text:
What year was canada discovered?
It is believed that the first European to reach Canada was Leif Erikson in 1000 A.D. establishing a small colony in what is now the tip of Newfoundland. No further European exploration occurred until 1497 when the Italian John Cabot claimed Canada's Atlantic coast for King Henry VII of England.
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domain: history


Nomad Technics provided Aircraft on Ground support to a Bombardier Challenger 650 in two days.
Nomad Technics provided AOG support to a Bombardier CL650. The maintenance division of Nomad Aviation AG — a business jet charter and aircraft management company — performed the maintenance in only two days. The aircraft located at the International Airport of Malaga, Spain, suffered hydraulic leak on the landing gear. After setting spare parts on the Bombardier aircraft, tests performed showed the jet could return to service. “We are proud that we have completed the AOG event on the Challenger 650 with an extremely short reaction time during the weekend”, says Roman Hug, VP/General Manager of Nomad Technics.
When the CL650 operator contacted Bombardier on Saturday afternoon, the aircraft manufacturer dispatched a dedicated “Bombardier Mobile Response Team” Challenger 300, based in Frankfurt, to Basel — where Nomad Technics opened a maintenance facility at EuroAirport in August 2018 — to enable the MRO service provider to reach the operator. “Thanks to the flexibility of the engineers and the short communication channels we could rectify the defect to the full satisfaction of the customer”, adds Heinz Koehli, Executive Chairman of Nomad Aviation.
Nomad Technics AG provides maintenance inspection and non-routine repair work on Bombardier Challenger 600, 850 series, Bombardier Global XRS, Global 5000, Global 6000 and Embraer Legacy 600 and 650 business jets. Other types include Cessna’s C525 series aircraft.


In addition to serving as a legal status, United States citizenship is a powerful representation of belonging, identity, & opportunity. It stands for a stern dedication to the ethical principles upon which the mighty country was established & is the cornerstone of the great American Dream. We will explore the significance of having US citizenship & what it implies for those who start out on this amazing adventure.
An Overview of the Benefits
Numerous benefits & privileges are made available to you after you become a citizen of the United States. These perks include a variety of chances that can considerably improve your life in the US. They go beyond the ability to vote or own a US passport.
We’ll examine the top 12 advantages of becoming a recognised US citizen, with each presenting a different viewpoint on how citizenship might improve your life, your family, & your future.
What Are the Top 12 Benefits of Having a US Citizenship?
1. Legal Rights and Protections
A. Right to Vote
The opportunity to vote is one of the most prized benefits of US citizenship. You have the ability to engage in democracy as a US citizen by choosing the people who will set the direction of the country’s policies.
B. Access to Federal Jobs
When it comes to employment prospects with the strong federal government, the US nationals are clearly at an advantage point by far. Many of the government jobs are normally only available to the citizens of the US, especially those that need multiple security clearances or sensitive tasks. This access covers a plethora of professions, including those in many government services, the military, law enforcement, and research.
2. Travel Benefits
A. Visa-Free Travel
If you are a citizen of the US, you are entitled to travel to a plethora of nations without a visa. Americans with passports are capable of going to a wide range of places without having to worry about getting any visas first. This perk makes foreign travel much less complicated, saving you a lumpsum of time, money, and also complicated administrative tasks.
3. Education and Scholarships
A. Federal Financial Aid
Access to government financial assistance programs is definitely only one of the many educational options that come with having a US citizenship. You can qualify for government grants, scholarships, & also the low-interest student loans as a respected citizen, which can dramatically lessen the cost of any higher education.
B. In-State Tuition Rates
Another strong advantage of US citizenship in terms of education is in-state tuition prices. For citizens of their respective states, several public schools & universities offer drastically discounted tuition rates. You may take advantage of these lower tuition rates since, as a US citizen, you are normally regarded as a resident of the state where you now reside.
4. Family Reunification
A. Sponsorship for Family Members
With US citizenship comes the significant power to sponsor specific family members’ entry to the country. This feature of family reunion is evidence of the importance that America placed on maintaining intact families. You can file a petition as a US citizen to have your spouse, parents, & unmarried children admitted to the nation.
B. Quicker Immigration Process
The benefit of a speedier immigration procedure for their sponsored family members is also available to US citizens. The immigration system prioritises immediate relatives of US residents, which leads to quicker processing periods than for other visa categories. This quickens the process of family reunion & shortens the time spent apart, allowing you to spend as much time as possible with your loved ones in the United States.
5. Government Benefits
A. Social Security Benefits
People who are citizens of the US are eligible to receive all Social Security benefits. This extensive program offers financial stability to retirees, those with impairments, & the surviving family members of workers who have passed away. Throughout your working years as a citizen, you may pay into Social Security & get benefits, assuring a steady income stream in retirement.
B. Medicare & Medicaid
The Medicare & Medicaid programs provide healthcare help to US citizens as well. Medicare offers health insurance mostly to seniors (those 65 & over) & certain younger disabled people. Contrarily, Medicaid provides medical treatment to low-income persons & families, including kids, expectant mothers, & people with disabilities.
6. Increased Job Opportunities
A. Eligibility for Government Jobs
By allowing you access to a wide range of government employment at the federal, state, & municipal levels, US citizenship considerably widens your career options. Due to the sensitive nature of the work, many government posts, such as those in law enforcement, national security, & intelligence agencies, require applicants to be US citizens.
B. Enhanced Employment Prospects
Being a citizen of the US increases your work opportunities in the private sector as well as providing access to government positions. The dependability, dedication, & stability that come with US citizenship are highly valued by many businesses. You may get a competitive advantage on the job market & become a sought-after applicant for a variety of positions.
7. Political Participation
A. Running for Public Office
The ability to actively participate in democracy by running for public office is one of the most profound benefits of US citizenship. The US residents have the ability to run for & also hold public office, whether it’s for a local city council seat, a state legislative seat, or the highest office in the nation, the presidency.
B. Civic Engagement
Citizenship in the US fosters civic activity that also goes beyond running for office. Voting for their favourite candidates in elections, referendums, & initiatives is a respectable civic duty as well as a self-right. Participating in neighbourhood meetings, joining many advocacy groups, & also working for causes you support are all examples of civic involvement that also extends beyond the voting booth.
8. Access to Government Services
A. Assistance from US Embassies/Consulates
When they travel or reside abroad, US residents benefit immensely from an essential safety net thanks to the stern assistance offered by the US embassies and consulates. With a plethora of active services available, these diplomatic posts provide a lifeline for multiple individuals living in other nations. US embassies and consulates offer urgent aid in times of crisis as well, such as for natural disasters or also calamities, assisting residents in staying in touch with loved ones & also navigating foreign legal & healthcare systems.
B. Legal Protections Abroad
When citizens travel abroad, their US citizenship offers them multiple legal protections. Through its active consular services, the US government can provide support and advice to nationals who may also occasionally find themselves in legal problems overseas.
9. Retirement Benefits
A. Eligibility for Social Security
The primary benefit of being a citizen of the US is being eligible for Social Security payments, which are essential to retirement security. A monthly income stream from the Social Security helps many seniors maintain a very decent level of living during their peaceful retirement years, acting as a stern safety net for their finances.
B. Retirement Savings Plans
A wide variety of retirement savings options, including 401(k)s, IRAs, and other pension plans, are available widely to US residents in addition to Social Security. With the help of these strategic investing alternatives, people may take a strong charge of their financial destinies & create multiple sizeable retirement savings.
10. Cultural Integration
A. Sense of Belonging
Being a citizen of the US gives one a very strong sense of identification and belonging in the richly variegated fabric of the great American culture. It denotes dedication to the American culture, history, and ideals, building a much stronger bond with the nation & its citizens.
B. Active Citizenship
Being a citizen of the US fosters civic engagement & also community involvement. It is a call to get involved in one’s community, speak out on pressing concerns, & advance societal progress. Voting in elections, helping out with community initiatives, & taking part in debates are all examples of active citizenship.
11. Charitable Contributions
A. Ability to Vote on Initiatives
US citizenship grants individuals the privilege to vote on various initiatives & propositions at the local, state, & federal levels. These initiatives often include multiple measures related to public funding for many social programs, education, healthcare, and environmental conservation.
B. Civic Engagement in Charities
US people are statistically more inclined to donate to charity organisations & also participate in multiple philanthropic activities. Americans very enthusiastically engage in multiple volunteer labour, charitable giving, & also community service, which demonstrates how firmly established this feeling of civic responsibility is in American society.
12. Access to Government Contracts and Grants
A. Eligibility for Government Contracts
Citizens of the US are given a very significant advantage when they’re applying for federal contracts. Many of the federal contracts, especially those involving closely sensitive projects & national security, call for its bidders to be US citizens or organisations with a very strong US citizen ownership share.
Becoming an American citizen involves several key steps:
- Eligibility Check: Make sure you possess the qualifying conditions, including the residence & also the legal permanent residency requirements.
- File Form N-400: Fill out the Form, the Application for your Naturalization, & thereafter send it in with the necessary paperwork and the payments.
- Biometrics Appointment: Attend a biometrics appointment & bring your own fingerprints, pictures, & any other personal documents.
- Interview & Test: Attend a meeting with a USCIS representative. You’ll be evaluated on your comm& of the English language as well as your familiarity with US history & politics.
- Background Check: Obtain a thorough background investigation, which should include a look at your criminal record.
- Oath of Allegiance: You’ll get a Notice of Naturalization Oath Ceremony if your application is accepted. Take the Oath of Allegiance, attend the ceremony, & get your Certificate of Naturalization.
- Apply for a US Passport: After getting your Certificate of Naturalization to take advantage of all citizenship privileges.
- Update Social Security: To update your records, inform the Social Security Administration of your citizenship status.
Why Pursue a US Citizenship?
There are several compelling advantages to applying for citizenship by investment programs. The benefits are vast & substantial, ranging from access to government services to fundamental rights like the ability to vote & protection from deportation. A sense of belonging, engagement, & dedication to the national principles are all fostered by citizenship.
US citizenship gives doors to a better future, whether it’s the assurance of financial stability in retirement, chances for job progress, or the capacity to reconcile with loved ones. It gives people the power to take control of their lives, actively engage in the democratic process, & advance society.
Why Choose Passport Legacy?
Give yourself the chance to take advantage of the greatest residency and citizenship opportunities available worldwide and to profit from having one of the world’s strongest passports at your disposal. With our cutting-edge 6-step methodology, we shorten the processes for obtaining citizenship and residence, and we provide round-the-clock help for all of your questions. Passport Legacy is your entry point to these nations, only a click away.


