text:
By Hari Singh Nalwa, Foreword by Richard E. Smalley
By Philipp H. Pattberg, Fariborz Zelli
The Encyclopedia of world Environmental Governance and Politics surveys the wide diversity of environmental and sustainability demanding situations within the rising Anthropocene and scrutinizes on hand techniques, methodological instruments, theories and methods, in addition to overlaps with adjunct fields of analysis.
This entire reference paintings, written by means of the most eminent lecturers within the box, includes sixty eight entries on various facets throughout 7 thematic parts, together with suggestions and definitions; theories and strategies; actors; associations; issue-areas; cross-cutting questions; and overlaps with non-environmental fields. With this extensive procedure, the amount seeks to supply a pluralistic wisdom base of the study and perform of world environmental governance and politics in instances of elevated complexity and contestation.
Providing its readers with a distinct element of reference, in addition to stimulus for extra study, this Encyclopedia is an quintessential instrument for a person attracted to the politics of our surroundings, relatively scholars, academics and researchers.
Contributors: K.W. Abbott, C. Adelle, L. Andonova, S. Andresen, W.F. Baber, okay. Bäckstrand, R.V. Bartlett, I. Baud, S. Bauer, S. Beck, M. Beisheim, D. Benson, S. Bernstein, ok. Biedenkopf, F. Biermann, ok. sales space, U. model, P.-O. Busch, S. Chan, okay. Chelminski, J. Clapp, D. Compagnon, D. Cordell, V. Cornelissen, E. Dellas, S. Dietz, R. Eckersley, R. Floyd, D.J. Frank, V. Galaz, ok. Genskow, S. Godin-Beekman, A. Gupta, J. Gupta, R. Haluza-DeLay, A. Hironaka, M. Isailovic, M. Ivanova, A. Jerneck, okay. Jönsson, A. Jordan, S. Karlsson-Vinkhuyzen, M. Kok, A. Kronsell, M. Lang, S. Lim, J. Lister, okay. Magyera, A. Mert, D. Moran, G. Nagtzaam, T. Nielsen, M. Nilsson, C. Okereke, T. Oliver, L. Olsson, P.H. Pattberg, J. Pinkse, A. Prakash, O. Renn, ok. Rosendal, M.A.F. Ros-Tonen, D. Rothe, E. Schofer, B. Siebenhüner, N. Simon, J. Stel, H. Stevenson, O.S. Stokke, okay. Szulecki, M.W.Tvedt, A. Underdal, T. Van de Graaf, D. Van Vuuren, P. Vellinga, P. Wapner, E. Weinthal, J. Wettestad, S. White, O. Widerberg, F. Zelli
By Amit Baran Sharangi
The booklet "Encyclopaedia of Horticulture and Allied phrases" is a humble try and carry the entire very important and similar phrases togeter and to outline each one time period with utmost care, accuracy and completeness to supply a rational figuring out that is comfortably available for the scholars, academics, novice gardeners, company sectors, and all execs linked to Horticulture. The ebook comprises the wide and numerous components of Agriculture, Horticulture, Botany, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Genetic Engineering, Soil technological know-how, Chemistry, Farm administration, Economics, Sociology, statistics, medication, Agricultural Engineering, Agrometorology, and so forth more often than not and Pomology, Olericulture, Spices, Tea, espresso, Rose, Wine, publish Harvest know-how, Processing, Bonsai, Flower association, Pollen/Spore, insecticides, Manures/Fertilizers, Natural/Synthetic chemical substances, tools/ Implements/ instruments, caliber administration, Water, and so on specifically.
Tracing advancements in toy making and advertising around the evolving panorama of the twentieth century, this encyclopedia is a complete reference advisor to America's most well liked playthings and the tradition to which they belong.
• approximately 2 hundred alphabetically prepared entries record the historic and cultural importance of toys
• Cross-references and a list of extra assets accompany each one access and inspire extra research
• photos and illustrations accrued from private and non-private collections around the nation depict the complete century of the United States at play
• A consultant to similar issues identifies the entries in accordance with broader different types similar to toys, designers, businesses, museums, occasions, and organizations
• A source advisor presents info for contacting American toy businesses, getting access to nationwide toy museums, and attending annual toy fairs, and gives many avenues for pursuing additional information regarding toys and American tradition together with books, scholarly journals, audio recordings, motion pictures, and websites
Mark M. Boatner's "Encyclopedia of the yank Revolution, " the 1st entire, authoritative, one-volume reference paintings on American background from 1763 to 1783, exhibits an analogous mastery of fabric that lent contrast to the author's "Civil warfare Dictionary."
By Stephen J. Sansweet, Pablo Hidalgo, Bob Vitas, Daniel Wallace
THE DEFINITIVE REFERENCE advisor TO an area delusion PHENOMENONThe famous person Wars universe, very like our personal, is continually increasing. within the ten years because the ebook of the big name Wars Encyclopedia, much has occurred in that galaxy some distance, far-off: 4 new characteristic movies, a bunch of legitimate unique novels, comics, games, and extra. Now, thirty years of data on all issues celebrity Wars–ranging from technology and expertise to background and geography, tradition and biography to ecology and cosmology–has been supplemented with a whole decade’s worthy of all-new fabric. Abundantly illustrated with full-color art and photographs, and now in a brand new three-volume version to house its wealth of unique entries, the famous person Wars Encyclopedia encompasses the entire degree of George Lucas’s creation.Here’s only a sampling of what’s inside:• personality pix of either the popular (Luke Skywalker, Queen Amidala, Darth Vader) and the imprecise (Tnun Bdu, Tycho Celchu, Bib Fortuna)• the natives and customs of planets as different as Tatooine and Hoth, Dagobah and Kashyyyk• the rituals, secrets and techniques, and traditions of Jedi Knights and Sith Lords• a timeline of significant occasions in megastar Wars heritage, from the Clone Wars and the inception of the Empire to the increase and fall of Anakin Skywalker and the invasion of the titanic Yuuzhan VongScrupulously researched and written by way of major specialists Stephen J. Sansweet, Pablo Hidalgo, Bob Vitas, and Daniel Wallace, this landmark paintings is the must-have centerpiece of each superstar Wars library.
The so much exhaustive reference paintings to be had in this severe topic in global background, targeting the politics, financial system, tradition, and society of either colonizers and colonized.
• six hundred entries overlaying ideologies, religions, idea, geography, imperial international locations, colonies, colonized areas, ethnic teams, members, and treaties
• Contributions from a world crew of educational specialists in heritage, political technology, economics, sociology, and different social sciences
• a set of records representing each one imperial energy in addition to basic resources on the subject of a number of empires and components of the area to supply a deeper figuring out of the techniques of colonialism, which encompassed nearly the whole globe
• huge chronologies of assorted imperial empires (Austro-Hungarian, Belgian, British, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, jap, Ottoman, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and usa) offer context for the various entries
By Robert C. Evans, Patricia Gantt


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After starting in self-taught lo-fi bedroom pop production, Josie Moon made her commercial debut in late 2018 with shimmering indie pop EP ‘Rose Tinted’. The EP received high praise with a four star review from NZ Herald, reached #1 on the Czech Republic Pop Chart, and opened doors for Moon to play on the main stage of Rhythm & Vines 2018, as well as open for sold out shows with Tash Sultana, and Chelsea Jade.
A visual artist before she chased music, Moon’s visual presentation has become a key element in defining herself as a unique presence in pop music. Many of her songs cover the insecurity felt meeting romance for the first time and struggles with self love and respect. In an interview with NZ Herald about her struggles with her mental health, Moon criticised music industry higher ups for perpetuating the toxic image of a “tortured artist” and instead offered that “music should be part of the healing process… it should come from a positive place, or a place of growth.”
On her rapid growth as a song writer Moon details her process, “I used to write a lot about my friends and how they do things, but it was really important for me to start being a lot more sincere and blunt and honest with myself, because that’s what I value the most in other artists.”
Moon is currently working on her follow up EP due out late 2019, which is said to be her most personal and disarming release to date, and will draw from heavier hip hop and RnB influences.

domain: entertainment


text:
Sky Up announces flights to Madrid
Kiev-based low-cost airline Sky Up announces its new destination to Madrid from its main base of operations in Boryspil, the main airport in the capital of Ukraine, for October 18, 2021 with flights twice a week Mondays and Fridays.
The schedule is as follows:
- Boryspil from Kiev – Madrid PQ761 KBP 10:30 am – MAD 2:00 pm two weekly flights Monday and Friday with Boeing 737-800 Next Generation.
- Madrid – Kiev Boryspil PQ762 MAD 3:00 p.m. – KBP 8:15 p.m. two weekly flights Monday and Friday with Boeing 737-800 Next Generation.
The airline launched promotional fares of $ 20 from Kiev to Madrid and $ 31 from Madrid to Kiev.
In 2019, Spain was one of the most popular international destinations from Kiev-Boryspil, data obtained by Aviacionline via Aena Statistics, 496,521 passengers flew from the main airport in the Ukrainian capital to Spanish cities in 2019. The health situation due to the pandemic significantly affected air operations between the two nations. Until August 2021, only 10.59% of passenger traffic has recovered from pre-pandemic levels between Boryspil Airport and Spain.
Sky Up, with its new route between Kiev Boryspil and Madrid, will compete with a powerful low-cost airline, Ryanair, which currently operates between the two airports with three weekly flights.
Sky Up currently offers destinations in Spain from Barcelona, ââAlicante and Tenerife (TSF), which they took over last August.
Entry regulations for Spain
As of September 13, 2021, Ukrainian citizens can travel to Spain without the need to provide full vaccination schedules or negative test results for COVID-19. Travelers should participate in the following activities electronic application form (click here).
Sky Up invites its customers to consult the the current entry rules for Spain.

