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It's almost time for the Giro D'Italia (May 8-30 2010) and we're gearing up (ha ha, pun intended) for the part that will come through Tuscany. A lot of people will be going out to support the riders in various picturesque locations in this region. Giro riders will come through Tuscany in stages 6-8 which happens to fall over a lovely weekend, May 14th to 16th. The photo on the left represents just how quickly they will ride through (in this case the town of Pietrasanta in Tuscany), so you'll need something else to do to make a day out of this! But how will you pick where to stake out your spot to see the athletes? If you're interested in art and culture, here's a starters' guide for you. This itinerary takes you from North Tuscany (lunigiana) to its border with Umbria (Chiusi), a lovely off the beaten path trip that you could easily take over a few days or a week. The offering of what to see is varied but there is one common thread (other than the beautiful Tuscan countryside): you will be tracing the steps of two ancient populaces: Lunigiana takes its name from the prehistoric Luni populace, of which rather little is known; Volterra and Chiusi on the other hand were important Etruscan cities around which there is a fair amount of mystery.
For the full list of towns in Tuscany in each stage of the Giro d'Italia and other information, see the post "Giro d'Italia 2010 in tuscany" on Around Tuscany. Here is a list of select towns and things to see along the way - I've picked the ones I think would be most interesting. View Larger Map Friday, May 14 2010 in Northern Tuscany Villafranca in Lunigiana: For all things Lunigiana area, my job is made easy by James Martin of Wandering Italy, because he lives in this area writes a blog that is both entertaining and informative. To tell you the truth, this is not an area I know well, so I'm going to trust James when he says that it's nice to go trekking or hiking in the Lunigiana, where the trails are dotted with country churches and castles. James also is a cycling fan and has a Giro D'Italia map and commentary of his own! Of particular interest are the prehistoric stele statues found in Lunigiana, which can be seen at the Museo delle Statue Stele di Pontremoli. Carrara: known as the city of marble, Michelangelo came here personally to excavate blocks for his major works. The marble quarries are highly scenographic - enough for them to be the location for the high speed chase that opens the Bond film Quantum of Solace... Here it's worth booking a marble quarry tour. The outsides of many quarries can be simply visited with your own car though you can also book a personal guide and 4x4 vehicle for a more adventurous approach. The Museo Civico del Marmo (Viale XX Settembre Carrara) has an informative display to learn about types of marble and the tools for its extraction over the years. Saturday, May 15 2010 down the coast and inland
Forte dei Marmi, Viareggio: If the weather is good, this is a good place to stop and watch the race, and then to catch some rays on the beach. As it's still a bit too cold to swim (unless you're really brave), head over to the archaeological area of the Roman Villa in Massaciuccoli, which has suggestive views over the land and ocean. Pisa needs rather little introduction. If you've never been to Pisa the first place to visit is without question the entire Duomo complex - not just the Cathedral but also the Baptistery and the Camposanto or historical cemetary. There is an extra charge for the leaning tower. To go beyond the obvious tourist locations, I suggest taking a look at the blog At Home in Tuscany, written by Gloria (@casinadirosa on twitter). Volterra: heading into the hills now and into Etruscan territory, Volterra is a city rich in minerals and famous for alabaster. There is lot of good information available from the APT (visit their website or simply go in person, they're extra friendly!). The etruscan museum and the pinacoteca (paintings museum) are certainly worth a visit. If you're a fan of New Moon I suggest taking the official New Moon tour which visits the most important buildings of the city in light of the presence of the Volturi in the city. Sunday, May 16 2010 leaving Tuscany for Tuscumbria Chianciano Terme: famous for its thermal baths that the Romans and Etruscans appreciated. This is one of the most relaxing places you can go for a warm dip, any time of the year. Close to Chiusi and probably part of the same settlement in Etruscan times, both can be visited together in a day. Chiusi: this is a very small town but it has a great Etruscan museum - read more about the Etruscan museum of Chiusi here. The Giro route then moves into the province of Tuscumbria! Read more about the giro on the allthingstuscany blog network:

domain: geography


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Game Day Preview Canucks vs. Leafs: Pavel Bure Night, and Sedins vs Centre of the Universe
(Photo credit: National Post)
Vancouver Canucks (9-5-1)
Toronto Maple Leafs (10-4-0)
On Pavel Bure night tonight, the Vancouver Canucks will attempt to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs for the 11th straight meeting. Meanwhile, the Leafs will attempt to complete a 3-game sweep as they close out their Western Conference road trip.
Because of the lockout last season, the two teams haven’t met since February 2012. In that game, the Sedins and Alex Burrows combined for 10 points (3 goals and 7 assists) as the Canucks won handily, by a 6-2 score.
The Leafs are definitely improved since that 2012 meeting. Last season, they broke a 7-season postseason drought, and took the Boston Bruins to Game 7 of the first round of the NHL playoffs. This season, they sit 1st in the Eastern Conference and 4th in the overall NHL standings with 20 points in 14 games (10-4-0). The Canucks, however, aren’t too far behind with 19 points in 15 games.
The newly-extended Daniel Sedin, who scored the Canucks’ lone goal in their last game against the Detroit Red Wings, extended his point streak to 5 games (5 goals, 3 assists and 8 points). Henrik Sedin, who, like his brother, was signed to a contract extension yesterday, has a 10-game point streak himself (3 goals, 9 assists and 12 points).
For the Leafs, James van Riemsdyk has 2 goals and 5 assists on his current 5-game point streak.
The Vancouver Canucks will be playing without forwards David Booth (lower body), Jordan Schroeder (ankle), Jannik Hansen (upper body) and Dale Weise (lower body).
The Toronto Maple Leafs will be playing without defenseman Mark Fraser (knee), and forwards Nikolai Kulemin (ankle) and Tyler Bozak (lower body).
Love it. Keep up the great work, Delia!

domain: game


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Solid Stone: Revolving Door by EG Patrick
Violet Cole, a recent university graduate, is rushing to her first important business meeting when she comes face-to-face with a man she finds captivating and intimidating. His penetrating gaze makes her heart pound and her legs tremble. Violet learns that the wealthy and alluring Adam Stone is renowned for his success in the high-powered corporate world. He now consumes all of Violet’s thoughts.
A self-admitted control freak, Adam becomes intrigued by Violet s untapped beauty and fierce honesty. He is determined to possess all of her. They embark on a passionate odyssey that is exhilarating and tantalizing. As their relationship intensifies, Adam and Violet must confront serious contradictions between them. How far is Violet willing to go to keep their relationship alive? Long-kept secrets are exposed leading to a surprising and explosive climax.
"The Solid Stone series is highly arousing and totally engrossing. You will remember it forever and fantasize about it often."
~*~ABOUT EG PATRICK~*~
Bringing my secret dark fantasies to life in my stories is so therapeutic! I want my books to entertain, stimulate and evoke all kinds of emotions. My characters give me free reign to explore beyond the ordinary and believe me, I go there!
I really wanted to like this book and tried really hard to, but I just couldn't get past the story being too much like Fifty Shades of Grey. I just couldn't connect with the characters at all and the writing was too rushed and sporadic for me. The main character Violet was too juvenile for me. Now Adam on the other hand was a real Alpha Male in the sense that he knows what he wants and goes after it. I would recommend reading this book if you haven't read Fifty Shades.

domain: entertainment


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This card cracks me up, every time I see that pink hippo! lol This is done using all Stampin Up Products. I watercolored the hippo in Cameo Coral & shaded in with Chocolate Chip. Cardstock colors are: Cameo Coral, Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink & watercolor paper. I gave Ms. Hippo some "baby bling" by adding a little Dazzling Diamonds to the bow. lol I added dots for accent with SU's white Gel pen. I closed it all up with white grosgain ribbon. Finished size is
4 1/2"x 4 1/2 square.
When you flip up the hippo & I put the scallop circle there. That panel folds down to reveal the verse.
I sure hope you can follow me with this. It's hard to describe, but it was fun!

domain: design


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Last night my sister came over to hang out, drop off a late wedding present, and watch the season finale of The Office. I decided I wanted to put together something special for dinner, so I did a bit of googling and came up with a recipe for Mexican stuffed peppers.
Here’s the end result. I would’ve liked to do something more interesting with the presentation, at least to the extent of not having a bunch of juices running all over the plate, but c’est la vie.
The basic concept is half a pepper stuffed with monterey jack cheese and a mixture of ground beef and rice which has been flavoured with chili powder and taco seasoning.
It turned out really delicious, and as you can see from the picture I served it with just a basic green salad. If I make this again, I’ll probably try to think of something more to serve as a side dish, maybe chips and salsa as a sort of appetizer.
Making this involved a couple of firsts for me. I’d never steamed anything before (I steamed the peppers before stuffing and baking them) and, believe it or not, I’d never cooked rice before. I’m a potato guy, so I’ve always made potatoes as my starch if given any sort of choice. Live and learn, right?

