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to the Buddha! Our Teacher turned the wheel of Dharma in three stages: the first turning of the wheel of Dharma on the four noble truths, the second turning of the wheel of Dharma on the absence of characteristics, and the final turning of the wheel of Dharma on the perfect revelation. The Four Truths The four truths are taught for the sake of beginners who wish to leave samsara behind and attain liberation. They are taught in terms of (i) the characteristics of samsara and (ii) its causes, as well as (iii) the characteristics of liberation and (iv) the methods for attaining it. The Buddha said: This is the truth of suffering. The truth of suffering is to be understood. This is the truth of origination. The truth of origination is to be abandoned. This is the truth of cessation. The truth of cessation is to be attained. This is the truth of the path. The truth of the path is to be relied upon. 1. The Truth of Suffering The truth of suffering refers to the environments and inhabitants of samsara, which can be divided further into the three realms and six
For instance. ‘Impermanence’ includes the coarse impermanence of the birth and death of beings. which are sickness and harmful influences. ‘Karma’ here refers to the ten non-virtues. there is nothing that we might call ‘I’ or ‘self. How is this to be understood? There are four characteristics of suffering and samsara: (i) suffering. the formation and destruction of the universe. and so that we understand how deluded it is to cling to a self where there is none. the truth of origination. the changes of the seasons and so on.e. permanence. all of which can be included within the five aggregates. so that we can abandon it. defiled virtuous acts not embraced by skilful means and mere shamatha which is not combined with vipashyana. ‘Emptiness’ indicates that wherever we search inside or outside the five aggregates. singularity and independence. ‘Selflessness’ indicates that the five aggregates lack the characteristics of the self.classes of beings. The truth of origination consists of two aspects: karma and mental afflictions. moment by moment. The Truth of Origination Once we have understood the truth of suffering and no longer feel any desire for it. i. which is the fact that all conditioned things are constantly changing. and never remain static.’ just as a house is said to be ‘empty’ when there are no people inside. we need to understand its cause. It is necessary to understand the characteristics of the truth of suffering like this. as well as subtle impermanence. This is similar to saying that the house is not a person because it lacks all the characteristics of a human being. Mental afflictions are the causes which motivate these types of action--the three main . the suffering of change and the allpervasive suffering of conditioning. (ii) impermanence. 2. ‘Suffering’ refers to the three types of suffering in samsara as a whole: blatant suffering. when we know that physical pain is distressing and undesirable. (iii) emptiness and (iv) selflessness.. so that we grow weary of samsara and develop the wish to find liberation from it. we will see the need to abandon its causes.
as well as suffering and the defiled conditioned phenomena that were present before have all been thoroughly pacified. This is what we call ‘clinging to the self of the individual’ or ‘innate self-clinging’ and is the ignorance that is the first of the twelve links of dependent origination. Origination has four characteristics: (i) cause. The root or ‘seed’ of all mental afflictions is clinging to a self. (ii) cessation. It has four characteristics: (i) peace. for example. which is nirvana.poisons of the mind and all the primary and secondary afflictions they give rise to. ‘cause’ means that just as a seed produces its fruit. so that we develop the wish to avoid karma. 3. in the same way that knowing how poison and infection are the causes of sickness means we strive to avoid them. The Truth of Cessation By abandoning origination. the afflictions and self-clinging. ‘Cessation’ means that all the seeds which have been abandoned through applying the . ‘Peace’ indicates that all the karma and mental afflictions. just as a crop requires for its production conditions such as water and fertilizer. So we need to develop the wish to realize true cessation. Fourthly. Secondly. ‘origination’ means that just as crops grow from a field. ‘condition’ means that suffering is brought about through the conditions of karma and the afflictions. karma and the afflictions produce all the sufferings of samsara. this self-clinging and all the karmic actions and afflictions which it produces are what we call ‘origination. True cessation is unconditioned absolute space.’ and we must understand how they are the causes for every kind of suffering. all sufferings arise from karma and the afflictions. ‘intense arising’ means that just like touching a wound on the body. Firstly. free from the five aggregates. Therefore. we can be free from the sufferings of samsara and realize the reality of cessation. in which the seed of origination has been abandoned. Thirdly. It is necessary to understand this. (iii) intense arising and (iv) condition. (ii) origination. strong karma and afflictions immediately produce great suffering. Let us explain these in the proper sequence. (iii) perfection and (iv) true deliverance.
Receiving his instructions. Then. accompanied by faith. ‘Cessation. ‘Perfection’ indicates that this state is faultless. mindfulness. karma and the afflictions. Then. concentration. 4. (ii) appropriate. intelligence and so on. or ‘emerge definitively’ from. It is necessary for us to understand cessation because seeing the advantages and wonderful qualities we can gain will inspire us to pursue liberation. (iii) effective and (iv) truly delivering. and arouse non-conceptual wisdom in our minds.antidotes will never return. we can definitively ascertain the nature of mind itself. The path is ‘truly delivering’ because if we practise it. Out of the unity of shamatha and vipashyana. It is: (i) a path. we must train our minds in the points of selflessness and emptiness having discovered vipashyana based on our teacher’s instructions. diligence. in a state of meditative . and seek a spiritual teacher who can show us the path correctly. and guarding our pure moral discipline as carefully as our own eyes. The true path consists of the wisdom of not conceiving of the self of the individual.’ ‘total freedom’ and ‘nirvana’ are all synonymous. ‘True deliverance’ indicates that when we have realized cessation once.’ ‘liberation. the quagmire of samsara. How do we put this into practice? Knowing that the whole of samsara is by nature suffering. it is impossible for us to return to samsara ever again. there is no doubt that we will be led out of. It is ‘appropriate’ in the sense that it is appropriate and suitable as an antidote to origination. we should feel strong renunciation and the wish to escape it. we need to accomplish a stable calmness and one-pointed concentration by practising referential and non-referential shamatha in an isolated place. It has four characteristics. excellent and endowed with qualities. It is ‘effective’ because it infallibly brings our minds to accomplishment on the genuine approach. The Truth of the Path The true path is that which is practised by an individual who knows the faults of samsara’s true suffering and the advantages of liberation’s true cessation. It is a ‘path’ since it takes us from the state of an ordinary being to awakening and liberation. and who wants to leave samsara behind and to reach nirvana.
The teaching on the cause and effect of actions is the instruction on abandoning true origination. fixation upon the view or meditation will fade. the six perfections and four means of attraction. Once we do reach this level. Let us relate this to the instructions on the preliminary practices: * The teachings on death and impermanence and the sufferings of samsara are instructions for understanding the truth of suffering. self-clinging will be cut at its root. and like the sun and moon in the sky. Until we reach this. through developing the strength of our practice. the natural radiance of unborn awareness and emptiness will become the display of uninterrupted samadhi. dedication of merit and aspiration—will be accomplished effortlessly. we need to apply ourselves to the practice with great diligence. purification of obscurations. All types of enlightened activity for our own and others' welfare—such as love and compassion. unsullied. and. like a lotus in water. * * . unhindered.equipoise that is unstained by attachment to experience or intellectual speculation. This is how we can practise enlightened action in which the two truths are inseparably united. we will be able to sustain its continuity through an innate mindfulness free from any distraction. just as a magician conjures up magical creations or displays illusions of the four elements in the sky. and without any clinging or attachment. quite naturally and effortlessly. and be liberated without any clinging to its display. subtle and grosser thought states will be purified. generation phase (kyerim) and perfection phase (dzogrim) practice. faith and pure perception. mantra recitation. act without attachment or hindrance. * The teaching on the benefits of liberation is the instruction on attaining true cessation. Then. accumulation of merit and wisdom.” --in other words. and we will arrive at the clear and pristine natural state of consciousness that is self-knowing and devoid of any object. “Act. all this variety will arise unceasingly as the radiance of the unborn nature.
