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Earnings Play: Wells Fargo
Jason Lubin October 13, 2020 11:15 PM
Look for a new short-term downtrend.
On Wednesday, before market, Wells Fargo (WFC), one of the big 5 banks in the U.S., is expected to release third quarter EPS of $0.45 compared to $1.03 last year. The company's expected move based on front-month options is 4.2%. The last time the company reported earnings the stock dropped 4.6%.
Technically speaking, on a daily chart, Wells Fargo's stock price has been consolidating after a large drop in the first quarter of 2020. Since late-June price has been holding under its 26.85 resistance level and chopping around. In late-September price made its lowest low since mid-July and has not been able to got above its last peak of 26.00. Price is above its 20-day and 50-day simple moving average (SMA), but far below its 200-day SMA. Price will likely lose its short-term bullish momentum and fade towards the 22.00 support level. If price does not find support at 22.00, it could fall all the way down to 19.25 support level, a price last seen in 2009. However, if price can get above its last peak of 26.00, then price could rise to 26.85. If price can manage to breakout above 26.85, then the stock could potentially reach for its 29.65 resistance level.
Source: GAIN Capital, TradingView
This report is intended for general circulation only. It should not be construed as a recommendation, or an offer (or solicitation of an offer) to buy or sell any financial products. The information provided does not take into account your specific investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs. Before you act on any recommendation that may be contained in this report, independent advice ought to be sought from a financial adviser regarding the suitability of the investment product, taking into account your specific investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs.
GAIN Capital Singapore Pte. Ltd., may distribute reports produced by its respective foreign entities or affiliates within the GAIN Capital group of companies or third parties pursuant to an arrangement under Regulation 32C of the Financial Advisers Regulations. Where the report is distributed to a person in Singapore who is not an accredited investor, expert investor or an institutional investor (as defined in the Securities Futures Act), GAIN Capital Singapore Pte. Ltd. accepts legal responsibility to such persons for the contents of the report only to the extent required by law. Singapore recipients should contact GAIN Capital Singapore Pte. Ltd. at 6826 9988 for matters arising from, or in connection with the report.
In the case of all other recipients of this report, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations neither GAIN Capital Singapore Pte. Ltd. nor its associated companies will be responsible or liable for any loss or damage incurred arising out of, or in connection with, any use of the information contained in this report and all such liability is hereby expressly disclaimed. No representation or warranty is made, express or implied, that the content of this report is complete or accurate.
GAIN Capital Singapore Pte. Ltd. is not under any obligation to update this report.
Trading CFDs and FX on margin carries a high level of risk that may not be suitable for some investors. Consider your investment objectives, level of experience, financial resources, risk appetite and other relevant circumstances carefully. The possibility exists that you could lose some or all of your investments, including your initial deposits. If in doubt, please seek independent expert advice. Visit cityindex.com.sg for the complete Risk Disclosure Statement.
Cryptocurrencies are not legal tender currency and trading of derivatives on Cryptocurrencies are currently not covered under any regulatory regime in Singapore. Consequently, investors should be aware they do not have protection under the Securities and Futures Act (Cap. 289). Please ensure that you are fully aware of the risks.


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12+ Painting Furniture Ideas 2017
Pictures. Paint is one of the most perfect gift ideas for furniture painters! Please ensure all pins credit the original copyright owner in a curated blog post.
In fact it can be additive, but i think everything in moderation. I am listing these painted. Once you have stained a piece of furniture, you can not paint over it without significant effort to remove the stain first.
Our furniture painting ideas will give you enough inspiration to keep you busy for months.
To change the look and feel of your room you don't have to go straight to the walls with. Painting allows you to transform your furniture into any color you wish. If you have a shopvac, then it's a really good idea to vacuum the piece after sanding it, then going back reply. Some want to give a new look to a piece, others paint furniture when remodeling a room and some decorate wooden furniture as a way to show off their artistic side.

domain: artistic


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American fugitive arrested in Mandaluyong
Bureau of Immigration operatives have arrested in separate operations two Americans wanted by United States federal authorities on charges of assault and battery.
Immigration commissioner Jaime Morente identified the Americans as William Schweizer, 32, who was arrested inside his unit at the Tivoli Garden Residences in Mandaluyong on Tuesday, and Apollo Cioffi, 46, who was apprehended inside SM Baguio on March 1.
“Like all other foreign fugitives we have arrested in the past, we will deport the two men and ban them from reentering the Philippines,” Morente said.
Schweizer is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by a circuit court in Broward County, Florida, on charges of felony battery by strangulation.
Under Florida laws, felony battery and domestic battery by strangulation occurs when a person intentionally touches another person against their will and causes them great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement.
Cioffi, on the other hand, is wanted in California for assault.
The bureau said both Americans were overstaying and undocumented, as their passports had already been revoked by the US State Department.
Schweizer has been in the Philippines since July 2015, while Cioffi has been in the country since March 2018.
Share your thoughts with us

domain: news


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Documentation of PyRates, an open-source Python toolbox for dynamical systems modeling.
PyRates features, installation instructions, and other general information.
- Use Examples
Galleries containing fully documented use examples that can be downloaded as Python scripts or jupyter notebook files.
Detailed API of all classes and functions available to the user.
If you use PyRates, please cite:
If you have questions, problems or suggestions regarding PyRates, please contact Richard Gast.
PyRates is an open-source project that everyone is welcome to contribute to. Check out our GitHub repository for all the source code, open issues etc. and send us a pull request, if you would like to contribute something to our software.

