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10 July 2008
The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Sudan, Sima Samar, issued the following statement following her sixth visit to the country from 28 June to 11 July.
I strongly condemn Tuesday’s attack on UN peacekeepers in Darfur. I am deeply saddened by the loss of life and my thoughts are with the families of those killed and injured in this unacceptable attack.
This is my sixth visit to Sudan since my appointment as Special Rapporteur. I would like to thank the Government of National Unity for inviting me and for the assistance and support they, and especially the Advisory Council on Human Rights (ACHR), have extended to me during my stay. I would also like to thank UNMIS and UNAMID, and particularly the Human Rights components for their extensive support in facilitating my visit. I regret that the Government did not issue a visa to the OHCHR staff member who was supposed to accompany me on this visit.
During this visit I had several meetings in Khartoum and travelled to El Fasher, Zalengi, Tawilla and Kafod in Darfur as well as to Muglad, Abyei, Agok, Wau, Juba and Torit. I was able to meet with numerous actors, including officials from the Government of National Unity and the Government of Southern Sudan, representatives of signatory rebel groups in Darfur, UNMIS and UNAMID officials, humanitarian actors and members of civil society. I am grateful to the victims of human rights violations who shared their stories with me. I particularly commend the work of national human rights defenders and international organizations for their efforts to further the protection of human rights and provision of assistance to vulnerable populations. I am encouraged by the fact that the Government appears to have taken positive steps to address some of the concerns outlined in my previous reports and hope to build on this with a continuing constructive engagement.
As I conclude my visit I would like to take this opportunity to brief you on my preliminary findings. A report will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in September.
On 10 May 2008 armed members of the Darfurian Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) launched an attack on Khartoum. The UN Secretary General has condemned the attacks and expressed concern over their possible effect on civilian lives and property. The fighting that took place in the Omdurman district of Khartoum as well as the ensuing Government response raises serious concerns regarding violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.
I strongly condemn the reported use of child soldiers in the attack. The use of children under 15 as combatants constitutes a serious violation of international law. I welcome the Government’s decision to allow independent observers access to the captured child combatants. Given the Government’s findings that these children were forcibly recruited I urge the Government to treat them as victims of the conflict, attempt to trace their families and ensure they are not prosecuted in relation to the attack but demobilized and fully reintegrated into society. To ensure successful reintegration and ensure their security, the identity of the captured child combatants must be protected.
Unfortunately, the use of child soldiers is not limited to the Omdurman attacks. I have encountered several child soldiers during this visit, recruited by different factions including the Sudanese Armed Forces. Under its international legal obligations the Government must not recruit or use in hostilities children under 18 years of age. I urge the Government as well other parties to the conflict to make all possible efforts to ensure children are guaranteed their rights under international law and under no circumstances used as combatants. I am strongly encouraged by the efforts of the Government’s DDR Commission in this regard and urge it to continue with its work.
According to the Government, 34 civilian deaths were caused as a result of the fighting. From the information and reports I have received, it appears that a number of these may have been deliberate or the result of the disproportionate use of force. To ensure accountability of the perpetrators I urge the Government to conduct an inquiry into the allegations and make its findings public as soon as possible.
I am also very concerned about the Government’s response following the attack. I have heard of a significant number of people that have been reportedly detained in the follow-up to the attack. As the UN still does not have access to places of detention in Khartoum the exact figure of detainees is impossible to verify. The large majority of those detained appear to be of Darfurian origin and there is credible evidence that many of them were arrested on grounds of their ethnicity.
I have heard allegations of torture, mistreatment and inhumane detention conditions. I welcome the Ministry of Justice’s assurance to me that “the Government’s firm policy is that nobody will be tortured.” I encourage the ACHR to follow up on any allegations of torture in coordination with UNMIS.
Many complaints were brought to me about intimidation and press censorship by the NISS. As Sudan approaches elections scheduled for 2009, it is imperative that the conditions necessary for free and fair elections are put in place. These include effective guarantees of the fundamental freedoms of expression, association and assembly.
I also travelled to Abyei where, since my last visit, a confrontation between SAF and SPLA has had severe repercussions on the civilian population. What emerges from my tour of the destroyed town and my consultations with affected communities displaced to Muglad and Agok is an extremely disturbing picture: Large areas of the town were completely destroyed, burnt and looted. Eyewitnesses and victims reported very serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. Given the seriousness of the allegations, the Government of National Unity must take immediate action. It should support an in-depth independent fact-finding inquiry to investigate violations and bring perpetrators to justice. The findings of this inquiry should be made public. The rifts that the incident created between the local communities must also be addressed as a matter of urgency. In addition to truth-finding and accountability, further steps must be taken to ensure community reconciliation and healing.
I once again visited Darfur. I am encouraged that the Government has taken several positive steps to implement the recommendations of the Group of Experts and address human rights concerns. Examples of such positive steps include the 1 July public launch of the “Swiss Project” in El Fasher; the increased number of police – including women police – that have been deployed to Darfur; and the increased activities of the State Committees against sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Also, the indictment, prosecution and sentencing of several regular forces personnel accused and found guilty of rape sends an important signal to perpetrators and communities. To further build on this progress the Government must be more proactive and take strong measures against ongoing violations of human rights.
Despite such positive steps, the human rights situation on the ground remains grim. Direct violations by Government forces continue to be reported. Travelling to Tawilla I saw the town completely deserted following a 12 May attack by the Central Reserve Police (CRP), following the death of a member of the CRP in Tawilla.
Civilians also continue to suffer from violent actions by both signatory and non-signatory rebel groups. During my visit to the Mario villages near Kafod I saw an extremely concerning example of this. Armed clashes between the two signatory factions on 21 May resulted in the almost complete destruction of the villages including the burning down of the village mosque, and the killing and injury of civilians.
The Government has primary responsibility regarding the promotion and protection of human rights. I also call on the rebel groups to fully comply with their obligations under international law and to take all necessary measures to protect civilians. As there is no military solution to the Darfur conflict, the Government, the movements and the international community need to make a more determined attempt to find a workable political solution to the conflict.
It is imperative to address the dramatic shrinking of humanitarian space. An illustrative example is the prevalence of carjacking in Darfur. I was told that in the first six months of 2008 alone, 135 vehicles belonging to humanitarian agencies and NGOs were lost as the result of such incidents. This is almost the same number as the 139 vehicles total for all of 2007. As a direct result, for instance, WFP has already been forced to reduce the rations it gives out by half. I urge the Government to do its utmost to ensure security and work with the humanitarian community in Darfur to protect humanitarian space.
In Southern Sudan, I was encouraged to find many of my interlocutors displaying a strong commitment to human rights. Yet, to realize such a commitment on the ground the Government of Southern Sudan must take a more proactive approach on implementing a broad human rights agenda and allocate its resources accordingly.
During my visit to Torit I heard of a tragic incident that took place in Hiyala, Torit on 4 June. Following cattle-raiding related tensions between two local villages, SPLA forces were sent to the area to attempt to disarm the community. Mistaking the SPLA forces for attackers from the other village, a fire-fight broke out, killing several civilians and soldiers. I have received reports that in the aftermaths of the battle the SPLA took retaliatory action, including the burning of huts and, allegedly, deliberate killings. I welcome the setting up of a board of inquiry tasked to undertake a full investigation into the incident is ongoing. The Government of Southern Sudan must ensure that anybody found responsible for any violations be held fully accountable and that the results of this inquiry be made public.
The incident illustrates a more general concern regarding the role military SPLA forces play in supposedly civilian law enforcement. The relatively new police forces of Southern Sudan still face challenges of both infrastructure and capacity. To avoid repeats of incidents such as that in Torit, it is essential that the Government of National Unity, the Government of Southern Sudan and the international community commit the resources and support necessary to make possible a successful and comprehensive transition from military to civilian law-enforcement as soon as possible.
I also visited a number of detention centres in Southern Sudan. The conditions I found generally fell far short of international standards. The Government and the international community are aware of the problem but should try to address it as a matter of priority.
Finally, during my visit, both in Darfur and in the transitional areas, several communities and other interlocutors have expressed strong concerns regarding what they perceive as the UN’s inability to protect the civilian population from the conflict. At the same time, Tuesday’s attack in Darfur tragically demonstrated the risks the peacekeepers run in carrying out their mission. UNAMID and UNMIS have very different mandates. The disillusionment I heard from communities in place like Tawilla or in Abyei is startlingly similar. Compounded by a lack of public awareness, expectations may often be unrealistically high. Also, I realize that very often the UN personnel on the ground simply do not have the resources and support to intervene as forcefully as they otherwise might. However, it is essential that the UN provide clear and practically applicable guidance on how exactly a protection of civilians mandate should be interpreted and implemented on the ground. This must go together with extensive instruction and training as well as, crucially, the support and equipment required to carry out the mandate. It must also be complemented by more active awareness raising activities amongst communities regarding exactly what the UN can and cannot do.
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For use of the information media; not an official record

