In nasty exchange over Chicago Police vaccine mandates, Mayor Lightfoot argues with reporter William Kelly, and the Mayor appears to misrepresent Chicago’s murder solve rate Chicago, IL (October 17, 2021) – At Thursday’s press conference, Mayor Lori Lightfoot drew a line in the sand on mandatory vaccination for Chicago police and reporter William J. Kelly was there to question her about it – and once again – the press conference took a nasty turn. A link to the unedited video is here.
According to the press release, before Kelly asked a question, Mayor Lightfoot warned him that he needed to “behave” and her staffer refused to let go of the microphone – to which Kelly replied “excuse me?!” Kelly then asked about the Chicago Police vaccine mandates and if the Mayor would have “blood on her hands” if officers refused to show-up this weekend for duty. The Mayor lashed out at Kelly, claiming he was using hyperbolic and extremist rhetoric and that Chicago’s murder solve rate was actually up.
But, according to Chicago Tribune and other sources, that is factually untrue.
Kelly also asked Lightfoot if she was at-war with the Chicago police and what she meant when she said “bring it” in response to the FOP’s possible lawsuit. Mayor Lightfoot filed a lawsuit against the police union on Friday.
This isn’t the first time Kelly’s encounters with Mayor Lightfoot have gone viral. At her press conference in June, Kelly asked Mayor Lightfoot if she had lost control of the city. She angrily dismissed his comments and said that crime was down. The video of the heated encounter has since received more than 1.5 million views and more than 35,000 comments – most of them critical of Mayor Lightfoot. Kelly’s second video with Mayor Lightfoot also went viral when she denied that the George Floyd riots had anything to do with race. The video has also received more than 734K views and 19,000 comments.
In nasty exchange over Chicago Police vaccine mandates, Mayor Lightfoot argues with reporter William Kelly, and the Mayor appears to misrepresent Chicago’s murder solve rate
The Lost Year: What the Pandemic Cost Teenagers – Everything looks the same on either side of the Texas-New Mexico border in the great oil patch of the Permian Basin. There are the pump jacks scattered across the plains, nodding up and down with metronomic regularity.
The Murder Chicago Didn’t Want to Solve (Chicago, IL) – The man who called me, a long-retired Chicago police officer, was alternately charming and curt. He insisted he had nothing to do with the murder.
The Sweet Fern Savanna Land and Water Reserve, in the heart of Pembroke Township, Illinois, offers a glimpse into what much of the area looked like before European settlers drained swamps and cleared forests to grow corn and soybeans.
The centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts continues to be Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.
The public funds six-figure “sick day” payouts, $2,500 “perfect attendance” bonuses and lucrative “extra duty” assignments identified in a ProPublica, Asbury Park Press analysis of New Jersey police union contracts.