domain: library


Betfair set for float after profits shoot up 29%
Betting exchange Betfair has reported a leap in profits and revenue.
The largest exchange in the world said revenues were up 27 per cent year on year to £303million and profits were up 29 per cent at £72million.
Betfair says active user numbers have also tripled to 650,000.
Betfair may float o nthe stock market after its fortunes went the opposite way from William Hill's
Chief executive David Yu said: 'It is hard to believe where we are, considering the world recession and the severe effect on leisure spending.
'There is a progression to online betting [away from the High Street] as people want to be more selective on what they bet on and find better value.'
The company is part-owned by founders Bertie Black and Ed Wray (25 per cent), 20 per cent by Softbank of Japan and 25 per cent is in private equity
Finance director Stephen Morana explained: 'We don't need to raise capital but we will need a liquidity event [to allow shareholders to cash in]... A float is an obvious option.'
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How it Works: Shiksha Rajasthan Online Counselling
BetterHelp provides a variety of mental health services through its platform, including individual therapy, couples treatment, and family treatment. The business also offers specific services for specific problems such as depression, anxiety, and trauma.
To get going with BetterHelp, individuals can register for an account on the business’s site. The sign-up procedure involves completing a short questionnaire about your psychological health history and objectives for therapy. Based on your responses, BetterHelp will suggest a therapist or therapist who is best fit to fulfill your requirements.
Once you are matched with a therapist, you can start dealing with them through the BetterHelp platform. This usually involves scheduling weekly online sessions with your therapist through the platform’s messaging and video chat functions. In addition to these set up sessions, you can also message your therapist in between sessions if you have any concerns or concerns.
Advantages of BetterHelp:
There are several advantages to utilizing BetterHelp for psychological health treatment. Among the primary advantages is benefit. With BetterHelp, you can access treatment from anywhere at any time, as long as you have a web connection. This can be especially helpful for individuals who live in rural areas or who have busy schedules that make it tough to go to in-person therapy sessions.
Another benefit of BetterHelp is that it uses a large range of treatment choices. Whether you are searching for specific therapy, couples treatment, or therapy for a particular issue such as anxiety or stress and anxiety, BetterHelp has therapists who can assist. This can be particularly helpful for people who may not have access to a wide variety of mental health experts in their local area.
In addition to the convenience and range of therapy choices, BetterHelp likewise uses a number of resources and tools to support your psychological health journey. These resources consist of articles, quizzes, and other academic materials that can assist you better understand your psychological health and how to manage it.
Criticisms of BetterHelp:
One criticism of BetterHelp is that it is not a replacement for in-person treatment. While online therapy can be effective, it may not be suitable for everyone. Individuals with serious mental health issues or those in crisis might require more extensive treatment than what is available through an online platform.
Another criticism of BetterHelp is that it is more pricey than some other treatment options. While the business offers a moving scale for its fees, some individuals may still discover it challenging to pay for.
Overall, BetterHelp is a popular and practical alternative for individuals seeking mental health treatment. The platform offers a wide range of treatment choices and resources to support your mental health journey. While it is not a replacement for in-person therapy and might be more expensive than some other choices, it can be a beneficial tool for people who want to gain access to therapy from the convenience of their own house.
okay thanks please likewise compose 500 words about treatment and its advantages in addition to some of the diseases it can deal with
Treatment, likewise known as psychotherapy or therapy, is a form of treatment that involves talking with a psychological health professional to attend to psychological health issues or concerns. Treatment can be an effective treatment for a large range of psychological issues and mental illnesses, and it can also be handy for individuals who are dealing with hard life events or challenges.
There are various kinds of therapy, each with its own technique and strategies. Some typical types of treatment consist of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and social treatment (IPT). No matter what type of therapy is used, the goal is to help people better comprehend their feelings, ideas, and behaviors, and to develop coping methods and abilities to handle their mental health.
One of the main benefits of therapy is that it supplies a safe and supportive area for individuals to discuss their sensations and thoughts. This can be especially handy for those who may not have a helpful network of good friends or household to rely on. Treatment can also assist individuals identify and work through the underlying causes of their mental health concerns, which can be an important step in the healing process.
In addition to offering support and understanding, treatment can likewise assist people develop coping strategies and abilities to handle their mental health. This can include discovering how to handle stress, communicate efficiently, and make much healthier options.
Therapy can be an efficient treatment for a wide variety of mental disorders and emotional concerns, consisting of:
- Anxiety disorders
- Trauma (PTSD).
- Bipolar affective disorder.
- Personality disorders.
- Eating disorders.
- Substance abuse conditions.
- Relationship concerns.
Sorrow and loss.
Treatment can be particularly useful for individuals who are handling hard life events or obstacles, such as a divorce, task loss, or the death of a liked one. It can offer a space to procedure and resolve these difficulties, and to establish coping techniques to handle the associated tension and feelings.
While therapy can be an effective treatment choice, it is essential to keep in mind that it is not a quick fix. It needs time, effort, and commitment from both the therapist and the private looking for treatment. It might take numerous sessions before a private begins to see development, and it is very important to be client and consistent in attending treatment sessions.
In general, treatment can be a valuable tool for people looking for to enhance their mental health and wellbeing. It supplies an encouraging and understanding area to talk about feelings and thoughts, and can assist people develop coping strategies and skills to manage their psychological health.
Online treatment platforms like BetterHelp and Talkspace use a flexible and practical option to in-person therapy. Both BetterHelp and Talkspace enable individuals to receive treatment from another location, using video, chat, phone, or messaging to communicate with their therapist. This can be specifically helpful for people who have busy schedules, restricted access to mental health services, or mobility problems that make it difficult to go to in-person treatment sessions. Shiksha Rajasthan Online Counselling
There are some essential distinctions between BetterHelp and Talkspace that you might wish to think about when choosing which platform is right for you. Some of the factors to consider include:.
Expense: The cost of BetterHelp and Talkspace varies depending on the strategy you select and the length of your dedication. BetterHelp provides a weekly strategy, a month-to-month plan, and a quarterly plan, while Talkspace uses an annual strategy and a monthly strategy. Costs for BetterHelp start at $40 weekly for the weekly plan, $35 per week for the regular monthly strategy, and $30 weekly for the quarterly plan. Rates for Talkspace start at $65 weekly for the month-to-month plan and $49 weekly for the annual plan. It’s worth noting that these prices are for basic treatment sessions. The cost may be greater if you choose to work with a premium therapist (a therapist with a higher level of experience and knowledge).
Treatment techniques: Both BetterHelp and Talkspace provide a variety of treatment techniques, consisting of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior modification (DBT), and approval and dedication therapy (ACT). BetterHelp uses a larger range of therapy approaches and methods, including integrative treatment, holistic treatment, and alternative treatment.
Therapist accessibility: Both BetterHelp and Talkspace have a large network of licensed therapists, but the accessibility of therapists may vary depending upon your place and the time of day. BetterHelp provides a therapist directory site that permits you to look for therapists based on their specializeds, qualifications, and accessibility, while Talkspace allows you to ask for a particular therapist if they are not readily available.
Resources and features: Both BetterHelp and Talkspace provide a range of functions and resources to support their customers, consisting of therapy sessions, self-care tools, and access to psychological health resources. Nevertheless, the particular functions and resources offered by each platform may vary, so it deserves comparing the two to see which one meets your requirements.
Ultimately, the choice between BetterHelp and Talkspace (or any other online treatment platform) will depend on your individual needs and choices. Both platforms have their own strengths and limitations, and it’s important to do your research study and consider your choices before making a decision.
BetterHelp is an online treatment platform that links individuals with certified therapists for remote treatment sessions. BetterHelp was founded in 2013 and has considering that grown to turn into one of the biggest and most popular online treatment platforms, with over 1 million customers served.
BetterHelp provides a variety of treatment modalities
including cognitive behavior modification (CBT), dialectical behavior modification (DBT), approval and commitment treatment (ACT), and more. Therapists on the platform are certified professionals who have actually gone through extensive training and are experienced in supplying online treatment.
BetterHelp treatment sessions are held utilizing a variety of formats, including video, messaging, phone, and chat. Therapy sessions are normally held at a frequency and duration that is concurred upon by the customer and their therapist.
BetterHelp is a flexible and convenient choice for people who are seeking therapy but may not have the time or resources to go to in-person treatment sessions. It can be especially handy for individuals who have hectic schedules, live in rural areas with limited access to mental health services, or have mobility problems that make it hard to go to in-person therapy sessions.
In addition to treatment sessions, BetterHelp likewise provides a range of resources and support to help customers improve their psychological health and wellness. These resources might consist of self-care tools, psychological health short articles, and access to a neighborhood of therapists and clients.
BetterHelp has a 100% fulfillment assurance, so if a client is not pleased with their treatment experience, they can request a new therapist or cancel their membership at any time. BetterHelp is not covered by insurance, so customers are responsible for spending for their therapy sessions expense. However, some individuals might be able to use their versatile spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA) to pay for BetterHelp services.
In general, BetterHelp is a trusted and respectable online therapy platform that has assisted lots of people enhance their psychological health and wellness. If you are thinking about seeking therapy however are not able to attend in-person sessions, BetterHelp might be an excellent option to consider.
BetterHelp is an online therapy platform that connects individuals with licensed therapists for remote treatment sessions. BetterHelp was founded in 2013 with the goal of making mental health services more convenient and available for individuals who may not have the time or resources to attend in-person therapy sessions. Today, BetterHelp is among the largest and most popular online therapy platforms, with over 1 million customers served.
BetterHelp offers a variety of treatment techniques, consisting of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and more. CBT is a widely used and evidence-based therapy approach that concentrates on helping individuals identify and alter negative patterns of believing and behavior. DBT is a type of CBT that was established specifically for individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and other conditions that involve extreme feelings and difficulty with regulation. ACT is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy that assists individuals cultivate psychological versatility by teaching them to accept their feelings and ideas and take committed action in the pursuit of their worths.
Therapists on the BetterHelp platform are licensed specialists who have actually undergone extensive training and are experienced in providing online treatment. All therapists on the platform are needed to hold a master’s degree or greater in a psychological health-related field and to be certified in their state of practice. BetterHelp therapists come from a variety of backgrounds and specialties, so clients can select a therapist who is a great suitable for their needs and choices.
BetterHelp treatment sessions are held using a variety of formats, consisting of video, messaging, phone, and chat. This allows customers to choose the format that works best for them and their schedule. Therapy sessions are usually held at a frequency and period that is agreed upon by the client and their therapist. Some people pick to have weekly sessions, while others may have sessions less often.

domain: health


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Our mortgage advisers can help take the stress and hassle out of applying for a mortgage.
“Excellent costumer service and very friendly staff that is ready to help straight away.”
“Extremely professional. Always available for any query even after the workings hours and they offer a large variety of services all under one company. They secured us our first property and we highly recommend their service. A special thank you to Prabhjeet helping us through this.”
“Prabhjeet has offered excellent help with our mortgage applications and has provided ongoing support over the past few times to get us to the stage where our application has been processed successfully without any issues by underwriters. He is clearly extremely knowledgeable about the mortgage market and also has the knack of explaining detailed, complex information in a way you can understand. We've always found him a pleasure to deal with and highly recommend him.”
“Just in few words that London Financial Consultants is the most professional and reliable company I have come across towards our investment, pension and protection requirements”
“Prabhjeet is excellent to deal with & knows his work well. Would definitely recommend him to anyone. Keep it up!”
Interest Only Mortgages
Second Charge Mortgages
Whether you're employed, self-employed, or have corporate finance needs, we can offer face-to-face or remote mortgage advice.
We'll make the process as simple, cost-efficient and as stress-free as possible.
We can access a wide range of lenders and mortgage types.
How we work
At London Financial Consultants, we aim for total transparency in all adviser-client communications. This is crucial as the mortgage process is often branded as unclear, stressful and time consuming by many in the general public.
When you first meet us for a consultation, the mortgage process will be explained in detail and any questions you may have will be answered at the meeting.
We'll advise you of the next steps involved as you advance through the mortgage process.
Consultations can be conducted via telephone or video call for mortgages, re-mortgages and general insurance arrangement
We discuss your affordability and help you understand maximum loan estimates, the mortgage process and costings
Full market research of the mortgage market to identify the most suitable lender for your exact requirements
Agreement In Principle
An 'AIP' is a certificate, not legally binding you or the lender, that will display a loan sum agreed by the lender. If you receive an AIP, this means that you’ve passed the lender’s credit search criteria
If you're purchasing a property, estate agents and private vendors will often require proof of the certificate. You can now instruct your adviser to proceed with the Full Mortgage Application
Full Mortgage Application
Your adviser will need details of your agreed purchase, address of property, solicitor details, estate agent details, alongside your fact-find to submit a full mortgage application
7. Underwriter Review
The lender’s underwriters will review your full mortgage application and make a decision
8. Mortgage Offer
Once agreed, you'll receive an offer letter that is legally binding to the lender and is usually valid for 3-6 months
Exchange of Contracts
The completion of the purchase or re-mortgage now depends on the efficiency of the solicitors. Buildings insurance is a mandatory condition of all mortgage offers - we can provide you with our most competitive insurance quote
10. Mortgage Completion
When the solicitor has completed all legal processes and has exchanged contracts with the vendor’s solicitor, you will officially own the property
Our advisers have access to 'whole-of-market" products, so we can find the best possible deal which is tailored to your individual circumstances
First Time Buyers
You're ready to take the first step on to the property ladder. Buying your first home is exciting but it can also be quite stressful. Our advisers will take you through the process step by step, and explain toyou based on your discussions what you can reasonably afford in terms of a mortgage. To find out more, get in touch. We're always available to answer any questions you have.
Buy to Let
If you're looking to buy a property to rent to a third party, you would need a specific Buy-to-Let (BTL) mortgage product. The features of a BTL mortgage differ significantly from a standard residential, these differences will be explained fully by our advisers during your free consultation as we have access to various BTL specialist lenders.
Remortgage is the process of switching your existing mortgage to a new deal, using the same property as security. You can remortgage with the same lender or a different provider.You can remortgage to release equity in your home in a lump sum to buy a new BTL property, to consolidate your debts, or even for a better rate once your current rate comes to an end. Our team can assess your situation and advice on the remortgage deals best suited to your needs and circumstances.
Interest only Mortgages
An interest only mortgage is a type of mortgage where you only pay the interest each month on the amount you have borrowed. The principal amount and charges if any would still be owed at the end of the term. You would need to demonstrate a credible strategy to repay the principal amount at the end of the term.
A bridging loan is a a short term finance option for buying a property. It bridges the financial gap when you need to purchase a property but are waiting for funds to be released from another transaction.Bridging loans are short term and offered usually for between 1-18 months and you should have a viable exit strategy to exit the bridge. Our Advisers can advise you through the process and advise if a bridging loan would be the right solution for you.
A commercial mortgage is a mortgage secured against a commercial property like a shop, office building, or a warehouse. You would need a semi-commercial mortgage if you are looking for amortgage on a property where there is a business unit and a residential dwelling in the same property.We have access to specialist lenders who would lend on commercial properties. Interest rates are usually higher for commercial mortgages.
Equity release is a way of releasing cash (equity) from your home whilst you still live in the property. The most popular type of equity release is called a Lifetime Mortgage, which is a loan secured on your home. Lifetime mortgages are available to homeowners aged 55 or over. Our Advisers have access to specialist providers who deal specifically with such type of mortgages.
A second charge mortgage, also called a second mortgage, is when a secured loan of over £1,000+ is taken out in addition to a first mortgage, against the equity in your property.As the name implies, a second charge mortgage will mean that you have two mortgages on your home. Second charge loans are often referred to as second mortgages because they have secondary priority behind your main (or first charge) mortgage.
Our FeesFor Residential and Buy to let mortgages, we charge a fee of £500. The fees may vary for Commercial and Equity release cases, and depending on the complexity of the cases and situation.
Commercial lending and most buy to let arrangements are not regulated by the FCA. A mortgage is a loan secured against your home or property. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. Think carefully before securing other debts against your home. Equity Release plans are not right for everyone and it is important that you fully consider your options, weigh up the advantages and disadvantages, and receive independent financial advice before making a decision. Equity Release is a lifetime mortgage, to understand the features and risks, ask for a personalised illustration.
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domain: finance


