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What is a mortgage broker?
A mortgage broker represents individuals or companies looking to broker mortgage loans. Mortgage brokers function to find banks or lenders that will willingly make the exact loan an individual requires.
Finding a good deal for a mortgage loan in Shipley will be easier if you work with a mortgage broker. Even with complicated circumstances or a poor credit score, the ideal mortgage broker will boost your chances of getting a mortgage.
Also, you can rest easy knowing that professional mortgage brokers must work within regulations that require their compliance to banking and finance laws in the jurisdiction of the consumer.
Handy Tools and Calculators
Being aware of what you can borrow and the amount the loan will cost will make it simpler to plan your future. Use this handy calculator to see just how much your mortgage repayments are going to be, based on your total loan amount and interest rate. Just enter those values together with your term and press ‘Click to calculate’ to instantly see how much you’ll need to repay each month.
Why Use A Mortgage Broker?
Working on your mortgage application with a mortgage broker in Shipley comes with many different benefits. Of these advantages, some of the more prominent include:
The most obvious benefit of choosing a mortgage broker is the potential to save money. You’ll just need to fill out some details and an experienced professional with your best interests in mind will deal with the hard work.
With limited understanding on the concept of mortgage brokers, some people don’t fully trust this, believing there must be a catch at some point. A mortgage broker wouldn’t stand to gain anything by not working in your favour. You’ll need to bear this in mind, even though any concerns you might have are understandable.
The broker could actually be at a disadvantage if they cannot prove to you, their regulators, the Financial Conduct Authority or the Prudent Regulation Authority why they made the recommendations in respect of the mortgage in question. Many mortgage brokers can obtain exclusive mortgage deals not found on the high street, potentially making the total loan cost lower for the client. Detailing the entire cost of the loan and letting you know how they get paid for their services is the duty of any reputable broker. For a mortgage advisor company, a positive user experience is higher on the value chain than lining the pockets of an individual broker.
Finds The Most Advantageous Deal
A mortgage broker will work towards protecting your interests, rather than those of the lending institution. In addition to being your agent, they should also be knowledgeable consultants and problem solvers. A broker has access to many different mortgage products and can therefore offer you great value in terms of relation interest rates, loan products and repayment amounts. You will be interviewed by the mortgage brokers to determine your needs and goals – both in the short and long term. Many situations demand more than the simple use of a 30-year or 15-year mortgage. Therefore, innovative mortgage strategies and sophisticated solutions are distinct advantages of working with an experienced mortgage broker. These include mortgage to raise capital for repaying debts, money for the children or essential home improvements, or even to enable the purchase of other properties such as buy to lets.
Has Flexibility Expertise to Meet Your Needs
A mortgage broker navigates the client through any situation, handling the process and smoothing any bumps in the road along the way. For instance, a broker will have knowledge of the lenders who offer the best products to meet the needs of a client with a credit issue. A broker will be beneficial in providing the necessary knowledge to source financing if a borrower requires a loan that’s larger than the bank would normally approve.
Save Time & Hassle
It’s not all about money. Your time and sanity are just as important as saving some extra money. Take into consideration the time you would need to research different kinds of loans from multiple lenders. Unlike working with different lenders – which would require you to complete different forms every time – you’d only need one form with a mortgage broker. A formal comparison of the recommended loans can be made available by your broker to provide information that would clearly show the differences in cost, including current rates and the costs of closing each of the loans. To find the best deal in terms of lower rates and overall cost, your broker will make comparisons between popular and less popular lenders.
Outsourcing the work to someone who can provide an expert opinion is a great way to relieve yourself of the burden involved. A mortgage broker can do a lot of the work by providing you with support throughout the application and approval process. This might involve completing all paperwork, helping you with applications to government schemes, answering questions and explaining the options and loan features, about which you may not have been aware. Drawdown facilities, offset accounts and extra repayments (to name a few) are just some of the features involved. These types of features can make a significant difference to your mortgage cost and experience. Better still, if you’re not well versed with these concepts and how they could affect you, your broker can clarify answer questions you may have over the phone.
Access to exclusive non-advertised deals
There are exclusive deals that aren’t advertised by banks to which brokers have access. The banks pass these deals on to the brokers, who are responsible for selling the products. Speaking to a broker unlocks these extra perks you would otherwise miss out on by going directly to a bank.
While banks can only provide their own deals (and not the deals offered by other banks), brokers can scour the entire market to discover the most suitable deal.
Better chance of pre-approval success
If your request for an Agreement in principle/Decision in principle of a loan is turned down, a mark is left on your credit rating. With the required knowledge and experience brokers possess, you’ll have a better chance at approval the first time around.
Access to expert knowledge
Helping people secure loans is what mortgage brokers do for a living. They have access to information and select deals you wouldn’t discover by yourself. If you’re not on the lookout for them, you might not notice the subtleties that accompany loans. It’s these subtleties that can make a difference to your mortgage in the long haul. Having the services of an experienced professional who can point these out for you is a huge benefit.
Instead of taking time out of your day to research thousands of loans and multiple lenders – and still potentially missing key subtleties – why not hand the work to someone who’s experienced in this industry? The same way you would contact a plumber to fix a leaking pipe or a hairdresser to work on damaged hair, contacting a mortgage broker is an ideal option for your home loan needs.
Contact the Mortgage Saving Experts in Horsell. You can reach us by dialling 01273 738 072 today for a friendly chat.
About Mortgage Saving Experts
Mortgages and insurance are not as complex as they seem at first. This is why it’s very important to find honest advisers, who are knowledgeable and experienced. Making the process as straightforward and seamless as it can be is something our mortgage experts will do for you. Besides, why complicate things more than necessary? Allow us to secure the best deal possible for you and make everything straightforward.
Mortgage Saving Experts provide our clients with honest and transparent services that leave you feeling mortgages and insurance are less complicated than they first appear. All mortgage and insurance applications are handled like they’re our own at Mortgage Savings Experts. This is what we do. It doesn’t matter what the situation is – whether you’re a first-time buyer, a landlord, re-mortgaging or moving on to a new phase altogether – Mortgage Saving Experts are here to help. We are here to provide assistance! Basically “Get information about 1000s of mortgage deals by taking 15 minutes to speak to 1 adviser.”
Our Team of Shipley Mortgage Experts
Because we’re regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), we strive to get you the best possible deal on the market. We need to provide justification to our customers and regulators for recommending the mortgages we do, so you understand just why you have that particular mortgage.
“Down to Earth Mortgage”
We are an honest, enthusiastic and passionate team of mortgage insurance experts, with years of industry experience.
Your current and future goals will be identified by our mortgage insurance experts after talking with you. We will then work together with you to reach these goals.
Why chose Mortgage Saving Experts?
For the first couple of years, you’re allowed an initial rate after taking out a mortgage. At the end of this initial rate, this returns to the lender’s variable rate. Before your monthly payment and rate are increased, our team will reach contact you to arrange a new deal roughly three months prior to the date of renewal. Some other reasons for which it’s beneficial to work with us include:
- The deal you’ll get is better than the bank variable rate, which in turn saves you money.
- We will help you keep abreast of the expiry dates for deals, so you won’t have to worry.
- While we deal with the stress on your behalf, you can sit back and ease your mind.
- We know our stuff; you’ll always receive pertinent advice from a qualified mortgage expert.
- We compare, advise and arrange the best mortgage for you from thousands of available deals.
- You’ll be supported and expertly advised throughout the whole mortgage process.
Our Approach to Mortgage Advice
We make available personalised services and put into consideration all your unique needs. We approach mortgage advice using three basic steps:
- Let’s have an Initial Chat, so we can get to know You and What Your Requirements Are
- We Search the Entire Market to Find the Best Deal for You
- We’ll Present you with the Cheapest and best Deals Available for Both Mortgages and Insurance Cover
How Mortgage Saving Expert Brokers Can Help you:
What differentiates our services from those of other mortgage brokers in Shipley includes:
- Get to determine your situation and requirements by fact-finding.
- Spell out the costs buying and selling involves.
- Ask for related documents to help with the application.
- Make relevant suggestions and provide explanations about the prospective mortgage.
- Proffer replies to any questions you might have.
- Obtain an agreement in principle.
- Send in your entire mortgage application.
- Answer any questions and work together with your mortgage lender, solicitor and estate agent until the final stages.
Mortgage Types We Provide Expert Advice On
We advise expertly on a vast selection of mortgage products. You won’t have any difficulty finding the right mortgage products to suit your needs when working with us. Amongst the mortgage types we’re commonly asked to handle are:
First time buyers
First Time Buyers are classed by most mortgage lenders as people who have either:
- Never owned a property or
- People who have owned a property in the past, but not owned one for six months or more.
For each lender, the rules and ideas about this differ. Normally, being a First Time Buyer is no issue. In order to qualify for stamp duty relief, it’s necessary for First time Buyers to have never been property owners before; this applies anywhere in the world.
Mortgage processes may look tough to negotiate, but they really don’t need to be. The prospect of buying your first home comes with a lot of excitement, so if you manage to find a competent broker who can oversee the process at a reasonable price, then go right ahead. The reason you should use one is quite apparent. If you have no knowledge about cars and yours develops a fault, you would call a mechanic rather than attempt to fix it yourself. With mortgages, the same principle applies. You can cut down on cost, effort and time with mortgage brokers, so why not use one? The initial consultation is free of charge.
Buying a home
You should get to know more about mortgages if you’re thinking of buying a home in the near future or a few years to come. Find out what to do before applying for a mortgage; during the application process; and how to use it accordingly after purchasing your home. If you would rather avoid any stress, speak to an adviser, who will guide you accordingly.
Your credit is vital.
A mortgage is a major issue. The banks risk a lot of money and have been increasingly cautious since the subprime mortgage crisis in 2008. To be eligible for a mortgage, good credit is useful but not absolutely essential. Depending on your present circumstances, we can be your guide on how much you can afford to pay for your new home and help set your cost limit. We won’t just facilitate the purchase your dream home, we will also help you fund it with the lowest cost and most favourable mortgage deal on offer.
Re-mortgage your home
In short, this means you’ll switch from one lender to another to get a more affordable rate or cheaper deal. The two of them don’t have to go hand in hand. Let me make it clearer. It may seem unwise to pay an arrangement fee to another lender to get on a lower rate if you have a small mortgage. Being on a rate that’s a bit higher may seem more agreeable to you than paying an arrangement fee to any lender. It’s best to always talk to someone before agreeing any deal, because you don’t want one that’s more expensive overall, even though the rate might be significantly lower.
Take extra caution. One upside to re-mortgaging is that your usually not required to pay for valuation or solicitors fees, although some people don’t qualify for this. This is because it is dependent on your circumstances alone at the time of re-mortgaging. So, please check with your adviser.
A smart way to significantly minimise the cost of your mortgage bills is to undertake a re-mortgage on time. Although it can be a good thing – depending on your individual needs – a re-mortgage deal might not be the most suitable choice.
- Based on your unique circumstances, such as…
- Mortgage debt is considerably small.
- There have been significant changes in financial disposition.
- Early repayment charge that’s costly.
- A drop in the value of your home.
- Existing credit problems.
- Already on a great rate.
- We will advise you whether to re-mortgage or not.
Buy to Let
A ‘buy to let’ property is one bought with a view to renting to others. You aren’t allowed to live in the property by law. The number of available lenders will be restricted if you’re a First Time Buyer, purchasing a buy to let property. Also, extra checks are made by the lender in cases like these.
- When purchasing a buy to let property, you’d be required to know quite a few things.
- The amount of rental income you receive more or less affects how the loan amount you’re able to borrow.
- You’ll have to pay an extra 3% stamp duty on top of your normal stamp duty.
- If the property is below the value at which stamp duty becomes liable, you will still have to pay the extra 3% of the purchase price.
TIP: If you want to buy a second property, find out the amount you’ll be require pay from your conveyancer/solicitor. A knowledgeable adviser will help find the right mortgage to suit your requirements by asking you the relevant questions. To see if you’re eligible, reach out now to our advisers.
How Much Do Mortgage Brokers Charge?
Many mortgage brokers are paid commission from lenders, which represents a percentage of your mortgage loan. Depending on the type of mortgage you need – whether buy to let or residential mortgage for instance – and whether you’ve had any credit problems of late. The figure is often set at around 0.33%, although this varies widely. Many independent brokers usually charge about £500 as a flat fee. Be sure to enquire about how to make payments to brokers. They need to be totally clear, informing you of the fee structure they use and just how much you are due to be charged.
Our fee structure is based upon charging the client £695; any commission which is received from the mortgage lender is deducted from that figure If we receive a commission below the value of £695, we ask the client to pay the difference between the received commission and £695. If for example, we are paid a commission of £495, we would ask you to pay a fee of £200, payable on production of your mortgage offer. Please note, we only take payments on a results-based arrangement.
How Much Can I Borrow?
Many factors affect this, such as how much you earn, the amount you deposit, the number of children you have, as well as any debts you might have in the background. A total affordability assessment is required to determine how much a lender will agree to lend; this takes into account your income, any loan or credit card commitments you have, as well as regular household expenses. Other than this, they will also carry out a credit check to ensure you have an agreeable credit rating for mortgage purposes.
Prior to applying for a mortgage in full, obtain a decision in principle to form a clear picture with regards the amount you can borrow. Make plans today for an appointment with one of our capable mortgage experts. We can provide an initial estimate, without the need for any credit checks to begin with.
The Latest Best Mortgage Rates
Our services are available whether you want to re-mortgage, move home, purchase a buy to let or procure a first-time buyer mortgage. We compare thousands of the latest mortgage deals, so you can find the one you’re after.
Request a free quote from Mortgage Saving Experts, your Shipley Expert Mortgage Broker
What Our clients say About us
In Shipley, we have long and diverse list of satisfied clients. If you still have doubts about our ability to professionally provide the best deal in Shipley at the cheapest price, see for yourself what some of our customers have said about their experience with us. To get a first-hand experience of the great services we provide, call us today.
Latest Mortgage News
The more information available to you when trying to secure the best mortgage deal, the more advantages you’ll enjoy. To help you begin on the right path, find recent insightful mortgage news below.
Mortgage Regulatory Information
The majority of mortgages in the UK are made available by banks, building societies and specialised mortgage lenders. There is a total of 200 different financial institutions which offer mortgages in Britain, although Lloyds Banking Group and Nationwide Building Society owns the market’s largest share.
Even though UK banks and building societies have always been regulated closely, the FCA (formerly the Financial Services Authority) put a regulatory scheme in place for mortgages, because of the Financial Services Act 2000.
Mortgage providers are tightly regulated by the FCA, in terms of their professional conduct. There are strict rules regarding the use of unfair, misleading adverts and promotions, as well as checks to make sure the terms of any contract for financial services are fair for the consumer. Regulations were initially documented in the rules for Mortgage Conduct of Business (MCOB), but were overhauled because of the 2014 FCA Mortgage Market Review (MMR).
Deposit-taking organisations in the UK are under the jurisdiction of the Prudential Regulation Authority (a sister organisation to the FCA) for their financial conduct.
They make sure firms have capital large enough to cancel out their lending risks. The first step in tackling any issue you have with regards your mortgage provider is to take it up with them. If you feel it hasn’t been handled properly, there is a procedure that can have your complaint referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Some mortgages are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority such as moist Buy to Let mortgages and if you make a complaint about these you are unable to take these to the Financial Ombudsman Service Connect with the Mortgage Saving Experts in Shipley. You can reach them by dialling 01273 738 072 today for a friendly chat.
What to Ask Your Shipley Mortgage Broker?
What happens if you don’t respond to my messages within that timeframe?
How quickly will you respond to my messages?
How much hand-holding is involved during the buying process?
Why should I choose you rather than another broker?
- “Why exactly are you the best?”
- “In what way do you deliver great service?”
What sort of clients do you specialise in?
What will the true cost of my home loan be?
How much can I borrow?
How many loans have you written during that time?
How much experience do you have?
Get in contact with the Mortgage Saving Experts in Horsell. You can reach them by dialling 01273 738 072 today for a friendly chat.
Other Areas We Cover
- Mortgage Brokers in Selham, West-Sussex
- Mortgage Brokers in Selsey, West-Sussex
- Mortgage Brokers in Sharpthorne, West-Sussex
- Mortgage Brokers in Shermanbury, West-Sussex
- Mortgage Brokers in Shillinglee, West-Sussex
- Mortgage Brokers in Shoreham-by-Sea, West-Sussex
- Mortgage Brokers in Sidlesham, West-Sussex
- Mortgage Brokers in Singleton, West-Sussex
- Mortgage Brokers in Slaugham, West-Sussex
- Mortgage Brokers in Slindon, West-Sussex