domain: food


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domain: medical


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An unlikely couple is torn between their disparate worlds and their love for each other.
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Running out of binge-worthy content? Fear not—Hulu just re-upped their streaming offerings, with tons of great shows and movies to dive into.
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According to SPER Market Research, the India Agritech Market is a rapidly growing industry that holds immense potential for innovation, investment, and growth. With over half of India’s population relying on agriculture for their livelihood, the country boasts a large and diverse agricultural sector that is ready for technological advancements. In recent years, the rise in internet penetration and mobile connectivity has raised awareness among farmers, fueling a growing demand for agritech solutions. The India government has also been supportive of the sector by establishing incubators and forming public-private partnerships with industry players. As a result, numerous agritech startups have entered the market, and the sector has seen high levels of investment activity from venture capital firms and international investors. With its vast market, supportive government policies, and strong demand for innovative solutions, the India agritech market is poised for substantial growth in the coming years.
Despite COVID-19, the long-term outlook for the India agritech market remains positive. The government has taken steps to support the sector, such as increasing investment in research and development and launching new initiatives to promote agritech innovation. The COVID-19 pandemic has also accelerated the adoption of digital technologies in agriculture, creating new opportunities for agritech companies to offer solutions that address the challenges posed by the pandemic. In conclusion, while the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the India agritech market, the sector is expected to recover and continue to grow in the coming years.
India Agritech Market Overview:
- Forecast CAGR (2022-2032): XX%
- Forecast Market Size (2032): XX billion
Impact of COVID-19 on the India Agritech Market:
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the India agritech market. On one hand, the pandemic has highlighted the importance of a robust and efficient food supply chain, leading to increased demand for agritech solutions that can improve the efficiency and reliability of food production and distribution. On the other hand, the pandemic has also disrupted supply chains and created challenges for agritech companies in terms of securing financing and maintaining operations. Additionally, the pandemic has had a negative impact on the overall economy, leading to reduced investment and spending on agritech solutions.
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India Agritech Market Key Segments Covered
The SPER Market Research report seeks to give market dynamics, demand, and supply forecasts for the years up to 2032. This report contains statistics on product type segment growth estimates and forecasts.
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domain: economics


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Sprinting down the field on punt and kickoff coverage to create a car crash-level collision requires a special personality.
"You have to have no fear," safety Jeremy Thornburg said. "You have to have a screw loose in your head."
Whether the players occupying the Green Bay Packers' coverage units are sound in mind or not, they have performed effectively.
"We're getting as good as we've been here in our coverage units. I was so proud of our kickoff cover unit the other day," Head Coach Mike Sherman said. "That was a major component in order for us to win."
The Packers held Atlanta Falcons return specialist Allen Rossum, a 2005 Pro Bowl return specialist and a former Packer, to five returns at or inside his own 20-yard line.
"That was probably our best day in my nine years," kicker Ryan Longwell said. "It was a pretty dominant performance."
The special teams needs to come up with a similar effort on Monday against the Minnesota Vikings. The New York Giants outgained the Vikings 405 to 137 in total yardage on Sunday, but the Vikings won 24-21 in part because of their big plays on special teams. Wide receiver Koren Robinson returned a kickoff for an 86-yard touchdown, and running back Mewelde Moore returned a punt for a 71-yard touchdown.
"They're coming in with confidence obviously having two returns for touchdowns," Thornburg said. "We know we have a challenge coming our way."
The Packers, however, have found the right ingredients to take on that challenge.
"We've got a good mix of guys on our coverage team," Longwell said. "We've got the right mix of speed versus size."
Two players, in particular, rookies Thornburg and Brady Poppinga, have brought that mixture of size and speed to special teams. Poppinga, an explosive outside linebacker, leads the Packers with 18 special teams tackles while Thornburg's knack for throwing his body around on that unit led the Packers to claim him off waivers from the San Francisco 49ers on Nov. 2. Thornburg has made a special teams tackle in both games he has played.
"Thornburg has helped us," Sherman said. "Some of these younger guys are stepping forward. Poppinga has made some plays."
On punt returns Thornburg takes out the man protecting the punter. A right end on kickoff returns, he must occupy the outside blocker. Poppinga plays left tackle on punt coverage and is fifth person on the left side during kickoff returns. Both players have taken to the reckless abandon needed for that role.
"I love it," Thornburg said. "It's how I earn my paycheck."
The return unit is only part of the reason for the Packers' success. Both Longwell and punter B.J. Sander have done a solid job -- particularly against the Falcons -- of pinning their opposition back.
"Our kickers are part of that," Sherman said. "If you don't have hangtime or location, it's hard to cover a kick."
The Packers placed extra emphasis on special teams this offseason, drilling the players in technique during minicamps, opportunity sessions and the preseason. Those instructional periods helped, but it took half of the season for the players to become truly comfortable with their roles.
Before the season Thornburg had not played special teams since his freshman year at Northern Arizona. Although Poppinga played on the punt team a few times during his junior year, he has not played regularly on special teams since his freshman year either. They had to learn how to break through the double teams, chips and traps.
"A lot of these kids come out of college, and they don't play special teams in college because they're the star player," Sherman said. "Special teams is a new element to them."
They also had to learn their teammates. Playing special teams is analogous to how a piece of elastic stretches. When you pull on one side, the other must constrict. Each special teamer must compensate for his teammates when staying in specific lanes to funnel the returner in.
"Covering kicks is the toughest thing to practice because you don't really get accustomed to what the guy's doing next to you," Longwell said. "That's stuff you can only learn on the job. With a younger group, it's taken us a little longer."
Now behind two young rookies, the Packers have become a cohesive unit confident in their ability to stop even the most capable returners in the NFL.
"We all have our part," Poppinga said. "It takes all 11 of us to do the job."

domain: news


Systemic Design Webinar
Systems Innovation invited Kristel and two experts for a live discussion.
Namahn gave a systemic design workshop at the Interaction20 conference in Milan.
With a focus on food waste, the Namahn team conducted a workshop at the RSD8 convention in Chicago. We introduced two new tools to explore the intervention model in variations in time and space.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation invited Namahn to lead a toolbox session with the Systemic Design Toolkit during the Circular Economy 100 Acceleration Spring Workshop.
Namahn held a workshop on Systemic Design tools at the RSD7 conference in Turin. During the session, participants explored a selection of tools by working on the challenge of school dropouts.
Namahn, MaRS, SDRN are launching the Systemic Design Toolkit at the RSD7 - Relating Systems Thinking and Design - conference in Turin.
Kristel Van Ael, teacher at the University of Antwerp and partner at Namahn, launched the first Systemic Design course at the University of Antwerp. The course involved around 40 students attending the Master in Product Development.
In 2015, Namahn and Shiftn presented the first version of the toolkit in a workshop at the RSD5 – Relating Systems Thinking and Design - conference in Toronto. The event brought together practitioners in the fields of design thinking and systems thinking, and the workshop gave the possibility to receive the first feedback.


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Find all upcoming public events of the Cincinnati Boychoir listed here. If you have questions about anything you see on this page, please call us 513-396-7664.
The Cincinnati Boychoir is proud to join the May Festival for a performance of Mahler's 8th Symphony, known as the Symphony of a Thousand fo...
650 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Copyright © 2023 Cincinnati Boychoir - All Rights Reserved.

domain: artistic


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Crusaders captain Coates is fighting fit again and set for Robinson reunion
Crusaders are set for good news on the defensive front with the club poised to bring Josh Robinson back to Seaview while Colin Coates has been given the green light to return to training.
Robinson left the Crues for York City in June last year and agreed a two-year deal at Bootham Crescent, but, after making five appearances for the Minstermen, the former Rangers player then progressed to National League North side Boston United in a loan deal.
The former Northern Ireland Under-21 ace was hungry to test himself in the professional game but now he's set to return and pull on a Crusaders jersey again.
Robinson helped the Crues clinch back-to-back league titles and the return of the 23-year-old will be a huge boost to the Shore Road side, who were badly damaged by Coates' absence through injury for much of last season.
The Crues skipper suffered a horrendous ankle injury and needed to go under the knife, but now surgeons have indicated he's firmly on the road to recovery.
Thrilled boss Stephen Baxter said: "The surgeon has told him that everything is clear and he will be able to step up training for us. We will now have to wait and see how quickly he can regain his fitness and get the engine going again. But it's a major boost to us that he has been given the all clear to resume training."
Coates will resume his partnership with Robinson in the heart of the Crues defence, with another new arrival, Sean Ward, giving Baxter more options.
Coates said: "The surgeon had a look and there's nothing more to worry about with the ankle. It's now eight and a half weeks since the operation and I've started doing my own training. The only concern is I would like more games before the European matches as I would need to build up my fitness level.
"It was a tough watch for me, and I couldn't help the boys, but Linfield were on a great run and you could see them winning it. We will take it on the chin and use everything as extra motivation to go again."
Robinson's return to north Belfast means that Baxter is now unlikely to pursue former Glentoran defender Jay Magee, who could now join either Ards or Ballymena United.
The Crues boss also welcomed goalkeeper Brian Jensen to the club.
"We are very pleased to bring Brian in. Sean's (O'Neill) shoulder injury has been a concern for us and will keep him out for three to six months," he added. "We had to make sure we brought a goalkeeper in of real quality and Brian fits the bill. He has vast experience and will be a colossus for us in goal. He's an exciting addition to the squad and it's great for the Premiership too to have a player of his calibre on board.
"European football was also a big appeal for him."
Portadown have signed former Ballymena United striker Darren Henderson on a one-year deal while Ryan Catney has agreed a two-year contract with Cliftonville and the club captain has been handed a testimonial in the 2018-2019 campaign.
And St Johnstone have signed 18-year-old midfielder Kyle McClean following his release from Nottingham Forest.
The Belfast man has been included in Northern Ireland's squad for their opening Euro Under-21 qualifier in Estonia on Thursday.