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Ginger Nuts of Horror's Motherhood of the Monstrous continues its celebration of female horror writers of the past present and future. Today we welcome Holland's most famous female horror writer Chantal Noordeloos to talk about the female writers that matter to her.
Chantal Noordeloos (born in the Hague, and not found in a cabbage as some people may suggest) lives in the Netherlands, where she spends her time with her wacky, supportive husband, and outrageously cunning daughter, who is growing up to be a supervillain. When she is not busy exploring interesting new realities, or arguing with characters (aka writing), she likes to dabble in drawing.
In 1999 she graduated from the Norwich School of Art and Design, where she focused mostly on creative writing.
Chantal likes to write for all ages, and storytelling is the element of writing that she enjoys most. “Writing should be an escape from everyday life, and I like to provide people with new places to escape to, and new people to meet.”
Chantal started her career writing short stories for various anthologies, and in 2012 she won an award for ‘Best Original Story’ for her short ‘the Deal’.
*cracks knuckles and hovers fingers over her keyboard*
*looks a little cross eyed*
Eh… right… I need to begin somewhere.
I was asked by the lovely Jim McLeod to write something about two female authors. One who has influenced my writing and the second who is publishing now, and who I feel the world should take notice of. The second question is easy (well, easy-ish); I can think of several. The first question not only made me pause… I actually googled female horror authors to see if there was anyone who fit that bill. That should tell you how much I struggled to answer this question.
Who in the horror world has influenced me? If I am going to be really honest, I only discovered female authors AFTER I started writing horror—and I had to make a conscious effort to seek them out. Only when I dipped my toe into the pool of horror did I discover gems such as Shirley Jackson and Mo Hayder, and I can’t really say that either of them have really influenced my own writing. In all fairness, most of my inspiration for the horror genre comes from movies, urban legends and role play games.
There have been female writers who have had an influence on my writing, of course. Authors like Dorothy Parker, JK Rowling, Alice Walker and Margaret Weiss have all left their mark on how I look at stories, characters or prose in general. But none of those could be considered horror writers.
So I’m going to cheat, and leave it at the people I have mentioned. *throws a match on that bridge until it burns, and runs away to the next question*
So... I have to ‘name a female author you should all take notice of’. *Californian cheerleader voice* OMG you guys, there are just so many….
All kidding aside, there are a lot of female horror authors out there that people should take notice of. In the small press/ indie published horror community more and more women are finding their voice, and their work ranges from dark gothic to extreme horror (and despite contrary belief, when the ladies write extreme horror… they go all out to terrify and even sicken their audience)
My pick is one of the best authors I have come across: Paula Ashe. The first (short) story I have read of her is called Bereft, and it utterly destroyed me. I’m talking ‘ugly crying’ when I read it. The world became a bit darker after reading that particular tale.
Paula’s work is not for the faint hearted, and it’s not the kind of horror that is ‘easy to read’. She taps into topics that make me extremely uncomfortable, and her writing haunts me. Her ‘voice’ is dark, raw and well written. I absolutely believe people should notice Paula Ashe, and I think that anyone who can handle it—trust me, not everyone could—should read Bereft. It was published in an anthology called Songs for the Raven, and I really hope Paula will release a collection of her own work one day.
So there you have it… a rambling incomplete answer to the first question, and a clear to the point answer for the second one. I think one out of two isn’t bad, considering my track record. Now, you there, reader… go read Paula’s work, and while you’re looking, go find some more female horror writers to read. It’s women in horror month after all!
A beautiful house – with a dark and deadly secret.
When Freya inherits her mother's childhood home, she sees it as an opportunity. A chance for a new life with her best friends, as they convert the crumbling mansion into an exclusive hotel.
Instead, they'll be lucky to escape with their lives.
As the first hammers tear through the bricked up entrances, a dark, terrible and ancient evil stirs beneath the house. An evil that has already laid claim to Freya and her companions' souls.
Ginger Nuts of Horror's Motherhood of the Monstrous continues its celebtarion of female horror writers of the past present and future. Today we are honoured to host an article from Thana Niveau, where she looks at the author who inspired her in the early years of her writing career, and the author who she thinks we should all be taking notice of right now! .
Thana Niveau lives in a crumbling gothic tower in Wicker Man country. She shares her life with fellow horror scribe John Llewellyn Probert, in a Victorian library filled with arcane books and curiosities.
All her life Thana has been drawn to the darker aspects of life. She was a fearful child, plagued by nightmares and anxiety. Horror saved her. Scary films gave her an outlet for all that darkness and fear became her friend. Jason and Freddy were her childhood companions. On the literary side, Poe was her first great horror love, followed swiftly by Stephen King and Ramsey Campbell. Their stories frightened her while at the same time inspiring her. She still had nightmares, but now they were more like visits from a slightly sadistic muse. Writing all the scary stuff down turned it from a curse into a blessing.
Ginger Nuts of Horror's Motherhood of the Monstrous continues its celebration of female horror writers of the past present and future. Today we welcome local author Georgina Bruce to talk about the female writers that matter to her.
Georgina Bruce is a writer and teacher based in Edinburgh. Her stories have been published in Black Static, Interzone, Strange Horizons and various other zines and anthologies. She keeps a sporadically updated journal at www.georginabruce.com and tweets as @monster_soup. She is currently working on a novel in which the concerns of Philip K Dick meet the sensibilities of the feminist gothic… on the moon.
Motherhood of the Monstrous is making a pitstop on its world tour of horror writers. The tour has been a roaring success, but it's time for a rest from the smell of ink and paper, and it is time for a refreshing pint, some hot wings, and some loud music to blow away the cobwebs.
So lets pull of the the literary highway for a moment and chill out with something a little different for Women in Horror Month.
