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For tonight’s dinner plan, I’m doing the same thing that I did last year, a variation of Rachel Ray’s Christmas Pasta recipe. I find her base recipe simply has too much meat in it, mine will be more like a amatriciana sauce, with onions and red pepper flake, seasoned with some sweet and some spicy italian sausages. Of course, we do have to use the classic Christmas Pasta shapes that we got from Cost Plus. Yum!
I’ve mused about potroast before on my blog, but it’s such a great (and now overlooked) dish when it came up on Slashfood
I thought it deserved a link. A couple of additional comments on the recipe presented:
- This is a long cooking recipe, so if you want any of the vegetables to actually be in one piece, I wouldn’t add them until later. The mirapois (celery, carrots, and onion) add a lot to the flavor, so I’d go ahead and use them from the get go, but I’d add the potatos and peas later in the cooking process, after the meat is half done at least. Otherwise the little potatoes will dissolve and the peas, well, I usually add frozen peas just before serving.
- I’d probably brown the meat, set it aside, lower the heat and sweat my mirapois for three minutes or so, then add the garlic for 30 seconds longer, deglaze the pan with a little red wine, and then dump it all in the slow cooker.
- I like chuck for pot roast, which can have quite a bit of fat. Skim it off as it cooks. It doesn’t add any flavor, and just makes the roast greasy.
There you have it: more on pot roast.
Well, today is one of those rare days when I miss two days of work: I’m home sick with body aches, a headache, stuffed head, and a bit of a fever. I was also a bit hungry, so I decided to dig through the fridge, freezer and pantry to see what I could make. I found most of the ingredients for some kind of navy bean soup, so that’s what I’m making, in my pressure cooker.
Want the “recipe”?
1 onion, diced
2 carrots, peeled and chopped into slices
2 stalks of celery, diced
Sweat these in some olive oil. You aren’t looking to brown them, just get them going. I seasoned them after they were translucent with a bit of fresh ground black pepper, some kosher salt, and a couple sprigs of fresh rosemary (I’ll fish the twigs out when its done).
1 bag of navy beans. I sorted out one or two of the worst looking ones, but just dump them in, no need to soak them because we are gonna use the pressure cooker.
1 big can chicken broth. Dump it in.
Bring to a boil, cap with the pressure cooker lid, and let it go for 45 minutes on setting 2 (my pressure cooker has two settings).
If I had some ham, bacon, or a hock, I would have added some of that in, but those aren’t frequently found in my cupboards since I’m trying to lose weight.
Some recipes I’ve seen also add diced canned tomatos. If I don’t like the flavor when this comes out, I might add those in too.
Anyway, that’s about it.
I’m also trying a bit of an experiment: I don’t much like my pressure cooker because it has a nasty tendency to get a hot spot in the middle of the pan, burning whatever is in contact with it. To help alleviate this, I placed the pressure cooker in my heavy cast iron skillet, and placed that on top of the burner. Hopefully the heavy mass of the skillet will even out the temperature and prevent scorching.
Stay tuned for the results. I’m gonna go rest now.
Update: Soups on! I cracked the pressure cooker after 45 minutes, and while edible, I didn’t the beans had reached their sufficiently soft stage, so I went ahead and added the diced tomatoes that I mentioned above, and let it go for another 30 minutes in the pressure cooker. The resulting soup, while not amazingly sophisticated in flavor, was hearty and delicious. I think the large can of diced tomatoes gave it a bit too much of tomato flavor, next time I’ll only use one of the small cans. Still…
Oh, and the experiment with using the cast iron frying pan as a heat diffuser seemed to work admirably! No hot spots. And it probably helped season my pan some more. I merely rinsed it out again and applied some vegetable oil. Looks great.
While watching Food Network the other day, I saw an episode of Calorie Commando that featured a dish I thought I might like to try: Buffalo Chicken and Blue Cheese Dipping Sauce. I gave this a whack this weekend. Basically I took a bunch of chicken breasts that I had lying around, and cut them up into smallish uniform pieces. I then soaked them in some Louisiana hot sauce for an hour, took them out, dusted them with a mixture of Pappy’s Cajun seasoning and flour, and then fried them for three minutes a side in a couple tablespoons of hot olive oil. I also prepared their Blue Cheese dipping sauce. Carmen proclaimed them delicious. I thought they were good, but could have been a bit spicier. Perhaps I’ll use more pepper flake and cayenne in the flour mixture next time.
It’s actually not the lowest point recipe you’ll find: in the portions specified in the recipe (4 servings in 12 oz of chicken tenders) it’s about 7 Weight Watchers Points which means that I probably consumed about 14 or 16 points worth, but they are tasty and when paired with some fresh vegetables can be delicious. Certainly they help satisfy the craving for something like KFC which would be much, much worse.
Courtesy of lifehacker, here is the account of one intrepid hacker attempting to learn the secrets of egg poaching. Interestingly, he comes up with a solution that I’ve never heard of before.
I did have a couple of thoughts though. His attempt to use the conventional method (simmering water bath) was flawed by something simple: his pan was boiling, not simmering. Simmering occurs below the boiling point. You want to minimize convection to keep the yolks tight.
While I am far from poached egg perfection, I have made a few of them that seemed okay. I suspect that if my diet could suffer the assault that is Eggs Benedict (among the three or four perfect breakfasts in my estimation) then I’d probably get better at it. Here are my tips for a slightly more conventional approach to poached eggs:
- Use fresh eggs. This should go without saying, but it really does help. Older eggs tend to have looser whites, and you want nice tight dense whites.
- Use a wide pan, with about an inch of water. Bring it to a simmer, not a boil.
- Add a small amount of vinegar to the water. To be honest, I’m not sure how important this is, but the idea is that the acids help keep the egg whites together.
- I usually also lightly salt the water.
- If I really want a perfect poached egg (like, say for the aforementioned Eggs Benedict, where such an egg must sit serenely atop a toasted english muffin) then I take my egg rings (usually used for frying eggs) and spray them with nonstick spray and then put them into the water and gently slide the egg into the circle after them.
- Don’t overcook them. For the aforementioned Eggs Benedict, you really want the yolks to be rich and creamy, not solid.
Damn, wish I could have an Eggs Benedict right now.
Maybe next time I’ll describe my recipe for scrambled eggs with smoked salmon.
While I was out touring wine country this last weekend, I began to think a bit more about something that I’ve only recently become to realize: that many of the foods which are handed down to us over the years are only edible because of the actions of other critters. Beer, bread, and wine all owe their existance to the operations of yeast. Many cheeses owe their flavors to the actions of molds. Yogurt only exists through the action of bacteria. It’s amazing actually how many of our classic foodstuffs rely on, rather than try to inhibit the action of these helpful critters. Now our food is increasingly sterile, homogenized and bereft of life.
Hey, this is what you think of while munching a loaf of bread and a hunk of good cheese while surrounded by beautiful vineyards.
If you need to ponder this mystery further, try reading How to Make San Francisco Sourdough Bread and make some loaves of bread.
Yeah, my blog was a little sparse on the nerd front this weekend: Carmen and I were off for a short anniversary getaway in Napa, sampling some of the local food and wine and generally trying to relax. We give a hearty thumbs up to Julia’s restaurant in the Copia center in Napa. We began with salads: I ordered a beet salad which was very delicate, Carmen had an assortment of fresh vegetables including peas and beans. Both were perhaps a bit subtle for us, but delicious. I ordered a pork chop, and was pleased when the waiter said that the pork chop was brined and assured me despite its juice texture, it was fully cooked. Bravo! People fear undercooked pork to the extent of ruining perfectly delicious chops by cooking them to 180 or higher. The best pork chops are cooked until they are slightly pink on the first cut, but turn opaque white after a couple of seconds, more like 165 or so. And brining helps. But I digress. The pork chop was excellent quality, large, delicious, flavorful and tender. It came with a tart made from cream, onions, and bacon and a side of purple potato chips. Delicious. Carmen had the rib eye steak, which I sampled and gave it my seal of approval. Also delicious. Dessert for me was a sampler of three cherry desserts, while Carmen went with a sampler of three chocolate pot de creme with small cinnamon churros. Each chocolate was infused with a different aromatic herb. Delicious again, but perhaps a bit too refined for our more rustic tastes. Still, a great meal for our anniversary.
The next morning we decided to ride the Napa Wine Train from NAPA to Calistoga, and sample their gourmet breakfast/luncheon service. I am a huge fan of Eggs Benedict (which I sample very rarely now that I am trying to lose weight, but it was our anniversary), so I went with their variation which substituted beef tenderloin for ham. Carmen had a stuffed French Toast, filled with creme cheese, craberries and grapes. Both were good, but not likely to be classic recipes. The tartness of the cranberries tended to overwhelm all the other qualities of the French Toast, and I don’t really think that Eggs Benedict is improved by the expensive beef tenderloin. Give me the classic any day.
For dinner that evening, we went to Tuscany in downtown Napa. I had an interesting pasta dish which had chunks of stewed wild boar. It was a very rustic dish, with hand made pasta served al dente. I suspect that it is a dish which originally would have been made with venison, and I enjoyed it a great deal. Carmen had a roasted half chicken, which while competently done, was nothing very exciting. The ambience of the restaurant was nice though, with an open fireplace and lots of roasting chickens. We had fun.
The following morning: a picnic at the Clos du Val winery consisting of a loaf of bread and two kinds of cheese: one, a rustic Irish cheese and a softer mild cheese. Good stuff, and a beautiful setting.
A fun time. Happy fifth anniversary honey, and I’m looking to the next five, even as I rue the scale this morning (back on weight watchers for the rest of the week).
I haven’t posted any of my culinary explorations lately, so I thought that I would rectify this wrong by detailing something that I tried for yesterday’s dinner. I’m a huge fan of pulled pork, especially in the form of barbecue pork sandwiches. I like getting a toasted bunn, piling it with this shredded pork, and then slathering on tons of a nice spicy barbecue sauce, and eating that with some delicious potato salad.
But that’s not very Weight Watchers friendly, so I don’t get to do it very often.
But, I did see a good idea on Calorie Commandos the other day, which was to make the same kind of thing, but use turkey legs instead of pork. I took ideas from their recipe and adapted it to what I had on hand.
I began by heating a tiny bit of olive oil and sweating a diced onion and a diced red pepper over medium heat. I didn’t have any shredded carrots, but I did have some of those tiny baby carrots (I buy them by the 5 lb bag for munching) so I just dumped in a handful of those, and let them sweat for a bit. I then added the seasoning: chili powder, cumin, paprika, red pepper flake, cayenne, black pepper and let that go for just a few more minutes, until it begins to smell and look good. Then I turned off the heat. The original recipe called for these to be cooked in the oven for four hours, but I work, so starting this in the evening would mean dinner @ 9:30 at the earliest, so I did it slightly differently: I skinned my turkey legs, and dumped them in my crockpot in the morning. I then covered them with this vegetable mixture, and then added enough canned nonfat chicken stock to cover. Plugged in the crockpot, set it to low, and left for work.
When I returned, the meat was literally falling off the bone. Took some tongs, and fished out all the legs, and let them cool on a rack. Then, I went through and pulled out all the bones and any tiny bits of skin that I missed before, and shredded all the meat by hand. The turkey legs actually contain a fair number of smallish sharp bones, so take good care while doing this step. You’ll be left with a pile of deliciously seasoned seasoned meat, very soft and delicious. I then toasted some buns, and piled on this meat mixture, and added some of my favorite barbecue sauce. I like Sweet Baby Ray’s among all the store brands I have tried, it’s actually quite acceptable in a pinch. I also had some fat-free vegetarian baked beans, and a side salad.
You can do the same recipe with chicken thighs. Delicious.
Wish I had left overs.
It’s not a perfect recipe, but it’s not bad. They use a mixture of ground chuck and ground sirloin to get the right amount of fat, and some crusty garlic croutons to balance it out. Getting precisely the right mix of bread to meat is essential to avoid making a doorstop. I like the spice mix generally, but you should consider using red onions (I like meat loaf mostly on the second day, in sandwhiches with slices of red onion on it, yum!). It never hurts to put strips of bacon on top either.
Curse my Weight Watchers diet.
Oh well, another thing to try is to use an even greater variety of meats. I like a 1/3 split of ground chuck, ground pork and ground veal for meatballs, although I’m mostly opposed to using veal, I sometimes succumb to it for dishes like this. I’m in good company, Emeril’s Kicked Up Meat Loaf uses a similar meat mix.
Oh, and Julian, if you are listening to this, I liked the Chopin, keep up the recordings!
I’m fascinated by old cookbooks and the like, which is why I found The Cyder-Maker’s Instructor, Sweet-Maker’s Assistant, and Victualler’s and Housekeeper’s Director to be interesting. I mean really, who thinks about making cider anymore?
Old knowledge, preserved.
I’m about as much of a technology geek as you can imagine, but when I read the Slashdot headline Sushi Prepared on a Printer I must admit, my inner geek packed it’s bags and ran away, leaving the inner gourmand to merely shake his head.
You see, I have a philosophy about food. Take good fresh ingredients, do as little as humanly possible to them, and serve them in a basic, straightforward way. Sushi is close to the apex of this basic philosophy. Rice. Vinegar. Fish. Soy. Wasabi. What could be wrong with that?
Sushi is all about the important stuff. The size. The cut. The texture. The aroma. The freshness. The combinations. Whenever I get an assortment of Nigiri, it’s always about “which fish is the freshest”. Here in California, we often get good salmon (sake). Not the stuff that’s been lightly smoked, but real fresh salmon. Most of the time it beats the maguro, but maguro is nice too, and if you are in a high class place, can be better. I also am a fan of hamachi. There is a place I frequent that makes good negihama rolls, which are maki with hamachi and green onion. The combination is one of my favorites. I also rather like Ebisu’s saba and ginger maki.
Sushi can, of course, be obsessive and extravagant, but I tend not to go to those places. To me, it’s all about the basics. Fish. Rice. Soy. Wasabi. Tea.
Mr. Cantu believes that restaurant-goers, particularly diners who are willing to spend $240 per person for a meal (the cost of a 20-course tasting menu with wine at Moto) are often disappointed by conventional dining experiences. “They’re sick and tired of steak and eggs,” he said. “They’re tired of just going to a restaurant, having food placed on the table, having it cleared, and there’s no more mental input into it other than the basic needs of a caveman, just eat and nourish.”
At Moto, he said, “there’s so much more we can do.”
Frankly, I just want my caveman needs met.
Not content with OpenCola? How ’bout Our Beer instead?
It does have one drawback:
It is based on classic ale brewing traditions but with added guarana for a natural energy-boost.
Call me a purist, but that seems, well, wrong.
While researching Cory Doctorow, I found he founded a company called Opencola. Now defunct, the primary result of their company seems to have been the release of an open source softdrink recipe, released under the GPL. Wacky!

