date in that the property has been re-plumbed.
Never fall victim to the "other offer" line when looking to buy real estate. Agents love to leave you on the edge of your seat until the last minute, and then they inevitably have a higher offer on the house. But lo and behold, you can get the house if you just make a better offer! Amazing. Don't fall for it; call their bluff.
The more you let your agent know about yourself, the better suited they are to finding the property that is right for you. Your realtors goal is to know what your exact needs are so they can search for you and not waste your time showing you properties that are not right for you. So give them everything they need to do their job, which will save you aggravation and time.
If you plan or hope to have children in the future, research the area of the home you're interested in buying. Look for highly rated schools, but low crime rates. Moving out may not be easy by the time you do have children.
If you are purchasing a short sale home, stay away from contingencies. Lenders want to keep things simple and easy. If you have to wait to close on the residence until after you've sold your home, they may decide that your offer isn't worth the trouble. Similarly, it is important to be able to adjust to a flexible closing date.
When viewing a property, don't forget to check out the outdoor areas. Take a look at the downspouts, gutters, roof, window and door frames and overall condition of the outside of the house. Old properties especially may require a lot of replacements and you should factor in the cost of these replacements when considering your offer to the seller.
As was mentioned in the beginning of the article, there is so much to learn about the home buying process. By reading just click the next article , you have increased your knowledge about this sometimes grueling process. Take the information this article has given to you to help home buying run smoothly.

domain: finance


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Big Brother's Michelle Bass hasn't seen Stuart Wilson in 10 years | Daily Mail Online
She was rocketed into the glare after major in the 2004 variation of Big Brother, a grouping that saw viewing audience enthralled by her romance language with companion housemate Stuart Wilson. But fast-forward the measure 14 years and Michelle Bass is be a selfsame antithetic lifestyle, as the TV personality has disclosed that she hasn't seen her reality star ex in over a decade and has jammed in her glamorous line for that of a full-time mum. The 37-year-old Geordie is now mirthfully matrimonial to therapist Steve Mc Keown and spends most of her days looking after their two children.
Michelle Bass' Playboy wish
'Big Brother 5' leading Michelle Bass wants to strip for Playboy. The brunette star, the helper of adult channel Television X, has revealed she is desperate to simulation mortal for the humankind noted pornographic magazine. Michelle has already showed off her breasts and bum in respective photo shoots but is preconditioned to go promote if Playboy made the right offer.
Michelle Bass Stripped - Sexy Videos - SexyAndFunny.com
Although they are tranquil nice, I still always opt the real ones...and small..... as long as the nips aren't super hub-caps with see-thru veins and shit... [quote name=the064cobra time=2008-07-17 ]Boy....those tits look stuffed...ready to pop.