clinging to the self of the individual and clinging to a ‘self’ or identity in phenomena. and form the great pathway that is followed by all noble beings. Therefore. . In order to teach its antidote. Then. It is the clinging to a ‘self’ in phenomena which is taught to be the root of samsaric existence. absence of characteristics and wishlessness. such as arousing the supreme mind of bodhichitta. which guide us through the three outer. Selfclinging or the view of self. it is crucially important that we understand them. whether it is the sutras. This means that whatever we are practising. since these four truths reveal the way we should practise adopting and abandoning based on an understanding of the nature of samsara and nirvana. In this way. in the intermediate set of teachings. is here separated into two. in the context of the true path. all our cognitive obscurations are abandoned. inner and secret vehicles. are the instructions for following the true path. The wheel of Dharma on the absence of characteristics was turned for the benefit of disciples who have the potential to follow the mahayana. The Second Turning of the Wheel of Dharma Then. all phenomena are explained in terms of the three gateways to liberation: emptiness. the six perfections. which is mentioned in the context of the truth of origination as the root of samsaric existence.e. all the aspects of the practice of skilful means. tantras or pith instructions. in a complete way. they provide a general structure for all paths and a common ground for all vehicles. the profound theme of emptiness is set out in extremely elaborate detail. four means of attraction and so on. i. By taking this to heart through practice. Since we need to train in the boundless activity of the bodhisattvas once we have meditated on emptiness endowed with the supreme of all aspects. the selflessness of phenomena.The teachings on contemplating the physical support with its freedoms and advantages and how to rely upon a spiritual teacher are instructions creating the right conditions for embarking on the true path. the stages of the teachings from taking refuge up to guru yoga. are also taught in vast detail.. so that we realize omniscient wisdom and work for the benefit of beings for as long as space exists. accomplishing infinite gateways to samadhi meditation. four immeasurables. we are taught to practise without dissociating skilful means from wisdom.
Therefore. dependent and truly established. Concepts of real things as really existent and unreal things as empty. The Secret Mantrayana Even in the tradition of unsurpassed secret mantra vajrayana. Underlying all these various appearances is naturally arising wisdom beyond all conceptual elaboration. Let us firstly consider them from the point of view of how they really are. this does fit within the scheme of the four truths. all phenomena are perfectly divided into three categories: imputed. The environments and inhabitants of samsara. is the nature of the great Middle Way. we realize omniscience by turning away from the causes and effects of samsara and engaging in the causes and effects of nirvana. but are merely divisions within it. our own naturally arising wisdom free from all conceptual elaboration. Then. which is the absolute truth. and even extremely subtle mental extremes are shown to be mere conceptual ideas and subtle thought. the great dharmakaya in which the realities of appearance and emptiness are inseparable. we speak of ‘buddhahood of the spontaneously perfect ground. Therefore. which make up the truth of suffering. The truly established. this too is a teaching on the ultimately profound truth of the path as a means to abandon the subtle negative tendencies related to origination. the teachings of all three turnings do not go beyond the approach of the four truths. but there is a difference in how this is put into practice. and so we speak of the indivisibility of samsara and nirvana. are spoken of in terms of how they actually are and how they appear. therefore. Therefore.The Third Turning of the Wheel of Dharma In the final series of teachings.’ Like the example of a jewel caked in mud. The nature of the reality of suffering is true cessation. or the . Generally. This is the continuum of the ground. we are taught how to enter into the sphere of the enlightened mind. the inconceivable wisdom in which all the bases for such views have been abandoned. our own nature is utterly pure. is taught by proving definitively that the unconditioned absolute space of all phenomena.
which is fundamental wisdom beyond concepts. If we do not allow our minds to reify subject and object. but instead allow whatever arises in the mind to be freed within the open reality of its own intrinsic nature. As for how they become origination. we will slip into ordinary patterns in both our intentions and our actions. The way to bring them onto the path is as follows: Whatever afflictive emotions arise. will arise nakedly and distinctly. the actions (karma) of our body and speech are neutral.’ This is what we must purify. accumulate karma and be compelled to wander endlessly in samsara. like a block of ice melting into water. that is wisdom. This is how they become the true origination of suffering. which appear to be independent in the common perception of ordinary beings. .basis for purification.’ By themselves. Outer and inner phenomena. are called ‘deluded appearances based on a lack of realization. the mental affliction itself dawns as wisdom. its energy will be released upon the fundamental ground of mind. mantra and samadhi so that our ordinary perception dawns as pure perception. or a wave dissolving back into the ocean. and finally dedicate this to the swift completion of the two accumulations is skilful means.’ Now let us consider how things appear. there are two alternatives: one is to bring them onto the path through recognizing their nature and the other is to let them run their course and originate suffering. if we allow ourselves to settle gently into the affliction itself. it is the mind that makes them virtuous or non-virtuous. our actions too become the true path. Therefore this is known as ‘taking afflictions as the path. if we do not have this special wisdom and skilful means. When they are accompanied by this special wisdom and skilful means. so that origination becomes the truth of the path. by doing so. With regard to the karma and mental afflictions of the truth of origination. practise the main part of bringing to mind deity. It is the truth of suffering. there is no need to apply some other antidote. without trying particularly to block it or cultivate it. In order to realize this we have the view or philosophy known as ‘the indivisibility of samsara and nirvana. As this happens. The essence of the afflictive emotion itself. To generate bodhichitta at the outset. and.
purifying our habitual perception of samsara. tantras and pith instructions. Are here set out in an original and fine explanation. which is the truth of suffering. What is to be abandoned becomes the remedy and we gain the realization of the indivisibility of samsara and nirvana. If we understand this. so that the causes and effects of samsara become the causes and effects of nirvana. these approaches are all identical in terms of abandoning actual karma and mental afflictions. Showing how to proceed in stages along the path of all the sutras.Therefore. if we understand the key points of vajrayana like this. bodhisattva and mantrayana vows in terms of the truth of the path. the direct teaching of the first turning. transformation or ‘taking as the path. These four truths. It is because the approach of secret mantra also falls within the approach of the four truths that the “essence of dependent origination” dharani. Whose meaning is captured in a single verse in The Essence of Interdependence. we can recognize the nature of the reality of suffering to be cessation. and take origination as the true path. we can see that there is only a slight difference between the pratimoksha. . and whether one practises avoidance. and we have the confidence of realization and experience. Just as it was related to me by the sound of her vina. and realizing the ultimate reality of cessation.’ In fact. which sets out the meaning of the four truths. is universally praised as supreme and is found throughout all the sutras. To bring delight to the minds of the fortunate. tantras and instructions. By the playful intervention of the goddess Sarasvati. This was drawn out of the great ocean of Manjushri’s wisdom.
Over the peaks of the eastern mountains of the intellect. . May it be virtuous! Translated by Adam  This is a quotation from the famous aspiration prayer called Samantabhadra’s Aspiration to Good Actions (bzang spyod smon lam).  om ye dharma hetu prabhava hetum tesham tathagato hy avadat tesham cha yo nirodha evam vadi mahashramanah svaha. And cause the thousand petalled lotuses of faith and wisdom to blossom. May this youthful sun of instruction shine out its countless rays of light. Sending out the sweet scent of experience and realization in all directions! This was written by Pema Vajra.
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Researchers are studying brain tissue to understand how diabetes might contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s disease
Researchers at the University of Cambridge will investigate how proteins in Alzheimer’s disease interact with our immune response to cause harmful inflammation in the brain.
Researchers are using machine learning to develop a web-based, continuously updated platform of research in Alzheimer’s disease
Researchers are investigating whether enhancing sleep can slow the build-up of a key Alzheimer’s protein
Researchers at University College London will study how brains are affected by prion diseases using cutting edge technology to look at individual cells
Researchers at the University of Newcastle will study whether lithium could be a future treatment for Alzheimer’s disease using a new brain imaging technique
The groundbreaking citizen science app Sea Hero Quest is now available for studies of cognition and spatial navigation
New research has found no link between hormone replacement therapy and dementia risk, however those receiving oestrogen-progesterone therapy for over five years were found to have a small increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The BMJ have published the research today (Wednesday 29 September). What is HRT? Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is commonly offered to help…
New research that patients with Alzheimer’s disease taking a class of drugs known as gliptins have lower levels of the hallmark Alzheimer’s protein in their brains. They also had better scores on memory and thinking tests years after the beginning of the study compared to those not on the drug or those who didn’t have diabetes.
Research links the cocktail party problem with an increased risk of dementia in a study conducted at the University of Oxford. Alzheimer’s Research UK comments on the findings.