Pollution, squatting, industries hasten death of Laguna de Bay
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Bayani Enriquez, 54, grew up by Laguna de Bay in this city in Laguna province. Back in the 1980s, he often spent time with friends swimming or fishing in the lake’s unobstructed waters. But much of the open space is now gone, with shanties occupying the shoreline, he said. It also never occurred to him how the lake, which gave him some sense of calm and security, would become a public hazard.
Cinco, M. (2017, January 5). Pollution, squatting, industries hasten death of Laguna de Bay. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A6.
Associated contentOnline version
Lake restoration; Flood control; Flooding; Environment management; Water pollution; Sedimentation; Lake reclamation; Sewage; Pollutants; Trident Infrastructure and Development Corp.; San Miguel Holdings Corp.; Alloy Pavi Hanshin LLEDP Consortium; Department of Environment Natural Resources (DENR); Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA); Enriquez, Bayani; Macapagal-Arroyo, Gloria; Aquino III, Benigno; Duterte, Rodrigo; Lopez, Gina; Manda, Edgardo; Acosta, Nereus; Luna, Ipat; Tan, Charlie; Hicap, Fernando
- Philippine Daily Inquirer
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
Giron, Anthony (Manila Bulletin,
February 16, 2017, on page B9)Local government authorities in this city have started efforts to clean rivers in the lowland and upland districts of the province following reports that some tributaries are contaminated by waste and toxic chemicals. River ...
Plastic (Panay News,
June 8, 2018, on page 8)Plastic waste prevention and the genuine enforcement of best practices in ecological solid waste management sans incineration and open burning is the way to go to tackle the plastic scourge that has now become a global ...
July 24, 2018, on page 8)We would have wanted to hear the President emphasize ecological solutions to the waste and pollution problems afflicting the country in his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) yesterday. It would have driven home his ...


Singapore, 30 October 2018 – ST Engineering is bringing its expertise and capabilities in autonomous platforms and smart transportation beyond Singapore. The technology and engineering Group has tied up with the Israeli municipality of Ashdod to explore opportunities related to the potential development of products and solutions for the Ashdod and the Israeli market.
The agreement was signed by ST Engineering’s Chief Marketing Officer, Mr Chew Men Leong and Dr Smadar Itzkovich, Head of Industry Development Division – Ashdod Municipality, at the 6th Annual Smart Mobility Summit in Tel Aviv. The extent of the agreement covers various aspects of a city’s transportation network, including Intelligent Transportation System for roads, fleet management system for buses, and the development and testing of autonomous buses.
The Group’s suite of Intelligent Rail and Road Transport Solutions has a strong track record and has been deployed in more than 20 cities worldwide. Using Big Data Analytics and Machine Learning, these solutions will improve the city’s service quality of its transport systems and enhance commuter experience through real-time traffic and commuter sensing, supervisory and control capabilities, as well as early warning of potential service disruptions.
The Ashdod municipality has, in recent years, invested substantial resources in Smart Mobility proof of concepts and provided strong support to universities and international companies with a proving ground for technologies.
During the Summit, ST Engineering also announced its plans to set up an R&D centre in Israel to support its development of the Next Generation Autonomous Kit for buses. The R&D centre will provide opportunities for project teams to share their knowledge and experience in advanced sensors and AI technologies for AV platforms, as well as provide access to test sites for ST Engineering’s autonomous bus.
ST Engineering has announced its plans to scale up its end-to-end competencies to pursue growth opportunities in Smart City and expects its Smart City revenue of S$1b in 2017 to more than double by 2022. To date, it has more than 500 smart city projects in 70 cities under its belt.
Note to editor:
From June 2018, we have harmonised the corporate brands of our subsidiaries by using one masterbrand "ST Engineering". We continue to highlight our four business sectors as Aerospace, Electronics, Land Systems and Marine. To find out more, please visit www.stengg.com/news/masterbrand.
ST Engineering is a global technology, defence and engineering group specialising in the aerospace, electronics, land systems and marine sectors. The Group employs about 22,000 people across offices in Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Middle East, serving customers in more than 100 countries. Its employees bring innovation and technology together to create smart engineering solutions for customers in the defence, government and commercial segments. With more than 500 smart city projects across 70 cities in its track record, the Group continues to help transform cities through its suite of Smart Mobility, Smart Security and Smart Environment solutions. Headquartered in Singapore, ST Engineering reported revenue of S$6.62b in FY2017 and it ranks among the largest companies listed on the Singapore Exchange. It is a component stock of the FTSE Straits Times Index, MSCI Singapore, SGX ESG Transparency Index and SGX ESG Leaders Index. For more information, please visit www.stengg.com.
AVP, Corporate Communications
Tel: (65) 6722 1881


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In India, rap/hip-hop is a music genre which contains peppy beats along with endless bragging about extravagant wealth, women and cars. Perhaps, not for Mumbai based rapper-musician Vivian Fernandez who is better known as Divine.
Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt starrer Gully Boy that is based on the life of Mumbai-based rapper Divine will hit the theatres on 14 February 2019
Known for making hit rap singles including Jungli Sher, Ye Mera Bombay, Meri Gully Mein and more, Divine stood out for his real-life inspired lyrics and bold attitude. But as soon as filmmaker Zoya Akhtar announced an upcoming musical-drama Gully Boy, people started looking for the Real Gully Boy aka the inspiration behind Ranveer's character. The upcoming movie will be based on the life and struggle of Indian rapper Divine who was born and brought up in JB Nagar (an immensely poor locality), Mumbai.
Starring Ranveer Singh, Kalki Koechlin and Alia Bhatt, upcoming musical-drama is going to reveal the true face of Indian rap/hip-hop to the audience throughout the world. Scheduled for release on 14th February, Gully Boy is still a week away from hitting the theatres.
But before that let us introduce you to the real Gully Boy aka Indian rapper Divine who is on a conquest of changing the face of Indian hip-hop throughout the world:
Vivian Fernandez kept his stage name Divine during his childhood days because he used to do religious raps. Divine's grandma was a religious lady and used to take him to church whenever possible. Hence he started writing religious rap and got popular by the name, ‘Divine’.
Divine faced a lot of financial hardships in his childhood as his father was an alcoholic. The relationship between his parents was not good for obvious reasons and to maintain a financial balance, his mom started doing a job in the Middle East. Divine used the money she used to send to get a house in Sahar Slums but his father sold that house too. He gave half of the money to Divine and his brother and got out of their life.
Divine and Rap
Divine's first counter with rapping was when he saw one of his friend wearing a T-Shirt with a pic of 50 Cent. When he asked him about it, his friend told him about 50 Cent, Eminem and Dr Dre and gave him a collection of their raps. He initially didn't understand the lyrics of their raps and therefore he started learning English. This was a great turn in the life of Divine as rapping entered in his life from here.
Indian rapper Divine created history and made every Indian proud by attending BBC Asian Network's segment Fire In The Booth. Divine sung a Hindi rap for the first time in front of International audience. He had to sing on unknown beats there and ended up really impressing the people with his energy. With his hard-hitting lyrics and never-back-down attitude won him a million of hearts during his first international live performance.
The founder of Gully Gang and the inspiration behind Zoya Akhtar directorial upcoming movie Gully Boy, Divine is currently working on multiple projects involving Hindi rap and Indie music.
Please share your views about the eccentric Indian rapper Divine in the comment’s section below. And stay tuned for more entertainment related updates.

