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The idea started late in the summer of 2019: I needed a spot to transplant both a tallish Sedum spectabile variety (now called Hylotelephium… argh!!!) and some Hens and Chicks. They had both spent the summer in a pot but the garden beds were full or reserved for vegetables and cutting flowers; I obviously needed to create a small new garden area – Hooray! A new micro garden to demonstrate my design flair! A new spot to try out some new-to-me spring bulbs. Off I went!
I created the new garden by expanding an existing border near the side of the house, in front of a small patio. After digging out the sod and edging it with small granite boulders, there was enough room for the succulents, some orange Echinacea seedlings plus the bulbs.
Here it is in September, 2019. The purple-leaf variety of Sedum in both back corners, a red-leaved Sempervivum variety in the front right corner, the Echinacea seedlings along the back and the big middle part just mulched over, waiting for bulb planting. Those small piles of stones is typical for my soil: heavy clay with lots of limestone.
But then I made my big mistake. Too many different bulbs, too small a space. I never thought it possible but the proof was there to see throughout last spring. The bulbs I planted were Exotic Emperor and Red Emperor tulips along the back (large, blowsy, interesting blooms), plus a bunch of small species Tulipa turkestanica in the right corner. In the middle I crammed a bunch of purple Hyacinth ‘Woodstock’ and, down front, a small species daffodil, Narcissus Hawera. I envisaged the white/yellow species tulips opening first, followed by yellow daffs, purple Hyacinths, then red and white tulips.
The image in my mind worked, but, in reality, the tulip foliage covered the Hyacinth, which seemed, when they bloomed, to be an after-thought, and totally out of place. The daffodils were so small, both foliage and flower, and bloomed so much later than I had anticipated, that they seemed lost in front of the much larger Hyacinth and tulips. Here’s how this micro-garden turned out:
Probably the most exciting and satisfying aspect of this micro-garden was the unexpected and copious amount of pollen produced by Tulipa turkestanica. These little beauties opened wide when it was sunny and closed tight at night – a handy protection since they bloomed in April and May, when overnight temperatures were regularly below freezing. Every day they were covered in honeybees and other pollinators – providing a welcome source of early spring food. And, especially at the end of April before the large tulips made an appearance, the new garden looked quite pretty.


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The European Commission has banned thousands of employees from using the TikTok app on their personal and work devices, an order whose full compliance is expected by March 15.
The commission stated the move as a means to protect data and increase cybersecurity.
“This measure aims to protect the commission against cybersecurity threats and actions which may be exploited for cyberattacks against the corporate environment of the commission,” the governing body stated.
However, the ByteDance social media platform responded by terming the act as misguided and based on fundamental misconceptions.
“We have contacted the commission to set the record straight and explain how we protect the data of the 125 million people across the EU who come to TikTok every month,” the firm noted.
ByteDance stated it has put in place measures like reducing employee access to data and launching three data centers in Europe where subscribers’ information would be stored locally and not exported to foreign jurisdictions like China.

domain: news


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Three Nepalese Christians have been arrested and sent to jail for preaching Christianity in India’s Uttar Pradesh state. According to reports, the Christians were preaching near the Town Hall section of Shahjahanpur city when they were accused of making disparaging remakes against Hindu gods. Local witnesses have reported not hearing any disparaging remarks and police have admitted they have no evidence against the three Christians. False criminal accusations against Christians preaching the Gospel is common. Hindu radicals across India often use this tactic to harass and intimidate Christians leaders seeking to spread Christianity.
01/12/2018 India (Times of India) – Three Nepalese Christian citizens have been arrested and sent to jail for allegedly spreading Christianity among the local residents. Officials said that the trio was booked under IPC Section 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) on Wednesday and was sent to the district jail after being produced in a court on Thursday.
The accused, who have been identified as Indra Bahadur Tamad, Shukra Rai and Mekh Bahadur, are said to have arrived in Shahjahanpur city on Sunday and were reportedly distributing books related to Christianity. They had rented a house in Town Hall area and had plans to stay here for some time.
On Wednesday, while addressing a crowd in Tareen Bahadurganj area, they got into an argument with Ravi Prakash Dikshit and Vimal Pandey, based on whose complaint the FIR was registered. The complainants alleged that the trio had used objectionable language to describe Hindu gods.
“The three of them are innocent and were only sharing the teachings of the Bible. A group of Christians come here every year and do the same, but such an incident has never happened before. They never uttered a single word against any god or goddess,” said a Town Hall resident, who lives near their rented house but did not wish to be named.
Inspector DC Sharma, SHO of Sadar Bazar police station, where the FIR was filed, said, “We have booked the three Nepalese residents. They are said to be connected with the World Council of Churches and promote Christianity.”
For interviews with William Stark, ICC’s Regional Manager, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: email@example.com.


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March 7, 2015
Friv Turn Based Tank Wars is an online game, the game is about Other friv, with publication date on March 7, 2015 This is a turn based game where you can play with either AI or second player and destroy your opponent’s tank to win this game. Use your mouse to play this game.
Online Game instruction
Use your mouse to play this game.
Previous game Angry Soldier
Next game Gravity Thruster
Rachel is so excited and looking pretty at her sister's wedding, she is the little flower girl for her sister. Give her the prettiest dress from the collections she's got to choose from for this wedding and give a little makeover so that she looks gorgeous. Use your mouse to play this game.
Welcome to mermaid ocean. Our mermaid Ruslana is waiting for a sweet kiss.Many people wanted to get her to kiss. All are defeated. Maybe you can reach her.But, you're not alone in the dangerous ocean. Sharks, octopuses, monster fish waiting for you.You can't reach to destination without oxygen. D...
Drive your ferrari and win 5 tracks. An awesome 3D racer where the best driver wins on 5 fantastic tracks. Use your keyboard to play this game.
Mario is back in this new motorbike game Use your keyboard to play this game.
Spongebob is working as a school bus driver, and, as such, he must take the school children to their home safely. Can Spongebob complete his task? Use your keyboard to play this game.
Hi, my name is Julia. I started my new college and a welcome party will be held tonight. I have to make myself beautiful since I also have a date with my boyfriend. We will meet at Rome Classic Cafe. My Bag is still not ready. I must choose the right things. Please help me. Use your mouse to play...
An escape the room type of puzzle game where you have to find objects and use them in order to find a way to escape the locked room. Walkthrough: http://bit.ly/1GdQvBi
Are you worthy of the title of “the stylist of the year”? Prove it! Get this lovely young lady beautified, then fashionized, as well, for that glamorous New Year's Eve party that she'll attend, keeping in mind to work your skills as an interior designer for coming up with a stylish decor look for...

domain: game


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A small car... that is very hard to control! Find your way to the goal without falling off of the edge in this very frustrating driving game!
Drive fast, avoid obstacles, dodge the cops and grab the money in Escape Fast!
Get ready for some high speed action. Win the slotcar races and buy power ups!
Drive a mini car over the race tracks and shoot missiles at your competitors to make sure you win!


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Saturday, August 20, 2016
Economics 101 -- "How the Economic Machine Works."
Created by Billionaire hedge fund manager Ray Dalio this simple but not simplistic and easy to follow 30 minute, animated video answers the question, "How does the economy really work?" Based on Dalio's practical template for understanding the economy, which he developed over the course of his career, the video breaks down economic concepts like credit, deficits and interest rates, allowing viewers to learn the basic driving forces behind the economy, how economic policies work and why economic cycles occur.
To learn more about Economic Principles visit: http://www.economicprinciples.org.
Thursday, August 18, 2016
"There are few sure things in investing … that betas (stocks, bonds, real estate) rise over time relative to cash is one of them." -- Billionaire hedge fund manager Ray Dalio
For perspective, here's a look at the past 28–years of stock market returns (S&P 500). For all of the bearish rhetoric on stocks that we hear from day to day, as you can see, if you're positioning for a down stock market for the year, you're making a low probability bet.
Since 1928, 73% of the time stocks finished the year in the green. On a rolling ten–year basis the average return for the S&P 500 has been 197%, with only five losing rolling ten–year periods out of 79.
Sunday, August 14, 2016
Monday, August 8, 2016
Sunday, August 7, 2016
Saturday, August 6, 2016
Friday, August 5, 2016
|A dart-throwing monkey is a better investor than Donald Trump.|
Is Warren Buffett correct in stating that a monkey is a better investor than Trump? Buffett puts money on monkey to outperform Trump as an investor “A monkey throwing darts to pick stocks would have made a 150% profit during the decade-long run when Donald Trump’s namesake company, Trump Entertainment Resorts, lost 90 cents on the dollar, the billionaire Warren Buffett stated”
Buffett: “That was the only time Donald Trump went to the American people and said, ‘I’m a winner, invest in my company.’ … Over the next 10 years, the company loses money every year, every single year. He takes $44 million in compensation. If a monkey had thrown a dart at the stock page it would have made 150%. People who believe in [Trump] came away losing well over 90 cents on the dollar. They got back less than a dime.”
Considering that Trump’s public company was formed in 1995, when the stock market was still on a tear, this seems to be a fair assessment. Even with the “dot com crash,” a random selection of stocks would have been a better investment.
Buffett is perhaps too charitable. From 1995 to year’s end 2004, the S&P 500 did gain a 157% return. But if our brave monkey turned on dividend reinvestments and sported a return close to the S&P 500, then there would have been a 203% return (calculator).
(Here’s another source on Trump’s company: As its stock collapsed, Trump’s firm gave him huge bonuses and paid for his jet.)
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
Rick Ross’s Chain of His Face ($1,500,000)Former correctional officer, self-proclaimed "BiggestBoss" and "Hood Billionaire", rapper and founder of Maybach Music Group has supposedly the most expensive bling of the entire hip hop community.
Or maybe it's a FAKE just like his druglord gimmick!
As you may know a lot of the over-the-top jewelry that you see in hip hop videos are FAKE!!!
It is not everybody that have thousands of dollars to throw on expensive jewelry.
So most less fortunate rappers opt for the "fake it til you make it" option. Just in case they ever make it.