domain: celebrity


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A Muslim marriage is a civil contract. Discuss the nature of the Muslim marriage.
Category : Family Law – II
Marriage i.e. nikah meant different forms of sex relationship between man and a woman established on certain terms. In ancient age women were treated as chattels and were not given any right of inheritance and were absolutely dependent. It was Prophet Mohammad who brought about a complete change in the position of women. The improvement was vast and striking and their position is now unique as regards their legal status. After marriage woman does not lose her individuality and she remains a distinct member of the community. Under the Muslim Law marriage is considered as Civil Contract. The contract of marriage gives no power to anyone over her person or property beyond what the law defines. Woman remains the absolute owner of individual rights even after marriage.
DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE (NIKAH):-Marriage (nikah) literally means the union of sexes and in law this term means, ‘marriage’. Marriage has been defined to be a contract for the purpose of legalising sexual intercourse and procreation of children.”
In Hedaya, it is defined as, “Nikah in its primitive sense means carnal conjunction.” Some have said that, “it signifies conjunction generally and finally in the language of law it implies a particular contract used for the purpose of legalising generation.” The Prophet of Islam is reported to have said, “That Marriage is my sunna and those who do not follow this way of life are not my followers.”
Thus marriage according to Muslim Law is a contract for the purpose of legalising sexual intercourse and the procreation of legitimating of children and the regulation of social life in the interest of the society.
NATURE OF MUSLIM MARRIAGE:- There are divergence of opinion with regard to the nature of Muslim marriage. Some jurists are of the opinion that Muslim marriage is purely a civil contract while others say that it is a religious sacrament in nature. In order to better appreciate the nature of Muslim marriage it would be proper to consider it in its different notions.
Muslim marriage by some writers and jurists is treated as a mere civil contract and not a sacrament. This observation seems to be based on the fact that marriage under Muslim Law has similar characteristics as a contract. For example:-
- i)A marriage requires proposal (Ijab) from one party ad acceptance (Qubul) from the other so it is the contract. Moreover there can be no marriage without free consent and such consent should not be obtained by means of coercion, fraud or undue influence.
- ii)Similar as in the case of contract, entered into by a guardian on attaining majority so can a marriage contract in Muslim Law, be set aside by a minor on attaining the age of puberty.
iii) The parties of the Muslim marriage may enter into any ante-nuptial or post-nuptial agreement which is enforceable by law, provided that it is reasonable and not opposed to the policy of Islam. Same is in the case of a Contract.
- iv)The terms of a marriage contract may also be altered within legal limits to suit individual cases.
- v)Although discouraged both by the holy Quran and Hadith, yet like any other contract, there is also provision for the breach of marriage contract.
- vi)In the leading case of Abdul Qadir v/s Salima-1886, it emphasise the contractual aspect and analogy of Muslim Marriage contract with contract of sale.
CONCLUSION:- Thus marriage according to Muslim Law is a contract for the purpose of legalising sexual intercourse and the procreation of legitimating of children and the regulation of social life in the interest of the society. However it is further viewed that marriage is not purely a civil contract but a religious sacrament too. Though sacramental nature of marriage is considered as an orthodox view but it is also supported by the judiciary in the leading case of Anis Begum v/s Mohammad Istafa-1933,in the case Sulaiman has tried to put a more balanced view of the Muslim marriage by holding it both civil contract and a religious sacrament.

domain: sociology


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Where to splurge on custom-crafted cakes in Toronto
This Long Branch area bakery creates custom cakes that rival any masterpiece seen in magazines or popular baking shows. The treats are artistically stunning and can be made in almost any design imaginable--including X-rated fare, if that tickles your fancy. For Torontonians looking to add some wow factor to their next special event, it's worth the westward trek to visit this cake shop.
Read my profile of Cakestar in the bakeries section.
Join the conversation Load comments

domain: food


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Why You’ll Love It
About This Brand
Organic brown rice and water.
California residents: Learn more on Prop 65 warning. Disclaimer: Information, statements, and reviews regarding products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Results vary person to person, and there is no guarantee of specific results. Thrive Market assumes no liability for inaccuracies or misstatements about products.
Amount Per Serving
Reviews For Organic Brown Rice Pasta - Lasagne
Based on 11 Reviews
I was able to make an awesome cheese-less lasagna in our ninja 3 in 1 cooker. I didn't even have to precook it just layered the meat sauce and pasta until I had used up all he pasta and sauce and add about .5 cup of water. My son loved it.
Tinkyada Pasta Lasagne
I really did love the Pasta and will continue to use it... But the packing needs to be upgraded on it. It arrived broken. Only two pieces were whole. I do understand about the shipping process and understand that things happen...so I'm letting you know that this needs to be packed better! Thank you and keep the good stuff coming!
I love this pasta. It doesn't fall apart while you're working with the layers, it is gluten free for my daughter, and the rest of my family approves of the texture of the final product--lasagna.
- Deborah Dunn
What a nice alternative!
Rice lazzana pasta
Excellent texture and price.
Great lasagna pasta
This is a great lasagna - it even beats some regular lasagna pastas out there. Wonderful texture and does not fall apart.
best lasagne noodles
These are by far the best gluten free lasagna noodles; you will not be able to tell the difference! Love them!
- Pam Wiedeman
Made lasagna tonight! It was delicious!!!
OK but requires trial and error
Followed package EXACTLY to make lasagna, noodles fell apart. Tried a second box and undercooked them by about 2/3 of time, worked a lot better.
They are great for a celiac and taste about the same as wheat ones in lasagne. Can't hardly tell the difference in lasagna. Some brands do not taste so good.
Featured on Thrive Market
Diagnosed with Celiac eight years ago, Katherine Prendergast—or KP, as she’s lovingly known by her coworkers here at Thrive Market—has had a lot of experience with gluten-free noodles. And not all ...Read More
There’s something so simple, so elegant, and so gourmet about a charcuterie and cheese board.Read More