domain: food


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Snehlata Vasaikar is popularly known for her role as Soyrabai in Zee Marathi’s popular show Swarajyarakshak Sambhaji. Despite being caught up in a hectic schedule, the actress makes it a point to spend time with her daughter and keeps her fans updated on Instagram. Check out this picture , where the mother-daughter duo are dressed similarly and even strike the same pose. How cute!
Watch the latest episode of Swarajyarakshak Sambhaji here.

domain: entertainment


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But it's all pretty much opinion on your part. Which isn't quantifiable as either true or untrue.
My God man... not really.
Do we not treat soldiers better today than during Nam?
Is Gulf of Tonkin not officially recognized as a lie?
And was there not a negative perception by the masses during/after Nam?
So none of those are really an opinion. They're factual observations.
And me explaining to you how a negative perception can be created by a small % of people behaving badly is not an opinion either, it's an attempt to help you see.
I'll try once more. If there are 6 very dirty plays in a football game, that's a lot. That team will almost certainly be called dirty for the way only 6 of 60 people behaved. Do you follow?
This post was edited on 11/25 at 12:05 am

domain: sociology


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Ugo Colombo attempts to sell $20 million jet in bankruptcy
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Longtime Miami developer Ugo Colombo is attempting to sell a $20 million corporate jet through Chapter 11 bankruptcy. But another well-known developer Craig Robins, who has been litigating with Columbo’s company, contests the bankruptcy.
The company that partially owns the jet, UC Challenger LLC, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy recently. State court disputes were ongoing since at least 2010.
Another titan of South Florida development, Jeff Soffer of the Turnberry companies, was involved in early disputes over the jet but has since dropped out of the litigation.
According to attorneys and court records, the dispute surrounding the Bombardier Challenger jet included alleged debt owed to Turnberry of up to $700,000.
Robins’ company, CL36 Leasing, which reportedly bought an interest in the jet in 2007, has alleged that Colombo’s company agreed to buy out CL36’s ownership but never paid the agreed price.
Colombo’s company attorney, Jim Robinson of White & Case, said his client alleges that Robins “walked away from his obligations” to the company.
Plane has debt of about $10 million
Regardless of the dispute between Robins and Colombo, UC Challenger sought bankruptcy protection after Bank of America sued over debt on the plane of roughly $10 million.
“The plane needs to get sold. The only place to sell it is through a bankruptcy sale,” said Peter Russin, an attorney with Meland Russin & Budwick who represents UC Challenger. “There’s no other place to get a sale done when you’re facing these kinds of disputes.”
Robins’ company has filed objections and motions to dismiss the bankruptcy.
Paul Brinkmann covers venture capital, technology, energy and environment.
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Software Engineer-PEGA American Express | Fort Lauderdale, FL
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domain: news


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Faith Evans may have a few apologies for her friends and family.
The speedy wedding between Faith Evans and Stevie J may sound cute and lovely for the couple, but according to sources close to the newlyweds, their family and friends are feeling all kinds of ways. It seems as though the couple's marriage was something no one was expecting and it was never talked about once.
Apparently, Faith was scheduled to be in Los Angeles and Stevie was just in ATL for Love and Hip Hop and the Las Vegas hotel room wedding came out of nowhere. Faith's son, CJ Wallace, was one of the ones left disappointed since Stevie is his godfather. Things get more interesting after reports suggest that Stevie J's idea of a quick wedding was done because he knew Faith's family wouldn't let her go through with it.
When Faith's crew hit her up with questions on her new love move, she replied with a song she recorded with Stevie titled "A Minute."
Not even 24 hours into their wedding bliss, Stevie has been exposed for cheating on Faith with both men and women - yikes.


Industry bodies warn on violence in pubs
Pub and club owners have been urged to identify the causes of violence on their premises by industry trade bodies to protect employees.
The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) and the Bar Entertainment and Dance Association (BEDA) have teamed up to publish a guide entitled: Managing Safety in Bars, Pubs and Clubs.
The guide warns that licensees and operators should identify potential risk factors, including social tensions and rivalry (both sporting and territorial disputes), frustration at waiting to be served and over-crowding.
Preventative measures including changing the design and lay-out of the premises, increasing staff awareness through training and even considering the use of polycarbonate vessels instead of glasses.
BBPA director of communications, Mark Hastings, said: "There is no doubt that effective solutions to the problems of safety and risk lie in good management in pubs and clubs.
"As far as glassware is concerned, in its alcohol strategy, the Government has clearly stated its own preference for a targeted approach. This we strongly support, and our risk assessment reflects this. It should be a valuable tool for licensees."
Paul Smith, executive director of BEDA, added: "We feel at BEDA that it is vital to have an easy to use guide to be able risk assess a premises. This document aims to do just that."
Managing Safety in Bars, Pubs and Clubs guide in full >>
The Caterer Blog: Smoking ban leads to sex and violence >>
Smoking ban could lead to action under the Licensing Act >>
Editor's Blog: The legal cul-de-sac facing pub and bar operators >>
By Christopher Walton
E-mail your comments to Christopher Walton](mailto:firstname.lastname@example.org?subject=Industry bodies warn on violence in pubs) here.