domain: artistic


Take 5: An interview with Yoav Bear, Israeli time trial veteran
Team Cycling Academy
The first-ever Israeli cycling team is making its international stage debut at the 2015 USA Pro Challenge. Like many of the teams this year, the squad of 13 cyclists from Israel and Europe is young — and ready to turn heads. Here’s a look at the team roster.
Guy Sagiv — Israel, road and sprint specialist
Antonio Angulo Sampedro — Spain, small group riding
Bartosz Warchol — Poland, hill specialist
Ľuboš Malovec — Slovakia, all-around rider
Guy Gabay — Israel, road specialist
Daniel Turek — Czech Republic, hill and time trial specialist
Patryk Talaga — Poland, small group riding
Migdał Wojciech — Poland, all-around rider
Mário Daško — Slovakia, hill specialist
Emanuel Piaskowy — Poland, hill specialist
Ido Zilberstein — Israel, sprint specialist
Yoav Bear — Israel, time trial specialist
Ben Einhorn — all-around rider
Yoav Bear is ready for a second chance at professional cycling.
For the past six years, the 24-year-old Israeli rider has battled the ups and downs of racing in Europe. Competition there is cutthroat: Teams come and go, sponsors cut ties unexpectedly and only cyclists with enough time on the circuit (and enough sponsor cash in the bank) find the support they need to climb the ranks. In many ways, it’s like baseball in the U.S. — only a small percentage ever makes it to the show.
Bear raced with amateur teams consistently until the end of last season, when he decided to try his hand at university instead. But, he couldn’t get out that easily. Shortly after he returned to Tel Aviv, he was approached by a former pro, Ran Margaliot. The manager had an enticing proposition for the former mountain biker turned time trial specialist: Give cycling one more shot with his country’s first pro team, Cycling Academy. It even had backing from Slovakian superstar Peter Sagan.
Bear could hardly say no. Since then, the team has traveled Europe to compete in several smaller races, including the Tour of Slovakia and Tour of Croatia earlier this summer. They notched several stage and jersey wins at both, building an early reputation as a very young, very competitive team on the rise.
Now, it’s onto the big leagues. Bear and a team of 12 cyclists from Israel, Poland, Slovakia and across Europe arrived in Colorado on Aug. 13 for their first taste of cycling on the international stage. As one of the oldest riders on the roster, Bear brings much-needed experience and composure to the team. He knows just how intimidating a multi-day stage race can be and is ready for anything the course has in store — never mind that this is his first time on U.S. soil.
Shortly after arriving in Steamboat Springs for Stage 1, the Summit Daily sports desk talked with him about the Breckenridge time trial, Rocky Mountain altitudes and why the Academy is here to stay.
Summit Daily News: First things first: You just arrived in Steamboat at 2,100 meters (6,900 feet). How are your lungs and legs feeling?
Yoav Bear: Right now, I’m feeling OK. We’ve had very good preparation in the Italian Alps, staying at altitude, and, since then, we’ve had around 12 days of racing in Europe. We had some altitude there, too. Most of the (Pro Challenge) stages are looking pretty hard. This race is known for the hardest climbs and the highest altitudes, and that will make it more difficult. The climbs will make the difference in this race.
SDN: You struggled to find a foothold in the European cycling scene. What convinced you to give it one more try with Cycling Academy?
YB: I was racing in the amateur ranks in Spain, France, across Europe, and it’s a hard sport to get a living. You’re always searching for a new professional contract. I decided to go to university to study, find a profession, and then (Team Cycling Academy manager) Ran came to me. We knew each other from racing on the national team in Israel, and we thought it was a great idea to give young riders exposure on the international stage.
Now, we have cyclists from Israel and Czechoslovakia and Poland, and we all have the opportunity to race on the biggest stage. Cycling is a very old-school sport. Riders from developed countries in Europe, they grew up in the local clubs, then they go to a better club, then they get a pro contract.
In Israel, it’s a different situation. If you win a race there, no one sees it. You have to travel to Europe, live alone or with friends — not with your family — and you spend a big amount of money in the beginning. It’s hard to really get into this sport from a country like Israel.
SDN: Those barriers aside, what’s the competition like in Israel? Is it fierce, or is it still pretty new and untested?
YB: It’s kind of new, but the level goes up every year. You really see the difference in the level from year to year. Every time, there is something different to raise the level, such as riders going to Europe and then coming back, and, when they come back, they ride at a higher level. When our riders bring this back to Israel, the riders with the Academy, we will have the knowledge of what it’s like in the big races. I think we’ll really catch up with the rest of the world in a few years.
SDN: You’re a time trial specialist. What’s the trick to training for a time trial like the one in Breckenridge, with very steep climbs over a short course?
YB: Again, because of the altitude, it is going to be very different. I haven’t seen yet the course live — I’ve only seen the graph on the website. So, I assume that after riding the course the morning of the race, I will know it better; but, like any other race, the key to success is to make a pace. This one is very quick because of the uphill and downhill, but I’ll figure that out.
SDN: This is Cycling Academy’s first appearance at a major international race. No matter how you place, what do you hope this does for the team and cycling in Israel?
YB: It’s a little bit hard to think ahead to that. We had live coverage in Eurosport in Europe and the Tour of Abidjan (in Russia), with riders in breakaway in almost every stage. One of our riders even won a stage. The level is very high, so that’s what we’re aiming for is to show everyone we can be with the leaders the entire time. Races can always be unexpected. I really just hope to help the team as I did in the last two races in Europe, so I’m here mainly for the team.
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Nigerian singer and songwriter, Stanley Omah Didia, better known as Omah Lay, has bragged about his songwriting skills, noting that he is the best in the niche.
The artiste’s self-praise is coming shortly after Nigerian award-winning artiste, Burna Boy affirmed that his colleagues, Wizkid and Davido, who are among Africa’s richest musicians are not richer than him.
In an earlier tweet, Burna Boy had also claimed he is the highest paid artiste in the history of African music.
“I said money doesn’t satisfy me and it’s my Truth but it Doesn’t change the fact that I’m the highest paid artiste in the History of African music. Believe it or not,” Burna Boy had tweeted.
Amid heightened discussion on the controversy surrounding Burna Boy’s claims, Omah Lay drew attention to his writing prowess as he distances himself from the list of Africa’s richest artistes.
In a tweet that has since received backlash, Omah Lay wrote: “Hahaha! Nobody comes close to me with the pen.”
The post “Nobody comes close to me in songwriting” – Omah Lay brags appeared first on .

domain: celebrity


text:
Kate Middleton and Prince William got in the festive mood as they let their hair down at Kensington Palace's annual Christmas bash.
The couple were spotted leaving Beach Blanket Babylon in London's trendy Notting Hill area after it was hired out by the palace for their staff party.
The Duke and Duchess were joined by Prince Harry and his fiancée Meghan Markle at the bash - where partygoers reportedly had to bring their own alcohol due to a licence problem.
Prince Charles was also rumoured to have been present at the do in the upstairs ballroom.
The royal couple were seen leaving in their Range Rover via a rather grotty alley towards the end of the celebrations - while Meghan and Harry left much earlier, the Mailonline reports.
The ballroom at Beach Blanket Babylon can be rented out for around £6,500 which covers both food and soft drinks.
Today Kate, William and Harry joined a Memorial Service for victims of the Grenfell Tower.
The Duchess of Cambridge hid her growing baby bump under a navy coat, paired with a matching hat as the trio made their way into St Paul's Cathedral for the service.
Shortly afterwards, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also arrived for the ceremony.
More than 1,500 people attended the today - around half of which are bereaved families and survivors while the other half includes members of the wider community, volunteers and first responders.
The multi-faith service included messages of support for the bereaved, offering strength and hope for the future "for those of all faiths and none".
The fire in west London on June 14 left 71 people dead and hundreds homeless.
Voices of those affected by the blaze were played out in the cathedral, with stories from the moment they realised the tower block was on fire.
Some mourners bowed their heads, clearly emotional as they remembered their loved ones. Others held pictures of those who were killed by the blaze.
In an address, the Bishop of Kensington told the emotional congregation that today would have been the first birthday of one of the youngest victims killed in the fire.
Adele, Marcus Mumford - from the band Mumford and Sons, and his wife Carey Mulligan also attended the service.
Miss Markle was not in attendance for the ceremony after reports that she had flown back to the US to spend some time with her family and friends in LA.
She has returned to London this week, and will join Harry, the Queen and the rest of the royal family at Sandringham on Christmas Day.
In a break from royal tradition, the 36-year-old US actress will also join members of the Royal Family making the annual walk to church on Christmas morning, despite the fact she is not married to Harry.
She and Prince Harry are expected to stay with William and Kate and their children in their country home on the Sandringham Estate Anmer Hall over the festive period.


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Contemplating the legacy of Nathan Bedford Forrest at his grave beneath the remains of a Confederate monument in a Memphis park.
National parks are popular destinations on many travelers’ bucket lists. It seems that everyone who has been to a national park has a secret desire, or sometimes a very public intention, to visit every national park. All 59 of them, from Acadia to American Samoa, from Gates of the Arctic to Virgin Islands, and all […]
Aside from the opinion of many people that all national parks are sacred, many sites in the national park system have specifically religious histories, and a number of these continue to serve explicitly religious purposes. Consider, for instance: The Ebenezer Baptist Church at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site in Atlanta, Georgia. This […]

domain: geography


text:
We know D.C. Get our free newsletter to stay in the know.
Maybe it’s the absurdly high concentration of people in their 20s, or maybe we’re just a city of joiners. But whatever the reason, D.C. boasts dozens of social sports—including at least four separate kickball leagues. Which one is right for you? Perhaps this chart can help:


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Police calls: Teen boys issued summonses for making threats
Mansfield Senior High School, 124 N. Linden Road - A 15-year-old boy reportedly told a teacher Monday afternoon that he planned to shoot another 15-year-old boy for threatening his mother. Both were issued summonses for aggravated menacing.
600 block of Oak Street - A 64-year-old woman reported Monday afternoon the theft of a firearm from her residence.
200 block of Greendale Avenue - A 42-year-old woman reported Monday afternoon that someone dumped several bags of trash on city property.
100 block of Bowman Street - A 34-year-old man was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia Monday night after police reported seeing him make a possible drug transaction.
100 block Glessner Avenue - A 51-year-old man standing in a driveway was arrested on warrants out of Ontario and Richland County. A suboxone strip was found in his pocket, police said.