domain: biology


Live music hits the Lancaster district this weekend and next in the form of rock, soul, punk, folk, house and jazz.
First of all though, and as promised in this column a few weeks ago, I have four tickets to give away for the Maiden United – acoustic Iron Maiden – gig on Sunday April 7 at The Yorkshire House.
The band features musicians from well known rock bands Within Temptation, Iced Earth, Threshold, Paradise Lost and Dearworld.
Support on the night comes from Lancaster metal rock band Massive Waggons, who perform after Maiden United.
To be in with the chance of winning one of two pairs of tickets, all you have to know is this: What is the name of Iron Maiden’s ghoulish mascot?
Email me with your answer and a postal address to email@example.com and I’ll pick out the winners next week and send out the tickets.
Entry to the gig is pay on the door only on a first come first served basis, and is priced at £8 before 8pm and £10 after 8pm. On Saturday night at The Yorkshire House, the infamous Captain Hotknives makes a return to Lancaster, with support from Manchester’s Jezebellezza and Lancaster’s The Cosmic Fingers.
Guaranteed to crack you up laughing he also has a very astute take on life, love, drugs, babies and anti-racism.
Jezabellezza is one woman, a keyboard, and what she describes as “punk rock nursery rhymes”...Check her out on You Tube. Kicking things off is Lancaster duo The Cosmic Fingers. Doors open at 8.30pm and entry is £5.
Check out the gig guide on this page for all the other musical happenings going on in the Lancaster area over the next week.
Next Thursday, and also at The Yorkshire House, Stephen Hudson and The Fiat Pandas launch their new album Sleep For Railway Dreamers, with handmade copies of the album available on the night. Support comes from Songs For Walter and new Lancaster band Shadow Factories. Entry is £3.
On Friday night, Lancaster dance music promoters Stylus team up with 118Audio and their Funktion One soundsystem, to bring underground house to Lancaster city centre. The line up includes Southport based DJ duo Steve Froggatt and Josef Lawler, Lancaster DJ Ginny Koppenhol, Nick Dagger and Marlon. The event takes place at V-Bar in Church Street between 9pm and 4am and is free entry.
Next Saturday at the Yorkshire House, funk/rock/rap outfit Carpe will be performing alongside “three of Lancaster’s best and brightest bands”, with an entry price of £4.
Having released the album Risk It All at the end of 2012, Carpe are looking forward to another great year of fun and frolics. Joining Carpe are T-Shirts For Americans, a post-grunge band from Lancaster. The group consists of The Bobbin landlord Dominic Leighton, as well as Ben Macfarlane, Neil Wearing and Laurie Ibbs.
They aim to be following up some recent gigs with a bit of studio recording.
MiniKing, who weave original soul, pop and jazz “so filthy it will make your blood curdle” are also on the bill, and Lake Komo, who are fresh from a Battle of the Bands victory at Lancaster University, and are currently working on their Pyramids EP, complete the line up.


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Delicious and crunchy apple fruit is one of the most popular fruits, favorite of health conscious, fitness lovers who believe in the concept “health is wealth.” This wonderful fruit is packed with rich phyto-nutrients that in the true senses indispensable for optimal health. The antioxidants in apple have much health promoting and disease prevention properties; thus truly justifying the adage, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
Health Benefit Of Apple Fruit
1.Good Source Of Fiber
Generous amounts of fiber in apples rewards your body in a number of ways. It decreases bad cholesterol (LDL) and increases the good cholesterol (HDL) level. Fiber is helpful for intestinal disorders, such as IBS. The soluble fiber may help prevent against heart disorders and diabetes. It decreases build-up in the arteries and slows sugar spikes in the bloodstream. It’s also good for weight control or loss. When you crave sweets, grab an apple instead; the fiber helps you feel full and can prevent overeating.
Apples have an antioxidant known as quercetin which is especially found in red delicious apples. This antioxidant boosts the immune system to build the natural defenses of the body. The other nutrient present in an apple is vitamin C that has anti-inflammatory properties. Fibers also enhance the immune system. It is because of this that apples are considered to be high immunity boosters.
3.Keep Liver And Kidney Health
Due to rich soluble and insoluble fiber contents, it detoxifies liver and kidney. So to conclude, Apple is one of the most important superfoods that you should eat and enjoy it to gain comprehensive health benefits. You should eat fresh apple along with its skin to gain maximum health benefits. Eating small serving along with food is always recommended.
4.Fight Against Cancer
Lab studies have shown that several compounds in this juicy fruit curb the growth of cancer cells — but they’re most potent when the apple is eaten whole (minus the stem and seeds, of course). People who munch more than one a day lower their risk for several cancers (oral, esophageal, colon, breast, ovarian, prostate, and others) by 9 to 42 percent, researchers found.
The free radicals can degenerate the brain cells and may cause Alzheimer’s. But apple contains a powerful antioxidant called quercetin that prevents decaying of brain cells. The fruit is also known for flavonoids which are good for your brain as well as neurological problems. It is helpful in increasing memory and logical reasoning by stimulating the acetylcholine.
Apple reduces the risk of diabetes, especially the type 2 diabetes. The soluble fiber in the fruit is helpful in blood sugar regulation. The presence of quercetin and flavonoids compounds slowing down carbohydrate assimilation process. Polyphenols delaying glucose absorption and stimulate the pancreas to secrete more insulin.
Apple is beneficial for diarrhea and constipation both. Its non soluble fiber absorbs excessive water from gut, hence reduces excessive motion of intestine. Apple also increases quantity of stool. It is very good fruit for irritable bowel syndrome where episodes of constipation and diarrhea happens.
Apples are also effective in strengthening bones and can play a crucial part in overall bone health. A certain favanoid phlorizin, found in apple skin, may help prevent bone loss associated with menopause, as it fights the inflammation and free radical production that leads to bone degeneration.
9.Protects Against Stroke
A research conducted in USA had suggested that intake of apple reduces the risk of thrombotic stroke. Eating apple over a long period of time powerfully reduces the chances of stroke. Quercetin in apple is acting as anti-stroke as per the scientists.
10.Help’s To Weight loss
Adding nutrients, abundant food with your regular diet helps to lose weight faster. Also fiber with daily diet contributes to feel fuller, thus, it reduces intake of more calories. So include apple in your weight loss diet, as it is full of healthy nutrients.
Eating apple will automatically clean your teethand improve your breathmaking it better smelling. This is because the antiviral properties in apple help keep the virus and bacteria away from your teeth and the fiber in the apple cleans your teeth at the same time.
Apples help cleanse your body of toxins inside and out. They’re known to clear out heavy metals, such as lead and mercury. Staying hydrated is important, and apples quench your thirst and increase body fluids. They also neutralize free radicals.
Rich antioxidants and high amount of soluble and non-soluble fiber make apple fruit a good choice to lower down the blood pressure. Apple’s fructose, metabolized by liver produces uric acid, which is key factor for heart health. Uric acid maintains heart healthy and prevents blood vessel from damage.
Studies, conducted on mice, have produced the result that apple fruit decreases the rate of aging of brain cells. Quercetin, a powerful antioxidant found in apple fruit skin, improves brain memory; it also produces acetylcholine-like neurotransmitter. Hence, it also reduces chances of Alzheimer and percussion.
The fruit is helpful to give fair complexion and prevent you from wrinkles, pimples, acne, blemishes and black spots due to the presence of numerous phyto-nutrients and antioxidants. These compounds counteract the damaged caused by free radicals, which are directly related to premature aging.
Healthy Ways To Prepare Apples
Apples are a very versatile food. They can be eaten at any time of day and incorporated into all meal types.
Chop apples and toss them into oatmeal with cinnamon, or top whole grain pancakes with yogurt and apple slices. Toss some apples into your salad for lunch or incorporate apples into your side dishes to accompany proteins like baked chicken, turkey, or pork.
Apples are also used is a variety of baked dishes, including bread and desserts. Classic dishes prepared with apples. When baking, applesauce can often serve as a substitute for fat, adding moisture and softness without all the added calories.

domain: food


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Fire Engines Stamps
These Post Office stamps were affixed to specially designed envelopes and postmarked on the first day that the stamps were issued.
24.04.1974 | Avon Fire Brigade pmk, Postmarked at BristolBUY NOW £50
3 1/2p First motor fire-engine
5 1/2p Prize-winning fire-engine
8p First steam fire-engine
10p Fire-Engine 1766
Notes: Pristine condition
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domain: history


