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Music Inspiration: Two Steps From Hell- 'Missing Letters'
"The time is always right to do what is right" - Martin Luther King, Jr
Fork In The Road
Amaya fixed the items she'd brought inside her tote since that was all that remained of her Earth life. Band aids. . .helpful. Nail polish. . .useless. Tissues. . .useable. Hair spray. . .she doubted neat hair would impress aliens. Mints. . .Oliver could eat those. Makeup. . .her dark circles needed help. A hand towel. . . .
"This stuff is useless, it's only for a wedding day" she grumbled flatly about the particular items because they weren't 'escape from earth' worthy. If so, she would've brought a suitcase of essentials fit personal care for the next three years. Not to mention, a pair of clothes that weren't seeped with her blood. She halted her rummaging for a moment to sigh in relief about the best parts of leaving her world because that was the positive affirmation she needed now more than anything. There would be no wedding and she was alive on a ship she'd never have believed would work in such a perfect condition. The technology of Christopher's people was amazing and she would ask to learn about his engineering culture to know what kind of future awaited Oliver because he was a bright one. She smiled widely to the silence filling her room as the advanced mothership failed to utter a peep and whispered softly, "I don't have to marry anyone. I feel bad for Davin but. . .this is what I wanted. . .to be with my Oliver. I don't have an obligation to anyone and can do whatever I want."
Looking at the ceiling, she waved an index finger and joked gently, "Take it easy on me next time, lord. I don't think a bullet hole is the answer but you have your mysterious ways."
She'd already hidden the trinket box containing her mementos in the high cabinets of the room to make sure they'd stay safe throughout the trip. Oliver could be quite a scamp when it came to rummaging but she made sure he'd never find that certain box. Not yet anyway.
"How can I tell him his mother's human? From the same kind of people that mistreat him?" she asked to herself with an ashamed tone and brushed strands of her unruly hair back. Even in a ponytail, her thick frizzy black hair managed to irritate her and she frowned to her stubborn mane. Well, at least she'd packed a bottle of smoothing balm for her hair so she wouldn't resemble a poodle. She brushed her palm over the crown of her head with a renewed smile and chuckled softly, "Good thing Oliver has no human phenotypes and didn't inherit this. He has a nice set of thick green scales just like his father."
She rummaged through the bottom of the tote and found nothing of value to be worn either. Only a toothbrush and hair brush were usable but found herself thankful for the former since waking up with dragon strength morning breath would have Oliver and Christopher shooing away from her. Deodorant had been thrown in for nervous sweating so at least her bodily odor wouldn't offend the two poleepkwa. Finding a copy of her vows, she ripped them in half because most of those heartfelt words belonged to one man alone and it wasn't Davin. Still, she may not have married him in the ceremony but they'd signed a marriage license as all couples had to before the wedding to prevent any religious snafus. Knowing that she was legally married didn't help the fact she was a million miles away from her planet and Davin would file for an annulment. That is, if he was told of her desertion and didn't believe an accident or kidnapping happened. She really hoped nobody had caught her on film with Christopher and decided to twist the truth by claiming he'd used her as a shield to shed more bad light on the poleepkwa.
I'm sure Elenor will take care of it for me after all of the second guessing I spoke of, she thought in contemplation and hoped Davin wouldn't pine over her since they'd dated for a few years. The bond tying her to Christopher, unfortunately, was airtight as Oliver connected them and it was one that was unbreakable. They would return together to free the rest of his people but for now, she could do nothing for those on Earth and keep walking with Christopher to achieve his goals. She hated the thought of not fighting for equality for everyone, human or poleepkwa, and wondered what would become of her spot on the firm, I'm sure MNU is having a party.
"Go ahead and celebrate your pants off, I'll be back soon" she declared firmly with a low grumble since she couldn't fight them legally anymore but her disappointment turned to delight when she noticed another helpful item. She grasped the white medicine bottle with a perky smile since she'd definitely need the item and laughed with delight, "Ooh, painkillers. These will be great for the monthly visitor. Ooh, lotion!"
Christopher walked in to see Amaya hugging several hygienic items but she dropped them onto the floor as soon as she noticed his presence. Oh dear, had he seen her hugging inanimate items? Clumsily, she leaned down to grab each item and quickly chucked them onto her new bed to smile modestly at him. After years of living apart, she'd forgotten how it felt to be within feet of him but in the end . . . she couldn't touch him or live in the same living space. It brought new changes for Amaya as she tried to find her comfort zone and she threw her tote over her new finds to smile modestly in welcome, "I was just. . .um. . .what brings you here?"
"Oliver wanted you to tell him a story" he informed with his own modest glance as his antennae dipped but she smiled widely to hearing their son needed her. Even as something as small as helping him sort through clothes or tell a tale brought her delight. Christopher loved to see her face light up at the mere mention of their child and wanted to keep nudging her in the direction of confessing the truth. He wanted to provide her with the most contact possible with Oliver to increase that need as their bond strengthened and explained with a soft trill, "I've been doing so the last few days but I have to make a maintenance check for a few hours. Can you stay with-"
"Of course!" she replied instantly without a single hesitation and thought about what stories her little one would love to hear. He was fascinated by tales of adventure, humor, and friendship but he wasn't picky over what genre his father decided to choose for a bedtime tale. It wasn't a frequent occurrence since the nights in the district were usually riddled with loud noises or gunshots but when Christopher could, he would regale him with tales. Amaya counted on her fingers eagerly as she spouted off ideas that came to mind for input, "I don't know which to recite, there's been so many. He liked the Ugly Duckling but he's always sad at the start and you were just confused, remember? There's the Three Little Pigs or maybe I could tell him one of your old childhood tales?"
"Anything will suffice, Amaya" he assured with a warm trill as she continued to count every story she knew out of memory. Christopher remembered how she used to recount tales during Oliver's first year to lull him to sleep and climbed into bed to read a novel with him if he wasn't tired. They were old joyful memories of the past that he couldn't relive but he could provide a future for his family where they wouldn't have to live in fear.
"Is everything okay on the ship?" she asked softly, not wanting his dream to be short-lived and endanger their lives. Christopher had lived in a district where education had been banned and the only lessons he had were those from his early years on Thalis and those of his mother. He wasn't an engineer or pilot but he tried his best with the automatic navigation system. He nodded to reassure everything was fine and she relaxed her shoulders because one single malfunction would send her running to scoop Oliver into her arms. She sighed nervously to that horrible thought since no human had ever been on alien ship before and lightly tapped his arm to joke, "Don't worry me now."
He shook his head to her playful banter and she smiled widely to cross her arms, glancing at him tenderly to say, "Did you hear how happy Oliver was to say he was free? I worried every single day for him for seven years, Christopher, and it's a huge weight off to know he's safe. You always keep your promises, no matter the high statistics against them or time. I wish it hadn't taken this long or been as disastrous . . . but you're both free and I know that one day, so will your people."
She blinked rapidly to push back tears since they arose any time she spoke of their son and hoped that someday, she could have what she and Christopher shared years ago. That sweet untainted love they held as they build a small life in a bleak district; it didn't matter where they lived as long as they were together. They were older now and had trained themselves to put everyone else first which made her wonder if there was a chance. She loved him beyond anything and would die for him just like she almost did back in the district. He was the only one.
"That will be the first priority when we arrive back home" he promised with a soft purr and reminded himself to find Wikus' cure along the way. If their technology survived and was still intact, the cure would be easier to concoct than assembling rescue for his people. Every time he fell asleep, he wondered whether his people had survived on Thalis and what the current state of their world was. He noticed shredded paper on the floor and asked curiously, "What did you tear?"
"My marriage license" she replied easily with a carefree grin since she was free of an unwilling union and could roam anywhere now. How could she not enjoy this grand opportunity? She was going where no man had gone before! It was an immense relief off her shoulders and turned to ask him, "Why?"
He stared at the bits of torn paper as the idea of her and another tugged at his heart. Had they really signed a union contract together? Was she truly bonded with a human? Human customs were still strange to him due to the physical separation between species in the city and he asked calmly for clarification, "You were mated to him then? I was under the impression that it was the day we left."
"Human marriages require a license first before a ceremony takes place so the license was drawn days before and the ceremony was then" she answered softly to make the news easier to bear but it made no difference to her current status. In her mind, she was still Amaya Turin and would not be changing that name anytime soon- not unless he asked it of her with his own customs. His anetenane flattened against his round head in disappointment and she walked over to him to grasp his shoulder to insist, "I told you I didn't want to marry him-"
"And now you are" he broke in quietly and she saw the rapid blinks that told her he was upset. How many times had they fought on this and she'd pointed out all roads would lead to her marriage to Davin? She wished he could speak to her as he used to years ago, trusting her completely, and wanted to gain that lost confidence. He refused to meet her gaze as he stared at the torn papers and murmured faintly, "You're legally bound to him-"
"Not out here and marriages can be annulled if sex hasn't occurred and it hasn't since I told him not until after the ceremony" she admitted sheepishly to the rules of modern marriage in her area and shook her head to shake his disappointment away. Why couldn't he see that she held no love for Davin because his was unrivaled? He was the father to her dearest child and she stated gently, "That's the choice you stuck me with, Christopher. I'm going to Oliver and you should patch up whatever you need to, okay?"
His hand grasped her forearm and she resisted from trailing her fingers over his skin as he asked tentatively, "Do. . .do you wish to go back to him?"
"Would my answer change anything?" she asked softly and gazed into his golden orbs to search for a flicker of that old love that left them breathless after a romp in their bed. She'd never seen him look so tidy in her life as his green skin shone brightly like polished emerald- he really was a handsome person to her. She could only wonder how the garb of the poleepkwa would look and remembered his hasty scribbles of robes with other items that were incredibly foreign to her. Her face became crestfallen to what would await her upon return to Earth and she whispered solemnly, "You'd still want me to be with my people and you'll push me back to them when we return-"
"That will be your choice" he cut in with a sigh as he laid out his real feelings on the matter because his mind had run circles over it. He'd done everything to protect her and where did it get her? She was shot and almost died under his inexperienced medical hands. No, he was taking a different approach this time to keep her safe. He released her arm to allow her to fix a few items for Oliver and explained with a low voice, "My choices did not bring out the expectations I wanted. Both of us were almost killed and that is what we must avoid. . .for Oliver's sake. If you want to stay on my planet, you may. I will no longer make decisions for you because we are capable adults now and the last thing I would want is your resentment. I know. . ."
He cleared his throat, restraining himself from touching her smooth caramel cheek, and spoke softly, "I know that I hurt you by imposing my approval of your marriage and it was wrong of me. I just wanted to keep you safe . . . all I've ever wanted was to protect and make sure you were taken care for."
"Humans are very self-reliant and adaptable . . . but I understand" she forgave easily, knowing her ongoing love for him always played a part in her decisions. His actions came from a good place in his heart and although they backfired, she understood. She sought the same for him and their child, leading her to admit freely, "I've always been happy by your side, you can't erase eighteen years of history together and I won't let you. I want to be around Oliver, I've missed seeing him grow up and this is another chance. . .I will not make the same choice. He's safe now-"
"You must tell him, Amaya" he whispered gingerly to the next step in their journey but she shook her head meekly with fear to the possible consequences. How would he react to that fact? They had weaved an entirely different story from the truth and it could shatter his self-concept and trust for his parents. Amaya wasn't ready to risk that but Christopher knew their child held the kindest little heart he'd known and assured, "He never holds any ill will towards anyone, especially to you. Our son deserves to know and needs his mother."
"I will but I need time, please?" she pleaded softly and he gave nod of reluctance, allowing her to come to terms with the decision. Her stomach was ravaged by nerves and her palms sweated to the thought of breaking Oliver's heart, closing her eyes to subside the lingering shame. It had torn her apart to leave her little hatchling in his white bassinet as he slept and it was a memory that failed to leave her when she was awake or in dreams. She placed both hands over her heart to disclose her fears to Christopher with a worried whisper, "He means everything to me and I want the timing to be perfect. I can't leave him again, I won't return to Earth. . .there isn't anything left for me there. I need to be with our son but he deserves a mother who won't abandon him-"
"You did not abandon him, Amaya" he insisted firmly and she shook her head, adamant that her choice would come to hurt their little youngling wandering the ship. He squeezed her shoulder gently, wanting to comfort her in a platonic manner despite the fact he wanted to embrace her and never let go. His golden eyes peered into hers to bore the reassurance into her mind and stated frankly, "It worked out in the end, nobody knows his link to you," his thumb grazed the side of her cheek gently as he smiled gratefully, "You did what a true mother would: a sacrifice for the well-being of her child. I know how much it hurt you, how it still does . . . but it's over. No more pretending and looking over our shoulders for MNU."
A raggedy breath of relief left her mouth and she managed a weak smile, "It is, isn't it? We don't have to hide our past and Oliver can roam freely- oh, he'll be so happy to run over the grass of your world. He can swim, just like we said he would. . .it's really sinking in, we're leaving my solar system for yours. . .you're free forever."
"Free as a bird" Christopher smiled proudly, trying out the words as if they were his first words all over again. It was indeed surreal to hear the sound and be the one saying it. He squeezed Amaya's shoulders, seeing that bright spark he'd seen during her prepubescent years that urged him to learn to fly (easier said than done), and resisted the urge to press his head to hers. A brief second was all it took to remind him that she wasn't his mate anymore or if she held the same love after lying to her he didn't. Either way, he spoke from the heart with a whisper, "I couldn't have done it without you, Amaya."
"I liked it but can I see the little hobbits again?" Oliver chirped curiously and reached for the book in her hands but she raised her hand to stop him. The youngling believed he'd been impolite in his actions but smiled in relief when Amaya tucked the covers around his form cozily to keep him warm. No, she was never strict with him and he loved that since he relished her undivided attention. He was so happy to have her beside him so she could play and talk to him; the ship didn't feel so lonely with her there.
"There, so you're all warm and no cold drafts can lick those cute little feet" she teased fondly and prodded his covered feet over the blankets, causing him to thrill happily to her joking. She fluffed his pillow with a smile before handing over her old 'Return of the King' copy with black and white illustrations to her expectant son, watching tenderly as his little fingers flipped through the pages to look at his favorite characters. She'd read that book during her secret stays with Christopher at seventeen, switching back and forth with him to read aloud to get into the popular story. By midnight, she had to pry the book from his grasp as she reminded he had to go to work the following morning. A small lapse in judgment resulted with both of them showing their affection with gentle nuzzling until he reminded her of their relationship ban. All those memories seemed so foreign after seven years of being away from Christopher, from everything they shared until it seemed just a twinkle of the past.
"Are hobbits real?" Oliver broke into her reminiscing and she blinked rapidly, smiling at him as if her faltering never occurred. Her son was too involved in the pictures to notice her rumination and kept flipping the pages carefully. The feel of clean crisp pages in his hands delighted him in comparison to yellow tattered pages that held liquid stains.
"No, just imaginary" she answered gently and placed her hand over the digital pad on the wall next to his bed to lower the lights by sweeping her hands downward. His antennae shot up as the dim lighting told him it was time to sleep and he groaned in disappointment, giving her a pout with those large watery pools of his. As a mother, she was both compelled to concede and read further into the night but stuck her hand out for the book as the latter choice won. His antennae flattened as his most charming expression failed for the night and she chuckled fondly, "Time for bed, sweet pea."
He handed back the book with a sullen 'oh' and cuddled into his warm covers to blink up at her with a light clack of his little mandibles. His left hand clasped over her wrist before she could move her hand to shut off the lights completely and he requested shyly, "Please stay with me? I. . .", he broke off weakly before whispering glumly, "I don't like the dark and father's not here, I. . ."
Amaya nodded silently with sympathy as she took his fear for the dark into account and wished she'd know that particular fact about him. There was still so much she didn't know about her son and the littlest things were the most important to her. A mother should know such things. She'd fed and cared for him; loving him every minute for as much as she could during her free months with him . . . did he know how much she loved him?
No, but I'm to blame for that, she thought glumly and slipped into the large bed Oliver shared with his father (the habit of sleeping next to him wasn't easy to let go of). The beds of the poleepkwa were the softest she'd ever slept in as the mattress contoured to one's body shape. It was almost like a cloud! It was longer than the average human bed due to the taller height and the width varied, depending on one's living status. The room had been Laura's and with three children in her arms upon arrival during the exodus, received a bed to hold her and the children. Poleepkwa had no issue with their children sleeping in bed with them during young ages and practiced it for bonding since they were a collectivistic society.
The blankets, however, were of cotton since the survivors had used them for protection against the cold and for food when they'd been trapped over Jo'burg. Christopher had wrapped himself in one blanket with his siblings and when hunger had struck, eaten part of the fabric to pacify the aching in their stomachs. Amaya couldn't imagine the horror of those days and admired how far Christopher had come but he would push onwards to uplift his people.
She couldn't huddle Oliver close like a mother or risk questions but he didn't care, cuddling up against her without a word to purr contently for not having to be alone. He felt safe and cared for whenever Amaya was nearby and with his father leaving to keep the ship in perfect condition, he longed for company. Human children of his age could do without constant companionship but poleepkwa younglings craved it, even sitting next to another would do. His father was lucky to have friends like Jane, Paul, Adam, and Amaya since he never felt alone and could curl up against them to simply snooze in comfort. Amaya rubbed his back gently to ease his worry about loneliness and promised quietly with a caring smile, "I'll make sure you don't spend a minute alone in the dark, okay?"
"Mm-hmm" he agreed thankfully and shifted under the blankets to curl up cozily against her. Body heat and physical contact were wonders for children, leading him to bundle up beside her with a purr as he asked quietly, "Are you scared of the dark?"
"When I was a youngling like you, yes, but I've always been more scared of MNU" she admitted gently as her first meeting with MNU and Christopher popped fresh into her mind. Goodness, she hoped her little one hadn't suffered such things. She'd had nightmares for weeks about that frightening quarantine zone and had longed to know what had become of the first alien she'd met. Fate had a strange way of bringing them together for the long haul and Amaya was happy to be along for the ride.
Oliver whimpered next to her, clutching the overlarge black shirt Christopher allowed her to borrow for sleeping. The sound caught her off-guard and she hugged him closer immediately to cease whatever fear had seized him. Was the dark already scaring her little one? Oliver's hands didn't weaken their grip and he trembled for a brief moment before squeaking softly, "They scared me. I was playing because father worried over fuel and they . . . they pointed guns a-and I-I thought. . ."
Oliver warbled weakly against her chest with shame and Amaya held him tightly at the idea of those bastards laying a hand on him. His soft sullen sounds broke her heart as he clutched her and she kept him close to her side. She could barely hear his words as he whispered fearfully to admit, "I thought they want to kill me. . .I was so scared. . .but father shoved me inside before they could. H-He always protects me."
"Because he loves you immensely" she said with a proud grateful smile, knowing Christopher would sacrifice his own life in a heartbeat for their child. Oliver purred contently as she enveloped him tightly in a hug that took his fear for MNU and the dark away, filling his heart with warmth. Meanwhile, she promised herself that Oliver would never step foot on her planet again. How dare a company armed head to foot in weaponry point a gun at an innocent child? What could his slim form possibly do? He was small! God, her species was pathetic in letting MNU have complete control over an entire species. His wary warbling turned into sleepy purrs as he rested in her arms and she made sure he was tucked in comfortably as she promised, "I'll make sure no humans scare you again, okay? I'm here to look after you whenever your papa's not around. Nobody will ever harm you while we're alive."
"I'd like that" he purred fondly and nuzzled his head under her chin, bringing up locked memories of his hatchling days in her mind. The stark realization was that that little hatchling was long gone and her son was a growing youngling just like his father had been when they met. He had no memory of her that they could share- he wouldn't match hers and vice versa- and the thought both compelled her to tell him the truth and to hide it so he wouldn't feel abandoned. She remained awake with her thoughts while Oliver was snug enough to fall asleep instantly, lightly mumbling under his breath, "You stay forever."
Amaya remained with her son for hours, content with hearing the soft sounds of his breathing and his incoherent mumbles of dreamland as he slept peacefully. All she wanted was for him to lead a happy and stress-free life; a complete opposite of what his father endured. She flinched in surprise when the door to their quarter opened and heard Christopher's feet tap against the metal flooring as he entered the dark room. Goodness, time flew by when she was beside Oliver.
"He's asleep" Amaya whispered to him as she tried to pinpoint where Christopher was in the dark and felt the bed shift lightly as he collapsed onto it to sleep. She liked their mattresses, they were extremely soft and vibrations were rarely left when another joined the bed which made for easy slumbering. Christopher merely grunted in return and she assumed he was tired after patching up another level of the ship and running diagnostics. It was a humongous ship and there was only one person to maintain everything. Since their escape, he was meticulous on making sure every level was patched up (especially the engine room) to make sure nothing could go wrong during the journey. In the morning shift, he would skip ahead a few light years to keep their schedule on track and not overburden the recently dormant ship.
"I'm going to head back-" she brought up to break the pin dropping silence that every soundproof room on the ship had and to return Christopher's privacy.
"No, you can stay and besides, I'm sure he's already clinging to you" he broke in tiredly with a yawn and wrapped himself up in the warm blankets, gently squeezing his son's arm to let him know he was there. Oliver merely whimpered in his sleep and kept his grip on Amaya's shirt as he slept on without a disturbance. Christopher's fingers grazed over Amaya's forearm as she held the youngling close and the familiar soft skin brought prickles of bittersweet delight after years without his touch. His voice delighted her ears in the darkness as he informed quietly with exhaustion, "The bed is large enough for all of us so sleep. Oliver will be happy to see you in the morning cycle."
She smiled in the dark and felt the tiny puffs of Oliver's breath against her neck causing her to respond fondly, "So will I. Hmm, my little ray of sunshine."
"Tell him soon Amaya, that is all I will say" Christopher advised one last time since the ship gave them the time and safe refuge for her to admit the truth rather than waiting when they landed on Thalis. They would all need to be strong to tread forward and he wouldn't have Oliver worried over their mission and lineage.
Amaya blended into the quiet room as she ruminated over that decision as one part wanted to spare Oliver the pain of her leave and the other wanted her son back. She had to do what was best for her child and Christopher knew best after she entrusted his care to him. Nobody else knew their son better and she snuggled into the sheets to hold her dear child as she agreed quietly, "You're right, I will."
Yes, it was time everything was divulged to Oliver but she would tread carefully with her words to prevent horrible fallout.
A/N: I was actually going to wait another chapter for Amaya to spill the beans but I can't find my outline for this story (cue dramatic 'why?'). There are so many notebooks in my house that I've grouped them all together and hope I didn't throw them out- I do so after every semester for classes I'll never use with my major. Hopefully, I'll be able to find my notepad soon but for now, I'll be writing off the top of my head and hope I didn't skip over something important. Thank you all for following the story since it should've been updated sooner but what can you do when life and book issues get in the way? Enjoy your holidays around the world, readers!