domain: sociology


Etisalat has topped the list of the UAE’s 50 biggest companies, in a new survey by Arabian Business.
The telecoms giant took first place with a market value of AED75.6bn, more than twice its nearest rivals, DP World, valued at AED34.4bn. The list ranks companies by market value, based on figures obtained from Bloomberg at close of trading last Thursday. Companies on the Dubai Financial Market, Abu Dhabi Exchange and Nasdaq Dubai were surveyed.
The list is heavily dominated by banks, with six in the top ten. Property giant Emaar, which has seen a rise in its share price this year, is ranked fourth with a value of AED18.58bn, well ahead of the next property company Aldar, ranked 16th with a value of AED4.53bn.
The list also shows a strong performance for construction giant Arabtec, which has seen its shares rise by more than 60% since the start of 2012. The company is now ranked 17th, with a market value of AED4.35bn.
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Eleaf iStick TC 100W
This product is unavailable
The new revamped Eleaf iStick TC 100W is an upgraded and revised version of the iStick 100W, now with temperature control and an extended output range of 1-100W. Its now smaller, features dual magnetic battery doors (one is also the fire button), atomizer resistance range of 0.1 to 3.5 ohms, supports Ni-200 Nickel, Titanium, Stainless Steel and Kanthal, three memory TCR setting that allows for accurate temperature output and base resistance lock. This mod was designed bases on the popular form of the iStick 50W and previous 100W, but is now smaller. This design of having two batteries on the outside of the chipset allows for the mod to run parallel power giving users the option to run one battery up to 75W and two batteries if you want to go up to 100W. Beautiful form factor, good battery life, good functions and a good size, what more can you ask for?
- 1 to 100W Output Wattage
- 0.1 to 3.5 ohm
- Firmware Upgradeable
- Now Available to Upgrade to 120W!
- TCR Controllable Temperature Output
- Ni200 Nickel Support
- Titanium Support
- Stainless Steel Support
- Three TCR Modes
- Base Resistance Lock Functionality
- 200 to 600 Degrees Fahrenheit
- Firmware Upgradeable
- 0.05 to 1.5 ohm
- Dual Magnetized Doors
- Cut Away Both Sides
- Utilizes High Amperage 18650 Batteries (Sold Separately)
- Parallel Battery Structure
- Can Be Run in Single Battery Mode
- 75W Maximum
- Dual Battery Mode
- 100W Maximum
- Centrally Located Control Face
- Adjustment and Mode Buttons
- OLED Display
- Stealth Firing Mechanism
- Doubles as Battery Door
- Can Be Mechanically Locked
- Comfortable and Ergonomic
- 1A Micro USB Charging and Firmware Update Port
- Low Voltage Protection
- Temperature Protection
- Advanced Temperature Alert
- Atomizer Protection
- Short Circuit Protection
- 52mm x 23mm x 94mm
- One Eleaf iStick 100W TC Box Mod
- One Manual
These are high capacity and high discharge current batteries. If mishandled / mistreated, they can cause you SERIOUS INJURY. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK!
- Do NOT short.
- Do NOT leave unattended when charging.
- Do NOT leave unattended immediately AFTER charging.
- Do NOT carry in your pocket or purse unless they are in a secure non-conductive carry case.
- They are not toys. Do not let your children or pets play with them.
- Do NOT recharge with cheap chargers that keep on trickle charging after the normal cycle or that do not follow the Constant Current / Constant Voltage (CC/CV) algorithm properly.
Do not over charge, or over discharge these 18650 batteries. Use caution to not short these batteries, and never dispose of them in any type of fire.
Please note all specs are supplied from the manufacturer and may vary slightly from battery to battery.
Use extreme caution and care when working with Li-Ion cells. They are very sensitive to charging parameters and may explode or burn if mishandled. Always charge in/on a fireproof surface. Never leave charging batteries unattended. We are not responsible if there is any modification to the batteries or charger in any shape or form. We are not responsible for any damage caused by misuse or mishandling of Li-Ion batteries and/or chargers.
Nuage Vapor Lounge will not be held responsible or liable for any damage, injury, or defect, permanent or temporary that may be caused from the use of Li-Ion batteries.


text:
Adipose tissue autophagy related gene expression is associated with glucometabolic status in human obesity
Adipose tissue autophagy (AT) is associated with human obesity and increased metabolic risk. Recent findings establish a role for autophagy in lipid metabolism. Here, we compared the expression of autophagy-related and lipolysis genes in human abdominal subcutaneous AT (SCAT) in overweight/obese subjects (n = 17) with or without impaired glucose tolerance in comparison with lean normal glucose tolerant individuals (n = 9), and investigated the association between AT autophagy and lipolysis. Human multipotent adipose-derived stem cells (hMADS) were used to investigate the effect of pharmacological HSL inhibition on changes in the autophagic flux. The expression of autophagy-related genes (ATG) 5, 7 and 12 in SCAT was significantly higher (p = 0.043, p = 0.015, p = 0.004, respectively) in overweight/obese compared to lean men, while expression of the classical lipases HSL (p = 0.092) and ATGL (p = 0.084) tended to be lower. ATG12 mRNA was positively correlated with BMI (r = 0.407, p = 0.039). ATG7 mRNA correlated positively with waist/hip ratio (WHR) (r = 0.420, p = 0.041), 2 h glucose concentration (r = 0.488, p = 0.011) and insulin (r = 0.419, p = 0.033). Multiple linear regressions revealed that ATG7 gene expression was positively related to 2 h glucose, independent of BMI, WHR and insulin. Gene expression interaction analysis showed that ATG7 mRNA negatively correlated with HSL (p<0.01) and ATGL mRNA expression (p<0.01). In line, treatment of differentiated hMADS with an HSL inhibitor increased LC3 accumulation, a marker of increased autophagic flux. Collectively, the present study demonstrated that a low expression of classical lipases in abdominal SCAT is accompanied by an increased expression of ATGs in overweight/obese subjects, which seems to be mainly related to glucose tolerance.

domain: medical


text:
“You’re just not coming in and having a meal,” says Stephen Pierce, general manager, about Acre in Auburn, Ala. "You're having an experience.”
The moment you pull into the parking lot, you realize this isn’t a typical restaurant.
This realization intensifies further as you
walk toward the entrance passing by various fruit and vegetable plants. It’s becoming apparent that you are about to enjoy a memorable meal in many ways.
Inside the house-like structure, you discover a friendly and comfortable atmosphere. Details throughout the restaurant have their own significant stories like the fish basket-turned-chandelier in the dining room, and the wood located above the bar reclaimed from a 100-year-old general store. It’s things like these
that make it feels as if you are dining in someone’s home, and that’s exactly the way Acre wants it.
Opened in August 2013, chef and owner David Bancroft says Acre was built so that he and his family “would have a platform to share our thoughts about clean food.”
“We purchased one full acre in downtown Auburn so that we would have enough space to execute as many practices of sustainability in our business as possible. We built our own parking lot void of city parking meters, planted two working vegetable gardens onsite, and wrapped the entire acre in edible landscape. We've also built an area to collect recyclables that we drive to the recycling facility each week.”
While building a “community restaurant,” it was vital to Bancroft and his family that they plan to work and exist responsibly.
“Our goal is to provide knowledge about the food that is being consumed in our fast-food driven societies, and provide a responsible and clean alternative.”
They accomplish this by growing many fruits and vegetables (what can’t be grown is purchased at the Farmers Market or from local/regional farmers), butchering and curing meats sourced from farmers, filleting whole fresh fish and more. They even make their own pickles and preserves.
“We make everything in-house but Duke’s mayonnaise and Heinz ketchup,” says Bancroft. “Many of those techniques of food preservation were considered a ‘lost art’ until these past few years in which farm-to-table restaurants have exploded across the country.”
features such items as homemade peanut brittle, fried green tomatoes, homemade sausage and more. These concepts extend to their original cocktail list
Even though all these techniques are the norm for Acre, Bancroft doesn't
immediately refer to the restaurant as “farm-to-table." At least not in the mainstream sense.
“If farm-to-table means ‘responsible food that supports your local economy while providing a healthier alternative for dinner,' then yes, I guess we fit under the mainstream label ‘farm-to-table.’
More than labels, we enjoy opening our doors to the community, being a part of their family and they a part of ours. We encourage our friends and family to till up a spot of lawn grass and plant a few vegetables. Nothing tastes better than a homegrown tomato.”
Acre is open daily for lunch 11 a.m. -3 p.m, and for dinner Monday-Thursday 5 - 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday 5-10 p.m. They are closed Sunday evening.
Bancroft says his favorite dish is the "Butcher's Board" featuring four to five meat selections, fresh pickles, preserves, mustards and breads. His second favorite is the "Country Ham and Cheddar Biscuits with Blackstrap Molasses Butter," in which he says is their cured 12-month old prosciutto, shaved razor thin, piled on fresh griddles biscuits and then drizzled with warm molasses butter.
photos from personal collection

domain: food


text:
“We’re in deep trouble,”David Abshire warned. Abshire, the president of the Center for the Study of the Presidency, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, and Larry Wortzel, Chairman of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, spoke at a November 16 briefing at which a new report on America’s S&T future was released.
As reviewed in FYI #135 (see http://www.aip.org/fyi/2006/135.html ), The Task Force on the Future of American Innovation has released “The Knowledge Economy: Is America Losing its Competitive Edge: Benchmarks of our Innovation Future,” (see http://futureofinnovation.org) the second in a series of reports examining America’s S&T standing. The first report and other similar reports are credited with raising awareness among Washington policymakers about international competition to U.S. science and technology leadership.
The three speakers at the briefing (a fourth speaker, Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN) was unable to attend because of a schedule conflict), highlighted the importance of basic research and praised the Administration and Congress for their efforts to increase the budgets of the National Science Foundation, DOE Office of Science, and the NIST laboratory research program. Reaction to the Bush Administration’s American Competitiveness Initiative, which recommended the doubling of the collective budgets of these agencies over ten years, has been very positive. The Task Force, Gingrich, Wortzel and Abshire called on President Bush to include the Department of Defense 6.1 basic research program in the American Competitiveness Initiative in the FY 2008 budget request. The benchmarks report charts flat funding for defense 6.1 spending since 1977. FY 2006 funding for the 6.1 program was $1,470 million. Doubling 6.1 funding would require, one speaker calculated, 1/3 of 1% of the federal budget. Gingrich commented, “There is a profound linkage between economic and national security, and nowhere is it made clearer than in the Defense Department’s support for basic research in the physical sciences and engineering.” In remarks prepared for the briefing, Cooper, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said “I believe we must invest in basic defense research if we are going to develop the most effective weapons technologies and other equipment for our troops, not just now but in the future.” He called inclusion of the 6.1 program in the Initiative “the logical next step.”
The importance of science and technology to America’s economic future was highlighted by the speakers and the Task Force report. Gingrich pointed to the vast amount of scientific and technological knowledge that will be created in the coming decades, and asked how much of it will originate in America. Increasing funding for S&T is not a question of additional money, he said, but one of priorities. Abshire outlined the need for a strategy supporting scientific and technological breakouts and breakthroughs, and spoke of his concern that many physicists who would have been working at the Superconducting Super Collider were now at the CERN laboratory. Wortzel added, “We face strong competition from a state-managed science and technology research program in China. That draws American capital, talent, and research efforts out of the U.S. and over to China. If we are going to remain competitive, we need to focus our basic research at home and put more resources into funding it.”