domain: sports


When you purchase topsoil, you are purchasing a combination of sand, silt, and clay which goes by the names of Sandy Loam, Loamy Sand, or Sandy Clay Loam depending on the percentage of sand, silt, and clay in the soil. These soils will contain very little organic matter.
How do you make sandy loam soil?
You can build your own sandy loam by incorporating lots of organic matter into your clay soil. You can use compost, aged manure, shredded leaves, rice hulls or whatever organic matter is locally available.
Is sandy loam the same as topsoil?
Difference Between Loam and Topsoil. … Simply put, loam soil is a proper, healthy balance of sand, silt and clay soil. Topsoil is often confused with loam soil, but they are not the same thing. The term topsoil describes where the soil came from, usually the top 12” (30 cm.)
Is loam better than topsoil?
Loam makes a good topsoil choice, but this is not always what you find commercially. Topsoil is preferred by many gardeners because this layer of soil contains more decayed organic material than the layers beneath it. However, this layer could also contain heavy metals, oil, and other chemicals.
Is loam or topsoil better?
Good quality topsoil often contains decaying organic matter, rich in nutrients to feed your soil. Loam soil contains little or no organic matter, however, it is popular with gardeners, landscapers and green keepers alike because of its ability to retain water and nutrients.
What are the 13 types of soil?
- Sandy soil. Sandy Soil is light, warm, dry and tend to be acidic and low in nutrients. …
- Clay Soil. Clay Soil is a heavy soil type that benefits from high nutrients. …
- Silt Soil. Silt Soil is a light and moisture retentive soil type with a high fertility rating. …
- Peat Soil. …
- Chalk Soil. …
- Loam Soil.
What are the disadvantages of loam soil?
So while water is retained easily in loam soils, it does not enter into it easily to increase bulk and density. As a result, the particles in loam soils have a tendency to detach. If soil is disturbed by rain, wind or construction, its silt and clay particles are transported easily and the soil can begin to erode.
What grows well in sandy loam soil?
The three most widely grown vegetables in American home gardens are tomatoes, peppers and green beans. These are followed by cucumbers, onions and lettuce. Other popular vegetables that will grow well in sandy loams include sweet corn, okra, radishes, eggplant, carrots, pole beans, greens and spinach.
How does loam soil feel?
Loam soils contain sand, silt and clay in such proportions that stickyness and non-adhesiveness are in balance – so the soils are mouldable but not sticky. Loams are the “friendliest” soils to cultivate. … This property causes the swelling and shrinking of clay soils as they wet and dry.
Does Home Depot have loam?
Premium Quality Topsoil (Loam) Pallet (49 Bags)-400401PT – The Home Depot.
Is loam soil good for planting?
Loam soil facilitates plant growth in three key ways. Aeration: The varied particle sizes in loam create a loosely-packed soil that allows oxygen to flow freely to plant roots. Nutrient retention: The presence of clay in loam ensures that nutrients cling to the soil, rather than being washed out by water.
What are the 4 types of soil?
OSHA classifies soils into four categories: Solid Rock, Type A, Type B, and Type C. Solid Rock is the most stable, and Type C soil is the least stable. Soils are typed not only by how cohesive they are, but also by the conditions in which they are found.
What are the 3 main types of soil?
Silt, clay and sand are the three main types of soil. Loam is actually a soil mixture with a high clay content, and humus is organic matter present in soil (particularly in the top organic “O” layer), but neither are a main type of soil.
Is sandy loam soil good?
Sandy loam has a good texture, without heavy clods of clay or accumulations of rock. This is the best soil for growing root crops where the roots need unobstructed, even soil. … Onions (Allium cepa) grow well in sandy loam because they need good drainage and a non-compacted soil that allows for bulb expansion.
Is loam soil a good potting mix?
Loam holds nutrients and has a texture that retains water long enough for plant roots to access it, yet it drains well, meaning that the water eventually seeps away so that plant roots do not sit in water and rot. Without quality soil, plants struggle to survive and usually require supplemental feeding and watering.
What do you use loam soil for?
Loamy soil is ideal for most garden plants because it holds plenty of moisture but also drains well so that sufficient air can reach the roots. Many gardeners complain of their garden soil being compacted and/or poorly drained. Heavy, compacted soil can be rescued by the enduring gardener.
What are the 5 types of soil?
The 5 Different Types Of Soil
- Sandy Soil. Sandy soil is light, warm, and dry with a low nutrient count. …
- Clay Soil. Clay weighs more than sand, making it a heavy soil that benefits from high nutrients. …
- Peat Soil. Peat soil is very rarely found in natural gardens. …
- Silt Soil. …
- Loamy Soil.
What are the 6 types of soil?
There are six main soil groups: clay, sandy, silty, peaty, chalky and loamy.
The Six Types of Soil
- Clay Soil. Clay soil feels lumpy and is sticky when wet and rock hard when dry. …
- Sandy Soil. …
- Silty Soil. …
- Peaty Soil. …
- Chalky Soil. …
- Loamy Soil.
What are soil layers?
The main layers of the soil are topsoil, subsoil and the parent rock. Each layer has its own characteristics. These features of the layer of soil play a very important role in determining the use of the soil. Soil that has developed three layers, is mature soil.
Can you buy loam?
Loam composts have a loam base with peat and fertilizer added. The best place to buy loam compost is at your local gardening store or nursery, where you can take a look at all the ratios and talk with experts. We have compiled a list of loam composts and soils you can buy on Amazon for your ease.
Is screened loam good for growing grass?
If you’re seeding a lawn completely from scratch, you’ll need to add a substantial base of screened loam. Loam is the best soil to use for lawns because it’s made up of a mix of silt, clay, sand, and decaying organic matter, all of which contains nutrients. Screened loam is loose and easy to till.
Can I mix loam soil with garden soil?
Potting soil can be mixed with garden soil for particular cases such as raised beds, but it’s not a good mix for containers.


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Writing is fun. Creating characters and places and throwing them into situations just to see how they react, how they survive, how they grow, is very satisfying. Done correctly, at least for me, the characters actually do take the writer places he didn't know he was going. Odds are, the twists and turns my readers experience were also experienced by me while writing the scenes. So many times I have no clue what is going to happen until it does, or something I had planned no longer seems to fit because my character has other ideas.
I'm not a very organized writer when it comes to content. I don't outline. Sure, I've tried, but it's a useless effort because I toss the outline aside and let my characters lead me. I don't set daily word-count goals for myself. I don't sketch out my plot and make sure the story arc has the correct curve. And, perhaps my greatest writerly sin: if I don't feel like writing today I won't. I'll do something else, or nothing at all. Sitting and staring at a blank screen does nothing but frustrate me and make me less creative.
Is that the WORK of writing? No. The work, to me, comes later, after the "final" draft. The work of writing involves intense editing -- reading and re-reading in search of typos, jumbled sentences, repeated words, and inconsistent events. The work involves formatting -- making sure the various e-book versions display correctly. Making sure the paperback layout is correct. The work involves collaborating with a cover artist. The work involves promoting, advertising, fretting over sales. But perhaps the most difficult WORK is writing that damnable blurb that goes on the back cover.
I wish I could write, hand the manuscript to someone else, let them do all the WORK, and jump right into the next novel, but that's impossible. Being self-published means the writer has to run the business side of things as well as the creative side. You can't just write the next great novel, throw it on Amazon, and expect it to sell. Selling, is work.

