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Are you a fan of old American TV shows that used to revolve around the many adventures of a big American family or a group of three or four friends? If you have watched these shows, you may recall watching an episode where the characters plan an outing to a drive in movie theater. With pizzas and soda in their hands, they sat on their car’s hood and enjoy the latest movie on a big screen. It won’t be wrong to say that if there is one thing that reminds us of the old times, it is drive-in cinemas.
It was in 1933 when the first patented drive in movie theatre opened in New Jersey. Richard M. Hollingshead Jr. built the first-ever drive-in theatre. The theatre had space for 400 cars and a 40ft by 50ft large screen. The first movie to screen on the theatre was an Adolph Meniou film titled Wife Beware. Over the years, the cinema gained popularity among people to such an extent that were around 4,000 active drive ins around the US. Today, every year in America, June 6 is celebrated as National Drive-in Movie Day.
But they say ‘nothing lasts forever’ and gradually, there came a day when the sun started setting on drive-ins. Earlier, it was the advent of VCRs and color television that led to a sharp decline in the number of cinema-goers. Then, with the dominance of online streaming apps and mobile devices, people eventually lost interest in going out for a movie. However, these cinemas have not been lost completely. Even though their number has been significantly reduced from 4,000 to just 355, the drive ins are still quite popular among a majority of Americans.
There is no denying that drive in cinemas weren’t introduced so that they could become a thing of the past. Bracing the technological advancements, many drive-ins vowed to make a comeback. Now, most of them offer amenities that attract people of all age. Some drive-ins are even pet-friendly, allowing worried pet owners to bring their furry friends with them for a movie date.
Many theatres have also started other entertainment activities like mini-golf and beer gardens. Some also feature locally sourced food, gourmet meals, and alcoholic beverage. Also, in comparison to a traditional cinema, a drive-in movie theatre is much cheaper and much relaxing. These cinemas also run classic films that can be a treat for those who appreciate the old movies.

domain: entertainment


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Prophylactic Fluconazole Does Not Improve Outcome in Patients with Purulent and Fecal Peritonitis due to Lower Gastrointestinal Perforation
The benefit of anticandida treatment in addition to standard antibiotic therapy in the presence of perforation/leakage of the lower gastrointestinal tract (LGIT) is still controversial. We retrospectively assessed the clinical effects of empiric anticandida treatment in patients with LGIT perforation who had undergone exploratory laparotomy due to perforated/leaking bowel or appendix between 1999 and 2004, including generalized fecal/purulent peritonitis. Two groups of patients emerged: those receiving empiric anticandida treatment (fluconazole, n = 24) and those who did not (n = 77). All the fluconazole-treated and 40/77 nonfluconazole-treated patients required intensive care unit care and were the subject of this assessment. Postoperative candida infection and mortality rates were similar in the critically-ill fluconazole-treated and nontreated patients (4% vs 7%, 21% vs 22.5%, respectively, P = NS); resistant candidiasis rates were also similar. Hospital and intensive care unit stays were longer in the treated group, however not reaching statistical difference (26.5 ± 18 vs 21.4 ± 18.3 days, 14.8 ± 14.2 vs 9.3 ± 14.1 days, respectively). The rates of morbidity, pneumonia, and multiorgan failure were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the treated patients (87% vs 63%, 37% vs 7.5%, and 58% vs 35%, respectively). Empiric fluconazole in patients with peritonitis associated with LGIT perforation did not improve patients' outcome compared with those without empiric treatment.
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Document Type: Research Article
Affiliations: Division of General Surgery B, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center and the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
Publication date: February 1, 2010
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domain: literature


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Guy Fieri is known to many for his outrageous spiky hair, over-the-top recipes, and larger-than-life personality, but for fans at a recent concert, they got to see a completely different side of the celebrity chef.
The crowd at a 3 Doors Down concert this week got more than they expected when Fieri graced the stage mid-performance. During the band's show in Boca Raton, Florida, they were preparing to perform their 2002 record, "I Feel You," when Fieri strutted on stage with a guitar in hand.
In an Instagram post shared the day after the show, he revealed that he was filling in for 3 Doors Downs' Chet Roberts during his surprise cameo. He also shared footage from his appearance.
"I swapped in for @chet3doorsdown last night at the @3doorsdown concert Bahaha. Had a blast, thanks for havin’ me!!" Fieri wrote in a caption.
In his own Instagram post, Roberts referred to Fieri as his "long lost twin" and revealed that his appearance was a surprise to band members as well.
While Fieri appearing during "I Feel You" was likely a shocker for fans, it looks like the chef definitely passed the vibe check. Even band member Brad Arnold approved, writing "That was great!! It was awesome havin’ you fellas!!"
Fans were equally obsessed with Fieri's on-stage stunt.
"Was a blast so fun watching you guys," one user commented.
"The ultimate cross over! I'm getting this as a tattoo," said another dedicated fan.
You Might Also Like

domain: celebrity


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Chicago police said they are still looking for the men they say kidnapped and robbed three people at gunpoint over the weekend along busy parts of Clark and Addison streets.
Fortunately, police said the victims are okay, but residents said they are now staying extra aware of their surroundings.
“It’s frustrating and terrifying all at the same time,” said Laura Provost, a Lakeview resident. “Being a woman walking around at night at 1 in the morning, you should feel safe enough to get from point A to point B.”
There was an ominous warning from Wrigley Field on Monday afternoon, one day after gunpoint robberies mere blocks away from the stadium in Lakeview.
“It’s frustrating because you kind of bill this as a safe area and it’s not something you expect from especially this part of town,” said Jacob Morsch, a Lakeview resident.
Chicago police said the three incidents happened between midnight and 1:15 a.m. Saturday and Sunday along the 3400 and 3500 blocks of North Clark Street, as well as the 1100 block of West Addison.
Police said the men in question forced the victims into a gray sedan at gunpoint, robbed them of their cellphones and wallets, before kicking them out of the car.
“I carry a gun every day, so I think that answers that question,” one Lakeview business owner said. “Chicago as a whole is a tourist city and when you hear stuff like this on the news, it definitely puts you on alert and makes you very vigilant.”
More here from ABC Chicago.

domain: sociology


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How Figure Skating Works Paperback – Sep 1 2009
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Despite being packaged for kids, the book is full of fascinating scientific and historical facts that any adult can enjoy...How Figure Skating Works would be a great gift for any young (or young at heart) skating fan.
Keltie Thomas has done it again. Not only is this book an excellent how-to manual for the beginning skater, but it also is a delight for anyone interested in the sport of figure skating…This exciting and humorous book is entertaining and will certainly be enjoyed by both children and adults over and over again.
...the illustrations and the pictures are colorful and informative...a very thorough book.
This engaging introduction will be welcomed by both newcomers and fans of the sport.
…the perfect skating book for kids age 8 to 12 who love the sport…In my books, this one’s a gold medal winner!
About the Author
KELTIE THOMAS is a passionate sports fan and award-winning children’s science writer and editor. She is a former editor of OWL Magazine, and is the author of popular sports books such as How Baseball Works; Blades, Boards & Scooters; and Inside Hockey! She lives in Toronto.
STEPHEN MACEACHERN studied both animation and illustration at the celebrated Sheridan College. His first book, Lights, Camera, Action!, written by Lisa O’Brien, won the White Raven Award. He lives in Erin, Ontario.