domain: politics


text:
Jennifer Lopez, also known as J-Lo, is an American actress, singer, dancer and producer. The superstar was born to Puerto Rican parents, Guadalupe Rodriguez and David Lopez on the 24th of July, 1969.
Jennifer Lopez began dancing in 1991, acting in 1993 and singing in 1999 – all three career choices have paid off for her in the long run. She has also appeared in several movies including Maid In Manhattan, Enough, Wedding Planner, Second Act and The Boy Next Door – some of which she produced herself.
Her Ex-Husbands & Relationships
Throughout her career, Jennifer Lopez has had a colorful dating history, including dating some of the most famous men in the industry. Some of her relationships have led to marriage, while others were not so successful. Here’s a complete list of her previous relationships. Keep reading to find out who she is dating now.
Jennifer Lopez and Chris Paciello began their relationship in 1992. Chris, who is an ex-con after pleading guilty to being involved in armed robbery, dated the musician up until 1994.
Jennifer Lopez and Wesley Snipes met while on set, filming the movie Money Train in 1995. The co-stars were only together for a short while, parting after less than a year together.
Ojani Noa and Jennifer Lopez started dating in April 1996. After 10 months of dating, the pair got married on the 22nd of February 1997. Noa had chosen to work at Madre’s (Jennifer’s Latin Restaurant) but was fired and he sued the musician in response.
Consequently, a confidentiality agreement was drawn up but he breached the contract and was also sued for invasion of privacy alongside the breaching.
These occurrences made the marriage seem more like a battlefield other than what it was meant to be. The couple finally separated in January 1998 and got divorced on the 1st of March 1998.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs
The American rapper, Diddy, revealed his relationship with Jennifer Lopez in August 1999. The two had been together for months but never publicly acknowledged their relationship. Sadly by February 2001, the relationship was over.
The American actor and choreographer dated Jennifer Lopez for 7 months, after they met while on the set of Love Don’t Cost A Thing (Lopez’s Music Video). They got married on the 29th of September, 2001. The marriage, unfortunately, did not last long and the two got separated in May 2002 and eventually got divorced on the 13th of January, 2003.
The Latin pop star and Ben Affleck met while on the set of the 2002 film Gigli. At this time, Lopez was still married to Cris Judd. When Jennifer was in the process of divorcing Cris Judd, Affleck started making his intentions known. They were both later seen at a Vancouver strip club. In 2003, their relationship blossomed into an engagement and even on to wedding plans.
Unfortunately, things didn’t work as planned and in 2004, they called off the wedding and ended their relationship.
After the called-off wedding with Ben Affleck in 2004, Jennifer Lopez got married to American singer, Marc Anthony on the 5th of June, 2004 after two months of dating.
The couple frequently collaborated together. They were seen on set together for the movie El Cantante (2006) and they also worked on songs for each other’s albums. After four years of marriage, on the 22nd of February, 2008, Jennifer delivered twins – a boy, Maximilian David and a girl, Emme Marie.
Sadly in 2011, MarcAnthonyy and Jennifer Lopez publicly announced that they had mutually agreed to end their marriage. They eventually got divorced on the 16th of June, 2014.
The pair first began dating in November 2011 but by June 2014, they had gone their separate ways. Shortly after, the two were confirmed to be back together. They were seen together on a romantic date in Las Vegas and were also at a Kid Ink Concert. The entire relationship finally ended in August 2016.
Canadian rapper and songwriter, Drake, was romantically involved with Jennifer Lopez in November 2016. The Award-winning artiste posted a cozy picture of both of them on Instagram. They were also seen at Drake’s Las Vegas Show. But after two months, they called it quits in January 2017.
Jennifer Lopez was rumored to have hooked up with Ukrainian-American dance instructor, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, in 2014. The pair never stated that they were a couple but always said they enjoyed each other’s company as they worked together.
Later she was rumored to be in a relationship with Rodrigo Santoro her co-star in the movie, What to Expect When You’re Expecting (2012). It was reported that there was on and off the set chemistry going on. But the claim was unfounded.
She was also rumored to be dating the A-list actor, Bradley Cooper in September 2011. They were seen having dinner in New York City but the pair claimed it was a business meeting.
Who is Jennifer Lopez Dating? – Her Boyfriend
Jennifer Lopez is currently in a relationship with the retired athlete, Alex Rodriguez. The two began dating on the 3rd of February, 2017. The lovebirds were seen recently in Italy, taking a vacation. Alex, a former baseball shortstop, posted a video on Instagram, showing himself and Jennifer Lopez singing while enjoying a boat ride.
The two presently seem happy and blissfully in love; although, they have stated that they are in no hurry to walk down the aisle.


text:
By Jill Bergman with Dr. Nils Bergman, MD
HOLD YOUR PREMIE gets right to the heart of parents concern and fears of delivering too soon. . Parents see real scenes of a full term African baby going to the breast by himself at delivery and another showing this after a cesarean birth! Perfect for encouraging diversity in the USA. This film not only gives parents permission to hold their infant skin-to-skin but explains why it is vital for the baby to not be left alone. The film shows how to do it easily along with breastfeeding. Jill talks parents through their emotional turmoil, on to practical things to do, empowering them to become central to the team for their baby’s care. At last a take home book just for parents to reinforce the film version and why they need to be in the NICU and hold their premie skin-to-skin. There are pages for notes and charts to help them chart their NICU course in the book. Helps parents to understand the premie and how differently they feed and why protecting baby’s sleep is important. Breast milk is best: Pumping and breastfeeding are beautifully described for the premature infant.
“I have just spent $250.00 on books at this conference and this is the best book of them all!” – Darcy Kamin
All orders OUTSIDE the USA, Canada & South Americas order directly through Dr. Nils & Jill Bergman. www.kangaroomothercare.com
Running time: 29 minutes

domain: library


There are a few ways to read files in Clojure.
If you want to simply read a small file into a string then you can use slurp. This function works with local files as well as URLs.
An example:Continue reading →
To make it easier for others to work on I've moved my most popular open source project to GitHub.
Already, I've had one pull request with some fixes to allow s3cp to run under Windows more easily.
See the project at https://github.com/bradlucas/s3cpContinue reading →
Recently found an issue with some code running against Amazon’s S3 service. All of a sudden the application, s3cp, was not working as part of our downloader service. The app has been working flawlessly for over a year and suddenly stopped working.
As I tried to debug it I found that the system worked fine locally but not on the server. It was giving an error message around not being able to find one of my accounts buckets. That was odd. First I tried updating the jets3t library used underneath to communicate with S3. The I noticed the server’s Java as bit old but still 1.6. After upgrading both of these still no go.
After taking a break from this I turned on debugging and saw that the authorization interaction with Amazon was returning a 403 error.
To make a long day’s session short for others here is the punch line. Turned out the server’s date was off and Amazon will reject the call if it is too far from the correct time. After setting the servers date and time to the proper value my issue went away.Continue reading →
Just fixed. Was getting
Tree connect failed (NTSTATUSBADNETWORKNAME)
when printing from my Mac to a printer hanging off a Ubuntu machine.
Having recently upgraded Ubuntu that was probably the culprit.Continue reading →
Getting the blog up and running after a long hiatusContinue reading →


text:
South Sydney smashes 110-year club record
It’s official, South Sydney has produced one of the most potent attacking displays in rugby league history, with their stunning three-game run smashing a host of points and try-scoring records.
Dean Ritchie , The Daily Telegraph
October 12, 2020 5:03pm
South Sydney have averaged a try every 10 minutes over three games.
They play with an unrestrained excitement to match any thriller starring their Hollywood co-owner.
Russell Crowe’s breathtaking Bunnies have scored more points in a three-match window than any South Sydney team in the past 110 years to become the game’s most potent attacking force.
The Rabbitohs have scored 144 points in their past three games and will look to keep up the momentum when they meet Penrith at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night for a place in the grand final.
They have scored 24 tries in their past three games, which equates to one try every 10 minutes. They thrashed the Sydney Roosters 60-8 in the final round of the regular season, then beat Newcastle 46-20 in week one of the finals and triumphed 38-24 over Parramatta on Saturday night.
Cody Walker celebrates scoring one of South Sydney’s 24 tries. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty
Only the South Sydney side of 1910 has done better with 154 points in three games.
They beat Annandale 34-8, Western Suburbs 67-0 and North Sydney 53-4 — all at the old Sydney Showground.
Arthur Hennessey was Souths’ captain-coach in 1910, when centre Howard Hallett was a star. However, that Rabbitohs side lost the decider that year to Newtown.
A 4-all draw was enough to secure the title for the Bluebags after they finished higher on the competition table.
The present Bunnies have become as electrifying as the 1910 version.
“History will always remember the great South Sydney sides of the formative years and their determination to play a ‘no kick’ brand of football,” rugby league historian Ian Collis said.
1910 South Sydney v 2020 South Sydney
1910 SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Round 7, 16-7-1910: v Annandale 34-8, Sydney Showground
Round 8, 23-7-1910: v Western Suburbs 67-0, Sydney Showground
Round 9, 30-7-1910: v North Sydney 53-4, Sydney Showground
TOTAL POINTS: 154
2020 SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Round 20, 25/9/2020: v Sydney Roosters 60-8, ANZ Stadium
Finals week one, 4-10-2020: v Newcastle 46-20, ANZ Stadium
Finals week two, 10-10-2020: v Parramatta 38-24, Bankwest Stadium
TOTAL POINTS: 144
“The ‘new game’ of rugby league in 1908 needed a breath of fresh air to capture the sporting public away from the constant kicking in rugby union.
“And the running game Souths adopted, keeping the ball moving by running and passing and backing up the ball carrier, proved to be an instant hit and helped soon establish the new code which, by 1910, was firmly entrenched.
“With first grade titles safely under their belts in 1908 and ’09, the 1910 team looked unstoppable with consecutive mid-season wins over Annandale by 34-8, Wests 67-0 and Norths 53-4.
“And with players of the calibre of Howard Hallett, Jim ‘Barrow’ Davis and AJ McCabe, they were desperately unlucky to be denied a third title.
“Again in the 1950s, late 1960s and early ’70s, a similar style brought even more success to Redfern.
“These great teams included champion players Jack Rayner, Ian Moir, Johnny Graves and the great Clive Churchill in the ‘50s, and John Sattler, Bob McCarthy, Ron Coote, Mike Cleary and Eric Simms in the ‘60s.
The 1909-1910 South Sydney Rabbitohs.
“Moving on to this year, Souths are again fast becoming a pointscoring juggernaut with their powerful running game supported by speed and back-up. That sounds like a winning formula to me.”
Legendary Rabbitohs halfback Craig “Tugger” Coleman reckons all fans should appreciate Souths’ strike power.
“When they get into gear, they are very slick,” Coleman said. “They go straight into overdrive.
“They have been fantastic to watch, very exciting. Even people who don’t support Souths would have to marvel at the way they play.
“Adam (Reynolds, halfback) is running a whole lot more and when he runs the ball, he is a different player.
Souths dominate the Eels
NRL: South Sydney defeated Parramatta 38-24 in their semi-final clash at Bankwest Stadium.
“It’s got a lot to do with the halves but the unsung heroes are the forwards — Bayley Sironen, Mark Nicholls and Junior Tatola — the blokes you don’t really hear about.
“They are laying a really good platform for young Corey Allan at fullback and Jaxson Paulo on the wing.
“This is what the coach (Wayne Bennett) has been doing for the past three decades — putting self-belief in all the players.”