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This Mango Salsa is refreshingly light and goes great with chips or crackers. Full of bright colors and bursts of flavor, it’s perfect for a summer barbecue. This is a sponsored post on behalf of Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen.
Summer is winding down and I am trying to squeeze out every last bit of fun in the sun before the busyness of the school year starts back up. We have enjoyed sleeping in (and staying up too late), picking sweet summer blueberries of the vine, and even a quick little vacay down to Waco.
We might not have made it to any beach destinations but it was fun exploring a little more of our home state. If you don’t have any exotic vacations planned either, don’t fret, you don’t have to renew your passport this summer to have a taste of the tropics!
Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen serves up hand-crafted drinks and scratch-made goodness all summer long to make your favorite neighborhood spot feel like the beach.
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Hand-crafted island favorites like:
- Maui Margarita
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Tropical-inspired menu items:
- Sweet Heat Chicken & Shrimp
- Grilled Tilapia and Shrimp with Mango Salsa
This Mango Salsa was inspired by one of my favorite dishes at Cheddar’s. It just screams “sunny day” to me with all of the beautiful, bright colors. It’s so light and refreshing, and you can easily adjust the heat up or down to your taste.
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This Mango Salsa is refreshingly light and goes great with chips or crackers. Full of bright colors and bursts of flavor, it's perfect for a summer barbecue.
- 1 mango
- 1/4 red onion
- 1 Jalapeno
- 2 tbsp red pepper diced
- 2 tbsp cilantro
- Squeeze of 1/2 lime
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Peel and chop the mango into small cubes.
Finely dice the red onion, Jalapeno, and red pepper.
Roughly chop the cilantro and add all the above ingredients to a medium bowl.
Squeeze half of one lime into the bowl, season with salt and pepper, and toss well.
You may devein and remove the seeds from the peppers or leave them as desired.