domain: law


Neighborhoods need city’s help, not downtown
Previously, I argued that much of Port Huron’s road system is overbuilt, leading to needless and wasteful government spending with decreased traffic safety. Today, I want to show that excessive on-street parking and blight enforcement does not provide much value to neighborhoods. Instead, city leadership should prioritize investments in residential neighborhoods with the goal of increasing property values, while spending less downtown.
First, I need to provide a little history of Port Huron’s property tax revenue. In 2002, real property taxes generated $5.2 million, slowly climbing to $7.2 million in 2009. Then, the financial crash took hold, causing property values and tax revenues to plummet: 2013, $5.5 million, 2015-16 $5.3 million, and a slight increase in 2017 to $5.4 million.
Road maintenance must be done; however, millions spent maintaining roads failed to stop property value declines, somewhat suggesting that maintaining Port Huron’s overbuilt road system generates little value. Further, since property values have decreased, today’s road maintenance expenditures are proportionally more expensive than the past, which means maintaining overbuilt roads produces less value at greater cost to government. It’s simply a more expensive, bad investment.
Past and current city councils and managers attempted to stem property value declines by spending hundreds of thousands of dollars per year on code enforcement. After several thousand citations and numerous citizen complaints, results have been less than stellar. The current enforce-and-punish model does not inject much value into our neighborhoods. Converting some (or all) of this money to home repair grants, prioritizing less fortunate citizens would help residents improve neighborhoods, and increase property values.
Officials have some control over other factors that impact property values, such as road noise, traffic volume and speed, and walkability. Quiet, narrow, tree-lined streets almost always produce higher property values. Bike lanes too have been shown to increase property values, while making productive use of unused asphalt. Yet some might not be convinced and insist on more “place making” investments or other downtown vanity projects.
Consider the yearly revenue difference between increasing the property value of 100 houses by 3 percent against drawing 1000 more people to downtown shops and restaurants. Investments that increase property values generate wealth for residents and, if done correctly, constitute equitable growth. Bringing more people downtown, benefits a select few.
Instead of focusing on downtown, which financially benefits a handful of businesses and property owners, city leadership should emphasize investments that build value in residential areas, where the majority of people live.
Road maintenance must be done. However, financially unproductive expenditures repairing overbuilt roads shouldn’t. Instead, some maintenance money should be directed toward building narrower, safer, quieter, greener streets, with bike lanes that generate value and wealth for residents, while reducing maintenance costs. To this end, Council should demand of itself, employees, boards and commissions recommendations for experiments and investments that increase the safety, value and livability of our neighborhoods, not downtown. I suggest starting with the traffic study committee, which full disclosure, I am a member.
James Soto lives in Port Huron and teaches at St. Clair County Community College.


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Forward This Link/Page To Other Waterfront Property Owners And Elected
Water Level Plan BV7 Will Damage Boaters, Property Owners And Marina Operators!
It Will Have Severe Impacts On The Lake, The Bays And The Ponds!
E-Newsletter From The
Lake Ontario Riparian Alliance
Issue 5 Jan. 2012
Grassroots Public Advocacy For The Protection, Restoration And
Lake Ontario Riparian Alliance-Update -January 24, 2012
To the members of the Lake Ontario Riparian Alliance (LORA),
Recently, we have been made aware that the IJC Lake Ontario Working Group is planning a number of public meetings to review the proposed Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River regulation plan, BV7. As we have stated in a number of previous LORA newsletters, this plan will be a very damaging to south shore homeowners as well as Lake Ontario recreational boaters.
The tentative schedule calls for 5 meetings. The tentative locations are: Olcott, Greece/Hilton, Oswego, Alexandria Bay and Massena. The meetings are planned for the middle of March.
We at LORA have expressed our concerns about these meetings to the IJC. These concerns are:
5. The above-listed concerns continue to lead us to believe that this working group, based in Albany and Washington, is out of touch with the system. They are trying to change and damage an area without fully understanding it!
We ask you, as a homeowner and/or a recreational boater on Lake Ontario, to contact your elected representatives to ask for their help in postponing these meetings until late spring/early summer.
Below is the link to the LORA website page with public official contacts:
Now we would like to present you with some additional information as it relates to BV7.
As a reference:
current plan of operation is 58DD. It has a target range of 243.3 ft to
Under Plan B+ and by extension Plan BV7: during a dry year, levels could be as low as 244 ft at mid -summer.
Under Plan B+/BV7: there is has no announced operating range.
The chart at the bottom of this page shows the probabilities of exceeding 247ft under three plans during the critical months of March-May. We know that Plan B+ exceeds 247 ft almost twice as often 58DD, we believe, from what we have learned that BV7 is even worst!
PLEASE ASK YOUR ELECTED
OFFICIALS TO REQUEST THAT THE IJC SCHEDULE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON PLAN BV7 IN
LATE SPRING TO EARLY SUMMER!

domain: geography


For individuals and organizations everywhere, new technologies are constantly revolutionizing the way we live, work, and function. In our modern world technology, cloud computing is becoming a firm cornerstone for digital transformation with a rapid adaption into mainstream society. Cloud computing is transforming homes and mainly businesses by solving problems we encounter daily. The handling of these kinds of demands demonstrates some of the key benefits of cloud computing and all that this tech accomplishes for individuals and organizations alike.
Cloud Computing Is the Future
This innovative technology makes everyone’s lives better, even in the smallest and most minuscule ways. This term has only spread in name and popularity over the last couple of years, as increased data usage has made storage and running system programs more difficult on in-house computer services. In simplest terms, the technology of cloud computing provides businesses with on-demand data storage, computing power, and other cloud-based services offsite. Truly one of the key benefits of cloud computing.
Cloud computing has already been in use for personal and home situations. People may not have even realized they have previously used it for programs such as Gmail, TurboTax, or social media apps. This tech will only continue to grow and adapt to the mainstream world’s ever-changing needs with further emerging technologies. Cloud computing helps society as a whole to cope with the growth and development of future computing challenges such as large data management, quality control insight, and strong cyber-security.
Productivity and Mobility for Businesses
One of the key benefits of cloud computing is part of its overall advantages it provides for businesses as leverage. Cloud computing easily achieves efficiency for ongoing business operations by its simple accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and security standards. Data and applications can be accessed from practically any location around the world. No person will ever be left out of the loop when possibly out of office because of instant access to collected data on their smartphone or other devices.
Cloud computing resources will save time and money in the long run for those utilizing such means. Once a person or company is on the cloud, the ease of access weighs heavier than any cost. Participants of cloud computing can choose select features or the amount of space required, as well as the ability to utilize a pay-as-you-go system, so heavy money dropping isn’t an initial concern. A higher return also comes in the form of security that’s far more efficient than conventional in-house systems.
Loss Prevention and Quality Control at Data Centers
When businesses and individuals are not a part of the cloud, there’s a high risk for loss of data locally, and possibly even permanently. Malfunctions happen in-house and in data centers. Cloud-based servers place an automatic advantage right at a person’s fingertips to maintain consistency in data collection and reduce human error. A cloud-based system will successfully create high-quality reporting for business continuity. Cloud computing is continually transforming data centers in such a way with their roles at the head of this technology. The framework of data centers has revamped with a virtual shift for multi-cloud environments. From this revolutionizing, cloud computing provides beneficial options for companies in various industries to boost their operations better than ever before. It’s time to take advantage of the key benefits of cloud computing.


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I like the idea of framing an ordinary medicine cabinet to make it beautiful. Love your blog and thanks for sharing such beautiful images.
Hi Rachel! I love the simplicity of this idea too! Anyone can have an elegant looking mirror, like this one.
oH WOW, I totally ADORE this frame around the mirror...its so unique. Your blog is great!Jen Ramos'100% Recycled DESIGNER Cards & More'www.madebygirl.commadebygirl.blogspot.com
Post a Comment

domain: hobby


The Nano-cellulose Film Coating represents a cutting-edge development in film technology, utilizing nanocellulose to measure substances, maintain freshness, and slow down food rot. The film is structured with a paper-coated supporting layer and a carbon net film sensor releasing antimicrobial substances, including nano fibers with curcumin and Schiff’s Reagent. This sensor serves to measure and preserve freshness without the need for direct food contact. Durable and easy to use, the film is adaptable to various packaging styles, including curved surfaces, presenting a revolutionary solution for enhanced food preservation in packaging technology.
Current market trends emphasize sustainable and innovative packaging solutions, aligning perfectly with the Nano-cellulose Film Coating. The film addresses the increasing demand for freshness preservation without direct food contact, contributing to food waste reduction. Opportunities exist in the broader packaging industry, including food, pharmaceuticals, and textiles, where the need for effective and sustainable preservation methods is paramount.


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Eagle River will have more than bragging rights on the line when it meets Chugiak on the ice Saturday, Jan. 26. Led by a pair of goals by Brett Wood, the Wolves beat West (6-6-1) 3-1 on Tuesday, Jan. 22 to tie East at 5-8 in the conference.
It was a big weekend at the Besh Cup for the Lammers siblings in Soldotna. University of Alaska Fairbanks freshman Isaac Lammers, of Chugiak, took over the top spot in the Older Junior boys Besh Cup standings with a pair of top-five finishes at Tsalteshi Trails, while younger sister Sarissa had a pair of strong finishes to move into second place in the J1 girls standings.
For the second straight week, all local 4A basketball teams came up winless. At the 1A level, Birchwood Christian School went undefeated last week.
Chugiak’s Richard Burroughs led all local wrestlers with a second-place finish at the Glenn Vandergaw Classic at Dimond High on Saturday, Jan. 12.
With just a week and a half before the Cook Inlet Conference hockey tournament, just five points separated four teams as of Tuesday, Jan. 15.
It wasn’t exactly home, but Chugiak’s Sam Hartke looked plenty comfortable covering the 7.5-kilometer classic course at Kincaid Park Saturday, Jan. 12.
Three of four local prep bowling teams won their matches on Thursday, Jan. 10 at Eagle River Bowl.
Eagle River’s Cory Florence defeated Wasilla’s Blake Marks 4-2 in the finals of the 145-pound weight class at the Colony Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 5 in Palmer.
Chugiak High football players once again found themselves in the middle of controversy due to use of an ineligible player. Only this time it was the opposing team at fault — and it was intentional.

domain: news


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Find schools and get information on the program that’s right for you.
Powered by Campus Explorer
Perkins County is a county located in the state of South Dakota. Based on the 2010 census, the population was 2,982. Its county seat is Bison. The county was established in 1908 and organized in 1909. It was named for Sturgis, South Dakota official Henry E. Perkins.
Perkins is named for South Dakota state legislator Henry E. Perkins.
County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts
Perkins County, created in 1908 and organized in 1909, was named for Henry E. Perkins, a native of Vermont, who was a lawyer and State Senator from Sturgis from 1903-1911. Perkins was instrumental in securing the passage of the act that created the county. The first meeting of the county Commissioners was held at Lemmon in February 1909. Both Bison and Lemmon wanted to serve as county seat of Perkins County. Many hearings were held, and a legal battle ended in a vote of the people on January 9, 1909 that Bison won by 14 votes.
As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,891 square miles (7,487 km2), of which,
2,872 square miles (7,437 km2) of it is land and 19 square miles (49 km2) of it (0.66%) is water.
Bordering counties are as follows:


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Combining Multiple Photos Automatically
I've been combining several photos of runners to create an action sequence using photoshop. Would like to find a way to automate the process. Say take group of photos including a photo with no one in it and then have photoshop automatically select the part of the photo that is different, then combine them all. Right now I am importing the photos in photoshop stacked and aligned. Then masking each one and combining them. Easy to do, just seems like there would be a way to automate it.

domain: artistic


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BY NANCY MOREJÓN
TRANSLATED BY PAMELA CARMELL
Just released in 2014
The poems in this collection, most translated for the first time, span a broad spectrum of love: love of family and friends, love of homeland and Havana, romantic love, lost love, the exaltation of a goddess of love, and the adoring love of Cuban artists past and present. Of that wide-ranging love, Ms. Morejón has said, "Formo parte de una familia, una comunidad, de una nación de las que no he querido ni podido apartarme sino que las reclamo con amor en cada uno de mis gestos." (I am part of a family, a community, a nation—all of which I haven't wanted to leave behind, but rather to reach out to them with love in every one of my actions [acceptance speech, Golden Wreath Award, Struga, Macedonia, 2006])
Nancy Morejón shares with her countrymen a propensity to be transported to sensual landscapes through the hypnotic rhythms of Cuba's music, the lush world of its nature, the oblivion of Santeria-induced trances, legends treasured through the generations and her ancestors' and countrymen's history of suffering and survival. The reader travels to a destination that seems at once exotic and familiar, with glimpses of his or her own experiences of love. Ms. Morejón's poetry has been translated into more than ten languages, demonstrating its appeal beyond Cuba.
Ms. Morejón integrates and unifies the indigenous, European, Asian and African cultures that contribute to Cuban culture and form her heritage. Sometimes playful, sometimes mournful, her observations about that culture and heritage fill her highly lyrical, intimate, spiritual, even erotic poetry. In her acceptance speech for the Golden Wreath Award, Ms. Morejón sums this up. "He buscado sin tregua darle voz a un coro de voces silenciadas que, a través de la historia, van mucho más allá de sus orígenes, su raza o su género, en mi idioma." (I've searched without ceasing to give voice to a chorus of silenced voices in my language which, across history, have gone much further than their origins, race, or gender.)
Ms. Morejón has described her poetry as "words thrown to the winds with signs of love, firmly fixed in their native soil." (With Eyes and Soul, White Pine Press) In this collection her poetry rides those winds, whether tropical breezes or hurricanes, to landscapes far and wide, and familiar.

domain: library


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An election watchdog has found 21,000 dead individuals still on Pennsylvania voter rolls in the final weeks of the 2020 election.
The Public Interest Legal Foundation, an election integrity group, says 92 percent of the registrants died more than a year ago. The group also says there is evidence of voting activity after death. The findings were mentioned in an amended lawsuit against the Pennsylvania Department of State over its failure to maintain accurate voter rolls.
The PILF says that as of October 7, 9,212 registrants have been dead for five years, 1,990 registrants for 10 years, and 197 registrants for 20 years. “Pennsylvania still left the names of more than 21,000 dead individuals on the voter rolls less than a month before one of the most consequential general elections for federal officeholders in many years,” the group said.
“This case isn’t complicated,” said John Christian Adams, the PILF’s president and general counsel. “For nearly a year, we’ve been offering specific data on deceased registrants to Pennsylvania officials for proper handling ahead of what was expected to be a tight outcome on Election Day. When you push mail voting, your voter list maintenance mistakes made years ago will come back to haunt in the form of unnecessary recipients and nagging questions about unreturned or outstanding ballots.”
The complaint further claims 114 individuals registered to vote after death, and hundreds of votes were cast by deceased individuals in the 2016 and 2018 elections.
The amended suit was filed one day before Joe Biden grabbed the lead in Pennsylvania. Republican lawmakers have echoed concerns about voting irregularities. “When you’re breaking the law, ignoring court orders, counting ballots in secret & threatening to steal the presidency, it’s not ‘PA’s business.’ It’s America’s business, and we have the right to expect votes will be counted (1) fairly, (2) w/ transparency & (3) NOT in secret,” Sen. Ted Cruz said on Twitter Friday.
Democrats say their expected margin of victory in Pennsylvania will far exceed the number of disputed votes in the state.
The Pennsylvania Department of State did not respond to a request for comment by press time.


MEA members and supporters share what they’re thankful for
With Thanksgiving coming up, MEA asked subscribers to its Facebook page what they’re thankful for this holiday season. Here are a few of their responses:
- Scott Davis, speech language pathologist in Ann Arbor Public Schools: “That I'm a teacher and I make a difference.”
- Sarah Strieter, media parapro in the Port Huron Area School District: “Family, friends and the ability to work in a job I love.”
- Leslie DesJardins, teacher in the Huron School District: “My awesome students.”
- Tom McDaniel of Inkster: “Great teachers who push on despite the difficulty of their jobs and lack of appreciation from parents and politicians. You keep our country afloat.”
- Diane Osmer, teacher in Owosso Public Schools: “My family and all the families who support public education.”
MEA’s Facebook page has nearly 27,000 followers and is full of lively discussion around education issues. Join the conversation today by visiting www.mea.org/facebook. You can also follow MEA on Twitter by going to www.twitter.com/meaonline.


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Harare: Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 25 runs in the first Twenty20 international on Friday as Shahid Afridi ripped the heart out of a home batting lineup that never got close to the tourists' 161 for 5.
Afridi took 3 for 25 and Zimbabwe struggled to 136 for 5 in their reply. Afridi also earlier made 23 not out with the bat, while opener Ahmed Shehzad top-scored for Pakistan with 70 from just 50 balls.
Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor was 32 not out in the chase but the home batsmen couldn't launch an attack after opener Vusi Sibanda was bowled by Afridi for 31, his leg stump sent cartwheeling out the ground. The legspinner removed Elton Chigumbura's middle stump for his third wicket to make certain of Pakistan's tour-opening victory in the first of two T20 games.
Malcolm Waller's six in the dying overs was the first maximum for Zimbabwe, which never put the Pakistan bowlers under pressure. The teams also will contest three ODIs and two Tests over the next three weeks.
Earlier, Shehzad kept Pakistan's innings going after the touring team initially slipped to 51 for 3 with the loss of Umar Amin in the ninth over. Shehzad eventually struck six fours and a six to anchor the tourists' winning total.
Pakistan had hit trouble when Nasir Jamshed was out for 2 in the second over and captain Mohammed Hafeez dismissed for 3 in the fourth over to leave it 21 for 2. But Shehzad took control with his second T20 half-century and had put Pakistan back on course when he was out in the 18th over to Shingirai Masakadza at 135 for 5.
Sohaib Maqsood hit 26 on debut and Shahid Afridi was unbeaten on 23 with a four and a six, adding 26 off 16 balls with Anwar Ali (10 not out) at the end.
Seamer Tendai Chatara took 2 for 30 off four overs for Zimbabwe's best bowling figures and offspinner Prosper Utseya delivered four well-controlled overs for his 1 for 15.
Sibanda and Hamilton Masakadza made a reasonable start to the host's chase, but after Sibanda fell to a quicker delivery from Afridi for 80 for 2, the Zimbabweans couldn't come back.
Timycen Maruma (10) and Chigumbura fell in the same Afridi over and although Taylor survived to the end, he hit just three fours. Zimbabwe needed 32 off the last over to win but managed six singles to underline the lack of threat.
Live Score, News & WC 2019 Updates


By Si Dayong and Wang Haotian
NYALA, June 5 (ChinaMil) -- The 13th Chinese peacekeeping engineer detachment to Darfur of Sudan wrapped up the upgrading and renovation task for the Nyala International Airport on May 31, 2017, local time after 131 days of continuous work, ensuring the smooth passage of this "artery in the air" with high-quality and efficient construction.
Nyala is the second largest city in Sudan and the Nyala International Airport is an important air transport hub in the country. The Nyala International Airport announced an undated shutdown at the end of December last year because of aging of the airport facility, greatly impacting the United Nations peacekeeping operations, transportation of humanitarian supplies and travels of local people.
The just-deployed 13th Chinese peacekeeping engineer detachment to Darfur of Sudan undertook the upgrading and renovation task for the airport in middle January this year at the request of the local government and the United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).
After continuous construction by the Chinese peacekeepers over nearly one week, the airport restored its basic functions and resumed service.
"The Chinese engineers have played the role of a bridge and a link in dealing with this emergency, laying a solid foundation for exchanges and cooperation between the UNAMID and the Sudanese government," said Brig. Gen. Gage, commander of the Southern Darfur Theater of the UNAMID.
To further improve various supporting facilities at the airport, the Chinese peacekeepers continued the hard work for long hours in high temperatures and heat every day, and cleared areas totaling more than 500,000 square meters, built 12 kilometers of airport ring roads, and dug and cleaned 4,500 meters of drainage ditches in the more than four months that followed. Currently various facilities of the airport have been recovered for normal operation.
The governor of South Darfur paid a special visit to the construction site after seeing the changes of the airport during a flight and expressed gratitude to Chinese engineers. "Thank you for your unremitting efforts, and you are true friends of the Sudanese people," said the governor.
The manager of the Nyala International Airport issued the Certificate of Honor to the Chinese engineers at the completion ceremony on May 31 for their outstanding performance.
The certificate read: "Thank the Chinese engineers for their great efforts in the construction of the Nyala International Airport, and we will always remember your help to us."