One thing I try to avoid when writing songs is quantization. I like playing off the grid, I like mistakes. I like when the beat swings forward or backward a little bit. I like when the keys come in a moment before the drums hit. So often when being more deliberate with what I'm writing, it's the little errors that end up being my favourite parts. And they give more contrast to all of the things you get "right" on purpose. Since writing songs like this, I've tried to alter my perception of what a "mistake" is and focus more on nuance and context. Does this feeling fit? Am I changing this part too abruptly? Can I make other elements make sense of that abrupt change? There is often no right or wrong, it ends up being more about context.
I also designed the cover art, as I do for all of my releases.


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An extra-spicy Bloody Mary gets a crawfish-tail garnish for New Orleans flair.
Add all the ingredients to a pint glass and fill with ice.
Stir, and garnish with four spiced pickled string beans, two olives and four crawfish tails.
Thirsty for more Bloody Mary recipes and info? Check out our guide to the savory classic cocktail.


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Includes official Gucci packaging, and certificate of authenticity.
Celebrate the Chinese New Year in Gucci GG1149S sunglasses, dedicated to the Year of the Tiger. An exclusive edition for 2022, this round frame features rimless brown lenses and thin, gold metal arms. Red and black geometric pendants hang off the ends and are embellished with playful ‘Gucci Tiger’ script on one side and the signature interlocking gold G monogram on the other side. Their clip-on ends are detachable, allowing you to easily customize your look.
These shades are delivered in official brand packaging which includes an individually selected jewel-toned velvet case with matching satin lining.

domain: design


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|What do use to change the color of my hydrangas?
|You can change the color of hydrangea blooms with a simple soil treatment, but the treatment must be started in the early spring to have any affect on the flowers. Pink and red bydrangeas often turn blue or purple in acid soils, and plants can be made red by liming the soil or applying superphosphate. For blue flowers, treat the soil with 2 Tablespoons of aluminum sulphate per plant, making 4-6 applications at 2 week intervals, starting in the early spring before the plants bloom. (Sulfur will acidify the soil. The desired pH range would be between 5.5 and 6.) For pink flowers, add lime to the soil, to raise the pH above 7.8). Test your soil to measure the pH range.

domain: biology


Alex Salmond denied that he was putting forward a different message about second independence referendum in Scotland than First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on the BBC’s Sunday Politics programme today.
Last week, the First Minister said the election was “not about
independence or about another referendum”.
During his weekly radio programme, Salmond told a listener that there would be another vote on Scotland’s future within five years, saying:
The general election is to reinforce the right of the Scottish Parliament to decide when the time is right for another independence referendum and if you get that sort of overwhelming vote for the SNP, then the PM’s opposition will crumble.
Asked by Andrew Neil on the BBC”s Sunday Politics programme if there
was a different message being put by himself and Sturgeon, Salmond
No. I have said exactly the same as Nicola Sturgeon on that. The issue of independence will be decided in a national referendum of the Scottish people. The mandate for that referendum was gained in last year’s Scottish elections. What this election is about is backing the right of the Scottish Parliament to exercise that mandate and also providing real opposition to this Tory government and of course allowing the Scottish Parliament to resist austerity and some of the public expenditure cutbacks that you’ve been talking about. That is what this election is about: backing our Scottish Parliament.”
Commenting on the interview, Scottish Labour General Election campaign
manager James Kelly said:
Alex Salmond’s car crash interview exposed the reality of the SNP’s record in government ...
Alex Salmond let the cat out the bag last week when he said this election is about forcing another divisive independence referendum.
When people go to the polls for the council elections on Thursday and the general election on 8 June they can vote Labour to elect a local champion; or they can vote SNP to elect a candidate who will only focus on another divisive referendum.
Meanwhile a Panelbase poll for the Sunday Times Scotland found that 52% of voters believed the PM should not stand in the way of a fresh referendum if the First Minister made a manifesto commitment to try to secure one and won a majority of the Scottish seats. It placed support for independence at 45%, unchanged from the 2014 referendum.
The survey found 41% favoured independence for Scotland inside the EU
while 10% supported Scottish independence outside the EU; 48% said
they would prefer Scotland to remain inside the UK but outside the EU.
The SNP won a landslide in Scotland In 2015, winning 56 out of 59
seats. Opinion polls have suggested the Tories will gain a number of
seats from the Nationalists but the SNP are still expected to be the
In Scotland, Labour have announced all their candidates for the 2017
general election, with a 50:50 gender balance.
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said:
I’m delighted to unveil our list of candidates for the general election, and as a co-founder of Women 50:50 I’m thrilled we have achieved gender balance.
Women are under-represented at almost every level of power in Scotland and by locking out that experience and talent we are putting limits on our nation’s potential.
Meanwhile Labour are still making as much milage as they can from the
accusation that Theresa May was hiding from the electorate when she
gave her first Scottish speech of this general election campaign in a
tiny community hall in Banchory in Aberdeenshire, with such poor phone
reception that live coverage of the event was impossible.


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Look at Us Now. Thank You California Arts Council!
Thanks to a Professional Development Grant from the California Arts Council our new website is modern and user friendly and built so that we may communicate better with you. Thank you California Arts Council! And, thank you Jason Farran at JF WebDesign, and Graphic Designer Shari Canete for updating us so beautifully.
Welcome to ArtReach
ArtReach believes that art making opens door to limitless possibilities and teaches young people to think critically and originally. And, that every child should have the opportunity to learn and practice art making despite budget cuts and regardless of socioeconomic status or neighborhood. We connect youngsters at schools and organizations throughout San Diego County with practicing artists and engaging, standards-based lessons. Our free/very low-cost program targets Title I K-6 schools, but we also offer fee-based programs and instruction. Our goal? To increases arts equity and access across our community. Learn more about all of our programs here.

domain: artistic


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I was planning this post last week but it seems even more pertinent today after reading about Matt’s experience at Bonnaroo a couple weeks ago. Bonnaroo was Matt’s (a big Radiohead fan) first Radiohead show and his reflections on the show reminded me a lot of how I felt after I first saw the band in 1998 in Vancouver. Perhaps it wasn’t the greatest show ever but I still left that gig at the Pacific Coliseum knowing that music was going to be a bit different for me now.
The gig took place on April 6 towards the end of the OK Computer tour. Thom Yorke was not in a very good mood that night. Midway through show opener Airbag, Thom walked off stage…or almost. Ed O’Brien stopped him just before he left the stage, they spoke briefly and Thom went back to his guitar…looking pissed. Ed then spoke to the crowd informing us that they didn’t want any moshing and pushing as people along the rail were getting hurt. Just a couple minutes into my first Radiohead show and it very nearly ended.
The rest of the show went well though in looking at setlists of the shows before and after the Vancouver gig I can say Vancouver’s setlist was definitely lacking, likely due to the incident at the beginning of the show. Banana Co., Polythelene, How to Disappear Completely, The Trickster…all were played on the tour but not in Vancouver. Regardless I left the show enthralled by a live experience I would never forget.
Eight years later (and 16 Radiohead shows later) I find myself packing for a trip back home to Vancouver via Los Angeles where I will see the last two shows of Radiohead’s current North American tour. I certainly have not forgotten that show in 1998 and I’m pretty sure I owe Ed O’Brien a huge thanks. Had Thom left the stage that night who knows how I’d feel about Radiohead today.
Luckily the show was recorded…LINKS REMOVED. I’ve also included a few mp3s from the show below so you can hear what it sounds like. Make sure you check out Ed’s lecture to the crowd if nothing else. It’s not often you hear him speak up at shows!
Live in Vancouver
April 6, 1998
Climbing Up the Walls
Subterranean Homesick Alien
My Iron Lung
Talk Show Host
Fake Plastic Trees
Since I’m going on a little vacation for a while posting here may be sporadic though I will write a review (hopefully with some photos if I can sneak my camera in) after the shows at the Greek Theatre in L.A.
And remember Radiohead, PLAY A REMINDER IN LOS ANGELES!


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By Benjamin Pimentel, MarketWatch
Technology stocks were modestly lower Monday morning, led by shares of Apple Inc. which slipped back below the $600 mark.
Apple (AAPL) shed 2% to $590.77 in early trading, as the Nasdaq Composite Index (RIXF) edged down by 0.7% to 3,049. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) also was down a fraction.
Also weighing down the sector were shares of Netflix Inc. (NFLX) which lost more than 3%.
Shares of Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) were off a fraction at $12.96. ThinkEquity analyst Suji De Silva trimmed his price target for the chipmaker's stock to $14 from $15, while maintaining a hold rating.
"We expect Nvidia to benefit from recovering broader demand, but expect consumer PC recovery to be measured and limited near-term upside. We also expect handset revenue headwinds as Samsung transitions to an in-house application processor from Nvidia," he wrote.
Shares of Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) traded mostly flat after the software giant unveiled a digital-reader partnership with bookseller Barnes & Noble, whose shares soared more than 60%.