domain: finance


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Japan Faces Slow Paced Economic Recovery
Published By : 02 Mar 2015 | Published By : QYRESEARCH
As per latest government data reports, Japan’s economy depicted soft consumption patterns that followed a hike in factory production. This in a way highlighted the fact that economic recovery taking place in Japan is quite uneven and it even proved to be a major bottleneck for the Bank of Japan. However, the bank anticipates that its asset purchasing aggressiveness will ensure that inflation gets driven up and even enable households to take up greater spending.
If the impact of the earlier year’s tax hike is not taken into account, the core CPI (Consumer Price Index) which did not include the fluctuating oil costs and food prices would rise by a mere 0.2% during the month of January as against the same month the year previous to that, which was quite below expectations and which slowed from 0.5% in the month of December. Furthermore, in the month of January, several households in Japan had reduced spending greater than expectations and the retail sales declined in 7 months for the very first time.
Household spending came down by 5.1% which exceeded business expectations; this was in comparison to the same situation that took place during the same time the year earlier. This happened at a time when spending has been declining for the tenth following month, and this was by far the longest declining trend right from the time of the 2009 global financial slowdown. The retail sales came down way below expectations – 2%!!
As per an income strategist, if by chance consumer spending does not increase by the month of April; industrial production will not be able to catch up as desired. The dull consumer mood has been keeping a hold on spending since wages still have to rise so that it makes up with the increase in sales tax.


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Clemente Original Lemon Sugar Taralli, 10 oz
Original price $4.95 - Original price $56.95
$4.95 - $56.95
Current price $56.95
Clemente Original Lemon Sugar Taralli
- Net Weight: 10 oz | 282g
- Product of USA
INGREDIENTS: Unbleached and unbromated wheat flour, fresh eggs, water, sugar, soybean oil, baking powder. FROSTING: Sugar, fresh egg whites, and natural lemon extract. CONTAINS WHEAT, EGGS, AND SOY Made in a facility that uses tree nuts.

domain: food


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On May 28, 1942, in the midst of the Second World War, Chicago Public Schools adopted a new social studies curriculum entitled Supplementary Units for the Course of Study in Social Studies. Beneath the plain language of its title lay a truly remarkable accomplishment. The adoption of the Supplementary Units marked the first time in the city's history that the contributions of African American citizens were recognized in the curriculum of its schools. Over a decade before the Brown v. Board decision initiated the modern educational movements for integration, representation, and multiculturalism, the Supplementary Units were taught in 353 Chicago schools serving both black and white student populations. The story of the development, adoption, and implementation of the Supplementary Units is one of race, politics, war, history, and education. At its center are the efforts of Madeline Morgan, a teacher and activist whose passionate fight for the inclusion of African Americans in the nation's telling of its history resulted in a curriculum that was nationally and internationally recognized. The Blackboard and the Color Line: Madeline Morgan and Black History in Chicago’s Public Schools, 1942-1945 examines the contexts that led Morgan to create the Supplementary Units; her place in African American curriculum history; and her lasting legacy for present-day educators who continue to speak for those who have traditionally been marginalized or erased from the historical record.
Dr. Michael Hines is currently a Minority Postdoctoral Fellow in History and Education at Teachers College Columbia University. He earned his B.A. in History from Washington University in St. Louis, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Cultural and Educational Policy Studies from Loyola University Chicago. Prior to pursuing graduate studies he worked as an English/Language Arts and World History teacher in Washington D.C. and Prince George's County Maryland. Dr. Hines' research interests include history of education, curriculum studies, social studies and civics education, and the history of childhood. Currently his research focuses on how African Americans in the early twentieth created new curricular discourses around race and historical representation. His work has been published in History of Education Quarterly and The Journal of the History Childhood and Youth. His first book The Blackboard and the Color Line is forthcoming through Beacon Press.

domain: history


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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) – A federal judge has granted class-action status to a lawsuit filed by Alabama inmates who claim the state is failing to provide constitutionally adequate mental health treatment.
U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson handed down the decision Friday. The ruling clears the way for the case to go to trial next month on behalf of all inmates with mental illness.
Southern Poverty Law Center attorney Maria Morris praised the decision as a victory for inmates “languishing within Alabama’s prisons without the mental health care they need.”
A spokesman for the prison system said the department is reviewing the decision.
Dozens of inmates filed the lawsuit against the prison system in 2014, claiming the state was failing to provide basic medical and mental health care. The state has disputed those accusations.

domain: law


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Oh my gourd: Are pumpkins the latest product to fall victim to global supply chain shortages?
There's no need to panic, but your local pumpkin patch might be a bit less plentiful this year.
We've become accustomed to all sorts of product shortages throughout the pandemic and shipping delays are the latest concern du jour as we approach the holiday season. But the pandemic isn't necessarily to blame for potential pumpkin shortages.
According to Modern Farmer, a combination of "unfavorable weather conditions, shipping issues and a sprouting fungus" have hit some of the country's pumpkin farmers this year. The publication notes that California is one of the states that has been hit particularly hard, with farmers reporting "fewer varieties and smaller yields due to an ongoing drought." Some retailers in the state have sourced pumpkins from Oregon, which experienced a pretty fruitful growing season this year.
Other states like Kansas have also been hit by a challenging pumpkin season due to rainy and hot weather and retailers in the state's northeast region have turned to their neighbors in Nebraska to help beef up supplies.
Farmers in Illinois, one of the country's largest pumpkin suppliers, have also had to fend off a fungus called Phytophthora capsici that's been threatening their pumpkin patches. In a domino effect, the smaller yield this year might have an impact on the supply of canned pumpkin products.
Penny Bliler, co-owner of the Indian Knoll Pumpkin Patch, told Central Illinois' WAND-TV that the fungus has hit their crops pretty hard this year.
"I'd say we lost 25 to 30% of our crop," she said. "The fungus problem started easily in July and it was hard to get in to spray as much as we like to spray because it was still raining and then the heat on top of all the rain really hurt the crop."
Luckily, the patch planted extra pumpkins since they were anticipating the fungus this year, so there are still plenty of pumpkins to sell.
Of course, a nationwide worker shortage has also impacted the pumpkin industry and Modern Farmer reported that shipping company Pumpkin Patch Fundraisers Inc.'s trucker shortage has caused them to be "consistently behind by 40 to 50 loads."
The laws of supply and demand usually result in a higher product price, so it makes sense that pumpkins might cost a bit more than usual this year. USDA data from the second week of September shows that jack-o’-lantern pumpkins were 7% higher than they were last year.
Still, NBC News suggests that the reports of pumpkin shortages and price hikes are being overstated.
"There's not going to be a grand pumpkin shortage, but what we are facing is an OK year," Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director Raghela Scavuzzo told NBC News. "We don't have an overabundance, but we do have enough pumpkins to get you by. You don't need to panic buy."


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Those who perform a constant physical activity are less likely to become ill and more likely to enjoy a longer life. When a person exercises, that person looks and feels good. There are definitely many benefits that accompany it!
The Top Benefits of Exercises
Aerobic activity or exercises that need more oxygen such as walking, jogging, swimming, dancing, skiing, pedaling, favor the cardiovascular system, lowering blood pressure and improving circulation, which reduces the risk of heart attacks and accidents Cerebrovascular diseases. Exercise helps in the prevention of colon cancer since it accelerates the passage of waste through the intestines. Also, by regulating hormone levels, exercise can help prevent breast and prostate cancer.
In addition, exercise contributes to better mental health, reduces stress, anxiety and even phobias and panic attacks. It is very functional as a support in the treatment of depression, as effective as medicines, but without side effects. The impact on the bones is very positive when one exercise. In children it can increase bone density, in adolescents, it strengthens them and in adult life delays degeneration. It even can prevent osteoporosis no matter the age.
With exercise, the immune system accelerates temporarily, increases its capacity and defenses for the body. Regular physical activity helps maintain a healthy blood sugar level, which not only helps to control weight but also helps to avoid the risk of type 2 diabetes. Regular and routine exercise is a vital component of maintaining health. Especially when you get older, your adherence or lack of exercise regimen will be a determining factor of how your body will be maintained over the decades. Although exercise brings benefits to the cardiovascular system. (The main benefit of regular exercise can be seen in the muscular system.)
Exercise Results in Muscle Increase
Although complicated on a biochemical level, the process by which your body develops muscles is not complex. Performing exercise causes small traumas in your muscles, which are small injuries that need to be cured. If the intensity of the exercise is enough to convince the body that additional muscle is necessary for survival, the body will overcompensate this situation by repairing the old muscle tissue and adding new.
One of the main benefits of exercise is the ability to increase muscle. Operating under the use it or lose it a maxim, the lack of use in muscles can result in those muscles becoming atrophied, as well as the underlying nerves that activate them. You may notice that the more you train with the weights, the more you can feel the muscle working. This is an example of the increased connection between mind and muscle, which is possible through regular training.
Increase Levels of Strength
One of the benefits known to all is the concept of training as a means to increase levels of strength. The more you use a muscle, the more potential it will be able to perform. The size of the muscle is not linearly coordinated with its force. You may have seen people not very big lifting large weights in the gym. These people are more efficient at generating maximum strength with the muscle tissue they possess.
Another effect of exercise on the muscular system is the increase in its size. As you progress in the gym raising more weight, the body will continue to adapt, adding more size to meet the demand imposed. The primary goal of your body is survival, and by training with heavier and heavier weights, you are telling them to grow if you expect to survive when it comes to exercise.
Becoming Better at Exercising
In addition to increasing efficiency in recruiting muscle fibers, with consistent training your body will increase its resistance. This is because muscles become more capable of getting rid of accumulated waste even during exercise itself. So while you are in your first week of training, you may only be able to perform 5 sets of repetitions before the burn is too intense to continue, and the next week you can double that amount. It is definitely true the phrase that states that practice makes perfect. The more you conduct exercises, the better you will become at it, and thus, you will be able to go for more challenging routines.