domain: finance


Afghanistan: another record day of assisted returns
Yesterday, we aided 5,700 people - the largest daily number of Afghan returnees since joint UNHCR-Afghan Interim Authority operations started last Friday - back to their homes. Returnees included Afghans from Pakistan as well as people displaced within Afghanistan.
In the last week, we have helped more than 15,600 Afghans return, most of them refugees who repatriated from Pakistan. But the number also includes 1,700 displaced people who were returned to the Shomali Plain after living for the last three years in Kabul's former Soviet compound.
The UNHCR-assisted repatriation initiative from Pakistan has been rapidly gathering momentum. Yesterday, we had a record 4,700 people - 909 families - passed through our registration centre at Takhtabaig, outside Peshawar travelling in 361 vehicles. Each spontaneous returnee receives $20 upon their arrival in Afghanistan. Each family gets a returnee kit containing a plastic tarpaulin, blankets, a sleeping mat, quilts, tools and other items, along with 150 kilogrammes of food from the World Food Programme.
Before departing Takhtabaig with their registration papers, the Afghans are briefed about the danger of land mines and other ordnance and counselled about the precarious situation in some parts of Afghanistan. We tell them to avoid some provinces, including Paktia, Khost, Paktika, Zabul, Uruzgan, Nimroz, Helmand, Farah and areas like Tora Bora in the east and Sholgara in the north. These areas remain prone to banditry, open fighting, or even ethnic-oriented attacks against minority communities.
We advise returnees not to travel at night, but this is a self-organized movement and Afghans travel on their own. Unfortunately it's not very safe: last Tuesday night several families who opted to repatriate under the initiative had their truck looted by bandits near Jalalabad.
In Kabul, UNHCR and the Afghan government continue to oversee the return of displaced Afghan families from the ex-Soviet embassy compound back to their villages on the Shomali Plain. In the past two days, over 1,700 displaced people have gone back to Shomali. In the next two weeks, we hope to aid up to 15,000 displaced people to leave their squalid apartments. The returnees to Shomali get the same assistance package that refugees repatriating from Pakistan get, with WFP distributing food aid and the International Organization for Migration providing transport.
But while returns to Afghanistan gather momentum, some Afghans continue to leave their country. An estimated 10,000 Afghans are waiting at the edge of the Killi Faizo transit camp at the Chaman border crossing between Pakistan and southern Afghanistan's Kandahar Province for registration to resume. The Pakistani authorities stopped registration at the Killi Faizo site on February 21, and we haven't been given the green light to resume.
So far this year, more than 47,000 Afghans have entered Pakistan and been assisted at UNHCR's new camps near Chaman. Most of these new arrivals are fleeing a lack of food in remote areas of the country. Many are also Kuchi nomads who have lost their herds due to the drought. Some of the new arrivals are ethnic Pashtuns who say they were targeted by bandits or other armed marauders in the north of the country, where they are a minority group.