domain: travel


Birth Name: Wasalu Muhammad Jaco
Birth Place: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Years Active: 2000–present
Genres: Hip Hop
Wasalu Muhammad Jaco (born February 16, 1982), better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco, is an American rapper, producer and CEO of 1st and 15th Entertainment. He also performs as the frontman of Post Punk band Japanese Cartoon under his real name. Raised in Chicago, Fiasco developed an interest in hip-hop after initially disliking the genre for its use of vulgarity. He adopted the name Lupe Fiasco and began recording songs in his father's basement, and joined a group called Da Pak. The group disbanded shortly after its inception, and Fiasco soon met rapper Jay-Z who helped him sign a record deal with Atlantic Records. His debut album, “Food & Liquor,” was released in 2006. The a...
We'll Have Fun Fun Fun Til Lupe Fiasco Walks Off The Stage
Review: MMG 'Self Made, Vol. 3': As Money Pours In, Originality Drops A Smidgen
Lupe Fiasco Accused Of Hiding $9 Million For Drug Kingpin
Lana Del Rey Debuts 'Shades Of Cool' After Performing at Kimye's Wedding
Pharrell Denies Being A Vampire, Attributes Youthful Appearance To Personal Hygiene
Kendrick Lamar - Your Responses Are WHACK!
Rock The Globe: MMG's Self Made Vol. 3.


text:
Peppa Pig - Live! announced 6 new tour dates
Last modified: Tue 22nd Oct 2:22pm
Peppa Pig - Live! just announced six new UK tour dates. The run of gigs starts at Cliffs Pavilion in Southend-on-Sea on Sunday 21st June 2020 and finishes with a show at The Alban Arena in St. Albans on Thursday 22nd October 2020. There are also dates in Swansea, Watford, London and King's Lynn.
Peppa Pig - Live! last played a series of UK gigs very recently, finishing earlier this month.

domain: geography


To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Star Trek, and the release of the Star Trek 50th Anniversary TV and Movie Collection on Blu-ray on 5th September, we have taken a look back over the decades to see how this iconic franchise has inspired modern entertainment.
One of the most recognisable series in the history of television, Star Trek has certainly left its footprint on planet earth. The socio-political ramifications of the original series set a benchmark for the modern entertainment industry, and although it struggled to lift-off with viewers originally, it soon amassed an astronomical cult following.
The creators of Star trek embarked on a mission to the final frontier and launched television into a dimension that viewers had never before experienced. Light years ahead of its time, Star Trek was the first American live action series to feature an interracial kiss.
Nichelle Nicholas, who played Uhura – an African American woman working alongside the men (and aliens) – also made a huge impact in her own right. Her importance rippled through the entertainment world with the likes of Whoopi Goldberg citing Nichelle as her inspiration to become an actress. Nichelle was even approached by Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. who praised the importance of her role on television in the battle against racism and sexism.
At the time Star Trek first aired in 1966 the visual effects were superior to anything else depicted on TV and Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan is reputable for the first major use of computer graphics in a feature film. The graphics were created by the Lucasfilm Computer Division and Industrial Light & Magic, the original founder of animation studio Pixar.
Star Trek isn’t just a television series, or just a franchise. It has become a pervasive part of the identity of millions of people who watch, read, and consume the films, television episodes, network specials, novelisations, and fan fiction. Star Trek has spawned many parodies, inspired spin off characters and even infiltrated the music industry. The music video of Eminem’s song ‘We Made You’ released in 2009, features Eminem as Spock and Dr Dre as Kirk.
Star Trek does not stand in isolation, with over a dozen actors from various Star Trek series, including John Billingsley and Ronny Cox, having made guest appearances on one or the other of the Stargate series. Recent television shows have also capitalised on the popularity of the franchise by casting Star Trek actors and writing “Trek” mentions into scripts and storylines. The most famous example of this today is the role of Wil Wheaton in The Big Bang Theory. Wil, who portrayed Wesley Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation, appears as a dramatised version of himself in the immensely popular American sitcom, taunting the characters about his Star Trek history!
Outside of The Big Bang Theory Star Trek continues to prove itself an undying phenomenon and is constantly referenced on shows such as Futurama, The Simpsons, Family Guy, Beavis and Butthead and even children’s shows such as The Backyardigans and Veggie Tales. Revisit this franchise for the ages with the 50th Anniversary TV and Movie Collection on Blu-ray this September.