domain: biology


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I spent a very enjoyable afternoon quilting today and got a lot accomplished. But the fun isn't over yet. Papa Pea is wanting to watch a "guy" movie tonight that I have no interest in so I'll get in some more quilting time. Now there's a win-win situation, if you ask me!
If you care to see what I did on the quilting scene today, pop on over to my quilting blog.
Have a great weekend, Everyone!
Surprises and watched pots
1 hour ago
Win-win, indeed! Your quilts are so, so beautiful, Mama Pea. You have a lovely eye for colour and design.
I'm looking forward to an evening of knitting as my hubbie tools around in the garage. While I love our together time, it's nice when he goes off to his 'man cave' so I can knit!
Thanks so much, Fiona. You're very kind.
I think all couples are better together if they have time apart to do what feels really good to them as individuals. We all need alone time now and then.
Yay, you had some quilting time! And have even more later. That is wonderful! Off to see what you did.
I will do just that,pop over I mean,my daughter took the picture but ,did she download it? Happy quilting. And answer to previous blog-I WING IT!
So glad you are getting some time alone in your girl cave. I am off to check out your quilt blog. So sorry about spilling all those beans by the way. Hopefully none of your PIF people read my comment. Sorry about that!
Wendy - Don't tell anyone . . . but I'm getting in more quilting time again today! Wa-HOO!
judy - No pic yet, but don't stress yourself about it. (Keep winging it!)
Karen L. - Don't be silly . . . I was just yanking your chain regarding "spilling the beans." Well, okay, you DID spill the beans ;o), but it's not a big deal at all. (You're probably right about none of them seeing our back and forth!) When I started messing around with the hot pads, I was hoping they would turn out and fill the bill. I think they're gonna be fine and dandy for that particular purpose.
Nice. My husband had a friend over to play guitar and there is no where in our house to go except the bedroom where I'd have to lay down because there isn't room for chairs in there. So I took off to my parents place to read and it was heaven. No idea why I'm telling you this but sometimes life gives you what you need.
MP, so glad you are able to spend time quilting. I agree, couples are happier when they are able to spend alone time doing what they want. I worked in the garden today, and am thinking about knitting tonight in front of the tv when hubby is watching whatever he is going to watch. Not really alone, but I'll be doing what I want. Oh, and that would be on the night that youngest child is doing dishes. What could be better??? Now I just need to decide what's for dinner.
Sparkless - I think you should take off to your parents' place to read more often! ;o)
Lori - Whenever we can sit and do some handwork, it's a good thing!
Post a Comment

domain: hobby


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Evangelion Precious Nagisa Kaworu G.E.M. PVC Figure
From Evangelion, the G.E.M. series welcomes a figure of Kaworu Nagisa! Kaworu is sculpted descending with jet-black angel wings spread wide. There are even ripples sculpted into the lake surface so you can almost feel the beat of his wings! Use the alternate parts to display Kaworu in the standard pilot suit as well! This finished figure truly fits the Precious G.E.M. Series!
Metal Build - Neon Genesis Evangelion - EVA-01 Test Type The designer of Evangelion, Ikuto Yamashita, has joined forces with Bandai to create this Metal Build edition of the famed...
139 Evangelion Evangelion Type-08

domain: artistic


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64 countries have religious symbols on their national flags
Of the 64 countries in this category, about half have Christian symbols (48%) and about a third include Islamic religious symbols (33%).
At APEC: Americans, Japanese are most skeptical that trade leads to more jobs
The Japanese (69%) and Americans (68%) are among the least convinced in APEC countries that trade is good for their nation. They are also far less convinced – Americans 20%, Japanese 15% – that international commerce generates jobs.
Brazil continues South America’s incumbent streak
In recent decades, no incumbents from the 10 Latin American countries in South America have lost bids for re-election.
Tunisia Confidence in Democracy Wanes
Tunisian support for democracy has declined steeply since the early days of the Arab Spring. Just 48% of Tunisians now say democracy is preferable to other kinds of government, down from 63% in 2012.
Mood in Pakistan Less Gloomy
Most Pakistanis remain unhappy with the country’s direction, but the public mood is more positive than it has been in recent years. The share saying the economy is in good shape has doubled since last year, and nearly two-thirds view Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif favorably.
Mexicans Souring on President Peña Nieto
Mexican President Peña Nieto’s positive image is faltering amid decidedly unpopular economic reforms. Six-in-ten Mexicans are dissatisfied with their country’s economy and most remain unhappy with the direction of their country.
27 countries limit a woman’s ability to pass citizenship to her child or spouse
To most Americans, citizenship, like DNA, seems like something a parent passes to a child without thought or effort. And indeed, for fathers around the world, that’s almost universally true. But one-in-seven countries currently have laws or policies prohibiting or limiting the rights of women to pass citizenship to a child or non-citizen spouse.
World Opposed to U.S. Surveillance, Drones
There is widespread opposition to U.S. eavesdropping and fewer now say the U.S. respects the personal freedoms of its people, but America is still popular around the world.
EU’s mood: A country by country tour
The latest survey results from seven European Union countries reveals a wide range of views across the region about the economy, the future and the EU itself. Just ahead of the parliamentary elections, here’s a tour of the sentiment expressed by the public in each nation.
Indians Dissatisfied with Their Country’s Direction
Indians are troubled by corruption and economic problems, but hopeful for India’s future. They hold generally positive views of the U.S., but are divided in their opinions of China and deeply wary of Pakistan.

domain: sociology


Do Judges Read Online Briefs Differently? Brief Writers May Need to Be Briefer
As more courts require e-filing, lawyers may need to adjust their writing style to account for differences in the way people read online.
That’s the conclusion of Houston appellate lawyer Martin Siegel in an article for Texas Lawyer.
Online readers “jump around, skimming and seizing on bits of text,” Siegel writes. “Eye-tracking studies show they seek content in an F-shaped pattern, looking down the left side for structural cues and then focusing on headings and first sentences of paragraphs. Heaven help the content provider with important text consigned to the bottom right of the screen.”
Siegel cites a book by Houston appellate lawyer Robert Dubose and a law review article by University of Dayton law professor Maria Crist. Dubose says lawyers writing with online readers in mind should put their most important points in headings and first sentences of paragraphs, use bullet points, and quickly get to the point. Similarly, Crist endorses short paragraphs and condensing chunks of information into smaller pieces.
It’s important to adapt your briefs for online readers, Siegel says, but the important next step is “weaving artistry and real substance into the new form.”
The Legal Skills Prof Blog notes Siegel’s article, but questions the assumption that judges and clerks will read online, rather than printing out the materials. And judges looking at online documents will likely read differently than readers of newspapers, blogs and websites, according to the blog post by Nova Southeastern law professor James Levy.
The Jury Expert: “Accentuate Your Argument and Increase Your Persuasive Power with a Hyperlinked Brief”


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Dear esteemed contestants,
Greetings from CMA.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for registering for the 2023 Capital Market University Challenge (CMUC).
Your enthusiasm and commitment to learning about the capital market are commendable, and we are thrilled to have you as participants in this particular competition.
We hope that you found the registration process smooth and straightforward. Our team has been working tirelessly to ensure that everything runs smoothly, and we appreciate your patience and understanding throughout the registration process.
As we move forward, we would like to share with you the roadmap below for this competition with you. Over the coming weeks, you can expect to receive regular updates on the competition, especially on when to attempt various quiz rounds and the deadline for submission of your essays.
We encourage you to follow us on Twitter to stay engaged and connected with us through CMA’s verified Twitter handle: @CMARwanda on https://twitter.com/home. We will be sharing other relevant information related to this particular competition. Feel free to join the conversation using #UniChallengeRw as the hashtag.
Here are some tips on how to prepare for the Capital Market University Challenge:
1. Take advantage of the vast resources available online to research various topics related to the Rwandan capital market industry in general, the whole financial sector, and how other market operates in general. Look for reputable sources such as financial news websites from Rwanda and abroad, stock market analysis reports, and academic journals to gain a deeper understanding of the capital market.
Remember also to visit the below portals so that you can get more insights as well:
2. Keep yourself informed about current events and market trends by reading published financial news. This will help you better understand the factors that impact the capital market and prepare you to compete in the 2023 Capital Market University Challenge.
Remember to stay focused, committed, and dedicated in your preparation for the Capital Market University Challenge.
Thank you again for your participation, and we wish you all the best in this journey you are embarking on.
Below is the revised roadmap with key activities to be conducted throughout the CMUC 2023:
Submission of the final essays
Contestants shall submit on time their final essays through https://ww.investor.cma.rw
For those to compete under the Essay category, they will submit the final essays in the system under the theme “How does the capital market finance Rwanda’s vision 2050”.
The essay writing should comply with the following requirements:
2-17 May, 2023
Competition rounds for the Quiz category
Round 1 for the competition for the Quiz category
May 11th, 2023
Round 2 for the competition for the Quiz category
May 15th , 2023
Round 3 for the competition for the Quiz category
May 17th, 2023
Final quiz round on the national level
Top winners in the quiz category on the provincial level shall sit for a special round on the national level
May 19th, 2023
Awarding of winners and closing ceremony
Host a physical awarding of winners and a closing ceremony at the Kigali Convention Centre
June 16th, 2023


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Geeks and robots go together like peanut butter and jelly and anytime we see some cool DIY robotics, you know we have to point it out. The basis for this robotic project is the iRobot Create and the people behind the project have created a robotic arm that can pick stuff up from the floor and hand it to people without them having to bend down.
Inspirations for the project were a spatula and a dustpan. According to the people from the project, the robotic arm they created was able to pick various items off different floor types 95% of the time. It picked up things like the TV remote, a bottle of pills, and various other things we are apt to drop.
The robot arm was even able to pick up a single pill, which can be hard for some of us to do ourselves. Once the arm pushes the items into the tray, it lifts the items up to the height where a seated person can reach it. The point of the robot is to help the elderly or disabled pick things up from the floor, which can be a huge challenge.