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: "This soft and cozy neck warmer is knit on needles larger than the yarn typically calls for to allow for more drape and wearability."
(Difficulty: 2 out of 3)
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- This design is free from the Crystal Palace website.
- Size US 3-16" circs, US 5-16" circs (or sizes needed to obtain gauge) & cable needles are required but not included.
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- Color shown is #8307 French Roast

domain: hobby


Watch a Volvo executive play chicken with a self-driving truck in an underground mine
【Summary】Thank you for stopping.
Volvo just released a short, highly produced video of its autonomous truck driving itself through an underground mine as a demonstration of its technology in rough conditions. It also features a Volvo executive risking his life by playing chicken with the driverless vehicle.
With a movie trailer-like soundtrack throbbing in the background, the truck is shown driving itself through the twisting corridors of Sweden's Kristineberg mine, which is over 4,000 feet below the surface. There is no driver behind the steering wheel, even though it appears to be turning itself.
As the music reaches a crescendo, the truck stops mere inches from a man in a mining helmet and yellow slicker, who turns out to be Torbjörn Holmström, Volvo's chief technology officer. (It's reminiscent of that scene from 1989's Batman when the self-driving Batmobile brakes in front of our hero with barely an inch to spare.)
"Thank you for stopping," Holmström says to the truck, before climbing in the cab. From the passenger seat, Holmström says the autonomous truck is the first in the world that can "drive itself through these difficult conditions."
"I FELT A KNOT IN MY STOMACH UNTIL THE TRUCK APPLIED ITS BRAKES"
But in a statement accompanying the video, Holmström admits the stunt made him nervous. "No matter what type of vehicle we develop, safety is always our primary concern and this also applies to self-driving vehicles," he said. "I was convinced the truck would stop but naturally I felt a knot in my stomach until the truck applied its brakes!"
The specially equipped Volvo FMX is still just a concept, but the Swedish automaker says it hopes to roll out a whole fleet as part of a project aimed at improving the transport flow and safety in mines.
While most of the attention is being paid to self-driving cars, autonomous trucks are also gaining traction. Uber recently acquired a startup called Otto, which has the goal of turning commercial trucks into self-driving freight haulers. And last April, a fleet of self-driving trucks completed a cross-continent journey that organizers say demonstrates the future of transport in Europe.
resource from: The verge
LeEco raises 1.08 Billion to develop its own electric vehicle
Uber's new selfie check helps make sure riders get the driver they're promised
Cruise has around 30 self-driving test cars on roads right now
Vinli tops the car apps market, adds Meineke and Cox for distribution
Volkswagen and Anhui Jianghuai in talks on building EVs for China
Missouri court rules against Tesla selling at its own dealerships in the state
AAA says that its emergency electric vehicle charging trucks served “thousands” of EVs without power
Tesla has 80% market share of Hong Kong’s growing electric vehicle market
- General Motors Launches ‘EV Live’ an Interactive Virtual Experience Where Participants Can Learn More About Electric Vehicles
- Tesla Raises Prices in the U.S. as Inflation Chips Away at its Profit Margins
- GM Launches its Dealer Community Charging Program, Aims to Install 40,000 EV Chargers in Rural Areas and Small Towns Across the U.S.
- Audi Rebrands its Premium Car Rental Service to ‘Audi on demand’
- Volvo’s Parent Company Geely Launches a New Outdoor Lifestyle EV Brand Named 'RADAR'
- Tesla Sells 100,291 China-Built Vehicles in November, a Record High
- Volvo is Building a New EV Service and Training Facility at its U.S. Headquarters in New Jersey To Fast Track its Electrification Plans
- Urban Air Mobility Company Backed by Electric Automaker XPeng Inc Begins Trail Production of its Voyager X2 ‘Flying Car’
- General Motors is Building a Coast-to-Coast DC Fast EV Charging Network in the U.S. in a New Partnership with Travel Center Operator Pilot Company
- Waymo To Partner With Uber Freight on Autonomous Logistics for the Trucking Industry


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Armored Core Goes Gold
Agetec recently announced that Silent Line: Armored Core has finished development and has officiaqly gone gold. The game should be available for the PlayStation 2 later this month, as it picks up where Armored Core 3 left off. It features over 34 missions, 41 different arena opponents, 21 versus battle maps, and 428 different parts for construction. Also, Silent Line: Armored Core even has a new first-person cockpit viewpoint never seen before in the series.
"Our partnership with From Software has delivered what we feel is the ultimate Armored Core experience and we're confident that fans both new and old will agree," said Rob Alvarez, vice president of marketing at Agetec. "This is what has given the entire Armored Core series of games a replay factor that is limited only by the imagination of the gamers."
Silent Line: Armored Core is scheduled for release on July 29 in North America.

domain: news


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Minnesota Chinese Oral History Project
DATE: 2002 – 2003
INTERVIEWER: Sherri Gebert-Fuller
While conducting research for her chapter in the book They Chose Minnesota, Sarah Refo Mason actively collected stories from members of the Chinese American community throughout the state during the 1970s. This was the first initiative by a researcher to document the rich history of this community, members of which settled in the state as early as the 1870s. Mason's work resulted in several oral histories now housed in the Oral History Collection of the Minnesota Historical Society.
In the 1990s, the Minnesota Historical Society Press began to update individual chapters in They Chose Minnesota and to republish each as a book in a new series entitled People in Minnesota. Each volume deals with the history of an ethnic community in the state, and includes a selection of photographs and a personal story.
In 2002 an author was selected for the book Chinese in Minnesota as part of this new series. Following Mason's footsteps, four additional oral histories were conducted in 2002-2003 in an attempt to collect new stories and perspectives to add to previously completed research. The first interview was conducted with Harry Chin, who entered the United States in 1940 as a paper son, and follows the challenges of his new life in Minnesota while continuing to support family members in China. The second interview is with Chin's daughter, Sheila Morris Chin, and explores her experiences growing up with a Chinese father, an Irish mother and learning of her father's paper son identity as a teenager.
The third interview was conducted with Jane Wilson, a long-time director of the Chinese Sunday School at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis who helped several generations of Chinese Americans adapt to Minnesota and American ways. The fourth interview looks at the Huie family who immigrated to Minnesota in 1929 and describes the ways in which members of this family supported each other after the unexpected death of their father in 1939.
All of the above interviews include information about Chinese American businesses, organizations and events in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area between 1940-2002. The challenges of trans-national families, global politics and Chinese American identities are also woven throughout the interviews.
LENGTH OF INTERVIEWS: 6 hours
TRANSCRIPTS: 93 pages