domain: food


Square Enix had a couple of interesting announcements recently in regard to Dragon Quest X for the Wii. To say their approach to this Dragon Quest game has been controversial is a bit of an understatement, charting new territory for the series as an online game.
Square Enix has said that they expect to support Dragon Quest X for 10 years, and that they are hoping for new DLC about every 10 weeks (quite the pattern of 10 here). The hope is to make the content significant, including story quests and not just superficial updates.
It was also announced that Dragon Quest X will have twice as many servers to handle all of that online activity as well as fixing some bugs with scheduled maintenance on the servers.
10 years? Wow, just as long as it's been supporting FFXI.
I really hope this gets a global release. I could be the one person in Australia still playing 10 years down the track 😛
I have to say that I was initially a bit skeptical about this, but I've generally liked what I've seen to date.


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Sweetcorn seeds : Ovation F1 Hybrid
SowingSow individually, 2cm (¾in) deep in 5cm (2in) pots of good seed compost to avoid root disturbance. Sow at 15C (59F) under glass or in a propagator. Can also be sown direct outside in warm soil from mid May.GrowingGrow on steadily and gradually harden off prior to planting out from late May, or once frost risk has passed. Grow in a block for best pollination, allowing 38cm (15in) between plants each way.Aftercare Prefers a fertile soil in full sun.FloweringcroppingHarvest mid August to September.Plant typeVegetable
Buy any three example products, and you'll receive the cheapest one free. Click
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domain: biology


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domain: medical


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We can help you find the right treatment facility that best fits your overall needs and financial requirements.


THE opposition MDC’s elective congress in Gweru last month failed to deal with the party’s thorny succession issue, setting the stage for potentially explosive power struggles in the event that its president Nelson Chamisa fails to complete his five-year term, party insiders claim.
BY BLESSED MHLANGA
Insiders said the matter of succession is sensitive and the thematic committee mandated with constitutional reforms deliberately left out the issue for fear of being accused of plotting Chamisa’s ouster.
“Currently, the party has three equal vice-presidents, all three were elected at congress and there is, therefore, not one of them more superior to the others,” an insider said.
“This leaves the party in a crisis if the president becomes incapacitated or for whatever reason fails to complete his term of office. The question that would need to be answered is: Of the three, who will act as president?” Chamisa, however, dismissed the allegations, saying the MDC constitution was amended at congress and will soon be crafted to deal with all the grey areas.
“The national council will sit on Wednesday and will finalise all the outstanding matters of congress. We will then avail the amended constitution of the party which will be comprehensive and will deal with those matters; it will be clear and concise,” he said.
Law lecturer Valentine Mutatu noted that in the absence of the amendments, it would be too early to say there is a succession crisis in the MDC.
“Given that they have three equal deputies to the president, there is need to have a clear statement on succession by the MDC in its amended constitution. If they don’t place that, then they set themselves for a political crisis in terms of their succession,” Mutatu said.
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- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
The opposition party, which also moved to break with the past by resolving to have one vice-president from 2024 onwards, is currently balancing a fragile reunification pact with its erstwhile colleagues who quit during the late leader Morgan Tsvangirai and rejoined the movement in the run-up to last year’s polls. . It will continue with three vice-presidents to complete the integration of the MDC Alliance into the MDC. Jameson Timba, who was behind crafting the MDC Alliance constitution, confirmed that congress was a platform to ensure that Tendai Biti’s People’s Democratic Party and Welshman Ncube’s MDC returned to the fold electively.
“We have completed the reunification of the MDC. The election of Ncube and Biti into the vice-presidency marks the end of the job we started as the MDC Alliance and takes us forward as the reunited MDC and it’s a critical stage for us,” Timba said.
The ruling Zanu PF party has had a similar succession crisis since the era of former President Robert Mugabe, where talk of succession was considered taboo.