Ginger Nuts of Horror's Motherhood of the Monstrous continues its celebration of female horror writers of the past present and future. Today's author in the spotlight is our very own Laura Mauro.
Laura started writing short stories in 2011 but never took it seriously until joining Absolute Write, where she was contacted by a member of the T-Party. Since then, she has been what you might call a ‘serious’ writer, while still working as a laboratory technician.
She has had stories published in Shadows And Tall Trees, and in Black Static. Her short story “Red Rabbit” made Ellen Datlow’s longlist for Best Horror Of The Year 2014, and “When Charlie Sleeps” was reprinted as part of the “Best British Horror 2014″ anthology, edited by Johnny Mains. Her short story “Ptichka” was published as part of “Horror Uncut: Tales Of Social Insecurity and Economic Unease” and was also nominated for best newcomer and Best Short Story in the 2015 British Fantasy Awards.
The Train Derails In Boston by Jessica McHugh is a ghost story, more accurately about a house so stuffed to the gills with bad karma and horny ghosts, well, maybe not the whole house but definitely the basement and the mahjong box. It's about a family so far gone down dysfunction road there may be no way to turn around and get back on the highway. It's about revenge and sex and alcoholism and sex and self-loathing and sex and doubt and disorders and sex. And most of all, it is brilliant. Yeah, that's my super short review for it. I dare not risk spoiling anything but detailing more. But I have more for you....keep reading:
I was fortunate enough to get the lovely Ms McHugh to volley some questions with me. Below you'll see how that turned out.
I can't deny that Anne Rice and her “Tales of the Mayfair Witches” had a large influence on my decision to take fiction seriously, but as I've fiddled with composing horror all my life, I'd like to go back even further.
I had chronic bronchitis in my youth and spent a lot of time home sick, coughing my brains out and splattering them across the novels of Mary Higgins Clark. While usually categorized as an author of mysteries, Mary Higgins Clark was my first exposure to a female writer who dared to write something as horrific as the novel “Love Music, Loves to Dance.” The villain in this story made such an impression on me that I wrote about it in my childhood diary. In the entry dated November 1994, I said the following:
“It was creepy. See, this guy kills dancing girls who make personal ads, then he freezes them and/or buries them in his yard. Sometimes he will just leave them on the street with one dancing slipper on their right foot. Then he will send the left dancing slipper and original shoe to the girl's parents. It was pretty cool.”
Even though my Mom got me into MHC, I doubt she and my dad were happy their eleven-year-old daughter thought a story about a killer who freezes and dances with dead girls was “pretty cool.” Still, I'd love to travel back in time and deliver them a six-pack of gratitude. Thanks to Mary Higgins Clark, it's always a sick day in my heart.
Stephanie M. Wytovich is my toast and jam. I haven't gotten a chance to read her first novel, The Eighth, but I'm a huge fan of her poetry collections, Mourning Jewelry, Asylum, and especially Brothel. She is immensely skilled at grotesquerie and fostering the kind of unflinching horror and sexuality that makes me want to take on the world. Her understanding of the value of language, how she makes every horrific and beautiful word count awes me time and time again. On top of that, she's an amazing human being that I'm proud to call a friend and inky sister.
Perry Samson loves drugs. He'll take what he can get, but raw atlys is his passion. Shot hard and fast into his testicles, atlys helps him forget that he lives in an abandoned Baltimore school, that his roommate exchanges lumps of flesh for drugs at the Kum Den Smokehouse, and that every day is a moldering motley of whores, cuntcutters, and disease. Unfortunately, atlys never helps Perry forget that, even though his older brother died from an atlys overdose, he will never stop being the tortured middle child. Set in 2099, The Green Kangaroos explores the disgusting world of Perry's addiction to atlys and the Samson family's addiction to his sobriety. "I write junkie fiction. I read and watch junkie fiction. Call it a lifestyle choice. I honestly didn't think I'd discover anything new under the sun when it came to the genre. I was wrong. Green Kangaroos is the freshest, most wholly original work I've come across concerning the subject of addiction. Think Requiem for a Dream meets Cabin in the Woods, only funnier, fresher, and more harrowing. Potsticking makes krokodil seem like a good time. Jessica McHugh has crafted one mindf*ck of a novel." -Joe Clifford author of Junkie Love and Lamentation
As part of our support of Women In Horror Month, Motherhood of the Monstrous brings together some of the finest genres finest writers to discuss the authors who inspired them to take up the pen, and which of the new and emerging horror authors we should all be taking notice. In the spotlight today we are proud to welcome Michelle Garza. Michelle Garza writes alongside her twin sister Melissa Lason. They have been dubbed the Sisters of Slaughter. They write all levels of horror and some dark fantasy. They have been published by Sinister Grin Press, JEA and Fireside Press.
As part of our support of Women In Horror Month, Motherhood of the Monstrous brings together some of the finest genres finest writers to discuss the authors who inspired them to take up the pen, and which of the new and emerging horror authors we should all be taking notice. In the spotlight today we are proud to welcome Catriona Ward, who was born in Washington, DC, and grew up in the United States, Kenya, Madagascar, Yemen, and Morocco. She read English at St Edmund Hall, Oxford and is a graduate of the Creative Writing MA from the University of East Anglia. Her debut novel, Rawblood (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2015) won best horror novel at the 2016 British Fantasy Awards, was shortlisted for the Author’s Club Best First Novel Award, and was selected as a Winter 2016 Fresh Talent title by WHSmith. Rawblood will be published in the US and Canada as The Girl from Rawblood (Sourcebooks, 2017). Catriona’s second novel will be published by W&N in 2018. She works for a human rights foundation and lives in London.
Representation matters. I cut my teeth on the horror of the 1970s and 1980s, and none of the big names were women. When women did write horror, they were largely overlooked: even Douglas Winter could only find a single woman to interview for his 1980s book Faces of Fear, and that was V.C. Andrews. Anthologies from those days tell a similar story, many of them featuring no women at all or at best a handful in their table of contents.
WOMEN IN HORROR MONTH LINKS
THE WOMEN IN HORROR MIXTAPE
INTERVIEW WITH KAYLEIGH MARIE EDWARDS
THE HISTORY OF WOMEN IN HORROR 1: A MAN EXPLAINS
28 Days Of Black Women In Horror
Interview with Lee Murray
Women in Horror Month
The Monstrous Regiment of Women in Horror