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Hunting in the Old South: Original Narratives of the Hunters (Paperback)Clarence Gohdes (other)
- Publisher out of stock
These accounts were penned by planters, journalists, naturalists and sportsmen- from the South, the North, and Europe. The original style of the accounts has been kept, so that the spirit and charm of the old regime, with its devotion to guns and dogs, horses and juleps, is retained. The editor has even included a couple of choice recipes for cooking of game.
The selections included are not only delightful entertainment but are authentic narratives and descriptions which will afford the reader a reliable picture of a phase of the Old South that is absent in ordinary social histories of the region.
Publisher: Louisiana State University Press
Number of pages: 200
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domain: history


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An American soccer forward, Juan Agudelo has played for the New York Red Bulls and the United States national team.
Stoke City: Ex-target Juan Agudelo back in America
WOULD-be Stoke signing Juan Agudelo has quit Europe - at least for now - and is back home in America. The ill-fated striker has turned up at Orlando City, but the club insists he is only there to train. There are strong links between Agudelo's handlers and Orlando, a club part owned by former Stoke director Phil Rawlins. Orlando also offered a training refuge for Brek Shea a couple of months ago ...U.S. national team forward Juan Agudelo training with Orlando City
U.S. national team forward Juan Agudelo is training with Orlando City this week.American Exports: Juan Agudelo training with Orlando City, but won't stay for good
US national team hopeful and former Major League Soccer striker Juan Agudelo has remerged from European soccer limbo with USL PRO side Orlando City, but team officials say he won?t stay for good.In search of the next DeAndre Yedlin, Julian Green
Jurgen Klinsmann will be looking to add new talent in the next four years, including another German-American phenom.MLS standouts poised for transfer moves after strong World Cups
The 2014 World Cup saw several MLS players enjoy strong tournaments, and now the subsequent transfer interest could see some leave the league this summer.A look ahead to 2018
While the World Cup may be over for the United States, it's never too early to look ahead to 2018's edition and discuss what the make-up of the national team may look like when it heads to Russia.Revolution Pushes for Return to Winning Ways at Home
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Revolution officially hits the midway point of its 2014 regular-season schedule on Saturday night when the Chicago Fire visits Gillette Stadium for an Eastern Conference tilt.West Ham weighing up a move for former Barcelona striker
Dejan Lovren is the latest big-money signing in the Barclays Premier League. The defender has followed former Southampton team-mates Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert in making the move to Liverpool.American Exports: US U-20 gem Rubio Rubin suffers concussion, broken nose on FC Utrecht duty
AMSTERDAM ? Rookie FC Utrecht attacker Rubio Rubin will spend some time on the shelf after suffering a broken nose and concussion during Sunday's preseason friendly with Dundee United.Projecting a potential U.S. World Cup 2018 roster
Projecting a potential U.S. World Cup 2018 roster - Michael Bradley, Brad Guzan and Jozy Altidore will likely form the core of the next World Cup cycle for the Americans.
Full Juan Agudelo News
Juan was born in Manizales, Colombia but chose to play for the USA. He became the youngest goal scorer in US soccer history.
If you found this Celebopedia® profile interesting, you may want to visit these other sections of the site:


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From Bill White at Survivopedia, Coronavirus: What You Should Really Do Regarding Your Stockpile on how the pandemic may be different from what most preppers prepared and why the so-called “panic buying” has been a good thing.
As the COVID-19 Coronavirus sweeps the globe, different people are reacting in different ways.
For most, fear is a part of that reaction. That’s normal, as we all tend to be afraid of the unknown and there’s still a lot of unknown about this virus. But the truly scary part isn’t the fear that people are having; it’s the fear that governments are having.
Don’t get me wrong; I don’t envy the problems that the president and state governors are facing right now. They are in a no-win situation, where they are having to make decisions based on limited information, with the foreknowledge that there is no right answer. No matter what they decide, there will be others, sitting on the sidelines, telling them how wrong they are.
As it stands right now, if the president or some governor calls for a full quarantine, they will be blasted for overreacting and destroying the economy. If they don’t call for that, they will be blasted for not taking the situation seriously and every death will be laid at their doorstep. Both of these reactions are already happening, it just depends on who is doing the complaining about what the government is doing, and that doesn’t necessarily follow party lines.
Is Quarantine Coming?
The entire state of California, 40 million people, is now under quarantine. New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo is directing non-essential businesses to keep their workers at home. Even in Texas, which has relatively few cases, the governor is calling for voluntary self-isolation for the next two weeks.
Is this an overreaction? Or is it necessary to prevent a massive number of people from dying?
To answer that question, we need to understand why the government is calling for people to self-quarantine, specifically why they’re calling for a 14-day self-quarantine.
There’s no way that a 14-day quarantine is going to put a total stop to the disease. First of all, there are a significant number of cases on record, where the incubation period was longer than 14 days. Secondly, even if all incubation periods fell within the 14-day window, people are still contagious while their bodies are battling the disease. If they are treated at home, there’s still a chance of them infecting their families.
So what’s the 14-day voluntary quarantine about then?
Just like social distancing, the 14-day voluntary self-isolation is about slowing the spread of the disease, rather than stopping it. It is being instituted now, to ensure that everyone who comes down with a serious case of the disease will have a hospital bed to rest in and a respirator to help them breathe. It’s to ensure that our medical community is able to give people the treatment they need, in order to give them the greatest chances of defeating the virus and surviving.
I recently saw some rather interesting computer models, which showed how a viral disease of this type propagates through a population. In a “normal” situation, where there are no safeguards in place, the number of cases of the disease rises rapidly, outpacing the medical community’s ability to deal with it. A full quarantine of those who are infected is hard to institute because you will always have some people who are going to be “leakers” slipping through and spreading the disease. The most effective thing to do is to isolate as many people as possible, reducing the number of people who are moving around and spreading the disease throughout the population.
This is what the government is trying to do. By asking people to shelter in their homes, they are hoping to drastically reduce the number of people who are out and about, with the potential of spreading the disease. We are not being told that we can’t leave our homes at all, but rather being asked to avoid leaving them as much as possible. At the same time, places where people congregate, where one contagious person could easily infect many other people, are being closed for two weeks, with the same goal of slowing the spread of the disease.
I remember reading a few years back about how school desks have more germs on them than the average toilet seat. My reaction at that time was to write a satire about it. But if you think about it, our schools are a breeding ground for disease. They are filled with children, most of whom are not all that concerned about personal hygiene and who all come into close contact with each other. Typically, if one child gets sick, you can count on the whole class catching it within a week or two.
So, what will this quarantine do for us?
Basically, it does two things. The first is that it shows the spread of the disease, spreading it out over a longer period of time. This will level out the workload for our medical professionals so that they can give each patient the treatment that they need…(continues)


text: The pitcher has two mommies: Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Joe Valentine is the son of two gay women, and he's not afraid to talk about a subject that's taboo in the clubhouse. "It's not a big deal to me," Valentine says. "Why should it be? ... I don't see myself as an activist for gay rights, although I will speak up if I need to. I'm a baseball player who was raised by two wonderful, loving mothers. How can anyone criticize that?


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Sina Seifee (c) Tereza Havlínková
سینا سیفی / Sina Seifee (*1982) is a visual artist and researcher based in Brussels. Structured around a research-intensive and transversal exploration of performative storytelling and image-making, Seifee’s artistic practice looks at how aesthetic knowledge is shaped. His work has been recognized for its commitment to the social dimensions of imagination at the intersection of techno-media and globalism with an emphasis on the heritage of zoology in West Asia. He has presented internationally at WIELS, Brussels (2020); SAVVY Contemporary, Berlin (2016); Sharjah Art Foundation, UAE (2018); Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin (2017); Temporary Gallery, Cologne (2019); Hordaland Kunstsenter, Bergen (2019); and Akademie der Künste der Welt, Cologne (2015).


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Purpose Using prostatic fluids rich in glycoproteins like prostate specific antigen (PSA) and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) , the goal of this study was to identify the structural types and relative abundance of glycans associated with prostate cancer status for subsequent use in emerging mass spectrometry-based glycopeptide analysis platforms. detected in EPS fluids reflect the clinical status of prostate cancer. Defining these molecular signatures at the glycopeptide level in individual samples could improve current approaches of diagnosis and prognosis. , as well as bovine kidney fucosidase. The resulting peaks, separated by time of appearance, correspond to specific glycan structures on the basis of glucose unit values (data not shown) . All HPLC analyses were performed using a Waters Alliance HPLC System and quantified using the Millennium Chromatography Manager (Waters Corporation, Milford, MA). Glycan structures were identified by the calculation of the glucose unit value, as previously described, as well as through the comparison to known standards and sequential exoglycosidase digestion [27,28]. An additional sequential digest profile of non-cancer EPS urine glycans is provided in Supplemental Figure 1. N-glycan permethylation PAP gel bands derived from EPS urine pools were enriched by thiophilic chromatogtraphy and permethylated as previously described . For all other 15585-43-0 fluid samples, 1500 units of a recombinant PNGase F prepared in the Mehta laboratory was used and added to 50C200 ug of sample, and incubated at 37C for 18 hours. Protein was precipitated by the addition of 0.8 ml ice-cold methanol and low speed centrifugation (10000 g, 25 min). The methanolic supernatant was then dried in a SpeedVac centrifuge under reduced pressure. Dried N-glycans were permethylated using a rapid permethylation assay with sodium hydroxide bead spin columns . Chloroform extracts were dried under nitrogen in glass vials, and samples were resuspended in 20 l 50% methanol/water for analysis or storage at ?20 C. MALDI-TOF/TOF Permethylated N-glycans (1 l) were mixed 1:2 with 2,5-Dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) matrix (10mg/ml in 50% methanol) and spotted on an AnchorChip MALDI-TOF target plate. Each sample was analyzed in positive ion mode with 8000 laser shots using an AutoFlex III MALDI-TOF/TOF instrument or dual-source Solarix 7T FT-ICR MALDI-TOF (Bruker Daltonics, Billerica, MA). Calibration was done with red phosphorus or peptide 2 calibration mix (Bruker Daltonics, Billerica, MA). FlexAnalysis 3.4 or DataAnalysis 4.0 software (Bruker Daltonics, Billerica, MA) were used for spectra processing and Rtn4r normalization (either total ion current or root mean square). Additionally, the glycan database offered by the Consortium for Functional Glycomics (http://www.functionalglycomics.org) was used to search permethylated glycan masses correlating to peaks of interest in MALDI-TOF spectra. Hybrid triple quadrupole/linear ion trap mass spectrometry of PAP PAP was purified from EPS and/or EPS urine by thiophilic adsorption chromatography as described by Kawiniski et al.  15585-43-0 and separated by SDS-PAGE. The identity and purity of the excised gel bands was assessed and confirmed by western blot and mass spectrometry prior to glycan and glycopeptides analysis. The PAP gel bands were reduced, alkylated, and digested with trypsin, as described previously . Trypsin or chymotrypsin digestions were performed at 37C for 18 hours to generate peptides and glycopeptides. The resultant peptides were extracted with 50% acetonitrile/0.1% TFA and 15585-43-0 dried in a SpeedVac. The peptides were separated by reverse phase nanoLC on a Tempo? NanoLC (Eksigent Technologies, Dublin, CA) under the following conditions: loading step Channel 1; 10l/min buffer A (0.1% formic acid with 0.005% HFBA); Channel 2, 500nl/min buffer B (acetonitrile with 0.1% formic acid and 0.005% HFBA). Linear gradient 5% C 95% B in 42 minutes, 43C48 min 95% B and 49C60 min 10% B. For NSI-MS analysis we used the methods described in Sandra et al.  with minor modifications. Briefly, MS data were acquired using information dependent acquisition (IDA) methods. Two different IDA experiments were performed: i) An enhanced MS scan as survey scan, followed by an enhanced resolution scan of the three most intense ions for accurate charge state determination; ii) a precursor ion scan as a survey scan, and an enhanced product ion scan of the parent ions. The IDA criteria were: iii) most intense peaks for ions with m/z 400C2200, exclude targets after 3 occurrences for 30 seconds, mass tolerance 250 mDa. The instrument settings for the precursor ion scans were: ion spray voltage 2.8 kV, interphase heater at 125C and Declustering potential 30V. Data acquisition was by profile scan mode with a 0.1 Da step size. The collision energy was automatically adjusted based on the ion charge state.
October 14, 2017My Blog