text:
Trip #3- July 20, 21, 22, 2018
Friday, Saturday, Sunday
AMTRAK Train Trip from Charlotte, N.C. and stops along the way to Washington, D.C. (3 days, 2 nights) Trip price includes: roundtrip train ticket to/from Washington, transportation to/from train station, two nights hotel, two breakfasts, and tickets to two baseball games.
Deposit for this trip is $250.00 per person and must be booked by April 15, 2018. Balance must be paid by June, 15, 2018. **This Trip does not depart from Asheville. Passengers from Asheville can participate in a car caravan to the closest AMTRAK station along the route. Passengers may also board this trip in the following N.C. cities and towns: Kannapolis, Salisbury, High Point, Greensboro, Burlington, Durham, Cary, Raleigh, Wilson, and Rocky Mount.
Friday, July 20: Atlanta Braves at Washington Nationals.
Saturday, July 21: Atlanta Braves at Washington Nationals.
- $579.00 per person/2 to a room
- $539.00 per person/3 to a room
- $519.00 per person/4 to a room
- $689.00 per person/1 to a room
- Senior Citizens (62+) Deduct $20.00.
- Children (2-12) Deduct $50.00.
Want to see only 1 baseball, game, deduct $40.00. Don’t want to see any baseball games, deduct $80.00. There are Washington D.C. touring opportunities from the hotel.
- 6:00 a.m. Arrive at Charlotte, NC AMTRAK Station
- 7:00 a.m. Train Departs Charlotte NC for Washington, DC.*
- 10-11 a.m. Train picks up passengers in Cary and Raleigh, NC.
- 11:45 a.m. Train picks up passengers in Rocky Mount, NC.
- 4:40 p.m. (approx.) Train arrives in Washington, DC.
- 5:00 p.m. Ground Transportation from Washington to hotel.
- 5:30 p.m. Hotel Check-in.
- 6:30 p.m. walk to ballpark for game, Atlanta Braves at Washington Nationals (15 minute walk).
- 7:00 p.m. Game time.
- 10:15 p.m. Game ends, return to hotel.
- 8-9 a.m. Enjoy breakfast in the hotel (included in your trip cost)
- 9:15 a.m.-6 p.m.Free time for touring, visiting sites in DC on your own or with a tour company (your expense)
- 6:30 p.m. Walk to ballpark for game, Atlanta Braves at Washington Nationals (15 minute walk).
- 7:00 p.m., Game time.
- 10:00 p.m. Game ends, return to hotel.
Sunday, July 22, 2018:
- 8:00-9:00 a.m. Enjoy breakfast in the hotel (included in your trip cost)
- 9:30 a.m. Hotel check out, Ground Transportation to Union Station for return to NC.
- 11:00 a.m. Train departs Washington for Charlotte, with stops in .
- 4:40 p.m. Train arrives in Rocky Mount, NC.
- 5:15-6:00 p.m. Train arrives in Raleigh and Cary, NC.
- 8:45 p.m. Train arrives in Charlotte, NC.

domain: travel


text:
Marty Biron is ready to face his pedagogue. On Wednesday night in HSBC Arena, Biron came just a second short of two minutes from recording his first shutout of the season. The Sabres scored just enough to pull off a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers and the fact that it was Biron in goal instead of Dominik Hasek didn't seem to matter. The Sabres defense, which won the Jennings Trophy as the top defense in the league last season, put a blanket around their young goalie and the Flyers could not penetrate it until very late in the game.
Archives for October 11, 2001
'"We'd like to score six or seven goals on him," McKee continued jokingly. "It will be tough to do."'
Wheeeeee! Up and down we ride the roller coaster. Four games into the season, and I'm not sure who the Sabres are just yet.
This time, the Buffalo Sabres got the last minute of the second period right.
Float like a butterfly. Sting like a Bi. That's how the Buffalo Sabres landed a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers at HSBC Arena on Wednesday night in the first of three consecutive early-season gut checks.
'Biron backstopped a magnificent team defensive effort, as the Sabres blocked 24 shots to the Flyers' two.'
'Barnes is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, but both sides intend to shore up a new contract before that happens.'
'The Sabres did a lot of things right. They boxed out the Flyers' big men, denied rebounds by forcing the puck to the boards, then cleared it. Everywhere a Flyer went, he was shadowed by a Sabre. Buffalo double-teamed especially well in the corners.'
'"They sent Mika [Noronen] to Rochester so, to me, the big picture is 50 minutes down the road," said Biron, 24, the Sabres' first-round pick in the 1995 draft.'
'They again spotted the opposition a two-goal edge in the third period, for the third time in four games. This time, their comeback fell short, and they suffered their first loss, 2-1, to the Buffalo Sabres.'