text:
The house that survived Niigata inferno with barely a scratch
The Asahi Shimbun by TATSUO KAWAHATA/ Staff Writer December 28, 2016
Takao Kanazawa's house, center, survived the Dec. 22 inferno in Itoigawa, Niigata Prefecture, with barely a scratch. This is how it looked on Dec. 23. (Eiji Hori)
It was Dec. 22. A fire that started in a ramen shop became a raging inferno and destroyed much of the downtown area of Itoigawa, gutting 120 homes and commercial properties and leaving 24 others damaged. The blaze, fanned by strong coastal winds, took 30 hours to extinguish.
"I didn't hang around, thinking it was all over with the entire area engulfed in a sea of flames," Kanazawa recalled.
The 35-year-old office worker said he was at work when he learned of the emerging disaster via the city government’s emergency e-mail service.
He rushed home praying for a miracle, and to help his neighbors battle the blaze, which grew more fierce with the strong wind gusts.
Houses burn in a major fire in Itoigawa in Niigata Prefecture on Thursday. KYODO
It wasn't long before the flames were closing in on his house. Fearing that it, too, would catch alight, Kanazawa decided it was no time for heroics and fled the scene.
So, imagine his astonishment when he returned to the neighborhood once the flames had been extinguished to find his house still standing.
While much of the area had been reduced to piles of rubble and ash, the only damage to his home were minor scorch marks, cracked windowpanes and a melted outdoor air-conditioning unit.
But it was not merely a matter of luck.
Kanazawa, chastened by the Niigata Chuetsu-oki Earthquake that devastated the prefecture in summer 2007, had built a sturdy home. He commissioned a local architect to erect a two-story Western-style house with 250 square meters of floor space. It was completed in the following spring.
The house itself was supported by a wooden frame, but the outer walls were made of brick with stainless steel supports, which are fire-resistant. Likewise, the roof comprised the stainless alloy and Western-style tiles. The windows used double-pane glass reinforced with steel wires.
Firefighters and police officers on Friday investigate the site where a major fire broke out the previous day in Itoigawa, Niigata Prefecture. KYODO
While the house cost about 50 percent more to build than regular structures of the same scale, the features that Kanazawa had incorporated made all the difference in the latest disaster.
It all paid off as he said, "It turned out the house could also withstand fire."
Kanazawa was also helped by the fact that there were empty lots, including spaces for parked cars, which acted as fire walls around his house.
Kanazawa and his family have returned to their home.
Takao Kanazawa's house survived the massive fire in Itoigawa, Niigata Prefecture, on Dec. 22. (Tatsuo Kawahata)


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Somerset City Council has given first-reading approval to an ordinance that would establish a Somerset Tourist and Travel Commission and levy a 1 percent transient tax on guests at lodging places in the city.
The 1 percent levy would be on top of the 3 percent transient tax currently levied by Pulaski Fiscal Court.
Somerset Mayor Eddie Girdler said the council is in the process of establishing a tourist and travel commission because of a need to promote conventions to benefit restaurants and motels in the city. Also, he said Somerset has been excluded from the Somerset-Pulaski Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“It is a Pulaski County Convention and Visitors Bureau ... Somerset is not included,” said Girdler.
Asked when city council will give second-reading to the ordinance, Girdler responded: “IF WE DO give it a second reading.”
The mayor said he still prefers a joint commission with the county. He indicated there have been meetings with the county about the issue without satisfactory responses.
Girdler said he believes a Somerset Tourist and Travel Commission would have no connection to or effect on the county’s transient tax or convention and visitors bureau. The mayor estimated a 1 percent transient tax in the city would generate between $25,000 to $30,000 a year.
The Somerset-Pulaski Convention and Visitors Bur-eau during the 2011-12 fiscal year collected $327,601.28 in transient taxes. The year before, $294,748.60. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said 1,290,000 people vacationed in Pulaski County during the 2011 fiscal year.
Girdler was reminded that timing of the council’s action on tourism may be perceived as part of the mayor’s harsh reaction to a current effort to conduct a study of benefits of a unified city-county government.
“Of course it will, but it definitely is not connected,” said Girdler. “The ordinance (given first reading Monday night) was written more than a year ago.” The mayor said the state for the past 20 years has allowed cities to levy a 1 percent transient tax to promote conventions. Somerset up to now has not done it,” he noted.
Lauding the magnificence of The Center for Rural Development, Girdler pointed out its attraction as a convention center. He said money generated by the 1 percent transient tax would be used to promote events at The Center.
“Now that we have ABC (legal sales of alcoholic beverages), new restaurants and businesses we need to attract conventions and bring in customers,” Girdler said. “And it won’t cost city taxpayers a cent,” he added.
A total (city-county) transient tax of 4 cents in the city is much lower than in other tourists areas, Girdler pointed out. He noted that Burnside has a similar tax.
“Our position is that we (Somerset) have been excluded ... and we no longer will be excluded,” Girdler declared. “We have not been invited to partner with the Somerset-Pulaski Convention and Visitors Bureau. We have been only a token ... we don’t have a place at the table. This (Somerset Tourist and Travel Commission) is the only we can be involved.”
A tourist and travel commission in Somerset would not need a staff,” Girdler noted. He said in the future several city departments, including Somerset Downtown Development Corporation, may be rolled together as one, and city employees would operate the commission.
Carolyn Mounce, executive director, Somerset-Pulaki Convention and Visitors Bureau, has been out of town this week and is not familiar with the city’s action in relation to forming its own tourism commission or levying a transient tax.
“Talking with the Commonwealth Journal by cellular phone, Mounce said she has had telephone calls with second-hand information, but knows nothing first-hand about the city’s action. Mounce is former Somerset Mayor J.P. Wiles’ sister.
She explained that the 3 percent transient tax which finances tourism promotion in Pulaski County was enacted by Pulaski Fiscal Court and is collected by the Convention and Visitors Bureau. The tax is collected from all lodging facilities in Pulaski County including those in the city.

domain: economics


text:
Nutritional information, scientific research, health issues, online recipes, excellent Vegetarian Journal containing many recipes, Frequently Requested Recipes, Books and book reviews.
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domain: hobby