domain: literature


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Innovation Will Overcome Time & Cost Challenges Of Clinical Trials
The 2019 CNS Summit will kick off on October 31, 2019 and feature four days of sessions that are enlightening and inspiring, as well as unparalleled networking opportunities. This is the 10th anniversary of the Summit, which brings together thought leaders and innovators from sponsor companies, government, and solutions providers to collaborate and drive the success of future clinical development programs. With spotlight sessions focusing on artificial intelligence, digital therapeutics, real-world evidence, decentralized trials, putting the patient first, and more, this promises to be an event you don’t want to miss.
One of this year’s presenters is Rob Scott, M.D., Chief Medical Officer and VP of Development for AbbVie. In this Q&A, Scott discusses clinical innovation, patient voice, and the clinical challenges the pharmaceutical industry still needs to overcome.
Ed Miseta: What topics will you be addressing in your session at CNS Summit?
Rob Scott: Clinical Development and the conduct of clinical trials is entering a period of historic innovation. The combination of widespread internet connectedness and almost limitless cloud-based storage and compute capacity is creating opportunities to innovate around almost every aspect of clinical research.
As the process of clinical development has been getting ever more demanding and expensive, these opportunities are coming at a very opportune time. I will share practical real-life examples of how we are using big data and digital technologies to replace clinical trials, design better clinical trials, improve recruitment, help patients navigate their own trial experience and to collect better and more accurate data. I’ll share key learnings we’ve uncovered from the outcomes of our clinical trials and how we are using the Development Design Center now to spearhead these learnings to shape clinical trials in the future.
Miseta: What are the biggest clinical challenges facing the industry going forward?
Scott: With the cost of developing a new drug now over $2 billion, many good therapies that could improve patient lives will be left on the shelf. We have seen investment dollars fleeing areas like cardiovascular drug development, once the largest and now the smallest, particularly for highly prevalent chronic diseases. This is at the same time that cardiovascular disease remains the largest cause of premature mortality in both the developed and developing world. We need to find a way to develop drugs more cost efficiently.
Another challenge is that development programs are taking longer as Regulators raise the bar on the amount of data required to approve a drug. One of the biggest elements in the timeline is patient recruitment. Enrollment is becoming ever more competitive and patients per site per month have fallen to historically low rates. The industry has had to respond by increasing the number of sites per trial, hugely increasing cost and complexity. Part of the problem is that only 2 percent of patients participate in clinical trials even though 70 percent would like to. The biggest barrier to participation in a specific study is the distance to a study site. Technology is bringing the promise for any patient, anywhere, to be able to participate remotely and access to a much-expanded patient pool will allow quicker enrollment and simplified study conduct.
Miseta: Is the industry making any progress in getting the patient voice more involved in trial design?
Scott: As internet access is facilitating access to information about clinical trial participation, patients are becoming increasingly more sophisticated in how they show up. Smart clinical trialists are also aware that patient friendly studies are investigator friendly, which increases the ability to compete for available subjects.
Patient centric is becoming an industry buzzword. Unfortunately, Pharma companies still have attitudes around being the sponsor, even when it is “sponsor of choice”, that get in the way of having a true customer service culture. There is a strong sense of “tried and true” and “don’t fix it if it ain’t broke” that particularly gets in the way for relatively standard development pathways of the kind of innovation that can come from listening to the patient voice.
That being said, patient input during design and conduct of clinical trials is becoming more commonplace and is routinely a part of the Abbvie Development Design Center process. We’re also using apps and social media to facilitate patient involvement in clinical trials. The goal is to provide an immersive clinical trial experience incorporating a variety of digital health techniques that improve clinical trial outcomes and can also be incorporated into the product after launch to improve patient outcomes. We call these “tech-enabled” medicines at Abbvie.
Miseta: In terms of health care and drug development, what do you predict to be the biggest changes in 10 years-time compared to now?
Scott: While we are constantly continuing to improve our clinical trials and increase the quality of data collected, we are just scratching the surface of how technology can positively impact the process. In ten years, most data will be collected passively using IoT enabled devices and the EMR will become accessible to clinical trials reducing the burden on sites for collection and Pharma for monitoring. Machine learning and AI will help us use the rapidly growing data sources to design better trials, reduce drop out and non-compliance and better analyze results. The cost and the risk of clinical development will go down which will enable the development of precision therapies that are personalized towards smaller groups of patients.