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Dahod To Keshorai Patan Trains
Following is the list of all the trains running between Dahod to Keshorai PatanRailwayStations:
|Bandra Terminus Dehrad...||Dahod||09:55||Keshorai Patan||19:50||Y||Y||Y||Y||Y||Y||Y||Book|
You can also check trains from Keshorai Patan to Dahod
Dahod to Keshorai Patan Train Tickets | Railway Reservation | Book Online
More About - Dahod To Keshorai Patan Trains
If you’re planning to travel from Dahod to Keshorai Patan , here’s a list of trains that you can choose from! Here are some trains that run from Dahod to Keshorai Patan are Bandra Terminus Dehradun Express and etc. There are various stations from where you can catch these trains. These are Dahod. Time taken by different trains is approximately 9 hrs 55 mins to 9 hours 55 mins. There are different trains passing from various stations from Mumbai. The stations include Dahod( like Bandra Terminus Dehradun Express ).

domain: geography


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Maine is one of six northeast states included in the plan for the new Great Thicket National Wildlife Refuge, a first-of-its-kind conservation project that was approved in October by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The new refuge, which may reach up to 15,000 acres in size, will be dedicated to managing shrubland and young forests, habitats that a suite of wildlife species depend on for survival.
“The [U.S.] Fish and Wildlife Service has never done this before,” Ward Feurt, manager of Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in southern Maine, said. “It’s a new model, a new concept. The landscape approach makes a lot of sense.”
Over the past century, shrublands and young forests across the Northeast have been cleared for development or have grown into mature forests. As these habitats have disappeared, populations of more than 65 species of wildlife — including a variety of songbirds, pollinators, rare turtles and mammals such as the New England cottontail rabbit — have fallen at an alarming rate.
“The ultimate goal is for the partnership to apply all of its different conservation tools to conserving and managing a network of protected shrubland habitats across the northeast before these animals totally disappear,” Bill Zinni of the USFWS said.
Now that the refuge has been approved, the next step is for the USFWS to acquire land from willing landowners in focus areas that have been identified in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and Rhode Island.
“Great Thicket National Wildlife Refuge will give New Englanders and New Yorkers the chance to conserve important habitat in the region, ensuring current and future generations can experience the rich variety of animals and plants that call these special places home,” Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell said recently in a news release.
The plan for the Great Thicket National Wildlife Refuge includes 10 Refuge Acquisition Focus Areas, which represent areas in which USFWS is interested in acquiring land. Together, these focus areas make up more than 257,000 acres. However, only up to 15,000 of those acres will eventually become a part of the new refuge.
“We certainly don’t want to replace forest with shrubland everywhere — just certain key areas,” Zinni said. “Fifteen thousand acres across six states is not a lot when you look at it, and it will happen over time.”
In Maine, there are two Refuge Acquisition Focus Areas: a 3,254-acre area in Cape Elizabeth and a 26,410-acre swath of land that covers parts of Berwick, South Berwick, North Berwick, Kittery, York and Eliot. Within those two focus areas, USFWS has the goal of acquiring up to 800 acres in Cape Elizabeth and 2,000 acres in the Berwick area.
Land acquisition will occur through various methods, including conservation easements, donations or fee-title acquisition. And managing the conserved land as shrubland and young forest could mean allowing old fields to grow up, planting certain shrubs, harvesting old forests and controlled burns.
This process is expected to take decades, according to a recent USFWS news release, because the agency will only work with willing sellers and depends on funding availability to make purchases. Funding for each land acquisition will need to be approved in the federal budget.