domain: news


text:
The Gossey Way
At Gossey Lane we expect all our children to embrace the Gossey way of life. There are three key rules which we expect all children, staff and visitors to follow.
Gossey Lane community values diversity and seeks to give everyone in the school an equal chance to learn, work and live, free from the action, or fear, of racism, discrimination, or prejudice. By our actions we will work together to develop the potential of all children and to establish a community that is just and fair for all people who work at or visit Gossey Lane Academy.
At Gossey Lane we value good behaviour in the classroom and elsewhere to promote the school as a learning community and to ensure that classrooms are safe and effective learning environments. The highest regard is given to the quality of relationships between staff and children. We seek to develop independent and autonomous young people who are self-disciplined and who are able to self–regulate and manage their behaviour.
The Young People Advocate will contribute to school life on a wider scale, acting as a critical friend to support the school in becoming a nationally recognised centre of excellence.
We believe that all children should be aware of the standards of behaviour that are expected of them and that working with children we will help them to take responsibility for promoting these standards. We hope that by encouraging positive behaviour patterns we can promote good relationships throughout the school built on trust and understanding, and that through the use of this policy we can support all of our children in developing a high level of individual and social responsibility. The aims of this document are:
- To create a culture of exceptionally good behaviour: Ready For Learning and Ready For Life
- To ensure that all learners are treated fairly, shown respect and to promote good relationships
- To use “affective language“ which encourages the learner to engage positively and understand the impact of their behaviour. We use impersonal language and all staff are trained in de-escalation techniques for dealing with challenging behaviour.
- To help learners take control of their behaviour and be responsible for the consequences of it
- To build a community which values kindness, care, good relationships and empathy for others
- To ensure that excellent behaviour is a minimum expectation for all
Standards of behaviour
The school understands that modelling good behaviour is to lead by example. This means that all staff, volunteers, and other visitors must act responsibly and professionally. We work hard to ensure that discipline is consistent across the school so that behaviour boundaries and sanctions are clear to all and are applied fairly, proportionately, and without discrimination, taking into account SEN needs and disabilities, as well as the additional challenges that some vulnerable children may face. Staff are trained to deal with behavioural issues as part of their continual professional development.
We work with parents to understand their children and their behaviour. We believe that in conjunction with behaviour boundaries and sanctions, good support systems, praise, and rewards for good behaviour are all an important part of building an effective learning community. The school will report behaviour, good or bad, to parents regularly. We encourage parents to communicate with the school if they have a concern about their child’s behaviour, and we will do as much as possible to support parents as and when they need it. We promote good behaviour within the school curriculum and reminders of expected standards of behaviour are up on walls in classrooms and situated around the school.
Staff must be a constant presence around the school, in-between classes, during breaks in the school day, and at lunch times in order to check that children are using the school grounds respectfully and behaving appropriately. This will support the building of positive relationships outside the classroom.
We recognise that where individual children are engaging in continuing disruptive behaviour this can be as a result of mental health needs. If such needs are identified we will do all we can to ensure that the pupil receives appropriate support. We recognise our legal duties under the Equality Act 2010 in respect of children with SEN and/or disabilities. Whilst all children identified with SEN and/or disabilities are covered under this behaviour policy, we recognise that these children often require support which is different from, or in addition to, that required by their peers in order to take full advantage of the educational opportunities available to all children. An Individual One Page Profile will be used for children who’s SEN and/or disabilities cause them to display challenging behaviour.
Advice will be sought from external agencies where necessary to assist with putting in place appropriate support strategies, which will be monitored and reviewed. Please read the school’s special educational needs policy for more information.
The school will take all reasonable measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children and staff and this includes protection from bullying. We aim to combat bullying and other harmful behaviour using, amongst others, preventative strategies through the active development of children’s social, emotional and behavioural skills.
Working with Children
Gossey Lane Academy expects all children to show respect to one another, to school staff, and anyone else that they may meet. Incidents of bullying, denigration, or bringing intentional harm to other children or staff will not be tolerated. Children are ambassadors for our school including when travelling to and from school premises, and we expect them to act accordingly. They are expected to obey school rules, listen and follow instructions and demonstrate the Gossey Values. School work and homework should be well presented, completed to a high standard, and handed in on time. If children are struggling to meet the requirements of their workload for any reason, they should discuss this with their class teacher who will work with them to draw up a support plan.
Key steps and actions in tackling behaviour
The expectation - All children will begin the morning and afternoon sessions with a fresh start. This gives them the opportunity to show that they can follow The Gossey Way. This gives the children opportunities to receive praise and rewards for their conduct.
Redirection - If a child is not following the expected behaviour they are given a non-verbal reminder of expected behaviour. This is a gentle ‘nudge’ in the right direction.
Reminder - a reminder of expectations. Ready, Respectful, Safe delivered in private. Repeat reminder if necessary. De-escalate and decelerate where reasonable and possible and take initiative to keep things at this stage.
Warning - Further unacceptable behaviour means that the adult gives the child a verbal reminder. This should be a clear verbal caution delivered privately wherever possible, making the learner aware of their behaviour and clearly outlining the consequences if they continue.
Reflect – At this point the adult must allow time for the child to ‘put it right’. However, the child should have ‘put it right’ within a reasonable time and normally before the end of the lesson. The teacher may choose to send the child for a ‘cool down’ period to another class. The classes are allocated on our behaviour ‘cool down’ time flowchart. After returning from the partner class, the child has the choice to ‘put it right’. If the child chooses not to, a member of SLT will be sent for (as per the ‘H’ card procedures below).
Reparation – A Restorative meeting and/or phone call home should take place within 24 hours. This is to inform the parents of any behaviour concerns or repeated, negative behaviour patterns and build a positive partnership to tackle concerning behaviours. Senior leaders will contact parents if the behaviour is a high concern following a serious breach.
Formal – A meeting with the Behaviour Lead, Deputy Head or Head teacher recorded with agreed targets that will be monitored/reviewed on a two week basis.
Behaviour Intervention – For children who are causing continued low level disruption but having high learning impact on themselves or others, behaviour target cards will be put in place to support the pupil by lesson. These may be part of a One Page Behaviour Profile or a short term, stand-alone intervention. Class teachers will at the end of each session, praise children and explain what they have done well, or ensure the pupil understands how they can improve their behaviour. At the end of the day there will be a delegated member of the Pastoral or Senior Leadership Team who will discuss the behaviour progress for that day.
Our School Rules: Ready, Respectful, Safe
- We arrive at school on time, every time ready to learn.
- We are ready to take on new challenges.
- We are ready to listen and learn.
- We wear our uniform with pride and have all the correct uniform for indoor and outdoor P.E.
- We take part fully in lessons and show resilience.
- We respect, follow and demonstrate Gossey Values.
- We are respectful to our own and others belongings.
- We respect difference and know we are all equal. (Rights Respecting)
- We look after our environment and never drop litter.
- We are polite and show our manners at all times.
- We know who to talk to for help and support.
- We stand up to bullying of all kinds including staying safe online.
- We follow instructions carefully.
- We know how to stay safe online both in school and at home.
Rewards and Sanctions
We want our children to understand that there are always consequences to our actions, therefore we have both positive and negative consequences, according to our behaviour choices. School dojos are the main reward system in the school and all adults will reward children with dojos for their good conduct and efforts. Excellent behaviour, which goes beyond the general high expectation, should be rewarded.
Rewards and sanctions must be age appropriate and should reflect the level of behaviour. They must be attainable for all pupils and not just for a selected few. Rewards once issued will never be taken away from a child.
We want all of our children to aim to be a ‘Gossey Great’ and go ‘Above and Beyond’. If a child is given a Gossey Great Award, they will receive a certificate during the Gossey Great assembly.
Specific rewards include:
- Points awarded on Class Dojo for excellent behaviour and demonstrating ASPIRE values and learning behaviours.
- A written comment on work with specific points picked out for comment
- An individual award e.g. Sticker or note of praise home
- A visit to a more senior member of staff for positive commendation
- A public word of praise in front of a group, class, key stage or the school
- Public written acknowledgement through good Gossey Great assemblies
- School Certificates, formally presented (including learning behaviour certificates) Rewards are not taken away from a child once awarded.
Section 91 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 introduced a statutory power for teachers and certain other staff to discipline children. Gossey Lane Academy operates using the following disciplinary measures:
- Homework Support for non- completion
- Supervised Attendance (internal isolation)
- Fixed Term Exclusions/Permanent Exclusions
- Target Cards
- One Page Behaviour Profiles (BOPS)
- Parental meetings
- Reduced timetable
Consequences are proportionate. In determining whether a consequence is reasonable, section 91 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 says that the consequence must be reasonable in all circumstances and that account must be taken of the child’s age, any special educational needs or disability they may have, and any religious requirements affecting them.
In addition, a referral to Beacon Behaviour Support may be carried out to support children who are struggling to meet the expectation for behaviour. We will also complete Positive Handling Plans and Risk Assessments for children. Sanctions are adapted relating to the seriousness and frequency of the behaviour. (Article 37 – Rights of the Child)
If a pupil makes a negative choice about their behaviour they will have some reflection time where they will be supported to think about their actions, how this affected others, and how they can make better choices next time. During restorative conversations children will have the opportunity to give their version of the incident and will be listened to by the adult. (Article 12 Rights of the child)
Staff are expected to record the restorative conversations they carry out on CPOMS and cannot pass the conversation on to someone else. They must ensure parents are reported to where conversations are having to be held on a regular basis. The behaviour Lead must be consulted if staff wish to raise a concern and where an intervention is required.
A serious breach is an incident that may lead to a fixed term exclusion or internal exclusion but will always lead to a Restorative Conversation.
Working with Parents and Carers
Parents play a big part in ensuring that their children are responsible for their own behaviour in school. We ask that all parents and carers respect and support the school’s policy and the authority of the school staff. This can be done by:
- Building school life into a natural routine
- Ensuring that children are at school on time, appropriately dressed, rested, and equipped
- Encourage children to adhere to school rules and procedures
- We ask parents to work with the school in support of their child’s learning, which includes informing the school of any special education needs or personal factors that may result in their child displaying unexpected behaviour. We ask that parents be prepared to attend meetings at the school with staff or the Head teacher to discuss their child’s behaviour and to adhere to any parenting contracts put in place.
- In the case of exclusions, parents must provide appropriate supervision for their child during the time that they are excluded from school and, if invited, to attend a reintegration interview at the school with their child.
Bullying at Gossey Lane Academy is very rare and is always taken very seriously. Please follow this link to find out more about our approach to anti-bullying.
Gossey Lane Academy follows the KiVa Programme.
Links with other policies
This behaviour policy is linked to the following policies:
- KCSIE 2023-2024
- WHMAT Safeguarding Policy
- Attendance Policy
- Gossey Lane SEND Policy
- Gossey Lane Anti-bullying Policy
The Gossey Way
Ready, Respectful and Safe

domain: sociology


text:
about as a way to teach Louisiana geography to seventh graders.
It also gives them the opportunity to learn writing and communication skills
taught in ELA class. The orginal idea came after receiving several Flat Stanley letters
from elementary schools across the country. I figured if they could
learn United States or World geography, we could learn Louisiana geography.
Adding a little Louisiana spice and humor -
T-Flat Boudreaux was born.
As I took part in
several technology classes, I always had to
write lessons using a technology connection -
And T-Flat's destinations were born.
You can check out T-Flat's travels and adventures by clicking here.
Below are links to
the lesson plan, all templates, and the trackstar links
for T-Flat's travels. Modify them as needed.
Meet T-Flat Lesson Plan
T-Flat Boudreaux cut out Template
T-Flat Introduction Letter Template
T-Flat "About Us" Letter Template
www.Louisiana101.com © 2002 Greg English

domain: geography


text:
In Zoe, you see the honeymoon phase but not the emotional intimacy that makes a relationship last.
One may wonder whether Per Fly would have been better served by making a documentary about the oil-for-food scandal.
The film is in love with the tropes it ridicules, and it doesn’t take long for that love to dwarf any possibility of critique.
Andrew Renzi treats unfettered wealth as a hyperbolic playground through which to explore masculine insecurity.
A Little Golden Book version of drastically simplified socialism accompanied with a healthy dose of warmongering bravado.
Neil Burger’s film transcends the déjà vu of its borrowed trappings but ironically sacrifices all momentum in favor of a long series of physical tests.
Its saving grace are the moments when Owen sheds his old-dog exterior and justifiably barks at Clark in the wake of his hotheaded antics.