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The day was bright as the party sat upon the river, and the cool weather was reflecting pleasantly upon the stream.
“What was that?” asked the Eladrin Child. Balaasar looked to the sky and sniffed.
“It’s big… and hungry,” murmured Tyrendilel.
As the adolescent dragon swung into view, the travelers let out cries of panic. An arrow struck the dragon’s wing as Ajaxx leaped from the wagon, closely behind the psion who was already concentrating deeply from the riverbank.
As the party moved to surround the immobilized beast, the dragon unleashed a devastating howl which seemed to leave the thinner heroes senseless. It’s great claws swung toward the stunned elf, but the war priest’s mace struck true, sending the dragon howling back. A violent cloud of black smoke and lightning bellowed from the creatures snout, which stung the eyes and charred the flesh.

domain: artistic


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The long running campaign by New York credit unions to win lawmaker support for deposit of public funds gained new ground this week with strong backing by both New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Gov. David Paterson.
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domain: finance


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Wild Bill's Tobacco Vape Shop close to Hewlett 11557 NY
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Django E-Liquid, specifically, has been dubbed the “King of Tobacco”, because it’s received several awards for its exclusive and very fascinating tobacco taste. Upon the inhale when vaping this great flavor, you quickly flavor The graceful vanilla milk, and a superbly paired gooey caramel to deliver the Preliminary style experience. Soon soon after, you’re bombarded by a touch of actual Kentucky flue-cured tobacco leaf. the organization describes it as “a caramel vape-uccino with subtle tobacco over the exhale.”
Loaded e Liquid also carries Cookie Butter, and all of their other top selling flavors, in a 30ML bottle of nicotine salt.
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domain: medical


Oregon Fire Information number: (541) 488-7726California Fire Information number: (530) 842-2266
Hours of operation: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
August 7, 2014, 9 a.m.
Special Message:Take action before fire season starts, make sure your property is prepared for wildfire. Learn about defensible space and fire-wise landscaping techniques by consulting your local fire department or Oregon Department of Forestry office. More resources can be found online at www.firewise.org or at www.oregon.gov/odf/Pages/fire/fire.aspx#Fire_Prevention.
Current Situation (Oregon Gulch Fire): Fire managers are happy with the progress so far but reminded crews this morning that the hardest part of the work is starting now. Crews used infrared imaging overnight to identify hot spots and dig out smoldering roots. Today, crews will pick up where the night shift left off by working along the entire fireline to do a thorough job with mop up.
Acreage has been reduced through the use of GPS reconnaissance on the line. GPS tools help provide better mapping and determine accurate acreage consumed by the fire.
Weather and Fire Behavior: Predicted weather today calls for unstable and dry conditions with temperatures between 85 and 90 degrees and relative humidity between 18 and 23%. Fire activity is expected to be low, but with the unstable conditions, crews were cautioned to take swift action on any starts should they arise.
Fire Statistics for Oregon Gulch
Location: 15 miles east of Ashland, OR
Percent Contained: 42%
Size: 35,074* acres (9,464 acres in California)
Start Date: 7/30/14
* Acreage has been reduced due to better mapping.
Oregon wildland resources assigned to the complex include: 9 Type 1 crews, 51 Type 2 hand crews, 4 camp crews, 74 engines, 22 dozers, 25 water tenders, and overhead personnel.
California resources include: 4 dozers, 25 engines, and 6 crews.
Air resources: 14 helicopters.Total personnel: 1,785
Evacuation orders by county:
Jackson CountyThe evacuation level for residents from the 6,000 block south to the Oregon Border on Copco Road has been reduced from Level 2 Evacuation to Level 1 Evacuation. Access to Copco Road is limited to residents and emergency services only. Residents living along Highway 66 in Jackson County between the 11,000 and 22,000 block are still under a Level 1 Evacuation. This does not impact people living in Keno. Level 1 Evacuation means “BE READY” for potential evacuation. Residents should be aware of the danger that exists in their area, monitor emergency services websites and local media outlets for information.
Klamath CountyThe Klamath River canyon from John C. Boyle Dam to the California border will change from a Level 2 Evacuation to a Level 1 Evacuation. This includes Topsy Grade Road, Picard Road, and all other accessible roads south of Highway 66 east to the Klamath County line in Oregon. Current roadblocks are being removed from Topsy Grade Road and John C. Boyle Dam, south of Highway 66 to Camp 4. Camp 4 Road remains restricted to fire personnel only. The Klamath River has been reopened for recreational use.
Siskiyou CountyAll evacuations in Siskiyou County have been lifted.
For the complex, 270 homes and 50 outbuildings are threatened; 6 homes were destroyed (3 in Oregon and 3 in California).
Places to get information:
Twitter - www.twitter.com/swofire/
Southwest Oregon District Blog - www.swofire.com/
Smoke Information - oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office - www.facebook.com/JacksonCountySheriff
CAL FIRE Ready, Set, Go - www.readyforwildfire.org/
CAL FIRE – www.fire.ca.gov
Siskiyou County Pollution Control District - tinyurl.com/ljzak8a


text: The Three Horse Shoes is a fabulous eating and drink venue in Llandovery. The restaurant offers a varied menu full of hearty favourites, with their speciality being fish and chips. There is also an array of light bites and dishes with a creative twist. The chef prepares everything from scratch using good quality fresh ingredients; leaving every dish bursting with flavour. The interior of the restaurant is traditional, cosy and inviting but with a comfortable and modern feel. The staff are friendly and reliable and are committed to providing a smooth dining experience for any size of group. The Three Horse Shoes is a lovely traditional restaurant, where diners will want to return time and again.


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Young Adult Book Club – Cancelled
255 Elmdale Street
Teens, join Jake Epp Library’s Young Adult Book Club! Read and discuss YA books such as Cinder by Marissa Meyer, The Giver by Lois Lowry, and more with other teens. The group will meet to discuss on Thursdays bi-weekly from 4-5 pm.
For Ages 13-15. Advanced sign up is required. There is no cost to participate in this program.
For March, we will be reading and discussing The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (Mar 5: Ch. 1-13; Mar 19: Ch. 14-End).
For any questions, email Madison: firstname.lastname@example.org

domain: library


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from the Dinosaur Collector
Neoform the Danish company which produced a series of very rare, very collectable, prehistoric composition animals from the 1950's.
From the Collection of Joe Demarco. Tyrannosaurus Stegosaurus, Triceratops, Mammoth, Iguanodon and Lizard. Additionally I have seen pictures of a Pteranodon. Plesiosaurus and a spotted cat figure. Neoform also made trees and rock formations. There is a book on Neoform Toy figures by Leif Pederson and Harald Hansen.
Back to the Reference page
Click on the Site A icon left for more diorama listed by location Click on the Site A icon to the right for Dioramas organized by period or by manufacturer.


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Kinaxis InConcert will feature approximately 30 concerts live-streamed from stages across Canada.
Philanthropy in Ottawa: Kinaxis supports struggling music industry with funding for virtual concert series
In the suit filed in U.S. District Court, Arizona-based Blue Yonder claims that Kinaxis used solutions invented by the U.S. firm.
The firm that couldn’t crack $10 million in annual sales when its CEO arrived is now projecting revenues of at least $220 million in the current fiscal year.
In part two of our CEO of the Year profile, Kinaxis's boss talks about how his upbringing made him resilient and why diversity in the workplace is so important.
Annual award ceremony goes virtual in its celebration of Ottawa’s most successful businesses and their leaders
Ottawa-based software company says it now expects revenues for current fiscal year to fall between $220 million and $223 million, up from earlier projections of between $216 million and $220 million.
Veteran executive's company has quietly become one of the Canadian tech sector’s biggest success stories in his fifth year on the job.
Company says it now expects revenues for the current fiscal year to fall between $216 million and $220 million, up from earlier projections of between $211 million and $215 million.
CEO says Kanata-based software firm could generate more business from retail than all other sectors it now serves combined.
Company's shares Shares jumped more than 10 per cent Thursday afternoon after the company said it remains on track to hit its 2020 revenue targets.