domain: chemistry


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JFK Memorial Plaza
Tell Fort Worth City Council to pass the GRACE ActTell Fort Worth City Council to pass the GRACE Act
Join us in writing to Fort Worth City Council members asking them to pass the GRACE Act.
Abortion Rights Protest | We will not go back! Abortion is healthcare. Healthcare is a human right. We are human.
Check out the letter ChatGPT wrote, then join ChatGPT (and us) in writing your own letter to city council to decriminalize abortion in Fort Worth!
Join us June 30th in Fort Worth to protest the SCOTUS decision to overturn Roe V Wade and the rash of anti-abortion legislation across the nation.


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Saturday, June 16, 2007
Gettin' soaked in the Gorge
Today I went hiking with my friend Josh in the Columbia River Gorge. We hiked the short Angel's Rest trail. The forecast had been for partly cloudy skies so we expected good weather but by the time we got to the viewpoint and it began to rain. It began pouring as we hiked back to the car so we were soaked by the time we started the drive home. Even with the weather it was a lot of fun and there were some great views of this beautiful area. Here are a few of the pictures...Josh, with the western end of the Columbia River Gorge behind him.Up at the viewpoint just before the rain started.

domain: hobby


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“Our immigration system is broken and we will fix it,” Home Secretary Priti Patel said today, as she opened the What next for immigration? conference hosted by Bright Blue and British Future.
In a wide-ranging keynote speech, the Home Secretary sought to balance praise for the positive contribution that immigration has made to the UK, with her argument that the public expected change and greater control.
“Immigration has and continues to enrich, in every sense of the word, our nation immeasurably,” she said, as she also paid tribute to her own background as one of “millions of British-Indians and children of migrant families who have established a life in one of the greatest countries in the world.”
The half-day event, sponsored by the Federation of Small Business and Nomadic, also featured discussion and debate from business, political and civil society voices of policy on migration for work and refugee protection.
The Witham MP promised “wholesale reform of the system” for immigration, starting with a new digital system that would allow the Government to “count people in and count people out” of the country, providing a “far clearer picture of who is here, and whether they should be.”
Responding to a question from the Telegraph’s Charles Hymas, Patel refused, however, to support a return to a numbers-focused approach, describing net migration targets as “language of the past”.
The Home Secretary also focused on her proposed changes to the UK’s system of asylum protection. Reducing the number of dangerous sea crossings made by those trying to reach the UK would be achieved, she said, by targeting those involved in people-smuggling and reducing demand by withdrawing the right to claim refugee status for those who arrive spontaneously in the UK. There was little detail as to how this would be squared with the promise that “we will meet our international obligations,” on refugee protection – a question that was picked up later in the conference.
Before that, however, the first panel discussed changes and challenges on migration for work after Brexit and Covid-19. Martin McTague of the FSB and Brendan Ryan of Nomadic agreed that a key challenge for the new points-based system was to ensure that it works for small and medium-sized businesses, which drive much of the UK’s job and growth.
SMEs are already disproportionately impacted by changes brought about by Brexit and the end of free movement, tech adoption and climate targets as the UK moves towards net zero, they argued. Most have little experience of recruiting internationally, said Brendan, and could be supported through the removal of existing barriers to business travel and the high costs of sponsoring new employees from overseas. Martin said that the system would need to respond more quickly to market changes, with the shortage occupations list reviews every year at the very least.
British Future’s Heather Rolfe warned that economic recovery for the UK could put pressure on the new system, as sectors such as social care, food processing and hospitality struggled to fill job vacancies without an established visa route for low- and medium-skilled workers. Madeleine Sumption of the Migration Observatory said that this pressure could result in more people working in the unregulated economy; while former government advisor Salma Shah suggested that linking migration policy to the levelling-up agenda could offer some answers if it helped to up-skill local people to fill new vacancies.
Our final discussion panel focused on refugee protection.
David Simmonds MP highlighted the importance of social contact among people who often don’t get a chance to meet. That applied to the public, who generally like the refugees and migrants that they meet but unfortunately don’t get to meet many; and it also applied to refugee advocates and conservatives, who can lead similarly parallel lives. He issued a friendly challenge to supporters of refugee protection to try to reach out to conservatives who might share their views.
Arten Llazari drew on his personal experience, both as a refugee and as Chief Executive of the Refugee and Migrant Centre, to appeal for empathy with those forced to make dangerous journeys. If we are committed to protecting the most vulnerable, he suggested, we need to accept that many will arrive in the UK independently, not just through resettlement schemes.
Professor Alexander Betts called for a refugee protection approach that includes cooperation with international efforts and use of development aid to support refugees in-country, but which also focuses on getting things right here in the UK.
That latter point was echoed by Dame Sarah Thornton, the UK’s independent anti-slavery commissioner, who aid that education and employment are vital for refugees and asylum seekers to achieve independence and integrate fully into the UK.
The importance of integration and contribution were also emphasised by Enver Solomon of the Refugee Council, who argued that we could look to Britain’s history to find lessons for the future of refugee protection. Seventy years since the UK signed the Refugee Convention, protecting refugees is woven into the fabric of this nation, he argued. To maintain that tradition we will need a system that is also compassionate, giving a fair hearing to people seeking refuge on UK soil, while also remaining effective and offering the public a sense of control.
Recordings of the keynote speech and both discussion panels are available on the Bright Blue youtube channel


The hits compilation Now That's What I Call Music Vol. 6 continued its reign over the nation's record stores last week, even as Macy Gray protégé Sunshine Anderson and country duo Brooks & Dunn stormed their way into the top five of Billboard's 200 albums chart.
Now 6 sold almost 250,000 copies last week, while late rapper Tupac Shakur's Until the End of Time maintains its hold on the #2 slot with 128,412 copies sold, according to SoundScan data released Wednesday (April 25).
Propelled by the success of the hit single "Heard It All Before," Anderson's first album, Your Woman, debuts at #5, while Brooks & Dunn land at #4 with Steers & Stripes. The two acts had the week's highest chart debuts.
Meanwhile, 10 months after its release, Uncle Kracker's Double Wide finally cracks the top 10 this week, squeaking in at #9.
The rest of the top 10 includes: Shaggy's Hotshot at #3, Lifehouse's No Name Face at #6, Nelly's Country Grammar at #7, Dido's No Angel at #8 and Limp Bizkit's Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water at #10.
After jumping into the top 10 last week, Aaron Carter and Dream have each fallen right out, leaving the top 10 bereft of teen pop acts.
Carter's Aaron's Party (Come Get It) plummeted from #4 to #20, while Dream's It Was All a Dream slipped from #7 to #18.
Other notable debuts include radio-DJ-turned-rapper Angie Martinez's Up Close and Personal at #32, David Gray's Lost Songs at #153, and the cast album of the new Broadway smash "The Producers" at #159.
The "Bridget Jones's Diary" soundtrack with new music from Sheryl Crow and Geri Halliwell leapt from #111 last week to #38 this week, nearly doubling its sales.
Eighties rocker Billy Idol's Greatest Hits also made a formidable leap this week, moving from #120 to #74.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's Live in New York City, which debuted in the top five three weeks ago, is moving in the opposite direction, dropping from #24 to #52.
For more on Sunshine Anderson, check out "Sunshine Anderson: Ray Of Light."


Establishing a firm foundation in building a career within surveying and built environment exploring new heights and reshaping city skylines through geographic information systems, 3D mapping, regional planning and global positioning systems. The School of Surveying and Built Environment will help you fulfil your ambitions.
Our Engineering programs are accredited with Engineers Australia. The Surveyors Board of Queensland accredits our Surveying programs, and graduates are able to apply for membership with the Surveying and Spatial Science Institute Australia.
Studying at USQ gives students access to cutting-edge technology and the very best in facilities


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Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “The Lurker in the Lobby: A Guide to the Cinema of H.P. Lovecraft” as Want to Read:
The Lurker in the Lobby: A Guide to the Cinema of H.P. Lovecraft
The definitive guide to film and television influenced by the writings of H.P. Lovecraft. From Alien to Hellboy to Rough Magik it's all here. Coverage of feature films, television shows, independent films, interviews with Guillermo del Toro, John Carpenter and more.
Paperback, 341 pages
Published June 6th 2006 by Night Shade Books
(first published 2000)
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
(showing 1-30 of 90)
Catalog of Lovecraft film and television adaptations and works with some Lovecraftian influence. The text is at times overwhelmed by the enthusiastic or dismissive emotion of the authors. Some of the real treats here are interviews with professionals in the film industry, including many of the directors most influenced by HPL. Given the explosion in Lovecraft cinema in the last few years, and especially if del Toro's At The Mountains of Madness really happens, this will need another edition soon ...more
A good overview of Lovecraftian influences in cinema. At first I was a bit disappointed by how many works of very marginal relevance to Lovecraft are included - Alien, for example - but once you get past that you see that there are a surprising number of direct adaptations. The interviews at the back of the book are fascinating.