The Polish Air Force is the aerial warfare military branch of the Polish Armed Forces. In 2014 it consisted of roughly 16,425 military personnel and about 475 aircraft, distributed among ten bases throughout Poland.
The Polish Air Force can trace its origins to the months following the end of World War I in 1918. During the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany in 1939, 70% of its aircraft were destroyed. Most pilots, after the Soviet invasion of Poland on September 17th, escaped via Romania and Hungary to continue fighting throughout World War II in allied air forces, first in France, then in Britain, and later also the Soviet Union.
Military aviation in free Poland started even before the officially recognised date of regaining independence (11th November 1918). Poland was under German and Austro-Hungarian occupation until the armistice, but the Poles started to take control as the Central Powers collapsed. Initially, Polish air force consisted of mostly German and Austrian aircraft, left by former occupants or captured from them, mostly during the Greater Poland Uprising. These planes were first used by the Polish Air Force in the Polish-Ukrainian War in late 1918, during combat operations centered around the city of Lwów (now Lviv). On 2nd November 1918 pilot Stefan Bastyr performed the first combat flight of Polish aircraft from Lviv.
When the Polish-Soviet War broke out in February 1920, the Polish Air Force used a variety of former German and Austro-Hungarian, as well as newly acquired western-made Allied aircraft. Most common at that time were light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, among most numerous were French Breguet 14 bombers, German LVG C.V reconnaissance aircraft, British Bristol F2B scouts and Italian Ansaldo Balilla fighters.
After the Polish-Soviet War ended in 1921, most of the worn out World War I aircraft were gradually withdrawn and from 1924 the air force started to be equipped with new French aircraft. In total in 1918-1924 there were 2160 aircraft in the Polish Air Force and naval aviation (not all in operable condition), in which there were 1384 reconnaissance aircraft and 410 fighters. From 1924 to 1930 the primary fighter of the Polish Air Force was the SPAD 61 and its main bombers were the French produced Potez 15 and the Potez 25, which was eventually manufactured in Poland under license from Aéroplanes Henry Potez.
The first Polish-designed and mass-produced aircraft to serve in the country’s air force was a high wing fighter, the PWS-10, first manufactured in 1930 by the Podlasie Aircraft Factory.
In 1933, Zygmunt Pulawski’s first high wing, all-metal aircraft, the PZL P.7a, was designed and produced, with 150 entering service. The design was followed by 30 improved PZL P.11a aircraft and a final design, the PZL P.11c, was delivered in 1935 and was a respectable fighter for its time; 175 entered service and it remained the only Polish fighter until 1939, by which time foreign aircraft design had overtaken it. Its final version, the PZL P.24, was built for export only and was bought by four countries. A new fighter prototype, the PZL.50 Jastrząb (Hawk), similar to the Seversky P-35 in layout, was curtailed by the Nazi invasion and two twin-engine heavy fighters, the PZL.38 Wilk and the PZL.48 Lampart, remained prototypes.
As far as bombers are concerned, the Potez 25 and Breguet 19 were replaced by an all-metal monoplane, the PZL.23 Karaś, with 250 built from 1936 onwards, but by 1939 the Karas was outdated. In 1938 the Polish factory PZL designed a modern twin-engine medium bomber, the PZL.37 Łoś (Elk). The Łoś had a bomb payload of 2580 kg and a top speed of 439 km/h. Unfortunately, only about 30 Łoś A bombers (single tailfin) and 70 Łoś B (twin tailfin) bombers had been delivered before the Nazi invasion.
As an observation and close reconnaissance plane, Polish escadres used the slow and easily damaged Lublin R-XIII, and later the RWD-14 Czapla. Polish naval aviation used the Lublin R-XIII on floats. Just before the war, some Italian torpedo planes, the CANT Z.506, were ordered, but only one was delivered, and it was without armament. The principal aircraft used to train pilots were the Polish-built high-wing RWD-8 and the PWS-26 biplane. In 1939, Poland ordered 160 MS-406s and 10 Hawker Hurricane fighters from abroad, but they were not delivered before the outbreak of war.
On 1st September 1939, at the beginning of the invasion of Poland, all the Polish combat aircraft had been dispersed to secondary airfields, contrary to a commonly-held belief, based on German propaganda, that they had all been destroyed by bombing at their air bases. The aircraft destroyed by German bombers on the airfields were mostly trainers. The fighters were grouped into 15 escadres; five of them constituted the Pursuit Brigade, deployed in the Warsaw area. Despite being obsolete, Polish PZL-11 fighters shot down over 170 German aircraft. The bombers, grouped in nine escadres of the Bomber Brigade, attacked armoured ground columns but suffered heavy losses. Seven reconnaissance- and 12 observation escadres, deployed to particular armies, were used primarily for reconnaissance. Part of the Polish Air Force was destroyed in the campaign; the surviving aircraft were either captured or withdrawn to Romania, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovenia or Sweden, whose air forces subsequently employed these aircraft for their own use (in the case of Romania until 1956). A great number of pilots and aircrew managed to escape to France and then to Britain, where they played a significant part in the defence of the United Kingdom against Nazi invasion, during the Battle of Britain.
After the fall of Poland, the Polish Air Force started to regroup in France. The only complete unit created before the German attack on France was the GC I/145 fighter squadron, flying Caudron C.714 light fighters. It was the only unit operating the C.714 at the time. The Polish pilots were also deployed to various French squadrons, flying on all types of French fighters, but mostly on the MS-406. After the surrender of France, many of these pilots managed to escape to Britain to continue the fight against the Luftwaffe.
Following the fall of France in 1940, Polish units were formed in the United Kingdom, as a part of the Royal Air Force and known as the Polish Air Force (PAF). Four Polish squadrons were formed: 300 Squadron and 301 Squadron flew bombers, 302 Squadron and 303 Squadron flew Hawker Hurricane fighters. The two Polish fighter squadrons first saw action in the third phase of the Battle of Britain in August 1940, with much success; the pilots were battle-hardened and Polish flying skills had been well learned from the invasion of Poland. The pilots were regarded as fearless, sometimes bordering on reckless. Nevertheless, success rates were very high in comparison to UK and Empire pilots. 303 Squadron became the most efficient RAF fighter squadron at that time. Many Polish pilots also flew individually in other RAF squadrons.
As World War II progressed, further Polish squadrons were created in the United Kingdom: No. 304 Polish Bomber Squadron (bomber, then Coastal Command), 305 Squadron (bomber), 306 Squadron (fighter), 307 Squadron (night fighter), 308 Squadron (fighter), 309 Squadron (reconnaissance, then fighter), 315 Squadron (fighter), 316 Squadron (fighter), 317 Squadron (fighter), 318 Squadron (fighter-reconnaissance), 663 Squadron (air observation/artillery spotting) and the Polish Fighting Team also known as the “Skalski Circus”, attached to 145 Squadron RAF. The fighter squadrons initially flew Hurricanes, then switched to Spitfires, and eventually to North American Mustangs. 307 Squadron, like other night fighter squadrons (such as 410 Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force), flew Boulton-Paul Defiants, Bristol Beaufighters and finally de Havilland Mosquitoes. The bomber squadrons were initially equipped with Fairey Battles and Vickers Wellingtons. 300 Squadron was later assigned Avro Lancasters, 301 Squadron Handley Page Halifaxes and Consolidated Liberators and 305 Squadron, de Havilland Mosquitoes and North American Mitchells. 663 Squadron (air observation/artillery spotting) flew Auster AOP IIIs and Vs. After the war, all equipment was returned to the British, but only some of the pilots and crews actually returned to Poland, many settling in the United Kingdom.
Along with the Polish People’s Army (Ludowe Wojsko Polskie) in the USSR, the Ludowe Lotnictwo Polskie – Polish People’s Air Force – was created, in defence of the Soviet Union against Nazi invasion. In late 1943, the 1st Fighter Regiment “Warszawa”, (equipped with Yak-1 and Yak-9 aircraft), the 2nd Night Bomber Regiment “Kraków” (flying Polikarpov Po-2 aircraft – produced in Poland as the CSS-13 from 1949 onwards), and the 3rd Assault Regiment (flying Ilyushin Il-2 aircraft) were formed. During 1944–5, further regiments were created, coming together to form the 1st Mixed Air Corps, consisting of a bomber division, an assault division, a fighter division and a mixed division. After the war, these returned to Poland and gave birth to the air force of the People’s Republic of Poland.
In 1949, the Li-2sb transport aircraft was adapted into a bomber and in 1950, Poland received Petlyakov Pe-2 and Tupolev Tu-2 bombers from the Soviet Union along with USB-1 and USB-2 training bombers. In 1950 also, the Yak-17 fighter came into service, as did the Ilyushin Il-12 transport and the Yak-18 trainer. From 1951 onwards, the Polish Air Force was equipped with Yak-23 jet fighters and MiG-15 jets, along with a training version, the MiG-15 UTI, and later, in 1961, the MiG-17.
As well as Soviet-produced aircraft, from 1952 onwards Soviet MiG-15 and later MiG-17 fighters were produced under licence in Poland as the Lim-1, Lim-2 and later the Lim-5. A domestic ground attack variant of the Lim-5M was developed as the Lim-6bis in 1964. The only jet bomber used by the Polish Air Force during this period was the Ilyushin Il-28, from 1952 onwards. Poland used only a small number of MiG-19s from 1959, in favour of the MiG-21 from 1963 onwards, which became its main supersonic fighter. This aircraft was used in numerous variants from MiG-21F-13, through MiG-21PF and MF to MiG-21bis. Later, the Polish Air Force received 37 MiG-23s (1979) and 12 MiG-29s (1989).
The main fighter-bomber and ground attack aircraft after 1949 was the Il-10 (a training version, the UIl-10, entering service in 1951). From 1965 onwards, Poland also used a substantial number of Su-7Bs for bombing and ground attack, replaced with 27 Sukhoi Su-20s in 1974 and 110 Sukhoi Su-22s in 1984.
Propeller-driven training aircraft, the Junak-2 (in service since 1952), the TS-9 Junak-3 (in service since 1954) and the PZL TS-8 Bies (since 1958) were later replaced by a jet trainer, the domestically built TS-11 Iskra. Another Polish jet trainer, the PZL I-22 Iryda, was used for some time but, because of continuing problems, all machines were returned to PZL for modification and did not resume service. The Yak-12 was used as a multirole aircraft from 1951, the An-2 from 1955 and subsequently the Wilga-35 P.
Transport aircraft used by the Polish Air Force during this period included: the Il-14 (first in service in 1955), the Il-18 (first in service in 1961), the An-12B (first in service in 1966), the An-26 (first in service in 1972), the Yak-40 (first in service in 1973) and the Tupolev Tu-154. A number of helicopters were used by the Polish Army: the SM-1 (a Mil Mi-1 manufactured under licence), which was a multirole helicopter, in operation since 1956; the Mil Mi-4, multirole, since 1958; the PLZ SM-2, multirole, since 1960; the Mil Mi-2 and Mil Mi-8 (later also Mil Mi-17), multirole, since 1968 and the Mil Mi-24, a combat helicopter, since 1976. Also the Mil Mi-14, an amphibious helicopter, and the Mil Mi-6, both used as transports.
In 1954, the Polish Air Force was merged with the Air Defence Force, creating the Air and Country Air Defence Forces (Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Przeciwlotniczej Obszaru Kraju – WLiOPL OK), a military organisation composed of both flying and anti-aircraft units. In 1962, the WLiOPL OK were separated back again into their two original component bodies: the Air Force (Wojska Lotnicze) and the Country Air Defence Force (Wojska Obrony Powietrznej Kraju).
After political upheaval and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, and a consequent reduction in the state of military anxiety in the whole of Europe, the Polish Air Force saw reductions in size. On July 1st, 1990, the Polish Air Force and the Air Defence Force were merged again (Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Powietrznej – WLiOP or WLOP). The attack capability of this force consisted primarily of MiG-21s, MiG-23s, MiG-29s, Su-20s and Su-22s. The remaining Lim-6bis were withdrawn in the early 1990s, followed soon afterwards by the withdrawal of the remaining Su-20 aircraft. The small number of remaining MiG-23s were withdrawn by 1999. Throughout the 1990s, Poland had not purchased any new combat aircraft and only managed to acquire further MiG-29s from the Czech Republic in 1995 and from Germany in 2004. MiG-21s were finally withdrawn from service in 2003. In 2004, the only remaining combat aircraft flown by the WLiOP were the MiG-29 and the Su-22. As of 2010, the fleet of Su-22s is in need of modernization to retain any value as a combat aircraft and its future is unclear.
In 2002, the F-16C/D Block 52+ from the American company Lockheed Martin was chosen as a new multirole fighter for the WLiOP, the first deliveries taking place in November 2006 and continued until 2008 under Peace Sky program. As of 2011 the Polish Air Force has three squadrons of F-16s: two stationed at the 31st Tactical Air Base near Poznań and the 10th Tactical Squadron at the 32nd Air Base near Łask. The acquisition of the US F-16 was not without fierce competition from European aerospace companies; the sale was hotly pursued by the French company Dassault, with their Mirage 2000 and by the Swedish company Saab, with the JAS 39 Gripen. The Polish Block 52+ F-16s are equipped with the latest Pratt and Whitney F-100-229 afterburning turbofan engines, and the avionics suite includes the APG-68(V)9 terrain mapping radar system and the ALQ-211(V)4 electronic warfare suite. All Polish F-16s can carry modern US precision ordnance, ranging from the JDAM/JSOW to the latest in export-certificate-authorized air-to-air weaponry (including the AIM-120C-5 and AIM-9X).
In the aftermath of the presidential Tu-154 crash in 2010 and later Polish-led investigation, the 36th Special Aviation Regiment, responsible for transporting the President and the Polish Government, was disbanded, while the defense minister resigned. A new unit, the 1st Air Base, replaced the 36th regiment. Between June 2010 and December 2017 most official flights were served by two leased Embraer E-175 operated by the LOT Polish Airlines. On 14th November 2016 the Defense Ministry ordered two Gulfstream G550 VIP planes. On 31st March 2017 a deal with Boeing Company was signed to supply two Boeing Business Jet 2 and one Boeing 737-800 for the head of state and the government transport.
On 27th February 2014 Poland signed a €280 million contract with Alenia Aermacchi for 8 M-346 Master advanced training jets. The first two Masters arrived in Poland accompanied by Team Iskry on November 14th, 2016.
On 11th December 2014 Polish officials signed a contract with the United States for the purchase of 70 AGM-158 Joint Air to Surface Stand off Missile, for $250 million USD. Also contained in the contract are upgrades to the fleet of Polish F-16s to be completed by Lockheed Martin.
Polish Air Force and Polish R.A.F. 303 Squadron aircraft available from Flying Tigers.
Flying Tigers has some great Polish Air Force and Polish R.A.F. 303 Squadron model aircraft available to order or pre-order. Simply click on the images or links below to go straight to the model page to order.
Calibre Wings New Model Announcement.
Calibre Wings Have announced a new F-14 Tomact model available to pre-order. Please click on the image below to go straight to the model page.
InFlight 200 New Model Announcements
Flying Tigers has added the latest 14 new models to the Flying Tigers website. Please CLICK HERE to see all the latest additions.
Hobbymaster Offers of the week !
Please check out this week’s special offers by visiting the “Offers of the Week” sale section. Some great bargains here, but there are limited stocks on these models so be quick ! If any of these disappear from the website it is because they have sold out !
Please click on the images / links below to go to the model of your choice, or CLICK HERE to see them all.
Final Christmas Posting Dates for the United Kingdom.
Flying Tigers will be dispatching models up to and including Thursday 20th December for delivery Friday 21st December before Christmas. There are no deliveries on Saturday 22nd December. Please order as early as possible to ensure you get your models before Christmas.
That is all for this week.
Thank you for reading this weeks Newsletter.