domain: hobby


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Led by Jennifer and Jared Adams of Zeeland, the group showcased their deeply personal music for Local Spins on WYCE, which also included new tracks from J.Rob, Ada LeAnn, Dynaflo, Fiona Dickinson and more.
After all the cataclysmic events that Jennifer and Jared Adams Annagail have endured, the shutdown from the COVID-19 pandemic has actually provided them with a perfect opportunity to go into hiding and create a flood of new music.
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The West Michigan Music Scene
The Zeeland-based band released two albums in 2021, weaving their soulful lyrics into music that touches on blues, indie rock, pop, gospel and jazz, and hope to release another recording later this year.
The intensely personal songs reflect the roller coaster of emotions and crises unleashed over the past twelve years: their daughter Faith, kidnapped in South Africa, Jennifer’s debilitating battle with Lyme disease, a house fire that destroyed their studio and more.
“When COVID hit, not much changed for us because we are so familiar with chronic disease and safety with extra germs surrounding Jennifer,” Jared noted.
“We had played shows on weekends and evenings locally until then, so that has definitely changed. We stopped making them for the COVID season and started writing and focusing on new albums. “
Jennifer added: “It was really wonderful. We made a lot of recordings in the closet in the master bedroom. We did a few songs in the shower (for) cool acoustics. The whole time we had to wear our slippers and bathrobes. It was really fantastic. We made the most of it.
What emerged were the albums “Home” (described as the group’s “most vulnerable” release to date) and “Baby It’s You” (leaning towards blues and jazz, and tackling wrestling. of Jennifer’s Lyme Disease), as well as a 36-minute mini-documentary chronicling Annagail’s arduous journey since moving from Nashville in 2010.
For this week’s edition of Local Spins on WYCE, Annagail featured a pair of songs that describe part of that journey and their decision to move forward in coming to terms with their situation – “Parade” and “Anne”. Watch the documentary here and scroll down to listen to the songs and the full podcast from the radio show.
VIDEO: Annagail, “Holy Spirit and whiskey”
Raised in “amazing religious homes,” Jared and Jennifer first found success with Annagail amid worship and church music for a Christian music label. But multi-instrumentalists ultimately found this “tunnel vision” approach limiting and unsatisfactory.
INSPIRATION OF MUSES: GHOSTS, LYME DISEASE, DIFFICULTIES, LOVE, FAMILY
“Worship for us is the art that we publish,” Jennifer said. “We definitely lost a lot of supporters and we lost a lot of dear friends who didn’t understand the transition and transformation we were going through.
“If the carpet hadn’t been ripped from under us, we would still be stuck in that tunnel vision. It just gives us the opportunity to see the world on a bigger scale, to love people where they are – not to think that we have to try to save them or to save them or to fix them, but just to offer them love and kindness. “
Jared said, “Our inspiration comes from our muses: ghosts, Lyme disease, each other, people, struggles, love and family.”
Granted, the obstacles they faced would have derailed most performers, especially Jennifer’s lingering challenges in dealing with Lyme disease after being bitten by a tick a dozen years ago. The tiring disease wreaked havoc on her organs and she spent years seeking the right treatment. She has had to relearn to play the guitar and sing, and she walks with a cane.
“I have to say right out of the door, our chin was hanging pretty low. We really felt upside down. Our whole foundation and balance was torn from under us, ”she said. “I had to give up believing that I was going to be what I once was. It is to accept what is.
They also had to overcome the band’s usual hurdles: their drummer and bassist left, leaving Annagail currently in a trio with keyboardist Justin Dreyer.
But the days are brighter now: their daughter, Faith, who was abducted 11 years ago before being reunited with her family, is now 18 and doing well (their other children are Grace, 15, and Cohen, 9 years old); Jennifer went back to school to earn a degree in Creative Writing and English; Jennifer and Jared are both writing memoirs which they hope to publish while working on Annagail’s next album.
Until the pandemic subsides, live performances may be limited due to Jennifer’s compromised immune system, although they will make an appearance in the Grand Rapids Listening Room in March.
“Gratitude is exponential,” Jennifer said, “and the days when we can record and release new material to the world are a day of massive miracles.”
Deploying these musical miracles meant making the most of their sometimes dire situation – “handling it out loud” as far as the lyrics were concerned.
“It’s sort of realtime lyrics in the sense that we’re writing about what we’re literally experiencing. There aren’t many hypothetical situations in these recent songs. They were very cathartic, ”Jared said. “It looks genuine. Sounds fair.
From the deep wounds of childhood to the almost insurmountable obstacles encountered in adulthood, Annagail’s music resonates with sorrow and hope.
“We bared our souls because it is in the baring of our souls that we begin to heal,” Jared added.
“We want to get up everyday and live as fully as we can. We don’t want to cover up or hide the tough stuff, but we want to say, “Welcome”. What did you come to teach us? And then we want to put on our wings and fly.
Learn more about Annagail here.
In addition to highlighting the music of Annagail, the January 7 episode of Local Spins on WYCE (which focuses on local and regional music at 11 a.m. on Fridays on WYCE 88.1 FM and online at wyce.org) presented new leads by Ada LeAnn, J.Rob, James S. Burkett, Dynaflo, Fiona Dickinson, Normal Mode, The Hacky Turtles, The Bootstrap Boys and Kanola Band, plus a classic song by New radicals (choice of this week’s musicians by Annagail). Listen to the full radio show below and check out previous episodes of Local Spins on WYCE.
PODCAST: local tours on WYCE (1/7/22)
Copyright 2022, Spins on Music LLC

domain: news


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New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi, once described as the "reluctant prince" but lately showing signs of shedding that image, has become Congress president in the smoothest transition to a new leadership that the party has seen in decades.
The party's new 47-year-old boss signals a generational change in the grand old party founded 132 years ago, in the middle of India's independence movement.
Rahul Gandhi is the sixth member of the Nehru-Gandhi family to lead the party. He has taken over from mother Sonia Gandhi at a time when the party is struggling to win elections or to stay relevant with the BJP - led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi - firmly entrenched in the political centre-stage.
In 2013, still seen to be unequal to the task of shouldering his family's political legacy, Rahul Gandhi took the post of Vice President, becoming his mother's official deputy.
But the very next year, the Congress suffered its worst ever defeat in national elections, reduced to just 44 seats in the Lok Sabha as the BJP rode to power on a massive "Modi wave".
Since then, the party has lost more states than it has won, and Rahul Gandhi's track record has been far from impressive. It hasn't helped that his interventions in parliament have been limited.
Disdained by the BJP and doubted by allies, Rahul Gandhi has shown signs of transformation in the past few months.
It began with his speech at America's UC Berkeley in September, where he tackled head-on a question about dynastic politics, especially in the Congress, which has been ruled for 40 of its 132 years by a member of the Nehru-Gandhi family.
He also floored his audience by admitting that PM Modi "is a very good communicator, probably much better than me. He understands how to deliver a message to three or four groups in a crowd; his messaging ability is very subtle."
In his white kurta, black jacket and sneakers, Rahul Gandhi, to many Congressmen is an image of his father Rajiv Gandhi, who was also a novice when he was forced to take charge after mother Indira Gandhi's assassination in 1984.
In the acrimonious campaign for Gujarat, Rahul Gandhi upped his game, using sharp social media posts and his public rallies to take on the BJP and the prime minister in his home state.
Having coined the phrase "suit-boot ki Sarkar" once, he introduced in a Gujarat rally another catchy theme, calling the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the "Gabbar Singh Tax". It shows more popular connect than in his early election rallies years ago, when he lost much of his Dalit audience by the time he launched into a simile on the "escape velocity of Jupiter".
Amping up his social media pitch, he not just posted a-question-a-day for the PM on Twitter but also won the Internet with a tweet on his dog, "Pidi Gandhi".
Rahul Gandhi studied in St Stephen's College in Delhi, Rollins College in Florida and Trinity College, Cambridge before joining the Monitor Group, a consulting group in London, where he worked for three years.


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Eid 2021: Inside Sanjay Dutt, wife Maanyata Dutt and his kids’ magical celebrations; view pics
Eid is quite an auspicious festival for Bollywood celebs as many movies have been released. Apart from that, celebs took to their social media account to wish their fans on the festive day. Sanjay Dutt is also celebrating the auspicious festival with his family in Dubai and the pictures are nothing short of regal.
Maanyata Dutt took to her social media account and shared pictures of her Eid celebration. Sanjay looked dashing as ever as he was seen wearing a white kurta with white pyjamas. Maanyata looked beautiful in a white and yellow suit that had beautiful lace ends and she completed her look with pink-toned makeup. The couple’s kids looked adorable in the pictures as daughter Iqra was seen in a lovely pink suit meanwhile her brother Shahraan was seen in a pink floral kurta suit.
Check out the pictures below:
Sanjay Dutt was last seen in Torbaaz and he will be seen next in KGF: Chapter 2. Sanjay will also be seen opposite Ranbir Kapoor in Shamshera as the lead antagonist of the film and he will also share screen space with Akshay Kumar in Prithviraj. Sanjay also has Ajay Devgn‘s Bhuj: The Pride of India.


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[ Journal Papers | Books | Book Chapters | Conference Papers | Tech Reports
- R.H. Byrne, J.T. Feddema, and C.T. Abdallah, Algebraic Connectivity and Graph Robustness, Sandia Report, SAND2009-4494, July 2009.
- J. Khoury, C. Abdallah “Towards a Taxonomy of Inter-network Architectures”, UNM Technical Report EECE-TR-08-008.
- J. Khoury, C. Abdallah, and G. Heileman "Towards Formalizing Network Architectural Descriptions,” University of New Mexico, Technical Report EECE-TR-08-03, February 2008.
- J. Piovesan, C.T. Abdallah, B. Tanner, Interconnected Hybrid Systems: A Framework for Multi-agent Systems with Hybrid Interacting Dynamics, 2008.
- J. Piovesan, C.T. Abdallah, H. Tanner, Leader-Follower Control with Odometry Error Analysis, 2007.
- J. Khoury, H. Jerez, and C.T. Abdallah, Efficient User Controlled Inter-Domain SIP Mobility: Authentication, Registration, and Call Routing, 2007.
- J. Khoury, J. Crichigno, H. Jerez, C. Abdallah, W. Shu, G. Heileman, The intermesh network architecture, University of New Mexico, Technical Report EECE-TR-07-007, April 2007.
- J. Khoury, C.T. Abdallah, H. Tanner, H. Jerez, J. Khoury, Resource Allocation for Multi-agent Problems in the Design of Future Communication Networks, 2007.
- H. Jerez, J. Khoury, C. Abdallah, A mobile transient network architecture, 2006, arXiv Pre-print available at http://hdl.handle.net/2118/hj_tran_06.
- J. Khoury, H. Jerez, N. Nehme, C. Abdallah, "An application of the mobile transient network architecture: IP mobility and inter-operability," 2006, arXiv Pre-print available at http://hdl.handle.net/2118/jk_transapp_06.
- M. Ariola, V. Koltchinski, and C. T. Abdallah, Application of Statistical Learning Control to the Design of a Fixed-Order Controller for a Flexible Beam.
- V.Koltchinski, C. T. Abdallah, M. Ariola, P. Dorato, D. Panchenko, Statistical Learning Control of Uncertain Systems: It is Better Than It Seems.
- C. T. Abdallah, I. Demir, Switch-Discovery Algorithms Comparison in Wireless ATM Networks
- V.S. Soualian, G.T. Parks, C. T. Abdallah, E. Schamiloglu, Iterative Learning Control Applications to High Power Microwave Tubes.
- D. Famularo, C. T. Abdallah, P. Dorato, Non-Fragile Synthesis with Structured and/or Unstructured Perturbations.
- A. Jadbabaie, C. T. Abdallah, Simultaneous Passification and Stabilization of a Class of Minimum-Phase Nonlinear Systems via Static Output Feedback.
- F.L. Lewis, B.G. Horne, C. T. Abdallah, On the Computational Complexity of the Manufacturing Job Shop and Reentrant Flow Line
- D. Docampo, D.R. Hush, C. T. Abdallah, Constructive Function and Approximation: Theory and Practice
- J.W. Howse, C. T. Abdallah, G.L. Heileman, A Synthesis of Gradient and Hamiltonian Dynamics Applied to Learning in Neural Networks.
- C. T. Abdallah, G.L. Heileman, D. Hush, M. Georgiopoulos, An Overview of Neural Networks Results for Systems and Control.
- C. T. Abdallah, P. Dorato, R. Liska, S. Steinberg, W. Yang, Applications of Quantifier Elimination Theory to Control Theory.
- V.L. Syrmos, C. T. Abdallah, P. Dorato, K. Grigoriadis, Static Output Feedback: A Survey.
- J.W. Howse, C. T. Abdallah, G.L. Heileman, General Neural Networks Dynamics are a Superposition of Gradient-like and Hamiltonian-like Systems.
- F. Perez, C. T. Abdallah, D. Docampo, Robustness Analysis of Polynomials with Linearly Correlated Uncertain Coefficients in Lp-normal Balls
- F. Perez, C.T. Abdallah, Phase-Convex Arcs in Root Space and Their Application to Robust SPR Problem.
- J.W. Howse, G.L. Heileman, C. T. Abdallah, Gradient-Like Dynamics in Neural Networks
- F. Perez, D. Docampo, C. T. Abdallah, P. Dorato, Output Stabilizability.
- C. T. Abdallah, F. Perez, D. Docampo, From Nyquist to Kharitonov: Robust Controllers
- D. Hush, C. T. Abdallah, B. Horne, The Recursive Neural Network.