domain: sports


text:
Hello, I’m Bettina!
I’m a bountiful bundle of joy and kitteny-soft fur that you just can’t resist! And while I love to cuddle, I must add that I have a whole lot of kitty energy and am always up for fun and games! And perhaps when I’m all tired out from playing (and maybe after a short nap, and then another round of play), we can take a quick break for snuggles so I can show off my adorableness and purr my delight for years to come!
When you adopt me, please keep me indoors-only. Not only will I have a longer life, but I will be healthier and safe from the many dangers the great outdoors can pose to a curious kitty like me. I could be lost or stolen and experience things like overexposure to direct sunlight, natural predators like coyotes, and vehicles which can all be hazards to my health.
Our adoption package includes vaccines, microchip, spay or neuter, flea/tick preventative, worm treatment, and felv/fiv testing for cats (at the discretion of the veterinarian). We also provide $250 worth of medical care with VCA Animal Hospitals, discounts and/or free first welcome visits at other local veterinary hospitals and optional discounted pet insurance.
Berkeley Humane is proud to partner with Maddie’s Fund® to save lives throughout the Bay Area and Central Valley.

domain: pet


text:
MIMI - palazzo trousers in silver sequin
You haven't linked a page yet. To configure this you'll need to go to your
Theme settings > Product page > Size chartsection.
ALESSANDRA GALLO EXCLUSIVELY ONLINE
Fabric 100% polyester
The model is hight 175 cm and fit 40 IT size
Made in Italy

domain: design


do i need to run a water pump on a jet boat? I have a chevy 350 small block.
you do need to regulate the water pressure. look towards the back of the boat on the lh side, you should see a pipe coming from the pump, that's the water supply for the motor you do need to regulate it down to no more than 20-25psi of pressure. otherwise you'll be seeing water in your oil, etc.


text:
Comments /1035 Views / Saturday, 21 April 2012 00:48
The release of the annual Central Bank report is a time for many to take a second look at the economy, particularly the performance of State-Owned Enterprises.
It was reported that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) alone have made a combined loss of Rs. 119.5 billion in 2011 on rising global oil prices when the two institutions combined were supposed to breakeven according to an agreement with the IMF.
Last year, the CPC made a loss of Rs. 94 billion while the CEB loss was Rs. 25.5 billion. Despite concerns raised over the accuracy of the data and its context by various parties, these numbers are still cause for massive concern.
In 2010, the combined loss amounted to Rs. 22.2 billion with the CEB recording a profit of Rs. 4.8 billion and the CPC reporting a Rs. 27 billion loss. The CPC incurred heavy debts in 2011 with State-Owned Enterprises, including the CEB, not able to pay the CPC.
CPC’s net borrowings from the banking system for working capital requirements increased by Rs. 53.3 billion during the year. Treasury bonds amounting to Rs. 55 billion were issued by the Government in January 2012 to settle accumulated outstanding dues to CPC from the CEB and other State-Owned Enterprises, the Central Bank noted in its 2011 Annual Report.
The financial position of CEB weakened during the year mainly due to heavy reliance on thermal power for electricity generation. According to unaudited provisional financial data, CEB recorded an operating loss of Rs. 25.5 billion in 2011 compared to a profit of Rs.4.8 billion reported in 2010. The higher dependence on thermal power due to dry weather conditions that prevailed during the second half of 2011 was the main reason for the deterioration in the financial position of CEB.
The CEB’s fuel bill increased by 54 per cent to Rs. 25 billion in 2011. On average, CEB incurred Rs. 6.77 to generate a unit of electricity in 2011. The average purchase price of power per unit from the private sector amounted to Rs. 17.24 in 2011.
Accordingly, the average cost of electricity generation increased to Rs. 16.21 per unit while the average tariff of a unit was at Rs. 13.22 in 2011. CEB’s short-term borrowings from banks and other outstanding liabilities to CPC and to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) amounted to Rs. 121 billion by end 2011.
Therefore, it is rather amusing that the Power and Energy Ministry releases statements to the media claiming that Rs. 22.5 billion was given as “concessions” to the people when the truth of the matter is that this is tax money paid by the people in the first place.
Studies of Sri Lanka’s long-ailing SOEs have shown that as much as 2% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is lost annually, but there are almost no efforts to roll back these expenses. Whether it is Mihin Lanka or the Water Board, a large number of public enterprises are allowed to roll into larger and larger debt year after year.
Some of these losses are inevitable and necessary to provide people with a better standard of life, but there are also many instances when bad management and wastage is the culprit. A fact that the Committee on Public Enterprises or COPE as it is better known has emphasised repeatedly – to deaf ears.
8 December 2016
John Dewey said that “every great advance in science has come from a new audacity of imagination” and these acts of imagination have to come from researchers. The numbers for Sri Lanka appear to be really worrying as the critica...
7 December 2016
Considering the low reliability of the Norochcholai coal-fired power plant, Sri Lanka could face energy and capacity shortages in 2018-2019 and under drought conditions even with planned plant additions ...
7 December 2016
Whilst fiscal adjustments are in disarray, the Central Bank which is supposed to conduct the country’s monetary policy independently is being increasingly subject to political influence, according to recent newspaper rep...
7 December 2016
A tea cultivation in Nuwara Eliya – Pic by Shehan Gunasekara It is time to move away from traditional subsidy based agricultural value chains and look for more efficient methods. Some organisations are a...
Mahinda warns of social unrest if China carries out its plan in Hambantota
Attack on non-conventional renewable energy: Burning the house to kill the lice!
Phantoms of Mahinda Rajapaksa and Sri Lanka’s reign of terror
SriLankan Airlines: Tumultuous landing and proper PPP take-off

domain: finance


text:
Want to join the conversation?
$MTX said 1Q16 operating income, excluding special items, was $60.1MM compared to $63.3MM in 1Q15. Despite the current challenges with energy, steel and ForEx, operating margins improved 5% to 14.7% of sales. Total manufacturing productivity improved by close to 6% and generated $1MM in lower costs.
The latest earnings report by $VZ shows how it is losing customers despite offering the unlimited data plans, a record for the company.
$BEBE is closing down all its stores by the end of May.
$WFC agreed to hike its payout in a class-action settlement over unauthorized accounts by $32 million to $142 million for its retail sales practices. The settlement will now include customers who were impacted as early as May 2002.

domain: news


text:
When I made my DIY SWT recently I put tensioners on the 4 corners. However, I only used a single piece of bungee cord rather that doubling it up. I tied one end to the D-Ring with an Anchor Hitch
(or Anchor Bend) and a Double Fisherman's Bend
to connect the other end to the tie out line about 10-12" out.
It has worked quite well so far.