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Tap... Tap... Tap... Tap... Tap.
The little drinky-bird bobbed up and down with admirable dedication to its purpose, bowing down and tapping its plastic beak against the wood of the paper-covered desk over and over. It displayed such rhythm that organics would not discover how to keep time like that for another thirty years; during what would be known by fembot historians as the Age of Disco.
As progressively groovy as the drinky-bird is though, its story is a tale for another time. For now our focus is about five feet away from the dusty old desk and on a mechanical woman tied to a wooden chair. She was obviously mechanical even at a casual glance, her skin-colored synth-skin broken in places by clean seams where panels and joints were. Her outfit was functional if saucy; a tight pair of short brown jeans and hiking boots, her top kept modest by a teal blouse with short sleeves. Her eyes glowed green and short, roguishly mussy brown hair topped her head. She set her jaw grit as she tried the bonds holding her curvy body to the chair, robotic parts whirring in protest every time her strength failed to burst her bonds. She called out in a chipper voice twanged with a hint of mechanical inflection. “Hey! I dunno who's running this joint but someone had better come in here and untie these ropes before... uh...” She froze for a moment, her eyes faintly crossing and a labored hum buzzed about in her head. “...processing credible threat! One moment.”
Just then, the door behind her flew open, interrupting the captive's processing. She turned her head to look towards the doorway as light filled the dark office. A silhouette sporting the kinds of curves that only a heinous villain-bot would be caught dead with stepped through the doorway. Wide hips with a waspy waist topped with a pair of generous melons. All of it a gleaming chrome, this fembot was clad in a pair of knee high stilettos and black leather lady’s breeches. A riding crop bounced on her hip and as her gleaming metallic body sauntered past the captive, she could see the dreaded symbol that confirmed the identity of her captors. A red band on the fembot's arm with a black reversed swastika and a golden hammer and sickle were superimposed over it.
Nazi communist fembots.
The chrome beauty had a hinged mouth much like a nutcracker, with a pair of ruby painted lips. Her eyes glowed bright red and she took a position in front of the captive, one hand on her hip and the other reaching up to adjust her ushanka with a series of quick, stiff motions.
The captive glared at the Nazi commiebot. “Doktar Carolina Jonez. It is goot dat you join us.” Her programmed accent was thick, sultry, deadly.
Carolina glared at the sparking beauty wrapped in a leather uniform. “Inspector-Kommissar Holt. I thought you were decommissioned.”
Holt let out a brief snort of derision. She'd managed to produce a slender smoking pipe tipped with a lit cigarette and was now casually puffing away at it. “Da. Ze giant gorilla did rip mein head off but as you can see ze rumors of mein demise have been greatly exaggerated. However, zees time no monkey business vill be comink to your rescue! Now...” Holt lifted her shapely steel leg and planted the heel of her boot against Jones' soft synthetic cheek, turning it as she put pressure down.
“Ze Spear. Tell me vhere it is und you vill leave in one piece.”
Carolina Jones knew exactly what the Inspector-Kommissar wanted. The Spear of Longinus, the very weapon used by Abraham Lincoln to defeat the alien invaders manipulating the Civil War and unite a nation. It was said that the powers of a demon, an angel and a creepy tentacle monster combined and infused into the mighty weapon, allowing its wielder plot-specific powers over life, death and the cosmos. With it, Soviet Germany would be unstoppable.
“Over my fried circuits, you you... you...” Carolina froze with a click, her eyes staring ahead, dull and unfocused. “Processing scathing comment about political affiliations and/or biting commentary about physical imperfections. One moment.” Again the loud buzz filled the air, coming from the outdated archaeologist's processors.
Holt leaned forward and lowered her boot, allowing a generous look deep into her gorgeous chrome cleavage, and planted the tip of her cigarette against Jones' forehead. With a twist, the flame went out and a wisp of smoke rose from where it made contact. “Cancel command and tell me vhere ze spear is or I shall be forced to resort to... interestink procedures.”
With a forceful twitch, Jones came to and sat up straight, her soft bust straining the ropes of her chair. “I absolutely refuse to tell you where the spear is! Even if... ESPECIALLY if... you resort to some kind of kinky interrogation techniques.”
Holt tapped her chrome chin, nodded once, then drew a pistol. The barrel was roughly jammed up against Jones' head. “Und should I choose to simply blow your processors all over ze wall?”
Jones' eyes dimmed as her eyes crossed to look at the gun. “Under those extenuating circumstances I may reconsider.” Jones had to think quickly, not exactly her forte, but thankfully this solution was so well-defined and programmed that it came nigh-instantly. “But... but if you do it that way you won't get to see the saucy lingerie that I wore for just such a situation!”
Holt didn't lower the gun but she did tilt her head and tap her chin, unknowingly keeping time with the drinky-bird on the table. “Hum. A tempting proposition... I suppose ze gun can always be plan B.” she lifted the black pistol and pressed it briefly to her lips. “Apologies mein little bullet-shooting führer.” She holstered the gun and with what would be an evil smirk if her steel lips could articulate a smile, leaned forward to slowly begin to undo Jones' top.
Carolina Jones couldn't help but admire how that tight leather jacket hugged Holt's curves. The way her breeches accentuated her backside. That sexy, sultry whir that her body made as she moved. Soon, her own synth-breasts were on display. Generous cups with a rectangular seam just above the cleavage, cupped by a lacy black bra.
“Doktar Jonez, you certainly know how to dress for an interrogation.” The chrome commie-bot almost purred as she spoke, reaching out to trace her cold metal finger against warm synthetic cleavage. Jones shivered at the touch, stifling a barely audible gasp. “Und so sensitive! Your construction iz so delightful.”
Jones groaned and struggled against the ropes. “You monster! I'll never tell.” The Inspector-Kommissar just continued to amp up her assault. Steel fingers claimed the edges of the bra's cups and pulled outwards until the clasp snapped and silicone breasts tumbled forward, jiggling enticingly and topped with pink nipples.
“Zhere we go. Now ze fun begins...” She used her robotic might to pinch down onto those perky pink nips. Jones squealed, her eye's green lights flickering rapidly as Holt turned and squeezed them like she was trying to dial in a radio. Jones' warm breasts pushed into those hard metal hands, her lips quivering as the evil commie-bot explored her. Holt's fingers spread and closed around those juicy mounds, squeezing in slowly and forcing Jones to quiver again.
“I-I can't take thizzzz!” Yes, even some light breast play was more than enough to cause Carolina Jones' processor to reel with pleasure. She was never at the forefront of technological advancement. Light steam began to rise from Jones' ears, her eyelids blinking rapidly as she heaved out deep sighs and moans. The sounds of buzzing fans filled the air and the Inspector-Commissar cackled with evil glee.
“Mmf, Doktar Jonez, I must admit that I quite enjoy playink vith your chest. So delicate, so warm...” At this point, Holt was watching her work intently. A dull hum could be heard inside of her chrome body, systems buzzing and coming online as she too became excited... and this was when Jones saw her chance.
“O-o-oh Holt! Unnnh! Nnnh, y-you know this is not enough, you m-might want to use that riding crop you've got with you as well.”
“Da! Good idea, Jonez.” Holt released those silicone tits and righted herself, back locking into place loudly, then turned away from Jones to undo the riding crop hung on her belt. Her wide, curvy ass was facing Jones as she went for the strap holding the crop to her belt.
At that, Jones lifted her feet off the ground and kicked her boots forward. The strong, thick hiking heels SMACKED into Holt's ass. The Nazi commie yelped out in shock and pleasure as she stumbled forward, her hands reaching forward to stabilize herself against the desk. Fortunately, drinky-bird's sweet rhythm remained undisturbed by the sudden weight. Holt's red eyes flickered independently of one another and her head spun a full circle. “V-Varnink! Sexual sp-spike detected!”
Meanwhile, the kick had pushed Jones' chair back and as she landed on her back the wooden chair shattered. This allowed the fembot to quickly squirm free of her bonds but by the time she was on her feet, Holt had spun around, the crop now in her hand. The Inspector-Commissar struck at Jones' hip but with deft hand Jones caught the weapon. She spun her wrist and disarmed her opponent, the crop now in her own grasp.
“N-now Doktar Jones, let's be civil!” Holt held one hand up defensively, the other creeping for the gun at her side. Jones was not to be fooled so easily though, and the moment Holt grasped the pistol the riding crop whipped out and cracked against Holt's metallic bust. The Nazi commie-bot gasped, her hinged mouth dropping as the gun scattered to the floor and steam rose from her cleavage. “Noooh! M-mein tits are very s-sensitive!”
“You've been a very naughty fascist, Holt! You've earned yourself a spanking!” Holt turned to try and make a break for the opposite end of the room but Jones grabbed her by the collar of her jacket. Forcing her against the desk, Holt moaned out with a clearly tinny voice as her breasts compressed into the wood, her body trembling as she clutched the edges of the desk. “P-please Jonez! Be gentle with mein chassis!”
Pinning Holt down with one hand, the other reached down to tug those breeches down, exposing a curved metallic ass clad in communism red panties. Holt groaned and rolled her hips, the embarrassment making the heat in her chest build and build... Jones pulled the riding crop back and with a clear smack brought it against Holt's ass. Holt's back arched, her jaw dropped as low as the joints would allow as her eyes blazed. “Noooh! Mein ass! Error, error, st-stimulation rising rapidly!”
The crop landed again and again, each blow making a clear metallic ring as Holt moaned out like a whore. Her shoulders trembled and smoke began to rise from under her ushanka. A metal bolt fired out of the side of her head, pinging against a wall as a steam jet fired from her mouth. “Pl-please Jones! I haff been a very naughty fembot! You are makink me so HOT!”
“You ain't had nothing yet!” Jones gripped Holt's hips and turned her over on the table, forcing her legs to spread. Servos labored and buzzed as wide chrome thighs spread, and red panties were pulled down to expose a slick, shiny rubber pussy. Jones leaned in and dragged her tongue against the slick slit, dipping in to briefly brush against her clit.
At that, Holt cried out, bending her back and grasping at her jacket until the buttons burst, her chrome breasts fully exposed and covered in a tight red bra. “Doktar! You are m-making my circuits go c-c-crazy!” Her head spun again, glowing eyes getting brighter and brighter as the steam rising from her head grew thicker.
Jones stroked again and again, plumbing deeper and deeper with each pass of her warm tongue. Holt was gasping for relief, fingers tweaking at the metal dials she had for nipples. A spring fired from her open mouth, a few bolts and screws dropped onto the desk. Her body trembled and buzzed. “Error. E-error. I am-am-am overloadink! Unnh!”
Jones' lips left Holt's sopping sex, leaving the chrome bot a spare moment to try and cool off. The reprieve was all too short as Jones laid a pair of fingers along Holt's slit. “Let's see how you handle THIS!” With a click, Jones' fingers buzzed mechanically with vibrating pleasure.
“A-a-a-a-a vibration function!? Zat is chea-aaa-ahhhh!~” Those buzzing digits sunk in deep, Holt's warm, wet walls squeezing down like a vise. Sparks fired from her open mouth now, her fingers twitching and grasping at nothing as her body shook like it was being vibrated from the inside. “You! You bitch! I cannot handle zees! Mein processors vill ex-explode! I'll be sc-scrap!”
Jones smacked her free hand against Holt's hip and watched her head rotate rapidly for a few seconds. Lines of communist code scrolled rapidly across Holt's eye lenses. “What's wrong, Inspector? I thought you were enjoying this interrogation!” Holt's only response was a pitched, squeaking moan as she trembled, trying desperately to not overload.
Holt's hips lifted with a whine and black smoke wafted from in between the seams. “I! I! I! Overload-load-load... c-cumming!” Thick lubricants painted Jones' fingers as Holt's cunt squeezed down with enough force to pin her fingers, then with a POP she fell against the desk, heaving... panting, her eyes flickering on and off. Despite black smoke rising from her lips, she managed to struggle to her feet, panties around her ankles.
Jonez. J-Jonez... I... Overload. Ex-excuse me. Excuse. I have to... rep-repair station.” Holt took a step forward, servos grinding, then another... each step was punctuated by a second of pause. She haltingly lifted a hand to her head, shook it a few times and continued to stumble. “I am goink to blow. Use-useless metal scrap... unnh! So hot. Hot. Hot.”
Jones admired those chrome hips as Holt tried to make it to the door, a wet mess still dripping down her inner thighs. Reaching out, she traced her warm hand against the now-hot metal ass. Holt whined, her head spinning again and her arms locking outward stiffly. “Noooh! Jonez! P-p-please have mercy! Any more stimulation at all vill result in mein destruction!”
“So I shouldn't...” Jones said, coming up behind Holt and peeling her bra away from her metal breasts.
“Jonez...” Holt said, fear in her robotic voice.
“Do...” Jones continued, her hands stroking those metal tits, fingers headed for those metal nipple-dials.
“JONEZ!” Holt's head was wreathed in steam now, and arcs of electricity begam to rapidly spark around her trembling body.
With that, Jones pulled away, mercifully sparing Holt. “Alright, alright. Just... watch who you kidnap in the future.” With that, Jones started top button her own top up and strolled off, leaving the sparking, steaming Inspector-Kommissar by herself, the only sound that of her processors and fans struggling powerfully.
“Zhat... was... t-t-t-too close.” Holt exhaled a blast of heat and steam, then leaned back against the desk. Her chrome ass pressed against the edge of the desk, she allowed her arms and head to slump...
In the commotion, the drinky-bird had been jostled slightly. Just enough that as Holt sat back, its plastic beak tapped against her rump. A surge of pleasure raced through Holt's body. She twitched, moaned, sparked, head a blur as it spun and jerked side to side, a red glow building inside of it.
Her head detonated with a blast of smoke and light, her CPU detonating in the resulting fireball. Sparking from the headless rump, she pitched forward and landed on her breasts, ass tilted upwards and presented lewdly.
Meanwhile, miles away in Kompound 5 where the Nazi-Communist regime produces their fembot units, another Holt-model Inspector-Kommissar activates, stepping out of her charging station. She clenches her fist and shakes it towards the heavens in synthesized rage and fury.
“NEXT TIME, JONEZ! NEXT TIIIIIIME!”