domain: news


Catenians unite through celebration of annual Mass for deceased
Members of the Catenian Association of WA are pictured with Perth Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton after the annual Mass for the deceased, held at St Mary’s Cathedral, 4 October 2015. Photo: Supplied
By Marco Ceccarelli
More than 200 people attended the annual Mass for deceased members of the Catenian Association of WA held on 4 October 2015 at St Mary’s Cathedral, Perth.
Celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton, the Mass featured as the most important event in the Catenian calendar and offered members an opportunity to unite in support of widows and family members of deceased Catenians.
This year, the Catenians were privileged to have Grand President Peter Woodford and his wife Ann, who travelled from the United Kingdom to visit the Catenians in Perth, attend the Mass.
The Grand President’s visit both encouraged Western Australian Catenians to continue living their life according to their association’s motto, ‘Strengthening Family Life through Friendship and Faith’, and brought members up to date with developments of the Catenians at an international level.
The Grand President was accompanied by a party of 16 UK Catenians, as well as six Eastern States Catenians with their spouses. The party had joined Mr Woodford on a two-week tour to Western Australia which included a visit to New Norcia and a trip to Busselton.
Province 20 Provincial President Geoff Prendergast and his wife, Deanna; Chairman of the Australian Committee George Kazs and his wife, Elaine, from Canberra; and Province 20 Director Gerry Barton and his wife, Lynn, also attended the Mass.
In his homily, Bishop Sproxton drew on the central theme of the Synod of Bishops in Rome – the family – emphasising the importance of Catenian commitment to the family as a place of prayer, friendship and witness to the love of Christ.
Commenting on the event, Mr Barton stated that the Provincial Mass for deceased members of the association is undoubtedly one of the most significant events of the year.
“The fact that Grand President Peter Woodford could be with us this year made the event even more special. It showed even greater support to the widows of deceased members who still need our support.”
The Catenian Association in Australia provides practising Catholic laymen and their families with friendship, social activities and support.
Members meet socially at least once a month and refer to each other as 'brother'. This reflects the strength of the mutual support they give to each other and their families, which is based on the shared values of their Catholic belief and practice.
In an increasingly secular society, the association provides a haven for those facing challenges to their beliefs and moral values in their business, professional and family lives.
Through their membership, Catenians are helped to enjoy and fulfill their various vocations in life: firstly, as baptised Christians, and also in their family as a husband and father; in their chosen profession or workplace; within the civil community and within the Church.
The sssociation's name is derived from the Latin catena (a chain) with the Circles being the links in the chain. The emblem consists of a continuous chain of links surrounding a cross.
The City of Perth Circle was inaugurated in February 1977. A further 12 circles have since been inaugurated, including eight in Perth and others at Bouvard, Busselton, Mandurah and Northam.


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Penn Station – 1630 Stewart St. – Santa Monica, CA
PMI continues to carefully monitor
the market for the opportunity and
ensure the best performance
of its assets.
PMI begins converting old apartment properties into creative, multifamily units geared towards a younger tenancy.
PMI re-enters San Francisco after the recession, capitalizing on office opportunities and gearing its properties towards tech start-ups.
PMI shifts to the San Francisco office market to take advantage of the recovery
from the Dot-Com bust and purchase
creative office space.
PMI enters the Culver City and Venice markets to convert warehouses to creative offices.
PMI pioneers all-spec-suite offices
in Los Angeles.
PMI starts purchasing Santa Monica office properties to take advantage of the Santa Monica resurgence.
Scott Sternberg and Jeff Palmer
undergo their first collaboration on
an R&D building in Santa Monica.
PMI withdraws from apartment acquisitions and shifts focus to value add, asset management, and potential sales.
PMI again withdraws from office acquisitions, moving instead into the Los Angeles residential market.
PMI withdraws from office
acquisitions due to pricing/risk concerns.
PMI develops the first multi-level warehouse conversion to a creative office.
PMI pioneers the conversion of warehouse space to multi-tenant creative office space.
PMI pioneers the first conversions
of traditional office space to soft creative space, capturing entertainment industry demands.
Scott Sternberg and Jeff Palmer form a new PMI partnership to take advantage of the recovery from the S&L recession.
Scott Sternberg founds PMI.

domain: economics


Greetings Akila Thilinda Jayarathna, first and foremost thank you for sitting down with TheHipHopCloud for this exclusive interview. Since it’s our first interview together let’s take it to your debut in the music industry and how you got here.
Where are you originally from?
Akila Thilinda Jayarathna: I’ve been doing music since I was 18, my main inspirations, to be honest, were some famous YouTubers at the time and they motivated me highly.
How would you describe your beats?
Akila Thilinda Jayarathna: I feel like I got a unique style to me, I’m more interested in drill-type beats than anything.
Whom were your idols in the music industry coming up?
Akila Thilinda Jayarathna: My main idols were Juice Wrld and Prince the producer and a few other YouTubers.
If you could work with anybody in the industry who would it be?
Akila Thilinda Jayarathna: Prince the producer.
What can we expect from you in the near future? Any project your currently working on?
Akila Thilinda Jayarathna: I’m planning on taking this as far as I can. It’d be awesome to see my songs on Spotify playlists. That is my main goal. I got an album I’m working on right now called “Nirwana” all want to watch for that; I’m putting my all into this one. It doesn’t go to be a rushed project
Where can fans-to-be listen to your music?
You can find my music at
Thank you again Akila Thilinda Jayarathna for taking the time to do this interview with us!


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A mini festival of live music at the historic Bobin School of Arts Hall.
The second in a series of rural hall concerts in the Mid Coast region!
This time we are off into the mountains behind Wingham NSW to Bobin School of the Arts.
The Southern Hold
Bobin Maintenance Crew
The Sedges and Millers
Limited online tickets available for general admission. Additional tickets for sale at Bobin Hall for local community.
Proudly presented by MSR Entertainment and Mid Coast Council.

domain: geography


Boost Crop Yields | Reduce Crop Damage | Meet Crop Yield Goals
Skalitzky Drainage is a family owned and operated business with a team of tiling professionals who have been farming for over 50 years. We know first-hand what having properly drained fields means to your bottom line at the end of the growing season. When you work with us, you’re working with a team that knows farming and knows what you need for a great harvest.
At Skalitzky Drainage we don’t like taking shortcuts. We believe that every job should be done right or not at all.
Quality design and installation are key when developing a successful long-term plan for your farm.
We use the modern technology like GPS survey mapping which offers optimal land planning with efficiency and accuracy.
With innovative trenching equipment we can ensure optimal tile depth at the most accurate grade, even in the most difficult soil conditions.
We use farm drainage tile and fitting products that are designed for high capacity water flow with no corrosion or deterioration.
A properly installed agricultural drainage system will increase your crop yields and decrease crop damage. Reducing surface water and soil erosion means deeper roots and healthier plants. We provide subsurface drain systems that deliver the maximum return on your investment for years to come. Let us design a tile drainage system to help you reach your crop yield goals.
Design and install tile drainage systems to remove excess water from poorly drained land
GPS controlled survey mapping of the topography to create a comprehensive drainage design
Modern trenching equipment using the lasted technology to ensure optimal tile depth
4-inch to 18-inch diameter flexible pipe to accommodate water flow rates
Surface inlet drains to reduce surface water faster
Illustrative maps of tile lines and outlets to help locate your field’s drainage system
Underground installation of irrigation system PVC piping
Take a look at some of our recent


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Closing in on the release of their sophomore album Starve, due 22n February 2019, Blood Youth announced their biggest headline tour to date.
However, these metalcore heavyweights have not stopped with the giving there. Announcing that their supports for their UK and European shows will be Palm Reader and Lotus Eater. While in Europe Parting Gift will join them.
Frontman Kaya Tarsus enthuses: “We are really excited to have Palm Reader, Lotus Eater and Parting Gift joining us on the Starve UK/EU tour. Palm Reader are one of our favourite UK bands right now and were our first choice when we were putting together this line-up. We are really looking forward to seeing their set and the carnage that will ensue every night”.
Tarsus continues “Lotus Eater and Parting Gift are two bands we have been listening to for a while now. Both bands are making some real waves in the UK scene and bring something completely different to the line-up. This will be the biggest tour we have done so far and we are really stoked to have three great bands experiencing it with us. It’s going to be one to remember.”
Blood Youth’s STARVE UK Tour dates in full:
01 March 2019 Southampton -Joiners
02 March 20198 Leeds – The Key Club
03 March 2019 Glasgow – Audio
04 March 2019 Newcastle – Think Tank
06 March 2019 Manchester – Star & Garter
07 March 2019 Birmingham – Mama Rouxs
08 March 2019 London – Underworld
Tickets are on sale now via Music Glue as well as other online retailers.
Blood Youth will release their new album Starve on 22 February 2019 via Rude Records. Pre-orders are available now here.