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Best 23 Cheers To Us Quotes
Celebrating achievements, milestones, or simply toasting to life itself, cheers to us quotes are a perfect way to express joy and appreciation. Whether you’re raising a glass with friends, family, or even by yourself, these quotes will add a touch of elegance and sentiment to any occasion. From famous personalities to unknown authors, here are the best 23 cheers to us quotes to inspire your next celebration.
1. “Cheers to us – the dreamers, the believers, the doers! Let’s raise a glass to our endless possibilities.” – Unknown
2. “Here’s to the nights that turned into mornings, and the friends who turned into family. Cheers to us!” – Unknown
3. “May we always be surrounded by good friends, good times, and good wine. Cheers to us!” – Unknown
4. “To the moments that make us laugh, the moments that make us cry, and everything in between. Cheers to us for embracing life’s beautiful chaos.” – Unknown
5. “Here’s to the ones who never settle, who chase their dreams relentlessly. Cheers to us for never giving up!” – Unknown
6. “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years. Cheers to us for making every moment count!” – Abraham Lincoln
7. “Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers. Cheers to us for making a difference!” – Steve Jobs
8. “To the moments that take our breath away and the memories that last a lifetime. Cheers to us!” – Unknown
9. “Here’s to the ones who see the world differently, who are not afraid to think outside the box. Cheers to us for embracing our uniqueness!” – Unknown
10. “To the ones who have been there through thick and thin, the ones who lift us up when we’re down. Cheers to us for having the best support system!” – Unknown
11. “Here’s to the ones who dare to follow their hearts and pursue their passions. Cheers to us for living a life true to ourselves!” – Unknown
12. “To the moments that make us feel alive, the moments that remind us of what truly matters. Cheers to us for cherishing every experience!” – Unknown
13. “Here’s to the ones who know that life is too short to waste it on anything less than extraordinary. Cheers to us for living life to the fullest!” – Unknown
14. “To the ones who have overcome countless obstacles and emerged stronger than ever. Cheers to us for our resilience and determination!” – Unknown
15. “Here’s to the ones who have turned their dreams into reality, who have achieved what others thought impossible. Cheers to us!” – Unknown
16. “To the ones who strive for greatness, who never settle for mediocrity. Cheers to us for pushing our limits!” – Unknown
17. “Here’s to the ones who have learned to find beauty in the simplest things. Cheers to us for appreciating life’s little miracles!” – Unknown
18. “To the ones who have experienced heartbreak and still believe in love. Cheers to us for our unwavering faith!” – Unknown
19. “Here’s to the ones who have faced their fears head-on and conquered them. Cheers to us for our bravery!” – Unknown
20. “To the ones who have stumbled and fallen but always managed to rise again. Cheers to us for our resilience!” – Unknown
21. “Here’s to the ones who have never lost sight of their dreams, no matter how many detours they encountered. Cheers to us for staying true to our aspirations!” – Unknown
22. “To the ones who have found their purpose in life and are living it to the fullest. Cheers to us for following our passion!” – Unknown
23. “Here’s to the ones who have learned that happiness is a journey, not a destination. Cheers to us for embracing the ride!” – Unknown
FAQs about Cheers To Us Quotes:
Q: When should I use cheers to us quotes?
A: You can use cheers to us quotes on various occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, graduations, promotions, or simply when you want to celebrate life’s achievements.
Q: Can I use these quotes in a toast?
A: Absolutely! These quotes are perfect for toasts, as they capture the essence of celebration and appreciation.
Q: Who are these quotes attributed to?
A: Some of these quotes are from famous personalities like Abraham Lincoln and Steve Jobs, while others are from unknown authors.
Q: Can I modify these quotes to suit my occasion?
A: Yes, feel free to modify these quotes to add a personal touch or make them more relevant to your specific celebration.
Q: Can I share these quotes on social media?
A: Absolutely! These quotes are meant to be shared and spread joy. Feel free to share them on your social media platforms to inspire and uplift others.
In conclusion, cheers to us quotes are a wonderful way to express joy, gratitude, and appreciation during moments of celebration. Whether you’re raising a glass with loved ones or toasting to your own achievements, these quotes will add a touch of elegance and sentiment to any occasion. So, here’s to us – the dreamers, the doers, and the ones who never settle. Cheers!


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CM Punk - Best in the World
Distributor: WWE Home Video
Daniel Bryan, Colt Cabana, Cassie (“sister”), John Cena, Chez (best friend), Chez’s Mom,
Chaleen (“sister”), Lars Frederiksen (friend / Rancid), Curt Hawkins, Michael Hayes, Chris Hero, Paul Heyman, Kofi Kingston, Lita, The Miz, Joey (Matthews) Mercury, CM Punk, Justin Roberts, Jim Ross, Zack Ryder, Natalie Slater (former girlfriend), Ace Steel, Triple H
This documentary came out with great anticipation as rumors of it being very different had people talking. For all intents and purposes, it delivered. CM Punk, a completely unique sort of underdog, had a great story to tell and, like with much of his material, he wanted to dictate how it was told. While this doc did have some WWE formula to it, the inclusion of many people not associated with the company, the amount of footage from IWA Mid-South and Ring of Honor and some of the harsh criticisms of the WWE really shocked some people. Those elements really set this apart and made it excellent. Perhaps when they tell the Daniel Bryan story, they will take that to another level, but this is true breakthrough. The discussion of the Punk-Hero matches on a WWE DVD were kind of mind-blowing as I remember watching them through tape trades. Hearing Dave Prazak on a WWE production seemed so bizarre. Realistically, the story of CM Punk is so different and the WWE has reached a point where people are no reflecting on their time in WCW, their runs with ECW or any of that, they are coming from the independents. This, like most WWE documentaries, featured chapters about dimensions of his personality - punk and hardcore music, the straight edge subculture, comic books and tattoos. This seems like an above average WWE doc and one that I would recommend anyone to see. CM Punk’s story is one of perseverance and self-reliance that could inspire many.
What bad can you say about a documentary that basically delivers what you expect? I think this was better than most WWE docs, but it still had that formulaic feel to it. It was different in that it included music by Rancid and interviews with Colt Cabana and Ace Steel, but it was distinctly a WWE production. Obviously, contractual obligations and bad blood would prevent this, but I think the absence of Samoa Joe, Raven and Gabe Sapolsky jumped out in the context of things. I was also kind of hopefully for some really shocking inclusion like Ian Rotten or Chuck E Smooth. The other issue was the constant reference to CM Punk’s detractors, but they were never given a voice. Michael Hayes played the role of explaining those views while saying that he never agreed with them. Vince McMahon was definitely a notable absence, but it seems like some of those who took issue with Punk never really shared their thoughts here.
The Rating: ****1/2

domain: artistic


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Most of us know about the fact that we now have tons of online dating tips floating around in existence in the online globe. This article aims to help people remove those frustrating dating advice spouts on others like Install Vesuvius spits out molten lava upon Pompeian residents. Horrible seeing advice at all times is given to vulnerable and unaware guys on a daily basis by simply people who have simply no clue what they are talking about. Some of these bad suggestions have induced many partnerships and connections to end up in failure.
Should you be someone who is definitely internet dating, you will definitely want to steer clear of people who have bad habits like throwing horrible advice their particular way. With regards to dating, individuals are always trying to find the easiest way out. A lot of the tasks that people make use of online to try and date find yourself being incredibly damaging towards the person trying to date these people.
There are also wonderful dating hints that tell you where to go to meet people. Although topbrides website we can see, people just simply don’t put in the effort to find the right type of people. It is not like it is hard. You can simply do a quick search online to find a handful profiles that look good with your screen. Following that, it is a matter of matching up your profile while using person on the site who seems most suitable for you.


Laptop Desktop Computer Wireless Mouse 6 Buttons USB Optical Mouse 1600 DPI Ergonomic White Game Mice for Xiaomi Notebook
Color: White, Black
Computer Connection Method: Wireless
Wireless Transmission Frequency: 2.4GHz
Operating Distance: 10m/32.81ft
Working Method: Optical
Photoelectric Resolution: 800-1000-1200-1600DPI
Number Of Keys: 6 Keys
Button Life: 5 Million Times
Battery Type: 2 X AAA (NOT Including)
Product Size: 103.5 X 70.5 X 38.6mm/4.07 X 2.78 X 1.52″
Product Weight: 62g
Due to the different monitor and light effect, the actual color of the item might be slightly different from the color showed on the pictures. Thank you!
Please allow 1-3mm measuring deviation due to manual measurement.
1 X Wireless Mouse
1 X USB Receiver


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he’s telling his day to his mistress
then phones his wife, and lies;
tucks the mobile back on his belt
it rings again – he rolls his eyes,
but answers, « hello mate –
how did the match go? »
the mistress looks on, unhappy
whoever heard of the invisible hoe?
he hangs up, and chuckles,
« on the bench the second half-
he’s gutted, he’s footy mad, that boy
bloody footy mad! »
the mistress plays with her food
and listens to him talk
not even the sex is worth it, she thinks:
I’ve become so very bored.