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Saturday, May 01, 2004
In 1956 Leonard Bernstein and Lillian Hellman staged a musical out of Voltaire’s Candide — the satiric French novel from 1759 that made a laughingstock of optimism. The Bernstein/Hellman musical was one of the most esteemed failures in American theatre. Over the years, Candide has been revived many times. The ...
Saturday, April 17, 2004
Ryan Adams played in Chicago last December, and the Sun-Times' music critic, Jim DeRogatis, panned him. Adams left a heartfelt, enraged message on the writer's voicemail, which DeRogatis then broadcast to all of Chicago when he did his weekly radio show. Mayhem ensues. Produced by Steve Nelson.
Saturday, April 10, 2004
Doris Eaton is over 100 years old and she's about to have her Broadway comeback. Eaton will perform in New York next week for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS on the same stage where she made her debut 80-odd years ago as a Ziegfeld Follies dancer. Sara Fishko talked to ...
Saturday, April 03, 2004
When Musician Miya Masaoka tours she often sits in her hotel room for hours, watching her musical collaborators interact. Her collaborators are Madagascar hissing cockroaches. She has another composition that she performs with a chorus of bees. Produced by Michael Raphael.
Saturday, March 27, 2004
A few months ago, we introduced you to the Bronx Charter School for the Arts — a new public elementary school in an economically struggling section of New York City. Alicia Zuckerman caught up with the students and teachers backstage before their first public performance.
Saturday, March 20, 2004
Ben Katchor is best known for his comic strips about eccentric characters, like Julius Knipel, Real Estate Photographer. Katchor has now transformed one of his strips into a stage musical. It's called The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island or the Friends of Dr. Rushower. It's a romance and ...
Saturday, March 13, 2004
Stunts are becoming standard strategy this campaign season: John Kerry arrived on the stage of the Tonight Show on a motorcycle. Few have forgotten George W. Bush landing last May on the deck of an aircraft carrier. Andy Lanset looks at past Presidents and presidential hopefuls, who really knew how ...
Saturday, March 06, 2004
The Danielson Family regularly plays trendy rock clubs, like New York’s Knitting Factory, but they’re not your average rock band. They’ve built quite a following among both Christians and non-Christians and they say that they want their shows to express faith, and create spectacle. Produced by Michael Raphael.
Saturday, February 28, 2004
The former Attorney General Janet Reno said that The Exonerated will do more to promote justice than any literary effort she knows. It's a play that features the real life stories of people who were arrested, tried, and committed to death row for years — before having their sentence overturned. ...
Saturday, January 24, 2004
This week marks what would have been the 100th birthday of the master choreographer George Balanchine, who co-founded the New York City Ballet. He died in 1983, at 79. Balanchines dances revitalized ballet in the 20th century, giving it a new energy and strength. The dancer Darci Kistler, a principal ...
Saturday, December 27, 2003
Many performances have been created for unusual locations, and choreographer Noemie LaFrance has found one of the least likely. She created her dance "Descent" to take place in the dingy, faded grandeur of a city court building in Lower Manhattan. While the dancers wrap and sway around a 250 foot ...
Saturday, December 27, 2003
Ask director Robert Altman who his greatest influence is, and the answer may surprise you. Altman tells Studio 360 that he wouldn't be making pictures if it wasn't for the legendary radio dramatist Norman Corwin, whose poetic plays and documentaries transfixed listeners. Working for CBS Radio, ...


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These 12 combatants have the potential to the be the next stars of Austin improv. Watch them compete for your laughs.


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Kingston and Paramount announced today that the two have teamed up to deliver Paramount movies on Kingston flash memory products. The partnership will deliver full-length movies to consumers as a bundle package sale.
Neither company divulged when the partnership will launch its first products or how the products will be packaged. I bet it will be along the lines of the Godfather flash drives we have seen before with the movie on a drive carrying logos from the film. What movies will be seen first is unknown as well.
Don't Miss: Nintendo Switch: Everything You Need To Know
"This unique agreement enables PDE to make available its entertainment offerings on USB and SD cards," said Alex Carloss, EVP and GM of Paramount Digital Entertainment. "As more and more movies are viewed on computers and other portable devices, having a relationship with Kingston will become increasingly important to Paramount for years to come."


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Johnny Yen had a music meme where you are supposed to talk about seven songs that you have been into lately. I thought this would not only be incredibly fun but also incredibly easy since I love to talk about music, obviously. However, I have found that it is rather difficult. I listen to so much music that it is very hard to choose seven songs that properly represent me at this point in time. No matter, I will give it a try.
1. Absolutely Cuckoo, Magnetic Fields
69 Love Songs Vol. 1 has been my best friend this week. Much of that is because of this, the first song. It is an adorable ditty about the dangers of falling for someone before they have the chance to see you go completely loony. One of my favorite lines is “I’m easy to get rid of but not if you fall in love” truer words have never been spoken. It also reminded me of my insane mix tape making days when I made one for my best friend Jenna called “the relationship” I chose songs that chronicled two people meeting, falling in love, breaking up and eventually getting back together (I think). My favorite inclusion on the mix was “One More Minute” by Weird Al. This song would have fit in well with that mix.
2. If I Ever Fall In Love, Shai
I have an unnatural obsession with this song. I don’t know why. Something about the insane harmonies and fantastic 90s feel really gets me going. At the same time I really don’t understand the story within the song. He said she was more than just a friend but is all set on falling in love with a friend if he ever falls in love again. Does he want only a friend and nothing more? I don’t get it. Or is is that she wasn't enough of a friend to begin with? Help.
3. Brick, Ben Folds Five
So I am completely aware that this song was overplayed and grew into some kind of Ben Folds Five monster that you couldn’t get away from. When I saw him in concert he played it but said that he hadn’t in ages because he grew so tired of it. That being said, I never tire of it. I don’t know why but I find it so tragically beautiful and there is something about the loneliness in the words that pull me in. “For the moment we’re alone. She’s alone, and I’m alone, and now I know it”
4. Let’s Get Out Of This Country, Camera Obscura
While this is not the best song on the album it does have the same title as the album and has just stuck to me like glue. Maybe because it has a nice escapist theme to it. I really need a nice long vacation away from anywhere familiar. One of the sad things about having friends all over is that when you take vacation it often ends up being so that you can see them. Not that seeing them is bad but sometimes you need to take vacation just for you. However, I would like to take Tony and get out of the country. “Let’s get out of this country, I’ll admit I’m bored of me”
5. Passing Afternoon, Iron & Wine
Even though I have only heard one album of this band (I need to download more stat) they have become one of my favorites. This album (Our Endless Numbered Days) reminds me of an updated version of something that would have been birthed if you married the Harold and Maude Soundtrack by Cat Stevens with Astral Weeks by Van Morrison. Every song on this album is pretty great but this song has the ability to wrap its arms around me, squeeze tight and rock me like a baby.
6. Way To Your Heart, Persephone’s Bees
I don’t know how to describe this song. It is just wonderful. It makes me tap my feet and bop my head and it is perfect walking home music. It’s nothing particularly groundbreaking. It just works perfectly and, since there are few words you can learn them very quickly and sing along. I can’t be mad when I can sing along to a peppy tune.
7. Regulators, Warren G and Nate Dogg
Ok, this is a bit embarrassing but in all honestly I have been rocking out to Regulators lately. Don’t laugh; you know you love it too. I don’t have anything great to say about this song because it isn’t great. I just know that it makes me think of hanging out on summer vacation with Shoshana and watching MTV and The Box all day long. Remember when MTV had legitimate videos on it? I don’t think even MTV2 still shows videos all day. Boo. “The next stop is the East Side Motel”
To redeem myself after admitting I have been really excited to listen to not only Shai but also Warren G and Nate Dogg I want to share a few awesome searches that have brought people to my page. “The Insult Sit By Me Train,” is a place that I would never want to go. However, someone seemed to want to ride it all night long. Someone else has some kind of fascination with Mandingos and was looking for “confessions of interracial affairs,” they will find none of that smut here. Another individual seemed to be making a statement but apparently “I went to a fundraiser black tie,” is a legitimate thing to google. My personal favorite, however, comes from some poor parent who has “black strings in my baby’s poop”. Maybe one of the parent blogs would be a better place for them to look. Who knows.
1. Let me tell ya’ll what it’s like/ Being male middle class and white/ It’s a bitch if you don’t believe/ Listen up to my new Cd/ Shamon. Deadspot said "The first song in your list at the bottom is that song by Ben Folds where he rips on musicians that he thinks he's cooler than. You know... that one with the title. " He is right, the title is Rockin The Suburbs.
2. She set your goldfish free/ And now she's sighing/ Blew out your pilot light/ And made a wish. This one happens to be Twisting By They Might Be Giants.
3. Last night it was so good/ I felt like crying/ I felt crying/ Last night though you looked so cold/ I felt like smiling/ smiling while I'm dying. Needles In My Eyes, The Beta Band. Identified by Jaclyn
4. I’m a little pea/ I love the sky and the trees/ I’m a teeny tiny little ant/ checking out this and that. Monica said "4 Is that song by Flea from One Hot Minute... I can't remember what it is called. He goes "I'm a pacifist and I will fuck your shit up"" she is right, it is called Pea.
5. Summertime/ and the livin’s easy/ Bradley’s on the microphone with Ras M.G/ All the people in the dance will agree that we’re/ well qualified to represent the LB C D me and Louie/ Run to the party dance to the rhythm it gets harder. Doin' Time, Sublime. Identified by Ern.