domain: history


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What are actually Sexually Transmitted Disease Checks? How Long Does Std Check Take
Almost all sexually active individuals will get an STD. Whether you or your partner display any symptoms or not, as you might still be contaminated. Sexually transmitted diseases do not constantly cause signs, making it possible to catch or spread out an infection automatically.
Even if you are not experiencing any symptoms or are thought about low risk, there are much better factors to get STD evaluated regularly. Sexually transmitted diseases don’t always trigger symptoms, even when you are experiencing symptoms.How Long Does Std Check Take
Ways In Which Do STD Tests Work?
STIs are really typical, and are often called sexually transmitted diseases.
According to the Centers for Illness Control and Avoidance (CDC), there were 68 million cases of STIs in the United States in 2018. It is likely that much more cases go unreported, which is why the actual number may be higher.
Lots of STIs (sexually transmitted infections) have only the smallest of symptoms. They are typically unnoticed, and it makes getting evaluated difficult. * The stigma around STIs likewise dissuades some people from getting checked.
Serious STIs can lead to problems such as infertility, cancer, and psychological health problems, if left neglected. In this guide, we’ll discuss who need to get checked when, where, and how precisely.
I Believe I Get Signs And Symptoms of an STD. Should I Get Tested? How Long Does Std Check Take
If you’ve made love with a brand-new partner and discover any indications of an STI like HPV, get tested. The signs of HPV rarely trigger discomfort, but if things appear unpleasant to you, see a physician or nurse for testing and treatment.
Typical symptoms of HPV might not be obvious right away, but you need to still get evaluated when you feel anything in a different way. Also, an STI that’s uninformed could be a risk that might trigger other, more major issues like HPV-linked cancers.
Organizing for an STD Check
Let’s not put our heads in the sand on this one. Embracing this course, not preventing it, is the best option to make, both for your health and safety, and for the health and safety of those you might choose to have sex with in the future.
Testing is needed for everybody, consisting of those with limited sexual history.
Next, let’s consider the phenomenon where you feel uneasy about a sexual encounter you had the other day and get tested for an STI today. An earlier infection won’t yet be detectable.
Health experts recommend you speak to your body’s guardian angels to help you identify the proper screening studies. The window period for contracting a disease can be as early as 1 week or extend up to numerous dozen months after the encounter.
Keep in mind, sexually sent infections are treatable and typical. Clients might understandably feel anxious about waiting on test results, but FDA-cleared clinicians keep them assured.
Keep in mind to tell the truth about any danger consider your case history or considerations. If a doctor performs a test, enough details need to be offered about precisely what signs the client is experiencing, their history, and any pertinent threat elements, for example, a family history of STIs.
It’s a good concept to plan how getting your specific diagnostic assessment will affect you financially. There might or might not be a charge or a percentage. Some screening can be performed without charge or for a little cost.
You may also want to talk to your partner about whether, and when, to get checked. You may actually decide to get evaluated together.
Lots of people Thought Of to Be High-Risk Groups for Certain STDs and STIs Include:
– Females who are sexually active ought to receive an annual chlamydia and gonorrhea test.
– Sexually active women who are 25 or older ought to find out about the rates of sexually transmitted diseases they may have and, if so, have themselves checked for the same illness. This includes screening if they have a new or numerous sex partners, or for an STD diagnosis.
We usually recommend that ladies start to get routine cervical cancer tests when they are 21 years of age. Women should also get a pap smear at their routine age. This test assists look for problems in the cervix that may or might not have been brought on by HPV (human papillomavirus).
– Pregnant women might be evaluated for HIV, certain sexually transferred infections, liver disease B, chlamydia, and gonorrhea, in addition to for those with special risk factors and liver disease C.
– Individuals having sexual intercourse with several partners can be exposed to multiple germs and viruses.
Reasons Why Take an STI/STD Test?
STD checks are an unfortunate necessity for lots of ladies and guys, no matter how comfy you are speaking about your sexual health. No matter how healthy a relationship might be right now, users are motivated to have regular look for existing ills and emerging infections. That is why we are excited to make the process simpler as much as discreetly as possible.
Want to Get Checked for STDs?
Testing is the only way to identify if you have been exposed to Sexually transmitted diseases (sexual transmitted illness). If you have any type of sexual contact that spreads out STDs, make certain to share this details with your physician, nurse, or doctor.How Long Does Std Check Take
Getting Checked for Sexually Transmitted Diseases
STD tests are normally purchased by a doctor. Before prescribing a test, the physician inquires about your threat elements for Sexually transmitted diseases, including your sexual and health history. The doctor likewise inquires about any signs or symptoms of STD infections in order to identify the most appropriate screening strategy.
While STD screening is typically carried out in a health center or physician’s workplace, many people get evaluated for Sexually transmitted diseases at centers and other neighborhood health programs. Neighborhood health programs might provide totally free and confidential STD screening.
When analyzing STD test results, it is necessary to remember that Sexually transmitted diseases have window durations. A window duration is the time between when an individual is contaminated with an STD and when the STD appears on a test. If an STD test is taken prematurely after infection, the outcomes will not be accurate and the test will need to be duplicated after the window duration ends.
You can check for sexually transferred infections or STIs (which can progress to sexually transmitted diseases, or Sexually transmitted diseases) with an at-home laboratory test or at a clinic. For at-home lab screening you collect a sample yourself and send it to a lab and get your results online. The type of sample you collect depends on what STIs you’re testing for.
How Frequently to Evaluate for Sexually transmitted diseases How Long Does Std Check Take
Every 3-12 months is the basic suggestion from the Centers for Illness Control (CDC) for screening for syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV. A lot of experts would concur that an annual test is the minimum responsible frequency and testing multiple times based upon danger is suggested if and when one engages in unprotected sex with a new partner.
Avoiding the spread of STIs and Sexually transmitted diseases is everybody’s obligation and being healthy ways understanding your status is a terrific method to prevent contracting STIs, STDs, and other nosocomial infections that can cause long-term or life-changing problems. How Long Does Std Check Take
STD test suite consists of several tests covering multiple common sexually transmitted diseases like HIV, herpes, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, etc.
– Liver disease C virus (HCV).
– Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV 1 and 2).
– Trichomoniasis. How Long Does Std Check Take
How Is It Transmitted?
Sexually transmitted diseases are primarily transferred through sexual contact, and some STDs can be confirmed using a blood test. Physicians might likewise purchase a blood test for Sexually transmitted diseases they suspect that a person has.
The doctor first explains to the client the recommended screening choices and inquires about their sexual and health history. The medical professional likewise inquires about any symptoms of STD infections.
While STD testing is often carried out in hospitals or physician’s offices, many people now avail themselves of centers and other community health programs for screening. Many community university hospital offer totally free and personal STD testing.
When translating STD test results, it’s important that we are aware of the window period of all the STDs. The window duration is the time between when an individual is contaminated with an STD and when the STD appears on a test. A window period ends when an infection shows up on a test. How Long Does Std Check Take
Before an infection shows up on a test, somebody can not make certain that they got their STDs because the window duration stays. To accurately figure out if a test is accurate, a test is needed after the window duration.To accurately determine if a test is accurate, a test is required after the window duration.
How are STD (STI) Tests Carried Out?
A blood test to look for blood in the penis is called a syphilis test.
STIs can be evaluated by utilizing blood, urine, or other samples. Your doctor can purchase blood, urine, or other tests to check for: gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia and HIV.
In some cases, urine and blood tests might not always coincide specifically with the outcomes. It typically take a number of weeks after exposure to an STI for an individual’s blood to be well shown. An individual might also experience a false-negative outcome deemed a false-negative test.
Hidden infection can be checked for by doing a nucleic acid test and it can take individuals a couple of weeks to several months to get outcomes of tests.
How Much Does STD Screening Expense?
Sexually sent infections: Sexually transmitted diseases expenses vary depending on several elements, such as:
– Where you get checked
– If you have insurance coverage
– What sort of insurance you have.
With Obamacare under attack, there are methods of obtaining less expensive STD testing. Go through health plans and find out if they provide complimentary or subsidized tests.How Long Does Std Check Take
Getting Test Results How Long Does Std Check Take
Clients might be informed about their STD screening results during a visit with their doctor, over the phone, or through using contemporary medical charts.
It is necessary for patients to talk about STD test results with their healthcare expert and follow-up on any unusual outcomes or important prevention measures.
Your physician can assist you make a prepare for sharing your test results with your sexual partners and can review your test results with you. How Long Does Std Check Take

domain: medical


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If there are a handful of albums in the rock universe that deserve a bells-and-whistles DVD treatment, Dark Side of the Moon is clearly among them. In the ’70s and ’80s, the classic 1973 album by Pink Floyd remained on the Billboard 200 for a staggering 741 consecutive weeks, a record that will likely stand forever. Echoing themes of alienation, paranoia, and death, it is a dreamy, often trancelike tour through the subconscious of Floyd lyricist Roger Waters.
This 84-minute DVD offers a track-by-track look at the making of Dark Side of the Moon, featuring interviews with band members Waters, David Gilmour, Nick Mason, and Richard Wright, plus rare acoustic versions of “Breathe” and “Brain Damage.”
For those fans interested in the story behind the crafting of one of rock’s true landmark records, this is the equivalent of ambrosia. Discussions involve the studio-specific techniques used to create the clock loops on “Time,” the cash register sounds on “Money,” and the vocal chorus on “The Great Gig in the Sky.” Special features include alternate versions of “Brain Damage,” “Breathe,” and “Time.”

domain: artistic


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A July 16th university press release about the study explains that information that seeps into our subconscious can affect our thoughts, decisions and actions, whether we like it — or know it — or not.
In the study, the authors asked 35 students from the university to participate in two experiments. In the first experiment, students were shown a group of objects and specifically told not to count them. Sounds easy, right? Well, not so much.
A staggering 90 percent of the participants ended up counting the objects involuntarily. The same group of students were then shown a series of shapes in different colors and were told to either name the colors or count the shapes. However, 40 percent of students ended up both naming the colors and counting shapes, even though they were only instructed to do one or the other.
"The data support the view that, when one is performing a desired action, conscious thoughts about alternative plans still occupy the mind, often insuppressibly," SF State associate professor of psychology Ezequiel Morsella, one of the authors of the study, said in the press release.
The researchers thus claim that our conscious minds, or the brain's "prime real estate" as they refer to it, are not as insulated as we may think. So, while we may "decide" to think about certain topics, other data can infiltrate our subconscious and force us to think about other things.
"Our conscious mind is the totality of our experience, a kind of ‘prime real estate' in the cognitive apparatus, influencing both decision-making and action," Morsella said.
"The research shows that stimuli in the environment are very important in determining what we end up thinking about and that once an action plan is strongly activated its many effects can be difficult to override," she added.
The study was published on June 21, 2018 in the Frontiers in Psychology journal.

domain: psychology


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Haynes and Boone, LLP lawyers have contributed three articles to the latest edition of the SMU Annual Texas Survey published by the SMU Law Review Association.
Partner Deb Coldwell, with Counsel Iris Gibson and Associates Jamee Cotton, Sally Dahlstrom and Lissette Villarruel, wrote the Franchise Law chapter, outlining recent franchise law developments related to the duty of good faith and fair dealing, vicarious liability, the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and trademark claims.
Penning the Intellectual Property chapter, Partners David McCombs and Phillip Philbin, with Associates Ellie Simpson and Bethany Hrischuk, provided updates to copyright, patent and trademark law, citing significant cases from both the Federal Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court, including Kimble v. Marvel and Intellectual Ventures v. Capital One Bank, among others.
Partners Jeff Dorrill and Matthew Schindel co-authored the chapter on Partnership Law, detailing recent decisions spanning topics such as creation of a partnership, fiduciary duties, direct versus derivative claims, alter-ego doctrine, purpose clauses and attorneys’ fees. Associates Alex Ingle and Josh Lewey contributed to the chapter.
The SMU Annual Texas Survey is published annually by the SMU Law Review Association, Underwood Law Library and can be found online here.

domain: library


Razer casters are an ideal economical caster for many applications. A polished chrome finish provides an attractive, yet durable coating to each rig. Dual ball swivel raceways increase strength and offer better swivel motion.
Interact and Download Native CAD models below. Rotate, zoom in/out, and see critical dimensions by utilizing your mouse.