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text:
|Thus Spake The Creator
did the series start out?
Quote from RJ: The first
inspiration was the thought of what it was really like to
be tapped as the savior of mankind. In a lot of books
that have somebody who is the "chosen one" if
you will, it seems that the world quickly divides into
allies who are strongly behind the "chosen one"
and the evil guys. It seemed to me that if somebody is
chosen to be the savior, there is going to be a good bit
of resistance, both "Let this cup pass from me,"
and a lot of people who aren't going to be that happy to
have a savior show up, even if they are on his side
nominally. That established, I began to think about the
What I'm trying to do here is rather complex. The usual
thing is to either tell a sweeping story that is, in
effect, the history of a nation or a people, or to tell a
tighter story that is very much inside the heads of
individuals themselves. I am trying to do the stories of
individual people, a large number of them, at the same
time as I tell the story of a world. I want to give
readers an entire picture of this world-not just its
current history and situation, but its past as well.
That's hard to do at the same time we're so deeply
involved with individual characters. The complexity of
that combination is one of the reasons the darn thing has
gone on as long as it has.
Q: Hi.I Love your books and I was just wondering where
you got your ideas for the series. its like nothing ever
A: It all started with wondering what it was really like
to be tapped on the shoulder and told that you are the
savior of mankind. Ten years of thinking about that, and
I began writing.
Q: What was your inspiration for this series? Anything
A: For First Cause: I suppose the question of what it
would really be like to be tapped on the shoulder and
told that you were born to be the savior of mankind.
Beyond that, two or three hundred things.
Q: What was the primary driving force behind your
world building (other than making lots of money)?
A: The driving force was creating a world populated by
cultures that seemed real, but alien-- alien as in other.
Q: When did you first develop the idea for WOT? How
long have you been working on it before it was accepted
by a publisher?
A: The very first notion came to me nearly twenty years
ago; I spent ten or twelve years mulling it over, told my
then-publisher about it, and he offered me a contract.
Q: I'm sorry. How long after publishing The Eye of the
World did you recognize the extent of the popularity of
your book, and did you know at that time that the "World"
would grow to such a great proportion (i.e., that you'd
have written this many books)?
A: I never expected anything like this, and I really
don't know how long it took me to realize that the books
were very popular. It rather crept up on me.
Q: Did you think you were going to write only the
first book without sequels? If you wife is all the female
characters are you all the male ones?
A: No, I knew from the start that I was writing something
that would be multiple books. I just never knew how many,
exactly. The last question: Probably, God help me. Never
thought of it that way, though.
Q: How difficult is it to get a major publisher like
TOR to publish a novel, Mr. Jordan?
A: I forgot who asked this, but it wasn't difficult to
get Tor to publish my first novel. Tom Doherty liked what
I write. I've been writing for 20 years and I told him
that I had an idea for a multi-volume book I didn't
know how many books and probably any other publishers
would have thrown me out of his office but Tom said OK!
Q: You are an inspiration among fantasy writers. I am
wondering how you started on this massive undertaking?
A: Well, I wrote! I had some ideas and I wrote them! I
don't know how else to say it.
Q: With the scope of this work, it must have been on
your mind for a long time. When did you first concieve
the story and how many years after that was the first
A: I had the first notions for this book, I guess it was
1975 or 76. For these books I should say but there were a
lot of things to think out, a lot of changes I went
through for instance the character of Rand and Tam were
originally one. I spent about ten years noodling the
story around in the back of my head before I ever put
words on paper but that's rather typical for me. My books
have a fairly long gestation period.
Q: How long did it take you to plan the Wheel of Time
A: A very long time. Almost ten years of thinking about
it before I began writing. And then four years to write
"The Eye of the World." Then roughly 14 months
each for the next five books, and about 20 or 21 months
for "A Crown of Swords." You see, I have the
world planned out, but quite often details are a work in
Mr. Jordan, I'm a dedicated fan of your series who's
bought all of the books in hardback, and first I'd like
to thank you for bringing such a wonderful world to life
for us. It seems to me that your work is something
relatively new in fantasy -- you're exploring a situation
where there is no known quest or goal to be fulfilled in
order for victory to be assured. Instead it seems more
like the real world: uncertain, with the heroes fighting
a war without knowledge of the "victory conditions."
Would you care to comment?
wanted to write a fantasy that reflected the real world,
with characters who reflected real people -- not specific
people, but characters who were real people. And there
are things about the real world that I wanted, such as
that people who end up heroes very rarely set out to be
heroes, and heroic journeys consist mainly of sleeping
rough and going hungry, wondering how you are going to
pay for the next meal and wonder exactly what it is you
are supposed to do and how are you going to get out of it
When you first started writing the Wheel of Time, did you
have a set plan for the whole series, or were there some
things you just thought up as you stumbled upon them in
knew the beginning, that is, the opening scenes; I knew
the final scene of the final book; I knew the very
general line that I wanted the story to take from the
beginning to the end. And I knew a number of major
occurrences that I wanted to take place and a number of
relationships that I wanted to develop. I left open how I
would get from one major occurrence to the next to allow
for fluidity in writing. I did not want to set anything
in stone. Sorry for the pun, but that does lead to
Mr. Jordan, I first wanted to say thank you for such a
great series. My question is how long has this story and
or series been running around in your head, and do you
feel you have the ending picked out?
started thinking about what would turn into the Wheel of
Time more than 15 years ago, and the first thing that I
thought of that was really solid was the last scene of
the last book. I could have written that 15 years ago,
and if I had, it would differ from what I would write
today only in the words. What happens would be exactly
the same. So, I've known where I'm going from the start.
How far in advance did you plan the later novels like
LORD OF CHAOS and A CROWN OF SWORDS? Did you know the
series would be this long when you started?
did not know the series would be this long in the
beginning. When I first went to my publisher, I told him,
I know the beginning, and I know the ending, and I know
what I want to happen in-between, but I'm not sure I know
how long it will take me to get from the beginning to the
end. Now, don't laugh, but I said to him, "It's
going to be at least three or four books, and it might be
as many as five or six."
Q: Do you remember when you conceived _The Wheel of
A: The first thought that came to me was what would it be
like, what would it really be like, to be tapped on the
shoulder and told you were born to be the saviour of
mankind. And I then very quickly thought, what would
happen if the saviour of mankind really showed up and he
was really there to save the world from impending doom,
what would the real response of the world be? And after
ten or twelve years of knocking around in my head,
because I always give my books a long lead time, that
turned into _The Wheel of Time_.
Q: To the books
then. The Wheel of Time is a fantasy series epic in size
and scale. How did it all begin - and what was your
inspiration for it?
A: It's really hard to
say. There's all sorts of things that come about before
you start writing a series. You don't have "an idea"
that becomes a short story, or a book. A short story is
maybe hundreds of ideas that have come together, a novel
is thousands of ideas that have come together. But The
Wheel of Time - I was thinking at one point about what
it'd really be like to be tapped on the shoulder and told
"You were born to be the saviour of mankind. And oh
yes - you're probably going to die in the end and no, you
can't resign - it's your job, you're stuck with it".
Then I had been
thinking about the source of myths, the source of legends.
About whether some of them might not have been
personifications of natural events, the way we say some
of them are supposed to be. What if some of them were
things that people had done, and had simply been told and
told until it became a myth and legend?
At the same time, I
was thinking about the degradation of information over
distance. The further you are from an event in either
space or time, the less reliable your knowledge of the
event. Information inevitably degrades over distance,
whether it's spatial or temporal.
I was thinking about
lots of other things too, and it began to coalesce. It
was the beginnings of what would become the Wheel of Time.
I let it mull over for four or five years, then I thought
I was ready to sit down and write. But it took four years
to write the Wheel of Time because I discovered there
were a lot of other things I had to think and sort out.
Q: Was the storyline for "New Spring" one
that was created at the same time as the rest of the WoT
plot, or did you come up with it specifically for the
A: The basis was notes that I had made for myself on
backstory, things that I had never intended to put into
the books themselves, but that I needed to know to write
the books: such as where did Moridian and Lan meet, and
where did they come from.
Q: First off, I absolutely love the WOT series! What I
wanted to know was when your originally started writing
this series what type of research, if any, did you do to
create the world and storyline you have created?
A: I started writing the Eye of the World in about 1985,
I guess it was. 85 or 86. It took me four years, and I
had been thinking about the things that would lead into
the world of the wheel of Time about ten years before I
started writing ANYTHING.
Q: How did you develop the idea for the Wheel of Time
saga, and where did you get the name?
A: The name comes out of Hindu mythology, where there is
a belief that time is a wheel. Many older cultures
believe that time is cyclic, that it repeats. In fact, I
believe the best thing the ancient Greeks gave us was (the
idea) that time was linear and change was possible.
Q: who was the first character you came up with when
you were going to write the wheeloftime was it Rand?
A: i can' t really say who the first character was that i
came up with. i was thinking of a number of types of
people and how they would work together. and they
coalesced into certain characters.
Q: And all the rest of the story develooped while you
wrote it? Wow Amazing and what an imagination! Hmm I
think Im jealous
A: it was really only the details that have developed as
i write the story. The major part of it was there in my
head before I began writing TEOTW.
Q: maybe this is a stupid question too: but you told
us that when you had your first thoughts about wheel of
time tham and rand altor where the same person. Now i
have a question about nynaeve. when you first thought
about her was she the same person as she is now (did you
already thought about her tugging het braid???)
A: nynaeve in the beginning was actually going to be the
loveinterest for rand'tam but she was the same kind of
woman - quickly temperamental and not suffering fools
Q: how come the first character you came up with isnt a
30 yr old rand anymore? when did this change?
A: the 1st char I came up was not a 30 yr old rand, it
was that the 1st version of rand was a 30 yr old man. I
changed that because i wanted the character of rand to
find everything beyond his village to be strange and new.
Reports from signings
The reason RJ chose to write fantasy was its
opportunities to build cultures and experiment with them,
in a way and with a freedom to comment that is
unacheivable with a "realistic", domestically
based world. The story of TWoT evolved during a very long
period, in part beginning in the middle of the seventies
with the idea of the Breaking of the World, before he
found the "final scene in the final book" and
began to actually write TEotW.
Jordan says that the idea for WoT came to him about 10
years before he began writing. "What would it feel
like to be tapped on the shoulder and told, 'Hey, you're
the savior of the world?'" He began writing The
Eye of the World four years before it was published (and
I say that it shows).
Rand and Tam alThor originally started out as
He is a man in his 30s from Emonds Field in the
(Earlier, when his story starts) There isnt
much for a kid from a small village out wherever to do
that does not involve backbreaking work. At about 15, he
runs away to become a soldier (yes, a field that does
involve backbreaking labor). After 20 years or so as a
soldier, Rand/Tam wants to go home, but when he does, he
realizes hes no longer the boy that left that
little village. And prophecy is on his heels.
Maybe something of the sort will be done in a future
He also talked about how the early stages of the story
evolved, about Rand starting out as Tam, coming back to
Emond's Field (although it wasn't Emond's Field yet back
then) after 20 years, realizing he'd outgrown it. And
then prophecy tapping him on shoulder with the message
that he was fated to save the world, and oh yeah, he'd
die in the process. He went for Rand instead, because he
wanted an innocent character, a character who could
realize how little he knew, and thus could grow a lot
Talking about why the Tam/Rand main character becamse
A: ...see this world for the first time, so that at the
same time as the reader is seeing something for the first
time, so are these people from this small town.
Raina's Hold / Thus Spake the Creator - Index

domain: literature


In the fuel economy thread, someone brought up a Startech SD6 kit for our diesel. Below is the quote from the following website:
(click under Programs, and then Grand Cherokee WH (is the H the European model?)
"Equipped with the new STARTECH SD6 tuning kit the V6 diesel produces a maximum power output of 262 hp / 193 kW compared to 218 hp / 160 kW for the non-tuned version. At the same time peak torque grows from 510 Nm to 580 Nm between 1,600 and 2,800 rpm. The STARTECH SD6 performance kit consists of an auxiliary computer control unit that can be installed in less than 30 minutes by any authorized Chrysler dealer, thanks to the included wire harness and installation instructions. With STARTECH SD6 tuning performance of the SUV improves noticeably: The sprint to 100 km/h (62 mph) is shortened from 9.2 seconds for the production car to 8.5 seconds for the STARTECH-tuned version. Top speed increases to 210 km/h (130 mph). "
From their email and the metric numbers above, this is obviously a European product. Does anyone know if we can get this from our dealers here in the US? I would love this upgrade if it was dealer supported and won't affect warranty. Obviously, fuel economy would likely suffer a bit, but if you weren't pushing it during everyday driving, maybe this wouldn't hurt too much. It surely would be nice to have even more power, torque, and acceleration when needed. Thoughts?