“The approval of Great Thicket National Wildlife Refuge marks a milestone in an exemplary partnership with six state wildlife agencies and a foundation for working with local governments and others to explore conservation opportunities,” USFWS Northeast Region Director Wendi Weber said.
The creation of the new refuge is a part of an ongoing effort by state and federal agencies, in partnership with many conservation organizations, to create and maintain shrubland and young forests throughout the Northeast. Much of this effort has been driven by the rapid decline of the region’s native New England cottontail rabbit, a species that depends on dense shrublands to shelter them from predators.
Other species in Maine that this new refuge may help protect include the monarch butterfly, ruffed grouse, American woodcock, Eastern whip-poor-will, box turtle (listed as “endangered” in Maine), spotted turtle (listed as “threatened” in Maine), black racer snake (listed as “endangered in Maine), and a variety of songbirds including the prairie warbler, chestnut-sided warbler, blue-winged warbler and brown thrasher.
These shrubland-dependent species and more are listed in the new refuge’s land protection plan and environmental assessment plan, which was released for public review in January for a public comment period that lasted 75 days. During that time, the USFWS received more than 6,000 comments from the public, and more than 90 percent of those comments were supportive of the new refuge.
“A lot of people wanted to weigh in on this and provide their thoughts and ideas,” Zinni said. “During that time, we had various meetings scattered around the six states.”
All comments received are summarized and responded to in appendix C of the final refuge plan, and minor changes and corrections were made in the final plan in response to some of these comments.
Many questions received by the public had to do with public access on future refuge property.
In national wildlife refuges, the property is managed first and foremost for wildlife. Public use varies, depending on how public use might affect the wildlife being protected. However, in many national wildlife refuges across the country, “wildlife-dependent” recreation is permitted. These activities include hunting, fishing, interpretation, environmental education, photography and wildlife observation.
“I would be very surprised if we didn’t have public use,” Feurt said. “We try to open as much land for hunting as we can … and typically what we do is have a trail around the outside [of the conserved land] looking in.”
As land is acquired for the Great Thicket National Wildlife Refuge, those properties will be managed by the manager and staff of the nearest national wildlife refuge. In Maine, that will be Feurt and the rest of the staff at the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, headquartered in Wells. Established in 1966 to protect valuable salt marshes and estuaries for migratory birds, Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge will continue to exist as a separate refuge.
“The only thing left to do is, when we’re able, to buy the first piece of land or easement,” Zinni said, “and that will officially establish it as a national wildlife refuge.”
For more information about the new Great Thicket National Wildlife Refuge, visit fws.gov/northeast/refuges/planning/lpp/greatthicketLPP.html.


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Dr. Gregory Dabb uses a "whole person approach" when taking care of his patients. By combining the very best hands-on-technique, state of the art physiotherapy procedures, and providing the newest and best natural vitamins and mineral supplements on the market today, Dr. Dabb is able to help you to accelerate and/or maintain your journey to good health.
Dr. Dabb helps people reach their full potential in his clinic in Los Altos, California. As a Chiropractor with experience, he is committed to promoting the health and well being of his patients.
Dr. Dabb enjoys many outdoor activities and even hosts hikes for his patients. He is an avid fisherman and backpacker. Ask him about playing basketball at the local junior high school. Yoga and meditation are a part of his daily routine. Dr. Dabb encourages his patients to participate in the things they love and believes it is his job to help their bodies support the life that they wish to live.
- Doctor of Chiropractic with Honors, Life Chiropractic College West, Hayward, 2000
- Webster technique
- International Chiropractic Pediatric Association member