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The Riverview High boys cross-country
team finished eighth in the state at the Class 4A cross-country finals Nov. 9.
Due to a forthcoming development, Suncoast Food Trucks prepares for its next phase of operation in Sarasota.
The Siesta Key Association celebrated its anniversary Thursday. It met to discuss its current agenda while looking back at the history of the community group.
This week's school highlights.
Avid collector Michael Nitzsche prepares to pass on the sparkle of his 60,000 ornaments to benefit his church.
Pam Carides submitted this photo of a sunrise, taken over Camelot East, on Clark Road.
A forthcoming multi-use recreational trail in Laurel Park has some residents worried about the neighborhood getting too crowded.


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Ask AI on The Internet
Question: Analyse the poem New Skin by Phillipa Yaa De Villers. Beware the bright snake slow on a branch, its old skin, transparent and thin, behind it. The forest holds its breath: the snake looks painted, still life, still, alive and dangerous. The new skin is a scar. A scar is an emblem of healing, unbearable the air’s weight on a new skin. It’s fangs are primed to poison curious fingers; beware the fearsome sensitivity of a new skin. Beware the bright snake of a new dispensation, remember the sting of skinned knees: you also know the pain of change. Lost equilibrium. The strike, of fangs bared, blood forced to the surface. There are no accidents. Calamity, evolution all produce the same results. The air on new scales weight the same as a landslide in Chile. Change is not personal attack. If you turn nature into the enemy, you will lose. Beware the bright snake slow on a branch, its old skin, transparent and thin, behind it.
"New Skin" by Phillippa Yaa De Villers is a nuanced poem that explores themes of transformation, pain, healing, and the harsh realities of life changes. Beginning with a vivid image of a bright snake shedding its old skin, the poem immediately lures attention to the process of transformation and growth. The snake serves as a metaphor for an individual undergoing a major life change. "The new skin is a scar. A scar is an emblem of healing," these lines stress the duality of pain and healing. The discomfort and tenderness of new skin is uncomfortable, paralleling with the agony of ushering into a new phase of life, which is as much a sign of overcoming past adversities as it is a symbol of healing. The term "fearsome sensitivity" emphasizes the vulnerability that accompanies new beginnings and transformation, specifically highlighting the need for care and caution. When she writes, "Beware the bright snake of a new dispensation, remember the sting of skinned knees", there is a gentle reminder of acknowledging the past pain while navigating through current changes. The analogy of skinning knees immediately evokes a sense of empathy because it's a shared human experience; everyone has had a skinned knee and knows the familiar sting, a harsh reminder that changes can be painful. "There are no accidents. Calamity, evolution all produce the same results." These lines reject the idea of coincidences, asserting that both disaster and evolution lead to transformation. The poet uses the comparison of a weighty landslide in Chile to the weight of the air on new scales to exemplify the global scale of change and natural occurrences, adding that discerning nature as enemy is unwise. The poem then ends as it began: with the snake and its shed skin, this cyclic structure can reflect the cyclical nature of life and transformation. In summary, the poem invites the reader to reflect upon the duality of transformation – it brings about growth but is often accompanied by discomfort and vulnerability. The poem challenges the readers to not only endure change but to embrace it; prepare for the pain but also relish in the growth it brings.
Think your answer is better than the AI's? Post it below.
Other Most Relevant Questions:
If you want your question answered by an AI, click here.


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Trial success leads to biogas facility plans in Goa, India
The municipality will tender work for two more biogas plants, which are likely to be set up in the next six months, according to a report by the Times of India.
MMC chairperson Damodar Kaskar said: “The wet and dry garbage are first segregated, and the wet waste is treated by the biogas plant at our garbage treatment plant at Sada. The dry waste is sent to a cement factory in Karnataka.”
Kaskar also said that around 20 tonnes of wet waste is generated daily in the port town of Mormugao and the current facility can treat five tonnes daily. The electricity generated in the process is used to partially run the plant.
The civic body has decided to install two similar plants with a capacity of 5 tonnes per day. The three plants are expected to produce electricity from the wet waste to run the facilities. The municipality expects to reduce the load of wet waste which is currently sent to landfill.


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The process of oxidation in fish oil supplements start taking place the moment the supplement bottle is opened as the items come in contact with environmental oxygen. This you cannot avoid how much ever you try. But the process of oxidation can be controlled during the manufacturing and the storage process of the supplements.
When you go to buy fish oil supplements in the market, here are some things that you must keep into consideration:
1.Light is an important factor that can cause oxidation. It is recommended to store fish oil supplements in glass bottles that are dark in color. While purchasing these supplements, make sure you buy ones that are in dark colored glass bottles. Many companies pack these supplements in clear and transparent bottles. Refrain from purchasing such items. In clear bottles, the chances of oxidation are high as light exposure is more.
2.Along with light, temperature is also a great contributor to oxidation. It is recommended to store fish oil supplements under refrigeration once the bottle is opened. Refrain from purchasing bottles of liquid fish oil, which claim that there is no need for refrigeration after opening the seal of the bottle. This should compel you to think that something must be added to the oil so that oxidation at room temperature will not take place and this is definitely not pure fish oil.
3.It is recommended to purchase fish oil, which has added antioxidants to the same. Some of the most popular and common antioxidants that are used in such cases include rosemary extract, vitamin E and ascorbyl palmitate. Green tea catechins, which are useful extractions from green tea, also have strong antioxidant properties.
Majority of fish oil supplements have shelf life of 24 months from the date of manufacturing if they are stored properly. Though the products claim so, many of them fail to remain in good condition even within the expiration date.
Thanks & Regards
Dietician Neha Suryawanshi is a nutritionist based in Sion, East Mumbai, India. Nutritionist Neha Suryawanshi is a weight loss diets expert. She is helping people to reach to their health related goals with her healthy diets & lifestyle. Dietitian Neha Suryawanshi provides weight loss diet consultations online. Online diet consultation, customised online diet plans, personalized. She believe in health care that is based on a personal commitment to meet patient needs with compassion and care. I have done M.Sc. in Dietetics and Food Service Management. P.G.Diploma in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics ,Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Application, B.Sc. in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics. Dietitian’s Neha Suryawanshi’s nutrition expertise is in Weight Management, Diabetes Management, PCOS Management, Heart Disease Management, Thyroid Management and Sport nutrition and other clinical disorders. She has worked at Snap Fitness Goregaon as a Corporate Nutritionist where she provided diet and nutrition couseling to Clients and prepared, monitored diet plans on weekly basis and with VLCC Health Care Pvt.Ltd. Currently working as an Online Diet Consultant with Lybrate, Practo, icliniq, happydna and other health websites and writing health blogs as well.
Contact Info: 9757149915
Twitter link : @neha555555
Other Article by Neha:

domain: health


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McKamey looking for person who dumped four dogs on Bonny Oaks Dr.
McKamey Animal Center is looking for the person responsible for abandoning four dogs on Saturday.
A spokesperson for the shelter said the dogs were left at the Speedway in the 7400 block of Bonny Oaks Drive around noon.
One of the dogs was hit by a vehicle and did not survive.
A McKamey spokesperson said the other dogs are doing well.
McKamey said witnesses described the person responsible as a short, white woman possibly in her 30s. They say she had shoulder length dark hair and was wearing a blue shirt. Her vehicle is described as possibly being a small black Honda or Nissan.
If you have any information about this, call McKamey Animal Center at 423-305-6509.


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Paperback in Good condition. Spine has crease marks. Pages clean and straight.
Welcome to Wormwood: a place where curiosity is discouraged and no one has ever left.
Until one girl, Vega Jane, discovers a map that suggests a mysterious world beyond the walls. A world with possibilities and creatures beyond her imagining.
But she will be forced to fight for her freedom. And unravelling the truth may cost Vega her life.