text:
These days of electoral campaign in Spain, as usual, water is among the current issues. Recently, a controversial proposal by the conservative parties of the Andalusian Parliament aims to re-grant the status of agricultural land to certain land in the vicinity of the Doñana National Park (Huelva, Spain). Doñana suffers a long social conflict triggered by several decisions adopted to protect this singular place. As we will see, this is a clear example of the political use of the tension generated by environmental protection and socio-economic interests, especially in times of elections.
Doñana: A unique space of high environmental value
The Doñana National Park is a World Heritage Site. As a Biosphere Reserve, it is included in the Ramsar Convention and belongs to the Natura 2000. Its uniqueness is due to its variety of ecosystems and biodiversity. The marshes are a place of passage, breeding and wintering for thousands of European and African birds. Unique and endangered species live in the lagoons: native plants, amphibians and Galapagos, the imperial eagle and the Iberian lynx. Its beaches, mobile dunes, the mountain with junipers, cork oaks and pine forests, called „cotos“ and the marsh, which is characterized by its changing appearance, give rise to a great diversity of landscapes, with numerous lagoons scattered among the vegetation.
However, the pressures that this Protected Natural Area has been enduring are very important and make it a very vulnerable place. Scientific studies on this space show the deterioration it has suffered for several decades. The CSIC reveals that more than half of the 3,000 lagoons in Doñana have disappeared and that only 10% are in good condition. This situation is not going to improve because, although drought is recurrent in Mediterranean areas, reality is showing that the current extreme drought will tend to generalize.
The origin of the social conflict in Doñana dates back to the 1980s. The high profitability of the intensive red fruit farming in the surroundings of this ark made the greenhouses grow larger and larger, increasing the pressure on the aquifers for irrigation. In 2003, the Socialist Government of Andalusia approved a Land Management Plan for the Doñana Area (POTAD) to curb the overexploitation that was beginning to considerably damage the lagoons. This plan was developed in 2014 (ten years later!) by the Special Plan for Northern Irrigation Zones of the Doñana Forest Crown (PEOCFD). It made a zoning of its territorial scope based on the values of the territory to be protected (zones A, B, C), transforming agricultural land into forest and prohibiting its cultivation. The aim was to make the agricultural and tourist development of these areas compatible with the protection of the exceptional natural values of Doñana and the rational use of water. In this way, the extraction of water from the subsoil would be controlled and intensive exploitations need to be authorized. The Special Plan retroactively affected some 650 farms with roughly 1,600 cultivated hectares, the majority of which were family farms returning to forestry. According to data from the controversial legislative initiative, the economic impact exceeded 100 million euros (p. 26).
Obviously, this Plan was highly controversial: more than 3,000 allegations were presented during its processing, it was submitted to public information up to three times, more than 160 judicial appeals were presented… The farmers who felt their rights had been violated have not stopped to try to recover their situation prior to the Special Plan and claim it individually or as groups in the County Farmers Association (AACO) and in the Platform in Defense of County Irrigation (the Platform brings together different social agents, more than 1,500 farmers, municipalities and associations).
Ultimately, this 2014 Special Plan is the one that will be modified with the proposed Law presented by the Popular de Andalucía and Vox parliamentary groups in the Andalusian Parliament on March 9, 2023.
The blade of confrontation: the Andalusian Law Proposal
Framing it in terms of “social and material justice” (pp. 23 and 33), the Law proposal aims to solve the „legal problem“ in which the farmers affected by the Special Plan of 2014 find themselves. According to the initiative, this plan „did not respond to the entire population and caused an effect contrary to that intended“ (p. 20). In addition, its execution was frustrated due to lack of budget to comply with (p. 25). According to the normative text, the proposed modifications will not put more pressure on water resources because it is a territorial planning plan that classifies the land in protection zones B and C as „irrigable land with surface water“ (SARAS). However, and this is very important, it does not automatically confer the right to use surface water (pp. 28 and 29). Indeed, in Spain, the rights to use the water are granted by a different administration, in this case, the Guadalquivir Hydrographic Confederation, which depends organically on the National Government. The waters with which these reclassified agricultural lands can again be irrigated will come from a new transfer from the Tinto, Odiel and Piedras rivers. Paradoxically, this infrastructure has not yet been built (pp. 31 and 32). As if these delays were not enough, converting these lands back into agricultural land will not be immediate. Each one will be studied on a case-by-case basis by the Plan Monitoring Office (First Additional Provision). But this Office has not yet been created, which will mean further delays.
This is the „trap“ of the controversial legislative proposal, which has agitated even the European Commission. Without the water right to irrigate the land – which the bill cannot grant because it is not an autonomous competence – it does not matter if the plots are once again considered irrigated or not. This has been stated by jurisprudence of the TSJ of Andalusia and the TS over the last few years. In the face of affected farmers, the Andalusian government has done everything in its power. But it leaves what is decisive so that farmers can irrigate their lands on the roof of another Administration. This aggravates the existing social conflict again.
Consequently, this Andalusian proposition does not really solve the underlying problem. It may actually have a pernicious effect, if it is finally approved: it will encourage land holders to claim water for irrigation at a bad time, in the worst drought of the last decades. This will further punish the delicate situation of the aquifers around Doñana.
Could the central government intervene?
Huelva is a very sensitive area on the Andalusian political map, so it is difficult not to connect the legislative initiative described with the Spanish electoral reality. Local and regional elections will be held in May 2023. At the end of the year, there will be the general elections. Perhaps for this reason it is being dealt with under the urgent procedure, and presumably it could be approved in July.
If the bill is finally approved, the central government may appeal it to the Constitutional Court. You may also request the precautionary suspension of its effects. This requires the support of fifty deputies, which Pedro Sánchez will not find difficult to obtain. However, it remains to be seen how this controversial legislative initiative will go. Recently, the Andalusian President, Juan Manuel Moreno, has stated that he is willing to hold meetings with the central government to seek „imaginative alternatives“ to regularize irrigation in the Doñana National Park. It has been proposed to exchange land outside the Park for affected irrigators so that they can continue with their agricultural activity. We will also have to see what happens after the May elections. Perhaps the parliamentary groups will withdraw the rule before concluding the parliamentary process.
As Doñana shows, climate change and social conflicts are intrinsically linked and increasingly the topic of electoral debate. The recent Dutch elections, which a conservative farmers party won surprisingly, is just another evidence of the possible evolution of this problem.


Slovakian company DEEP has modified Apple’s iPhone 12 Pro Max by modify the lightning port for a USB-C port. Apple has long resisted changing the proprietary lightning port for USB-C but the European Commission wants to make USB-C ports mandatory and this may force Apple into making the change.
DEEP not only incorporated a USB-C port but provided a walk-through video that details all the steps taken to transform the iPhone 12 Max Pro into a USB-C-capable device.
The modification process starts with opening the iPhone 12 Pro Max and removing the Lightning port flex cable assembly. The required measurements are then taken so that the USB-C connector and the housing can be properly placed.
Interestingly, when the Gasket is removed from the Lightning hole, it leaves an absolutely perfect USB-C hole, highlighting that Apple doesn’t need to make any modification to housing in this area. As the video points out, whether this is a coincidence or not, is open to conjecture.
A flex cable designed with the USB-C port and implementing an original Apple Mfi chip was then soldered into the flex assembly and installed back to the iPhone 12 Pro Max. This was produced using a 3D printer.
The USBC- connector is sealed but it is unclear whether the water resistance rating of the original iPhone 12 Pro Max is maintained after the modification, or indeed it has any water resistance.
Once the new USB-C iPhone 12 Pro Max is put back together, charging the device is successfully tested with several different cables. Not only does it charge but the modified smartphone works with iTunes and the phone’s internal storage connects seamlessly with a Mac.
The USB-C iPhone 12 Pro Max is now up for auction on eBay, which runs from February 24 until March 6 at 3.00 am Eastern Time.


text:
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... that first to start off slowly. After going around the lazy river once, we got off and went on these "racer" slides that you went down face first and had a little sled (nothing steep, so my mom did it twice and had a blast!). After that, I decided to go on the steep slides - one was a steep drop and then had a loop-de-loop and was enclosed (blue slide), while the other one was a straight drop (red slide)! I did the blue slide twice before I tried the red one! Both were fun, but ...
... for their farmland and were growing huge windmills along with their corn!
We stopped for dinner at a Perkins where we decided instead of going all the way to South Dakota, we would stop in Luverne for the night. Mom was a bit road weary and ready for a stretch and a good night's sleep.
Our total mileage for today was 386 miles. Tomorrow we're heading for the Western side of South Dakota! We'll see if we get there!
... The Black Anaconda (water coaster) had broken down a bit before the family got there so that remains on the "next round" list if we ever come back. The humans reported taking in a number of water rides before getting some munchies. They took in the 4D Dive In experience then headed back to the rides. Sarah and Dad's favorite was The Scorpion. Paul's favorite was the The Big Kahuna (the wave pool) and Mom's favorite was The Stingray.
... br> in the morning. Since I'm typing this we can assume we did but we
need to get that looked at in case there's a leak.
We drove from the campground and saw an
Outlet Mall so thought we'd stop for an hour since it was almost
lunchtime. Four hours later we surfaced. Time seemed to be on a
different dimension or at least it sucked a few hours that we didn't
realise. But there ...
... Minneapolis area.
The first lock and dam I saw was near the town of Alma. Eventually I had to head east from the river near
Onalaska and took I90 towards the Wisconsin River Dells.
I first visited the Wisconsin Dells when I was about 4 or5. I think it was 1954 or 1955 when my parents
took us along with my mom’s parents. I
only know I was there because of some slides my father took on the
vacation. He ...