domain: literature


Multi-Purpose Screws, Pozi, CSK, ZP
From £1.00 Inc VAT
These Forgefix Multi-Purpose Pozi Compatible Screws with countersunk heads have a zinc finish for increased durability.
The screws are immensely popular and versatile, and used in all trades including joinery, electrical and plumbing. Also widely used in DIY applications.
Suitable for use with many materials including PVCu, Timber, Chipboard, MDF, and other similar types.
Zinc coatings prevent oxidation of the protected metal to create a longer lasting finish. It does this by forming a barrier and by acting as a sacrificial anode if this barrier is damaged. Zinc oxide is a fine white dust that (in contrast to iron oxide) does not trigger a breakdown of the substrate’s surface integrity as it is formed. The zinc oxide, if left intact, can act as a barrier to further oxidation, in a way similar to the protection afforded to aluminium and stainless steels by their oxide layers.
The Pozidriv screw is similar in appearance to the classic Phillips cross-head, but in fact is very different. The Pozidriv has four additional points of contact, and does not have the rounded corners that the Phillips screw drive has. The biggest advantage it offers is that, when used with the correct tooling in good condition, it does not cam out, allowing great torque to be applied. The Pozidriv screw can easily be distinguished by a line embossed in the screw head at 45° to the slots for the driver.
The countersunk head is designed to sink flush with substrates to leave a smooth surface finish. They have single threads, designed to offer higher pull out values and quicker insertion.


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Basketball Team Coloring Pages. Coloring Page teaching youngsters to identify various colors. While every child should be aware of the basic crimson, natural, orange, white, yellow, the common shades, theres valid reason to instruct them the names of more hidden hues.
Printable coloring pages for children are even more common because they might be downloaded free from the internet and also ordered online.
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domain: artistic


Excel Golfpro Tires
The Excel Golfpro is an all season tire manufactured for golf carts. The model offers a quiet and comfortable driving experience. In this manner, the special tread pattern lowers road and tread noise levels heard in the vehicle’s cabin. This improves the passengers’ enjoyment during the performance.
The ideal tread design and the all season compound enhance year-round performance. In other words, the tread pattern follows the road and terrain surface, while the all season compound keeps the rubber flexible in summer and winter temperatures. The wide footprint reduces the chance of hydroplaning. The grooves eliminate water and slush from the footprint and offer a safe wet performance.
The Excel Golfpro increases traction on versatile surfaces. The asymmetric tread pattern follows the surface even on soft, loose, and uneven terrains. The large elements strongly grip the surface with extra biting edges, keeping forward motion at all times. At the same time, the model can offer a field-friendly performance, thanks to soft traction and ideal tread design. These elements do not harm the turf and grass field, guaranteeing a smooth drive. On the other hand, the consistent surface contact upgrades the steering response time and accuracy to the driver’s commands, while the structure is stabilized against the driving pressure affecting it. This gives the driver full control over the vehicle, promoting a safe driving experience.
- All seasonThe model offers great year-round performance, thanks to the tread pattern and the all season compound.
- TractionThe asymmetric tread design and its optimal elements enable the tire to perform on versatile terrain surfaces.
- Quiet rideLow road and tread noise levels are guaranteed with this tread design and the model’s consistent road contact.