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Sort: Category . Published . Updated . Title . Words . Chapters . Reviews . Status .
Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality
by Less Wrong reviews
Petunia married a biochemist, and Harry grew up reading science and science fiction. Then came the Hogwarts letter, and a world of intriguing new possibilities to exploit. And new friends, like Hermione Granger, and Professor McGonagall, and Professor Quirrell... COMPLETE.
Harry Potter - Rated: T - English - Drama/Humor - Chapters: 122 - Words: 661,619 - Reviews: 33338 - Favs: 20,834 - Follows: 16,410 - Updated: 3/14/2015 - Published: 2/28/2010 - Harry P., Hermione G. - Complete
La canzone della Bella Cigna
by philadelphic reviews
A famous voice teacher. A mysterious piano prodigy. Backstabbing classmates. Music school is competitive, and aspiring singer Bella Swan is determined to succeed. Hard work she can handle, but who expected music school to be dangerous? A story in 3 acts
Twilight - Rated: M - English - Adventure/Romance - Chapters: 45 - Words: 336,125 - Reviews: 7324 - Favs: 4,189 - Follows: 3,822 - Updated: 11/9/2012 - Published: 6/9/2009 - Edward, Bella
Irritable Grizzly Adams
by caligula42 reviews
New Moon AU. Edward did more than just leave Bella in the woods five years ago. Time goes on as Bella struggles to make a new life without him. What happens when they are accidentally reunited? What was the real lie that Edward told? What will Bella do?
Twilight - Rated: M - English - Angst/Romance - Chapters: 30 - Words: 121,710 - Reviews: 5080 - Favs: 3,663 - Follows: 3,228 - Updated: 12/27/2010 - Published: 9/16/2008 - Bella, Edward
by dryler reviews
When Bella accepts an offer to write the biography of a severely reclusive author, the old, dying man she’s presented with and the young, too perfect man she meets while there convince her she’s missing some very important parts of the story. E/B, AU.
Twilight - Rated: M - English - Mystery/Romance - Chapters: 13 - Words: 37,805 - Reviews: 2954 - Favs: 3,751 - Follows: 1,895 - Updated: 5/7/2010 - Published: 5/26/2009 - Bella, Edward - Complete
Sensitivity to Initial Conditions
by giselle-lx reviews
Sensitivity to Initial Conditions-chaos theory : "An arbitrarily small perturbation of the current trajectory may lead to significantly different future behavior." Pre-Twilight AU. NO canon pairings. One-shot
Twilight - Rated: M - English - Tragedy - Chapters: 1 - Words: 6,692 - Reviews: 120 - Favs: 142 - Follows: 22 - Published: 1/23/2010 - Complete
The Bride of Edward Cullen
by SinisterSisterhood reviews
Evil, AU, OOC Bella is less than thrilled with her new vampire life and seeks violent revenge! A blondie/goldenmeadow collab and joint FIRST PLACE WINNER of Les Femmes Noires Contest. Fuckhot summary inside. Enter at your own risk.
Twilight - Rated: M - English - Horror/Humor - Chapters: 1 - Words: 13,226 - Reviews: 69 - Favs: 74 - Follows: 13 - Published: 10/22/2009 - Bella - Complete
The Passage of Tim reviews
Bella is accidentally changed in such a way that she has no further obligations to the Cullens.
Twilight - Rated: M - English - Chapters: 1 - Words: 940 - Reviews: 9 - Favs: 12 - Follows: 31 - Published: 3/11/2012 - Bella, Jasper


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Late last week, my granddaughter and I made plans to have a pedicure. It would be among my first ventures into the new COVID-19 Phase II in Colorado. And let’s not even talk about how badly my feet needed to be pampered.
Anyhoo, I told Addie I would pick her up at 4 o’clock for our 4:15 appointment on Sunday. At a quarter to four, the sky suddenly darkened, there was a flash of thunder and a bolt of lightening, and the strangest and most intensive storm I have ever witnessed in my life commenced. It had been a windy day, but the wind intensified to what seemed like nearly hurricane strength. It started to rain astonishingly hard. Within seconds, hail began pounding the windows and grass. It felt like the end of the world.
Bill and I watched out of our living room window for a few minutes wondering how badly our vegetation would be damaged. I figured I better give Addie a call to let her know that I would cancel our appointment. No way was I going out in that kind of weather. It would be crazy. It was five minutes before four.
As I reached for my cell phone, the storm ended. Just as quickly as it had begun, it stopped raining, the wind died down, the boomers ended, and the sky became much lighter.
It was about the weirdest thing I ever saw.
I drove over to pick her up, and she scampered out to the car. “That was weird, huh?” she said.
As we proceeded down her street towards the shopping center in which the nail salon was located, we saw a sight that took our breath away…..
As you can see, (for once) I wasn’t exaggerating about the strength of the wind. The homeowners were standing in their driveway with shocked looks on their faces, undoubtedly grateful that the massive Blue Spruce tree had fallen in that direction instead of onto their house where it would surely would have gone through their ceiling and landed on their La-Z-Boys .
Can you see how light the sky already was?
The odd storm actually has a name. It is called a derecho. Derechos (derechi?) are widespread, intense, fast-moving storms that can cause hurricane-force winds, heavy rain, and even tornadoes.
A derecho has never occurred before in Colorado. Ever. In fact, derechos are extremely rare in the United States. But for no other reason than that it is 2020, we had our first (and probably our last) derecho. And the once-in-a-lifetime storm landed on most of our state. During the same period of time.
We keep joking about 2020, but just when you think it can’t get any weirder, well, it does.
Our house, by the way, withstood the storm with no damage. We might not be that lucky when the volcanos erupt.
One thought on “Batten Down the Hatches”
It really was crazy that we had the same weather 72 miles apart.
Comments are closed.

domain: geography


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Helpful Kitchen Ideas: 5 most popular stress relief kitchen products you should buy
When it comes to planning a multipurpose kitchen, there are a number of appliances and accessories to start with such as hand mixer, knife set, pressure cooker, coffee maker and so on. Even after planning and executing accordingly there are many cases when you feel the need for a particular accessory which is not present in the kitchen and the whole idea of that culinary adventure falls apart. Redmond has an array of kitchen appliances to choose from but here are the five most important products that you would need in your daily or regular culinary activities.
Electric Wine Bottle Opener to Pop Up Caps
The WO001 wine bottle opener comes with stainless steel corkscrew and a rechargeable battery that can preserve around 180 bottles or open around 45 bottles on single charge. The wine stopper indicates the last date of usage while the recharging base stores foil cutters and stoppers. On the other hand, the WO002 model has rust-resistant stainless steel opener and LED indicator that shows when the opener is in functional state. With Pull and Release buttons it can open maximum 60 bottles in single charge.
Electric Hand Mixer for Easy Blending
With five variable speed options, the HM009 hand held electric mixer lets you adjust the speed from 850 RPM to 1250 RPM. Be it for preparing bread batter or mashing potatoes, whipping meringue or beating egg whites, the stainless steel dough hooks, whisk and wide beaters can do your job without creating any noise. The 250-watt copper motor also helps in fast heat dissipation with the circulated cooling system. Another hand mixer from Redmond is the RHB-2915-E model that comes with sharp stainless steel blades inside sturdy glass pot to crush ice, mix various sauces, cut fish and meat and puree cheese, fruit, and vegetables.
Meat Grinder to Prepare Various Meat Dishes
The RMG-1208-E electric meat grinder can be your one-stop solution to mince, cut, slice or chop meat or even make sausages effortlessly. The grinder not only has a stylish ergonomic design but also offers optimal functionality with safety so that you can prepare newer and different meat dishes within little time. You can choose any of the three mincing essays for grinding the meat and also use the reverse mincing function where the essay turns in the opposite direction.
Multi-Cooker to Cook and Boil within Minutes
If you are considering multi pressure cooker that does not take up much space and cooks food within minutes while retaining the nutrients, flavor, and color of the food, the RMC-PM4506A Electric cooker can be a perfect choice for you. This ergonomically designed two-in-one model with four-level protection and large capacity can help you in making soup, stew, pilaf, and porridge as well as bake cake, pastries, fried food and meat in aluminum foil. The Redmond RMC-M20E Automatic cooker with starter pre-selection and feature of keeping the food warm can also be a handy option because its ten-in-one saucepan can do the works of saucepans, rice cookers, electric cookers, steamer, yogurt machines and more.
Ceramic Knife Set For Cutting Vegetables and Fruits
Although Redmond has individual Ceramic Chef Knife and Stainless Steel Peeler, for extensive usage, it is better to go with the ceramic knife set and peeler with sheaths. The set consists of a six-inch chef knife, four-inch utility knife, and three-inch paring knife along with the Y-shaped peeler. Ceramic knives are sturdier and sharper enough so that there is no need for sharpening them like stainless steel knives. Rust-free and hygienic, these knives do not absorb food particles and are easy to clean. The ceramic peeler can effortlessly peal through even the waxy and slippery vegetables and fruits like plums, tomatoes, and peaches.
It is important that the appliances you purchase are in your budget and have unmatched functionality so that all your primary purposes are served effortlessly –Redmond has you covered with the top-class products.
- Redmond usa

domain: food


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Fee income, loan growth drive UMB earnings
UMB Financial Corp. reported second quarter earnings of $29.9 million, up 2.6 percent from a year ago, driven mainly by increased non interest income and loan growth.
Kansas City-based UMB Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:UMBF) is the holding company for UMB Bank. The bank saw loan balances increase 19.5 percent from a year ago, the company's 13th consecutive quarter of loan growth.
"For comparison, the more than 1,500 depositories that announced results as of July 22 reported median loan growth of just 1.4 percent," UMB Financial Chairman and CEO Mariner Kemper said in a release.
Non-interest income was at $113.59 million in the second quarter, up $3.4 million or 3 percent compared to the previous year. The increase was mainly due to a 13.9 percent increase in trust and securities processing income to $63.49 million. That included a 23.7 percent increase in advisory fee income from the Scout Funds.
Overall, revenue from fee-based business now represents 58 percent of UMB's total revenue.
"Net inflows in our Institutional Investment Management segment were $902 million, propelling Scout assets under management to $26.3 billion at quarter end, an increase of 17.5 percent compared to a year ago," UMB president and COO Peter deSilva said in a release. "Our wealth management platform for individuals ended the quarter with assets under management of $10.3 billion, which when combined with Scout, brought total company assets under management to $36.6 billion at the end of the quarter, an increase of 18.3 percent compared second quarter 2012."
James reports about banking, financial services, manufacturing and sports business.
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Team Manager Home Care VITAS Innovative Hospice Care | Kansas City, MO