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(AP) — The pilots of a Southwest Airlines flight that mistakenly landed at the wrong Missouri airport were grounded Monday, less than a day after they touched down at a small airfield that gave them only half as much room as normal to stop the jet.
After passengers were let off the plane Sunday evening, they noticed the airliner had come dangerously close to the end of the runway, where it could have tumbled down a steep embankment if it had left the pavement.
"As soon as we touched down, the pilot applied the brake very hard and very forcibly," said passenger Scott Schieffer, a Dallas attorney who was among the 124 passengers aboard Southwest Flight 4013 from Chicago's Midway Airport to the Branson airport. "I was wearing a seatbelt, but I was lurched forward because of the heavy pressure of the brake. You could smell burnt rubber, a very distinct smell of burnt rubber as we were stopping."
Branson Airport has a runway that is more than 7,100 feet long — a typical size for commercial traffic. The longest runway at Taney County Airport is only slightly more than 3,700 feet because it is designed for small private planes.
After the jet stopped, a flight attendant welcomed passengers to Branson, Schieffer said. Then, after a few moments, "the pilot came on and said, 'Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sorry to tell you we landed at the wrong airport.'"
Southwest spokesman Brandy King said grounding the pilots involved is common while the airline and federal aviation officials investigate the mistake.
The captain is in his 15th year flying for Southwest, King said.
MORE THAN AN INCONVENIENCE
At first, Schieffer said, he considered the mistake only an inconvenience. But once he got off the plane, someone pointed to the edge of the runway, which he estimated as about 100 feet away.
"It was surreal when I realized we could have been in real danger and instead of an inconvenience, it could have been a real tragedy," he said.
Mark Parent, manager of the smaller airport also known as M. Graham Clark Downtown Airport, described the distance as closer to 300 feet. He said the runway is built partly on landfill. At the end there is a "significant drop-off," with a ravine beneath it, then busy U.S. 65 on the other side.
He said a Boeing 737 had never landed at the small airfield, which opened in 1970 and normally handles light jets, turboprops and small aircraft for the charter, corporate and tourism markets.
No one was around at the airport when the Southwest flight landed. Airport staffers had gone home about an hour earlier but were called back after the unexpected arrival, Parent said.
Brad Hawkins, a spokesman for Dallas-based Southwest, said everyone aboard the jet was safe. He did not know why the plane went to the wrong airport.
Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Tony Molinaro said the agency was investigating, but he declined to elaborate.
Jeff Bourk, executive director of Branson Airport, said the Southwest pilot was in communication with the airport tower, which cleared him to land around 6 p.m. The plane touched down a few moments later at the other airport.
Skies were clear at the time, with the temperature in the 50s, Bourk said.
BUSES FINISH THE JOURNEY FOR SOME
Passengers were loaded on buses for the 7-mile trip to Branson. Southwest brought in another plane for passengers flying on to Love Fiend in Dallas. That flight departed around 10 p.m., Bourke said.
Hawkins said the aircraft involved in the mistaken landing should be able to take off from the smaller runway, though it was not clear when that would occur.
The minimum runway length needed to take off varies depending on a plane's weight, the temperature and other factors. Based on Boeing documents, a lightly loaded 737-700 can take off from a runway about the length of the M. Graham Clark airport.
Parent said he had no doubts that the plane would be able to take off safely.
Instances of commercial jets landing at the wrong airport are unusual, but not unheard-of, according to pilots and aviation safety experts. Usually the pilots are flying "visually," that is, without the aid of the autopilot, in clear weather.
The instances also typically involve low-traffic airports situated close together with runways aligned to the same or similar compass points.
"It's unlikely that you would have this problem between JFK and LaGuardia or Newark and LaGuardia," said former National Transportation Safety Board member John Goglia, referring to three New York-area airports. "They are too busy. The airplanes are under total air traffic control until they come down to about 500 feet."
HAPPENS ABOUT TWICE A YEAR
Wrong-airport landings have been happening about twice a year for the past several years, Goglia said. Safety experts believe there are many more instances of planes that almost land at the wrong airport, but the pilot realizes the mistake and aborts the landing in time.
In the Missouri case, a key question for investigators will be why the second Southwest pilot, who was not flying the plane, did not catch the error in time to prevent the mistaken landing. Typically, the pilot not flying the plane is supposed to be closely monitoring navigation aids and other aircraft systems.
Sunday's event was the second time in less than two months that a large jet has landed at the wrong airport.
In November, a freight-carrying Boeing 747 that was supposed to deliver parts to McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kan., landed 9 miles north at Col. James Jabara Airport. The company that operated the flight later said in a training video that the crew was skeptical about the plane's automation after the co-pilot's flight display had intermittent trouble, and the pilot chose to fly visually when he spotted the brightly lit runway at Jabara.
Last year, a cargo plane bound for MacDill Air Force base in Tampa, Fla., landed without incident at the small Peter O. Knight Airport nearby. An investigation blamed confusion identifying airports in the area, and base officials introduced an updated landing procedure.

domain: travel


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Hawai‘i locals only, Mild skin issues, Unbalanced skin, Maintenance, Stress, Basic lymphatic drainage
An efficient skin tune-up created for kama‘aina looking to achieve simple balance for the skin. It’s a ‘no frills’ facial massage intended to nourish the skin and promote microcirculation using East Asian and biodynamically farmed herbs. The goal is to bring energy back to the skin and mind.
70% cleansing + nourishing with East Asian and b.f. herbs
30% relaxing massage of face and upper body
45 mins. | $75
MAT XA MAT
Deep skin issues, Deep Relaxation, Stress, Natural face lifting, Maintenance for healthy aging, Post-Botox/Fillers/Surgical procedures, Facial trauma or bruising, Swollen lymph nodes, Pregnancy
An advanced, intuitive healing session for the skin and mind. Starting with a thorough skin health analysis, this treatment is fully customized to your skin and comfort level. Focusing on East Asian therapies and advanced facial massage techniques I’ve studied in over seven countries, this treatment digs deep to create balance in the skin. The purpose is to relieve rooted skin issues and mental distress as well as clarity in your beauty journey. You’ll find yourself in a meditative rest while your skin heals externally and internally.
80% advanced massage of face and upper body
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75 mins. | $165
120 mins. | $245

domain: health


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Event: Superstars Shahrukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra, Vidya Balan, Bipasha Basu, Abhishek Bachchan and many others appear at ace photographer Dabboo Ratnani's 2012 calendar launch event. While SRK and Abhishek were spotted having a gala time together, Hrithik was seen posing for the shutterbugs. Must watch!
Guest List: Shahrukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Bipasha Basu, Hrithik Roshan, Vidya Balan, Sonakshi Sinha, Geeta Basra, Ranvir Shorey, Konkona Sen Sharma, Asin, Suzanne Roshan Khan, Jiah Khan, Soha Ali Khan, Kunal Khemu, Kangna Ranaut, Abhishek Bachchan, Sophie Chaudhary, Sanjay Kapoor, Maheep Kapoor, Sonal Chauhan, Arjun Rampal, Raageshwari Loomba, Sonu Sood, Dabboo Ratnani, Pooja Batra, Rocky S, Madhur Bhandarkar, Pooja Bedi
Bollywood choreographers Remo D'Souza, Vaibhavi Merchant and Terence Lewis were snapped at The Kapil Sharma Show.
Bollywood celebs Urvashi Rautela, Madhur Bhandarkar, Zoya Afroz among others were snapped at Mr. & Miss India 2017.
Bollywood celebs Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt promoted their upcoming film BADRINATH KI DULHANIA on Voice Of India Season 2.
Bollywood actress Anjana Sukhani was spotted at Bandra.
Bollywood actor Amit Sadh was spotted on the sets of SARKAAR 3.

domain: celebrity


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Located on Valley Blvd. in Alhambra, Szechuan Impression tends to get passed over for its more famous neighbor, Chengdu Taste, but this casual szechuan spot deserves your attention. The giant menu of classic Szechuan dishes is excellent, and while the space isn’t huge, there are long wooden tables ideal for big group dinners. Get the tea-smoked ribs and wontons in chili sauce.
More spots in AlhambraSee more
Pho Orchid is a casual spot in a stripmall in Alhambra, and if you can wait out the lunch rush, you’ll be rewarded with incredible kobe beef pho.
Savoy Kitchen in Alhambra is a casual, diner-y space known for their chicken and rice.
More Chinese spotsSee more
Newport Seafood is an upscale SGV classic where you should be ordering the whole lobster.
Suggested by our writers
Bistro Na’s is a fancy restaurant in Temple City doing Imperial Chinese food, which means it’s perfect for a special occasion meal.
Din Tai Fung Dumpling House #1
Din Tai Fung’s Arcadia location is just as popular as all the others - but you can get better dumplings (with a shorter wait) nearby.
Filter and browse restaurants near you
Text us for personalized recommendationsLearn more


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All posts tagged "Yuju"
On Hellokpop Playlist: Yuju Spellbinds With Her Alluring Mini-Album “REC”
Yuju delivers a sultry, captivating solo debut with her first mini-album, REC. Former GFRIEND member, Yuju, made her...
GFRIEND’s Yuju Gears Up For Her Much-Awaited Solo Debut
Ready to see Yuju take the center stage as a soloist? After her remarkable stint as a member...
Yuju Signs Exclusive Contract With Konnect Entertainment
With aims to broaden her magnificent singing career, Yuju has finally joined the young and humble label, Konnect...