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The 7 Worst Things About Game Of Thrones
There is no denying the impact of Game of Thrones as a television show. It pushed the limits of what the small screen could achieve, helped fantasy fiction smash its way back into the mainstream, launched the careers of a great many actors, and became a near-instant pop-culture touchstone.
Despite all of this, and the undeniably quality of some of the show's seasons, Game of Thronesisn't without its flaws. Even its well-received seasons make mistakes or indulge in habits that can make the watching unpleasant for some, and the show has never been a stranger to criticism, including during its initial run.
7 The Female Nudity Is Constant And Unnecessary
One of the most notorious elements of Game of Thrones, and one that is frequently lampooned in pop culture, is its relentless female nudity. Nearly every episode involves at least partial frontal nudity, with many extras being in the show for the sole purpose of appearing nude.
There are some occasions where nudity is called for in fiction. However, in Game of Thrones, the showrunners openly admit that its purpose is to draw viewers in and spice up boring scenes with so-called 'sexposition' to keep viewers' attention. Particularly when taken with the sheer disparity between male and female nude scenes, it can come across as gratuitous and make uncomfortable viewing for some.
6 Many Sympathetic Characters Simply Become Unlikable
Part of the unique atmosphere of Game of Thrones comes from its tendency to kill off major or seemingly-important characters, leaving audiences tense that their favorites may be lost at any second. A worse fate, however, is that those favorites suddenly become unlikable, often with little build-up.
One of the most infamous moments in the show is Stannis Baratheon burning his daughter Shireen alive to try and appease his god, something that he explicitly refuses to even consider in the books. Fans were left disgusted by the sudden villainous act, but it's not the only case. Daenerys, after being one of the show's most iconic protagonists for seven seasons, suddenly snaps and begins a massacre in King's Landing, and Jaime undoes all of his character development to return to Cersei, with fans resenting both writing choices.
5 The Show Drops Or Rushes Storylines Frequently
Much of the early plotting in Game of Thrones is acclaimed, and it has long-running plotlines that hold up despite the fierce scrutiny the show's final seasons face. However, fans find some other plotlines much less satisfactory, with some being abandoned, forgotten about, or rushed to a conclusion.
The most notorious case is the seasons-long build-up to Jon Snow being a Targaryen, only for its sole plot impact to be Daenerys having another reason to turn evil. There are others, such as Tyrion abandoning his quest to learn who framed him, most of Daenerys' allies being lost in a single episode after seasons spent gathering them, and Daenerys leaving the notoriously ungovernable Meereen to a council of her followers and never hearing from it again.
4 Its Fight Scenes Are Very Inconsistent In Quality
Some fights in Game of Thrones are iconic and considered some of the finest action to appear on television – particularly the vast land battles between armies. The Battle of the Blackwater and the Battle of the Bastards are some of the most popular moments in the entire show and are considered near-miraculous in their scope and quality.
There are smaller fight scenes as well that fans love, such as Syrio Forel's takedown of several Lannister guardsmen, or the Mountain and the Red Viper battling for Tyrion's life. However, other scenes have faced severe criticism, including Jaime and Bronn facing off with the Sand Snakes in a poorly-choreographed scuffle, or the murky and indecipherable darkness of the Battle of Winterfell. The show isn't consistent in its quality, leaving viewers uncertain if they are to see an epic high or a crushing low.
3 Several Characters Become Less Impressive In Later Seasons
Even when characters don't undergo a sudden turn to villainy that makes them unsympathetic, many fan favorites become less popular as the series goes on due to a perceived decline in writing. In many cases, intelligent and proactive characters are viewed as becoming far less witty, engaging, or enjoyable to watch.
Tyrion and Varys both face accusations of this. Their early, philosophical exchanges laced with barbs and hidden respect are considered some of the most entertaining interactions in the show; their later banter consisting primarily of eunuch jokes less so. Similarly, Jon Snow is mocked for going from an active and engaging character to one who spends much of his time blindly following Daenerys' lead and repeating a handful of phrases to different characters.
2 The Show Has Handles Assault Scenes Poorly
Sexual assault is a difficult topic to write about sensitively, and it is the opinion of many that Game of Thrones fails in that regard. Set in a heavily-misogynistic medieval-style world, sexual assault is a frequent topic, with a great many of the show's female characters being subjected to it or threatened with it – to an extent many found unrealistic.
Although the show sometimes condemns it, there are scenes where the inclusion or mention of sexual assault is considered gratuitous or even sexualized. Notorious instances include changing Daenerys' wedding night to a brutal, traumatic experience, having Jaime assault Cersei next to their son's corpse and then continuing to redeem Jaime, and changing Sansa Stark's storyline so instead of becoming a political schemer in the Vale, she spends a season being sexually tormented by Ramsay Bolton.
1 Its Harsh Fall From Grace
Ever since Game of Thrones' final season in 2019, most discussion about the show has been about the perceived sharp drop in quality of the show's latter half. Its first four seasons are considered excellent TV, with brilliant characters, meticulous plotting, and an indescribable atmosphere that made it unlike anything else on television.
Its latter half is less applauded. Season 5 is continued a sharp step down, and although season 6 is widely-liked, the show's final two seasons are now infamous. Fans accuse them of feeling rushed, lazy, and suffering from worse writing in nearly every way. In particular, the finale is notorious, with some considering it to tarnish the show's legacy as a whole.


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DALLAS - A suspected drunken driver was arrested after driving into a construction zone and injuring two workers overnight.
Dallas sheriff’s deputies said it happened just before midnight in the southbound lanes of Stemmons Freeway, just north of Inwood Road.
Large trucks with flashing arrows were positioned behind the workers in the two closed lanes. The driver clipped the back of one of the trucks and hit two men.
The workers were taken to a Dallas hospital in serious condition.
The driver is now facing charges for intoxication assault.


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Marilynx's SUNSETS Posts
Feb. 06, 2014
Last night's sunset was disappointing, so I left the bird hide - thankfully I looked back and returned.
Feb. 09, 2014
Somehow I was unable to capture the rare beauty of this sunset - my photos don't do the realty justice.
Feb. 15, 2014
I have been going to the same pond - however I have to admit in January I was there around 17:15hr, now it's around 17:45hr! Spring must be around the corner.
March 20, 2014
These photos were taken at Crans - sur - Celigny where I used to live 1987-91. We had a ski boat here - and enjoyed our time on the lake to our utmost! Water…
March 26, 2014
A pastel evening - the time is getting later nearer 19:00hr. now. And the sun sets a little further around the horizon.


YITH Easy Login & Register Popup For WooCommerce
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- Utilizing an integrated editor, you may personalise the wording of each step that is displayed in the modal window.
- You have the option of logging in using your username and email address, or you can only use your email address.
- Should social logins be enabled or not?
- You can change the appearance of the social login buttons.
- Put up a default avatar that will be used for new users.
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- Pick whether you want to use the default WooCommerce recovery password option or if you want to enable the password recovery with a code (Amazon style)
- Utilizing CSS selectors, you should enable the login/register popup to appear outside of the checkout process.
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- Ability to ignore the prompt and proceed with the checkout as a guest
- Immediately from the modal box, you can rapidly create a new account and choose a password for it.
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TOMS RIVER-During last week’s Toms River Township council meeting, Mayor Kelaher administered new oaths of office to members of the Auxiliary Police at their annual swearing in ceremony. The Toms River Auxiliary Police is comprised of volunteer citizens, both men and women, who donate their time to help the community. They perform varies duties including traffic/crowd control at civic events, uniformed patrols, first aid, CPR, calls for service, community events and details.
Attributions in this article: Map data ©2019 Google, Photo © BigStock Photos. Hand out photos courtesy of reporting agency. Press releases are the intellectual property of the issuing agency or corporation. Please report any photo, copyright or intellectual property violations to email@example.com.


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Predictive Spelling With a p300-Based Brain-Computer Interface: Increasing the Rate of Communication
This study compared a conventional P300 speller brain-computer interface (BCI) to one used in conjunction with a predictive spelling program. Performance differences in accuracy, bit rate, selections per minute, and output characters per minute (OCM) were examined. An 8 × 9 matrix of letters, numbers, and other keyboard commands was used. Participants (N = 24) were required to correctly complete the same 58 character sentence (i.e., correcting for errors) using the predictive speller (PS) and the nonpredictive speller (NS), counterbalanced. The PS produced significantly higher OCMs than the NS. Time to complete the task in the PS condition was 12 min 43 s as compared to 20 min 20 sec in the NS condition. Despite the marked improvement in overall output, accuracy was significantly higher in the NS paradigm. P300 amplitudes were significantly larger in the NS than in the PS paradigm, which is attributed to increased workload and task demands. These results demonstrate the potential efficacy of predictive spelling in the context of BCI.
Ryan, D. B.; Frye, G. E.; Townsend, G.; Berry, D. R.; Mesa-G, S.; Gates, N. A.; and Sellers, E. W.. 2011. Predictive Spelling With a p300-Based Brain-Computer Interface: Increasing the Rate of Communication. International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction. Vol.27(1). 69-84. https://doi.org/10.1080/10447318.2011.535754 ISSN: 1044-7318