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Platinum-selling Hillsong UNITED received four Billboard Music Award nominations this week, earning in all Christian categories, including Top Christian Artist, Top Christian Album ("EMPIRES") and Top Christian Song, where both "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" and "Touch The Sky" scored nods. The nominations were announced live on ABC's "Good Morning America."
In 2015, Hillsong UNITED was nominated for Top Christian Song and won the category of Top Christian Artist.
The 2016 Billboard Music Awards broadcast will air live on Sunday, May 22, on ABC.
Hillsong UNITED is currently touring in the U.S., alongside Lauren Daigle, on their "EMPIRES Tour." On July 30, the tour will wrap in Chicago. For more information, visit hillsong.com/united/#tours.
UNITED is a worship band that originally rose out of the youth ministry of Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. This progressive worship band is a global recording and touring entity sent out to share the ever-evolving worship music of Hillsong Church to an international audience through live performances and records.
"EMPIRES" debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard Top 200 to critical support from "Today," USA Today and Yahoo! Most recently, Billboard Magazine named Hillsong UNITED the Top Christian Artist of 2015.
Get connected with Hillsong UNITED:

domain: entertainment


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Amazon is all in on advertising
Amazon’s latest play into the TV ad market with the launch of Free Dive, an ad-supported video service for Fire TV users, showcases the company’s intent to further diversify revenue streams from its video services, pushing into advertising video on demand (AVOD).
This latest effort to generate more revenue through advertising comes off the back of a successful quarter for Amazon’s growing advertising business. Although Amazon does not disclose advertising revenues, CFO Brian Olsavsky announced that it accounts for the majority of ‘other revenue’, which last quarter saw a 132.2% increase year-on-year (YoY) to $2.2 billion in Q2 2018. Although Amazon’s foray into advertising is nascent, with Amazon Marketing Services only launched in 2012, its growth rate is something the other tech majors now need to take note of. Rival tech majors Facebook and Alphabet only achieved YoY growth rates of 42.2% and 24% respectively.
Other revenues (of which the majority is advertising) now account for 4% of Amazon’s total revenue, up from 2% in Q2 2017. While Amazon’s advertising revenue is a fraction of what Facebook and Alphabet generated in Q2, Amazon has started to eat into the other tech majors’ market share, growing two percentage points YoY to 5% in Q2 2018 (MIDiA Research Tech Majors Market Share Q2 2018 Report). This AVOD service is amongst a growing list of moves Amazon is making to acquire a larger share of the $59.2 billion US TV ad market (Source MIDiA Research Video Model. Coupled with the consumer data Amazon boasts through its thriving core ecommerce business, it will enable Amazon to become a greater force in the overall advertising game in the near term.
What is Free Dive?
An alternative to Amazon Prime Video, the service, which is intended for Fire TV customers, is reportedly being developed by the Internet Movie Database (IMDB), which Amazon acquired back in Q2 1998. According to The Information, Amazon is in talks with major TV studios about licensing older programming, that have previously aired on TV networks, on Free Dive.
The Free Dive value proposition is similar to what Roku rolled out with its own ad-supported service,The Roku Channel, which airs old films such as Bad Boys and TV classics like 3rd Rock from the Sun. Off the back of this ad-supported service, Roku saw platform revenue increase 96% YoY in Q2 2018, driven primarily through advertising. Roku also announced in its Q2 earnings release that ARPU increased by 48% YoY to an all-time high of $16.6. In the same release Roku went onto state:
“We’ve doubled ARPU over the last two years, driven primarily by advertising, with the majority of ad revenue coming from video ads we service on ad-supported channels, and we also continue to see strong audience development and brand sponsorship ad growth.”
Roku is Amazon’s Fire TV’s biggest competitor in the streaming device market. As such, having seen how ad-supported channels can impact company financials, Roku will be concerned to see how Amazon’s Free Dive fares, by employing a similar ad-supported strategy. Amazon could potentially steal away not only consumers, but also entice the major advertisers away from TV networks, something that Alphabet’s YouTube and Facebook have struggled to do thus far.
This advertising effort follows Amazon’s introduction of ad-supported video onto IMDB, the introduction of ads onto Twitch Prime free subscriptions (but not the Twitch paid subscription service called Turbo) and the running of adverts on its Prime Video sports content, namely NFL Thursday Night Football. Expect the implementation of adverts into sports content on Prime Video in Europe to follow, as Amazon’s strategic investments into sporting rights continues to rise.
According to Reuters, Amazon charged advertisers $2.8 million for 30-second spots during NFL games on Amazon last year, which granted them access to run ads across Amazon.com during the season. Sports content offers Amazon a higher margin opportunity than its current core retail operations, to expand its video advertising business. Leveraging Amazon’s targeting capabilities by providing more video content on its platforms to advertisers will not only increase its revenue, but also aid in capturing more of the advertising market share away from the competing tech majors.
Can AVOD bridge the gap?
Amazon clearly sees potential to substantially increase revenues through launching an AVOD service, capturing more of the advertising market away from its rival tech majors, but it still has a long way to go to bridge the gap, considering Alphabet and Facebook’s combined advertising revenue was 18.7 times more than Amazon generated in Q2 2018. However, do not underestimate the ability of multi-platform Amazon to rapidly close this gap going forwards.


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The Chainless World Championships
Come join us for the Chainless World Championships, on Friday June 29th held in Crested Butte, CO from the top of Kebler Pass to downtown Crested Butte. Though Crested Butte has held a chainless race in years past, this is only the third incarnation as a world championship race. Why? Why not? It's the best chainless race in the world and therefore deserves the title of Chainless World Championships.
Buses will load at 3 PM behind the Chamber of Commerce. Race starts at 4 PM.
For race updates and general shenanigans, be sure to check out our Facebook page.
Crested Butte's Chainless World Championship Bike Race from the top of Kebler Pass down 7 miles of dirt and pavement to the heart of town is the greatest way to kick off a summer of biking. But we can't take it for granted. A lot of organizations are involved in making the Chainless happen and they want to make sure that it's as safe as it can be. This year when you're gearing up for the big day, here a few things to keep in mind.
We want everyone to register this year and sign our super-awesome legal waiver, which makes a lot of people happier with this event. If you don't register, you don't race.
Wear a Helmet
Your dome is pretty important. So cover it up. You can wear a moto helmet, a full-face ski lid, a construction hard-hat, or a full-contact battle re-enactment beast. Just put one on and please finish with it.
Only Professionals on this Closed Course
This year Kebler will be closed for the Chainless, which means no more worrying about cars coming up fast from behind. Ballin'! It also means that you'll need a catch a ride on the Chainless Race Bus and bike trailer. Sign up, sit back, sip a...soft drink.
Post-Race Party Time
Please keep your Chainless Racer beer vouchers so you can prove that you deserve a beer. Seven miles of dust can make you pretty thirsty. The after-party will take place at the parking lot behind the Chamber of Commerce. We'll be giving out prizes this year in multiple categories.

domain: hobby


Holden Special Vehicles is slowly facing the reality its business platform of building hopped up Holden Commodores is coming to a close. Performance Drive reports the Holden Commodore Sportswagon based Clubsport R8 Tourer will be first on HSV’s chopping block.
To send the HSV Clubsport R8 Tourer off, HSV is said to be planning a short production run of a 550 hp special edition wagon alongside a handful of other bespoke vehicles.
The final Clubsport R8 Tourers will not only feature a more potent version of the current 6.2-liter LSA supercharged V8 engine, but the report states high-performance brakes, unique wheels and commemorative badging will be present.
It’s rumored only 50 of these sportwagons will be sold after the vehicle is introduced between February and March of 2017.