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In an abrupt exec shuffle at Gallic commercial broadcaster TF1, Philippe Balland has replaced Laurent Storch as chairman of TF1 Prods.
He had been expected to step down at the end of the month to pursue an as-yet-unspecified career outside TF1, said a network source. Storch has a good track record at the free-to-air network. He joined in 1997, rising to head of programming in 2008 and production head last year.
Former journalist and novelist Balland, who has been at TF1 since 2000, will become chairman of production; Benoit Louvet, a former deputy director of acquisitions, will take over Storch’s post as chairman of TF1 Films Prods.
Nathalie Laurent, artistic director for French drama, will now report to Jean-Francois Lancelier, the director general of TF1 network, programming and TF1 Group production. The youth program unit, which also fell under Storch’s oversight, will be headed by Fabrice Bailly.
Over the last 18 months, France has seen market fragmentation, which hit core channel TF1’s June ratings, down to 22.2%, 1.1% below June 2011. But, as a whole, the TF1 Group has weathered fragmentation well thanks to market share growth at its DTT channels TMC and NT1.
TF1 Films co-produced “The Intouchables,” which brought a video distribution windfall, helping to boost TF1’s rights revenues 31% to €38.1 million ($47.6 million) for the first quarter.


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With Valentine’s Day around the corner, we are posting this delicious and romantic Valentine’s “Dinner for Two” from our dear friend, chef, and WAM supporter Cristina Ferrare. author of “Food For Thought,” who is laying out a menu that allows us to splurge a little on this romantic night. For example, note the cocktail, which is not part of our usual brain-health recommendations (always make sure to check with your doctor about whether alcohol is okay for you).
The cranberries in the cocktail contain ursolic acid which may play a role in preventing brain cells from deteriorating, The salad contains pommegranates—high concentrations of polyphenols—and walnuts, rich in DHA, a type of Omega-3 fatty acid; all great for brain protection. Also, be sure to use organic, pasture-raised turkey for your main course.
- Love Potion Martini
- Heart Healthy Pappardelle Pasta with Turkey Bolognese
- Butter Lettuce with Greek Feta, Roasted Walnuts & Shallot Vinaigrette, French Baguette!
- Flourless Chocolate Cake!
I want to make this evening stress free. This is an easy dinner to prepare for a romantic evening with that special someone. The Bolognese sauce can be made up to two days before, it actually tastes better. The shallot vinaigrette can be made the day before and stored in a tightly closed mason jar in the refrigerator.
One note on the Chocolate Cake. It is sweet and dense, but I am giving myself a hall pass and will have a small serving after the dinner with a lovely glass of Muscat or Riesling, and an espresso!
I know your heart beats for everyone you love and deeply care for! Take care of it and each other! I hope you enjoy your evening with that special someone!
LOVE POTION MARTINI!
Place your Martini glass in the freezer for an hour before preparing and serving!
- 1.5 oz Mount Gay Rum
- 1.5 oz Citron Vodka
- 1.5 oz Peach Schnapps
- 4.5 oz Cranberry Juice
- Fresh mint (2 small fresh mint stems)
- 6 thin slices of Jalapeno (optional)
In a shaker with ice add the Rum, Vodka, Peach Schnapps, Cranberry Juice and gently shake back and forth. Pour into a martini glass and serve.
PAPPARDELLE PASTA WITH TURKEY BOLOGNESE
Serves 6 to 8
- 1 large white onion, quartered
- 1 small carrot cut into four pieces
- 1 celery rib cut into four pieces
- 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1-1/2 lbs. ground turkey, dark meat
- 2 turkey sausages casings removed
- 1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 cup low fat milk
- 1/3 cup dry white wine
- 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 (28-ounce) can tomato puree
- ½ teaspoon Stevia
- 1- cup water plus additional as needed
- 8 oz. Pappardelle pasta
- 2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup fresh basil, chopped coarsely
It helps if you line up the ingredients first before you start to cook.
In a food processor add onion and process into small pieces. Set aside.
Pulse chop carrot and celery into small pieces. Set aside.
Heat a saucepan on medium-high until hot, add the olive oil and heat for 30 seconds. Add the onions, reduce heat to medium, and sauté for 2 minutes. Add the carrot and celery, sauté for 2 minutes.
Add the ground turkey and turkey sausage and use a metal spatula to break up the meat. Sprinkle on salt and pour in the milk, continuing to break up the meat.
Cook, reducing the milk until the meat starts to sizzle, about 10 minutes. Add the wine, and mix well. Continue to cook, reducing the wine and you hear the sizzle again.
Reduce heat to low, add tomato paste, stir in completely and keep mixing for at least 30 seconds.
Add the tomato puree, Stevia, and water mix well. Cover and simmer on medium low heat for 1-1/2 hours, stirring often. If you see the sauce is getting too thick, add more water, ¼ cup at a time.
Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain well and pour it back into the pot you boiled it in.
Turn the heat to high, add several ladles of the sauce and mix together to heat the pasta and sauce together.
Serve in heated pasta bowls. Using tongs add a serving of the Pasta into each bowl, ladle on a generous amount of sauce, and sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top. Garnish with basil. Serve immediately.
BUTTER LETTUCE WITH FETA, WALNUTS, & SHALLOT VINAIGRETTE, & WARM CRUNCHY BAGUETTE!
- 1/4 cup walnuts chopped
- 1 head of butter lettuce, rinsed and spun dry
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt3 to 4 tablespoons of Shallot Vinaigrette
- 1/2 cup Greek feta cheese, crumbled
- 6 tablespoons pomegranate seeds or 8 fresh raspberries sliced (when they’re sliced they look like hearts)
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped Italian parsley
- 1 small baguette
Toast the walnuts by placing them in a small dry frying pan. Turn the heat to medium and toss and shake the nuts back and forth until they have browned and released their fragrant oils, about 4 to 5 minutes. You will be able to small the aroma. Be careful not to burn the walnuts they will end up tasting rancid. Place in a small bowl and set aside.
Pre-heat oven 350F
Bake for 15 minutes
Place 10 to 12 leaves of the butter lettuce in a salad bowl.
Sprinkle salt over the lettuce and pour 3 tablespoons of the dressing over the lettuce, and gently toss. If you feel the salad is too dry and needs more dressing, add 1 tablespoon at a time.
Evenly distribute the lettuce among 6 to 8 plates. Garnish with feta cheese, pomegranate seeds or raspberries, parsley and walnuts. Tear off pieces of the baguette and serve on the side.
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped shallot
- 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Combine the mustard and shallot in a bowl, and whisk in the olive oil slowly. Continue to whisk to incorporate all the ingredients until smooth. Add the rice wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar and lemon juice. Whisk to blend all ingredients until smooth. Add salt. You will have extra vinaigrette left over. This vinaigrette will keep in an airtight container for up to a week in the refrigerator.
FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE!
Yes, this cake is extremely rich, creamy and decadent and I very rarely bake or eat like this any longer, HOWEVER, every once in a great while I just go for it and when I do I want to make it worth-while, and this flourless chocolate cake never disappoints. It is so dense and chocolatey that a small slice will satisfy the chocolate lover in you! ENJOY the rest of your evening!
- ¾ organic unsalted butter cut up into pieces plus 1-1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter for greasing the pan
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 10 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
- 5 large egg yolks, at room temperature (set 3 egg whites aside; save the other 2 for an egg-white omelet)
- ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons organic sugar1 tablespoon instant espresso, dissolved in ½ cup hot water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Pinch of salt
- Parchment paper
Use half of the 1-1/2 tablespoons of butter to grease the inside of an 8 or 9 inch round cakepan.
Line the pan with parchment paper; grease the paper with the other half of the butter. Dust with the cocoa powder.
In top of a double boiler over simmering water, add the chocolate and butter, and melt completely. Mix together well using a wooden spoon and set aside to cool, for 30 minutes.
Use a mixer with a wire whisk on medium-high to beat the egg yolks, ¼ cup of sugar, coffee, vanilla, and salt for 5 minutes, until the mixture is pale and thick. With the mixer on medium low, slowly add the cooled chocolate mixture; beat until well incorporated.
In a clean bowl, beat the egg whites using a clean wire whisk until foamy. Gradually add 2 tablespoons of sugar, beating until medium -firm peaks form. Gently fold half of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture. Fold in the remaining egg whites just until no streaks remain.
Pre-heat the oven to 300 F. Pour the batter into the pan and spread evenly.
Bake for 40 minutes, until the cake puffs slightly and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out moist. Do not overbake. Cool on a rack for 30 minutes.
Run a butter knife around the inside of the pan to loosen the cake; then invert it onto a flat plate. Gently lift off the pan and peel off the paper. Cool at room temperature for 1 hour; refrigerate for 2 hours.
Slice the cake into small slices, it is very rich and a little goes a long way, dipping your knife into hot water and wiping it dry before you cute each slice.
- ½ cup organic unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped into small pieces
- 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
To make the glaze, combine the butter and chocolate in a double boiler over simmering water and melt, whisking until smooth. Whisk in the corn syrup until the glaze is smooth and shiny. Set the cake on a wire rack over a large baking sheet. Pour the warm glaze over the center of the cake. The glaze should cover the surface evenly, spilling over the edges and down the sides, with all the excess falling onto the baking sheet. Refrigerate for 2 hours, or until firm.
COOKS NOTE; Dip your knife into hot water and wipe with paper towel to dry before you cut each slice.
“EAT, LOVE & LIVE “WELL”!