text:
The rain Gods were not kind enough this Rabi season, and according to the Meteorological Department, they are unlikely to be very generous in the coming monsoon months. The agricultural distress looks certain to snowball into a major socio-economic crisis for the government.
First, the unseasonal rains during the month of March created havoc in Indian agriculture sector. The unexpectedly widespread precipitation took place just when the Rabi crop was ready for harvesting. Lakhs of acres of standing crop have been damaged across northern and south central India.
The normal average rainfall in India during March and the middle of April stands at 47.8 mm. This year, it nearly doubled at 100mm.
The eastern states of Bihar and Jharkhand witnessed excessive rainfall to the extent of 400% and 900% respectively till the second week of April. While the home minister Rajnath Singh was quick to personally assess the damage along with Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, other states too have borne the brunt of nature’s unanticipated fury. Other northern states to witness above normal, heavy rainfall were Uttar Pradesh (488%), Haryana (500%), Delhi (521%) and Rajasthan (1037%). The crop damage due to rains could be more in these North and North-western states as they are the top producers of Rabi crops such as wheat, mustard and chana. Few states of Central and western part of India like Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra were seen a depreciation in rainfall of 721%, 642% and 572% respectively. Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are the states which witnessed the excess than normal rainfall in the Southern peninsula region with excess rainfall of 218%, 337% and 121% respectively.
During the period under review, out of 36 meteorological sub-division, 30 sub-division received excess rainfall. About 18 sub-divisions in North West and Central India received excess rainfall where most of the Rabi crops such as wheat, mustard, chana, and barley are grown.
According to preliminary estimates released by Ministry of Agriculture, 107 lakh hectares have been damaged. After consultation with various state governments, these figures were revised to 80 lakh hectares. This damage will have a telling effect on India’s food basket. Large part of India’s consumed commodity i.e., wheat is grown in this season. Besides, many of the oilseeds and pulses are also grown in this season. You can imagine the supply side problems created by the output fall of these crops.
The impact of this effect was already seen in the market in terms of a spurt in prices of various products within a short span of time. During the period from March 1, 2015 to 15 April 2015, 30 meteorological sub-divisions received excess rainfall, which contributes 85% of the agricultural area.
The government, while offering compensation to those affected by natural events, must find a way to tackle the wider farm distress. In the aftermath of the flash rains, the government has announced new measures such as easing the eligibility norms and raising the compensation amount. As per the new guidelines, farmers whose crop damage to the extent of 33% are eligible for compensation against earlier rule of 50%. The amount of compensation was also increased from Rs. 3600 to Rs. 5400 per acre. Over and above the central government assistance, all the state governments are chipping in.
The additional fiscal burden on the government’s finances on account of this relief package comes to around Rs 11,000 crore.
Even though both central and state governments extend their support to the farming community, these measures may not protect the interest of the consumers. The production shortfall would directly impact the consumers, which will ultimately to lead to greater inflation. In order to keep the wholesale price of these products, government needs to bring in stringent measures like imposing stock limits, allowing duty free imports, and curbing of exports. Whenever the country faced food shortage, the central government sourced grains from the international market and we would expect same kind of measures during current season. However, these decisions will be taken by the government only after assessing the exact amount of crop damage.
The Way Forward
Since the Indian agriculture is largely based on rainfall for its water requirement and weather vagaries like recent unseasonal rainfall will impact to the large extent on overall situation. In order to overcome this kind of situation there is requirement for an alternate kind of agriculture in India.
During such times, the need for crop insurance arises. Though the Indian citizens are well aware of various kinds of insurance products like life and general, the Indian government has also made a provision for crop insurance in order to protect the interest of farmers during the period of natural disasters. However, the awareness about crop insurance among farming community is very limited. Hence, the role of government through various state agricultural universities and crop insurance agency has to create awareness about this product. As per statistical figures, crop insurance coverage is low in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Western Uttar Pradesh and all these states together contribute a major portion to India’s food basket. Any weather aberration during crop harvesting stage in these states will disturb India’s food chain. Further, banks, who are lending agriculture loans are also not considering crop insurance mandatory norms. Hence, there is need for legalizing of crop insurance to protect the interest of the farmers.
Further, the land holdings in India are fragmented and distribution in small pieces, hence, there is requirement for cooperative farming where group of farmers put their hands together to grow particular type of crop instead of distributing small piece of land for various crops. The central and state governments should come forward for encouraging cooperative farming.
If the above mentioned measures are not considered seriously, India has to rely on imports for meeting its growing population.

domain: agronomy


text:
Remortgaging your home can be a good financial move for many property owners but that doesn’t mean it is right for everyone. People who already have a great mortgage deal or who own less than 25% of the property might not be able to find a competitive deal in the remortgage market.
Borrowers with bad credit or very small mortgages might also find that the process of applying and paying for a remortgage is not worth the effort or the money. No matter what your personal circumstances are when it comes to your mortgage you should always do your research and carefully consider whether a remortgage is the right option for you. The best approach when you’re thinking about remortgaging is speaking to a professional adviser at Finance Advice Centre. Our team has extensive experience in remortgaging and will explore all options to find the most suitable to your circumstances.
The pros and cons of remortgaging
Some of the pros of remortgaging your home include:
- Having the ability to borrow at a lower interest rate
- Making use of your home’s equity to free up some additional money if you need it
- The opportunity to switch to a deal that is more suited to your current financial situation if things have changed since you took out your first mortgage
- You will have more flexibility to consolidate your debts into a single, affordable monthly payment
There are some drawbacks to getting a remortgage as well which include:
- Stretching out your debts across a longer period of time will increase the overall cost
- If your home is used as collateral it can be repossessed if you cannot keep up with the payments
- There are fees to pay when you remortgage, which might counter any benefits you may receive from negotiating a lower rate on your loan
- The process of remortgaging can take a number of weeks to complete, so you need to fully commit to the remortgage to see it through to the end
What happens when you remortgage your home?
If you do decide to remortgage it is generally worth the time and effort to secure a better deal on your loan. The process can also go more smoothly if you know what to expect. Below are a few steps to applying for a mortgage, but keep in mind thes
e steps may change slightly based on your specific situation and the requirements of your lender.
1) Do your calculations
When you have got the nuts and bolts in place in terms of rates, monthly payments, and fees, you can work out the calculations to see if remortgaging is worth the time, effort, and expense. You should determine how long it will take you to start seeing the advantages once you have paid the fees and charges to move your account. If the deal works out to be worthwhile for you, you should pursue it with your chosen lender. These calculations are not always simple to do by yourself. To ensure complete accuracy you should speak to a specialist adviser at Finance Advice Centre who can help you work out the best way to remortgage your property that suits your personal financial situation.
2) Complete your application
Your mortgage application can be done online, over the phone or in person at a bank branch. You will likely need to show documentation regarding your current loan, income amount, and other monthly expenses. Also, you will need to authorise the bank or building society to do a credit history check to ensure that you don’t have any late payments or IVAs on your record. A valuation will then be done on your property to make sure you have enough equity to qualify for the mortgage loan. As soon as the bank has all the
documentation and paperwork it needs the approval and underwriting process can get underway. Providing the right documentation is extremely important and it would be beneficial to speak to a member of our team first to be sure you have everything you need to show to give yourself the best chance of having your application accepted.
3) Processing the application
The majority of remortgages with a new lender can be processed within four to eight weeks. During this time, you might or might not be in regular contact with your new lender. If you don’t hear from the bank, it can be a good idea to call them weekly to see where they are in your mortgage loan process. This will give you the opportunity to address any concerns or problems straight away, so the process continues as quickly and smoothly as possible.
4) Approval and closing your loan
Once your remortgage application has been approved you will be able to close your loan. This will involve signing multiple documents and is mostly done in person. When the loan is completely signed off and your previous lender is paid off you can start enjoying the savings that your remortgage efforts provide.
Can you remortgage if you have bad credit?
A remortgage typically occurs to reduce payments, raise money, or consolidate debt. A lot of people who
are looking to raise extra money or consolidate a loan may have some financial strain. Bad credit does not necessarily mean you can’t remortgage to find relief of your debt or raise the money you need. If you are a homeowner with equity built into your property then a remortgage is possible even if you have bad credit.
What types of remortgage products are available?
When you decide to remortgage it can be overwhelming to choose from the many types of mortgages available on the market. It is beneficial to take the time to research and learn about the different products, so you are prepared to voice your preferences when you speak to a bank or mortgage broker.
Fixed rate mortgage
As the name implies a fixed rate mortgage offers a set rate of interest and a consistent monthly payment throughout the life of the loan. Most fixed rate mortgages come in 2, 5, or 10-year terms. At the end of the fixed rate term, the mortgage automatically reverts to a standard variable rate product, unless the borrower remortgages to a different type of loan at that time.
Standard Variable Rate (SVR) mortgage
The SVR mortgage is the most common type of mortgage product in the UK. Even though a lot of banks charge around two points higher than the Bank of England base rate, the actual rates between banks can vary widely.
Tracker rate mortgage
These mortgages work in a similar way to the SVR mortgage but the rates are directly linked to the Bank of England base rate. When the base rate goes up or down your mortgage will adjust accordingly. This product is growing in popularity with both lenders and borrowers.
For more information about remortgaging get in touch with our team at Finance Advice Centre. Our specialist advisers can answer any questions or queries you may have and help to find the best possible deal for your personal circumstances.
As a mortgage is secured against your property, it may be repossessed if you do not keep up the mortgage repayments. Think carefully before securing other debts against your home.

domain: finance


text:
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
It's a film filled with humor, charm, excitement and so many memorable images that many viewers will find themselves struggling to keep from blinking so…
* This filmography is not intended to be a comprehensive list of this artist’s work. Instead it reflects the films this person has been involved with that have been reviewed on this site.
FFC Seongyong Cho on Paul Weitz's "Grandma."
Marie writes: There's a glorified duck pond at the center of the complex where I live. And since moving in, my apartment has been an object of enduring fascination for Canadian geese - who arrive each Spring like a squadron of jet fighters returning from a mission in France, to run a sweeping aerial recon my little garden aka: playhouse for birds... (click to enlarge)
Ebert's Best Film Lists1967 - present