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Six days after his arrest for illegal entry in Guatemala, John McAfee was deported to the United States. He arrived in Miami late Wednesday and was reportedly escorted by authorities to a South Beach hotel. It is unclear if American authorities plan to question McAfee, who is wanted in Belize for questioning about the shooting death of his neighbor.
"It was the most gracious expulsion I've ever experienced. Compared to my past two wives that expelled me, this isn't a terrible trip,” the 67-year-old told ABC News of his deportation. "They took me out of my cell and put me on a freaking airplane. I had no choice in the matter."
McAfee has already hired a lawyer in the United States.
The anti-virus software creator surfaced in Guatemala last week after nearly a month of hiding from authorities in Belize. He was arrested in Guatemala City on December 5 for entering the country illegally. McAfee sought asylum in Guatemala, but the Foreign Ministry denied his request. He claimed that his life wound be in danger if he returned to Belize because he has information about government corruption in the nation.
Authorities in Belize say they simply want to speak with McAfee about the murder of his neighbor Gregory Faull. An unidentified suspect is already in custody for Faull’s death. Faull, an American builder, was found dead in his home on November 10 by his housekeeper, Laura Tun. Faull had recently complained to police about McAfee firing guns and keeping at least 6 noisy dogs on his property
“Under no circumstances am I going to willingly talk to the police in this country,” McAfee told tech news site Wired while in hiding. “You can say I’m paranoid about it but they will kill me, there is no question. They’ve been trying to get me for months. They want to silence me. I am not well liked by the prime minister. I am just a thorn in everybody’s side.”
Click here for more Law News


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by Maggie Humphreys
Last week, Seattle City Councilwomen Sally Bagshaw, M. Lorena González, Lisa Herbold, Debora Juarez, and Kshama Sawant took a no vote on a zoning issue related to the proposed third SoDo arena. Last week, those same Councilwomen — qualified, intelligent, experienced leaders in our community — faced an onslaught of misogynistic, racist, and violent threats as a result.
The threats and hate speech were alarming, but they were not surprising. At the National Women’s Political Caucus of Washington, the state’s oldest organization dedicated to recruiting, training, and electing more women to public office, we know first-hand the uphill battle women face when seeking positions of leadership. We’ve written about it again and again (and again). We also know that those challenges don’t end on Election Day.
Women’s representation in government — and almost every other arena of public life — remains shamefully low. Research shows that women leaders are seen as aggressive, emotional, incompetent, and are often ignored or spoken over in their workplace. Think about that. What does that say about how people treat your own mom, sister, daughter, or partner?
Women are half of the population and — for the first time in history — half of the workforce. Yet, less than 20 percent of Congress is comprised of women and only one-third of our state legislature is represented by women. There are only two women in the state legislature under the age of 40, and only 5 of our elected representatives in Olympia are women of color.
If we want our government to be more representative of the people it serves, we must make sure the process of running for office, the workings of governance, and our views on leadership are inclusive of all people.
In their own response to last week’s events, the Coucilwomen wrote in a recent op-ed:
“To this we say: Women of Seattle, you are valued…Don’t allow the hateful voices of a few intimidate you into silence or inaction. As for the five of us, we may not always agree on policy issues in the future, but on this we agree: We must and will take a stand against misogyny and other hateful rhetoric. We invite you to stand with us.”
We are proud to stand with you, Councilwomen, and we’re not alone. Over 1,800 people have signed our petition to say the same.
In this piece, I have used a term several times that I don’t usually like: Councilwomen. It unnecessarily assigns gender to our elected leaders, but I used it here to underline how very proud NWPC-WA and I are to have five City Councilwomen at Seattle City Hall. A women’s majority is something our organization and our communities have fought hard to win here in Seattle, and it is something we will continue to fight to replicate across our state and nation.
Maggie Humphreys is president of the National Women’s Political Caucus of Washington. Learn more about their work to recruit, train, and elect women to public office at www.nwpcwa.org.

domain: politics


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The Oscar winner continues her love affair with Dior, her favorite couturier, and with Chopard, her go-to jewelry house. For the Paris debut of her film Allied, she donned a traffic-stopping scarlet single-sleeve gown and drop earrings with multicolored sapphires that picked up the striking shade of her dress. A perfect alliance!
(Inset) Temptations collection earrings with 68.34 cts. t.w. briolette-cut chalcedony onyx, 7.69 cts. t.w. red and orange sapphires, and 1.33 cts. t.w. diamonds in 18k white gold; price on request; Chopard, NYC; 800-CHOPARD; chopard.com
Courtney Lauren earrings in 14k white gold with diamonds, pink tourmaline, and tourmalinated quartz; $9,900; Dana Rebecca, Chicago; 312-701-1773; danarebeccadesigns.com
Is there anything more dazzling than a redhead in a red dress? Adams wowed at the premiere of her latest film, the ultra-stylish Nocturnal Animals, in New York City, accessorizing with classic gold and diamond link earrings. Her gown was by—who else?—Animals auteur Tom Ford, who dressed his entire cast for the occasion.
Madison earrings with brilliant-cut diamonds in hammered 18k gold and platinum; $38,500; David Webb, NYC; 212-421-3030; davidwebb.com
Pois Moi collection 18k yellow gold earrings with pavé diamonds; $4,000; Roberto Coin, NYC; 800-853-5958; robertocoin.com
Drop earrings in stainless steel and 18k gold with 0.49 ct. t.w. diamonds; $2,195; Alor, San Diego; 800-872-2567; alor.com
(Cotillard: Stephane Cardinale/Corbis via Getty Images; Adams: Kevin Mazur/Focus Features via Getty Images)


For the past year I have been looking for a way to get a time-lapse video posted on our website. Last week during our Tuesday staff meeting our ace crime reporter, Emily Gillespie, mentioned she was working on a story about dangerous intersections in Benton County. This was my chance. The plan was to run the story on Thursday or Friday. I didn’t have much time. Right after the meeting, I met with Emily to get the list of intersections and then scouted locations Tuesday night. The north side of the Harrison Boulevard bridge provided a nice view of the intersection with Northwest Third Street.
Wednesday night after rush hour, I slipped out of the office for an hour to shoot the time-lapse. The plan was to shoot four-second exposures and pause for a second and start the next exposure. It might have been the cold or an error on my part, the camera stopped at close to 200 exposures. I quickly changed the exposure to two seconds and then a one-second pause and started again. The second try yielded close to 300 exposures. After downloading the images to my computer, I made an action in Photoshop to crop and color correct the images. The images were then loaded into Quicktime Pro and turned into a video file.
Thursday morning at work, the clips were loaded into iMovie for editing. The two clips were only about 30 seconds of video, and I wanted the video to last a minute. The problem was solved by running each clip twice. If you look closely, you will see the same northbound train twice in the video. The titles and music were added and the video was uploaded to the site Thursday afternoon, the story ran on the front page of Friday’s Gazette-Times.
This was a fun project. Even though the time schedule was tight, I hope to do more in the future. If you have any questions or suggestions please let me know.


On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. I think that in a moment the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill will be presented. It has already been online on the parliamentary website for the last hour and a half. This is a complete breach of the Standing Orders of the House: the convention is that it is presented to the House before it is presented to anybody else. Also, we cannot get a copy of it in the Vote Office, but we can get a copy of it online. I hope that there will be an investigation into this matter.