Putin greets KamAZ-Master team - winner of Silk Way RallySport July 22, 15:20
Agreements on East Ghouta zone in Syria signed - Defense MinistryWorld July 22, 14:20
PAK FA offers practically unlimited opportunities to pilot - commanderMilitary & Defense July 22, 11:29
Ukraine's National Broadcasting Board issues fine to Public Radio for 0% Urkainian songsWorld July 22, 5:39
Femen movement activists faces 5 years in jail for trying to frustrate summit meetingWorld July 22, 4:38
Russian Deputy PM dismisses allegations he will arrived in Moldova on warplaneRussian Politics & Diplomacy July 22, 2:46
Russian top diplomat shares his impressions from meeting with US leaderRussian Politics & Diplomacy July 21, 20:31
Lavrov bewildered US special services give no facts of Russia’s meddling in US electionRussian Politics & Diplomacy July 21, 19:46
Putin says USSR collapse had greatest impact on himSociety & Culture July 21, 18:37
GENEVA, March 17. /TASS/. Former president of the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) Sepp Blatter has officially submitted an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) in Lausanne against last month’s decision passed by a FIFA body, CAS announced on Thursday.
"Joseph S. Blatter has filed an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the decision issued by the FIFA Appeal Committee on 16 February 2016," the CAS said in a statement posted on its official website.
"In his appeal to the CAS, Mr Blatter seeks the annulment of the decision taken by the FIFA Appeal Committee in which he was suspended from all football-related activities at national and international level for six years," according to the statement.
"A CAS arbitration procedure is in progress. First, the parties will exchange written submissions and a panel of three arbitrators will be constituted. The Panel will then issue directions with respect to the holding of a hearing," the statement added.
On March 2, FIFA announced that its Appeal Committee ruled to reduce the suspension sentences for earlier banned FIFA and UEFA presidents, Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini respectively, from eight to six years.
Although the decisions were announced on Wednesday, the hearings into Platini and Blatter’s appeals were held in Zurich on February 15 and 16 correspondingly.
In response to the decision made by the FIFA Appeal Committee, both Blatter and Platini announced that they would file appeals with the CAS in Lausanne. Platini moved on the very same day submitting a relevant appeal with the judicial body in Lausanne.
In early October, Blatter and Platini were suspended for the period of 90 days from their posts as part of the investigation into corruption allegations against them. Among a number of corruption allegations, Blatter is suspected of a disloyal payment of 2 million Swiss francs to UEFA President Platini in February 2011.
The adjudicatory chamber of the independent FIFA Ethics Committee held hearings into corruption charges on December 17 and 18, in regard to Blatter and Platini respectively, and on December 21 they were both suspended for the period of eight years from all football-related activities.
The Ethics Committee also subjected both of the football executives to financial fines, obliging Blatter to pay 50,000 Swiss francs (over $50,300) and Platini - 80,000 Swiss francs (over $80,500).


Download Xiaomi Mi Play Stock Wallpapers In Full HD Resolution
Hey, there today in this article we have the Xiaomi Mi Play Stock Wallpapers, You can download all the Xiaomi Mi Play Stock Wallpapers from the link given below. This stock wallpapers are 2160 x 2310 resolution with 19:9 aspect ratio, the Xiaomi Mi Play Stock Wallpaper has amazing textures.
About Xiaomi Mi Play
Xiaomi has finally announced the new Xiaomi Mi Play, through an event held in China this phone is the beginning of the new Play series. This phone comes with MediaTek Helio P35 (12nm) which is again not a powerful processor. But the price of the smartphone is very low so, it can be worth it.
It has 4GB of RAM and 64GB of Internal Storage, It has 3 Color variants Dream Blue, Twilight Gold, Black. This is the first smartphone with the circular notch. The phone looks much different from other devices by the company. On the back, we have the Gorilla Glass Protection which protects the phone from minor scratches.
The Mi Play has a pretty compact design having a 5.84 Inch Screen. Xiomi Mi Play looks attractive as it has a small notch on the top. It has Type-C port for charging which is really good to have on this smartphone. There is a vertically arranged Dual Camera Setup together with the fingerprint sensor on the center. Overall the phone looks stunning.
Xiaomi Mi Play Specifications
The Xiaomi Mi Play is having a 5.84 Inch Full HD+ IPS LCD Screen which is protected by Gorilla Glass 6. Mi Play is powered by the MediaTek Helio P35 (12nm) which is an Octa-core 2.3 GHz Cortex-A53. It has 4GB of RAM and 64GB of Internal Storage.
It’s a dual-SIM device (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by). Moving to the OS this device runs on MIUI Android 9.0 (Pie).
On talking about the camera it has a Dual Rear-Facing camera setup 12 MP, f/2.2, 1.25 μm, PDAF which is a depth sensor, the front-facing camera is an 8MP shooter and moving to the battery it has a Non-removable Li-Ion 3000 mAh battery.
We also have a Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass, and face unlocking feature. The Mi Play is priced at 170 EUR.
Download Xiaomi Mi Play Stock Wallpapers
You can Download Xiaomi Mi Play Stock Wallpapers from the link given below. It has 14 Full HD+ Wallpapers, Just you have to download the wallpaper on your pc and extract it using WinRAR. Now once the Xiaomi Mi Play Stock Wallpapers.zip file is extracted copy it and paste it on your phone. Now you can use this wallpaper on your home screen.
Final Words: So, this is all about the Xiaomi Mi Play Stock Wallpapers. I hope you find this article useful. If you want to ask any questions related to Xiaomi Mi Play then make sure to comment down below. We would love to hear from you.


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Individual results may vary. While our product offers nourishing support, it is not intended to cure, treat, or prevent disease or illness. Though these statements haven't been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, view our Ingredients page for resource links. Tasteful Skin assumes no liability for the usage of this product.
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domain: pet


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The Snapchat app on a smartphone installed in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, U.S. on Wednesday, February 1, 2023.
Tiffany Hagler Gear | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Check out the companies making the biggest leaps in pre-market commerce:
Credit Suisse – U.S.-listed shares of Credit Suisse gained nearly 6% after the Swiss bank announced it would borrow up to 50 billion Swiss francs ($54 billion) from the Swiss National Bank. The stock fell 13.9% on Wednesday after its top investors said it could no longer provide funding.
Snap, Meta – Snap rose 6%, while Meta rose 1.5% following a Wall Street Journal report that the Biden administration said competitor TikTok could be banned unless be sold by its Chinese owner, ByteDance. A separate report from Bloomberg said TikTok was considering parting ways with ByteDance if a deal with the United States fell through.
Regional banks — Regional banks continued their slide amid the fallout from the Silicon Valley Bank collapse.
First Republic Bank fell almost 28% and Zions Bancorporation lost 3.6%. Comerica lost 1.6%.
Dollar General – The discount retailer fell 1.6% after its quarterly same-store sales fell below Wall Street estimates. Same-store sales rose 5.7% in the fourth quarter, versus 6% expected by analysts polled by Refinitiv.
Adobe – Shares of the software giant rose 5.4% after the company raised its profit forecast for fiscal 2023 and announced that its quarterly results beat Wall Street estimates. It increased its revenue and net new recurring revenue projections for its digital media business for the full year.
Occidental Petroleum – Shares rose nearly 1% after Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway bought an additional 7.9 million shares, for a total of $466.7 million.
UiPath – The automation software company jumped nearly 16% after reporting adjusted fourth-quarter earnings per share of 15 cents, beating StreetAccount’s estimate of 6 cents per share. Revenue came in at $308.5 million, well above the expected $278.6 million.
Baidu – Listed US shares of Baidu fell nearly 6% after the Chinese tech company unveiled its ChatGPT alternative, Ernie bot.
PagerDuty – Shares rose nearly 6% after the digital operations management platform’s earnings and revenue beat estimates for the fourth quarter. Adjusted earnings per share came in at 8 cents per share, versus 2 cents expected, per Refinitiv. Revenue was $101 million, beating the expected $98.8 million.
Five below – The discount retailer lost more than 3% after giving a muted outlook for the first quarter. However, Five Below’s revenue beat analysts’ estimates, according to Refinitiv, and earnings were in line with expectations.
Motorola – The telecommunications equipment company gained 1.8% following an upgrade by JPMorgan from overweight to neutral. The Wall Street firm said the stock fell to attractive levels.
—CNBC’s Tanaya Macheel contributed reporting.