text:
Joining Cee in her Odd Ball Challenge
When it comes to tending the garden
It is purely a matter of taste
Preening and pruning the foliage
Will stop you from feeling disgraced!
With a bit of trimming and strimming
You can create a real work of art
Perhaps a Bermuda triangle
Or maybe a cutesy love heart?
Feeling a little more daring?
How about a smart landing strip?
Or maybe just take the lot off
So, your pubes won’t get caught in your zip?
Something a little more special
Like a blingy, sparkly vajazzle
That’s sure to tart up the topiary
And give it that old razzle-dazzle!
However, you keep the lawn tidy
You mustn’t leave it too late
Don’t let it get too unruly
Or no one will enter the gate!
poem by Judy Martin
art in the garden by Sandra Dorey
Here we are again with a very Silly Saturday!
We had such a giggle with this one – I send Judy a photo of what I have created and hope it makes her smile – she sends me back her poem and it makes me laugh out loud.
Do pop over to Judy’s blog to enjoy more laughs and a wry look at life.
Another art piece inspired by Amy Gear, an artist born and working in Shetland.
This a link to Amy’s piece that inspired me – on Instagram
Linking with my cheerful cheeky playmate, Judy Martin, for another Silly Saturday
Some are baggy and saggy
Some are perky and pert
Some are tiny little gnat bites
Some so big that they hurt!
Some are flabby and floppy
Some are bouncy double Ds
Some are wrinkled and crinkled
Some hang down to the knees!
Some are always kept covered
Some are all over YouTube
Have you guessed what these are yet?
Yes! A nice pair of boobs!
Poem by Judy Martin
Pebble Art by Sandra Dorey
We have something a little more risky for you next Saturday!
You have been warned! 😉
Judy’s blog is, most deservably, up for an Award and I’m delighted to say so is Wild Daffodil – pop over to Sasha’a Blog and have a look to see all the different categories. You might see one of your favourite blogs there and give them a vote!
I met this guy on Branscombe Beach last weekend, any ideas what his name could be?
He looks like he might be emerging from his underground home to see who’s about.
I think he might be related to this chap who lives in the Lost Gardens of Heligan
I don’t know his name either.
Joining in with Cee’s Oddball Challenge
Sandy had a great time with Shelma
When they went out on their date
But he wanted to shape up
And decided he needed to lose weight
He had become rather chunky
And that made him feel rather glum
His goal was to be streamlined and sexy
It was time to tone up that tum!
Shelma had a great figure
wherever they went she had turned heads
Sandy was scared she’d lose interest
And that thought had filled him with dread
He worked out at the gym almost daily
although at first it seemed tough
He knew it was definitely worth it
When Shelma told him he looked buff!
poem by Judy E Martin
assemblage shell art by Sandra Dorey
pebble face drawn by one of my Grandchildren
Hope this gives you a little chuckle on this Silly Saturday.
Shelma was going out on a date
So excited she just couldn’t wait
She was looking her best
In her January Sales dress
The evening was going to be great
Sandy lit Shelma’s fuse
She loved his winkle picker shoes
It brightened her mood
To be with such a cool dude
He banished her January blues!
They wanted to paint the town red
But painted the beach blue instead
A moonlit walk along the sand
Strolling together hand in hand
Anticipating what lay ahead.
poem by Judy E. Martin
shell art by Sandra Dorey
What lies ahead for this couple I wonder, any ideas?
Will it be calm seas or stormy waters?
Judy and I have enjoyed teaming up again this week. I do love her take on things, pop across to Judy’s Blog to read more of her delightfully beguiling work.
Did you know you CAN still buy Winkle-Picker shoes? I’ll be looking out for them now.
I recently found the pebbles that my grandchildren children had drawn on last Summer, lurking in the bottom of a bag. They had obviously been lying in wait, ready for an appearance in a ‘Silly Saturday’ or two.
Maggie went shopping in town
Enjoying a good look around
She thought it was great
Bumping into her mate
They went to a cafe to sit down
They chatted over a nice cup of sea
Both of them buzzing like bees
Comparing their goodies
From high-heels to hoodies
The Sales made shopping a breeze!
poem by Judy E. Martin
artwork by Sandra Dorey
The background is an unfinished acrylic painting on canvas that I have never been able to resolve. It is the result of playing with bright colours in a Process Art kind of way. It has come in handy for a Silly Saturday background giving a suggestion of the town where Maggie and Shelma can meet up for a chat over a cuppa.
So thrilled to be teaming up with Judy again.
Pop along over to Judy’s website and enjoy a wry look at life, in poetry and prose, always told with honesty and lashings of good humour.


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The Teenage Years signify the transition period into adulthood. Fashion is used of any custom (as a manner of dressing or behaving) that is broadly accepted at anybody time or place. You collaborate with fashion design students on competitions and on tasks with external partners like Louis Vuitton, Under Armour, Braccialini, and CARE, researching ideas and methods concerned in bringing designs to the worldwide stage.
Hold a mental snapshot in thoughts of your favourite designer Versace gown, shoes or jewellery, this can help motivate you into changing into your very own personal fashion designer. What we put on and the way we put on it might talk messages, create group identification, borrow and remake existing types, or subvert a garment’s conventional associations. Therefore, at this time the fashion industry is experiencing new challenges: “intelligent textiles”, “smart clothes”, “i-wear” and “fashion engineering” and are only a few of the developments which can transform the whole fashion industry throughout the subsequent decade.
The dramatic lady wears extremes in fashion-either straight lines and exhausting finish materials, or billowy garments, however seldom goes for the extraordinarily feminine look. If you see your favorite star on the duvet of a magazine, it’s engaging you to purchase that particular concern, which is exactly what the company needs you to do. Inside will almost certainly be a fashion spread that includes what the “It Women” are sporting.
So how do we interpret the current developments with out becoming a fashion sufferer? Fashion trends are frippery that makes us appear to be the rest of the world. Designs and types are usually impressed, and not copied straight. People within the Allied international locations saw the fashion designers of Paris as working in cooperation with the Nazis. Customization allows funds-acutely aware fashion followers to create one thing new from outdated garments and remodel them into wearable and distinctive pieces that no one else will likely be sporting.
Whereas choosing and carrying garments is an act of private expression, it’s also a response to lots of the matters addressed within the previous weeks of this course. Are you an avid follower of fashion and discover it expensive to keep up with the newest traits, fret not make your personal. Fashion trends encourage chemistry and can be the beginning of a really beautiful love affair, in addition to the tip of one.


North Park Main Street: Staff
Angela Landsberg, Executive Director
Angela Landsberg is a native San Diegan and long time North Park resident. She spent much of her childhood in North Park, and is currently raising her family here.
Angela earned a BA in Communications from San Diego State University and a Master’s in Education from National University. She brings a diverse skill set to North Park Main Street, including extensive community advocacy, local political work, and education. She was Campaign Manager for (now Senator) Christine Kehoe’s re-election campaign for City Council in 1995, and went on to work as a Legislative Representative in the District 3 City Council office following their successful campaign.
Angela shifted her professional focus to education in 1999, and began a working as a teacher in the San Diego Unified School District, working for schools in City Heights, Logan Heights, and Point Loma. Her focus areas included: San Diego History, English Language Learners, and she was a vocal advocate for program support in San Diego’s public schools.
Following the birth of her two daughters, Madeline and Sara, Angela took a break from work to spend time with her children. During that hiatus, she worked diligently on restoring, and receiving Mills Act historic designation status for her
Angela is intensely connected to the North Park community, frequents many of the local businesses, spends time in Bird Park, and is troop leader for her daughters’ Girl Scout Troop. She is excited to start this new chapter of her life as the small business & historic preservation advocate for downtown North Park.
Jillian Wolter, Executive Assistant
Jillian Wolter, a native of Los Angeles, has made San Diego her home for the past seven years. She has profound gratitude for San Diego’s healthy, vibrant community and the people who work hard to keep it that way. A graduate of the Urban Studies and Planning program at University of California, San Diego, she is committed to strengthening communities and improving quality of life during her career.
While attending UC San Diego, Jillian continued her path as a community leader, serving two terms on Eleanor Roosevelt College Student Council and Vice President of External Relations for the National Panhellenic Association, advocating on behalf of the University’s sorority women. Additionally, Jillian was chairman of the Leadership and Nominations Committee for Phi Beta Phi, and she continues to volunteer as the Treasurer of the Housing Corporation Fund.
A resident of University Heights, Jillian works to preserve the healthy, active lifestyle of North Park while striving to bring new ideas, programs, and public spaces to the community.


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Alessandra Rosaldo’s Bra Size and Body Measurements
Alessandra Rosaldo has a marvelous body. See her bra size, height, weight, and more!
Mexican singer, actress, and hostess who has sold over four million records in the pop band Sentidos Opuestos and starred in the telenovela Ni Contigo Ni Sin Ti in 2011.
She sang in choirs while growing up before finding her bandmates.
At the age of thirteen she started back-up singing and taking lead parts for recording artists.
Body Statistics Table
Alessandra Rosaldo's body statistics are seen in the table below. Take a look at measurements like height and weight!
|Height||1.61 m, 5'3" (feet & inches)|
|Cup Size (US)||N/A|
|Bra Size (US)||N/A|
|Implants or Natural (Breasts)||N/A|
|Shoe Size (US)||N/A|
|Dress Size (US)||N/A|


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We Are All Good People Here by Susan Rebecca White
Atria Books: 8/6/19
eBook review copy; 304 pages
We Are All Good People Here by Susan Rebecca White is a highly recommended multi-generational drama that follows two college roommates over three decades.
The narrative begins in the radical 60's. Daniella Gold, from
Georgetown, was raised by a Jewish father and a Methodist mother as a middle-class, liberal Unitarian.
When she attends Belmont
College in 1962, her roommate is Eve Whalen. Eve grew up as a
privileged daughter of an old-money Atlanta family. Despite their
different backgrounds, the two young women became best friends. For the
first time, Eve actually notices prejudice and tries to improve
conditions for their college house maid, but instead the results are
harmful and ruinous. Daniella experienced prejudice before and continues
to when she was told none of the sororities on campus would ask her to
pledge due to her Jewish father. Eve, who had never experienced any
prejudice, supports her and refuses to pledge in support of Daniella.
transfer to Barnard College in NYC for their sophomore year.
At this time the two become more deeply involved in social issues and
expand their awareness of the injustice and prejudice in the South. They
also grow apart as Eve becomes more radical while Daniella works with
others to bring about change and pursues her education. Daniella earns a
law degree and marries. Eve takes up with a violent, radical anti-establishment,
underground group and the two lose touch. When Eve is involved in a
destructive tragedy, she turns to Daniella to overcome her radical past.
The novel then jumps to the daughters of the two friends.
White excels at capturing the history, events, time, and place of the decades involved and covers
the gamut of social injustices, racism, diversity, family,
the South, history, religion, and the complexities of life. Starting
with the sixties and moving through the decades to the nineties, the
questions of social consciousness and morality continue to the end. If
it sounds like it is a whole lot to cover, it is and although she does a
very good job, it is almost too much to cover with any degree of
serious insight. This means you have to go with the flow and follow the
plot and the very basic social ramifications of the decades as presented
to appreciate the novel. In reality, the entire time span is too
complex to be captured in so few pages.
quality of the writing is outstanding. The narrative is best viewed as
women's fiction and a character study of the lives of these two women
and their daughters. At the beginning of the novel when Daniella and Eve
are well developed characters, but we lose this later in the novel when
the focus shifts to their daughters. In some ways this was a
regrettable choice as it makes only the early years of a woman's life as
an interesting time. Sure we get glimpses of their lives, but lose the
close contact with the characters.
In a chapter when Eve is radicalized, there is an incident with a cat
that... (shaking head) is very hard to stomach and may be difficult for
animal lovers to overcome. I hate having this scene in my head and I
even skimmed through it after I realized where it was going.
My review copy was courtesy of Atria Books.