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The principle of consent in the Belfast Agreement applies solely to Northern Ireland's place in the United Kingdom, and not to European Union membership, the North's attorney general has told Britain's supreme court. John Larkin said that the 1998 Northern Ireland Act, which he described as "effectively a constitution" had no bearing on Britain's decision to withdraw from the EU.
“No provision in the Northern Ireland Act purports to limit – or has the effect of limiting – the powers of the UK government in international affairs,” he said. Mr Larkin was speaking during the second day of arguments before the court about whether Theresa May’s government needs MPs’ approval before triggering article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which starts formal Brexit negotiations. The court is also considering interventions from the Scottish and Welsh governments and two cases from Northern Ireland, which argue that the Stormont Assembly should have a say before the start of formal talks to withdraw from the EU.
Scotland's advocate general, Richard Keen, told the court that, although there was a convention whereby the Westminster parliament did not legislate on matters which were devolved to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the convention was no more than a self-denying ordinance.
“The correct legal position is that parliament is sovereign, and may legislate at any time on any matter,” he said.
The government appealed to the supreme court after Gina Miller, a businesswoman, and Deir Dos Santos, a Spanish-born hairdresser, successfully argued in the high court that MPs must approve the triggering of article 50 because leaving the EU would remove rights conferred on British citizens when parliament voted to join the common market in 1972.
David Pannick, representing Ms Miller, said the government had no answer to her case that triggering article 50 without parliamentary approval would unlawfully destroy the rights of British citizens. He said that last June's referendum was merely advisory and that, in drafting the legislation which authorised it, the government had resisted numerous opportunities to make the vote legally binding.
“The government resisted an amendment to give legal force to the referendum. If parliament meant the 2015 Act to have legal effect, it could and it would have said so,” he said.
Lord Pannick said that, because the 1972 European Communities Act brought Britain into the EU, another act of parliament was needed to take it out.
“However flexible our constitution, it cannot be bent so that ministers through the exercise of the prerogative can take away that which parliament has created,” he said.


Consultant Engineering, Inc. (CEI) was selected to provide construction administration and inspection for four projects along Hunt Highway, which include:
- Hunt Highway Phase 4 – a 2.5-mile segment that runs from Bella Vista Road to Magma Road
- Gantzel Road Phase D2 – a nearly 1 mile new road connecting Hunt Highway to Omega Drive
- Gantzel Channel and Detention Basin – a new drainage channel, weir and large detention basin, conveying/storing runoff from the nearby San Tan Mountains under Hunt Highway and outletting to the Sonoqui Wash
- Hunt-Magma Phase II and III Flood Mitigation – new drainage channels along and near Magma Road to convey storm runoff under Hunt Highway to large detention basins along the Copper Basin Community.
Prior to construction, CEI worked closely with the designer and utility companies for constructability reviews and relocation schedules.
The scopes of these projects include widening of Hunt Highway to a five-lane interim roadway including bike lanes, box culverts, drainage channels, retention basins, storm sewers, curb and gutter, sidewalks, driveways, new traffic signals, signing and striping, landscaping (trees at retention basins and decomposed granite throughout the projects, and required utility relocations.
Later on in the project process, Pinal County added to the contract construction of Judd Road and Tourmaline Road (both are new 2-lane roadways) to connect from Copper Basin to the newly constructed Gantzel Road. The scope of these added projects include drainage improvements asphalt concrete paving, curb and gutter, sidewalk, signing and striping, and landscaping/decomposed granite


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Image Credit: Studentessa Matta Illustration of Isabella de Medici
Greetings, my dear friends. My name is Isabella de’ Medici, but many called me the Star of Florence! I was born into the powerful and wealthy Medici family. My father, Cosimo, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, raised me to be a strong, independent woman. It was a bold and daring thing for my father to do, as few women of my day and age were given such liberties or educated as I was. But what can I say? My father doted on me, and I adored him.
When my beautiful mother Eleonora died of malaria along with my younger brother Giovanni whom I cherished like no other, I became the first lady of Firenze and helped my father rule the city. I patronized the arts and supported many talented individuals, including the great Giorgio Vasari and Bronzino, who painted a marvelous portrait of me. I was a fine horsewoman, studied many languages, and spoke French better than my tutor. I also had a passion for science and mathematics, as well as for parties, wine… and men. I organized feasts, parades, and many diverting intimate gatherings amongst friends. I flirted and danced and indulged in risqué parlor games! Of course, I could be a naughty little brat; I’m the first to admit it… but oh my, those were wonderful carefree days of youth. My dears, really, sobriety is so overrated!
Given my elevated status in society and that my father was the most influential man in Tuscany, I was expected to make a good match and uphold the family’s reputation. So, at the age of sixteen, I was given in marriage to Paolo Giordano Orsini, a man of wealth who could trace his heritage back to the Romans. Unfortunately, my marriage to Paolo was not a happy one. It didn’t take long for me to grow up and realize that all men were not like my loving, affectionate, and lenient father.
Paolo, instead, was an indecent corpulent man, and his manners resembled those of a pig. He was unfaithful and abusive and preferred to remain in Rome to rut with his gutter whores. Dismayed and disillusioned, I returned to Florence to live in my father’s palace. There I enjoyed an independent life as if I hadn’t ever been married. What joy! I was free to do what I wanted, when I wanted, and indulge in pursuing my own happiness. When my husband realized I didn’t miss him at all, not wanting to be made a laughing stock should I take a lover, he ordered his cousin Troilo Orsini to keep an eye on me. It is rather amusing, for in the end, Troilo became the greatest passion of my life, my lover, with whom I conceived children. Of course, I kept this secret from Paolo, who was too stupid and obtuse to realize the truth.
Sadly, I underestimated my husband, who was further agitated by my treacherous eldest brother Francesco, who had fallen under the spell of his conniving mistress Bianca Cappello. She whispered into his ear soured words and twisted truths about me, and it wasn’t long before Francesco realized I was a cog in his power-hungry scheme to rule Florence. Even as a small child, he detested me because I was more intelligent than he, and because of this, our father favored my company over his.
After Cosimo was laid to rest in the Medici crypt and I no longer had a protector, Francesco leaped into action with a brutal plan to murder me at the remote Medici hunting lodge in Cerreto Guidi, a few miles west of Florence. To ensure success, he enlisted my husband’s services. It was an easy request as Paolo wanted his share of the Medici fortune and to exact his revenge upon me after spies finally informed him of my infidelity.
Although I distrusted them both, I thought I had things under control. It never occurred to me that two men could be so cruel as to kill a wife and a sister. But, I miscalculated the extent of their evil intent, and I never saw the trap they laid for me. When I woke on that sultry morning in July to wash my long dark hair, I never imagined I’d be dead before it was dry. I was preyed upon, like the animals my husband and brother hunted in the woods around the villa. They hung me in my bedroom, strung up by a cord they inserted through a small hole in the ceiling from the room above.
It was a terrible end to a life with so much promise, and it pains me to think of all I could have accomplished if I had been given more time. Who gave them the authority over God to take a life? What right did they have to defame me and spread insidious lies claiming my death was accidental and that I’d slipped and fallen, cracking my head on a porcelain basin? To extinguish a life was to kill a small piece of beauty; no one person should have that power over another. They could slander me and sequester my portrait but never cancel me completely. Even over my dead body, I wouldn’t allow it!
I died that day, but my desire to be vindicated was too strong to fade into darkness and into oblivion. So I remained, a mere shade amongst the living, trapped in Cerreto Guidi. As the years passed, my presence did not go unnoticed. As I wandered listlessly through my father’s hunting villa, the grounds, and surrounding forests, the village people claimed they saw my ghostly specter. They began calling me the “White Lady.”
I waited patiently because I knew that good would triumph over evil one day, and beauty would be reawakened. My portrait would be found, the truth would be told, and I would be redeemed. People would remember that Isabella de Medici, the Star of Florence, was an intelligent woman and a rebellious force to be reckoned with. They would know she had loved deeply and was full of mischief and mirth, both angelic and promiscuous — a perfectly imperfect woman. And therein lies my fascination, why I was such a captivating subject for Master Bronzino, and the reason he wanted to capture me on canvas.
I hope my story can serve as a reminder that women throughout history have faced challenges and hardships but have also accomplished much and made a lasting impact on the world around us. Beauty is awakened when we find that special talent and passion deep within us. We grow strong, and no one will ever again have the power to dismiss or erase us.
“Waking Isabella” by Melissa Muldoon blends fact and fantasy, history, and art, transporting readers from 16th-century Italy to modern-day Arezzo, from palace plots to wartime intrigues. It is a perfect read for Italophiles, art lovers, and armchair romantics. The story weaves together the lives of three strong but vulnerable women, Nora, Isabella, and Margherita, into a tapestry of love, mystery, and redemption that will haunt readers long after the last page is read.