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Music Industry How To is supported by readers. When you buy via a link on our site, we’ll possibly earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.
Purchasing a child’s first guitar is a momentous occasion that has the potential to completely alter the course of that child’s life. The right guitar can facilitate and foster a child’s musical interests into becoming a lifelong pursuit, as opposed to being a small phase.
In this article, we will cover the 11 best acoustic and electric guitars on the market for kids who have never played the guitar before.
Fender CC-60S – Best Overall For Beginners
If your child has an interest in playing an acoustic guitar, the Fender CC-60S is one of the best models available for a beginner. This starter pack not only consists of a great guitar but also features some extra essential items that will save you from having to go to the music store.
The body of the Fender CC-60S is crafted from mahogany, with the face of the guitar made of solid spruce. This construction allows for strummed chords and finger-picked melodies to shine with a warm resonance.
The Fender CC-60S is a fairly small concert-sized guitar that will not feel too large or cumbersome for a child. Even adults will be able to use this guitar comfortably.
The neck of the guitar has a scale of 25.3”, which is smaller than what is found on full-size acoustics, making the Fender CC-60S ideal for children. Mahogany is used for the neck, with walnut being used for the fretboard.
To complete the package, this guitar comes with a gig bag for travel/storage purposes, as well as a package of picks, a guitar strap, and an extra package of strings.
90-day access to Fender Play is also included, which is a helpful platform that has hours of online guitar lesson videos available to fuel a budding guitarist’s knowledge. Fender Play has grown to be a reputable resource for new guitarists as Fender has spent a great amount of effort into expanding the lessons provided on the platform.
Item Weight: 11.9 pounds
Package Dimensions: 43 x 20 x 7 inches
Martin LX1 Little Martin – Premium Option
The Martin LX1 Little Martin is one of the best children’s guitars that money can buy. This guitar offers the great playability and sound that Martin guitars have been known for.
The construction of this guitar’s body features the back and sides being crafted of high-pressure laminate, which is a durable material that is more resistant to environmental factors than wood. The top (or face) of the guitar is made of Sitka spruce. This helps the guitar to be very resonant, no matter how the guitar is played.
The neck of the guitar is also made of spruce and has a rosewood fretboard. Rosewood is traditionally seen on higher-end model guitars due to the rarity and premium feel that the material offers. Rosewood also tends to produce a darker and more earthy tone than other materials.
The LX1 Little Martin is a short-scale guitar, having a neck scale of 23”. This not only makes the guitar perfect for children but can also be ideal for travel situations. This attractive guitar also comes with a padded gig bag for travel and storage.
While this guitar is not as inexpensive as many of the others on this list, it can be a worthwhile investment for the right guitarist as it will offer great-sounding playability for many years. Adults and children can both benefit from this guitar as this offering is not limited to beginners who have never played before.
Item Weight: 7 pounds
Package Dimensions: 45 x 17 x 8 inches
Ibanez GRGM21 – Best Budget Option
For the aspiring child guitarist that has an interest in playing an electric guitar, the Ibanez GRGM21 is a highly competent instrument and is perhaps one of the best budget models available on the market.
The Ibanez GRGM21 is ideal for children as it has an undersized body crafted from basswood, with a shortened neck scale of 22.2”. The guitar also comes in a variety of different colors and neck materials, which offers a degree of personalization that can be important to any child.
The finish of the guitar comes in black, white, jewel blue, and metallic purple. Depending on the color choice, the fretboard comes crafted from either jatoba or maple and comes with either dot inlays or Ibanez’s shark tooth inlays.
The Ibanez GRGM21 comes stocked with two Infinity Ceramic humbucker pickups that can provide a nice clean tone as well as a little crunch. A 5-way selector switch, combined with a master volume and tone knob, is also built into the guitar to provide a wide range of tonal selections.
The guitar features a fixed F106 chrome bridge as well as chrome tuners that can withstand the rigors of everyday use.
Overall, this is an excellent guitar that can likely serve the budding guitarist for many years to come. Even if a child outgrows the guitar, the Ibanez GRGM21 is perfectly suitable for rehearsals in situations where having their mainstay guitar isn’t ideal.
Item Weight: 11 pounds
Package Dimensions: 37 x 14 x 3 inches
Epiphone Les Paul Electric Guitar Player Pack
Bundle packages can be ideal for children who have never played guitar before as these packages essentially provide everything a new guitarist needs to get started. The Epiphone Les Paul Electric Guitar Player Pack is an excellent starter bundle to get any guitarist started on their musical journey.
The bundle features an Epiphone Les Paul Special-II LTD guitar with a classic vintage sunburst finish. The body of the guitar is crafted from alder, with the top and back of the guitar crafted of mahogany.
The neck of the guitar is crafted of maple with a rosewood fretboard. The scale of the neck measures 24.75”, which can make this ideal for children or adults.
The Epiphone Les Paul Special-II LTD features two humbucker pickups as well as a master volume and tone knob. A 3-way selector switch is also built into the guitar for dialing in the perfect tones.
For hardware, the guitar features chrome tuners as well as the iconic Tune-O-Matic bridge that is seen on many high-end Epiphone and Gibson instruments.
Guitar aside, this bundle from Epiphone includes a number of different accessories that are great for the beginner guitarist. One such accessory is a 10-watt solid-state Electra amp that is ideal for bedroom practice sessions.
The amp features volume and EQ controls and also supports a line-in for auxiliary cables, which can be great for practicing along with songs being played on an external device. The amp also has a headphone jack which allows for quiet practice sessions.
Other items included in the bundle include a guitar strap, guitar picks, a chromatic tuner that clips onto the headstock of the guitar, and a 10ft guitar cable. A gig bag is also provided for easy transportation.
On top of everything else in the bundle, Epiphone also provides downloadable lessons with the bundle, helping to jumpstart the new guitarist’s playing journey.
While the Epiphone Les Paul Special-II LTD guitar inside of this bundle may not have as short of a neck scale as some of the other guitars in this list, the features within the bundle make this hard to pass up. For an affordable price, Epiphone includes nearly everything a new guitarist will need.
Item Weight: 22.2 pounds
Package Dimensions: 41 x 18.9 x 5.9 inches
Yamaha Pacifica PAC112J
Another electric guitar that is ideal for beginners and young children is the Yamaha Pacifica PAC112J. This electric guitar has received high acclaim from some of today’s most well-known guitarists as being a wonderful entry-level guitar that offers great playability at an affordable price.
The Yamaha Pacifica PAC112J has a scale length of 25.5” with a 22-fretted rosewood fretboard outlined by dot inlays. The C-shaped neck itself is crafted from maple, while the body of the guitar is made from alder.
In a price range where many guitars can be difficult to play, the neck of this guitar has been highly reputed for offering a smooth, easy and comfortable playing experience.
The guitar features a combination of different pickups, having a couple of Yamaha Ceramic single-coil pickups as well as a Yamaha Ceramic humbucker in the bridge position. Combined with a 5-way selector switch as well as a master volume and tone knob, the Yamaha Pacifica PAC112J can dial in a very large range of tasteful tones not often seen in a guitar at this price range.
Another feature of this guitar is the tremolo bridge system, which can be a great manual effect to add a degree of expression to any playing style. The guitar efficiently stays in tune with the use of the tremolo bar.
While this guitar doesn’t have the added bonuses (such as a gig bag) as many of the guitar bundles on this list, the Yamaha Pacifica PAC112J is one of the best electric guitars available for an entry-level guitarist. By offering a comfortable playing experience, a child’s interest in the guitar can be sustained without the possible deterring of attention due to a clunky-feeling guitar.
Item Weight: 10.88 pounds
Package Dimensions: 43 x 18 x 4.5 inches
If you’re looking for a miniature-sized acoustic guitar that doesn’t compromise on sound or playability, the Yamaha JR1 is a great entry-level option at a very affordable price point. This dreadnought guitar is roughly ¾ the size of a regular full-size acoustic, making it ideal for children and those with small-sized hands and a short wingspan.
The Yamaha JR1 is crafted from meranti and has a spruce top, offering deep, rich tones that will likely only become more enriched as the guitar ages. The guitar has a distinct vintage-looking natural color that is as easy on the eyes as it is on the ears.
The neck of the guitar is crafted from nato and has a scale length of 21.25”. The fretboard and the bridge are both made of rosewood. The guitar also has 20 frets, making this a fully playable guitar for many musical scenarios. Yamaha has also included chrome tuning machines on the JR1.
The Yamaha JR1 comes with a padded gig bag for protected traveling. Also included with this guitar is access to Yamaha’s Player Port mobile application, which features a built-in tuner as well as articles and in-depth video lessons that can benefit any player.
Item Weight: 4.75 pounds
Package Dimensions: 35.5 x 16.25 x 4.75 inches
Squier Bullet Mustang HH Short Scale
Squier has been well renowned for making great entry-level guitars. The Squier Bullet Mustang HH Short Scale is perfect for the entry-level guitarist that prefers their guitar to have an attractive body design. This guitar is not only fun to play but can serve a child well into their first forays of performing on stage.
This guitar features a 24” scale neck, which is ideal for children’s hands. The neck is made of maple and has an Indian Laurel fretboard. Despite the neck’s short scale, the guitar has 22 easily accessible frets, making this a great means of transition into a full-sized guitar later in the child’s life.
The body of this guitar is made of basswood and is shaped in the iconic Fender Mustang offset body style that became especially famous in the 1990s.
The Squier Bullet Mustang HH Short Scale features two standard humbucker pickups in the neck and bridge positions, with a 3-way selector switch to choose the position being used. A master volume and tone knob help to achieve some of the classic tones that the Mustang is best known for.
The guitar also features a 6-saddle modern hardtail bridge and sealed die-cast tuning machines.
The Squier Bullet Mustang HH is perhaps one of the best guitars available in its price range. These guitars are famous for being a wonderful platform for upgraded modifications and customized components, which can significantly sustain the instrument’s relevance well into the guitarist’s career.
Item Weight: 9.05 pounds
Package Dimensions: 44 x 15 x 4 inches
The Ibanez PF2MH acoustic guitar is a competent miniature-sized instrument that is well suited towards being a child’s first guitar. The PF2MH has a rustic, natural look, with warm acoustic tones that could serve the child well into adulthood.
The body of the Ibanez PF2MH is made completely of Sapele. The guitar also features a 22.83” scale mahogany neck, with a 20-fretted rosewood fretboard outlined with dot inlays.
The Ibanez PF2MH comes with high-quality die-cast chrome tuners and a sleek decorative rosette on the headstock. The guitar also comes equipped with a gig bag.
This is one of those rare guitars that has a larger sound than what a person would initially assume due to the guitar’s small size.
Item Weight: 4.45 pounds
Package Dimensions: 38 x 17 x 5.5 inches
The Fender FA-15 acoustic guitar is another fantastic short-scale miniature guitar that is built with the child beginner in mind. This ¾-sized guitar is sure to be able to fit comfortably within a child’s hands without being too awkward for a child that has a smaller body frame.
The body of the guitar is crafted completely of Sapele, giving the guitar a warm, resonant sound. The 23.3” scaled neck is crafted from nato and has a walnut fretboard.
The guitar comes in a wide variety of different color finishes including:
- Moonlight Burst
Rounding out the overall package of this guitar is an included soft-padded gig bag.
Item Weight: 10.13 pounds
Package Dimensions: 46 x 17.9 x 6.5 inches
The Epiphone DR-100 is a classic entry-level dreadnought that can provide great playability and an addictive tone that will only get better as the guitar ages.
The body of the Epiphone DR-100 features sides and back made from mahogany, with a resonant spruce top. The tones this guitar can produce are sweet and bright, allowing it to be present in the overall sound mix of a performance.
The Epiphone DR-100 also features a slim-tapered C-shape neck that is ideal for beginners as well as those that are looking for a fast-playing guitar. The neck is crafted from mahogany and has a scale of 25.5”. The fretboard is crafted from rosewood and has 20 frets outlined with Pearloid dot inlays.
The guitar comes in a variety of different finishes including natural, black, and vintage sunburst. Die-cast chrome tuners and a rosewood bridge are also equipped on the guitar.
Item Weight: 8 pounds
Package Dimensions: 42 x 18.5 x 5.5 inches
The Yamaha APXT2 is a wonderful entry-level acoustic guitar that features electric capabilities. If your child has ambitions to perform live, this guitar will make public performances a breeze with its built-in preamp section.
This short-scale guitar is perfect for children, as it is a ¾-sized guitar with a 22.835” neck scale. The body style also features an ergonomic design for comfortable playing and a cutaway for easy fret access to the upper register of the guitar.
The body of the guitar features a meranti-crafted back and sides, with a spruce top, delivering a crisp and natural sound. Depending on the finish, the neck is crafted from either mahogany or nato, with a 21-fretted rosewood fretboard outlined with dot inlays.
The Yamaha APXT2 features a System 68 pickup and an Acoustic Resonance Technology-based preamp to accommodate use with amplifiers and powered speaker systems. The preamp includes controls for volume and tone and also features a built-in tuner for easy and convenient tuning. A gig bag is also included with the guitar.
The guitar comes in a variety of different finishes including:
- Dark Red Burst
The Yamaha APXT2 is not only ideal for a child who has never played before, but for those who frequently gig and are looking for a more space-efficient guitar. The capabilities that the APXT2 offers make this a guitar that a child can grow with and can suit their performance needs well into later stages of higher-demanding skill levels.
Item Weight: 5.29 pounds
Package Dimensions: 36.22 x 16.46 x 4.53 inches
What to Look For When Buying a Child’s First Guitar
A child’s first guitar is a very important investment in the child’s development. Their first guitar has the potential to either fuel their musical interests into a lifelong passion or diminish their interest altogether. Because of this, there are certain things you will want to keep in mind when buying a child their first guitar.
Acoustic or Electric?
This is an age-old question regarding a child’s first guitar and one that will likely never go away. The reason why this answer is so elusive is that it really depends on the interests of the child. Many feel the acoustic is a rite of passage, though the electric guitar also has its rightful place in the hands of a beginner.
If a child has a fondness and a large interest in musical styles that primarily utilize an electric guitar (such as metal, classic rock, funk, etc.), then chances are that an electric guitar will help to propel their interests well into adulthood.
Similarly, if the same child (who has the aforementioned interests) is given an acoustic guitar as their first instrument, chances are likely that they may not find the guitar to be inspiring.
Short-Scale or Full-Size?
The answer to whether you should get a short-scale or full-size guitar really depends on who you are buying for. A younger child will likely see the most benefit from a short-scale, miniature-sized guitar.
Short-scale guitars are beneficial for those who have smaller hands, as the finger stretch between frets is not as intensive as it is on a full-size guitar. These miniature-sized guitars can also provide much of the same rich and resonant sounding tones that a full-size guitar can produce.
Short-scale guitars can also make wonderful travel companions later in life, as their small size takes up less space when packing.
Bundle or Standalone Guitar?
There are many guitar bundles are on the market offering guitars alongside a number of different essential guitar accessories. Many of these bundles will include a strap, picks, and a guitar amp in some instances.
It can be a pain to buy a guitar, only to also have to buy a gig bag/case, picks, an amplifier, etc. This also has the potential to exceed a small budget.
This is a decision that depends both upon the child, as well as the person buying the guitar for the child. If the purchaser has the means and capability to find these accessories in a store, then they may be better off buying a standalone guitar, as the guitar will likely have a higher degree of craftsmanship.
Depending on the child’s age, these bundles may be an appropriate avenue to pursue. However, for someone who is a little older and has a blossoming passion for wanting to practice and dedicate their time to the instrument, a standalone guitar may be the way to go.
Many entry-level guitars are fortunately priced well within a low-budget price range. For the most part, a fully competent beginner guitar can be acquired rather inexpensively. An inexpensive guitar is likely the more logical option, if only because kids can sometimes have fickle and ever-changing interests.
An ideal instrument will not only provide a comfortable playing experience but also allow some room for the guitarist to grow their skills. This could be thought of as being similar to clothes or shoes; these items will serve their purpose for a period of time until the child eventually outgrows them.
Having a guitar that provides growing room will ensure that the child’s interest in the guitar remains steady. A guitar with a great longevity factor will also mean more value for the initial cost of the instrument.
Of course, electric guitars have the unique option for modifications and custom upgrades that can increase the instrument’s relevance, no matter what needs the guitarist may be facing. This is something to keep in mind, as it is not always necessary to buy a new guitar when a new set of pickups could provide the sound that the guitarist may be looking for.
Best Guitar Brands for Kids Who’ve Never Played Before
There are a number of different brands that have built a solid reputation within the guitar industry for producing high-quality entry-level guitars. These brands are likely to provide a guitar that is consistent with their reputation and can make a worthwhile investment in a child’s development on the guitar.
Fender is one of the most well-known guitar companies in the world. The impact that this company’s guitars have had on modern music is nearly unfathomable. Their instruments and amplifiers have graced the stage and been an integral sound in innumerable musical recordings for over 7 decades. Fender remains to be as relevant as it was when the company was first founded in 1946.
Squier is a guitar brand that is owned by Fender. The company has a long-standing reputation for producing quality entry-level instruments that are modeled after the more high-end Fender guitar models.
The company was initially founded to combat the large number of counterfeit Fender guitars that flooded the market in the 1980s. Since then, these guitars have been highly sought after for beginners as well as guitarists who enjoy making custom modifications to their instruments.
Ibanez is a Japanese company that originally started out as importers of classical-style guitars. In fact, the company derives its name from a guitar builder whose instruments they primarily imported. However, the company soon began to expand its enterprise into building its own instruments, with the company rising to popularity in the 1970s.
Ibanez guitars are well-known for having superior craftsmanship and accessible playability. Their guitars are suitable for the hobbyist as well as the everyday highly technical player.
Yamaha is a Japanese instrument company that is one of the world’s leading producers of pianos. The company was founded in 1887 and primarily produced reed organs, with full-scale production of pianos starting at the turn of the 20th century. Today, Yamaha manufactures musical instruments of all varieties, instilling a degree of high-craftsmanship and playability that is consistent across all of their products.
Epiphone is another highly reputable guitar company that has been producing iconic guitars for decades. Initially founded in 1873 in the Ottoman Empire, the company moved to the USA in 1908.
Throughout the last 50 years, Epiphone has been producing excellent guitars, many of which are entry-level models based upon high-end Gibson models. These guitars are timeless, offering a sense of playability and tone that is as relevant now as it was in the past, as Epiphone guitars are continually used by worldwide professionals in many settings.
C.F. Martin & Company (otherwise known as Martin Guitars) is one of the most iconic and well-known acoustic guitar manufacturers in the industry. The company was founded in 1833 in the USA and has been consistently producing premium acoustic guitars. It is said that their guitars were played by soldiers around campfires in the American Civil War (1861-1865).
Today, Martin guitars are some of the best premium guitars available on the market. The rich, warm tones that come from these superior guitars are nearly unmatched, often making these the guitar of choice for professional guitarists.
Top Beginner Guitars for Kids, Final Thoughts
There are few things more exciting and memorable to a musically-inclined child than the day they receive their first guitar. This occasion (as well as the choice of guitar they are given) has the capability to forever change a child’s life, as the right guitar can fuel a blossoming passion into a lifelong pursuit.
As an adult, seeing the excitement on a child’s face as they cherish their first guitar is a sight to behold. Seeing them carry on with the instrument with lifelong dedication is priceless.