domain: artistic


In an unexpected change of events, Bianca Peters, Fox News New York’s popular morning co-anchor, is saying goodbye to the early hours and embarking on a new chapter in her broadcasting career.
As the curtain rises on 2024, Bianca’s choice to leave the AM slot has fans humming with anticipation.
Let’s take a whimsical look at what prompted Bianca Peters’ decision and how she’s charting her destiny in this unexpected twist.
Bianca Peters, the morning co-anchor at Fox News New York, has undergone a schedule change in 2024.
She stepped away from the morning slot, co-hosting Good Day New York with Rosanna Scotto, and is now set to co-host The Fox 5 News at 6 p.m. and The Noon in the afternoon.
While fans may miss Bianca’s beautiful grin in their morning routine, the network assures them that she isn’t saying goodbye, but rather pulling off a fantastic switcheroo.
Bianca will co-host The Fox 5 News at 6 p.m. and The Noon in the afternoon. This dynamic move promises to inject new excitement into the day’s latter portions, ensuring that viewers get their daily dosage of Bianca charm at a different time.
As word spread about Bianca’s transfer, the anchor rushed to Instagram to express her joy.
In a post, she announced 2024 to be the “year of ‘work-life balance,'” a concept that many aspire to but sometimes find difficult. However, Bianca is determined to make it happen.
Her commitment involves waking up and going to bed at ‘regular’ hours, which is quite a treat for someone used to the early morning rush.
The shift in her schedule is more than simply a professional decision; it is a conscious step towards a more balanced and meaningful existence.
In a culture that frequently glorifies the grind, Bianca’s decision speaks to those seeking balance.
As the word spread, Bianca’s devoted followers couldn’t help but express a range of emotions. Some fans expressed their admiration for the morning team, saying they will miss the contagious connection between Bianca and Rosanna Scotto.
Comments varied from, “Gonna miss you in the morning,” to deep thanks for the duo’s energetic and vibrant conversation.
However, change is unavoidable, and not all emotions are filled with sadness. Some admirers welcomed the concept of seeing Bianca in the afternoon and evening, realizing that it is not a farewell, but rather a ‘ see you soon at a different time.’
Amidst the virtual storm of farewells, one thing is clear: Bianca Peters has carved herself into the hearts of viewers, building a community that supports her path, regardless of the time slot.
Curt Menefee, a seasoned NFL presenter, enters the morning spotlight, bringing his brand of flair to the Fox 5 stage.
Menefee was thrilled with the chance, saying, “Morning television is something I’ve always wanted to do because of the variety.”
His dual function as a commuter between coasts throughout the NFL season promises a dynamic presence that will keep spectators interested and amused.
Bianca Peters bids farewell to mornings and welcomes afternoons and evenings at Fox 5, setting the stage for a transformational story.
In the dynamic world of broadcasting, change is the only constant. For Bianca, it’s more than simply a change in time slots; it’s a purposeful step towards a more balanced and rewarding existence.
Fans may remember the mornings spent with Bianca and Rosanna, but the Fox 5 tale continues with Curt Menefee bringing his distinct style to the early hours.
In this ever-changing world, one thing is certain: Bianca Peters’ vivacity and charm will continue to enchant viewers, whether with their morning coffee or when the day ends.
As the Fox 5 story unfolds in 2024, viewers can expect a delicious combination of characters, storylines, and the unpredictable enchantment that live television provides.
Whether it’s morning, noon, or evening, the Fox 5 family welcomes you to join them on this intriguing voyage through the twists and turns of New York’s bustling media environment.
Here you go for Bianca Peters’s social media post sharing her changed schedule:


text:
"We did see more pronounced increases in blood pressure in women. Now, we don't know the exact reason for that. However, we do know and there's data to suggest that the pandemic has tended to place more of an outsized burden on women, particularly women that work, and this is an employer-sponsored wellness program," Laffin said.
The study found that weight gain was not the apparent reason for climbing blood pressure levels during the pandemic -- even though making poor diet choices during the pandemic could have played a role, among other factors.
"Blood pressure control is pretty multifactorial. It probably does have to do with what we're eating, amongst other things," Laffin.
"Too much sodium or drinking more alcohol -- that's been well documented during the pandemic, and we know that increases blood pressure," Laffin said. "And then we know blood pressure is also affected by things like sleep, taking your medicine, all that plays a role."
Laffin added that while acute stress can raise blood pressure, the ongoing pandemic has been more so associated with long-term chronic stress.
"We do know that in settings of chronic stress, really the changes in blood pressure are probably driven by some of the lifestyle choices we make when we're stressed," Laffin said. "So, we choose to have that nachos and beer, rather than make that healthy choice of a salad, or we don't get as much sleep, or we choose not to go to the gym, we choose not to take our medicine. That's probably how stress actually manifests predominantly with respect to increased blood pressure."
High blood pressure increases the risk for heart disease and stroke, two leading causes of death for US adults, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
. The researchers noted in their study that an increase of 2 mmHg in systolic blood pressure is associated with significant increases in death from stroke and heart disease among middle-aged adults. The rise in systolic blood pressure among US adults in the study "could signal a forthcoming increase in incident cardiovascular disease mortality," the researchers wrote.
Overall, "during the pandemic, public health measures like vaccination and masks are clearly important, but probably equally important during a pandemic is not neglecting chronic risk factors for cardiovascular disease or chronic medical conditions," Laffin added. "So, make sure that you're doing healthy lifestyle things -- seeing your medical provider regularly, taking your medicine, if you're taking high blood pressure medicines, all very important."
Even before the pressures of the pandemic, a global study published in The Lancet
in August found that the number of people ages 30 to 79 with high blood pressure doubled from 1990 to 2019, and more than half of them are not being treated for it.
According to the Mayo Clinic, there are 10 ways to control high blood pressure
- Lose weight.
- Exercise regularly.
- Eat a healthy diet.
- Reduce sodium in your diet.
- Limit how much alcohol you drink.
- Quit smoking.
- Cut back on caffeine.
- Reduce your stress.
- Monitor your blood pressure at home and with your doctor.
- Get the support you need from loved ones.


AMD HD 6990 4GB Dual Graphics Video Card with 3 and 5-Monitor Eyefinity Review
The AMD HD6990 is a dual 2nd-generation DirectX 11 GPU armed with 4GB of GDDR5. The AMD HD6990 is also equipped with 3,072 Stream processors, 64 ROPs and a variable clock speed from 830MHz to 880MHz with the flick of a switch. With two monstrous Cayman XT GPUs, the AMD HD 6990 requires an equally strong cooling solution so it is equipped with a pair of vapor chamber heatsinks with phase-change thermal compounds and a centrally mounted blower-style fan that drives the heat out the back and front of the AMD HD6990.
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text:
A clear and well-written description of Gothic manuscript hands, with illustrations and historical context:
The final hundred years of the Gothic period, roughly 1350 to 1450, saw a rapid increase in literacy caused by the expansion and spread of universities, which in turn, led to a huge demand for books. Many professions, including the newly literate merchant class, joined the ranks of the book-consuming public, which before was composed primarily of aristocratic patrons and monastic scholars. This demand for books — and the ever-growing length of the works to be copied — put pressure on scribes to produce more work and to do it faster. The prevailing formal bookhands of the late Gothic period were tall, tightly spaced, angular, elegant, and written slowly with great care. These were Gothic Textura Quadrata with diamond-shaped terminal strokes or feet, and Gothic Textura Prescisus, without feet. Variations of these formal hands were seen primarily in “luxury” manuscripts. The luxury manuscripts of the thirteenth, fourteenth, and early fifteenth centuries in England and northern Europe were opulently decorated and illuminated treasures laboriously produced for the Church and for patrons among the nobility such as Jean, Duc de Berry, brother of Charles V, King of France. (Les Tres Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, completed in 1413 in the scriptoria and workshops of the Limbourg brothers [Pol, Jan, and Hermann], is a notable example.) The workaday hand of the Gothic period, used for one’s grocery list or casual notes, was Gothic Cursive, a quickly written, informal running script.
The elegant and stately Textura was marvelous to look at, but slow to write. With the huge demand for books, more quickly written — if less elegant — scripts, known as “bastard” hands, were developed. Simply stated, the term “bastard hand” implies a union between an informal or “base” script, such as any of the Gothic Cursive hands, and a formal or “noble” script such as Textura. Bastard hands were written with varying degrees of deliberation depending on the level of elegance and formality desired, or the speed required. When the emphasis is on speed, as in Bastard writing, it is easier to see the individual peculiarities of the hand of the scribe doing the writing.
Via wood s lot.