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Population explosion : Time is Ticking
The world has always been increasingly concerned with population management. However, it was the 2019 Population Control Bill that made the matter more prominent. Many individuals were offended by the somewhat contentious and audacious move, which was criticised in many regions of the nation. However, it must be acknowledged that India urgently needs a population control law to successfully control the nation’s population rise. India is currently the second most populous nation, according to data. By 2027, it is anticipated to unseat China as the top-ranked nation. 1.38 billion people are expected to live in India, which represents around 17% of the world’s population. According to the 2011 census, India can benefit from a growing population if it is structured properly. With an average national age of about 29 years and 41% of our people under the age of 18, India has one of the youngest populations in the world. According to this, the majority of Indians still have a large portion of their working years ahead of them. If given the proper training, education, and career opportunities, this group can help improve the country and the economy. However, there are a lot of negative aspects to population growth as well. It may impede a nation’s overall development. However, it should be mentioned that India’s Total Fertility Rate, or the average number of children a woman would have in her lifetime, has decreased to 2.2, which is extremely near to the ideal rate of 2.1. Without regulation, though, this development toward a population growth rate that is healthier could backfire and have the opposite impact.
Even now, the population exceeds what the nation could readily support. This has an impact on every aspect imaginable, but it has the most impact on the country’s economy. As the population grows, the market becomes oversaturated with unskilled labour, which drives down the pay they receive. It slows the growth of per capita income, which exacerbates poverty in the nation. Because there aren’t enough jobs for such a large population, there are more individuals working in places where they could get by with fewer people. This situation is known as disguised employment. This has a negative impact on the nation’s GDP.
The environment is another area where the growing population has a significant impact because as the population grows, nature gradually deteriorates and gets worse. Forests are cleared to create homes for the populace. The worst pollution levels have been recorded, and climate change has arrived at our doorsteps as a result of our actions.
All these factors make it pertinent to start considering regulating the population of the country, in order to lift the country out of poverty and move towards progress. The Population Regulation Bill, 2019 was a step towards achieving this objective.
Rakesh Sinha, a member of parliament, filed a bill in the Rajya Sabha in July 2019 that called for making the “Two-Child” policy the standard for people in India and promoted it with the slogan “hum do hamare do.” It also included a punishment clause that would bar violators from using any government services as a means of punishment. It suggested barring persons with more than two children from running for office, denying them financial benefits, and reducing the benefits they may receive under the Public Distribution System (PDS).
4his Independence Day speech in 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the population increase and remarked, “A small portion of society, which keeps its families small, deserves respect.Its actions are an act of patriotism.” This statement sparked the introduction of the Bill. Although the Bill may have had the correct goal in mind, it was condemned for a variety of reasons since it was a pretty daring step to make.
In India, population control has been a hotly debated issue and various measures have made to address it. A sort of post-trauma trigger of the population control strategy during the Emergency led to India’s lack of proper execution and resistance to a population control law. Since then, India has always had a poor perception of population control policies. The government of Indira Gandhi launched a horrifying programme to sterilise men for population control during the 1975 emergency period. Laws requiring men to get sterilised were against democratic principles. The majority of the time, it was done without the person’s consent. Police officers and government representatives forced and dragged others to surgery.
People were put under pressure using both physical and manipulative techniques. The government spread the message that until government employees complied with the sterilising programme, promotions and compensation would not be given. Hospitals also ceased providing free medical care unless a sterilisation certificate was produced. Government officers, sadly, entirely disregarding their age or marital status, picked up destitute and illiterate persons from train terminals or bus stops.
6.2 million males were sterilised in a single year, which is astonishing. India has a murky past with state-sponsored measures of population control. The majority of the burden fell on the nation’s poor and marginalised populations. Even now, the impacts of those mass sterilisations are still being felt. India has a history of being wary of strict population control measures. As a result, it is suffice to say that the population control campaign during the emergency was a serious human rights violation.
Criticism of the Population Control Bill
The Bill was subject to two types of criticism. On the one hand, it is uncertain if controlling population alone, with other parameters remaining constant, could bring about much-needed change to the GDP. Which group of people would be most targeted if the bill is passed raises another worry.
The first worry seems a bit hazy. It is a widely acknowledged reality that a large population negatively impacts the nation’s economy, therefore it is urgent to control it. The Bill was a much-needed step in the right direction, even though it does need revision and adjustment. The “Two-Child” policy would likely guarantee that the population doesn’t grow out of control while also preventing a situation similar to the one China is currently in.
The second criticism of the issue is more specific. The poorest strata of Indian society hold the majority of the country’s population. The TFR was actually found to be 2.4 in rural India as opposed to 1.8 in urban India in the National Family Health Survey (2015-2016). When literacy and education were taken into account, it was shown that women with no education had a TFR of 3.1 while those with appropriate education only had a TFR of 1.7. It is also important to note that while the TFR for the general population was 1.93, it was 2.26 for Scheduled Castes.
Therefore, it is obvious that the marginalised, the poor, and the ignorant populations would be affected the most if any such bill were to pass in the Parliament. Additionally, others say that the Bill may be a strategy for reducing the Muslim community’s population growth and targeting the Muslim community.
Population growth is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. Due to the large number of children born in relation to the number of working adults, savings that could otherwise be used to improve the infrastructure and development of the nation must instead be used to meet the growing needs of children and adolescents for food, housing, healthcare, and education. Due of this, nations and people are unable to make the longer-term investments necessary to help them escape poverty. India has to be made more aware of population control measures including family planning, contraception, and health risks because of the growing kid population gap as well as the financial and social constraints associated with having a big family. For the population to decline, it is also necessary to provide enough health and educational services. To regulate the population without violating people’s rights, population control is necessary. This means promoting the benefits of small families and raising knowledge of the drawbacks of large families so that individuals opt to have only one or two children. Although the high court ruled population control laws unconstitutional and against people’s rights, a plea has been made and a trial is currently taking place in the Supreme court on the grounds that the high court failed to understand that the rights to clean air, drinking water, health, peaceful sleep, shelter, a means of subsistence, and education guaranteed under Articles 21 and 21A of the Constitution could not be violated.


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Late last week, it was disclosed that the Los Angeles Angels will be moving the press box from its prime location behind to a less than ideal perspective down the rightfield line.
From Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times:
The Angels are in the process of converting their press box to a luxury seating area that will feature upgraded dining opportunities and amenities for about 80 fans, a move that will push writers covering the team to a new press box down the right-field line in Angel Stadium.
There will be no changes to the radio and television broadcast booths, which will remain on the club level behind home plate, or in the Diamond Club restaurant and seating areas on the lower level behind home plate.
“It really boils down to building revenue streams and finding as many ways as possible to grow,” said Tim Mead, Angels vice president of communications. “In talking to other teams, the seating behind home plate is a prime area to do things.”
Mead noted the White Sox made the move with their press box a few years ago. The writers aren’t happy about it.
Upon hearing the news about the Angels, Paul Hoynes, the longtime baseball writer for the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, wrote in a Tweet:
Selig promised BBWAA no team would be allowed to move pressbox from behind home plate after Chi did it. Angel writers should go to Bud.
I don’t know that it will do any good. Given that the Angels have committed a zillion dollars on about four players, the Commissioner is not going to rule against the team trying to find some new revenue sources.
Sorry, Hoynsie. I don’t think the protest is going to go very far.


Vietnam’s postal service will be reorganised under a plan approved by the prime minister earlier last month the Vietnam News Service reported. Under the plan, the Viet Nam Post and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) would spin off the new Viet Nam Postal Corporation with a total equity of over VND8 trillion (US$500 million), according to Deputy Minister of Post and Telematics Nguyen Thanh Hung. The change would be effected July 1.
The move effects a larger strategy of separating two sectors, postal services and telecommunications, which are now both assumed by VNPT, said Hung.
The new corporation would continue performing postal services now under the purview of VNPT. It was also expected to develop and manage public postal networks, provide fi nancial and banking services, and co-operate with telecommunications fi rms to provide ICT services. The corporation’s affi liates would include provincial and municipal post offi ces and enterprises in which it would hold over 50 percent equity, such as the Postal Express and Postage Stamp joint stock companies.
In a related development, Korean Post said it has agreed to help develop and modernise IT systems for Vietnam’s postal service under a memorandum of understanding signed by VNPT and the South Korean postal service.


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Local Fertiliser Industries slashes fertiliser prices to compete Imported Urea
KARACHI: The local fertilizer companies have slashed retail prices of urea by up to Rs 100 per 50 kg bag to compete with the state-run fertiliser firms.
Recently, Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet approved the sale of imported urea available at the NFML at Rs 1310 per 50 kg bag on the recommendations of Finance Ministry. National Fertiliser Marketing Limited (NFML), state-run fertilizer, imported urea stock in this regard.
As per industry sources, Fatima Fertilizer Company Limited (FFCL) & Pakarab Fertilisers Limited have resorted to discounts on urea prices mainly driven by clearing off inventory levels, 1.4 million tones at end of July 2016 and ECC’s decision to clear NMFL’s urea inventory at even lower prices of Rs 1,310/bag. Therefore, both companies, FFCL & Pakarab Fertilisers Limited have lowered its MRP (maximum retail price) to Rs 1,300/bag from Rs 1400/bag.
Similarly, another two companies Engro Fertiliser and Fauji Fertiliser Company (FFC) have also lowered its MRP price to Rs1, 350 per 50 kg bag from Rs 1420.
It is important to mention here that government, in Fiscal Year 2016-17 (FY17) budget, reduced urea prices by Rs 400/bag to Rs 1,400/bag.
“We believe urea price discount by FFCL and Pakarab are unlikely to have any major bearing on pricing strategy of big players i.e. FFC and Engro Fertilizers in long term’. ‘We believe urea price discount by FFCL and Pakarab are essentially to clear off inventory levels ahead of lean demand season and is likely a short term phenomenon as we expect initiation of Rabi season from mid-October to restore pricing discipline in medium to long term”, said Syed Manib Imam, a research analyst.
Imam said FFCL and Pakarab has minor share of 8 percent in total urea industry offtake. Moreover, commencement of Rabi season from mid of October is likely to drive urea demand as major Rabi Crop (wheat) has historically consumes 45 percent of total fertilizer demand, he added.
Meanwhile, as per provisional numbers, urea industry’s offtake is expected to go up by 30 percent Year on Year (YoY) in August 2016, but expected to drop 29 percent Month on Month (MoM) mainly on account of fading Kharif season demand.