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After MongoDB, ransomware groups hit exposed Elasticsearch clusters
After deleting data from thousands of publicly accessible MongoDB databases, ransomware groups have started doing the same with Elasticsearch clusters that are accessible from the internet and are not properly secured.
Elasticsearch is a Java-based search engine that’s popular in enterprise environments. It’s typically used in conjunction with log collection and data analytics and visualization platforms.
The first report of an Elasticsearch cluster being hit by ransomware appeared on the official support forums on Thursday from a user who was running a test deployment accessible from the internet.


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Each summer, ninety students are chosen for a unique hands-on Contemporary Intensive at Urbanity Dance.
Urbanity's summer intensive is a rigorous three-week program based in Boston's historic South End. Students receive 6-8 hours of daily instruction in ballet, modern, and contemporary technique as well as supplementary courses in in jazz, partnering, musical theater, improvisation, hip-hop, and repertory. Our Faculty represent the best in the contemporary dance world; learn from Urbanity Company members alongside guest instructors such as Jackie Nowicki and Ellenore Scott. The program culminates in in performance opportunities at the Boston Contemporary Dance Festival alongside professional dancers and choreographers from across the nation.
The 2019 program will run from July 22nd - August 10th. Students may choose to attend all three weeks, or the last two weeks. Auditionees selecting the two week option should be aware that they will not be able to perform all the repertory in the final showcase.
On the first day of the program, all students will take placement classes which will determine which group they'll be dancing with throughout the Intensive. Groups are largely age-based, but are also influenced by experience, natural facility, and ballet, modern and contemporary technique.
Sample Daily Schedule:
1:15-3pm: Master Class*
*The daily master class block includes a different teacher every day. This may include an additional contemporary master teacher, or an elective such as hip-hop, contemporary partnering, jazz, or yoga.
**The repertory block is used to learn and rehearse choreography for the Boston Contemporary Dance Festival.
Boston Center for the Arts Calderwood Pavilion
539 Tremont Street Boston, MA 02116
3 weeks tuition: $1,290
2 weeks tuition: $960
3 weeks tuition: $3,255
2 weeks tuition: $2,241
The above payments can be made in full upon registration or in installments due March 1, April 1 and June 1.
Financial aid is available upon acceptance into the program.
E-mail us at email@example.com or
give us a call at (617) 572-3727


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Swtor Uprisings Overview Livestream unveiled that Uprising would be a faster-paced and action-packed combat adventures. As for 4 challenge modes, only story and veteran mode will come at launch, and master mode will come mid-late Nov. As the tougher challenges offer the higher level gear, three power-ups will give you a favor in the fight.
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Distinguish Uprisings from Flashpoints and Operations
Uprising is a brand new combat experience that will launch with the Knights of the Eternal Throne expansion on Dec 2. It is totally different from the other contents:
1. Uprisings are faster-paced and action-packed combat adventures.
2. You must fight through multiple enemies at a time.
3. The enemies spawn the Uprisings, questioning the very power of your Alliance.
How will Uprisings work in KOTET?
Before getting accessible to Uprisings, you must be a swtor subscriber and also reach level 70. You don’t need to finish story, but just hit the max level. If you meet those requirements, you can
1. Click on the Uprising button in Galactic Command to queue.
2. Choose from multiple challenge modes to customize your level of challenge in any Uprising.
There are 3 challenge modes, including story mode for the easiest, veteran mode like Hardmode Lost Island, Master mode like Nightmare difficulty. Only story and veteran mode will come at launch, with 9 new chapters.Aand master mode will come in mid-late Nov.
Story mode is not solo content, but multiplayer content. It will be like tactical mode in difficulty. Solo difficult content, Master Chapters, will come soon after Eternal Throne. Besides, there will a group difficult content, Master Uprisings, coming with Master Chapters.
3. The tougher challenges will offer the higher level gear and weapons. So playing through a Veteran Uprising will award you more.
Special power-ups to help aid you in your fight
Power-ups will be scattered around the level, some hiding inside crates.
1. Tempest Rocket Launcher can make enemies who are caught in the blaze stunned for 3 seconds.
2. Thermal Devastator, the most powerful and feared explosive in the galaxy, emits an incendiary concussive wave that sets enemies ablaze.
3. Combat Clarity makes you move faster, use your most powerful abilities with reckless abandon, and has no cooldowns.
Currently, Uprisings are faction specific. But in the future there will be cross-faction groups for them. Additional group content plans to share in Jan of next year.
Are you ready to challenge Uprising with your friends? Buying swtor credits to get set for the Kbights of the Eternal Throne as well as Uprisings!
Never miss 8% discount code CHEAPSW8 for swtor credits from http://www.swtor2credits.com/ anytime!

domain: game


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Comprising of 3 bedrooms with built in robes, two-way bathroom, lounge room, kitchen/meals, ducted heating, split system cooling, single lock up garage and low maintenance gardens.
Located within close distance to schools, shopping facilities, public transport, child care centers and parks.
*contact us now for a private inspection*
Sydenham is a suburb 25 km north-west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its local government area is the City of Brimbank. At the 2011 Census, Sydenham had a population of 10,323.View All Suburbs

domain: geography


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Malaysia's Sime Darby Q1 profit up 37% on motors unit's strength
[KUALA LUMPUR] Malaysian conglomerate Sime Darby Berhad reported a 37 per cent rise in first-quarter net profit as higher sales of vehicles at home and in Singapore boosted its motors unit and helped offset sluggishness in its plantation business.
Sime Darby, the world's largest palm oil planter by land size, posted a profit of 443 million ringgit (S$143 million) for the quarter ended Sept 30, compared to 323 million ringgit in the year-ago quarter.
The motors unit of the conglomerate, which distributes and assembles vehicles, and represents 30 brands, showed improved performance of the mass vehicle segment in Malaysia and the luxury segment in Singapore, it said in a statement.
That drove gains of 186 per cent and 44 per cent in profit before interest and tax, respectively, in the two countries' motors business, it said.
Overall, the motors business saw a 53 per cent jump in profit before interest and tax to 130 million ringgit.
The plantation division's profit before interest and tax fell 9.6 per cent to 273 million ringgit, mainly due to lower fresh fruit bunch production, lower oil extraction rate and lower crude palm oil sales volume, it said.
"The lingering effects of the Super El Nino continued to impact production, particularly in South Kalimantan and Sabah," Sime Darby said of the weather event's effect on palm oil output.
The company's revenue for the quarter was flat at 10.1 billion ringgit compared with 10.2 billion ringgit in the year-ago period.
The conglomerate also set a net earnings target of 2.2 billion ringgit and a return on average shareholders' equity target of 6.4 per cent for the financial year ending June 30, 2017.


Surface layers can be assessed using in vitro or in situ models. Methods of analysis can include scanning electron microscopy (SEM) (Figure 16), quantitative light fluorescence or optical coherence tomography which measure changes in the surface zone and are used to determine surface roughness. Additional methods include acid solubility testing and atomic force microscopy (Figure 17) Replica SEMs can be used with in situ research to measure changes in the surfaces of eroded lesions or softened zones of enamel lesions over time. An additional method of analyzing the surface layers, secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS), can be used to measure the composition of the surface layer and to show material firmly deposited at the surface.
Hardness recovery, hardness loss inhibition, surface composition/fluoridation and solubility reduction measurements can all be used to assess the mechanisms and efficacy of a proposed preventive therapy against dental erosion. Protocols used include surface preparation using an acid challenge and measurement, treatment steps, surface measurements after secondary acid challenges (typically citric acid, or for in situ studies orange juice), and then measuring specimen hardness again after re-immersion in saliva.51-55,58,59
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Hua Ting Restaurant has been a stalwart of Cantonese cuisine in Singapore since 1992, earning numerous accolades including a recent Michelin Plate. We were intrigued, to say the least, by the fusion of cheese, a quintessential element of Western gastronomy, with iconic Cantonese dishes.
Our set menu started with the Tomato and Mozzarella Mille-Fuille, Duck Skin on Corn Crispy Bread Served with Cherry Blossom Vinegar and Scallion Pesto. It was a wonderful starter where the lightness of the scallion pesto (instead of heavier basil), and the cherry blossom vinegar reduction (substituting the richer balsamic) blended the Asian and Western elements seamlessly – a very clever dish.
Next was the Golden Pumpkin Soup with Oaxaca Cheese Espuma and Macadamia Nuts. Oaxaca cheese is native to Mexico and in its original form resembles a mix of mozzarella and string cheese. Here, the chef shrewdly turned it into a creamy foam, topping it with crushed macadamia nuts. This slightly tangy and nutty foam complemented the sweetness of the pumpkin perfectly – it was the one of table’s favourite dishes.
A Sautéed Fresh Boston Lobster with Celery, Garlic, Capsicum and Sharp Cheddar Cheese soon followed. The lobster, cooked in classic Cantonese style, was generously topped with finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese which was live flambeed to create a light gratin – a decadent dish served with a dash of flair.
Next, the Seared Boneless Beef Short Ribs with Gorgonzola Cheese, Purple Onion and Pink Himalayan Salt. Another true East-meet-West dish combining succulent beef and a tangy blue cheese sauce. Sauteed onions, fried garlic chips and grains of salt created the right balance – a big winner for everyone.
Our menu ended with a traditional starch dish: Cheesy Pepper Jack with E-fu Noodle and Shredded Duck, Yellow Chives, and Mushroom. The richness of the Pepper Jack added weight to an otherwise light final dish. The surprise came from the delicately charred tips of yellow scallions that added an extra layer of flavour – it was the ultimate comfort food dish earning big kudos from the table.
For dessert, the Freshly Baked Mango Cream Cheese Tart Served with Mascarpone, Wild Berries Compote was the perfect ending to a great menu. The tart, with a light and crispy top, was filled with small chunks of creamy mango. The wild berries compote and mascarpone cheese created additional layers of flavours and textures – a well-balanced and terrific dessert.
VERDICT: This is a daring menu; however, the cheese isn’t overpowering and gives a unique twist to otherwise quintessential Cantonese dishes. If you’re in the Orchard Road area and are looking for memorable dining, this experience is a great choice.
The set menu ($118 ++ / pax, minimum 2 people) is offered for lunch (11:30am to 2:30pm) and dinner (6:00pm to 10:00pm). This limited-time promotion menu runs until September 9, 2021.


SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) – BlackBerry has joined Yahoo, Nokia and other technology industry stars felled by an internet age in which companies are forced to evolve quickly or perish.
Canadian-based BlackBerry announced Wednesday it would halt in-house production of smartphones, marking the end of an era for the once-dominant handset producer.
Originally known as Research in Motion, the company earned a dedicated following of “CrackBerry” addicts and introduced millions to the smartphone.
But, its luster faded with the introduction of the iPhone in 2007 and the large number of low-costs Android handsets that followed.
BlackBerry travelled a road well-worn.
Finland’s Nokia, once the world’s largest mobile phone maker, has seen its smartphone business go up in smoke as well.
Internet pioneer Yahoo recently inked a deal to sell its core business to US telecommunications firm Verizon after years of struggling in vain to revive growth in an online search market usurped by Google.
“What they have in common is that they haven’t reacted well to rapid change from their original positions,” said Endpoint Technologies Associates analyst Roger Kay. “Tech has high velocity.”
The tech sector is young and fast-moving in an internet culture that praises “disruption” and “revolution” of industries and lifestyles.
Among mottos found on the walls of leading social network Facebook is “Move fast and break things.”
Smartphones themselves have become seemingly indispensible, with people typically replacing handsets every year or two in order to have the newest features or capabilities.
RESTING ON LAURELS
Changing to capitalize on a new trend can be daunting for companies comfortable with products that keep revenue flowing for the moment.
“It reminds me of all those old singers going to Las Vegas to do whatever it is they do when they should really have just stopped,” Kay said of tech companies sticking with what early hits.
“Everybody wants to do an encore and get paid again.”
When Apple launched the iPhone in 2007, some critiques questioned why the California company was “cannibalizing” its successful line of iPods.
The iPhone became a global sensation, and a main driver of stellar profit for Apple.
Kay noted that when Yahoo ruled internet search it became clear their model was under attack by a newcomer called Google.
Yahoo may not have seen the threat, or may have blinded itself to the need for change because its old business model continued to pump revenue, according to Kay.
And while there are individual specifics underlying the downfall of incumbent mobile phone titans, they all faced the sudden and simultaneous rise of two powerhouses
Apple disrupted smartphones and lifestyles with its iPhone, and Google fired back with an Android mobile operating system that any consumer electronics maker was free to use.
The Google and Apple one-two punch was enough to essentially “pivot” a smartphone market that incumbents thought was too stable to rattle, according to independent Silicon Valley analyst Rob Enderle.
“None of the big firms were prepared to deal with it,” Enderle said of two companies new to the smartphone scene fueling a revolution.
Unlike the birth of search engine Google on a young and growing internet, mobile phones were an existing market that incumbents felt they knew well and were “completely taken aback b the combination of Apple and Google,” according to Enderle.
Veteran technology firms being overtaken by newcomers is not necessarily inevitable, if established companies have the wit and courage to re-invent themselves, adapting to survive.
Analyst Kay noted IBM, a century-old technology company that has embraced transformation time and again, even shedding products along the way.
Computer chip giant Intel shifted its focus to microprocessors for mobile devices to adapt to how internet-connected devices were evolving.
Apple itself was a computer company on the brink of bankruptcy when it staked its future on iPods and iPhones in a winning move that made it one of the most profitable companies on the planet.
The future is a question mark for Microsoft, once the world’s largest company, which has fallen behind Apple and Google as the PC industry declines and which is refocusing on enterprise services.
But reinvention isn’t a cure-all, and needs ongoing commitment to change along with vision of where markets are heading.
IBM now seems tangled in endless restructuring, with revenue declining for more than four years; Intel continues to struggle to find the kind of success it had with big computer chips.
Analysts have taken to wondering whether Apple itself has become too dependent on the iPhone, and is taking too long to come up with “the next big thing.”


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Indivisible groups around the state and nation are putting pressure on their Congressional representatives to act promptly to forestall additional damage to our democracy and national security from Trump and his followers. Scripts from national Indivisible for calls or emails are online here and here. If you prefer a shorter version, I’ve emailed this message to Diane Feinstein and Barbara Lee:
Trump is an immediate threat to American democracy and national security. It is absolutely essential that you take a leadership role in getting him removed from office ASAP via the 25th amendment, impeachment, or any other constitutional means—before he pardons anyone else, incites any more violence, or does further damage. Every hour Trump remains in office, he presents increased danger to democracy and safety.
As we look back on the achievements and shortcomings of our Indivisible Elmwood work over the past months, our support for the Movement Voter Project has represented something a bit different—a longer term investment in the future we’re hoping for. The MVP approach is described on their web site here, and they’ve just produced a YouTube video that’s worth watching if you’d like to feel good about our political efforts this year. And needless to say, the Movement Voter Project could put new donations to good use in Georgia and beyond! B&B
When “Defund the Police” became a progressive slogan and a priority for Indivisibles this spring, my inner alarm bells went off. Memories of Willie Horton reminded me of how easily right-wing media have exploited—for political gain—any apparent ‘softness’ towards criminals on the left. I learned later that James Clyburn had the same reaction, fearing it could set back the vital work of Black Lives Matter despite national revulsion at the killing of George Floyd. Yet when I raised my concerns in a CA state Indivisible call, the response was a lecture from a national Indivisible leader to the effect that I was ignorant or misguided—that ‘Defund the Police’ didn’t really mean what it said. Actually, I’d read the fine print and largely agreed with it, but felt that the slogan itself was an open invitation to GOP fear-mongering.
I was attracted to Indivisible in the first place out of a sense that it was not just another leftist movement, but an organization grounded in political reality, where the history of what’s been effective or ineffective in actual practice would inform actions going forward. As a long-time resident of Berkeley, I get it that progressive realists face pressure and shaming from the far left. I understand the liberal guilt and self-doubt that accompanies any hesitation to endorse a minority-led campaign—the temptation to prove bona fides and “wokeness” by endorsing any initiative launched by Black activists. But I’ve thought Indivisible was more pragmatic, more alert to how ill-chosen actions and slogans can hurt the causes they were designed to support.
On Monday’s Indivisible NCN call, the issue came up again following leaked discussions of Democratic Party leaders in which Representative Abigail Spanberger warned of the damage ‘Defund the Police’ headlines have done to Democratic electoral prospects. Again, the reaction from Indivisible leaders was to argue that the problem was in the candidates’ messaging. Somehow we should be able to make sure even the occasional voter has a nuanced understanding of a complex issue whose trumpeted slogan doesn’t mean what it says. When has that ever worked?
The Indivisible movement has to choose between two possible roles. It can be part of the ultra-progressive left, trying to shift the range (the ‘Overton window’) of what’s politically acceptable by pushing radical change. Or it can work to elect majorities of reasonably progressive senators and representatives who can get critically important legislation passed and signed into law. Both roles have value and can find adherents within the movement. But Indivisible may not be able to do both. Trying too hard for the former may doom the latter.
I hope we can have a discussion of this at a future meeting.
Wednesday’s Indivisible CA statewide call was rich with ideas and opportunities for activism. Here are links for the call notes and chat box comments, which in turn provide links to key resources for national and state actions.
At the state level, Nina Moussavi pointed out that seven of the State Strong priority bills are still awaiting signature by the Governor, and urged support for those bills at email@example.com. The call notes have other links to state actions for TJ Cox, Christy Smith, and other key California races. In a discussion of upcoming propositions, various CA Indivisible groups provided links to published analyses of what’s at stake with each proposition. At the national level, Nina supplied extensive lists of actions and resources for the critical weeks ahead, all recorded in the chat box.
During the May 20 state Indivisible call, Aram Fischer hosted a presentation on the MVP, a national group funneling investment into social justice work and grass-roots democracy. It hit home with us.
It’s frustrating to live in a deep blue corner of a deep blue state and have few outlets for activism. We’re tired of sky-is-falling emails from campaigns warning that all will be lost without a midnight cash infusion. We know that money sent to a campaign can evaporate in TV ads or consultant fees. We’d like to see donations to a political group actually reach the grass roots and have a lasting impact. And we think there’s an alternative approach worth considering—the Movement Voter Project or MVP at https://movement.vote/
The Movement Voter Project “works to strengthen progressive power at all levels of government by helping donors – big and small – support the best and most promising local community-based organizations in key states, with a focus on youth and communities of color.”
“Sometimes very simple ideas are the most brilliant ones,” writes Arlene Avakian. “The idea behind MVP is to connect the dots between grassroots activism and electoral politics. MVP does what no other group does. It seeks out, vets and supports progressive community-based organizations around the country, particularly in communities that are most affected by economic and racial injustice. Based in their communities, these groups know their neighbors, know the issues people care about. They are successful in engaging people to make real change in their communities year round. At election time they turn out votes up and down the ticket.”
MVP-supported local groups helped elect Maggie Hassan to the Senate in 2016, helped mobilize the voters to elect Doug Jones in 2017, and helped Virginia Democrats win state elections across the board in 2019. In 2018, MVP directed $14 million to 354 groups in 42 states for mobilization and engagement. 100% of donations to MVP go to the grass roots, an investment in the critical infrastructure of democracy. This could be the key to the November election and many more to come.
The following post comes via Patti Crane of Indivisible Beach Cities/ISBLA and Michelle Maniere Fowle of The Resistance Northridge:
California Indivisibles: Tell Congress to fund #VirusFreeVoting and to protect the Post Office!
Here’s the toolkit for Thursday’s Virtual Protest: http://bit.ly/vfvdigitaltk
Join Indivisibles and others nationwide in our #VirusFreeVoting Virtual Protest on Thursday from 3-5 pm PT!
We ask Congress to fund $4 billion for Vote at Home and we insist on protecting the Post Office. Show that NO ONE can take away our vote and our voice.
Please tag your electeds and get the #VirusFreeVoting hashtag trending.
Click the online toolkit so you can take a selfie with a sign, make a video, post a tweet or an Instagram message, share a message on Facebook. You can also send a letter to your electeds, trigger phone calls to Congress, and do even more for two straight hours of digital activism.
This week is critical because it may be our last chance to demand that Congress ensure relief to every person in this country, regardless of tax or immigration status, age, or disability.
Here’s the solution: demand your representatives pledge to vote ‘no’ on the next coronavirus package unless it prioritizes the People First Agenda
The package must include these four policies:
- Keep people on payrolls: Stop mass layoffs, and preserve employment relationships for all businesses, including small businesses. Ensure federal dollars go to workers and small businesses, not enriching CEOs and Wall Street.
- Provide financial relief: Expand aid for the most vulnerable in the COVID-19 epidemic, including direct cash assistance, increased food aid, debt relief, and eviction protections.
- Protect public health: Guarantee full health coverage for all COVID-19 care and protections for all frontline workers.
- Defend elections: Enact a vote-by-mail requirement for 2020 federal elections while maintaining access to in-person voting for those who do not have access to mail voting.
If it doesn’t, representatives must vote no.
On Tuesday, April 14, 2020 the Declaration for American Democracy Coalition will kick-off a national call-in campaign to compel Congress to Protect Our Vote. In the midst of the COVID 19 pandemic, Congress must institute reforms that will allow voters to safely cast their ballot and provide states the $4 billion in funding they need to run safe and secure elections.
On April 7th, voters in Wisconsin were forced to choose between protecting their health and participating in our Democracy. This cannot happen again.
Call your Senators today at 1-888-415-4527 to ask them to include $4 billion in funding to secure our elections in the next stimulus package.
This critical funding should be used by states to increase vote-by-mail, expand early voting and online and same-day registration, and to ensure the safety of voters and poll workers, amongst others reforms.
Voters should not have to choose between their health and their vote. Voting by mail or absentee ensures that the voters can participate in our elections without having to venture outside during the pandemic. And expanded early voting will ensure that voters that need to vote in person won’t be faced with long lines and massive crowds. In order to win funding in time for the November election, we need to demand our elected officials act now!
Learn more about how you can take action to protect our democracy by participating in the coalition’s Digital Town Hall series, which kicks off on April 20th!
The following gallows humor is circulating on the Internet and bringing cheer to many of us:
Captain Trump of the RMS Titanic here.
~There isn’t any iceberg.
~There was an iceberg but it’s in a totally different ocean.
~The iceberg is in this ocean but it will melt very soon.
~There is an iceberg but we didn’t hit the iceberg.
~We hit the iceberg, but the damage will be repaired very shortly.
~The iceberg is a Chinese iceberg.
~We are taking on water but every passenger who wants a lifeboat can get a lifeboat,
and they are beautiful lifeboats.
~Look, passengers need to ask nicely for the lifeboats if they want them.
~We don’t have any lifeboats, we’re not lifeboat distributors.
~Passengers should have planned for icebergs and brought their own lifeboats.
~I really don’t think we need that many lifeboats.
~We have lifeboats and they’re supposed to be our lifeboats, not the passengers’ lifeboats.
~The lifeboats were left on shore by the last captain of this ship.
~Nobody could have foreseen the iceberg.