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CAROL Vorderman looked incredible as she slipped into a skintight see-though dress for a special dinner.
The former Countdown star, 62, shared a selfie of her posing in a bright orange and red print frock on Saturday night.
Carol was on her way to the Pride of Britain winners' dinner ahead of tonight's awards ceremony.
The star showed off her curves in the figure-hugging ensemble, with the face of Benjamin Franklin printed on it, who was one of the leading figures of early American history.
The mathematician opted for a subtle makeup look with a pink lip and styled her blonde hair loose curls.
Carol captioned the post: "On my way to the Pride of Britain winners' dinner with all of our incredible winners for this year's awards.
READ MORE ON CAROL VORDERMAN
Carol Vorderman reveals she felt suicidal over menopause after spiralling
Carol Vorderman flaunts her curves as she sweats it out in skintight gymwear
"They are extraordinary people and tonight they meet each other and become one big team and part of our POB Family forever.
"It's the big event tomorrow so early to bed for everyone."
Carol often delights fans with her stunning posts but last week she touched on a more serious matter involving her health.
The star admitted that she was left feeling suicidal and battled severe depression during the menopause.
Most read in Celebrity
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Russell Brand ‘simulated a sex act on a woman audience member on live TV’
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Cheryl fuels Girls Aloud rumours as she helps Nicola Roberts celebrate birthday
Maya Jama confirms relationship with boyfriend Stormzy is back ON
The I'm A Celebrity star opened up about how she had spiralled into 'a dark dark place' on the Postcards from Midlife podcast.
She explained: "When I went through it I had severe depression for about six months. I think it was 2015.
"There was nothing wrong in my life, I had made a lot of money, my kids were fine, my mum was fine. There was no problem.
"And yet I would wake up in this huge bed in this huge house, I've got a swimming pool outside and all of that, and I just thought ''what's the point?''
"I understand much more now clinical depression, where you go: ''I can't go through this again, how can I make this stop', and those thoughts of 'well, there is obviously one way to make this stop'.
"Even when I was hosting Loose Women, which was ten years ago, it was only acceptable to say 'ooh, I'm having a bit of a moment' and make light of yourself when you're going through this.
The star now believes that the world is changing and women should be more open about the symptoms that they face when it comes to the menopause.
Source: Read Full Article

domain: celebrity


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A unique canvas of Amber Trinity has been created by weaving the voices of the State Choir Latvija and poetic threads of the Poetry Days 2014. Poets from the countries of the historical Amber Road, their Latvian colleagues, translators and 12 Latvian composers have met to conjure up the mysterious worlds seen by the ancient Stone of the Sun – amber.
Nature has endowed amber with many beautiful features – the shining of light, delicate iridescence, hazy glitter and tangy smell of the sea. The ancient Greeks and Romands knew about the peculiar, honey coloured legendary Northern stone, and mentioned it along with gold and silver. Their envoys travelled far to the shores of the Baltic Sea in search of the much praised stone. The Baltic amber reached the Roman Empire via the shortest trans-European trade route – through the Moravian Gate the Amber Road led to Carnuntum (near Vienna), then over the Semmering and to the Adriatic Sea. It was the Amber Road that brought the Baltic peoples into the historical record for the very first time.
The Latvian nation is a small one, but Latvians are living by the seashore open to the wide world: this is why we call Latvian Amberland and the shore of the Baltic Sea – the Amber Shore. There are waves sighing in our veins, and there are our national heritage and the endless horizon of the sea reflecting in small pieces of amber washed ashore. Let this Amber Road be a reflection of not just the historical trade route, but also a symbolic road where the compass – amber – shows the way to an international dialogue of composers and poets on the deep-sea jewel, making the words and sounds just opalescent and multi-coloured as amber itself!