Western Star Trucks is now 50 years old, an iconic brand in Canada, if a little less so in the U.S. That difference isn’t surprising because the truck was born here when White Motor Company built a plant in Kelowna, B.C., and launched what was called the White Western Star. A tough truck, it was essentially hand-built, and if you wanted holes in the frame here as opposed to there, you had only to ask. Its initial target was the forestry world. A logging truck par excellence, as it remains, it also found favor in the oil patch and in mines.
It’s a little less customizable today, but not by too much. The venerable Model 4900 is still around, albeit with the modern Constellation cab sitting atop the Cornerstone chassis introduced in 1988.
Believe it or not, the very first Western Star itself is also still with us. Sold to a man in Seattle, Washington, it was used by three generations of his family and retired not too long ago. Bought back by the original selling dealer, the truck was restored to its virgin glory and made the trip to Arizona recently where Western Star invited the press to celebrate its anniversary. They refer to it as “Celebrating 50 Years of Legendary Awesomeness”.
In the early days, there were probably few people who would have predicted a 50-year run for the company. White was having a tough time, and by 1980 it was insolvent, which led to Volvo’s entry into the North American market. The Swedish outfit bought White’s U.S. assets but the Canadian side of the company – meaning Western Star and the Kelowna plant – went to two Alberta energy companies, Bow Valley Resources and Nova Corp. The Western Star brand stayed alive.
In 1984, the beastly 6900 off-road model was launched with its -quadruple frame rails and haul-anything-up-to-40-tons character.
The year before that an Australian enterprise was created, the Model 4900 deemed well-suited to the harsh conditions and big loads of Oz.
Production was not high, just 2,000 units in 1987, rising only to 4,500 in 1994.
The company was losing money during those years, and in 1990 its Calgary-based owners sold the majority share of Western Star Trucks to Australian tycoon Terry Peabody, who was also the importer and distributor down under. Over the next decade, he turned things around in a big way. After restructuring the company’s debt, he slashed operating costs and grew annual sales to $1.8 billion in 1999 compared to just $13 million in 1992.
That growth came not just from trucks built in Kelowna but also from the purchase of Ontario’s Orion Bus Industries and the ERF truck brand in England. Peabody’s new version of Western Star also built a small military vehicle.
He cashed in when Freightliner LLC, part of DaimlerChrysler at that point, paid a reported US $670 million to buy Western Star Trucks Holdings as well as its Orion Bus Industries division in 2000. Freightliner also acquired Western Star’s 460,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in North Charleston, South Carolina, as well as the facility in Kelowna, then making 31 trucks a day. Western Star was folded into Freightliner’s Sterling Division, Orion into its specialty vehicles business.
Two years later the B.C. plant was shut down and production was moved to Portland, Oregon. Things started to move. By 2006 Western Star had built 100,000 trucks. In 2011 the 4700 model was introduced, a lighter and somewhat more versatile truck than the venerable 4900.
Now called Daimler Trucks North America, Western Star’s owners have helped it move forward, especially with the introduction in 2015 of the 5700XE. It’s a very modern highway truck that uses Daimler family mechanicals and sports fuel efficiency numbers not very far behind its stablemate, the Freightliner Cascadia. It’s built in Cleveland, North Carolina, which also handles overflow 4700 and 4900 production from the Portland factory.
As things stand now, Western Star enjoys a Class 8 market share that usually hovers just below 10% in Canada. As of February, year-to-date figures pegged its share at 8.7%, which reflects a slowdown in the oil patch but still put it ahead of Volvo and Mack. Sales are strongest in B.C., Alberta, and Quebec.
In the U.S. it’s a much different story. Year-to-Date Class 8 figures for February show a very small 2.5% market share.
Asked to explain that marked difference in a private interview, Western Star president Kelley Platt said it comes down mostly to the distribution network, not just that her trucks are a little heavier and more expensive than the competition’s. There is work to be done on the dealer network in the U.S., whereas in Canada the company enjoys a well-established and broad sales and support system. That said, she noted that market share in the northeast U.S. is in the 10% range, the same in Colorado.
Western Star built 7,323 trucks in 2016, she noted, putting the company at a 3.8% market share for the year. Given Daimler’s market share numbers for the past few years, the vocational market is a natural space for the company to grow, and that favors Western Star’s vocational models, Platt said. Based on those goals, she expects to see Western Star’s U.S. market share grow to 8% by 2025, maybe as much as 15%.
Given that a third of the North American Class 8 market exists in the vocational realm, Western Star would seem to be well placed after 50 years of truck-making. A niche player at present in the on-highway world, the company’s 5700XE has clear appeal for smaller fleets looking to distinguish themselves, and that could change things in the next few years.
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I looked at the Honda to replace the Espace - I was hoping to get a smaller MPV but in the end decided on keeping witht the big stuff.
I was very impressed with the FRV. Like you I thought the wood was nasty and couldn't understand why the sport spec included the wood trim:crazy:
I liked the quirky 3 seats in the front and it's size in general. Vision out of the back was a bit naff but other than that I couldn't fault it. I did drive one but can't remember which model but it drove very well.
All round a nice motor.
That's the spirit ol' bean.But I will keep trying, You don't get if you don't ask.


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I have spent the last two days at an all-inclusive in Agadir, Morocco. It’s quite busy here with a lot of people everywhere. People are from Morocco and mostly Europe. I don’t see many Russian (none actually).
The worst part of our experience here is at the buffet. People are eating way too much, because, it’s free or because they “paid for it”, so they are entitled. Yet, the amount of wasted food is astronomical. I would argue that 80% of people here are fat, 20% in advanced stage of being fat. Many people are rude with the personal (because they paid for it?). It’s sad. Many people lack the basic sense of why “waiting in line”. They skip, they bypass and they don’t give a damn. It’s a circus.


BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) 12 to 15 people out of their homes after an apartment fire in Blount County.
It broke out around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday on Manor Way.
No injuries are reported but some pets did die in the fire.
Crews managed to contain the fire to one unit, but everyone in the four unit building had to stay somewhere else Tuesday night.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.


Phurpa Lhamo | Wangdue
Inching a step closer to Bhutan’s aim of energy security through a diversified and sustainable energy supply mix, a 180-kilowatt (kW) grid-tied solar power plant project was inaugurated yesterday at Ruebisa, Wangdue.
The pilot project is the first of its kind in the country, and the energy generated from the project is feeding electricity into the national grid for distribution.
With 464 solar panels, the 180kW plant will produce 263,000 units of energy a year, which is adequate to meet the electricity supply demands for around 90 households.
Director of the Department of Renewable Energy (DRE), Phuntsho Namgyal, said that Bhutan was endowed with 12,000 megawatts (MW) of solar power potential.
He added that today, a negligible percentage (next to zero) of solar energy is tapped.
He said that the current pilot project of the 180kW solar plant brings Bhutan’s utility scale solar power generation dream closer.
The pilot project engaged around 10 engineers and technicians from the DRE and Bhutan Power Corporation (BPC), who carried out the design, construction, installation, and grid integration work. Further, locals were involved through local contractors to execute the work.
Phuntsho Namgyal said that while engineers and technicians had theoretical knowledge on solar plants, it was the first time that the staff had received hands-on experience at such a scale.
“When our engineers and technicians are trained, we can have better design, better technical coordination, better tendering specification formulations; it would be directly helpful in several areas.”
He added that those involved would greatly benefit and take part in Bhutan’s upcoming solar projects. One imminent project is the construction of Bhutan’s first mega solar power plant, a 17MW plant in Sephu, Wangdue.
Today, all of Bhutan’s electricity generation is from renewables such as hydropower, wind, and solar. However, 78 percent of the country’s energy consumption is supplied by fossil fuels, largely for transportation purposes.
Satoshi Suzuki, Ambassador of Japan to Bhutan, said that in Bhutan the energy mix consists primarily of hydroelectricity, owing to abundant fast-flowing rivers.
He added that in winter however, due to reduced flow of water into the rivers, there isn’t enough water available for power generation.
“I hope that this solar power system will help in improving Bhutan’s energy security, which is indispensable for the socioeconomic development of the country. I hope that these Solar Photovoltaic Facilities will be effectively used for many years to come.”
Further, the UNDP Resident Representative, Azusa Kubota, said that Bhutan was heavily dependent on hydropower as its energy source, an energy system that is vulnerable to glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), flash floods, and reduced flows in the river systems during winter months. “These are subject to the direct impact of climate change. Strengthening the reliability of the energy sector must be at the heart of Bhutan’s recovery efforts.”
She said: “This project is an example of both climate change adaptation and mitigation. By enhancing energy availability during the lean winter months when hydro generation decreases, the project is an adaptation response to climate change. And, by exporting surplus electricity to the Indian grid, it helps mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in India, thus becoming a mitigation project.”
In addition to the 600kW wind turbines at Ruebisa, the 180kW solar plant will serve as learning material for students studying renewable energy.
Phuntsho Namgyal said that the pilot plant will not only demonstrate the viability of the solar power in Bhutan but also demystify several things. “For instance, solar power has always been equated to a subsistence-level substitute for kerosene lamps for home lighting in some far-off rural villages, which cannot power meaningful appliances like rice cookers, water boilers, TVs, etc.”
He added: “Solar power can not only power a full suite of household appliances, but also power powerful tools in households so that a carpenter, tailor, and a farmer can improve their productivity and get one’s business to work and make oneself part of the productive economy.”
The USD 210,000 project was executed by DRE in collaboration with BPC as the implementing agency. The project was funded by the government of Japan, supported by UNDP.
Edited by Jigme Wangchuk


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Bali is the most famous for its beach tourism. Usually, foreign or local people visit Bali’s beaches to surf because the waves support these activities. Well, this time we will give you information about beach destinations for surfing. Here are the six best beaches for surfing in Bali:
Balangan Beach is located on Jalan Balangan, South Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali. Balangan is a popular surfing spot in Bali with an intermediate level of surfer experience. If you are a beginner, it is recommended not to surf here because the waves can reach 4-8 feet high. If you visit Balangan Beach, it is better in the dry season or around April – October because the sea waves are consistent in that month, and the weather is also sunny.
Balian Beach is not very well known to local tourists but is very well known by tourists from Australia. The waves are pretty high and consistent every year will be more suitable for experienced surfers only.
Balian Beach is not as famous as Kuta, so it’s a great place to visit if you’re looking for serenity. What is unique about this beach is that the sand is black and has a river mouth called the Balian River. The location is on Jalan Pantai Balian, Lalanglinggah Village, Kec. West Selemadeg, Tabanan Regency, Bali. It takes about 1.5 hours drive from Kuta Beach.
Nusa Dua Beach is very famous for foreign or local tourists. The address is on Jl. Nusa Dua, Benoa, South Kuta District, Badung Regency. Apart from being a white sandy beach, Nusa Dua Beach has big and consistent waves with a wave height of 6 feet.
In addition, in Nusa Dua, there is no lifeguard, so it is only suitable for experienced surfers. If you are still a beginner in surfing, it is better to surf in Kuta, where the waves are friendlier.
Who does not know Kuta Beach? Yes, this beach has indeed become a favorite of all tourists. Besides having a beautiful sunset, Kuta Beach has white sand with calm seawater. The address for Kuta Beach is in Kuta District, Badung Regency, Bali.
The waves are also not too high, so it’s suitable for beginner-level surfing. There is already a surf equipment rental place for those of you who don’t have one while learning to surf in that place.
Batu Bolong Beach is located on Jl. Batu Bolong Beach, Canggu Village, North Kuta District, Badung Regency, Bali. This beach is a suitable surfing spot for beginners besides Kuta Beach.
Batu Bolong has a slow wave current with a wave height similar to that of Kuta. The thing that distinguishes it is the white sand of Batu Bolong, while Kuta has white sand.
Medewi Beach is located in Pekutatan District, Jembrana Regency, Bali. This beach has black sand with many rocks on the shoreline, the sea is still clear, and the village is also unspoiled.
It is not surprising that tourists dub Medewi as the best surfing beach in West Bali because it has big and long waves. The wave’s height is higher than the waves in Kuta but shorter than the waves in Balian. Medewi Beach is suitable for surfing, but not suitable for sunbathing because the weather is very hot.
Planning to visit Bali soon? Find out more about Bali and Indonesia by visiting Wonderful Indonesia.