domain: food


text:
Welcome to the delicious world of
Larry Read is an employee of Cash & Carry Warehouse in Pleasant Hill and
has been doing Deep-Fried Turkey demonstrations for many years.
Now, Larry will show you the easy to follow steps to make that perfect Deep-Fried Turkey.
You may be asking, "Deep fried... Won't that be greasy?" The answer is, "No!" The oil used to fry
the turkey is 350 degrees Fahrenheit. At such a high temperature,
the outside surface and the inside cavity of the turkey is instantly seared, sealing in all the natural flavors and juices and keeping out that
Ok, Let's Start With Step 1
To begin, we will determine the amount of oil needed. Lower the turkey into the pot and begin filling the pot with water. Stop once the water level covers the turkey. Now, remove the turkey and make a mark at the new water level on the pot. You will use the same amount of oil in place of the water.
If you are using a frozen turkey, you must thaw it completely! Once your turkey is thawed, or if you are using a fresh turkey, wash and pat dry with lint-free towels. If your turkey came with a
pop-up-when-done indicator, remove and discard it.
Now you are ready to inject the turkey with any flavor marinade. We stock a wide variety of
injectable marinades and shakes. Instructions are included with injectors. Coat the turkey inside and out with a Cajun Seasoning of your choice. When you are finished, we recommend that you cover the turkey and place it in the refrigerator overnight.
When you are ready to start Deep-frying, pour the necessary amount of peanut oil into the pot. Remember to fill the pot to the mark you
made earlier when measuring with water. This will help to avoid any oil overflowing as it heats. Now, light the burner and place your stock pot on the stove. Check the oil's temperature with a deep fry thermometer. When the oil reaches 350 degrees Fahrenheit, slowly lower the turkey into the pot.
BE VERY CAREFUL! USE OVEN MITTS FOR YOUR PROTECTION. THE HOT OIL CAN SPLATTER!
After just a few seconds in the hot oil, notice the surface has already begun to change color. This is due to the surface being instantly seared; sealing in the juices and the grease out. Deep fry your turkey for about 3-1/2 minutes per pound of turkey. Maintain the temperature at 350 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the process. So, a 12 pound bird should be done in just under 45 minutes.
During this time, you may want to prepare your cooking area for the carving. Make sure to sanitize the preparation area with a food approved sanitizing solution. This is especially important if you are using the same surface where you injected the turkey. Once you reached your calculated cooking time, lift the turkey from the pot using oven mitts or other protective wear. Place the turkey in a pan or on paper to drain and cool. Check the internal temperature of the thickest part of the turkey. It should be at least 165 degrees.
Now cut yourself a nice big juicy slice... and take a bite... and enjoy the best turkey you ever tasted.
You too can Deep-Fry your very own turkey at home. You will need
the following items:
Stock pot with basket (or other lifting device) and lid.
Propane Stove ..
Peanut Oil, Marinade & Seasonings
Before you begin, review these safety tips!
Remember, these cooking instructions are strictly for OUTSIDE USE ONLY!
Never attempt this indoors on a kitchen stove!
Check all gas hose fittings and stoves for leaks before lighting.
NEVER LEAVE YOUR COOKER UNATTENDED!
Do not fill pot over half way with oil as this may cause some oil to overflow
and start a fire while cooking your turkey.
Never allow the oil temperature to exceed 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
If a grease fire should occur, turn off the cooker and cover the pot.
Avoid the use of alcohol while operating your deep fryer.
Happy Frying and Enjoy!
Copyright © 1999-2015 Cash & Carry Warehouse


text:
It seems I am destined towards abusive relationships. It might be flowing from the genes my mother transferred to me during conception. I walked out from one where physical fights were the order of the day right into another one with a different twist of things. Contrary to what you might think, this second relationship has no physical abuse. It is merely psychological. It is the worst. We don’t recognize emotionally abusive relationships as they are harder to report. People would want physical evidence which is harder to provide in this case. Hence the victims continue bottling up all the abuse and the stories are harder to come out.
Men are like children we are told. They act like it hence they are rightfully branded so. Of the few characteristic traits I own, the best happen to be jealousy and vengeance. Let us call them vices. They are highly activated at the moment because I, just like any other woman, does not know what to do.
When you are a keeper and no one knows how to keep you, it gets tough. You keep them, they don’t keep you. You get hurt, anger then stems in and before you know it, a suicide, homicide or murder has been committed. In matters of relationships, things get ugly fast, faster than light travels.
The other woman is his ex. Her name is Mercy. I know that she is the one he would want to marry. Why else would he keep open the tabs of communication between them? He does not treat me the way he treated her or treats her.
Oh well, he was new in the game at that time. We have had this conversation an uncountable number of times. The first couple of times tears flowed. And on his knees he went with “baby baby”. Over time, I hardened, there are no tears anymore. A little hurting sound in my voice was all he got the last time we ‘re-talked’ which wasn’t so many days back.
I don’t want you talking to her.
But we are just friends..
Empty promises. That is all he offers. He says he is not doing anything wrong which we both know is theoretical.
She texted me first. I only love you.
Yet, in his gallery pictures of girls lie in a symmetrical order. None of mine appear. Only of the other woman.
You have a beautiful smile.
You are really pretty.
In the DMs he slides in,
Hey, mambo.. Can I please have your number?
Petty excuses because he thinks he has an innocent face to go along with the mischief. He should be having female friends, I shouldn’t deny him that, he always backs himself up.
Back to MK, the other woman. She texts him at night. She tells him she is having problems with her boyfriend (crying emoji). The dummy on this other end tells her he is there for her. Everything will be okay even though she refuses to mention the exact problem. The comforting session goes on for quite a while. As they close off the chat, she tells him he is a good guy. I laugh at that.
In another session, she tells him how hard her long hair is to comb (extentions). Another laugh stiffles from me.
They plan meet ups. I wonder if they are both retarded and do not understand the clear meaning of a break up. As I said earlier though, she is the girl he wants to marry. I’m a mere game to him.
Mee Katie, the other woman next to Mercy. As I gather, she came first or so does Mr Man here say. She is a high school student. She is finishing her form four either this year or the next. They live around the same area, Umoja and their residence “umojanified” them.
He asks her whether she still loves him. The girl is reluctant on the response but like with the girls on IG, he pushes on. Someone beside me must be attracted to him out there. He is going to find out. When I ask why they are still communicating, she texted me first is his trained lie.
The other woman is saved as Wambui IG. From her, I received a blow I never thought would hit me. He was asking her to have a sex chat with him. She said she doesn’t know how to go about it, probably out of modesty. He said he would teach her. The girl again said no. When I confronted him, he apologized. Apparently he slipped.
Head in my hands, I was ashamed of what ‘my man’ is doing behind my back. I called things off. He begged and begged and since I am the miss-two-goody-shoes, I took him back in the hope that he would change. If anything he is getting worse. He knows, I will always be around.
Another year starts out for you today, I’m not hoping you would change, do you completely. Have a long life im order to get the chance of dating both Mercy and Katie all over again. That is your plan, isn’t it? To get the other woman besides me?
Happy Birthday Robinson! 😕

domain: literature


text:
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domain: medical


text:
LOL! We have not used the spring onions that I bought a week ago at the farm stand, with the intention of grilling them, b/c D likes to do that. So I mentioned them when we were considering dinner plans, and said why don’t we build a dinner around them, and D said yes, great. So he thought maybe fish – we can cook the fish however, and grill the spring onions. I said yo there’s leftover rice! But what about a green veggie. Brussels sprouts? No, cooked them already. Hm. Favas, then? OK, great. It’s a deal.
And then, the only thing we didn’t do is grill the spring onions. LOL!
Having bought tilapia last time, I decided to go for another simple fish we’d liked before, which is labeled rock cod and also red snapper. Whatever – it’s good 🙂 Also, only $9.99 today. I bought close to a pound of it. I thought I was going to microwave or bake it in parchment, but I remembered wrong, and the baked fish we had recently was not in parchment. I ended up using the baking temperature and glass pan from that recipe, but going with D’s suggestions for flavors to add (notably b/c we don’t have any ginger, so couldn’t do the previous one again). The previous one was coated with marinade, and did not dry out while baking. The marinade was a Cuised bunch of flavors, rubbed in a bit, but this was not going to be like
that, so I started protecting the fish by drizzling some olive oil over each of the two fillets and rubbing it in on both sides. Then I salted moderately, ground pepper over the top, and added one monster clove of garlic, very thinly sliced, and a bunch of thinly sliced red onion that I had soaked well over 5 minutes in cold water and patted dry, then a lot of chopped cilantro (to use it up) and most of a very thinly sliced pesticide-free lemon. I poured out a very scant 1/2 cup of the an old white wine that D had given up on (corked, I think this one was) and used a spoon to drip it over the fish. The toppings held in place, which was great. Then I let the fish sit on the countertop till time to cook (probably at least 1/2 hour till D finished buying and stacking the wood that R had found at Urban Ore). I set the timer for 12 minutes baking time at 475, but was not satisfied with the “flakes easily with fork” criterion, and gave it another 5 minutes. It turned out to be delicious! I served out just a little more than the larger fillet, so there are great leftovers for Sunday, as planned.
And D used only half the leftover rice. He cut some red onion and cooked it I think in butter till soft, then added the rice. Easy. He also shelled all the favas today and I blanched them, starting with 6 minutes for the monster-large three (not in photo), then 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 minute (joining the smallest ones that are in tow batches in the picture). I drained them into a colander and left for D to pop out of their skins. This bag of favas was about 1 lb 3.5 oz as bought, 4 oz after shelling, blanching, and popping out of their skins. That is to say, the edible part is about 1/5 of the bought part. Since they were just over $4/lb as bought, the edible part is about $20/lb. Luxury food for sure. D wants to grow them!
I spooned some of the liquid in the fish dish over the rice, served out the fish and spooned out more, and there is still a lot for the leftovers. This turned out to be a really good dinner! D suggested we have another bottle of the Haut Marin Cuvee Marine 2017 from Eric Stauffenegger, via The Wine Mine, and it was fine with the meal, though something starker might have been optimal. It’s a really nice and drinkable wine.
This is really good – I’ve discovered that the avocado stands out more if you do not add salsa to the nachos. I decided to take a different picture of the nachos this time – while they were still in pieces 🙂 We used chips ‘Home Made’ brand chips this time, since they’re still on sale at the Bowl; Cheese Board “Cheap Jack” (Monterey Jack they keep very low priced); the last of the jar of Mezzetta jalapeno slices, cut up; avocado chunks; and La Victoria mild green taco sauce over the top. Delicious!