domain: artistic


WIRELESS MAGNETOMETER VEHICLE DETECTION SYSTEM
This special specification sets forth the minimum requirements for a wireless magnetometer vehicle detection system (WMVDS) that detects vehicles on a roadway via changes to the earth’s magnetic field. When a change is detected the WMVDS provides contact closure to a traffic controller or similar device.
1.1 The WMVDS shall consist of the following components: In-pavement sensors, all wireless communication equipment needed to establish communication links to the controller cabinet, interface modules compatible with NEMA TS-2 cabinet detector rack, surge protection for the WMVDS and system software for set-up and monitoring of the WMVDS.
1.2 Supplier or manufacturer must provide all system software and materials necessary for installation and maintenance of the WMVDS. Supplier must provide documentation for the use of software, installation instructions, and maintenance of the system.
1.4.1 3-Axis Magnetometer: Instrument used for measuring the magnitude and direction of the earth’s magnetic field. Device used to detect changes in the earths magnetic field within the vicinity of the instrument. The 3-axis magnetometer measures the height, width and length of the magnetic field around the instrument referenced as the X, Y, and Z axis.
1.4.2 Interface Module: Module used to plug into the detector rack of a NEMA TS-2 traffic controller cabinet. Provides contact closure to the assigned detector channel when vehicle detection is achieved by the in-pavement sensor.
1.4.3 Wireless Communications Link: Data communications channel connecting to nodes of a communications link using a radio frequency (RF) to connect the nodes. Wireless links to connect nodes such as: access point to the sensor and/ or access point to repeater.
1.4.4 Access Point: Wireless communications device used as the connecting node to establish a data communications link from the sensor to the interface module.
1.4.5 Repeater: Wireless node used to receive/transmit data with the access point. Repeater is typically located near the sensor and may be used in tandem with another repeater for longer distances or to communicate around obstructions.
1.4.6 In-pavement Sensor: Device placed in the roadway and used to detect a change in the earth’s magnetic field when a vehicle passes over its measured area of influence. In-pavement sensor houses the 3-axis magnetometer used to sense the change in the earth’s magnetic field. Sensor acts as a data communications device to an access point to transmit contact closure when detection is achieved by the 3-axis magnetometer. In pavement sensors may also be referred to as pods in this specification.
1.4.7 System software: Computer software used for set-up and monitoring of the WVMDS. Software allows the user to assign sensors to detector channels and to select sensitivity levels needed for the application.
1.4.8 Detection zone: Area of measured magnetic lines of flux by the in-pavement sensor.
1.4.9 Presence Detection: The ability of a vehicle detector to sense that a vehicle, whether moving or stopped, has appeared in its zone of detection.
1.4.10 Passage Detection: The ability of a vehicle detector to detect the passage of a vehicle moving through its zone of detection and to ignore the presence of a vehicle stopped within its zone of detection.
1.4.11 Detection Accuracy: The measure of the basic operation of a detection system (shows detection when a vehicle is in the detection zone and shows no detection when there is not a vehicle in the detection zone).
1.4.12 Delay Timing: When selected, applies delayed contact closure to the associated detector channel input. When a vehicle is detected by the WMVDS, the delay timing must time out before contact closure can occur to the detector channel.
1.4.13 Extension Timing: When selected, applies additional contact closure to the associated detector channel input. When a vehicle is no longer detected within a detection zone, extension timing must time out before contact closure is removed from the associated detector channel.
1.4.14 Hysteresis: The lagging of an effect behind its cause; especially the phenomenon in which the magnetic induction of a ferromagnetic material lags behind the changing magnetic field.
70.2 FUNCTIONAL ACCEPTANCE
2.1 Only materialsapproved by the City of Chesapeake, Traffic Engineering Section will be accepted.
70.3 FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES
3.1 The WMVDS must be capable of detecting a variety of vehicle types including motorcycles, automobiles, and large trucks. The system must allow the user to select sensitivity levels that adjust the amount of hysteresis to the magnetic field needed to achieve contact closure to the assigned detector channel. Magnetometer sensitivity level adjustments must allow for different levels of vehicle detection. Sensitivity level settings to the magnetometer must be accomplished using WMVDS software via wireless communication.
3.2 The WMVDS must be able to perform presence or passage detection as described in this specification.
3.3 The WMVDS must be able to perform delay and extension timing as described in this specification.
3.4 Equipment failure such as: the sensor, communications link, access point radio, repeater radio (if used) or interface module, shall result in constant vehicle call “fault state” on the affected detector channel to the traffic controller.
70.4 DETECTION PERFORMANCE
4.1 Detection accuracy must be comparable to properly operating inductive loops. Detection accuracy shall include the WMVDS ability to detect the presence of any vehicle within the sensors magnetic field and to communicate contact closure to the appropriate detector channel. If the WMVDS “false detects”, (system applies contact closure when a vehicle is not present in the sensors magnetic field), this will count against the accuracy measured during performance testing. A minimum of 97% detection accuracy must be achieved by the WMVDS when measured in a 24 hour period.
4.2 The WMVDS shall provide real-time vehicle detection (within 150 milliseconds (ms) of vehicle arrival). Once detection is achieved by the sensor, the traffic controller must receive contact closure to the assigned detector channel within the 150 ms time frame.
70.5 IN-PAVEMENT SENSOR
5.1 The in-pavement sensor unit must be designed to operate reliably in adverse weather conditions and rated to operate from -40° F to +176° F.
5.2 In-pavement sensors must be capable of presence detection as defined in this specification. The in-pavement sensors as a minimum must create a 6 foot length x 6 foot width accurate area of detection when used for presence detection at an intersection.
5.3 In-pavement sensors must be capable of passage detection as defined in this specification. The in-pavement sensors as a minimum must create a 6 foot length x 4 foot width accurate area of detection when the sensors are set back from the intersection for passage detection on an arterial.
5.4 In-pavement sensors as a minimum must use a 3-axis magnetometer in the design and operation of the unit. The sensor must monitor the earth’s magnetic field throughout the course of the day and establish a baseline reference value for the X, Y, and Z axis. As a minimum the refresh rate on the magnetometer’s processor will be 64 HZ and reference the earth’s magnetic field every 3 minutes updating the baseline value for vehicle detection. The sensor must be able to detect a change in the magnetic field as referenced to the sensitivity setting selected by the user and the size of the vehicle passing over its detection zone.
5.5 The in-pavement sensor must operate on batteries without the need for underground power or communication cable connections to the unit.
5.6 The average operating life span of the sensor under battery power must be a minimum of 10 years.
70.6 DETECTOR INTERFACE MODULE OR MAGNETOMETER (POD) CONTROLLER UNIT
6.1 One or two access points must communicate to an interface module plugged into the detector rack or use shelf mounted pod controller with a RS485 and 2.4 GHZ communication interface. The interface module or the pod controller will provide detector contact closure date to the traffic controller. The pod controller will use a NEMA TS-2 SDLC connector addressable from the traffic controller.
6.2 The operating temperature range of the interface module or pod controller, as a minimum must be -30° F to +165° F.
6.3 The interface module shall be designed to operate in a NEMA TS-2 detector rack. The interface module must be capable of operating on 12V or 24V DC (detector racks may be wired for 12V or 24V DC).
6.4 The pod controller must be designed to interface with the RS485 communications in a NEMA TS-2 cabinet and be addressable with the traffic controller using a SDLC connection point in the cabinet. The pod controller must communicate contact closure to an assigned detector channel in the traffic controller when vehicle detection is achieved by a magnetometer. As a minimum the pod controller must be able to collect and transmit contact closure data from 64 HZ in pavement sensors to assigned vehicle detector channels in the traffic controller.
6.5 The interface module must provide 2 or 4 detector channels. Sensors must be assignable to the available detector channels on the interface module using software provided with the WMVDS.
6.6 The front face of the module shall identify detector channel 1 and detector channel 2. Each must use an LED to indicate contact closure on the channel. When vehicle detection is achieved, the LED will be on and contact closure applied to the detector channel. During periods of no vehicle detection the LEDs will be in an off state and no contact closure will be applied to the detector channel.
6.7 The interface module will use an LED indication to indicate a “fault state” with the WMVDS. When the fault state is active contact closure will be applied to the appropriate detector channel.
6.8 Pod controllers must apply contact closure when communication to an in pavement sensor is lost for a period of 60-75 seconds. Contact closure must be applied on the detector channel until communication to the pod is re-established with the unit.
6.9 A link light or the use of a software GUI will be used to indicate a valid communications link is established between the interface module and access point. If no link is established between the two devices, the interface module will apply contact closure to all detector channels.
70.7 COMMUNICATION REQUIREMENTS
7.1 Access points and repeaters must be rated for outdoor use and housed in an appropriate NEMA enclosure. The operating temperature range of these devices, as a minimum, must be from -30° F to +140° F.
7.2 As a minimum, access points must be capable of handling data communications for up to 48 sensors. The access points must be able to communicate to sensors from a distance of 150 feet when mounted 20 feet above the road surface. Repeaters may be used to achieve distances above 150 feet out to 1,000 feet.
7.3 All communications equipment will operate in an unlicensed frequency range permitted by the FCC.
7.4 The communications system must have alternative frequency channels selectable by the user. Should interference occur on a frequency channel the user must be capable of switching to an alternative channel free of interference.
7.5 All communications equipment must meet all applicable IEEE standards and FCC standards as required for the frequency range used by the WMVDS.
7.6 Surge protection must be used for devices receiving power over Ethernet.
7.7 Access points must be able to operate from power over Ethernet (48V DC) or a 120V AC source.
8.1 Firmware for in-pavement sensors and access points must be upgradable via a wireless connection to the device.
8.2 The software must allow for sensitivity adjustments to the sensor detection algorithms used by the WMVDS. As a minimum the system will use 12 different sensitivity levels ranging from .12 to 25.6, change in milli-gauss of the measured magnetic field. The sensitivity adjustments must be selectable by the user. Contact closure will be transmitted to the interface module when a change to the magnetic field is equal to or greater than the selected sensitivity setting.
8.3 The software must allow the user to program delay time as defined in this specification. As a minimum, the software must allow for a range 0 to 25 seconds of delay time.
8.4 The software must allow the user to program extension time as defined in this specification. As a minimum, software must allow for a range 0 to 5 seconds of extension time.
8.5 The software will allow the user to assign selected sensors to specific detector channels. In-pavement sensors must be assignable to detector channels via system software.
8.6 The software must display each sensor, sensor vehicle detection activity and its communication status on a GUI display.
8.7 Software must show battery level and received signal strength indication (RSSI) for each in pavement sensor used at the intersection.
70.9INSTALLATION AND TRAINING
9.1 When requested, the supplier/manufacturer of the WMVDS shall supervise and assist in the installation and set-up of the equipment. A factory certified representative from the manufacturer shall be on-site during installation of the WMVDS.
9.2 If requested, up to two days of training shall be provided in the operation, setup and maintenance of the WMVDS. Instruction and materials shall be provided for a maximum of 10 persons and shall be conducted at a location selected by City of Chesapeake.
9.3 Instruction personnel are required to be certified by the equipment manufacturer. The User's Guide is not an adequate substitute for practical, classroom training and formal certification by an approved agency.
9.4 Formal levels of factory authorized training are required for installers, contractors and system operators. All training must be certified by the manufacturer.
70.10 WARRANTY, MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT
10.1 The WMVDS must be warranted to be free of defects in material and workmanship for a period of 5 years from date of shipment from the supplier’s facility. During the warranty period, the supplier shall repair with new or refurbished materials, or replace at no charge, any product containing a warranty defect provided the product is returned FOB to the supplier’s factory or authorized repair site. Product repair or replaced under warranty by the supplier will be returned with transportation prepaid. This warranty does not apply to products damaged by accident, improper operation, abused, serviced by unauthorized personnel or unauthorized modification.
10.2 During the warranty period, technical support must be available from the supplier via telephone within 4 hours of the time a call is made by a user, and this support shall be available from factory certified personnel or factory certified installers.
10.3 Ongoing software support by the supplier shall include updates of the WMVDS processor unit and software. These updates shall be provided free of charge during the warranty period. The update of the WMVDS software shall be tested and approved by the City of Chesapeake before installation.
10.4 The supplier must maintain a program for technical support and software updates following expiration of the warranty period. This program shall be made available to the City of Chesapeake in the form of a separate agreement for continuing support.
10.5 The supplier must maintain an adequate inventory of parts to support maintenance and repair of the WMVDS.
70.11 MEASUREMENT OF PAYMENT
This item will be measured in units ofeach and paid for at the contract unit price per each. This price shall include furnishing,installing, testing and setting up the detectors and the controller (one per cabinet). It shall alsoinclude the detector, mounting hardware, connectors, cable, power supply, and any auxiliarydevices needed for compliance with NTCIP.