domain: politics


October Shows Launch Just Kidding at Symphony Space in October
September 17, 2019
Symphony Space announces the launch of the 2019-20 Just Kidding family performing arts series with a lively and exciting roster of kid-centric shows each Saturday in October. (more...)
Symphony Space Announces 2019-20 Just Kidding Season
August 19, 2019
Symphony Space announces its 13th annual Just Kidding performing arts series with a diverse and engaging roster of performances each weekend from fall to spring. (more...)
Joanies tuneful melodies and rich, funny lyrics give irresistible zip to songs about sunglasses at the beach, goodnight hugs, and popcorn popping. The Brooklyn based artist will also debut a couple of songs from her upcoming folksy female empowerment album for girls, women and the people who lift them up.


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APG is expanding its infrastructure team for the Americas and has invested in an electricity transmission system in the US.
The €416bn Dutch investor confirmed it had teamed up with the $191bn (€168bn) California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) and Argo Infrastructure Partners to invest in North American infrastructure – as previously reported – and is “busy expanding” a team led by New York-based managing director Steven Hason.
At the same time, Argo, which is managing investments for the consortium, announced the completion of its first deal: the acquisition of the Cross-Sound Cable, which connects the New England and Long Island power grids in the US.
The purchase of the twin, 24-mile submarine cable is expected to be the first of many deals made by the AIA Energy North America platform through which APG and CalSTRS plan to invest $250m each in North American infrastructure.
Hason, whose remit in 2013 was extended beyond North American real estate to include infrastructure, said “a dedicated pool of capital available from like-minded investors” helped the consortium stand out “in the current competitive landscape”.
Hason oversees two separate teams covering real estate and infrastructure, respectively. Spokesman Harmen Geers said the latter was being expanded.
The team was reduced earlier this year when Eugene Zhuchenko, who moved APG’s New York office in 2013 to help set up its Americas team, left to join the Long-Term Infrastructure Investors Association.
Geers said APG intends to replicate the approach used for its real estate investments, using “joint ventures, club deals and co-investments”, and had more capital to invest in infrastructure because its pension fund clients were increasing their allocations.
In 2011, APG, led by Hason, entered into a joint venture with US institutional investor TIAA-CREF to invest in regional shopping centres.


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France Should Take Additional Steps to Protect Human Trafficking Victims
International Justice and Human Rights Researcher
Global Human Rights Defence
The Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) in its third report, published on the 18th of February 2022, welcomed the steps taken by the French authorities in tackling the phenomenon of human trafficking. However, the report calls on France to “take additional steps” in combatting human trafficking. Proactive actions are necessary, according to GRETA, as France is a “country of destination for victims of trafficking in human beings, but is also a country of origin and transit”.
Within its report, GRETA noted that law enforcement officers should have more knowledge regarding human trafficking to better inform victims of their rights. Moreover, GRETA urged France to “systematically” provide legal aid to victims of human trafficking and provide legal interpreters to the victims who wish to commence procedures or lodge complaints. The report also outlined that since 2016 the number of investigations and prosecutions initiated by France had risen but the number of convictions remained “low”. GRETA therefore suggested that France should “ensure that cases of trafficking are investigated proactively and prosecuted effectively, leading to effective, proportionate and dissuasive sentences”. An essential next step that France has been urged to take by GRETA concerns the implementation of a national mechanism which identifies victims of trafficking as the current lack of such a mechanism “makes it difficult to have an accurate picture of the situation”.
France is legally bound by the Council of Europe’s Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings since 2008 and although the steps it has taken to implement the Convention have been welcomed, GRETA’s third report clearly demonstrates that further action taken on behalf of the French public authorities is required.
Sources and further reading:
Council of Europe. (2022, February 18). France Should Improve the Identification, Protection and Compensation of Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings. Council of Europe Newsroom. Retrieved February 21, 2022, from https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/france-should-improve-the-identification-protection-and-compensation-of-victims-of-trafficking-in-human-beings
Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. (2022, February 18). France – Third Evaluation Round: Access to Justice and Effective Remedies for Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings. https://rm.coe.int/3rd-greta-evaluation-report-france-access-to-justice-and-effective-rem/1680a58fa2


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Wednesday, April 1, 2015
The Baker Street Irregulars: Alive and Well
The Baker Street irregulars are a gang of street Arabs whom Holmes employs from time to time to aid in his investigations. This back-street brigade serves to gather information, find missing people, track individuals, deliver communications, etc.
This urban army appears in the first Sherlock Holmes story, A Study In Scarlet. They also have their own chapter in a subsequent novel, The Sign of the Four. They reappear some years later in The Adventure of the Crooked Man.
In the early stories, the irregulars are led by an older boy called Wiggins, whom Holmes paid a shilling per day (plus expenses), with a guinea prize (worth one pound and one shilling) for a vital clue. Of course, the irregulars are often included in various movies, television programs, and Sherlock Holmes pastiches. Indeed, they play a prominent role in several of the stories in my new collection – Sherlock Holmes – The Golden Years. However, as my stories take place nearly twenty years after their last appearance, the the irregulars in my stories are led by a sixteen-year old boy named Archie, who has a tag-along little brother names Benjie.
As a writer, I find the irregulars fascinating. They create a poignant counterpoint to the richer society that is the focus of most of Doyle’s stories. Also, kids are just fun to write. They inject energy into a story. Having alleged this, you will not be surprised to learn that am planning to have the irregulars play a prominent role in most of my future stories. Indeed, I recently submitted a story called Blood Brothers for a new anthology of Sherlock Holmes stories being created to support the The Undershaw Trust’s efforts to save the Doyle home in Surrey, UK. This collection of about fifty original stories will debut sometime this fall – being published by MX Publishing in London.
I will alert you again when this fantastic anthology, which is edited by David Marcum, will be available. It is definitely one book you will want to have in your collection. Meanwhile, if you haven’t already done so, check our Sherlock Holmes the Golden Years – available ON AMAZON and most every on-line and main street book store.