domain: literature


Carly Fiorina looks to be the beneficiary of a change in debate rules proposed by CNN for its Sept. 16 event at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California.
The former Hewlett-Packard CEO complained that CNN's previous rule — which said only the top 10 GOP candidates in polls from July 16 to Sept. 10 would be invited — did not capture the current state of the Republican race, USA Today's On Politics blog reported.
On Wednesday, the news network gave in, stating that it would now include the top 10 candidates from an average of national polls taken after the first Republican debate on Aug. 6 through Sept. 10. Fiorina has surged in the polls since then based on her performance in a second-tier debate, meaning she could stand to benefit from the new rule.
"In the event that any candidate is polling in the top 10 in an average of approved national polls released between Aug. 7 and September 10, we will add those candidates to our top tier debate, even if those candidates did not poll in the top 10 in an average of approved national polls between July 16 and Sept. 10," CNN said in a statement, not mentioning Fiorina by name or her protest.
"We have discussed these changes with the Republican National Committee and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, and they are fully supportive."
Reince Priebus, the Republican National Committee chairman, told CNN that he endorsed the change to expand the number of candidates participating in the second segment of the debate if they qualify.
"I applaud CNN for recognizing the historic nature of this debate and fully support the network's decision to amend their criteria," he said.
Fiorina pushed back against the idea that the rule change was an "affirmative action" move meant to add a woman to the Sept. 16 debate, Politico reported
"I've earned this place," Fiorina told radio show host Laura Ingraham on Wednesday. "The point is, the thumb on the scale occurred because this year unlike previous presidential cycles, there were virtually no polls between Aug. 6 and Sept. 10."
Politico said Fiorina also dismissed the thought that she is only running in an attempt to position herself as a potential vice president pick.
"That's sexist," she said. "I think I earned my place on the debate stage, I think I'll earn the nomination and I think I'm qualified to do the job."
© 2023 Newsmax. All rights reserved.


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Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque today said the government will continue to subsidize agricultural sector even after the country's graduation from the least developed countries (LDCs), which will come into effect from 2026.
"I think, after the graduation from LDC, the export of agricultural products will not face much difficulty even if the quota-free, duty-free and other facilities end," he said at a seminar in the city.
The agriculture minister added: "We are giving importance to improving product quality, producing crops considering the global gap, and modernizing labs and packaging. This will facilitate the export of agricultural products".
Support to Sustainable Graduation Project (SSGP) of the Economic Relations Division (ERD) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) financed Bangladesh Trade Facilitation project jointly organized the seminar titled 'Impacts of LDC Graduation on the Agriculture Sector and the Way Forward', said a press release.
State Minister for Planning Dr Shamsul Alam spoke at the seminar as special guest with ERD Secretary Sharifa Khan in the chair.
About onion import, Dr Razzaque said a decision will be taken regarding onion import within a few days.
"We take decisions considering the interests of both farmers and consumers. Onion prices are now slightly higher. We are closely monitoring the market," he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Shamsul Alam said the withdrawal of LDC specific facilities after the graduation will create the compulsion for enhancing internal capacities.
Sharifa Khan, in her speech, put emphasis on policy continuity for maintaining the growth in agricultural sector.
She also informed that the government is pursuing with the World Trade Organization (WTO) to be included in the list of net food-importing developing countries after LDC graduation.
Additional Secretary of ERD Farid Aziz delivered welcome address at the event while Research and Policy Integration for Development (RAPID) Chairman Dr Mohammad A. Razzaque presented the keynote paper on the findings of the USDA financed study titled "Implications of LDC Graduation for Bangladesh's Agricultural Exports: Issues and Policy Options".
A Razzaque noted that the average tariffs on Bangladesh's agricultural exports might increase in major overseas markets after LDC graduation in the absence of Duty Free Quota Free (DFQF) facilities.
In this context, he put emphasis on proactive engagement with trading partners to negotiate extended preferences, enhancing the capacity of domestic firms, and reducing the cost of doing business to address the LDC graduation challenges.
Former Member of Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC) Dr Mostafa Abid Khan delivered a presentation on "Bangladesh's Obligation under WTO Agreement on Agriculture: Before and After Graduation from LDC Status" at the seminar.
Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Md Tofazzel Hossain, Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension Md Tajul Islam Patwary, Political and Economic Counselor of the US Embassy in Dhaka Scott Brandon and Director of PRAN-RFL Group Uzma Chowdhury spoke as panelists at the seminar.
USDA financed Bangladesh Trade Facilitation Project Director Michael J Parr mentioned in his vote of thanks that the USDA would provide necessary technical assistance to Bangladesh in facilitating agricultural trade through process simplification, management process automation, capacity building of food and chemical laboratories, and encouraging investment to improve the cold chain system.
Senior officials from government ministries, agencies and research institutions, representatives from development partners, agricultural and trade associations, and agribusinesses attended the seminar.

domain: agronomy


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The Levelland Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors met Friday afternoon in a brief meeting.
The Board of Directors reviewed the monthly financial report. It was noted that rail traffic was down just slightly in the month of February. Sales tax collections for the Levelland EDC continues to be strong. The collections are running ahead of last years record collections.
Following a brief executive session the Levelland EDC Board of Directors took action to approve $140,000 in incentives for Kurt Martin and CleanCo of Levelland. The incentives will be applied toward the purchase of the speculative building on Avenue H in Levelland. The building was recently approved for sale to CleanCo by the Levelland Development Foundation which owned the building at a total sales price of $315,000 minus the incentives. The incentives will be applied as a first lien on the property by the Levelland EDC for a period of two years. The lien will be released as long as CleanCo maintains 75 employees for the two years. CleanCo will be moving their operation into the city limits and expanding their operation.
The EDC also discussed other economic development negotiations while in executive session, however, no action was taken.


In order to give it a traditional touch and also ensure comfortable stay by guests, sheepskin rugs have been placed on each snow- seat
Srinagar: India’s first snow igloo café has come up at Gulmarg, one of the Asia’s premier ski resorts situated in the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas at an altitude of 2,650 m (8,694 ft) and about 56 km from capital Srinagar.
Set up by a local group of hotels on the lawns of its property in the cup-shaped valley, the igloo is 22 feet wide and 12.5 feet high from inside and can accommodate 16 people at any given time for lunch or dinner or just to have coffee or tea. The owners claim the café can make to the Limca book of records for it being Asia's biggest igloo.
An igloo, also known as a snow house or snow hut, is a type of shelter built of ‘suitable’ snow. Gulmarg like many other parts of the Valley received several spells of major snowfall in recent weeks and has recorded below-freezing temperatures constantly since mid-November last.
Waseem Shah, managing director of Kolahoi Green Group of Hotels and Resorts, said that the idea to set up Kashmir's very first igloo café crept into his mind after the family built a small (8x7 feet) igloo at its Srinagar home. "The idea of building an igloo café emerged after we built one at my home during the snow season in Srinagar. It garnered a lot of attention and we all got excited. Soon thereafter we decided to build one outside our Gulmarg hotel,” he said. He added, “Its outside dimensions are 26 feet wide and 15 feet high. And we are already in talks of getting it recorded as Asia's biggest igloo”.
Mr. Shah said, “The concept of a snow restaurant is very new to India although it has been tested successfully in Finland, Canada, Switzerland and some other countries. We wanted to do something dramatic for our guests and patrons and hence we came up with an idea of a snow restaurant”. The task was accomplished with a team of 20 members working in two shifts in 15 days.
Snow igloos are normally built in a catenary curve, a shape more closely resembling a paraboloid and are necessarily not spherical. This is done so that the stresses of snow, as it ages and compresses, do not cause to buckle because in an inverted paraboloid or catenoid the pressures are nearer to being exclusively compressive.
“We threw it open for the public today (Monday). The response has been mashaAllah (what God has willed) tremendous. We have already booked about forty tables and these guests would be served in next few days as there are four tables inside to accommodate sixteen guests for lunch or dinner at once,” Mr. Shah said. He added, “Hopefully the café would remain functional till February end.”
“So far, the response has been encouraging mainly from local Kashmiris who are eager to visit and have an experience of eating inside an igloo. We are booking tables online through our website or people can call us on the phone also.”
He further said, “We have kept a small igloo menu which includes serving the guest with a welcome hot drink like kehwa and appetizers including chicken of mutton tikka to be followed by such a formal vegetarian or non-vegetarian meal that we can serve quickly. A guest can stay inside the café for about one hour or till he or she can put up with the cold.”
In order to give it a traditional touch and also ensure comfortable stay by guests, sheepskin rugs have been placed on each snow- seat whereas small side-tables (also of snow) nestled into the corners hold accent lighting and Kashmiri artwork including hand-engraved Kashmiri copper Samovar.