domain: library


text:
Zagreb Spin&Fly is situated in the centre of Zagreb and features air-conditioned accommodation with free WiFi. Zagreb Main Square can be reached in 600 metres, while the Dolac Market is 900 metres away. All units feature a flat-screen TV, a kitchen with a fridge and a stovetop, and a private bathroom with bath or shower. Each unit offers views of the city. Guests can also relax in the shared lounge area. Various restaurants, bars and shops are located within walking distance from the property. Zageb Main Train Station is at a distance of 800 metres, while the Main Bus Station is 1.2 km away. Zagreb Airport can be reached in 13 km.
Number of rooms : 4
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Day in Pop Report for 05/03/2012
Seau family sources tell us ... Junior never complained about concussion-related medical problems and didn't appear to be suffering from depression.
We're told Seau never really spoke about the ongoing legal battle between the NFL and retired players who claim the league concealed critical information about the long-term effects of concussions.
One family source was adamant ... if Junior was passionate about preserving his brain, he would've mentioned something to his family. The family is still unsure why Junior would want to end his own life.
Seau's death instantly drew comparisons to the death of former Chicago Bears safety Dave Duerson -- who left a suicide note explaining he shot himself in the chest because he wanted his brain to be sent to the "NFL brain bank" for study. more on this story
We broke the story, producers are close to sealing a deal with Britney Spears to fill one of the 2 vacant chairs, but that deal is still in negotiations -- it is NOT closed. We're told both sides expect to reach an agreement and if they do Britney will end up with $15 mil for the season.
Lovato certainly has a fiery personality -- as we reported, she once socked a female back-up dancer in the face during the Jonas Brothers tour.
The other people in contention for the 4th seat are Miley Cyrus,Avril Lavigne, LeAnn Rimes and Fergie. But there have been NO offers made to fill that seat. more on this story
Pitts was born in Washington, D.C. and was mentored by his neighbor Bo Diddley. In the '60s, he played guitar with Wilson Pickett, the Isley Brothers and Sam & Dave. He joined up with Hayes in 1970 and continued to be a member of his band until Hayes's death in 2008.
In an interview with Guitar Player, Pitts explained his wah-wah sound on "Shaft": "The 'Shaft' part was created because Isaac needed something driving for the beginning of the movie, when [actor] Richard Roundtree is coming out of the subway and walking through Times Square. I was checking my pedals. I tested my overdrive, my reverb, the Maestro box, and then I started in with the wah. Isaac stopped everything and said, 'Skip, what is that you are playing?' I said, 'I am just tuning up.' He said, 'Keep playing that G octave.'" more on this story
The manager of the Hookah Lounge on Hollywood Boulevard claims Lindsay was leaving a nearby club March 14 when her car struck him ... and he claims she took off without leaving any info. Lindsay says the guy is making it all up and her car never came near the guy.
The manager's story is hinky to say the least ... lots of holes. Nevertheless, we're told the LAPD has completed its investigation and will send the file to the D.A. for review.
Sources close to the investigation tell us, after looking at videos and conducting interviews, there isn't enough evidence to prove a crime, but the D.A. will have the final say.
Based on what we know ... no way will Lindsay be prosecuted ... for this one at least. more on this story
The special one-time concert in Los Angeles invites fans to Universal CityWalk to cheer on their favorite performer. "The Voice" winner will be announced next Tuesday, May 8.
CityWalk's new interactive outdoor concert venue will serve as the energetic backdrop to showcase the leading vocal artists from celebrity musician coaches Christina Aguilera, CeeLo Green and Blake Shelton. The artist lineup set to command the stage at "5 Towers" include Kansas native Chris Mann for Team Christina, Florida native Juliet Simms for Team CeeLo, Connecticut native Tony Lucca for Team Adam, and New York native Jermaine Paul for Team Blake. Competing to be named "The Voice" in Season 2 of the hit show, each of the final four artists will perform one song on the "5 Towers" stage and the performances will be streamed live to Facebook, NBC.com and at the NBC Experience Store in New York. more on this story
It all went down this weekend during the Ferrari Challenge at the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA ... where Robert was racing his 2012 Ferrari 458 against other rich guys in really expensive cars. Herjavec tells TMZ, "I crashed in qualifying -- bad and hard hit."
"I was having an amazing lap very fast, just off the course record, and then just thought I could go a little faster (what race car driver doesn't?)."
Herjavec -- who's reportedly worth more than $100 MILLION -- lost control and crashed into a wall ... crushing the front of his car like a soda can.
But Herjavec -- who miraculously didn't suffer any serious injuries -- didn't pull out of the race. Instead, he got ANOTHER Ferrari and pressed on.
"After the crash I went out and borrowed a friend's car (good to have friends that lend you a $ 350K car) and 2 hours later I started in 29th and finished 5th. The next day, in the borrowed car, I got on the podium and finished 3rd ! Still leading in the points for the season." See footage here.
Songwriters Hall of Fame Chairman Jimmy Webb said: "This year, we join musicians and songwriters from around the world in celebrating Woody Guthrie's 100th birthday. One of the great songwriters of all time, we look forward to acknowledging his brilliance with the first-ever Songwriters Hall of Fame Pioneer Award."
Guthrie, a huge influence on Bob Dylan and the folk movement of the 1960s, penned over 3,000 sings in a long career, the best known of which have become American classics, notably "This Land is Your Land" and "This Train is Bound for Glory. more on this story
Hill showed up to court yesterday in Houston to face the felony domestic violence charge -- and the judge set bond at $5,000. Hill was briefly taken into custody before immediately bonding out.
The judge set no travel restrictions on his bond -- so the case shouldn't affect his playoff run.
But the judge did impose a protective order -- barring Hill from contacting or going anywhere near his ex.
And there's this -- Hill played against Denver last night in L.A. (scoring six points) which means he must have booked it on an airplane soon after the game.
Hill is due back in court on June 8th. more on this story
Set in the year 2025,Call of Duty: Black Ops II propels players into global conflict featuring advanced weaponry, robotics, and drone warfare in a new Cold War scenario whose seeds are being sown in today's headlines. New graphics technology drives the stunning cinematic action of the single-player campaign's branching storylines and non-linear missions.
The new dates include six cities the band has not yet played while touring in support of Hurry Up, We're Dreaming, featuring the hit single "Midnight City".
In other news, M83s will release the new The Reunion EP on May 29th. Reunion is the second single off of the massive sixth M83 album Hurry Up We're Dreaming, which continues to display M83's aptitude at writing catchy cosmic-pop soundtracks filled with fantasy and imagination. The single will be released with a stunning and diverse remix package of six exclusive re-works of the track, including remixes by Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., Mylo, Sei A, The Naked And Famous, Polly Scattergood, and White Sea. more on this story
This project captures a different, more eclectic side of Edubb's artistry, often foreshadowed by their love of Party Music. Legends Of The Fall features Universal Republic's Jackie Chain, T-Mo Goodie from the Legendary Goodie Mob, and features production from Jazze Pha, DJ Burn One, John Boy "On da Track"(producer of VIC "Wobble" and Edubb's party hits "Whooty" and "Rain Boots," among others.
Their first song and video released this past January, features long time music peer, Jackie Chain in "Topsdropbladeschoppnmuzik". more on this story
Mia passed away back in May 2011 as a result of a pulmonary embolism ... one day after undergoing knee surgery.
But in his lawsuit, Mia's widower claims ... in the months before the surgery, Mia's OBGYN prescribed her birth control pills such as Balziva and Zenchent ... "drugs that greatly increase one's risk for a pulmonary embolism, especially when combined with [Mia's] other risk factors."
Mia's widower lists "obesity" as one of Mia's significant risk factors.
Mia's widower claims his wife's doctor SHOULD HAVE suggested condoms or other methods of birth control as an alternative ... because the drugs "greatly increased her risk for a pulmonary embolism and ultimately caused her death."
To make matters worse, Mia's widower claims Mia went to a family practitioner on April 18 to complain about knee pain. The doc allegedly cleared Mia for knee surgery ... despite a number of risk factors, including obesity, hyperlipidemia and the fact she was on Zenchent.
Mia's widower claims the doc "should have advised [Mia] to eliminate some of her other risk factors prior to clearing her for the surgery."
Mia underwent the surgery on May 9 ... and died the next day.
Mia's widower is suing both the OBGYN and the family practitioner for unspecified damages ... claiming, among other things, he should be compensated for the loss of love, companionship and moral support he suffered as a result of his wife's death. more on this story
If you recall ... the Grizzlies star filed a suit over the VH1 series -- which featured his then ex-girlfriend Laura Govan -- claiming the show and his ex had NO right to make money using his image without his permission.
Now the b-baller is changing his tune, asking the court to dismiss the suit -- coincidentally after his ex officially became his fiancιe. But Arenas still wants to keep his right to bring it back whenever he wants, in case he feels exploited again ... or if ya know, the engagement goes south.
Shed Media -- the people behind "BB Wives" -- have fired back ... urging the court to dismiss the case permanently
A judge has yet to rule on the motions and Arenas has yet to rule on whether his fiancιe can keep that title. more on this story
Click here to read today's full Day in Rock report


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Everyone said Debbie was fantastic! Her playing is crucial to a great event, and she made our cocktail social a success!! I will most definitely be calling upon her services for our future parties! I thank her so very much.


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Hershey Kiss pretzels are sweet no bake holiday treats that everyone loves. They make a great holiday food gift, too.
These kiss pretzel bites are a family favorite! I make these every year and we NEVER have any leftovers.
Does your Husband enjoy getting in the kitchen? If so, what’s his specialty?
Check out these yummy dessert recipes
- Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes
- Hershey Pie
- Death by Chocolate Cheesecake
- Homemade Buckeyes
- Blueberry Dump Cake
- Cinnamon Pretzels
- Vanilla Bean Cheesecake
Hershey Kiss Pretzels
- 24 Snyder Of Hanover's Snap Pretzels
- 24 Hershey Kisses
- 24 M&M's
- PREHEAT oven to 215.
- Place pretzels on a baking sheet.
- Unwrap each Hershey Kiss and place ontop of each pretzel.
- Pop in the oven for 6-8 minutes until the kisses begin to melt (they'll become shiny and begin to deform), remove from the oven.
- Immediately (and carefully) place one M&M ontop of the melted kiss.
- Allow to cool completely before serving.