new algorithms and enhancing our existing models working with our advance analytics teams (business translators), data engineers, data stewards, sales optimization and marketing teams. The role will also include close partnership with our external ML Operations and Dev Operations partner, including management and monitoring their effective delivery of JET-related work.
As the primary lead for a designated therapeutic area (https://e.g., Oncology), they will drive the forward-looking vision for Janssen’s data sciences and engineering strategy, leading the deployment and support of Janssen’s leading-edge models and pipelines to advance Commercial Strategy and Optimization data sciences and enabling the data engineering capabilities. This role will act as the primary contact for the Data Sciences & Engineering Omnichannel workstream across the specified therapeutic area for CS&O, internal IT, and services/software partners, providing regular communications supporting Omnichannel vision, strategy, and operations.
This role will include supervisory and individual contribution components (https://i.e., a player-coach). Leadership acumen as well as senior-level technology capabilities are required. It is important that this person has strong technical and business capability in equal measure, including senior-level written and verbal communication skills across both audiences.
Role & Responsibilities:
Scale up, Enhance and Support the Omnichannel machine learning & data engineering track for the Commercial Strategy and Operations group. Assist senior leadership team in evolving and executing the data sciences & engineering strategy.
- Understand Janssen commercial business unit’s Omnichannel data and functional requirements to scale up and support feature engineering for our therapeutic areas.
- Act as a subject matter expert in data sciences & engineering frameworks and bring best in class, innovative ideas to develop, test, and measure performance and impact of initiatives
- Work in collaboration with business translators (advanced analytics), other data scientists and engineers to present the findings of the machine model runs and data insights to our key stakeholders (brands and leadership)
- Understand existing data science models and engineering pipelines related to Johnson and Johnson Innovative Medicine’s omnichannel brands, provide inputs and suggestions to optimize the architecture, provide recommendations on performance improvement
- Collaborate with omnichannel operations support lead & partners to leverage DevOps capabilities to operationalize models & data engineering Pipelines.
- Make recommendations on value and efficiency of new capabilities and technologies in order to advance adoption of data sciences and engineering capabilities across innovative medicine.
- Act as a change agent for making machine learning and advance analytics capabilities more pervasive across the organization by creating proof of concepts & demo capabilities working with internal teams and external partners
Drive the design and build of new data pipelines & feature engineering layer
- Apply explainable artificial intelligence (XAI), data engineering and feature engineering principles to support data science requirements and supply raw, curated, and processed data for machine learning engineers and data scientists
- Work in cross-functional agile teams to continuously experiment, iterate, and deliver business goals and objectives
- Collaborate with other data engineers, machine learning staff, and stakeholders from multiple therapeutic areas to take learnings and synergies as they arise
- Lead the development and implementation of data quality framework for feature engineering working with upstream data systems
- Proactively identify new data sources that will enhance decision making & increase model accuracy
Innovation and Early Talent Development
- Work on rapid prototyping applying innovative data sciences and engineering capabilities to address sales & marketing business use cases
- Provide thought leadership by researching best practices, conducting experiments, and collaborating with industry leaders
- Lead our early talent development program working with internal team members and university across US region to attract and hire talent in for the Janssen Commercial Unit


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It’s a Monday afternoon and I’m sitting at my kitchen table watching some deep red compote slowly seep into green-flecked pistachio pastry. The afternoon sun seems to complement the redness, highlighting chunks of moist rhubarb in pomegranate syrup under a blanket of lemon-scented frangipane. The tart is left over from a Sunday lunch spent with family at my mother’s house, where we merrily ate roasted bird with all the trimmings whilst discussing the nature of parenting in today’s society. As you can imagine, this soon required sweetening, in the form of the above mentioned tart with lashings of vanilla ice-cream.
You’ll find below the first version of my tart ‘recipe’, which I will endeavour to refine as I get used to measuring things. It’s got a crunchy pistachio, lemon & spice pastry base covered with rhubarb & pomegranate compote, soft lemon-infused frangipane & a drizzle of syrup. The tart filling went well with the accompanying pistachio oat crumble, vanilla ice cream & a sprinkling of fragrant thyme, however it’s equally delicious enjoyed on it’s own with a healthy dollop of double cream. Instructions for all of the elements are below so feel free to add or substitute as you wish.
And that’s my first post completed! Well, except for the recipe, so read on right here:
Frangipane Tart with Rhubarb Pomegranate Compote & Spiced Lemon Pistachio Oat Crumble
(I’ve divided this recipe up into sections for convenience, but I’d recommend you read through to the bottom before baking to understand how everything fits together)
Sweet Shortcrust Pastry:
- 200g plain flour
- 140g unsalted butter , cut into small pieces
- 100g caster sugar
- 100g pistachio nuts, coarsely ground in a mortar & pestle
- finely grated zest of 1 lemon
- 2 tsp Herbie’s fragrant sweet spices* (or equivalent 1/4 tsp ground cloves, 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg, 1/2 tsp ground cardamom, 1 tsp ground cinnamon)
- 1 egg yolk
- a few drops of vanilla extract
To make the pastry: Rub the flour & butter together in a large bowl until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Add in the sugar, lemon zest, crushed pistachios, spices & a pinch of salt. Mix slightly. Work in the egg yolk & vanilla until you have a smooth dough – don’t worry if it’s still a little crumbly, it’s quite a ‘short’ pastry so this is to be expected. Shape your dough into a slightly flattened disc, wrap it in plastic wrap & refrigerate it for at least an hour, or even overnight.
When you are ready to bake: Flour a flat surface & roll your dough out to about 0.5cm thick. Roll it over your rolling pin & place it into a 22-25cm round fluted tart tin with a removable base. Don’t worry if it breaks, just pick up any stray pieces & press them into the tart pan until you’ve completely covered the base & sides. Leave a slight pastry overhang as it’ll shrink a little as it cooks. Prick the base with a fork to allow for steam escaping as you blind-bake it. Refrigerate the tin & pastry case for 20 minutes prior to blind-baking.
Blind baking: Preheat your oven to 160 degrees C (320 degrees f). Place some greaseproof paper inside your unbaked tart shell, and fill it with ceramic pie weights, beans or rice. Place your tart shell in the oven & bake it for about 10 minutes with the weights, then five minutes uncovered. Remove it when it’s just started to ‘dry’ or set on the base & the edges are just slightly golden. Remove & allow to cool slightly before covering it in compote (recipe below).
Rhubarb Pomegranate Compote:
- approximately 4-5 cups of fresh rhubarb, tips & ends of stalk removed (including green leaves) sliced into 1 inch pieces
- 1 cup sugar (or to taste)
- Juice of 1 pomegranate, seeds strained out
- a squeeze of lemon juice
To make the compote: Place all of the above ingredients into a medium saucepan & bring to the boil, stirring regularly. Allow to reduce to a syrupy consistency & taste for sweetness (add a little more sugar or lemon as required, the intention is to create a sweet-but-tart jam). The compote is ready when the rhubarb has broken down & the mixture will slightly set when placed onto a cold (refrigerated) plate. Remove from heat & allow to cool slightly. Fill your blind-baked tart shell to a depth of 1cm. You will need about another half-cup of this mixture to use with extra rhubarb for serving; however I placed the rest of my mixture into a sterilised jar (you can sterilise your own jars by either placing them in a very hot oven until hot, or placing them in the sink with boiling water) and I’ve still got about a third of the jar left to use on toast or as an ice-cream topping.
- 110g unsalted butter
- 110g caster sugar
- 110g almond meal
- grated zest of 1 lemon
- 1 whole egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 1-2 tsp almond essence
To prepare the Frangipane: Cream butter & caster sugar together with a hand-blender (or Kitchen Aid, if you’re lucky enough to have one). Add in egg, then egg yolk, one at a time until creamy. Fold in your almond meal, lemon zest & almond essence to taste. Now you can either pipe or spoon your frangipane mixture into your tart shell, over your rhubarb compote. Don’t worry if there are any small gaps, as they will fill naturally as the frangipane cooks. I topped mine with a swirl of rhubarb compote, for decorative purposes.
Now, heat your oven to 180 degrees C (360 degrees f). Place your tart tin onto another flat tray (the tray will conduct the heat & ensure that the base of your tart is crisp & golden) and cook it, turning the tray regularly if you do not have a fan-forced oven, for 30-40 minutes until the frangipane is puffed & golden and your tart shell is biscuity brown. After cooking, trim away any overhanging pastry for neat edges. Whilst your tart is still hot, glaze the top with warmed honey, paying special attention to the pastry edges. Allow to cool.
Pistachio & Oat Crumble:
- 40g caster sugar
- 40g plain flour
- 1/4 cup wholegrain oats
- 30g chilled butter, chopped into small cubes
- grated rind of half a lemon
- 1/2 tsp of Herbie’s fragrant sweet spices*
- 100g pistachio nuts, coarsely ground in a mortar & pestle
For the crumble: Mix flour, sugar, spices, oats & ground pistachios together in a bowl. Rub in your butter by hand until the mixture clumps together like coarse breadcrumbs. Tip your mixture onto a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper, and make sure that all of the clumps are roughly the same size (though I do like having some bigger chunks of biscuity crumble every now and then). Bake in the oven (alongside your tart, if able) at 180 degrees C (360 degrees f) for approx 10 minutes or until golden. Allow to cool, then store in an airtight container until ready to serve.
- I like to serve a wedge of the frangipane tart with a spoonful of extra compote (I steamed three extra sticks of rhubarb, washed and cut into 1cm pieces, very briefly in a splash of water with a vanilla bean then mixed this with the extra 1/2 cup of reserved compote for a ‘chunkier’ mixture), a sprinkling of crunchy pistachio crumble, some fresh thyme leaves & a scoop of vanilla ice cream or double cream. In the photos I actually mixed the extra reserved compote with sliced strawberries which is equally delicious.
- Leftovers can be kept in the fridge, covered, for a few days. I would recommend letting the tart come to room temperature before serving.
*Herbie’s fragrant sweet spices is a beautiful mix of ground coriander seeds, cassia bark, cinnamon quills, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, poppy seeds, cloves, cardamom & rose petals which I’ve come to love as a fragrant addition to cakes, pastries & other baked goods. You can buy your own here (or check out the Herbie’s website to find this spice mix and other Herbie’s products).