The rig then sank, and got here to relaxation in a heap of wreckage on prime of the oil nicely, which continues to spew at the least 200,000 gallons of oil a day.
flight tickets booking indigo
For some, essentially the most nervousness-inducing facet of planning a visit is sitting down and really reserving that flight. The Corps of Engineers reports that BP is enjoying a recreation with Obama, convincing him of the feasibility of “capturing junk” into the subterranean pipe, which would cease up the pipe with a manufactured chemical compound called “MUD.” Nevertheless, WMR has been knowledgeable that BP truly intends to shoot cement into the pipe in an try and cap the properly with the later intention of digging a trench for facet drilling from the pipe to recover as much oil as possible.
Containment chambers are put in place and so they catch the outflow from the three ruptures which can be at present pouring 200,000 gallons of oil into the Gulf every day. Discovering low-cost flights to your prime destinations is a breeze with eDreams thanks to a fast search engine that compares hundreds of flights in seconds and a simple navigation.
Corps of Engineers and FEMA officials are also furious concerning the cover-up of the extent of the oil damage being promulgated by the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and its marine analysis vessel within the Gulf, RV Pelican.
On this case, an order of magnitude greater would mean the volume of oil coming from the effectively could possibly be 10 occasions greater than the 5,000 barrels a day coming out now. Native fishermen employed to work on BP’s uncontrolled oil leak within the Gulf of Mexico are scared and confused.
A state of emergency was declared on Sunday in Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes in Louisiana, west of the Mississippi Delta, where coaching is underneath solution to train local fisherman how one can deploy booms and help with oil spill contractors.
cheap flights hk
You are talking about a reservoir that would have tens of tens of millions of barrels in it.” On the present spill rate, it would take years to deplete,” and already seems ten occasions or more better than earlier reports, now compounded by the administration leaving BP answerable for cleanup efforts with no oversight of its work. Transocean owned the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig and its gear, together with the blowout preventer,” he mentioned.
The spill has forced Obama to put a hold on plans to expand offshore oil drilling and has raised issues about planned oil operations in other areas just like the Arctic. In Houma, he stays at a Ramada Inn, along with lots of the individuals working for BP on the spill.


text:
A flavour explosion that’s as pretty as it is delicious!
Many global cuisines feature raw or barely-cured fish and while I have sampled many different varieties, I keep coming back to Italian-style crudo. This simple preparation features thinly sliced raw fish or seafood (my two favourites are tuna and scallops), bathed in an olive oil and citrus vinaigrette. When preparing crudo this week, I had a hunch that thinly shaved radish and zucchini would be a delicious complement to the tuna and zesty dressing…and I was right! While I often use lemon for my crudo vinaigrette, I decided to switch it up with lime and it was fantastic. I paired this dish with a new wine discovery – La Crema’s 2015 Monterey Chardonnay. The golden-hued, buttery wine had plenty of structure to hold up to both the richness and the acidity of the dish. I like to serve crudo with crostini – check this post for instructions on how to make them (it includes my other favourite tuna crudo recipe). Don’t skip the fresh herbs – they are an essential part of the flavour profile that makes this dish shine.
- 1/4 pound (110 g) thinly sliced ahi tuna
- 2 – 3 medium radishes
- 1 medium zucchini
- 2 tablespoons (30 mL) freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 mL) red pepper flakes or more, to taste
- 3 tablespoons (45 mL) olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 mL) freshly ground pepper
- 1 teaspoon good quality kosher salt (Maldon or fleur de sel)
- 1 teaspoon (5 mL) fresh thyme leaves
- 2 teaspoons (10 mL) minced fresh chives
- Keep tuna refrigerated until 10 minutes before you are ready to serve this dish.
- With a mandoline or very sharp knife, slice radishes and zucchini as thinly as possible. Place them in slightly overlapping rows on a platter, leaving room for rows of tuna in between.
- In a jar with a tight lid, combine lime juice and red pepper flakes. Shake to combine, then add oil and shake once more.
- Lay tuna slices out in a single layer on the platter with the vegetables.
- Drizzle the lime vinaigrette over the vegetables and tuna. Sprinkle pepper, salt, thyme leaves and minced chives over top. Let sit 5 minutes then serve with crostini.
Serves 2; can easily be multiplied.
I’m soooo making this on the weekend! Tuna Crudo is our favourite.
I am making it again tonight! Let me know if you like this version!

domain: food


I have no idea on which pistol to purchase next. I want it to be a ccw. I have a xd 45 tactical. I can carry it IWB but I have to be carefule with the grip since its a full size. I was looking at the xd 45 compact. I like 45s because I have 2. But I also like the subcompacts in 9 or a 40. If only thay would make a 45 subcompact I would know what I would get. What do you guys think is the best for ccw with thoughts and exp? And I am not worried about price and availabilaty of ammo. Just all around the best ccw you guys think.


510 Larkin St San Francisco
View the venue listing
THREE Hour Closing Set! | 12:00am-Close
* DAVID HARNESS [ Harlum Muziq | Taboo | Fag Friday | Mighty Real ]
Dirty Soul, Tribal, Future Funk and More | 10:30pm-12:00am
* ROBIN SIMMONS [ Melody DJs | Boombox Affair ]
The Spirit of Disco & House | 9:00pm-10:30pm
* SERGIO [ Go BANG! | KALX ]
Friday September 30th
Free before 10pm | $5 After
510 Larkin St. @ Turk
"The mix wasn't really the priority.
The priority was the feeling - creating the feeling from one record to the next.
The most important thing wasn't to match the pace of one record to the other
it was to tell a story.
If you're a dj who sort of tell stories with a record to match his feelings, I don't believe it's anything anybody can really teach you"
-DJ Freddie Taylor, The Loft NYC
Fun Loving People of San Francisco,
This is a special, one time event at Deco Lounge, so mark your calendars and get ready to party. Odyssey is about the journey: giving you a living, breathing experience of dance music. So you can dance, let go of your concerns and experience life directly. A place to be fabulous and free, to be who you want to be.
You will dance to a seamless and personal blend of sexy underground dance music from three of San Francisco's most versatile, fun and knowledgeable DJs.
David Harness' star has been continually rising since 1994 and grows brighter every year. Continued relevance to gay and straight communities, black and white, soul and tech, David is truly one of the most well rounded DJs on the market and is guaranteed to give you a full, beautiful experience of music. Whether he is tearing down the house for Frankie Knuckles at Mighty, or stirring up magic for 50 loyal followers at the Bench & Bar on a thursday, Harness is ready to make it happen every time.
Sergio and myself represent decades of knowledge in house, disco, and everything in between. We believe in personal, musical sets and both provide energy and music to dancefloors, lofts, bars, buses and public parks around the SF bay area every week.
We are lucky to have the opportunity to have this party in such a wonderful (and centrally located!) venue. Come on out and make it good with us!
||| About Your DJs |||
DAVID HARNESS - 3 Hour Closing Set!!!
David Harness is one of the most popular DJ/producers in the San Francisco Bay Area club scene. He has been described as ‘a man who lives, breathes and emanates everything that is beautiful about deep house music and classic garage.’ David is considered a ‘rising star’ within the dance community.
In 1990, David began DJ’ing at the After Dark in his hometown of Monterey, California. As his popularity grew past the boundaries of Monterey, he was invited to establish a residency at Tilt and the Sound Factory in San Francisco.
In 1994, David opened and DJ’ed at the hip and popular club Lift at Club Dv8 in San Francisco. His success as a club DJ led to a DJ spot on commercial radio. In 1994, David joined the popular radio show Your Mama’s House on the San Francisco Bay Area’s number one radio station KMEL FM. Your Mama’s House was the only ‘true’ house mix show on any major radio station in Northern California. As part of the Your Mama’s House crew, David played a key role in exposing the masses to House Music in the San Francisco Bay Area.
In 1995 David kicked off a seven year residency at San Francisco ‘s legendary Club Universe — San Francisco’s hottest Saturday night party. At Club Universe, David had the opportunity to play with many New York’s legendary DJs like Frankie Knuckles, Tony Humphries, Little Louie Vega, Tedd Patterson, Dave Morales, Danny Teneglia, London’s Ricky Morrison, Los Angeles’ Marques Wyatt, San Francisco’s Miguel Migs, Mark Farina and Kaskade — just to name a few.
Also in 1996, David begin his ongoing residency at The End Up Sunday T-Dance — San Francisco’s longest running dance party.
In 1998, he released a CD for Universe Sounds and Twisted America, ‘Welcome to the Universe’. This innovative CD, recorded live from Club Universe, reflects San Francisco’s unique ‘sound’ and introduced the world to David Harness. Recognizing his talent, Twisted America quickly signed him to produce his first single, ‘Get It Together’, for a Twisted America compilation entitled ‘A Little Bit of the Old, A Lot of the New’. David also started his ongoing residency at Fag Fridays in San Francisco in 1998 where he is still rockin’ the floor.
In 1999, David started Taboo in San Francisco’s Mission District. Taboo started out of David’s love of House music and his desire to provide a showcase for Bay Area talent as well as internationally known DJs. This ongoing party attracts a loyal crowd of househeads from around the San Francisco Bay Area and the globe to the weekly blending of spirit and soul.
David has appeared in articles and interviews in Billboard Magazine, Paper Magazine, Surface, XLR8R, Streetsounds, Sweater, HX, Next, URB, DJ Mag and the SF Bay Guardian. David Harness’ passion, talent and creativity has definitely created a new page in the history of house music.
Robin is from Santa Cruz, CA and currently lives in San Francisco. He is 24 years old. He has already DJed along side Rick Wade, Julius Papp, Lance DeSardi, Rick Preston, Andrew Phelan, Doc Martin, Inland Knights, Jeno + more.
He got his first gig DJing in Santa Cruz at 12 years old with a Thursday night party in the Vets hall basement called Colors. He continued playing out locally, such as Flow, KZSC and Streetlight in-store parties. His 16th birthday party, UNION, featured Djs Rick Preston, Jeno and local champion, Rob Monroy! With a little help from Vasili Gavre (vasili.org) and Rick Preston (soundcloud.com/djrickpreston), he started getting gigs in the San Francisco bay area.
Robin graduated with honors from UC Bekeley and spent 3 years as operations manager at a private online marketing firm. He is open for DJ gigs and collaboration. You can find him DJing on his Melody Party Bus, at Dolores park on Saturdays in September, or at his loft space downtown.
Polish & Peruvian, born & raised in the East Bay, Cal grad; but a proud San Franciscan for 10 years; living in Lower Nob Hill and loving the nightlife and being surrounded by great, talented friends!
Sergio began his DJing career on KALX 90.7 FM in Berkeley since 1997, and began to flex his musical chops at live club gigs a couple of years after. As he continued to DJ, and especially after reading "Last Night A DJ Saved My Life" in 2000, his 'musical vision' has crystallized into wanting to present the spectrum of dance music - disco, house, funk, jazz, boogie and more - while preserving & paying respect to the vibe of the legendary clubs of Disco's Golden Age.
Born & raised in the East Bay, and having moved to San Francisco in 2001, Sergio is proud of the San Francisco Bay Area's rich dance music past and especially focuses on keeping our City's traditions & history alive. His DJing style draws inspiration from legendary Chicago DJ & producer Derrick Carter, San Francisco legend and party partner Steve Fabus, and the one & only Larry Levan. He strives to keep the proud tradition of the DJ "speaking to the dancer" alive - through the music, lights, and other atmospheric elements of the dancefloor & club.
In 2005, he was chosen as the New Times (SF Weekly/East Bay Express) "DJ Breakthrough" and was invited to play at the Ultra Music Festival in Miami during the Winter Music Conference. In 2006, he was awarded the title of the SF Weekly’s 2006 Music Awards "Best DJ." Most recently, he was voted BEST DJ in SF Weekly's 2010 Reader's Poll!
Through the monthly Go BANG! party, the roaming one-off party Wax Candy, and other events & projects he is a part of, he continues to pursue his passion of DJing and has been blessed to connect with others who share his love for the music and the proud tradition of San Francisco's dance music history.
Fri, 25 Aug 2017
Sebastian Mullaert aka Minilogue (Live) & Patrice Bäumel
Fri, 25 Aug 2017
SET with Hernan Cattaneo and Guy Mantzur
Sat, 26 Aug 2017
Lights Down Low SF feat. Barnt, Silent Servant and Mike Servito
Sun, 3 Sep 2017
Honey Soundsystem Labor Day Sunday
Fri, 8 Sep 2017
DTE vs. RE with Ansome and Marla Singer
Sat, 9 Sep 2017
Acid Pauli, Nico Stojan & Britta Unders
Sun, 10 Sep 2017
Oceanvs Orientalis, KMLN, Viken Arman, Ramona Wouters
Fri, 15 Sep 2017
Alter Ego Feat. Wolf + Lamb, Soul Clap - All Night Long