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If exploring a new park space in Shanghai to enjoy the great outdoors is what you are after, then look no further than Jihuabi Children’s Playground. With its well-designed equipment and family-friendly facilities, this new children’s wonderland is perfect for a family day out.
Let’s take a look at the playground and its surrounding area.
Jihuabi Children's Playground
‘Jihuabi,’ translates to ‘Rainbow Beauty Wall,’ and this new development is just one element of the larger ‘Pudong left bank’ project. Led by French architect Agence TER, this four-year endeavor will see some 21 kilometers of the Huangpu river bank revamped from its swampland past. If all goes to plan, this long strip of public space that connects major landmarks like Minsheng Art Wharf, Lujiazui and the Expo Center, will be fully fitted with recreational facilities by 2019.
Jihuabi Children’s Playground is an excellent example of this ambitious plan steadily taking shape. You can expect to see the usual playground components here, along with obstacle structures, climbing ropes and a 7-meter slide for little thrill seekers. To ensure safety while playing, the colorful floor and wall surfaces are covered with a rubber finish, so any falls will be met with a soft bounce.
The slide with a 7-meter drop.
Pinwheels and obstacles are just some of the fun details at Jihuabi Children's Playground
If you take the elevated walkway to the top of the slope, you will find a hut furnished with lightwood and floor-to-ceiling glass windows. This is one of the Pudong riverside’s ‘service pavilions.’ Each pavilion is fitted with restrooms, a water tap, beverage vending machines, an AED, first aid kits, umbrellas and lockers, along with WiFi access, electrical outlets, cafe tables and chairs.
Sunbeds and service pavilions like these are common sights.
Family toilets and tap water fountains inside the service pavilions.
While the playground remains a design highlight, we encourage you to explore the additional recreational features where you will find sandpits, mini castles with slides, skate ramps and climbing structures spread out along the waterfront.
More climbing structures inside the park.
Runners and cyclists will also be delighted by the new jogging tracks and bike lanes that extend to the tourist hub of Lujiazui and beyond. In addition, you can rest, and refill your water bottles at the service pavilions, which are evenly located 1-kilometer apart throughout the park.
Although Jihuabi Children's Playground is pleasantly located out of reach from major commercial quarters, it can become crowded on weekends and weekday afternoons. Also make note that there are no mainstream supermarkets or restaurants in the vicinity, so pre-pack your snacks and picnic baskets to keep the family sustained throughout your visit.
How to Get There
For those relying on public transport, take Metro Line 6, 8 or 11 to the Oriental Sports Center (Exit 4, 5, or 6). Proceed eastward down Yaoti Lu to enter the riverside park. Walk south along the river for another 10 minutes to find the playground.
[All images by Mandy Tie/Urban Family]
See a listing here.

domain: travel


- 4 x Light modes (3 brightness levels + flashing)
- 150 Lumen
- Magnetic Base
- Beam Distance 50 m
- Includes 3 x AA batteries
- Dimensions : 85mm(L) x 45mm(D)
- Weight : 150g
Looking for camping accessories We now stock battery-powered mini pop up lanterns/LED torches for only $19.95 each. It has 4 brightness modes, including a flashing light setting, lasts between 8-50 hours depending on usage, and has a magnetic base and hanging hook.
|Dimensions||8.5 × 4.5 cm|
Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.