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Laneway housing is back in the news here in Toronto. Last week the University of Toronto reported that they would like to build 50 laneway houses within the Huron-Sussex neighborhood and that they are aiming to start a 2 house pilot project some time in 2018.
Here is a drawing from their Planning Study:
What you see is mid-rise infill (orange) along the main streets and low-rise infill (purple) along the secondary streets and laneways. There’s also a “living lane” that runs north-south through the neighborhood.
I know we’ve talked a lot about laneway housing and neighborhood intensification on this blog, but I hadn’t seen the above plan before. And I wonder if we aren’t going to look back at this neighborhood plan as a prototype for low-rise intensification.

domain: sociology


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The Tangled Ivy Trilogy
Ivy Mason is hiding―from her past, from herself, and from anyone who could love her. The only kind of love she’s ever known hurts, leaving scars on her body and soul. Now, her world may be boring and predictable, but that’s exactly what she wants. Until Devon Clay walks into her life.
A lonely man in a deadly profession, Devon works as an agent for an underground British agency known only as the Shadow. Nothing about him is safe or ordinary. The danger that consumes his life turns into an addiction Ivy can’t resist…even if it proves fatal.
As Ivy’s past begins to catch up with her, she wonders if love really is the twisted thing she’s always thought it was. Maybe it could be more with this man, who’s shown her that she doesn’t need to protect herself from everyone. Is what she feels for Devon worth the risk? He may save her heart or break it, if she manages to stay alive.


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The Fredericton Playhouse, a staple of the city’s cultural landscape for nearly six decades, is approaching its final act as it prepares to close its doors to make way for a new, state-of-the-art cultural arts center.
Discussed since 2013, Webb Management Services, a corporation that advises on the development and operation of cultural sites, provided the Playhouse with many options.
Option 1: Renovate the current facility within the existing envelope.
Option 2: One new building containing two halls at one of two possible sites.
Option 3: The Playhouse renovated as either the large or small hall, plus one new building.
Option 4: Two new buildings, with one new hall in each one, the smaller one being located at the current Playhouse site.
The City recently outlined its financial strategy for the new Performing Arts Centre (PAC), assuring Frederictonians that the project is feasible without impacting other city services or raising taxes.
Within their financial strategy, the City answered some frequently asked questions:
- Strong Financial Management: The City can fund the PAC while continuing essential services like police, fire, and recreational programs, without increasing taxes.
- Planned Expenditure: The City’s long-term financial plan includes major projects every four years, and no major project has been undertaken in the last 12 years (italics added by The Brunswickan for emphasis).
- Flexibility for Other Projects: Despite the PAC development, the City’s robust financial health allows for continued investment in other major projects like park development and infrastructure upgrades.
- Collaborative Funding: The City is partnering with the Federal government and Fredericton Playhouse Inc, which is leading a fundraising campaign, to finance the PAC.
- Debt Management: The City maintains a low debt ratio, and even with the additional borrowing for the PAC, the debt will remain significantly lower than the limit.
- Cost-effective Design: A value engineering process is being used to minimize the PAC’s construction costs while ensuring quality and safety.
- Comparative Financial Advantage: Fredericton’s contribution to the PAC is lower relative to other cities’ investments in similar projects, offering a better financial deal for its residents.
Executive Director, Tim Yerxa, announced plans for the demolition of the building and the beginning of a new act in the city’s vibrant arts scene.
“Late summer or early fall of this year will mark the beginning of demolition and site preparation,” Yerxa stated. “We anticipate starting construction in the following season.”
But, some citizens are hesitant of new development, for a magnitude of reasons.
Jeremy Mouat, president of the Fredericton Heritage Trust, is one of those concerned. Mouat noted that the gray-brick building, which opened on Queen Street in 1964 is:
“A [Fredericton] landmark … I think it’s important to recall that it was the last gift from Lord Beaverbrook to the community,” he told Information Morning Fredericton.
Regarding the age of The Playhouse, Tim Yerxa, Executive Director at the Playhouse, stated,
“It was designed to look older than it really is, which can be confusing today when people talk about the building’s historical value within the city.”
The new facility, designed by renowned Diamond Schmitt Architectural firm out of Toronto, is projected to cost $58 million and will be situated at the corner of King and Regent Street, featuring an 850-seat theater, a 300-seat theater, and versatile multi-purpose spaces.
“We wanted someone who understood performing arts centers and best practice in arts centers,” said Kenneth Forrest, Director of Growth and Community Services with the City of Fredericton. “Diamond Schmitt has a lot of expertise building performing arts centers across the country and around the world, but also familiarity with the downtown context.”
The proposed destruction is no new idea, and comes amid growing concerns surrounding the current state of Playhouse.
Without doubt, after 55 music-filled years, the building is deteriorating.
The Playhouse has faced multiple system failures, show cancellations, and fire code violations.
Yerxa detailed some of the struggles facing the Playhouse, including an incident during “Spamalot” where staff had to catch rain with plastic tarps in the catwalks.
“The building is our only instrument for these shows (within Fredericton), and it is broken.”
The plan has sparked debate among Frederictonians, with some expressing concerns over the prioritization of cultural development over other pressing issues like affordable housing and effective transportation.
Dwight Estey, a local resident, praised the design but questioned the choice of location, advocating for more balanced development across the city.
Despite these concerns, Yerxa remains optimistic about the project’s impact on the community.
“We’re building a completely different kind of cultural infrastructure for Fredericton, more like a community center than a single-purpose theater,” Yerxa said.
Public engagement sessions on the new cultural arts center are scheduled for March 26th and 28th, inviting community input and discussion.
As the Fredericton Playhouse prepares for its final curtain, and history unfolds, the city anticipates a new era of cultural enrichment and community engagement with the upcoming cultural arts center.
In 2014, 70 stakeholders were interviewed, 100 public members attended a meeting to discuss the proposal, and 400 people had replied to the city’s survey surrounding a proposed new plan for the playhouse.
Currently, the project is 10 years past its beginning, and in the January Phase which consists of consulting 44 stakeholders (board, user groups, downtown businesses, architects and planners, neighboring property owners, indigenous elders and cultural practitioners) on the draft schematic design.
The city did not mention rights holders.


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Spotify is finally adding music streaming support to its Apple Watch app. The users no longer need to have phones near in order to play songs on their watches; instead, they will soon be able to play songs and favorite podcasts after tethering via Bluetooth.
“We’re focused on developing experiences that enable users to listen to Spotify wherever and whenever they want — regardless of the device or platform. After an initial testing period, we are now rolling out streaming capabilities for Spotify on the Apple Watch.”
Users have been waiting for this feature for so long, as after the update, users would not require a phone when they want to go running or exercise. They can simply connect their Spotify Apple Watch app from their wrist to the Bluetooth headphones or AirPods and enjoy Music on the go.
It has been two years when Spotify launched its music app for Apple Watch users. Back then, Spotify also pointed out that they will continue to innovate and “have many exciting things coming up.” They mentioned the feature of listening to music and podcasts offline is also in the pipeline. Spotify also has offline mode; however, it is not available for the Apple Watch app yet.
It is also reported that the app still tends to be in beta for some users, so it would not be available to all users right now. In a note, Spotify has told the users that they must have the latest version of Spotify on their devices.


SCADA system for supervision of gantry cranes
The SCADA system developed for this project allowed a precise supervision of gantry cranes used for moving containers at ports.
The system collects information like actual state, wind speed, cargo weight among other things, in real time. Also shows other characteristics of maintenance and confiability.
This achieved centralize and improve the available information to increase the productivity.
The software used to develop this project was Visu+ by Phoenix Contact.
- Client: Exolgan
- Location: Dock Sud, Buenos Aires province, Argentina
- Date: March 2020