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This country has had so many gallant warriors, genuine heroes of our wars, with stories of them filling many bookshelves. There’s a relatively new one, “The Liberator,” by Alex Kershaw, that we have read that ranks as one of the best on a World War II officer and his unit, the 157th Infantry Regitment of the 45th Thunderbird Division.
We strongly recommend the book, published in 2012, especially that it be read by former members of that regitment and division. There undoubtedly are still a few alive. The 157th suffered heavy casualties, with entire companies wiped out in fierce fighting from the invasion of Sicily, to the invasion of Italy, then in France and Germany.
The book spotlights a maverick U. S. Army officer, Felix Sparks, who rose through the officer ranks from second lieutenant to lieutenant colonel, and later became a general when he commanded the Colorado National Guard. Sparks survived wounds and more than 500 days of combat. He was awarded two Silver Star Medals, Purple Hearts, Bronze Stars and other awards. He should have been awarded the nation’s second-highest medal for valor under fire, the Distinguished Service Cross, but one of his several major run-ins with brass cost him that medal.
Sparks was an infantry leader who still was on the front lines with his men after attaining higher ranks. He lost his entire company in the Anzio fighting and an entire battalion in the forest of Vosges. His battalion liberated Dachau, the notorious German concentration camp outside of Munich. The author describes the conditions at Dachau and the killing of SS guards that may be one of the least publicized episodes of what can happen to soldiers under extreme stress.
It was at Dachau that Lt. Col. Sparks had one of his most serious disagreements with a superior officer. Sparks’ unit had liberated Dachau and his men were shaken by what they found. Several lost their cool when it came to taking SS guards prisoner. Several SS guards were shot. Sparks fired his .45 to gain the attention of his soldiers in ordering them to cease their firing at the German guards.
Later the same day, Gen.
Henning Linden of the 42nd Division (he was deputy commander) arrived with famed reporter Marguerite Higgins of the New York Herald Tribune. He wanted to relieve Sparks, who refused to turn Dachau over to the general, who obviously was looking to gain credit for freeing prisoners who still were alive. At one point in their spirited argument, Sparks pointed his .45 at the general and told him to leave. It was true that the general had accepted the surrender of Dachau from a German second lieutenant, but Sparks maintained that he had received no orders that he turn the camp over to Linden.
The general and the reporter left. The general said he would see Sparks at a general court-martial. The general tried his best to get Sparks court-martialed. The case ended up on Gen. George Patton’s desk. When Sparks appeared before Gen. Patton, who said he had the matter investigated, and said the charges were a bunch of “crap.” Gen. Patton tore up the court-martial papers against Sparks and his men and told Sparks, “You have been a damn fine soldier.” The whole meeting took less than two minutes!
People who have visited Dachau, and the small museum there, don’t recall reading any information about the incident involving Sparks. We do remember that a number of the photos on display showing SS officers and guards had been slashed by visitors. When we visited Dachau (twice), there were tears and complete silence by the visitors in the museum. It’s a very sobering experience.
The author in his research was able to talk to a former German soldier by the name of Johann Voss, who related the incident that would have earned Sparks the DSC medal. Voss was with a German unit that observed Sparks under fire saving wounded members of his unit. The Germans were so impressed with Sparks’ bravery that they held their fire rather than killing him.
The book describes the horrors of war, especially for the foot soldiers, and is a valuable historical account of World War II. Sparks returned to civilian life, earned a law degree, settled in Colorado and died Sept. 24, 2007, of pneumonia in a Denver hospital. He never got over the random shooting death of a young grandson in Colorado. He took on the NRA and led the charge for tougher gun laws in Colorado. He even defeated the NRA, the book points out. He was 90 years old when he did.
Sparks was a member of the greatest generation. After graduating from high school in the height of the depression in 1936, he “rode the rails” looking for work. Finding no work, he enlisted in the Army and served a hitch as an enlisted man, before entering college. He was called to active duty in 1940, allowed to finish his semester at college, and earned a commission. He reported for duty in January 1941 at Fort Sill, Okla., with the 45th Infantry Division.


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asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many working wives opt for separate income tax assessment; and what proportion this is of those eligible to do so.
[pursuant to his reply, 25 April 1985, c. 529]: About 170,000 married couples are expected to elect for separate taxation of wife's earnings in 1985–86. Although this is only about 1½ per cent. of the total of taxpaying married couples, in 1985–86 an election can only be beneficial if the couple's income is over £25,360 (with the wife's earnings at least £6,956). About 20,000, less than one fifth of 1 per cent. of married couples, elect for separate assessment, but this does not affect the total tax liability of the couple.

domain: economics


This past offseason, the Redskins' coaching staff put an increased emphasis on creating takeaways on defense to help set a young offense up to make plays.
A big part of that plan was centered around veteran Redskins' defender DeAngelo Hall, who describes himself as a better playmaker than cornerback.
"Making the play isn't always about actually making the play. It's sometimes about being in the right position while somebody else makes the play," Hall explained. "Doing your job sometimes is 'making the play.' We've done a great job as a coaching staff, as players, trying to respond and counteract what [the opposing offense is] doing and it's been working for us."
In order to take advantage of Hall's full skillset, the coaching staff has moved him around throughout the defense, putting him in different situations to make plays.
In Week 1 against the New Orleans Saints, Hall recorded the first full sack of his nine-year NFL career. He recorded his first-of-12 passes defensed in Week 2, along with his first fumble recovery of the year.
His first interception of the year came in Week 4, and his four on the season are his most since 2010.
"It's been cool. I still haven't made as many plays as I would like to but it's good to see the progression of our defense, of our team," Hall said in reflection. "We started out kind of thinking we were going to be a good team. Record-wise we obviously weren't at 3-6 but guys responded in this locker room, myself included."
The Redskins have responded in the form of their first six-game winning streak since 2005, securing the first winning record since 2007.
Hall tallied an interception in each of the first two games after the bye week, helping to knock off the division rival Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys.
He was not surprised by the team's success since the bye week, saying that the team is finally living up to the expectations the players set for themselves.
"We had a goal at 3-6 to win the division. It was unimaginable," he said. "I've been in the league nine years and I've never been in a position at 3-6 playing for anything. For us to be 3-6 and still have our goal right there in front of us, I feel like it motivated every guy in this locker room and coaches too. That second half, we just came back rejuvenated."
Hall and the rest of the Redskins' players and coaching staff have stressed that nothing changed schematically at the bye week to usher in new success. Head coach Mike Shanahan noted that the team simply started playing loose and executing better.
"We started making some more plays," Shanahan said. "When you lose a few games by three points, you're still doing some good things. The things that I was really proud of our football team the first half the season was our turnover ratio. If you can be in the top of the league in turnover ratio, you just look at that stat alone, and usually you're a .500 football team.
"If you can improve on that, obviously offensively or defensively, then you have a chance to be in the playoff hunt."
Hall credited the coaching staff by pushing the right buttons in the secondary, even while shuffling players due to injury, inconsistency and suspension.
"They gave us everything they had from a gameplan standpoint," he said. "We gave them everything we have from heart and dedication, going out on the field standpoint. The end result has been six-straight wins—about to be seven."
In order to make it seven, the team plays host to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football, and the NFC East crown on the line.
"It doesn't get any bigger than this," Hall, a lifelong Redskins fan, said. "This rivalry dates back a long time. I remember being a kid and watching these guys go at it—Darrell Green and Michel Irving and Troy Aikman and all these other guys. It's good for football; it's obviously good for us.
"With those guys coming here, playing for so much, there's going to be a lot on the line. We're going to give them everything we've got, because they're going to give us everything they've got."
For Hall, a victory over the Cowboys that seals Washington's playoff berth and ends the Cowboys' season is a storybook script.
"We're motivated by that," he said. "Obviously, you want the easiest road possible, but is there any better game that the fans could want to see, besides the Redskins-Cowboys for the division? No, absolutely not."
A win on Sunday would secure the Redskins' first playoff berth since Hall's arrival in Washington, and his first trip to the playoffs since his rookie year in Atlanta. He admits that he was unable to fully appreciate how hard it was to make the playoffs back then, but has a good understanding of that now.
"It's been a long time for everybody in that locker room. I was in the NFC championship game as a rookie and I thought the NFL was easier than college," he said. "I never won more than 10 games in college. I won 12 as a rookie.
"I thought I was going to go back every year, but it's obviously been a little bit of struggle. Having this right in front of us, we have to take it. Being able to win 10 games this season, win the division, and keep going."
Since his arrival in Washington during the 2008 season, Hall has played alongside more than a dozen different defensive backs, indicative of the high turnover on defense in that period of time.
Even though other units have carried more star-power or individual accolades, Hall has high praise for this year's group in the secondary.
"From top to bottom, this feels like one of the most complete groups I've ever been on," he said. "We've had a lot of talent in this secondary before but for some reason we haven't been able to put it together, whether it's been from a turnover standpoint, getting guys healthy on the field at the same time, or what.
"We've had our adversity this year too, but somehow the next man has always been ready to step up and ready to go in there and give everything he has. It's been great for us and we'll continue to keep trying to get better."
Part of that improvement is derived from the development of some of the younger defensive backs on the squad.
Second-year safety DeJon Gomes has already matched his career-high in games played, starting three contests on the year. He has already exceeded his rookie year tackle total (46) and logged his first-career interception.
Rookie cornerback Richard Crawford has proven to be a late-round contributor this season, coming on in recent weeks for 20 tackles, two passes defensed and a fumble recovery.
Hall is the most veteran player in the secondary and said that he embraces the opportunity to impart wisdom on the younger defensive backs.
"We have a mentoring, big brother sort of relationship," he said. "They tell me I should coach, and I'm like 'There's no way I would ever coach.' I just try to guide them and help them learn and get better, see the bigger picture.
"Whether I go down or somebody else goes down, the guy behind you has to be ready to go. So we've got to prepare what we can to do out there if we need them."


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New York Giants Take on the Silent Library | MTV Vault
- Published on: 4/14/2020
- New York Giants teammates Kevin Boss, Shaun O'Hara, David Diehl, Dave Tollefson, Rich Seubert, and Chris Snee take on the Silent Library in challenges like 'Old Man Bites Tenderly' and 'Suspender Strike'.
MTV Vault is the destination for all your favorite iconic MTV series - Cribs, Punk'd, Silent Library, and more!
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