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UPDATE 6/1: White supremacist David Duke took umbrage Monday at being compared to Judge Sonia Sotomayor.
On Friday, Rush Limbaugh suggested the former KKK Grand Wizard would be an equally controversial choice for the Supreme Court. Duke has responded in an interview with an Italian paper that he posted on his own website.
"Limbaugh, a recent addict to illegal drugs, has no business making personal attacks against me for my past," Duke said. "I have consistently supported true equal rights, stating again and again that I support the best-qualified person regardless of race in hiring and promotions."
However, Duke echoed Limbaugh's attacks against Sotomayor as a racist. Like Limbaugh, Duke distorts Sotomayor's words from a 2001 speech.
"Imagine if a White nominee for Supreme Court Justice said that he believed White judges would be more likely to reach better decisions than Black or Mexican judges," he said. "He would not have a chance in hell to be confirmed to the Supreme Court. Why should she?"
* * * * *
Rush Limbaugh, following a trend of conservatives depicting Sonia Sotomayor as a dangerous racist, suggested that President Obama's Supreme Court nomination had set back civil rights progress and compared Sotomayor to David Duke.
LIMBAUGH: Not only does she lack the often discussed appropriate judicial temperament, it's worse than that. She brings a form of bigotry and racism to the court. I don't care, we're not supposed to say it, we're supposed to pretend it didn't happen, we're supposed to look at other things but it's the elephant in the room. The real question here that needs to be asked and nobody on our side from a columnist to a TV commentator to anybody in our party has the guts to ask, how can a president nominate such a candidate? And how can a party get behind such a candidate? That's what would be asked if somebody were foolish enough to nominate David Duke or pick somebody even less offensive. It is asked.
Limbaugh also responded to Sen. John Cornyn, who has been attempting to quell this racially-focused furor, by saying the Texas Republican was just "using me to win a one night stand with the media."
LIMBAUGH: Today the Republican Party seems more interested in condemning its supporters and its friends than in doing its job. Now, normally, I don't respond to all of this media bashing because if I did, it would be all I do because there is so much of it but the fact of the matter is, ladies and gentlemen, my wit and wisdom and brilliance is being drowned out out there and I have learned over the course of many, many moons that if you don't stand up for yourself, nobody else will either.
Now, a day is going to come here -- a day will come when reality hits. A day is going to come when each and every American looks up to the heavens and says "Why didn't somebody warn me?" I am that someone. I am that someone warning you. I am here to warn you each and every day and all of the drive-bys and even Republicans, all of these people using me to win a one night stand with the media, to win glowing praise from their enemies is not going to stop me from being that someone that you're going to say someday "Why didn't somebody tell me about this?"


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“Assets under management (AUM) growth in H1FY2022 was quite modest; growth outlook for the current fiscal revised down to 5-7%. There are downside risks to the growth outlook because of the new wave of infections in Q4 FY2022. However, at present, while the infections rates remain high, the operational disruptions have remained limited,” the rating agency said.
According to ICRA, NBFCs’ profitability is likely to improve partially in the current financial year ending March and climb to levels close to those that existed before the pandemic by 2022-23 (April-March).
Retail NBFCs saw a growth in assets under management of less than 1 per cent in the first six months of the current financial year, ICRA said, adding that after a decline of 2 per cent in April-June 2021, AUM growth rebounded by close to 3 per cent in the second quarter of the current year.
“In view of the muted H1 performance, ICRA has revised the AUM growth outlook for the current fiscal to 5-7% from 8-10%. Growth outlook would be exposed to downside risk in case of significant disruptions caused by the new wave of infections in Q4 FY2022,” the rating agency wrote.
According to the agency, regulatory measures taken to strengthen the structural and supervisory framework for the NBFC sector, especially those regarding stricter recognition of non-performing advances and norms of upgradation, could result in a greater focus on internal controls.
This, in turn, can have an impact on sectoral growth too, ICRA said.
“...we note that some of the key segments of retail-NBFCs, especially vehicle finance, are faced with supply-side constraints, which could pull-down growth vis-à-vis our expectation, even if the demand remains less impacted by the new wave of infections,” said A M Karthik, Vice President, Financial Sector Ratings, ICRA Limited.
He said that the increase in the restructured books of NBFCs was on expected lines and accounted for around 4.5 per cent of assets under management.
Around 70 per cent of the total outstanding restructured book of retail NBFCs was carried out in the first six months of the current financial year, Karthik added.
He warned, however, that as the restructuring in the current financial year was primarily done in the second quarter with a moratorium of 3-6 months. Any significant disruptions would impact the asset quality of the sector as the commencement of repayments from the mentioned restructured accounts in the last two quarters of the year coincided with the fresh Covid wave.
“The increase in credit costs was the key reason for the dip in the earnings performance of NBFCs in Q1 FY2022. As overdues moderated in Q2, provisions were also written-back, which led to a fall in the credit costs vis-à-vis the previous quarter. ICRA expects the credit costs in FY2022 to be lower than last year’s level in the base case,” the release read.
Karthik said that ICRA expects the return on average managed assets of retail NBFCs to show improvement in the current financial year and reach pre-Covid levels of 2.6-2.7 per cent in the next fiscal.
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