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NEW YORK (CBS.MW) - Stock futures ended the pre-open session firmly, but at least one stock, Genentech, will not participate in the gains.
The biotech firm DNA, +0.10% slumped $5.10, or 16 percent, to $25.90 in pre-open trading over the Redibook ECN after saying that results from a Phase III study of Avastin for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer did not meet the primary endpoint of progression-free survival.
The biotech firm said it was still waiting for Phase III test results for the treatment of colorectal cancer, the lead indication for Avastin.
Salomon Smith Barney analyst Elise Wang followed by downgrading the stock to "in-line" from "outperform," given that these results may heighten concerns about the overall potential efficacy of Avastin in solid tumors.
Meanwhile, Deutsche Bank's Dennis Harp said the stock would be "attractive from a valuation standpoint" below $30.
Stock futures point to gains
September S&P futures were tacking on 5.80 to 906.40, which was about 3 1/4 points above fair value, according to figures provided by HL Camp & Company. Nasdaq 100 futures were up 6.50 at 934.50, but were about 1 1/4 points above fair value.
Among some tech heavyweights seeing activity, Microsoft MSFT, +1.45% inched 7 cents lower to $48.63, Intel INTC, +1.96% edged up 12 cents to $16.20 and Cisco Systems CSCO, +0.67% ticked up 12 cents to $13.08 in the pre-open.
Ford Motor F, +2.83% was among the early gainers, rallying 40 cents, or 3.6 percent, to $11.20. The nation's No. 2 automaker said late Monday that it expects to post a third quarter profit versus Wall Street expectations of a loss.
J.P. Morgan's David Bradley believes Ford's announcement is a positive for the stock in the near term, but his cautious long-term outlook remains unchanged due to several "significant longer-term challenges" to its turn-around plan.
Nokia NOK, +1.21% slumped 58 cents, or 4.1 percent, to $13.60 after the world's leading mobile phone maker lowered sales projections for the third quarter due to the weaker-than-expected performance of its networks equipment unit.
However, Nokia said earnings would be at the top end of previously provided projections.
Gap GPS, +1.70% dropped 60 cents, or 4.5 percent, to $12.70. The apparel retailer said late Monday that retiring chief executive Millard Drexler had exercised options on approximately 14.5 million shares of stock. The company said enough stock was sold to cover the exercise prices and taxes.
Analyst Frederick Moran at Jefferies & Co. downgraded AOL Time Warner AOL, -1.75% to "hold" from "accumulate" after the company lowered its 2002 outlook for its America Online unit due to "continued softness" in online advertising, but the stock ticked up a penny to $13.34. Although Moran believes the company may have finally sufficiently lowered expectations for its online unit, he feels that the warning "shows just how rapidly revenue is declining" and makes its full-year EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) forecast "unachievable."
He thinks the stock already reflects a lot of investor concerns, but accelerating declines at America Online and an SEC investigation will "likely impede any chance of a stock recovery this year."
Cubist Pharmaceuticals CBST was knocked $2.35, or 32 percent lower, to $5.05 after the company and Gilead Sciences GILD, +1.22% said late Monday that they terminated their licensing agreement for the commercialization of Cubist's Cidecin.
Under terms of the termination agreement, Gilead will not make any future payments to Cubist, and Cubist will reacquire all European rights to Cidecin.
Gilead slipped 64 cents to $32.
Skechers SKX, +0.05% were $1.18, or 9.7 percent lighter, at $11 after the shoe maker warned that third quarter earnings would fall short of consensus analyst expectations.


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ROAST is the forerunner on food and drinks at the right ambiance, quality, where hospitality and originality are paramount.We strive for good food, a variation on the menu, wine and food paring, unique arrangements and a good atmosphere where you and your guests can fully relax!
Enjoy our Roast menu or the best cocktails in town at Roast!
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- Young peopleYes
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Aside from Signal Issue, Consumer Reports Rates iPhone 4 Highest Amongst All Smartphones
Earlier today, a Consumer Reports post made headlines after they concluded that they simply could not recommend the iPhone 4 due to the widely reported signal issues related to touching the lower-left corner of the device. This single issue alone has prevented them from fully recommending the iPhone 4. However, their formal testing otherwise revealed that the iPhone 4 ranked the highest amongst all smartphones in their testing.
AllThingsD (via LoopInsight) summarizes the report (subscription required).
The [iPhone 4] scored 76 out of 100 points -- two points ahead of its closest rivals, the iPhone 3Gs and the HTC Evo 4G.
The product evaluation agency rated the iPhone 4 "Excellent" in its display, navigation, Web browsing, multimedia and battery life categories, "Very Good" in phoning and messaging and "Good" in voice quality.
The iPhone 4 beat out the HTC Evo as well as all the other Smartphones and had the highest score of 76/100. The signal issue described is that holding the lower-left corner of the iPhone 4 can reduce cell phone signal and affect calls in areas with lower reception. The issue depends on your local coverage and can be alleviated with a phone case.


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Arras is the capital of the Pas-de-Calais department, which forms part of the region of Hauts-de-France; prior to the reorganization of 2014 it was located in Nord-Pas-de-Calais. The historic centre of the Artois region, with a Baroque town square, Arras is located in Northern France at the confluence of the Scarpe river and the Crichoh River.
The Arras plain lies on a large chalk plateau bordered on the north by the Marqueffles fault, on the southwest by the Artois and Ternois hills, and on the south by the slopes of Beaufort-Blavincourt. On the east it is connected to the Scarpe valley.
Established during the Iron Age by the Gauls, the town of Arras was first known as Nemetocenna, which is believed to have originated from the Celtic word nemeton, meaning sacred space.
Saint Vedast was the first Catholic bishop in the year 499 and attempted to eliminate paganism among the Franks. By 843, Arras was seat of the County of Artois which became part of the Royal domain in 1191.
The first mention of the name Arras appeared in the 12th century. Some hypothesize it is a contraction of Atrebates, a Belgic tribe of Gaul and Britain that used to inhabit the area. The name Atrebates could have successively evolved to become Atrades, Atradis, Aras and finally Arras. Others believe it comes from the Celtic word Ar, meaning running water, as the Scarpe river flows through Arras. Louis XIII reconquered Arras in 1640; the town officially became part of France in 1659.
Arras is Pas-de-Calais’ third most populous town after Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer. The town counted 43,693 residents in 2012, with the Arras metropolitan area having a population of 124,200. Arras is located north of Paris and can be reached in 2 hours by car and in 50 minutes by TGV. It is the historic center of the former Artois province. Its local speech is characterized as a patois. The city of Arras is well known for its architecture, culture, and history. It was once part of the Spanish Netherlands, a portion of the Low Countries controlled by Spain from 1556 to 1714.
Each year Arras attracts thousands of visitors, who explore the citys architecture and historic buildings. Some famous attractions include the splendid Town Hall and its Belfry, the "Boves", the Squares, the Art District, the Abbey District, the Vauban Citadel, and the Nemetacum site. The Canadian National Vimy Memorial is just outside the town.
Unlike many French words, the final s in the name Arras should be pronounced.
This uses material from Wikipedia which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.


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Aug. 3rd normal day, Aug. 4th started normal and within 2 hours of being at work, my hands broke out into purple blisters, felt like I had been burned. 4 hours in ER, they were clueless.. back to the DR the next day and she sent me to a dermatologist, but now besides the blisters on the outside, the inside, my joints are hurting.., he calls a rheumatology to come see me.. Vial and vial of blood tests, mri's, xrays, biopsies, exams, questions, etc.. 8 months later they finally say it is rheumatoid arthritis, but you are negative for the antibodies that most have.. My pain is like a roller coaster. From Aug - to about mid December.. pain every day, then it just quit.. 1st of March pain is coming back..
I'm 48 years old, I work in the public 4-5 days a week, but the past 8 months has been exhausting. The pain wears me out, I'm always so tired, can always fall asleep in no time, yet I do not ever feel rested. I've gone from 2 pills to too many pills. I'm now on Plaquenil, Folic Acid, Methotrexate, and currently a 2 week course of Prednisone to control the pain. How can I be on so much medicine so suddenly? Did I also mention I'm now also on Nexium and Zantac for severe acid reflux? And then my allergy pill and my blood pressure pill, too many pills, I don't want to take any medicine.
I just started Methotrexate 2 days ago.. First day that I took it, fine.. 2nd day was fine.. day 3 after taking first pills, stomach has hurt all day long and I'm so tired.. I even over slept for work by 2 hours this morning and I don't over sleep, ever.. so tired.. Is this a side effect of the Metho? What is worse.. tiredness or pain.. Will it get worse.. will I be able to keep working.. I'm so tired..
Have you gotten the COVID-19 vaccine yet?


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The ability to quantitatively analyze plant phenotypic traits (from single cells to plant and stand level) and their dynamic responses to the environment is an essential requirement for genetic and physiological research, and the cornerstone for enabling applications of scientific findings to bioeconomy. Whereas molecular profiling technologies allow today the generation of a large amount of data with decreasing costs largely due to automation and robotics, the understanding of the link between genotype and phenotype has progressed more slowly. Insufficient technical and conceptual capacity of the plant scientific community to probe existing genetic resources and unravel environmental effects limits faster progress in this field. The development of robust and standardized phenotyping applications depends on the availability of specialised infrastructure, technologies and protocols. Europe has become a key driver in defining innovative solutions in academic and industrial settings. However, the existing initiatives at the local or member-state level represent a fragmented research landscape with similar goals. The aim of this project is to create synergies between the leading plant phenotyping institutions in Europe as a nucleus for the development of a strong European Plant Phenotyping Network (EPPN). The project fosters the development of an effective European infrastructure including human resources, expertise and communication needed to support transnational access to user communities. Joint research activities will adapt and develop novel sensors and methods for application in plant phenotyping. Innovative phenotyping concepts integrating mechanistic, medium- and high throughput as well as field phenotyping will be developed and made available to the community. This project will strengthen Europe’s leading role in plant phenotyping research and application through the creation of a community of research institutes, universities, industry and SMEs.
Call for proposal
See other projects for this call

domain: agronomy


I have a Vizio soundbar and have tried EVERYTHING to hook it up to my TCL Roku tv. Is it not compatible? I tried blue tooth and every kind of cable, nothing. Am i missing something? Thanks
It should work with an optical cable, and if your soundbar has HDMI it might support ARC. But you won't be able to make a wireless connection with any soundbar other than the Roku version.
I connected a fairly cheap brand via optical cable. (It could be connected in other modes as well.) It works fine. I couldn't see buying a sound bar that costs more than the TV.
Yep, optical doesn't know or care what it's connected to. Anything with an optical connection should work.


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Warren Masemola has taken to his social media to announce he is part of an international movie.
In his post, the star made it clear that it is a dream come true for him.
Warren said he is excited to be part of the outstanding international cast of Showtime’s King Shaka by Antoine Fuqua.
Many of his fans took to the comment section to congratulate him.
Warren wrote: “BREAKING NEWS: I’m so excited to be a part of this outstanding international cast of Showtime’s King Shaka by Antoine Fuqua, a dream come true.”
See post below:

domain: celebrity