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Xbox 360 gamers looking forward to the launch of the new Medal of Honor: Warfighter game will be please to learn that an Xbox 360 exclusive, beta download of the game will be arriving on Xbox Live for Gold Subscribers, tomorrow on October 5th 2012.
A new trailer for the new Medal of Honor: Warfighter beta has also been released today, showing a glimpse of what you can expect from the game when it officially launches.
The Medal of Honor: Warfighter beta Xbox 360 demo unlocks twelve of the 72 Tier One Operations within the multiplayer game. Providing you with the chance to as British SAS, German KSK and US Navy SEAL on the Bosnia’s Sarajevo Stadium map. Enjoy
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Haroldo Dilla Alfonso*
HAVANA TIMES — In straightforward language, understandable by Muzhiks and Cossacks alike, Lenin noted that a revolutionary situation occurred when those above can no longer govern as before, and those below can no longer bear their government as before.
This is an image that always reminded me of a failed rape attempt, but that in its essence aims to describe a historical tipping point that changes the correlation of political forces in a particular society.
Obviously, there’s nothing like this in Cuba. Although it’s true that those above can’t do things like they always did, they still have the energy to keep themselves on top. At the same time, though those down below don’t seem to want those on top, they’re not sure what they want.
When this happens, Italian communist Antonio Gramsci said society is faced with an organic crisis characterized by the emergence of “morbid phenomena of the most varied kind.”
Our society is experiencing this. An example is the emergence of unhealthy individualism, where people have no sense of responsibly for what happens beyond their familiar circle, which is complemented by a no less irresponsible technocratic line that speaks of winners and losers.
This is a paradoxical situation in a system that has worked hard to present the collective above everything else, crushing the individual. In this, individuals have wound up escaping forced collectivism but are unable to build voluntary associations, even the most basic ones.
This is not a random or unexpected result. As part of their strategy of social dominance, the post-revolutionary elite charged itself with instilling in Cubans the dreadful idea that collectives only serve to respond to a superior level and that those below only exist to the extent that they are part of a vertical command and control structure.
Nothing outside of this top-down structure is of any worth, and nothing outside can exist that is not exposed to repression.
The possibilities for horizontal interaction, for there to be initiatives outside the official environment — even if it’s a pro-workers slogan on May Day — and for people to freely associate were (and are) considered disruptive and punishable.
The most genuine public settings in Havana (those in which people interact freely, socialize and form communities for certain purposes) are little more than tolerated and controlled ghettos along the Malecon seawall or on the wide avenues of the Vedado district or in public parks.
Therefore these anomalous covens of “weirdoes” — gays, freakies, gothics, lesbians, emos, dissidents, critics, artists and free thinkers — are separated from “normal people” by a perimeter guarded by “friendly” police officers.
The other settings, the official public ones, are actually “non-places” where people go for something specific and leave as soon as they can, like one does from a bus station. This applies to the inhospitable Revolution Square and the “Protestodromo” (a downright macabre site built on the ruins of an exquisite complex designed by Jean-Claude Nicolas Forestier nearly a century ago).
It is a problem that not only concerns the possibility of engaging in politics, but it is also related to questions of everyday life.
A few days ago I received information from a friend (an almost “winner” who has joined the emerging middleclass) about the distressing situation of water in her apartment building located on the edge of the upscale Miramar community.
The situation begins with the poor supply capacity but is exacerbated by the fact that the building’s residents, unable to meet and come to an agreement, have been installing “water thieves” (individual pumps) in their apartments, resulting in a situation in which half of the residents are often deprived of any water.
This same friend of mine, with a young daughter, is already preparing her budget to pay for a tutor as the only way to compensate for the decline of the Cuban educational system.
Later I saw an article in Havana Times by the astute Erasmo Calzadilla concerning a young disabled woman (Mercedes), who has to live and raise her son on the equivalent of $10 USD, which the government gives her as assistance.
Though she has a technical school degree, she can’t find work because of her physical condition, and therefore lives in a hovel with 16 other people. What’s more, her orthopedic boots (essential for her being able to move around) cost $40 or a four-year wait.
Mercedes — a typical “loser” to our beloved technocrats — doesn’t see a way out of her situation, especially since she says that there is corruption in the management of the Housing Department.
As an example, she cites the fact that though they are required to supply two homes per year to disabled people, they have never fulfilled that obligation – instead they sell the units under the table.
This is something that the Cuban Association of Persons with Physical Disabilities (ACLIFIM) should protest, but instead they do nothing.
I live in a liberal country (the Dominican Republic), among whose many virtues is neither a high level of democratic civility or sociability. Nonetheless, in the building where I live there’s a neighborhood council that makes decisions that affect all the residents, and it functions effectively.
Society has taken in its hands a constant struggle for the improvement of education, and when problems are presented at any school it is normal for parents and students to mobilized around the issue.
They will form coalitions of parents, students, teachers and activists who demand better education by demonstrating in the street or picketing outside of parliament. But my friend and many other disappointed parents could never do that in Cuba.
Just recently I read about hundreds of people with disabilities who took over a downtown public square in one South American capital and forced the government to revise its social assistance policies.
They simply converted their physical weaknesses into strengths in a public setting.
But Mercedes — and hundreds of people in her same situation — cannot protest because ACLIFIM is a vertically controlled social welfare organization whose leadership would never consider taking over a public square (if they even thought about such an action they would be removed from their positions ipso facto).
So when — in the greatest act of cynicism — the Cuban leaders and their poorly paid bloggers began to denounce paternalism and nestlings-with-their-beaks-wide-open, Cubans had no choice but to begin dealing with all of their problems individually, purely on their own.
This includes even those basic problems that require a minimum degree of cooperation. It’s like a society in retreat where the notion of collective action smells of imposition and obligation.
It is a circumstance where those who are able rush to get on the train — like my friend who has already installed her own personal “water thief” — while those who are unable, like Mercedes, die while living in shacks with 16 other people.
I sincerely believe that among the historical responsibilities for which the post-revolutionary political elite will have to answer is having dissolved the sense of association as the basic element of citizenship.
They destroyed the wealth of a civil society that organized all kinds of associations and went back to this drama of atomization and banality.
For this same reason, reconstructing that fabric should be a priority for Cuba’s democratic future.
*Published originally in Spanish by Cubaencuentro.com


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By Christina Lane Lane | On | Comments (0)
The following is excerpted from Phantom Lady: Hollywood Producer Joan Harrison, the Forgotten Woman Behind Hitchcock, published by Chicago Review Press. © 2020 by Christina Lane.
In the summer of 1938, Alfred Hitchcock signed on to direct an adaptation of Daphne du Maurier‘s novel Jamaica Inn, which was to be his last British film before venturing to Hollywood. The preeminent producer Erich Pommer and lead actor Charles Laughton were already lined up to produce the movie through their jointly owned company Mayflower Pictures. Read More→


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El Ta'koy at 3 Henrietta Street
About this space
Resident in the cellar is El Ta’Koy, the first UK opening of the much-loved restaurant from critically acclaimed Cuban chef Luis Pous, formerly of Asia de Cuba.
El Ta’Koy takes inspiration from the Tiki bars of Hawaii with an eclectic menu of dishes from Asia to Latin America, reflecting Hawaii’s reputation as the melting pot of food, culture, and cocktails.
Host a seated dining experience with sharing plates, or a standing reception with carefully crafted canapes and exquisite cocktails, created by our very own in-house mixologists.
Catering and drinks
Music & sound equipment
Rules of the space
All food and beverage consumed at the premises must have been purchased at the premises.
Cancellation policy: Flexible
Cancellations 7 days in advance will receive a full refund.
Cancellations 7 days to 24 hours in advance will receive a 50% refund.
Cancellations for events starting within 24 hours are non-refundable.
Reviews and ratings
(8 reviews and ratings - )
Very quick and informative
About 3 Henrietta Street
3 Henrietta Street is a beautifully restored five-story townhouse in the heart of Covent Garden. Built in 1780, 3 Henrietta Street is steeped in history; each floor of the townhouse has been carefully restored and designed to give its distinct character, whilst also preserving the original features and quirks that make the Grade II listed building so special.
3 Henrietta Street houses restaurants from celebrated chefs Mark Greenaway and Luis Pous, along with Lilly’s Cafe by world-class pastry chef Kimberly Lin and coffee house favourite The Gentlemen Baristas.
Our experienced Events and Reservations Team would be happy to work with you to provide the best possible proposal, including recommendations for décor, food, beverage, and entertainment options. Available for both corporate and private hire, 3 Henrietta Street is a multifaceted venue, providing a variety of options to suit all your exclusive hire needs.


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Park district welcomes new commissioners
Three new commissioners have joined the Wood County Park District board.
At the January 9 meeting, Denny Parish, chairman of the board, welcomed Thomas Myers of Perrysburg, Bill Cameron of North Baltimore and Sandy Wiechman of Bowling Green. All three were appointed by Judge David Woessner of the Wood County probate court.
They replace John Calderonello, whose term expired at the end of 2017, and Christine Seiler and Bob Dorn, both of whom relocated.
Park commissioners Myers and Cameron are serving full three-year terms, effective January 1, 2018 and concluding December 31, 2020, explained Neil Munger, park director. “Sandy is filling out the term vacated by Christine which expires at the end of 2018,” he added.
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domain: politics