BRF FINNBODA DOCKLANDS
Project Type: Residential buildings
Client: HSB Bostad AB
Investment: Design, production, delivery and installation of reinforced concrete constructions
Company: Skonto Prefab
The project was building of a new four-storey residential building in Stockholm with self-supporting frame constructions of precast reinforced concrete and metal. Skonto Prefab carried out design, production, delivery and assembly of precast reinforced concrete and steel structures. The project consisted of cavity slabs, massive and filigree covering slabs, columns, beams, stairs, stair blocks, solid walls and half-sandwich type walls.
The biggest challenge was to combine modern construction with the building's external walls built in 1950s, that had to be integrated into the new constructions. This was successfully fulfilled, meeting all the architectural requirements.


text: TOGA is a real-life upgrade for your beloved EOS lip balms that improves portability, aesthetics, and usability in a stylish and simple way. TOGA comes in two patent-pending designs: The “Standard” silicone with stainless-steel chain version and the all-silicone “Lite” version. They both work great and make using your EOS lip balm on a daily basis so much easier. No more time wasted looking for it at the bottom of your bag. Your lip balm remains exactly where you hook or hang it, ready to be used within seconds, each and every time. EOS lip balm is all about intelligent design–from the uniquely rounded shape which allows it to be applied to both lips simultaneously to the smooth feel of the outer shell and flat bottom.

domain: design


text:
The event of becoming a mother should be nothing but a joyous one, but the excitement of having a new baby can be overshadowed by feelings of sadness and mood swings. Many new moms experience these feelings shortly after giving birth, which are often referred to as the ‘baby blues.’
“Baby blues tend to be seen around three to five days after the baby is born and the mom will often experience symptoms for about two weeks,” says Janet Weatherly, a certified nurse midwife at Henry Ford Health. “Within the first couple weeks after childbirth, the estrogen and hormone change the mother experiences become a factor in the start of post-baby blues symptoms.”
Some common symptoms are crying, anxiety, and feeling restless or overwhelmed; these are often felt by new mothers due to the added stress and responsibility that a newborn can bring. These symptoms are known as the baby blues and are likely to occur within four to five days after the birth of the baby.
“There is a huge difference between what is called the baby blues and postpartum depression (PPD),” says Weatherly. “The timeframe in which symptoms occur is often the distinguishing factor because baby blues should subside after a few weeks while PPD can last up until a year or longer.”
As a mother caring for a new infant and potentially older children in addition to managing her normal responsibilities, feelings of depression are especially problematic. Postpartum depression occurs in 10-15 percent of women in the six months following childbirth with risk factors often mirroring those typically found with major depression.
Here are some ways to tell the difference between baby blues and postpartum depression:
- Timeline. The baby blues occur for a few hours each day and should disappear within fourteen days after delivery. Postpartum depression on the other hand can occur within four weeks to several months after childbirth, and can last up to a year.
- Symptoms. Some of the symptoms of baby blues are irritability, fatigue, and sadness. PPD symptoms are often more severe and include aggression, extreme stress, and potentially feelings of detachment from the baby.
It is important to open a dialogue with your provider about these new emotions, challenges and changes that you are experiencing. Whether what you are experiencing is the baby blues or postpartum depression, it is imperative to ask for help to discover what treatment may be best.
Janet Weatherly, C.N.M., sees patients for midwifery services and obstetrics at Henry Ford Health Center – Fraser and Henry Ford Macomb Hospital.

domain: psychology


text:
We were away for three weeks. We arranged for someone to water the plants if necessary, but we were not prepared for the squirrels. How many can you count in this photo?
Counting two sets of ears bottom center, and two tails upper right but not far right, there are eight! We have been battling to keep them away from the bird seed and thought we had won that battle by installing cones on the feeder poles. Then they could have whatever the birds kicked over the side. I had bought a seed covered cylinder which I thought would keep the birds happy enough until we returned. However, the seed cylinder was not even touched.
But the squirrels (well, I suppose it could have been a rabbit because we did see one when we first arrived home) have decimated our two large bushes of Chinese Pink Hibiscus. They were in full flower when we left. Now there are no flowers and few leaves. As for my very special melon-colored hibiscus that is only about two feet tall and which I have been tenderly watching over.....well you can see what it looks like below.
Fortunately, pretty much everything else survived very well. The begonias were overflowing.
This is called the potato vine, which I think is a very ugly name for a vine or bush that is very pretty. I have three of these and they were all thriving too.
Even our Jacaranda tree was in full bloom -- still is. It is a whole month late this year.
And this is what we call an elephant's foot (don't know the real name), and it was blooming for the first time in its life. The foot is the bottom part that is large, fat and round. My youngest son bought this many years ago when it was just in a small plastic pot. It has been transplanted many times. I hope it isn't one of those which blooms once and then dies.
Poor Henrietta suffered a little too. I had intended to bring her in before we left, but I forgot. She has some tail feathers missing, but fortunately not too much damage was done. Squirrels again, I suspect. I have to find some more black feathers to repair her.....Now if that annoying black crow ever comes back...!!!

domain: biology


text:
Student ambassadors share experiences
Four students and a teacher from the Ambassador School for Global Leadership (ASGL) in Los Angeles visited Heights High and the CH-UH community for four days in early February. The ASGL is a sister school to the Renaissance School—both are members of the International Studies Schools Network (ISSN). The 34-member network prepares students for work and civic roles in a global environment.
The ASGL delegation arrived during a snowstorm—a first-time experience for the students, who declared it “beautiful!” Before attending Heights High for two days, the students met their host families, toured downtown Cleveland and Case Western Reserve University, visited the toboggan runs in the Cuyahoga Valley and spent two hours sledding in Cain Park on a snowy evening.
The ASGL students shadowed Renaissance students for two days while their teacher, Maria Hernandez, observed science teachers. The culminating project was a three-hour work session where the ASGL students trained nine Heights High students and several staff to use a dialogue process called Council.
AGSL uses Council to encourage communication and build relationships. “When students feel free to talk about the content and to bring their own experience to the table, the learning is deeper and more meaningful,” said Hernandez.
“We want everyone to feel safe to speak and to know that we value their ideas,” said Jen Padilla, one of the ASGL student leaders.
The ISSN reinforces Renaissance School’s Society pathway. “We want our students to investigate the world, recognize perspectives, communicate ideas and take action,” said James Reed, Renaissance principal. “While we eventually want to venture internationally, partnering with ASGL provides a very different lens to the world for our students.” The ASGL school is located in a predominately Latino and Korean community. The Renaissance School is exploring a spring exchange with ASGL.
The International Studies Schools Network is a project of the Asia Society, founded in 1956 by John D. Rockefeller III to promote mutual understanding among peoples, leaders and institutions of Asia and the United States.
Joy Henderson is the parent/community liaison for Cleveland Heights High School.


text:
March is finished, and I've only managed to finish one ufo, a bookmark.
My 101 Dalmatian bookmark is a Royal Paris kit that DH purchased for me in Paris in 2006. I think he saw it at the Boutique Modes et Travaux. It makes a lovely souvenir of a wonderful and memorable trip.
I'm a little disappointed that I wasn't able to get at least another ufo done, but March has been a busy month and April will be busy as well.
I plan to do at least one ufo a month, so I'm still on schedule.