VoIP services for mobile cordless phones have yet to establish a firm foothold on the telecommunications market. This is despite the apparent availability of suitable technologies that are well suited to making the arrangement work.
Adoption troubles might keep services from expanding, at least until the launch of next-generation mobile network by carriers, a number of panelists claimed at a debate on the issue. The even was held at the NetEvents summit in Malta late November of this year.
Emir Halilovic, who is the programme manager of networking and infrastructure at analysts IDC, states that VoIP is still a fixed-line market at large. So while multimedia gains in the mobile industry are growing at a quick rate, the growth continues to be confined to a very small and thus limited, base. “Mobile applications are a very, very small slice of that whole market. Still, there is a great promise in both [mobile VoIP and multi-media] because the ecosystem elements are all there, although it’s still not fully functional.”
Connecting existing GSM as well as 3G Radio Access Networks to VoIP systems would bring the price and feature benefits of VoIP to all those cordless phone handsets. VoIP on mobile networks also provides spectrum usage advantages to a great many users.
However inviting the prospects look, one pretty pickle remains. The technology, after all, goes against providing comparable services via Wi-Fi networks. Wi-Fi-based services necessitate new multi-mode cordless phone handsets and client software, along with relevant investments in developing and upgrading already existing wireless networks. Since providers are already seeing to these concerns, it’s not exactly as big a problem as some might think. The inherent ways and behavior of a user is the greater evil of the two.
Dean Bubley, who is the founder of Disruptive Analysis, stated that the market for conventional voice calls is still at a high and continues to be secure and stable. “Ordinary GSM cellular is not going to go away any time soon, particularly for the 60 to 70 per cent of mobile subscribers who are prepaid customers and more particularly for those who don’t have access to broadband[...]. Although Wi-Fi and dual-mode devices are becoming available in wider numbers they are not used by many people for VoIP. There’s some traction in enterprise which has been pretty slow coming. Certainly we’re not going to see double-digit percentages of the global subscriber base using VoIP on wireless LANs[...]. I’m a huge disbeliever in metro Wi-Fi for VoIP simply because the external Wi-Fi doesn’t penetrate into building, so it’s pretty much useless for the majority of calls.”
On the whole though, Bubley expressed views that were far more positive when talks turned to the use of 3.5 and 4G networks to serve as a platform for VoIP and thus, for consumer electronic devices such as VoiP cordless phones, saying the “next generation of mobile networks are designed for VoIP”.
Thus, businesses with a commendable flat-rate tarriff can operate VoIP over a 3G connection. That is, so long as they do it well within the terms, conditions as well as regulations, no matter if the operation itself remains largely out of the commonplace and the conventional for quite a number of years yet. VoIP on wireless networks is beset by troubles involving quality of service and coverage. “I think through that in five years you will have more people using Voice-over-3G network than using it with Wi-Fi. But both of those numbers will remain dwarfed by people just using circuit-to-cellular,” Bubley mused even further.
Michael Coci, who is currently the product marketing director at wireless switch vendor Trapeze Networks, shared that assigning extra traffic onto wireless LANs was indeed a reasonable, even practical alternative to go for, particularly for businesses. “In the enterprise environment you have a much deeper amount of control over the RF environment, over the handset, over the quality of service. And in the environment it’s absolutely a viable, and in fact, ultimately for a better solution than Voice-over-3G.”
IDC’s Halilovic concludes the debate by saying: “It’s is our firm belief that all voice will be eventually be transferred over IP. Whether it is going to be in our lifetimes, is open to debate.”