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Whether you’re in London to study or just taking a few days out for a mini break, there’s always a new place to explore in the capital. Spend some time shopping, sample street food, or stroll through the streets and soak up the sights. There’s something for everyone in London, but with so many choices on offer, it can be hard to know where to start. That’s where Randstad UK comes in. They’ve done the hard work for you and put together an interactive map, exploring London by borough. Users can choose from a variety of lifestyle preferences from diversity to happiness and the map will suggest the best place in the capital, depending on your personality. We take a look at some of the treats on offer. Read More
If you are in your twenties and not a Daniel Radcliffe or Zayn Malik then it’s understandable that you don’t really have the fortune to make the most expensive of your travel plans come true. However, that shouldn’t really stop you from travelling as well. We are ready with our list of the top budget destinations that can be covered by you in your twenties.
China is a vast and extraordinary country spanning thousands of miles from the deserts in the west to the ocean on the east. With so much to explore in this beautiful country, we aim to get you up and travelling with the ultimate culturally rich and magnificent places to visit in China.
Australia is known for its beautiful beaches and epic surf. Its impressive coastline stretches for 18,000 miles with 10,000 incredibly diverse beaches to enjoy. The wonderful clear blue water and gorgeous views are enough to excite any beach lover! Choosing the best beaches in Australia in a tough ask, so instead, we’ve pulled together a… Read More
We all have that one friend we follow on social media that posts incredible images either surfing at Bondi Beach or taking selfies with adorable quokkas. It might make you wonder how they’re they doing it. Are they a secret millionaire? Maybe, but chances are they’re on a working holiday in Australia. Australia is one… Read More
Australia is an incredibly vast and diverse country where you could spend years travelling and not see it all. But at least you could start scratching the surface with our ultimate top things to do. You’ll find all kinds of activities listed below, including climbing iconic bridges, learning about the indigenous culture, tasting the exquisite food of aussie life, and getting up close to local wildlife.
It seems as if travelling these days has become a race, we’re more concerned about trying to go to as many countries as we can rather than taking our time to really enjoy the country, culture and people. So the real question one might ask, has travelling become a race?
Guess what? No really guess? If you haven’t figured it out, StudentUniverse is back out on the road yet another year for Fresher’s 2017 and we’ll be coming to a university near you stuffed with exciting prizes to be won, free giveaways, discounted flights, and tours. This is a perfect opportunity for you to meet the team, find out what exclusive deals we have on offer and how you can become a StudentUniverse member.

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Up until five years ago, I had no idea where Croatia was on a map, but now I find myself living here. A small town girl from Milton, New Zealand, I took the ultimate risk, bought a one-way ticket and moved my life across the globe for love.
It sounds like something from the movies but every time someone said, “Oh my god, you are living the dream life,” I wanted to shake them and scream, “You have no idea!”
After the honeymoon period wore off, the reality of my new life sunk in and there was so much more to the story than anybody knew—the behind the scenes, so to speak. These are some of the harsh truths I discovered about living the “dream life” abroad.
There were tears
There were tears. There were a lot of tears. Oh god, the runny-nosed, blubbering, hyperventilating messy tears. I definitely could have made the most unattractive movie-montage of tears from the first few months of my time in Croatia. I was like a hormonal teenager, prone to burst at the smallest infraction from life; anything and everything could make me cry, from missing family and friends, to not knowing how to ask for bread at the local supermarket.
There were even tears about the tears! One night I found myself in the throes of yet another fit of tears, flanked on either side by depression and self-loathing, while my ever patient husband looked on, bewildered and asked, “What is wrong?” After repeating the usual: “I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know…” Another voice came up and roared from my depths, “I don’t like me!” There was a deafening silence that surrounded this statement; it startled even me and was enough to bring me to my own attention. How could I not like myself, the one person I am invariably stuck with?
Looking back throughout all of my adventures, travels and challenges, I can honestly say that there has never been a still moment where I sat back and looked at myself honestly, let alone allowed myself to ask the question: Do I like me? Perhaps it is a question we all run from in some way or another. With nowhere left to run, my demons caught up with me and I found myself cornered; the only thing left to do was to stand and face them. It definitely wasn’t easy, in fact it is probably the hardest thing I have ever had to do. But hearing the words, “I don’t like me” coming out of your own mouth is enough to shake most anyone awake.
I realized then and there that I needed to start having a relationship with myself. The harsh truth was that my tears and fears had nothing to do with my external situation (okay, it definitely exasperated matters, but it was not the sole reason) and everything to do with me. If we are to survive anything in life, the one person we need on our side is ourselves. There is no instant fix, but I started from a very simple place of being kinder and more forgiving towards myself. Every time the negative words of self-doubt and depression piped up, I would gently replace them with more loving and encouraging words. Very slowly, step-by-step, I started to believe these words. This new-found confidence and the beginnings of self-love, started filtering through into every aspect of my new life and was the foundation of starting to live the “dream life” for real.
We cannot make old friends
I was furious at the beginning when anyone dared tell me: “You really should go out and make friends,” I felt like screaming at them: “How can I? I am a mess, my confidence is shot and I can’t speak Croatian for the life of me, so how on earth do you expect me to make friends?!”
It was true. But unfortunately, the harsh truth is, that if we want to make friends, we have to go out and make them because no one can do it for us. After six months of my self-imposed isolation and longing for my friends from home, I was tired of feeling miserable and alone. I found a local expat page on Facebook, went to one of the meet-ups and the rest is history. I was thrilled to meet others in my exact situation, hearing their stories and similar struggles with life in Croatia, filled me with hope that not only was I not alone, but they were living proof I could make a life here.
From there, my circle grew to the point where I now find myself in a community of truly wonderful, strong, supportive women. The old adage goes—we cannot make old friends, which is true, but nowhere does it say we cannot make new friends. It is not about replacing what we had, but rather opening ourselves up to what we have—which is a perfect opportunity to build new and wonderful friendships.
The language barrier
Living in a country where English is not the native language, is unquestionably a barrier to building a new life. In the movies it always lends itself to hilarious encounters, but in reality it led to tears and crazed outbursts. Every time I was in a situation surrounded by the Croatian language, my mind filled my head with thoughts that I was isolated and stupid for not being able to speak the language. I stopped going to social outings, or if I was out I would feel my chest contracting in anxiety over the impending interactions. I was agitated over conversations that hadn’t even happened yet!
Mostly people tried to include me or make me feel welcome, but I was oblivious to this. All I could see was the impenetrable barrier of language standing before me. In line with the relationship I was starting to have with myself however, a painful truth surfaced about my struggle with the language—the only barrier to learning the language was me. I had been so negative towards myself and dismissive of people around me out of my own insecurities, that I had built a wall around myself. Learning a language is not easy, it takes time, but above all, we need to show ourselves patience and kindness when we are learning a new skill. This light-hearted approach won’t mean we will be able to speak a new language in a matter of months; but it will break down any walls and leave us feeling more confident to try and speak, or at the very least be able to laugh at ourselves more often than bursting into tears.
Building a new life is scary
I think it is safe to say that the idea of forever scares most of us; my mind latched onto this, surrounded me and made me feel trapped under the weight of the permanence of my situation—is this really where my life will be forever? The mind is a cunning thing and its power lies in disconnecting us from the present moment. Rather than focusing on everything I could do to begin building my new life, I felt paralyzed and daunted by the seemingly impossible task and the concept of forever.
Finally, after some serious pep-talks, my inner voice (who I was now in a steady relationship with) whispered the truth: Nothing is permanent. This thought freed me from the idea of forever and I no longer felt trapped. Life is not meant to be that serious. By realizing that nothing is permanent, I was free to really begin living my new life, to throw myself in head first, knowing that if I give life in Croatia my all and it still doesn’t work…then I can always change something. Building a new life can be scary as hell, but the harsh truth is, being frozen by inaction is worse. I never want to look back over my life and realize that I wasted a large chunk of it sitting on the sidelines.
Life moves on without us
Making the conscious decision to start building a life away from family and friends is one of the poignant realities that all of us expats face. The mind torments us with everything we will miss, telling us we are selfish for choosing this life and will forever be cut off from the lives of our families and friends. I have had more than my fair share of guilt and tears over missed birthdays, weddings, gatherings or just the small moments of life in general. Following our hearts and living a life less ordinary comes at a cost and this is undoubtedly one of them. However, the harsh reality is that life keeps moving, whether we want it to or not; so we can either choose to live our life focusing on what we are missing, or look to see what we may be gaining.
Talking to fellow expats, I discovered there are a few shared comforts that we all find solace in; while we may not be in the day-to-day lives of our family and friends, when we do finally get the chance to visit, our time together means so much more. We appreciate every moment. Then of course, there is the reverse; if family or friends cross the globe to visit us we feel extremely privileged to have them, to show them our new lives and in many cases, give them their first experience of the new country we now call home. Lastly, I cannot fail to mention the new family we find ourselves in (if we are lucky enough), to be welcomed into the lives, hearts and culture of another family, is a crazy, beautiful thing.
There are no comfort zones, everything is uncomfortable
For all of us expats, there is no side-stepping the huge question of what will we do for a career now that we find ourselves living in a foreign country. Unless we already had an online business or job lined up, this is no small feat and creates plenty of anxieties at the beginning of our journey. The harsh truth I discovered was that comfort zones no longer exist—everything is uncomfortable. But herein lies the beautiful irony…there is so much scaring the sh*t out of us already, that starting a new job or career is actually just one of these many things, so why would we choose to do anything other than what makes us ridiculously happy?!
So with no comfort zones to fall back into, we are forced to think more creatively, to look inside and see what truly makes us content. For some of my expat friends, this has come in the form of starting a brand new business, for others it has been following their creative pursuits with more gusto, for me it has meant all of the above. Never one to do things by halves, I have thrown myself in the direction of anything that has ever been written on my heart. In the past year I have worked on a luxury yacht, been dabbling in creative and free-lance writing, photography and I am presently a Play School teacher. There is no way in my ordinary life that I would have allowed myself to even contemplate these roles, let alone attempt them. Being forced outside our comfort zones is exactly the push we need towards creating the life we dream.
The ultimate harsh truth
There is no denying that packing everything into a suitcase, saying goodbye to everyone you love and starting a new life abroad is a difficult task; but it is not impossible and I am definitely not the first person to do it. In fact, I am well aware that this piece is wide open for criticism in the wake of the current refugee crisis. Even my own Grandmother faced extraordinary circumstances of life abroad when she fled Kenya during the wars of the 1960s with her husband and son (my father) in tow. I cannot even begin to imagine what that must have been like, the courage and strength she had are immeasurable. And yet, my mind didn’t remind me of any of these things, it cut me off from the bigger picture and made me feel helpless and alone in my endeavors. The unchecked mind is a powerful force and can convince us of the most incredible things.
However, after I started having a relationship with myself and stopped giving so much power to my mind, I finally realized that I only had two choices (we only ever have two choices), I could choose to be happy in my new life, or choose to be miserable—it was as simple as that. But this is the ultimate harsh truth that we all have trouble accepting, that no matter our journey or challenges: The only thing standing between us and the lives we dream, is ourselves. It is up to us to take responsibility for our lives and ultimate happiness, because like it or not, no one is going to abracadabra our lives to where we want it to be.
There is no way to happiness, happiness is the way.
So, inevitably there is a happy ending to this tale. Two years down the track, I am still living in Croatia. Is this where I am going to be forever? That was a test, we won’t fall for that one again, right? I don’t know if this is where life will be forever, but in this moment I am happy and now when someone says, “You have such a dream life, I almost have to agree.
Author: Tash Pericic
Editor: Travis May
Image: Flickr/Antoine K