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Paintings by Mark Bradley-Shoup. More images below.
A selection of recent paintings by artist Amanda Brazier (click here for previous post). Not only are the paint pigments made from the soils where Brazier lives, her paintings emerge through stacking and weaving, processes meant to resemble the physical structures and textures of the home. See more images below.


text:
We are at the end. The Sunday of the Fulfillment. The last Sunday of the church year. Next week, if there is a next week, we start all over again with Advent, looking toward the second appearing of Christ as we prepare to celebrate His first appearing. But today marks the end.
The Bible begins “in the beginning,” when God created the heavens and the earth. The Bible ends at the end, when the heavens and the earth God made in the beginning come to their end. What has a beginning must also have an end. God made the heavens and earth out of nothing, ex nihilo, in the beginning. What’s left at the end will not be not nothing, but a new heavens and a new earth, a new creation, which has already come in the crucified and risen body of Jesus. His salvation will last forever, Isaiah says. His righteousness will never fail.
Can we be sure of it? As sure as Jesus is sure. Jesus predicted only a handful of things. He predicted His own death and resurrection. At least three times He said that He would suffer at the hands of the religious leaders, be crucified, and on the third day rise from the dead. And He did, just as He said He would. That fact alone should cause us to sit up and take notice of everything He said, because let’s face it – resurrections don’t happen every day. In fact, this kind of resurrection happened only once.
Jesus predicted that Peter would betray Him three times before the rooster crowed, and he did, just as Jesus said He would. Jesus predicted that Jerusalem would be overrun and the temple destroyed, and it was in AD 70 by the Romans, just as Jesus said. Jesus said that the world as we know it, the sun, the moon, the stars, the constellations, the planets, the galaxies, the vast reaches of space, in inner reaches of the earth, will all be destroyed. It will happen just as He said it would.
There is no reason to doubt what Jesus is saying. He is the expert on beginnings and endings. Jesus is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. He was there in the beginning when God made the heavens and the earth. Through Him, the creative Word, all things were made. And He will be there at the end, reigning over all things, raising the dead, dispensing salvation, doing justice to sin, judging the world in His righteousness.
The prophet Isaiah spoke about the end, which he saw through the lens of Jesus’ coming death and resurrection. He preached to Israel to prepare them for what was coming. “The Torah will go out from me.” Jesus is the Torah, the Word of God, incarnate, in human flesh. He came from the right hand of God to save us, to suffer, die, and rise for our salvation, to fulfill the Torah and the prophets with Himself.
“My justice will become a light for the nations.” Jesus came to do justice to our sin, to bear the burden of our guilt and our shame, to take the punishments of the Law on Himself.
“My righteousness draws near speedily.” Jesus is the righteousness of God, who was made sin for us, even though He himself knew no sin, so that in Him, by God’s own declaration, you and I and all who trust in Christ might become the righteousness of God. A sinner doesn’t stand before God on the basis of his own righteousness. He doesn’t have any. You don’t have any, nor do I, no matter how good you’ve been lately. We stand on Christ’s righteousness, a righteousness that drew near to us, became one with us, and brought us in His own flesh to the right hand of God.
“My salvation is on the way.” Salvation is coming to a world that doesn’t even seek it. Oh, it’s a very religious world, but the religious world is trying to deal with God on its own terms. You don’t earn salvation, God sends it, delivers it, applies it. The world didn’t ask for Christ, He came to this world without invitation. And He came to you without waiting for you to decide it would be nice to be saved. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. While we were enemies of God, Christ reconciled us to the Father.”
“My arm will bring justice to the nations.” In Jesus, God stretched out His hand, He extended His arm, He reached out and down to a down and out world. He brought justice, perfect justice, the kind of justice you will find in no courtroom on the face of this earth. “The wages of sin is death,” and He died for it all. There is God’s justice in fullest measure. The gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ. That too is God’s justice – He justifies the ungodly in His Son Jesus Christ.
He does it not just for a chosen few, but for the many, literally for all. When Jesus said, “Disciple the nations,” He didn’t mean, “Make disciples of a representative few,” a kind of diverse country club on a quota system. He meant the nations, as many as He died for, and He died for all. As many as are covered by His blood, and HIs blood covers all. God’s right arm embraced all on the cross, as Jesus said, “When I am lifted up, I will draw all to myself.”
Old testament Israel always need to be reminded that it wasn’t some kind of country club of Yahweh’s favorites. “Even the distant islands will look to me,” God says. People as far away and removed from Israel as you can get will look to the true and living God and wait in hope for my arm, for Jesus Christ, God’s Son and the world’s Savior.
Isaiah says “Look.” Look up in the heavens, look at the earth. It all looks so permanent, so solid, so sure. But the heavens will vanish like a puff of smoke, the earth will unravel like an old shirt, the world’s population will perish like flies. A disturbing image? You bet it is. We rely on permanence and predictability. We make certain assumptions, like the sun comes up in the morning, and the least bit of unpredictability throws us for a loss. We can’t even handle a surprise rain storm around here. Coming from the Midwest, I always have a little laugh when we have a half inch of rain and the tv news goes on “storm watch.” If it ever snows here, I’m going into hiding until it melts.
We’re on “Jesus Watch.” Watch. Wake up. Be alert. Salvation is coming, a salvation that will last forever. Righteousness is near, a righteousness that will never fail. Jesus said, “No one knows the day or the hour.” The angels don’t. They stand ready, watching, waiting for the word to go out and harvest the earth. Even Jesus didn’t know at the time He was speaking. He does now in His glory, but He didn’t then in His humility. He told His curious disciples, “It’s not for you to know the times or the seasons.” That’s a corporate secret between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
“Be like household servants,” Jesus says. The master goes away; he leaves his servants in charge, each with his or her own assigned task, and he tells the servant at the door to keep watch. What he doesn’t tell them is when he’ll come back. What if he had? What if the master had said to his servants, I’ll be back a year from now, on November 23rd. What do you think would happen? You know how workers are. You know how we are. We’d kick back, relax, hang out, have a party, polish off the master’s wine collection, let the house run down, the grass grow. And as the day drew near, we’d start to panic, trying to get the house in order, and being the procrastinators that we are, we couldn’t do it. Instead of greeting our master with joy, we’d be in a panic.
Jesus disappears, and says, “I’ll be back in a flash. Keep watch.” We don’t know when. Jesus names the unlikely times, the four watches of the night – evening (9 pm), midnight, the crowing of the rooster (3 pm), dawn. When most people are asleep, when the world is dark, when the world least expects Him. There He is.
“Don’t let him find you sleeping,” Jesus says. Let’s not go literalist here, or we’ll all have a case of insomnia. Sleep is a picture for unbelief, something done in the darkness. Don’t let him find you in unbelief, rejecting His goodness. That’s why Jesus never told His disciples the day or the hour of the end. The old Adam and old Eve are natural born procrastinators who would say, “Let’s live it up, do as we please, eat, drink, party till we drop, and we can repent on Tuesday before He returns on Wednesday and everything will be in order.
Jesus declines to give us that luxury of security. Today is the day to believe. Now is the time of your salvation. Don’t look to tomorrow; you don’t know that you have tomorrow. Don’t say to yourself, “I have time, I’ll look into it when I have a chance.” Today, now, this moment is a saving moment for you, in which Christ comes to you and forgives you, feeds you His own body and blood, keeps you in the faith, washes away your sin, prepares to present you holy, spotless, blameless on His big day.
So then, how do we live as servants on the watch, waiting for the Master to return at an unspecified day and hour? Not in a panic, not in fear or dread. He’s coming to bring salvation and righteousness. He’s coming to raise the dead, to vindicate faith, to give eternal life to His believers. This is something to look forward to.
Jude, the brother of James, the other brother of Jesus, has a few words for life in the last days. Build yourselves up in your most holy faith. Not your faith, the faith. Don’t focus on your believing, focus on what you believe. Grow in your knowledge of God’s Word and doctrine. The end times are a time of bad religion and false messiahs. God’s people need to be wise and discerning. These are no times for ignorant believers. The choir sang 1 Cor 16: Be watchful. Be ready. Stand firm in your faith (know what you believe), be courageous, strong, and let all you do be done in love.
Pray in the Holy Spirit. Watchful servants pray. They pray for each other, for the world, for those who do not yet believe. The words “watch and pray” go together in the Bible. The wonderful thing is that you are never alone in prayer. You pray in the Spirit, who prays for you and carries your prayer to the Son who offers it to the Father.
Keep yourselves in God’s love. How do you do that? By hearing His words of love to you, by receiving His gifts of love that Christ died to win for you. As things go from bad to worse to unbearable, it will not be easy to know that God is love just by looking at the sky or the earth. God will not look like love when the heavens vanish like smoke and the earth unravels. The face of God’s love is the face of Jesus. The sound of God’s love is your Baptism, the Word of forgiveness. God’s feast of love is the Supper of His sacrificial body and blood. Keep close to these things, cling to them as you wait for mercy, the mercy of Jesus that will bring you eternal life.
Don’t think only about yourself. It’s not just about you. Faith has peripheral vision. Jude says, “Be merciful to those who doubt.” Help the weak in faith. Those of you who are strong and knowledgable, help those who are weak and doubting. Grab as many as you can. We are God’s Israel for the end times. Our work, as servants in the Master’s house, is to prepare the world for the appearing of its Savior. Do it with mercy mixed with fear. If you see someone in a boat about to go over a waterfall, you would warn them, wouldn’t you? You might throw them a rope. You might even attempt to swim out to them, but not without first tying yourself off to a solid rock. Be anchored in Jesus, the Rock of your salvation, when you swim out to others. By no means would you climb in the boat with them. That would be reckless and foolish. Don’t join others in their sin; instead rescue them. You have the good news in your ears and on your lips. Jesus Christ died for your sins and was raised for your justification. That applies to everyone and anyone, and you, as a baptized believer, have the privilege to say so.
And so, on this last day that celebrates the Last Day, the watchword is “Watch!” Watch soberly, watch eagerly, watch expectantly – salvation is coming in Jesus,
To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you without blemish before the presence of His glory with rejoicing, to the only God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all the ages, and now, and unto all the ages. Amen.