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Friday, June 15, 2012 | 2:02 a.m.
Since 1976, Nevadans have had the ability to vote for “none of these candidates” in federal and statewide races.
On Tuesday, the day of the primary election, a group of voters filed a federal lawsuit seeking to toss “none” off the fall ballot, alleging that it violates the Constitution and federal election laws.
Nevada is the only state that allows voters such an option, but as a battleground state in the presidential election, the parties are fighting for every vote. As Sun columnist and political commentator Jon Ralston first reported, a group of voters, including some prominent Republicans, filed the lawsuit aimed at generating more votes. Ralston posted the suit on his blog.
The lawsuit claims that the provision disenfranchises voters because it “expressly and unequivocally requires state officials to disregard legally cast votes from properly registered and duly qualified voters.”
In other words, casting a vote for “none” is throwing your vote away, and if you do that, you’ve apparently disenfranchised yourself because “none” can’t win an election. If “none” gets more votes than any other candidate, the person with the next highest vote total wins.
The lawsuit wants to force people to choose between candidates, arguing that without “none” on the ballot in the races for president and senator, voters will “cast their votes for one of the candidates running for those offices, including Gov. (Mitt) Romney and Sen. (Dean) Heller.” As an example, the lawsuit cites a Republican who says he plans to vote for “none,” adding that if he doesn’t have that option, he’ll pick Romney.
The lawsuit also argues that this is larger than just the individual who picks “none” being disenfranchised. Using one plaintiff to try to make the point, it says that without the “none” choice, “his desired candidates have an increased chance of receiving additional votes, thereby adding to the efficacy of his own vote and the likelihood that it will prevail.”
The lawsuit assumes that people who would vote for “none,” which is typically a small percentage, would vote for someone instead of skipping a race.
But is “none” really throwing your vote away? Over the years, the supporters of “none” have argued that it serves a great purpose: It gives people a way to make a clear statement about their views on a race if they don’t like the candidates.
What do you think? Have you ever voted for “none of these candidates”? Do you like having it on the ballot? Let us know.
You can leave a comment or send your thoughts to: “None of these” c/o Letters to the editor, Las Vegas Sun, 2360 Corporate Circle, Third Floor, Henderson, NV 89074. Or send a letter via email: [email protected]. Or fax: (702) 383-7264. If you email, please put “None comment” in the subject line. (Clicking on the previous link should put it there automatically.)
Also, a few weeks ago, we wrote about growing up in Las Vegas and asked for your feedback. We have received some great feedback and will publish some of the comments in the next few weeks. So, you still have time to get your comments by sending us a letter, fax or email. You can see the original letter here. To email about growing up, you can click here.
Matt Hufman is editor of the editorial and opinion pages. Follow on Twitter @MattattheSun.


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Hongjiang Ancient Commercial Town in Huaihua
Hongjiang Ancient City was built along the two rivers of Yuan and Wu. It took shape in the late Yuan Dynasty and early Ming Dynasty. Until now, the atmosphere of this important ancient commercial town can still be experienced. The architectural style of Hongjiang Ancient City is typical of the Ming and Qing Dynasties and the south of the Yangtze River. At the same time, it has significant characteristics of Yuanxiang.
English Name: Hongjiang Ancient Commercial Town in Huaihua
Chinese Name: 怀化洪江古商城
Opening Hours: 08:00-17:00
Ticket Price: 120RMB
Best Time: All year round
Recommended Visiting Hours: One day
Location: Hongjiang district, Huaihua city, Hunan Province
Hongjiang Ancient Commercial Town
Hongjiang Ancient Commercial Town is a characteristic scenic spot in China’s Hunan Province.The town boasts more than 380 intact ancient structures erected during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, covering an area of 200,000 square meters. The buildings endured the ages with some wear, but they remain vivid reminders of the luxurious lifestyle of wealthy merchants.
Hongjiang Ancient Town features classic residential buildings of the south of Yangtze River, which present a living copy of the painting “Riverside Scenes on the Pure Bright Festival”. As one of the “Eight New Grand Sights in Hunan Province”, the ancient trade city has been listed as a key cultural unit under state protection.
Introduction of Hongjiang Ancient Commercial Town
This Town is a well-known scenic spot in China’s Hunan Province. The town boasts more than 380 intact ancient structures erected during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, covering an area of 100,000 square meters. The buildings endured the ages with some wear, but they remain vivid reminders of the luxurious lifestyle of wealthy merchants.
Hongjiang took shape in the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) and flourished in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.
Hongjiang Ancient City was built along the two rivers of Yuan and Wu. It took shape in the late Yuan Dynasty and early Ming Dynasty. Until now, the atmosphere of this important ancient commercial town can still be experienced. The architectural style of Hongjiang Ancient City is typical of the Ming and Qing Dynasties and the south of the Yangtze River. At the same time, it has significant characteristics of Yuanxiang. Every house in the city feels harmonious. Workers only used bricks, wood, and stone as materials, with no nails. They created solid, practical and artistic buildings. The exquisite window frames, lattice fans, door carvings, and delicate railings reflect the ingenuity of ancient Chinese architectural art.
Recently in Hongjiang, a grand and graceful Chinese style fresco painting was discovered. The fresco depicts the character “Fu” (meaning “Fortune” in Chinese) which often appears in paintings of animals such as magpies, red-crowned cranes, sika deer, and tortoises. This fresco embodies the rosy prospect of “Hongfuqitian” (an idiom means being supremely fortunate, with a homophone of “Hong” as Hongjiang in the first word) with five implications of fortune, promotion, longevity, happiness, and wealth in the form of animal paintings. The fresco’s style is exclusive to Hongjiang Ancient Commercial Town and remains a unique work of art even at the national level.
Attractions in Hongjiang Ancient Town
- The Ancient Escort Office
located in Hongjiang Ancient Town. Connecting Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, and Sichuan, the ancient city of Hongjiang used to be a commercial and cultural center in Southwest China. Excepting by boat on Yuan River and Wu River, the merchants usually transferred their goods by walking on the two roads.
- Garrison Head’s Office
Also called “汛把总署” in Chinese, is a National Key Protection Unit of Cultural Relic. Lying at Yuying Alley in Hongjiang Ancient Town, it was first built in 1728, the sixth year of the Yongzheng Period in Qing Dynasty.
- Hefeng Courtyard,
Well known as Shaoxingban, was an old brothel which is located in Kanglemen Street, Yujiachong Area, Hongjiang Ancient Town of Huaihua City. Built-in 1860, Qing Dynasty, the brothel was a special place for the rich and officials to visit prostitutes.
- Lijin Tax Bureau
Called “厘金局” in Chinese,is a Key National Museum of Cultural Relics. It lies at a small lane called Longchuanchong in Hongjiang Ancient Town and was built in 1855，the fifth year of the reign of Emperor Xianfeng of the Qing Dynasty. At that time, it was called “Hunan Lijin Bureau Hongjiang Branch”.
- Fuquantang Hall
Fuquan Hall, known as “福全堂, Fuquan Tang” in Chinese, is located inYijia Alley, Hongjiang Ancient Town. Fuquan Hall was first built in 1894, the twentieth year of the Guangxu Period in Qing Dynasty. It is a traditional Chinese medicine shop dealing in herb wholesale and herb processing.
How to Get There
- Visitors can take a bus from Huaihua South Station to get there. The bus fare is RMB20 yuan.
Useful Travel Tips
- When arriving or departing by bus, look out for the delightful old white pagoda on the south side of the river to the west of town.
- The best time to visit Hongjiang Ancient Commercial Town is Spring and Autumn.
- The ticket price includes the interpretation services of the local tour guide.
- Please follow the local guide to avoid getting lost in the old city.
More Attractions in Hunan
- Liuye Lake in Changde
- Taohuayuan Scenic Area in Changde
- Zhangguying Village in Yueyang
- Tongdao Wanfo Mountain in Huaihua
- Qianyang Ancient Town in Huaihua City
- Qu Yuan Temple in Yueyang

domain: geography