Various trends are leading to an increase of electricity theft worldwide. The rate of theft does not seem to be very large, though the cumulative effect on utilities is significant. Electricity meter standards bodies like the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) have developed requirements to prevent meter tampering and minimize electricity theft. But the standards are not always effective, and sophisticated users can circumvent the safeguards.
- Tamper-Proofing The Smart Grid
- You Can't Have The Smart Grid Without Smart Meters
- Security In Smart Meters
A convergence of precision converters and chip-scale transformers is driving better electricity meter design and stronger protection from a common form of theft: tampering with a smart meter by using an external magnet so the meter undercounts or stops working altogether. When these technologies are leveraged, semiconductor vendors can offer ICs for energy measurement applications that combine precision analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), digital isolation for data channels, and isolation for dc-dc power conversion.
The resulting energy measurement ICs are inexpensive and can be offered in a single low-profile package that ultimately enables a new class of smart meters that are completely immune to magnetic tampering. Electric utilities that begin deploying smart meters with these underlying technologies will see a decreased rate of electricity theft and an increase in their long-term revenue.
Download this article in .PDF format
This file type includes high resolution graphics and schematics when applicable.
Most shoplifters are amateurs, but some sophisticated individuals and groups make their living from shoplifting. Shoplifting penalties are typically less severe than penalties for other types of theft, and apprehension and prosecution often are difficult. Some retailers in the U.S. report that shoplifting has a significant effect on their bottom line and that about 1% of all inventory disappears to thieves. This may seem like a low percentage, but experts have estimated that shoplifters cost all U.S. businesses over $25 million a day.
In many respects, electricity theft is a lot like shoplifting. Some thieves are individual consumers who learn how to steal from their utility through the Internet, while others are complex enterprises involved in illegal drug cultivation. The costs to utilities associated with pursuing suspected energy crimes are often far higher than the revenues recovered. Also, laws and regulations only establish a limited obligation on utilities to combat electricity theft.
In the U.S., the industry consensus is that electricity theft costs utilities between 0.5% and 3.5% of annual gross revenues. Again, this level of theft rate seems low, though in one year it can amount to over 1 TWh of generated electricity or over $100 million in lost revenues. In other countries with weaker governance factors, the rate of electricity theft is estimated to be as high as 20%.
There are two important differences between shoplifters and electricity thieves. First, the commercial establishment is a single local utility company instead of a group of different retailers. Second, the pool of potential criminals is much larger and more distributed than consumers who shop at local retailers. In other words, the potential for economic harm is concentrated at the utility, and the beneficiaries are widely dispersed and challenging to catch.
Several recent trends have contributed to the emergence of electricity theft as a serious worldwide problem. Many utilities started off as state-owned monopolies where efficiency and profits were not the highest priorities. During the last several decades, many governments have privatized energy infrastructure and improved energy policy so utilities must operate efficiently and optimize profits. As a result, utilities have a greater incentive to address electricity theft and protect their revenue.
Also, electricity prices have been rising primarily because of cost increases for raw materials such as oil and coal used during electricity generation (Fig. 1). During the last two decades in the U.S., average electricity prices have increased by about 2% annually from $0.078 per kilowatt hour in 1990 to $0.114 per kilowatt hour in 2010. Poor macro-economic conditions have compounded the situation because during times of economic hardship, some consumers and business are more inclined to steal electricity.
Technical Standards For Smart Meters
Utility companies all around the world have known about electricity theft for years and have established a variety of technical requirements for electricity meters that are intended to prevent meter tampering and minimize theft. The International Technical Commission, which is the official body that creates international electricity meter standards, developed a specification for static electricity meters that covers accuracy classes of 0.2 and 0.5.
Document IEC62053-22 has an entire section that describes “influence quantities” that can impair meter accuracy. It includes effects that may occur during tampering such as reversing the sequence of the phase voltages, applying an external ac or dc magnetic field, or applying electromagnetic RF interference.
More specifically, IEC62053-22 states that for a class 0.2 meter, an external ac magnetic field with a strength of 0.5 mT can cause an error no larger than 0.5% from the true measured value. It also defines what the test requirements are and describes all of the reference conditions needed to confirm the meter is complying with the specification.
The American National Standards Institute has developed a similar specification that defines electricity meter tampering events and establishes how meters must maintain correct operation and accuracy. Document ANSI C12-20-2002 includes a section that addresses conditions that can coincide with meter tampering such as applying an external magnetic field or subjecting a meter to external electromagnetic interference (EMI) or radio frequency interference (RFI). The allowable error limit for the ANSI specification is ±1.0% deviation from the true measured value.
In addition to these baseline standards, many countries add specific requirements that address the energy theft problem. In India, a regional specification defines 25 unique tampering schemes that a meter must detect. A regulation in Germany establishes a very challenging dc magnetic immunity limit: an electricity meter must maintain its accuracy even when a 1.2T magnet is applied on all of the meter’s housing surfaces. Many other countries have additional requirements intended to supplement IEC or ANSI meter standards. In summary, industry stakeholders are well aware of the problem and are investing significant effort developing technical standards to minimize electricity theft.
The Convergence Of Innovative Technologies
Before describing new technologies, its important to understand the fundamental building blocks of a smart electricity meter (Fig. 2).
Input sensors transduce a large input signal level to something small that will be compatible with the rest of the system. An ADC creates a bitstream for further processing. Isolation is required in many specific meter standards and regions. A system microcontroller computes all of the energy measurement quantities, such as watt, Irms, Vrms, and VAR. Finally, a communications processor ensures that energy measurements and control instructions can be exchanged between the back office of a utility and the point of consumption.
Two common approaches for polyphase meter design differ depending upon how isolation is implemented in the system. One design approach uses current transformers (CTs) for the input sensors because they provide galvanic isolation and are good for measuring a wide range of input currents (Fig. 3).
A second design approach uses optocoupler technology, which can be small and inexpensive (Fig. 4).
Chip-scale transformer technology now makes it possible to isolate not only data channels but also the power domain so the system can be completely separate. With its very small size and very high manufacturing reliability, it can be combined with other smart meter blocks all within the same IC package. The result is a new polyphase smart meter architecture (Fig. 5).
When semiconductor suppliers leverage chip-scale transformer technology and advanced converter technology within the same IC package, smart meter systems achieve a new level of integration, performance, and reduced overall cost. It is relatively easy to tamper with a CT by placing an external permanent magnet close by, ultimately causing the smart meter to undercount or stop working altogether.
Chip-scale transformer technology eliminates this common method of electricity theft, so utilities no longer suffer from lost revenue. With the new level of integration available today, it is no longer necessary to use external current transformers as the sensor type for smart meters. Not only are CTs prone to tampering, they are also large, heavy, and expensive, particularly if they are dc-tolerant.
How do smart meters with isolated ADCs compare with ones that use external optocoupler technology? The biggest benefit is that with isolated ADCs, the system becomes much more reliable because there are fewer components. Note that the optocoupler design requires at least six extra components: three power supply units for each of the three phase currents (PSU2-PSU4), and three discrete optocoupler ICs that provide galvanic isolation for each of the three phase currents (OC1-OC3).
Eliminating the extra components within a smart meter makes it easier to manufacture and improves long-term reliability. This is important since smart meters must operate properly in the field and maintain their accuracy in harsh environments for years. When smart meters incorporate isolated ADCs, component count goes down while long-term reliability goes up, utlimately translating into lower operating expenditures for the utility.
Electricity theft is an increasingly vexing problem for utilities. However, a convergence of innovative technologies is driving better electricity meter design and stronger protection from theft using an external magnet. Precision converters and chip-scale transformers can be combined within the same IC package to enable a new class of smart meters. These smart meters of the future are completely immune to magnetic tampering. Electric utilities that begin deploying smart meters with isolated ADC technology will see a decreased rate of electricity theft and an increase in their long-term revenue.
John Pitrus, product marketing manager for energy measurement products at Analog Devices, is responsible for addressing growing technology needs in the Smart Grid and related areas. He works closely with customers to address requirements for electricity metering and emerging energy measurement applications. He received a BS in computer and systems engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1985 and an MBA with a concentration in marketing from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business in 1991.


From today morning I am getting a sever issue in my Dynatrace managed Deployment, the users with specific management zone access are not able to see the pages getting the error "You shall not pass! It appears that you don't have permission to visit the page" yesterday everything was working fine.
Note: Users with CMC and Environment level access are able to navigate across the environment without any error
The last update received is Dynatrace update 18.104.22.16890109-001200 was successfully downloaded. at Jan 9, 2019 05:27:21
List of downloaded updates: 22.214.171.12490109-001200: NGINX_OFFSET
Solved! Go to Solution.


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Please Note: This event has expired.
More Than One Complication
8 parts dancer
4 parts choreographer
6 parts percussionist
Shake and add lights
Katy Dunn Hamrick Dance Company premieres “More Than One Complication,” June 11-13 at AustinVentures Studio Theater, 501 W. 3rd Street. The new evening-length work features choreography by Kathy Dunn Hamrick and guests Charles O. Anderson, Lisa Nicks and Kate Warren as well as live music by Line upon Line Percussion. For tickets and information, visit www.kdhdance.com.
June 11-13, 2015 Thursday – Saturday atView more
501 W 3rd Street, Austin, TX 78701