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Mittai Theruvu or Sweet Meet (SM Street is one of the most popular and historic trade centers in Kerala. It is Situated in the Kozhikode or Calicut Town in northern Kerala. This is one of the most busiest streets and Shopping spots in Calicut. The area will be crowded always, especially in the evenings. There are many Famous Bakeries Situated in this street. Earlier this street was famous for Kozhikkodan Halwa or Sweet Meat (In English). Now a days, one can buy anything and everything including Kozhikkodan Halwa, banana Chips and variety of other sweets, garments, footwear, Bangles, Kitchen Utensils etc.
Origin of the Name SM Street or Mittai Theruvu
The Street got this name by from the Europeans. In earlier times, The Street was filled with Kozhikkodan Halwa shops. The Europeans Called the Halwa as Sweet Meat. So they named the Street Sweet Meet Street or SM Street. The earlier name of SM Street was ‘Huzoor Road’.
History of SM Street
With a history of more than 500 years, This street has been visited by several people including Arabs, Chinese, Portuguese and Dutch. It was in this town the famous Portuguese Explorer Vasco Da Gama landed in 1498. The Street also witnessed the migration of Gujarati’s to Calicut. The Coin press of Zamoorin (Ancient ruler of Calicut) was situated in the street. There are a number of new and old buildings situated inside the street, including a few ones built by the Portuguese.
SM Street Information
You can find some well known Restaurants and Bakreies too here. The famous Kozhikkodan Halwa is the attraction if SM Street. Many varieties of Halwa especially the Black Halwa are available. Another popular commodity is Banana Chips. Every Visitor should taste at least one of the above items while visiting SM Street. The oldest Film theatre (Radha Theatre (1937)), the oldest bakeries, Oldest photo Studios, textile shops etc are near this street. The Khadi Emporium of Calicut is at the starting point of the street. A Spacious Library is also there near the SM Street. Calicut International Airport is about 25 km away from SM Street.
While visiting this street, One should remember SK Pottekatt, The famous writer of Malayalam who loved this town, and written a lot about the place. Especially in his ‘Oru Theruvinte Kadha’ (The Story of a street).


Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sent a cable to all US missions overseas ordering diplomats not to meet with Iranian opposition groups without specific approval because it could further exacerbate tensions with the Iranian regime.
“Many exiled Iranian opposition groups try to engage U.S. officials regularly to gain at least the appearance of tacit support and enhance their visibility and clout,”Pompeo said, according to a copy of the cable obtained by CNN. He noted that many of these groups”have previously or are currently using violent means in support of their political aims.”
“Direct U.S. government engagement with these groups could prove counterproductive to our policy goal of seeking a comprehensive deal with the Iranian regime that addresses its destabilizing behavior,”Pompeo wrote.
The cable’s existence, first reported by Bloomberg, is coming to light in the aftermath of the deadly US drone strike that President Donald Trump ordered last week to kill Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani.
Pompeo sent the instructions early this week and his indirect reference to attempts at diplomatic outreach to Iran comes as the Trump administration has refused to issue a visa to Iran’s top diplomat, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
In recent days, Trump administration officials have not laid out any specific steps they are taking to engage in diplomacy with Iran, though they have said they are willing to do so. Iran, over the last year, has not acted upon any of Trump’s comments that he is willing to meet Iranian leadership, but Zarif said publicly he was willing to discuss prisoner exchanges.
The cable lists a number of Iranian opposition groups, including Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, known as the MEK, and five other Iranian opposition groups that are off limits without specific approval. John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser, has previously said the MEK is a”viable opposition”to the current Iranian regime.
Last month Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s personal attorney, met with Iranian opposition groups that are linked to the MEK. Bolton and Giuliani have also given paid speeches on the group’s behalf. During one of those speeches last year, Giuliani called for regime change in Iran.
The MEK, which was previously on a US terrorism list, paid Bolton to give speeches on its behalf and once employed Giulianir.
Pompeo warned in the cable that it would be”counterproductive”to engage these groups. He said some of them have histories of using violence to achieve political objectives and that some of them seek to overthrow the Iranian regime.
Given the escalating tensions with Iran in the wake of the strike on Soleimani, the cable appears to be an attempt to demonstrate that the Trump administration wants to avoid the perception that it is conspiring with opposition groups to push for regime change.
In the cable, Pompeo cited the administration’s willingness to seek a”comprehensive deal”with Iran that covers a range of Iranian activities including”its destabilizing behavior, including its nuclear program, missile program, support for terrorism, and malign regional behavior.”
The State Department has not replied to a request for comment on the cable.
It’s not clear which Iranian officials the US administration would engage. In an NPR interview aired Tuesday, Zarif said he had requested the visa 25 days ago but the US State Department told him it”didn’t have enough time to issue a visa.”
In an interview with CNN’s Fred Pleitgen, Zarif said he wasn’t concerned about the Trump administration barring him entry to the US. When asked about his reaction to being denied the visa, Zarif answered with a laugh,”Well, what are they afraid of?”
Pompeo, speaking at the State Department on Tuesday, said that”we don’t comment on visa matters for those traveling to the United States,”and added that”we will always comply with our obligations”under the UN charter.
US officials are not completely disengaging with groups who oppose the Iranian regime. On Tuesday Brian Hook, the State Department special representative for Iran, met with leadership from the Simon Wiesenthal Center leadership, a Jewish human rights organization.
Members of the center praised the Trump administration for the Soleimani strike and one of them urged additional killings of Iranian leaders.
“The entire leadership of Iran denies the existence of the Holocaust and we have to worry about how we treat them. If they are going to kill American soldiers, we have an obligation to do what President Obama did to Osama bin Laden, what the President of Czechoslovakia did to Reinhard Heydrich, that should be done to the Iranian leaders,”Rabbi Marvin Hier, the founder of the center, said on Tuesday.
CNN’s Nicole Gaouette contributed to this report.
By Kylie Atwood,


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Late 17th C. Hunting Sword / Hanger Favoured by Naval Officers.
Originally a hunting sword these hangers were favoured by naval officers. Overall length 64cm.Their short size made them easier to wield on the crowded deck of a man-o-war. A similar sword can be seen in Swords for Sea Service vol. II, by May & Annis, sword no. 226. Antler grip. King's head makers mark on the blade for Wundes Johanness.

domain: design


New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said Monday that it wanted an urgent discussion in parliament on the role of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P. Chidambaram on the 2G spectrum scam.
Manmohan Singh and then finance minister Chidambaram were “an equal party” in the corruption scam, BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told reporters.
The party has moved a notice for discussion on the issue in the Rajya Sabha.
“We want an urgent discussion on the statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office yesterday (Sunday) distancing the prime minister from the 2G spectrum scam,” Javadekar said.
“He and then finance minister P. Chidambaram are an equal party in the decision,” he said.
The Rajya Sabha member added that they would press for a discussion in the house Tuesday.
A BJP leader said the two leaders were key targets of the party and it wanted action against them.
“Till Sep 8, we will keep demanding the resignation of prime minister and home minister,” a BJP leader told IANS.
The Prime Minister’s Office Sunday strongly rebutted allegations in a leading publication that Manmohan Singh had “looked the other way” despite being in the knowledge of irregularities in the allocation of 2G spectrum licences.


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By IE&M Research
Under a new scheme Noida Authority has reserved 10 plots for startups and 33% for expansion of existing industries. The aim is to provide entrepreneurs with a conducive environment for setting up industry and propel industrial growth. This is the first scheme to be launched since the new government came to power in UP. This scheme will be open round-the-clock till September 22, 2017.
Applicants will have to upload their project details along with the investment details and timelines for making the project functional. Allotment of plots up to 4,000 square metres will be done by lottery, applications for plots measuring above will be scrutinised by a screening committee. Under the scheme, the Authority has also introduced a special payment option. 20% will have to be paid upfront at the time of allotment, and the balance 80% will have to be paid in 10 instalments. Not only will the allotment procedure be made online, but the land will also be allotted within a short time. Very soon, another industrial scheme across two other sectors 156 and 157 in the city will be launched.


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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois State Fair has a new manager.
Luke Sailer of Chatham was appointed the Department of Agriculture’s Division Manager of Fair and Promotional Services. He previously was assistant Illinois State Fair manager. In addition to the state fair in Springfield, the division manages the Du Quoin State Fair, county fairs and horse racing.
The 25-year-old Carmi native succeeds Kevin Gordon, who retired after leading the fair in 2016 and 2017.
Agriculture Director Raymond Poe says the management experience Sailer gained as assistant state fair manager and his southern Illinois agricultural background make for a “winning combination.” Sailer says he wants to build on the success of past fairs “while continuing to modernize our events going forward.”
Sailer is the fourth state fair manager in three years.