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This month, the Acadia University Art Gallery has mounted a really interesting exhibition based on the life of folk artist Maud Lewis.
It’s called tỷ lệ cá độ bóng đáWhose Maud? and curator Laurie Dalton says the title has no typos. During the initial run of the show with works by painter Steven Rhude and hooked rug artist Laura Kenney, Dalton said she received lots of notes that there’d been a grievous spelling error.
In fact, she told last week’s artist talk at the gallery that the title was intended to pose questions of ownership.
“I looked at the ways she was packaged as a tourist commodity for the province — for the tourism industry, the museum industry and also the history of Nova Scotia — but also the way in which the identities of Maud Lewis have been forgotten,” she said.
The concept for the show, Dalton said, was to question all the ways in which people have laid claim to the legacy of Maud Lewis.
There’s no doubt that with the film Maudie, Sally Hawkins and Ethan Hawke helped catapult her into renewed popularity in recent years.
Since her death in 1970, Maud, who was actually famous for 25 years, has become everybody’s darling, particularly the tourism industry. Rhude and Kenney, in their work, have explored the darker side of rural society during an earlier era.
Rhude, who once lived in out-of-the-way Guysborough County, recalled meeting people who were part of and victims of the post-colonial structure in Nova Scotia. That experience made him consider Maud’s life in the context of the Marshalltown poor house she lived next door to.
Kenney, who lives in Truro, said she and the Wolfville-based Rhude began discussing Maud on social media after an exhibition about lighthouses at the Harvest Gallery. They asked questions without answers, carried out research and then began to create.
It’s important to think about artists as researchers, Dalton said, saying that’s been a key aspect that comes out of their artwork.
Speaking of the largest painting, a triptych showing the huge, creepy poorhouse, Rhude pointed out the characters in the foreground, including death coming for Maud’s husband Everett. He described biographer Lance Woolaver climbing into the old and unused structure to write a play about Maud.
“There were at least two Mauds - the sugar-coated one and the other Maud,” he suggested.
Rhude added he believes building such a dark view of a well-loved artist is best carried out in a university gallery setting where there is more latitude.
“It’s not the boardroom and there’s no branding to consider.”
The copyright for Maud’s work is held by the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. The most recent painting of hers that was auctioned garnered $14,000, but they’ve gone for far more – more than most of her professional contemporaries in the Maritimes.
Kenney sounded a bit haunted by Maud’s unmarried pregnancy in the time of the notorious ‘butterbox babies.’ She could have ended up in the poorhouse, Kenney said, where pregnant girls were over worked in the hope they’d miscarry.
Rhude reminded those present that Maud and Everett’s home had a window that looked right out on the poorhouse. Maud might have painted in a sunny window, but there was another, darker vantage point.
Both artists expressed appreciation for her artistry. In Rhude’s opinion, “She was the real McCoy. Maud was an anomaly for a female (artist). Her work was quite sophisticated.”
We can’t forget that she painted what expert Alan Deacon calls “jewel-like art” through the pain of severe rheumatoid arthritis, escaping the poverty of her life.
Another Maud-themed exhibit of original paintings from private collections is going on display at Acadia in August. It will examine both her art practice and her art through the personal stories, and memories that people have of the work in their collection.
Meanwhile, Whose Maud? will be on display at the university’s gallery inside the Beveridge Arts Centre until July 28. Go see it!
Then check out Canada’s Ocean Playground at Harvest Gallery, which teams up Rhude, Kenney and another fabulous hooker, Deanne Fitzpatrick. In the promo, there’s a thoughtful takeoff by Rhude of Andrew Wyeth’s 1948 painting Christina’s World. Instead of a haunted-looking house, he features what looks like the controversial Pictou pulp and paper plant.
More on Maudie


The U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said she had received credible reports of serious violations committed by the Taliban in Afghanistan, including ‘summary executions’ of civilians and Afghan security forces who have surrendered.
After the US-backed Afghan government collapsed to the Taliban on Sunday, President Biden and numerous top administration officials openly blamed the Trump administration for the crisis.
"This is one of the largest, most difficult airlifts in history," Biden said in a televised address from the White House, highlighting the dangerous elements of coordinating a mass evacuation while being surrounded by Taliban forces, who took over Kabul on Sunday.
Obama set five Taliban fighters free, now one of them is calling the shots in Afghanistan. If Obama and Biden had left the five Taliban thugs to rot in Cuba, Kabul may not be back in the clutches of the Taliban right now. And maybe Americans wouldn’t have sacrificed more than 2,400 troops and $1 trillion in vain.
The chaotic scenes from Afghanistan have shattered President Biden’s carefully constructed image of a leader in charge and experienced in foreign affairs. Presidencies often get derailed by events not of their making, but Biden owns his wilful refusal to heed warnings from the CIA and Joint Chiefs on what would happen with a precipitous withdrawal. Should Taiwan be worried?
The Taliban has long garnered strong support from rural Afghanistan, which has become poorer during the last 20 years of the US presence, while the central government has held urban areas, which have received more aid from Kabul compared to rural regions located in unhospitable mountainous terrains. This has contributed to the Taliban support.
Conservative media has blamed Biden for the violence, citing his efforts to revive a nuclear deal with Iran, which funds Hamas.
Israeli soldiers attempting to provide humanitarian aid to residents of Gaza have been forced to retreat after Hamas started firing at the group.


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I breezed through the first twelve chapters of my fantasy novel The First Light. Two of the chapters weren’t even planned; they just grew as the story took on a life of its own. Then chapter 13 came along.
In this chapter there was going to be a fight scene and we were going to learn something about one of the secondary characters. I’ve noticed that fight scenes (even from best-selling pros) don’t feel visual enough. In a bind I stumbled across Writing Fight Scenes by Rayne Hall.
Photo by WoodleyWonderworks used under Creative Commons License
I gobbled that book right up and made up a few charts from the information that I gleaned. I wasn’t writing a huge battle scene, or an extended fight-to-the-death between hero and villain. It was just a small clumsy attack by non-professionals.
Thanks to Rayne Hall, I got through it, and it makes sense (to beta readers anyway). This situation was totally different from (gulp) writer’s block. I was still writing and editing short stories. I even wrote FIGHT SCENE GOES HERE and completed the rest of the chapter.
The working title for this chapter is “Assassins”; although, I’ve been toying with the idea of calling it, “Knives from the Darkness”, or something on that order.
Have you ever gotten stuck in a predicament like this one?


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Downe Cottages provide a happy combination of private luxury cottages with an excellent leisure facility attached (spacious gym and spa plus a reading room) all located in the heart of the North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The location is stunning with views over the Ocean to the West and up to Lundy Island to the North. Surrounded by fields and woods, Downe is the perfect location for a relaxing holiday away from the hustle and bustle of the 21st Century.
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