domain: geography


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The goal of any great actor is to make each and every role they go into look authentic — to strip away all parts of their own personality and create a new identity for their character. And it seems some stars are willing to take this more literally than others…at least the stripping part. Matthew McConaughey recently revealed to People magazine that he and and his Magic Mike costar Channing Tatum decided to delve into male strip clubs (for work, of course) to help bring them into the stripper mindset.
“[We] met early on and went by one male review strip club in New Orleans,” McConaughey recalled. “I was there for about an hour. That was enough.” Tatum, on the other hand, already had quite a few years of experience under his belt given that he was actually a male dancer before becoming an actor. Sometimes art really does imitate life. Sexy, sexy art.
But these Hollywood hotties aren’t the only ones who have gotten down and dirty in the name of research. Kristen Stewart once visited a strip club in the middle of the afternoon with her Welcome to the Rileys director and costume designer to help prepare her to play a runaway teen stripper. She even ended up getting a job offer out of the whole ordeal! The same thing happened to Anne Heche when she visited a strip club in preparation for her audition for Al Pacino‘s Carlito’s Way.
Jessica Biel also had to take some stripping lessons for her role as a sexy dancer in Powder Blue while Jessica Alba went to strip clubs as a part of her research for her character in Sin City. Lindsay Lohan took pole-dancing lessons to prepare for her role as a stripper in I Know Who Killed Me, along with erotic yoga, but moviegoers who saw the clunker probably wished she hadn’t. Ah, the things some people have to do in the name of work.


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Squirrel Nut Zippers among 2019 Jazz & Rib Fest headliners
The Jazz & Rib Fest has announced its headline performers for the 2019 event.
Musical acts include the seven-piece jazz-blues ensemble Squirrel Nut Zippers, the Soul Rebels with guest performer GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan, jazz and R&B artist Norman Brown, multi-instrumentalist Brian Culbertson, pedal-steel performer Robert Rudolph with his Family Band, and the Columbus Jazz Orchestra.
The festival will take place July 19-21 in Bicentennial and Genoa Parks on the Scioto Mile. Admission is free.
For more information, visit www.hotribscooljazz.org.


DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Department of Transportation says it’s not entertained by an online video showing a clown clinging to the back of a moving city bus.
The video that was recorded from another vehicle was posted on YouTube recently. In a statement, DDOT says that the “safety of our riders is DDOT’s number one priority.” The transit agency says it has video cameras inside and outside its buses and asked police to review the case.
No one was reported injured and no one was taken into custody. Police are investigating.
Michelle McKinney, who is a regular bus rider, tells WDIV-TV that she thought the video was scary. She says you don’t know what the person dressed as the clown was trying to do.
Warning: Video does contain strong language.


Sadly, we’re nearly all aware of the stories of young, male, Muslim immigrants from the Middle East and North Africa harassing and raping European women with impunity. The good news is, it now appears those clever Germans have hit on a solution: help those immigrants hit on German women. Brilliant!
Horst Wenzel has been dubbed Germany’s “Mr. Flirt,” and has been volunteering his “services” to teach these young Muslim men the proper techniques for successfully attracting, seducing and arousing German lasses. He selflessly dispenses his expertise in this area to the randy refugees, without compensation or, apparently, condemnation. Here are some of his key pointers:
*The Approach: This is the critical first step in the seduction process. Wenzel advises, “If you see a woman you like, don’t ask her if you can talk to her; just do it.” (Taking Nike’s advice is always a good idea)
*Focus: “If you fire non-stop questions at her, she’ll run away. Come up with something that makes her talk about herself.” (“So, are you still a virgin?”)
*Take the Initiative: Mr. Flirt says, “Even Germany’s emancipated women often like the man to take the initiative. Surprise her with unique pick-up lines; suggest original dates.” (“Come with me baby, and you’ll never work again!”; “Have you ever been to a stoning?”; “I could take you Hijab shopping”)
*Unusual Compliments: “Don’t tell her she has pretty eyes; she’s heard that a million times. Come up with something more unique.” (“You’d look good bent over, praying towards Mecca!”)
*Unique Dates: “Don’t ask her out for coffee; make it the theater, a concert, rock climbing. Or plan something in the future to show you’re really interested: Invite her on a trip to Amsterdam or Paris.” (Were there not recent terror attacks on both of these cities? Was not Paris’ Bataclan Concert Hall targeted? Maybe invite her to Fallujah or Sirte, instead)
*Body Contact: “Take her hand (not necessarily on the first date!) and see how she reacts. If she stiffens up, that’s a bad sign. If she responds with tenderness, you’re on the right track.” (Take her hand temporarily in yours, don’t literally take her hand, like permanently, no matter her reaction, even if she admits to adultery)
*Sex and Love: Horst says: “It’s OK to have sex on the first, second or third date; sex is no big deal in Germany. But don’t tell her you love her for at least three months. German women can’t stand clinginess.” (Wow. Bang her in die Strasse on the first date if you want, but don’t hold her hand or tell her you love her! I’m confused, Herr Wenzel. How is this different from what they have been doing)?


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Planning a wedding can be quite stressful. However, right food in your menu list can reduce much of your stress. BBQ foods are in trend right now. So, if you’re yet to decide your wedding menu, without a doubt include BBQ food in your list.
Looking for BBQ delivery is easy. Internet can help you making the list of BBQ restaurants near your area. Visit their website to inquire about delivery menus, client reviews and testimonials, rates etc. One you’ve done some resourceful research, narrow down the list with options that caters your needs well and also fits your budget style.
However, while choosing a BBQ catering, one must keep following things in mind.
Don’t compromise with quality
With so many types of grilling and BBQ restaurants around, it’s essential you pick up the right one for you. You must be quality conscious. Pick up a caterer that serves the quality food products in the market. It would be wiser to search the market to check the cooking process.
Special dietary requirements
While BBQ catering is surely the best way to please most of your guest, you should expect some guest that doesn’t eat barbecue food. Yes, you might have some vegans, too. What if someone special is on a restricted diet? The best feeling you can give to your guests is by serving them with the right food.
A lot of caterers include following items (vegan diet), along with the BBQ food items:
- Macaroni and cheese
- Garlic mashed potatoes
- Fresh salads
Make sure, your caterer is able to personalize the meals to accommodate your guest well.
Now that you’ve considered quality and food varieties, it’s time we talk about hospitality. Remember, the catering service should be able to hold up your guest well. They must arrive on time with the fresh products and must greet your guest with a smile.
Planning a barbecued wedding could be a bit difficult, but not with these tips:
- Use rustic steel or a wheel barrow for storage of cold beverages storage to give a retro touch to your wedding.
- Use skewer as a tool to hold fruits and food.
- You can create your own sets of spices for cooking food. Yes, you can customize food according to your style. Moreover, it would be a unique idea to flavor the sauces to add varieties and taste richness in your BBQ menu.
So, start planning your dream wedding with the right menu. You want your wedding menu memorable, don’t you?

domain: food


In the manufacturing industry, new products are proliferating at an unprecedented pace, while the delivery windows are tightening. Manufacturers thrive on finding new ways to enhance product quality while still being able to take on short lead-time production runs. They are also focusing on improving time-to-customer performance. However, unplanned equipment failure, increasing downtime, and demand variation directly affects organizations’ ability to meet customers’ demands and expectations.
Machine learning presents businesses with an opportunity to drive innovation and stay ahead of the curve while maintaining the quality of produced goods and satisfying customer needs. Machine learning facilitates fault detection during early stages and helps manufacturers to constantly improve the machine performance, enhance business processes, and optimize supply chain. This webinar is aimed at company influencers and decision-makers. It presents the capabilities of machine learning to transform the way the manufacturing industry works. Our subject matter experts will discuss how machine learning impacts various areas of operations of the manufacturing industry.


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RAD 088 | PURCHASE
“Nice pulsating build up, and in comes the dark edgy drop! With energy boosts and electronic fluxes, this is a great track for the bass nuts.” Mizz Ruby
Sound Avtar’s new release ‘Machine Gun’ will almost make you feel like the lead player in a very thrilling computer game. You can picture yourself running down the street, fleeing whatever is following you while the police sirens are ringing in your ears. That said, it is also an immensely slamming dubstep track.
Voted Best Drum & Bass/Dubstep Dj/Producer by MYFAV Awards for the year 2012-13 & 2013-14, Piyush Bhatnagar aka Sound Avtar is an explosive force from the country’s burgeoning Dance music scene. Hailing from Jaipur and based in Mumbai at the moment, Sound Avtar uses cutting edge music production techniques, creativity and innovation and concocts tunes so monstrous that it’s hard not to take note of this young producer’s earth rattling productions and Live sets.