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FS DARKER MOVIE REVIEW (Spoilers)
From the detail driven Masquerade Ball to the helicopter views of The Grace sailing in the Howe Sound, Fifty Shades Darker brings a richer, warmer love story to the screen. The production team of James Foley, John Schwartzman, Nelson Coates and E. L .James have painted the second story of the Fifty Shades trilogy in tones that convey warmth and comfort as a background to the beginning of Christian and Ana’s wanting more.
There are several additions to the cast from the first FSOG movie with Eric Johnson as Jack Hyde, Bella Heathcoate as Leila, Kim Bassinger as Elena Lincoln plus several new SIP employees.
While filming Darker and Freed back to back it was a busy 5 months of filming in Vancouver BC with an intense schedule for the cast and crew. The production team was busy with several room additions to Escala and filming at many new locations around Vancouver BC. The added rooms included Christian’s office, Ana’s closet area, a gym, Christians shower room and also the library with pool table.
The new look with Escala included new flooring and furnishings throughout. My favorite new feature was the long fireplace in the great room, as it is a perfect background for several of the scenes filmed in this room
The Masquerade Ball had to be the biggest job for the production team. While it was filmed at two locations in the movie it moves seamlessly from the entrance area filmed at Casa Mia to the inside of the tent at the Convention Center. Nelson Coates took a 180 degree turn from the Darker book description with his over the top décor right down to the menus and table settings. While watching the building of the tenting behind Casa Mia during filming I came to see that it would be very different from the book and I was super excited to see it in the movie. It proved to be a spectacular set with so many details and colors to take in. There is no “white pergola” to be seen anywhere.
Universal brought in a team to film the ball using 360 camera technologies and now have it available to be seen through VR glasses on your computer or phone through Oculus. This adds a new element to the ball and puts the viewer right in the middle of the room to see all the people including Ana and Christian.
Some of my favorite scenes from the movie are the sailing with The Grace and of course the Masquerade Ball. Jamie and Dakota brought a lot more emotion to their characters in this movie along with funny moments between them too.
Several scenes and lines were straight out of the book while screenwriter Niall Leonard added in some of his own flair with new ones. “Ladies and Gentlemen and Mia” is one of his best. I noticed that twice the Dr. Flynn line from the book “We must walk before we can run” was quoted but it seems Dr. Flynn was cut from the movie along with a few other scenes from the book. Niall Leonard shared that he tried to cut out anything that was repetitious and with doing that the needed scenes from the book then came more apparent. Yes, I did really miss seeing the Audi R8 in Darker.
The filming for the proposal was done inside the pool house at Rio Vista a private residence in Vancouver. It provided the perfect setting for the “hearts and flowers” proposal and gave the appearance of a beautiful floral garden. The set decorating was spot on to reflect the feel from the book and a perfect way to finish the movie.
The ending of Darker may not be as abrupt as the first movie with the elevator doors closing, but it definitely left us wanting more. Fifty Shades Freed opens February 2018 and should prove to be just as visually pleasing as Darker with the filming completed in France.
It’s Time To Get Darker….


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Monday, December 14, 2015
Mt Ninderry - Sunshine Coast
Mt Ninderry. Off early 6:30am, traffic light but steady. Can see our destination, cos it's standing a couple of hundred meters above the surrounding terrain, but which road will get us to the base. Turns out to be pretty well signposted.
A good little calf burner I've read on-line. Turns out to be true. Start with a well defined track, increase the gradient to steep, add a good pinch of gibbers, sprinkle with early morning dew and yep my calves are burning. The track levels out as we get close to the summit then provides some excellent viewing areas atop of large rock outcrops. A well used phase comes to mind: "It was worth the effort".


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Weekday programme Morning Brew is a chat and music show. Hosted by Phil Whelan, guests include regular contributors and drop-ins, who span topics from earnest current affairs to cookery to the arts. Catch it live: Monday to Friday 9.30am - 1pm
Manage series 1758201
Creato da RTHK.HK, autore scoperto da Player FM e dalla nostra community - Il copyright è detenuto dall'editore, non da Player FM, e l'audio viene riprodotto direttamente dal suo server. Clicca sul pulsante Iscriviti per rimanere aggiornato su Player FM, o incolla l'URL del feed in un altra app per i podcast.
RTHK' s The Works focuses on Hong Kong's arts and cultural scene. The Works features news and reviews of visual and performing arts, design, literary and other “ works ” . Added illumination comes from interviews with leading performers and producers, interspersed with updates on events affecting the development of the territory 's artistic and cultural life. There's also in – most weeks – a live studio performance. The Works is aired on RTHK 31 every Saturday at 16:00. We're on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RTHKTheWorks/ Instagram @rthktheworks Archive available later after broadcast. ** Please note that the programme air-time on TV is different with webcast time.


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North Korea Missile: It marks Pyongyang's sixth weapons test this year. (File)
North Korea fired an "unidentified projectile" early Thursday, Seoul said, its sixth apparent weapons test this year as the nuclear-armed country flexes its military muscles and ignores Washington's offers of talks.
The last time North Korea tested this many weapons in a month was in 2019, after high-profile negotiations between leader Kim Jong Un and then-United States president Donald Trump collapsed.
Since then, talks with the US have languished, and the country is reeling economically from biting international sanctions and a self-imposed coronavirus blockade.
"North Korea fired an unidentified projectile into the East Sea," Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, referring to the Sea of Japan.
Pyongyang fired two suspected cruise missiles on Tuesday, which are not banned under current UN sanctions on North Korea.
It also tested suspected ballistic missiles on January 14 and 17, and fired what it said were hypersonic missiles on January 5 and 11.
The string of sanction-busting tests drew global condemnation, including a closed-door meeting of the UN Security Council meeting.
The United States also imposed new sanctions in response, prompting an angry reply from North Korea, which last week hinted that it could resume nuclear and long-range weapons tests.
Pyongyang has not tested intercontinental ballistic missiles or nukes since 2017, and has continued to observe a self-imposed moratorium even after diplomacy with the United States stalled.
The North's saber-rattling comes at a delicate time in the region, with Kim's sole major ally China set to host the Winter Olympics next month and South Korea gearing up for a presidential election in March.
"The Kim regime is developing an impressive diversity of offensive weapons despite limited resources and serious economic challenges," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Seoul's Ewha University.
"Certain North Korean tests aim to develop new capabilities, especially for evading missile defenses," he added.
"Other launches are intended to demonstrate the readiness and versatility of missile forces that North Korea has already deployed."
After a decade in power, leader Kim has little to celebrate, with a Covid-battered economy causing food shortages at home, diplomacy with the United States stalled and biting sanctions taking their toll.
That may explain why North Korea has carried out five weapons tests in the last three weeks, analysts said earlier in the week -- and a dramatic demonstration of the nuclear-armed country's military prowess offers a quick win ahead of important domestic anniversaries.
The country is preparing to mark the 80th anniversary of the birth of Kim's father, late leader Kim Jong Il, in February, as well as the 110th birthday of the country's founding leader Kim Il Sung in April.
It may also be looking to conduct tests ahead of the start of the Beijing Winter Olympics next week, lest it anger its sole major ally China by raining missiles on its parade.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)


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According to the article by simply Valuates Reports, more than 3 or more. 5 billion dollars people will use online dating sites by 2025. Nevertheless , the figures don’t inform the whole scenario. More than half within the participants are just chinese dating scams searching for casual times, whereas 58% are looking for serious relationships. The research also revealed that men and women out of all ages use online dating. This is certainly an excellent signal for the future of online dating. In addition , millennials are more likely than elderly users to work with the assistance.
Online dating is becoming so popular it has sparked the creation of programs such as Tinder. These applications are used by more than 50 million persons every month. Every day, these users swipe about a billion situations. However , Tinder is a small portion of the complete online dating landscape. Some interesting online dating facts that you could want to know happen to be: 1 . Women of all ages send even more messages than males. 2 . Males initiate speak to: If you want to meet the right person, you should take a casual outfit for your profile photo.
With respect to research, more than half of both males and females use phony profiles in their online dating dating profiles. This means they’re lying about their legitimate identity or perhaps about their job. Some web based daters also use old photographs. If you’re buying a long-term spouse, online dating is a great opportunity to connect with people who write about your passions and opinions.
Another on line going out with fact is the particular one in some adults inside the U. Ring. has reached someone via an online dating site or app. This kind of percentage is certainly higher among LGB adults between the age range of 18 and forty-nine. Moreover, six-in-ten users admit their encounter online was overall positive. Of those, 14% mentioned that their experience was extremely positive when 43% mentioned that it was relatively positive. The remaining four-in-ten users describe the experience because negative.
The web dating war and the growth of social media happen to be helping this kind of industry grow. Moreover, persons believe that it is easier to start conversations web based than in actual life. Another important fact is that rejection is less most likely online. Which means online dating is actually a better approach to those who are scared of rejection. It is also noted that younger folks are more likely to use online dating sites services.
Despite the positives, the online dating industry is not really without the challenges. The biggest challenge is normally identity fraud. A recent analysis simply by Safe Online Dating shows that more than one-fifth of users features experienced some kind of info theft or perhaps data seapage. A large percentage of folks look up potential partners internet before conference them. Moreover to individuality theft, a large number of people have been victims of physical harm.
Besides lovemaking, internet dating will also help people discover new close friends. According into a Pew Homework Center examine, almost forty percent of internet users are youngsters who use online dating offerings to satisfy new people. In many cases, these individuals develop life-long relationships. If this is the intention, online dating generally is a great way to begin dating once again.
The Internet online dating marketplace is growing. Actually it is now more prevalent than ever to locate a romantic spouse online. Studies show that men and women like people who promote their hobbies. In addition , nearly 70% of LGBT lovers have accomplished their better half online. And once it comes to homosexual relationships, online dating services is the best means to fix many. Actually 66 percent of internet users who continue online dating sites enter loving romances.
Online dating can be quite a great way to meet new people, but it is definitely not not having its concerns. A study exhibited that about a third of internet daters forged their data and utilized outdated images. However , it is necessary to remember the fact that benefits significantly outweigh the hazards involved. Using this method, online dating must be used with warning and consideration.
One study discovered that people using online dating are more likely to be females than males. However , this doesn’t mean that men are not using online dating sites. The survey also available that the typical age of on the net daters is definitely 33 years old. Furthermore, 60% of them are working full time. Although this is a tremendous age gap, this may not be the only drawback. There are other hazards associated with online dating, thus beware!
Regardless for the negative factors, online dating has long been an extremely helpful experience for many people. A lot of studies show that online dating provides the potential to enhance a person’s probability of finding a enduring relationship. Actually a third of adult online users have observed their wife on an online dating website.

domain: sociology