domain: hobby


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No doubt Stefan Kießling’s ‘phantom goal’ (see video below) was undoubtedly the biggest talking point on Matchday 9. The Leverkusen striker’s header sneaked into the back of the net through a hole in the side-netting, causing plenty of discussion and a fair share of embarrassment. The German Football Association (DFB) will now discuss any consequences of a goal which helped Bayer 04 Leverkusen beat 1899 Hoffenheim 2-1 to move to the top of the table, albeit for only one night.
After 175 goal-filled days, the 999th goalless draw in Bundesliga history arrived on Saturday. SV Werder Bremen and SC Freiburg became the first two sides to fail to find the back of the net in one game since 1. FSV Mainz 05’s clash with Eintracht Frankfurt ended goalless on 28 April 2013, almost six months ago to the day. Furthermore, with ‘only’ 26 goals, it was the least prolific weekend of the season so far, taking the total to 264 – more at this stage of the season than in any season since 1985.
What an impact! Taking to the field with his side trailing 1-0 at the start of the second half, Mario Götze took the bull by its horns, setting up two goals and having a telling hand in the third as FC Bayern München won 4-1 to retain their place at the top of the Bundesliga. “Mario’s slowly getting into his rhythm,” said Arjen Robben. “He just needs to get games in his legs.” When he finds that rhythm, the rest of the Bundesliga better watch out.
A 3-0 win over FC Schalke 04 followed by a 2-1 win over 1. FC Kaiserslautern in February 2012 - that was the last time Borussia Mönchengladbach managed back-to-back victories. 60 games on and Gladbach have been alternating results without finding a regular winning path. Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Hertha Berlin was the latest chance wasted to build on a 2-0 win against Borussia Dortmund, and they lost captain Martin Stranzl to a red card - his seventh in the Bundesliga.
1. FC Nürnberg, SC Freiburg, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Hannover 96 tried but failed to win for the first time on the road this season, but VfL Wolfsburg managed to shake off their travel sickness in Augsburg. A first away win of the season for Dieter Hecking’s side and a first in precisely six months (since a 3-0 in Bremen on 20 April). Spare a thought for their Lower Saxony rivals Hannover, though - they have not even scored a goal away from home this season, losing all four of their trips away from the HDI-Arena.
Take a look for yourself at the Bundesliga Matchday 9 goal-that-never-was on the official Bundesliga YouTube channel:

domain: sports


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Phosphorus Regulation in Chronic Kidney Disease
- Wadi N. SukiEmail Wadi N. Suki
- Linda W. Moore
Serum phosphorus levels stay relatively constant through the influence of multiple factors—such as parathyroid hormone, fibroblast growth factor 23, and vitamin D—on the kidney, bone, and digestive system. Whereas normal serum phosphorus ranges between 3 mg/dL to 4.5 mg/dL, large cross-sectional studies have shown that even people with normal kidney function are sometimes found to have levels ranging between 1.6 mg/dL and 6.2 mg/dL. While this may partially be due to diet and the factors mentioned above, total understanding of these atypical ranges of serum phosphorus remains uncertain. Risks for bone disease are high in people aged 50 and older, and this group comprises a large proportion of people who also have chronic kidney disease. Consuming diets low in calcium and high in phosphorus, especially foods with phosphate additives, further exacerbates bone turnover. Existing bone disease increases the risk for high serum phosphorus, and higher serum phosphorus has been associated with increased adverse events and cardiovascular-related mortality both in people with chronic kidney disease and in those with no evidence of disease. Once kidney function has deteriorated to end-stage disease (Stage 5), maintaining normal serum phosphorus requires dietary restrictions, phosphate-binding medications, and dialysis. Even so, normal serum phosphorus remains elusive in many patients with Stage 5 kidney disease, and researchers are testing novel targets that may inhibit intestinal transport of phosphorus to achieve better phosphate control. Protecting and monitoring bone health should also aid in controlling serum phosphorus as kidney disease advances.
- Published on 1 Dec 2016
- Peer Reviewed

domain: biology


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Smash Hits is released in the United Kingdom (Track, 613 400). The album includes: “Purple Haze,” “Fire,” “The Wind Cries Mary,” “Can You See Me,” “51st Anniversary,” “Hey Joe,” “Stone Free,” “The Stars That Play With Laughing Sam’s Dice,” “Manic Depression,” “Highway Chile,” “Burning Of The Midnight Lamp,” and “Foxy Lady.”
Spectrum, Philadelphia With Fat Mattress Set List: Fire Red House Foxey Lady I Don’t Live Today Hear My Train A Comin’ Stone Free Star Spangled Banner Purple Haze Voodoo Child (Slight Return) Jimi Hendrix leads The Experience through a rousing performance at the Philadelphia Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 12, 1969.
War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York With Cat Mother & The All Night Newsboys Set List: [partial] Fire I Don’t Live Today Stone Free Foxey Lady The Experience traveled from Toronto to Syracuse, New York. They secured lodging at the Randolph House Hotel before their performance that evening at the Syracuse War Memorial Auditorium.
Record Plant, New York Studio Recording 1) Untitled Jam 2) Blues Jam 3) Instrumental 4) Stone Free 5) With The Power Of God 6) Slow Blues A marathon session at the Record Plant with Jimi joined by Mitch Mitchell, Billy Cox, Sharon Layne, and an unnamed trumpet player.
Record Plant, New York Studio Recording 1) “Stone Free” Instrumental takes with Billy, Jimi & Mitch In the early morning hours, Hendrix, Mitchell, and Cox recorded a number at attempts of a remake of “Stone Free”. No final masters were achieved however.
Juggy Sound, New York Studio Recording In the early morning hours of February 5, Jimi returned to Juggy Sound as mixing sessions for Band Of Gypsys continued. By this stage, final mixes for “Who Knows” and “Machine Gun” had been crafted and set aside.


The World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit has expressed deep sorrow over the killing of three Israeli teenagers whose bodies were recovered on 30 June, Naftali Fraenkel, Gilad Shaar and Eyal Yifrah. “We pray for their families, all their friends and the extended community that grieves their loss,” he said in a pastoral letter issued on 1 July.
On behalf of the WCC, Tveit said, “I again express the sorrow we feel, a sorrow felt across national borders and differences in religion and culture, at the suffering and loss of life in Israel and Palestine.”
Tveit said that “no parent, of any creed or country, be it in Israel or Palestine, or in the neighbouring countries of Syria and Iraq, should have to experience such anguish. And yet the violence continues, with inadequate steps toward the resolution of conflict and the prevention of needless death.”
“Our heartfelt prayers are with all who are affected by the tragedy that has got the attention of the whole world, and we continue to pray for the establishment of peace with justice for all,” he added.


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mandala half moon earrings
Regular price $20.00
Brass half moon shape hand-stamped with a mandala inspired design. They hang from a hammered brass ring and brass earwires. (raw brass, not plated) Lead & nickel free. Extremely lightweight. They hang about 1.75" long and are 1" wide at the widest point.