Once a pipe dream, self-driving cars now seem likely to become a fixture of Britain’s roads in the not-too-distant future. The likes of Uber and Google have ploughed hundreds of millions of dollars into the technology (Apple is rumoured to be doing the same) and most of the big car manufacturers have followed suit. But why go to Silicon Valley or Stuttgart to find companies bringing autonomous vehicles to market when you need only go as far as Coventry?
Last week RDM Group debuted its fully autonomous ‘Pod Zero’ at the Cenex Low Carbon Vehicle Event at Millbrook proving ground, making it the first British company to do so in public. The pods can accommodate two, four or six people and have an operational range of 60 miles but they’re not designed for use on the road.
Instead they will be used to carry people at a maximum speed of 15mph through pedestrianised areas like airports, university campuses and shopping centres. They would certainly make visiting somewhere like London’s Oxford Street, set to be closed to traffic by 2020, less daunting for the elderly and infirm.
RDM is the creation of David Keene, who took voluntary redundancy in 1993 after 11 years working for Rover. It’s a ‘tier 1’ supplier of car parts to the likes of Jaguar Land Rover, Aston Martin and Bentley and employs 65 people, with a turnover approaching £9m. ‘I initially worked out of my little bedroom at home in Coventry,’ Keene tells MT. ‘Over the years I’ve acquired 50,000 square feet of manufacturing, design, development and vehicle build space.’ Keene also owns Leacy MG, a supplier of parts for MGs, Triumphs, Minis and Morris Minors that employs another 38, and several other small automotive companies.
The company got into autonomous vehicles in a gradual way. After designing a connected car that could be controlled using an iPad for a client it had the know-how to build ‘fly by wire’ systems – allowing steering, braking and other mechanical parts of the car to be controlled digitally.
‘Then one day a UK/European call came out from the Transport Systems Catapult, based in Milton Keynes, saying we want this tender for building three autonomous vehicles,’ says Keene. ‘At that point we didn’t need to supply the autonomous control system, we just needed to build the vehicle and the interface - the self-steer, self-braking, that sort of stuff.’ RDM built three LUTZ (low-carbon urban transport zone) Pathfinder pod along with Oxford University’s Mobile Robotics Group, which supplied the autonomous control system.
After that RDM joined a consortium focusing on self-driving cars called UK Autodrive alongside the likes of Ford, JLR and Tata Motors. It successfully bid for £20m worth of government funding and now the company is planning to build 40 more pods. ‘But this time I decided that RDM is going to do its own autonomous control system.’
That’s involved hiring a bunch of new team members to build the software, something that’s been a big challenge thus far. ‘It’s got harder over the past few years because of the success of the economy, especially in automotive,’ says Keene. ‘We’ve got Jaguar Land Rover as our neighbours, which is great because they’re one of our biggest customers. But they’ve been doing spectacularly well and every time they expand they need more people so the pool of really first class people gets smaller and smaller.’
The trick is highlighting the benefits of working for a small company, he adds. ‘Some of those are the variety of the work, the excitement of the work, we’re a smaller team, you’re connected to the owner, if we want to make a decision we make it instantly.’ Being one of the few companies in the UK developing autonomous cars probably helps too.
Though it’s focused on low-speed vehicles for now, there’s a possibility RDM’s autonomous tech could find its way into your road car in the future. ‘Our first objective is to make sure all of our technology works and is robust and we get into production making the pod vehicles,’ says Keene. ‘We’ve got the technology to provide systems for road-going cars so I guess we would probably licence our technology in the future.’
For now the company is planning to make 200 pods next year and bidding for contracts the world over, from America to Singapore and the Middle East. Keene says autonomous vehicles are unlikely to supplant the company’s core parts business but they certainly seem to be taking off. ‘There’s still many years ahead of us producing top quality products for car manufacturers but as time moves on companies like us having this kind of technology can only be a good thing.’


LJ Hawk’s new tune “High” is infectious
Posted by APM on August 18, 2016
Australian house project known as LJ Hawk just dropped a new track called “High”, an infectious new housey tune that features the voice of a Sydney-based soul/R&B/jazz singer known as Ash. Ash’s spirited vocals, combined with the beautiful synth work and a catchy melody creates an uplifting, euphoric track that is a must listen. Here’s what LJ Hawk had to say about it: “I had been tinkering with a lot of sounds and song’s in the studio, doing my best to explore each of the elements in the hopes of learning more about what I love listening to in other people’s music, and then working it into my own. When I first heard Ash’s voice on some demo’s, I knew her style & sound would align really well with some of the deeper house track’s I had been working on.” They got together in the studio and created this masterpiece, set to be released on Sunstroke Records on September 2nd. Check out “High” now!


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Thursday, August 22, 2013
Aug/Sept Unity Inspired challenge
Here's my attempt at the color challenge at the current
Unity Inspired Challenge
Could kicky myself that the banner is skew! Aaaargh but I wasn't going to do that one over LOL.
Image & sentiment: Unity KOM June 2013.
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It sounds like the beginning of a bad joke: A minister and a rabbi walk into a hospital.
But the Rev. Karen Onesti and Rabbi Andrew Bossov of Mount Laurel, N.J., don’t care if people laugh-as long as they get the message that being an organ donor is the ultimate act of compassion.
On Jan. 23, Onesti, pastor of Masonville-Rancocas United Methodist Church, donated her left kidney to her friend Bossov, rabbi at Mount Laurel’s Adath Emanu-El synagogue.
Now recovering, Onesti is scheduled to return to her pulpit on Easter Sunday, and Bossov expects to be back at his synagogue in time to celebrate Passover in early April.


Ondo PDP: Appeal Court Sacks Jimoh Ibrahim
By Dipo Olowookere
An Appeal Court sitting in Abuja has ruled that Mr Eyitayo Jegede be recognised as the authentic candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Saturday, November 26, 2016 governorship election in Ondo State.
With the ruling, Mr Jimoh Ibrahim has been disqualified from contesting in the poll this weekend.
In an unanimous judgment on Wednesday, Justice Ibrahim Saulawa upturned the June 29 judgement of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Mr Ibrahim as PDP candidate for the exercise.
In his ruling, Justice Saulawa, who led the three-man Special Panel of the appeal court held that the decision of the high court was in total breach of the provision of section 36 of the 1999 constitution, which it said forbade any court from denying fair hearing to a party likely to be affected by final decision of the court.
Justice Saulawa also said the action of the lower court violated the legal doctrine of audi altarem partem, stressing that, “The tenets of natural Justice entails that a party ought to be heard prior to determination of case against them.”
It would be recalled that Mr Jegede had approached the court to challenge the high court verdict which ordered INEC to only relate with the Ali Modu-Sheriff faction of the PDP.
Justice Abang had on October 14, also re-affirmed his decision, even as he warned the electoral body against accepting any candidate nominated by the Senator Ahmed Markafi-led National Caretaker Committee of the PDP.
Acting on the strength of the order, INEC, promptly removed Mr Jegede’s name from the final list of candidates for the Ondo gubernatorial poll, and replaced it with Mr Ibrahim.


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Howdy, y'all! Hope everyone has had a good summer full of pools and watermelon or airconditioning and Netflix. Whatever floats your summertime boat. Please enjoy this month's scratch with a scoop of icecream on top.
JOIN US Wednesday, August 31st at 10 a.m. in the College Station Barnes & Noble for our monthly meeting. Our program is as follows: this month we'll discuss what happened at Summer Conference in LA, cover what editors and agents are saying and the general state of the industry. We'll also discuss news and provide encouragement. Gentle critique begins at 9:30 a.m. Bring copies of 5 double-spaced pages of your work in progress. Those who have time may go to lunch at a local restaurant. Members and friends welcome.
Building a Multi-lingual LibraryHere are a couple of different types of books that help incorporate a new language into your reading library. All are useful whether you are trying to encourage readers to speak more than one language or are trying to add diversity to your library.
Direct translations of classic children's books are helpful since, as a reader, you are likely already aware of the story. If you are a beginner, start with board books (monolingual baby books are easily turned into multilingual books with a Sharpie and a dictionary). Personally I steer clear of books that use a lot of rhyme and word play (for example, Dr. Seuss books and The Phantom Toll-Booth) since a lot can get lost in translation.
Side by Side Translation
These books include the full text in both languages. The two languages are placed in different areas of the page (columns, top and bottom half) and are sometimes printed in different colors. Sometimes the same layout is followed throughout the book (including illustration placement) and other times things are more fluid. Having access to both languages on the same page can be very helpful.
Uneven mixThese books are written primarily in one language but include phrases or words in the second language. Another good place for beginners to start. Often the phrases in the second language are being spoken by characters.
Foreign Children's Books
Notes: If you are building an English/Spanish library you may begin to notice that books from different regions use different vocabulary. Books printed in the US intended for primarily for readers with Mexican and Central American heritage use different words and phrases than those printed in say, Argentina. Comparing the language differences is a great way to expand your vocabulary. Do not feel bad about having to look words up. Keep a dictionary or your phone handy for reference. By looking words up you are modeling language learning for your audience (be it your kids or students).
One of my favorite bi-lingual books at the moment is "Me llamo Gabito/My Name is Gabito," writen by Monica Brown and illustrated by Raul Colón. This is one of a series of books Monica Brown has published in which she presents the lives of well known Latinos. Each book takes on the rhythms of its subject's life and personality distilling their experiences and thoughts into a few pages of text and evocative illustrations. The collection includes musicians Celia Cruz and Tito Puente, author Gabriela Mistral and brazilian soccer legend Pelé. My favorite has been Gabito, which relates the life of Colombian author Gabriel García Marquez in a dreamy but pointed fashion that is fittingly reminiscent of his writing. Obviously this is a detail that will escape small children, but... at the same time reading this book could plant the seeds for a future love of magical realism (the illustrations will help as well). In fact, this would make a nice primer for anyone (teenage or older) ready to tackle Marquez. It will definitely set the mood. I loved reading it to my kids (and then re-reading it again later myself).
I recently heard an interview with Gwen Glazer, a librarian at the New York Public Library. In it she describes why your local (and not so local) librarian can be a great asset, whether you're neck deep in research for your next book or just looking for something new to read (hey, that still counts as research). Check out her interview on the One Bad Mother podcast here (it is just her interview, not the rest of the podcast).
and you can also check out the NYPL podcast The Librarian Is In.
That's it for this month's Scratch! Hope the dog days of summer have you holed up in your writing nook, scribbling away furiously!
Disclaimer: The views expressed here are my own, and not necessarily those of the SCBWI.

domain: library