domain: geography


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L’Ulivo Restaurant Review
L’Ulivo is an Italian restaurant based on Irving street just off Leicester Square. I went here by chance the other week when meeting a friend for dinner. We both fancied pasta, and although there are numerous Italian places in Leicester Square we thought we would try somewhere different to the usual Bella Italia and Ask chains that we’ve been to in the past.
So wandering the streets and looking at the menus outside the restaurants, we had that holiday feel, with waiters trying to entice us in…unfortunately outside of L’Ulivo we had a lady staring at us and moving closer but not saying a word!
For some unknown reason, maybe it was her uncomfortable presence we decided to go in there as we remembered seeing a deal with Tastecard online. After getting over the language barrier and asking the waitress if it would be ok to use the tastecard as we hadn’t booked we were shown to our seats.
We were assured by the lady at the front of house that it is fine to use the tastecard, so sat down and ordered some drinks. While we did this, we asked the new waitress what deal the restaurant offers with the tastecard..2for1 or 50% off is the usual. After checking with her manager, we were told we couldn’t use it! Although the manager was hovering around and after sensing our annoyance came over to say that he shouldn’t do it but he will on this occasion (much to his annoyance). Whilst we were deciding what to eat, we asked the waitress once more what the actual deal was, and were then affronted by another lady who dismissively told us that we cannot use the tastecard as we had not booked. We told her that we had already spoken to front of house and the manager who said that it was ok on this occasion and after letting us know that the front of house is new and doesn’t know what she is doing gave us a dismissive look and a tut, before strutting off!
Suffice to say, it wasn’t the best start to a meal but being in good company, my friend and I decided to overlook this and order anyway, keen to catch up with each other. After finally being told that the tastecard deal is 2for1 by what seemed to be the only nice waitress in the place, we ordered some bruschetta with tomato salsa for starter. My friend ordered a chicken and pasta dish while I opted for a seafood tagliatelle.
The starters were adequate, although presentation was not the best (sorry no pictures this time) and when our mains came I have to say they were very large portions. My meal was tasty, cooked in a great spicy tomato sauce, although as a seafood dish with mussels and prawns, I would have preferred to get a side bowl to dispose of the shells rather than having to try and balance them in a corner on my bowl! Some of the seafood, (squid, smaller mussels and clams) did not taste as fresh as I would have hoped and I suspect these were probably from a frozen or pre-packed case although for the price I cannot complain too much!
Overall, the food was of average quality, although not such an amazing authentic italian restaurant as I would have hoped. The service definitely needs a lot of improvement, there was one waitress out of about five people that we spoke with who actually made us feel welcome! Still, at least the toilets were of good quality!
Price: Do tastecard 2for1 offer – around £30 with starter and mains for 2
Dress Code: Casual
Nearest Tube: Leicester Square
food: 6 value: 5 service: 4 ambience: 5 recommend: 5

domain: food


Greens upset with reference to ‘Daconomics’?
The Overseas Investment (Restriction on Foreign Ownership of Land) Amendment Bill was defeated at its first reading tonight.
Jonathon Coleman said National would oppose the bill as it would essentially ban all sales of land to anyone but New Zealand residents and citizens.
He then outraged the Greens by accusing them of everything from being luddites through to practicing “Daconomics’’ by dreaming up the bill over a joint at their party conference.
But Russel Norman thinks ‘evil coalition’ is acceptable. The Dom Post reports:
Greens co-leader Russel Norman says his member’s bill to restrict foreign land ownership is likely to be narrowly defeated tonight by an ‘‘evil coalition’’.
Seems like selective sensitivities.
Video of speeches at link.


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Tacit Networks is registered Grenada Company that is operated by serial entrepreneurs with telecoms interest in the Caribbean. We have built assets from Jamaica to the Eastern Caribbean and North America. We are now leveraging our combined knowledge and know how to bring relief to underserve Caribbean market and North South America.
People across the globe, around the clock, want to stay in touch. Tacit Networks is helping them do just that. We design, build and operate communications networks – broadcast, radio, cellular, Wi-Fi- across the ocean to keep people connected, with information, entertainment and each other, every second of every day.
With our futuristic fibre-optic systems we provide End-to-End connectivity across the Caribbean islands and America.


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Laura Geringer Bass
Laura Geringer Bass is the author of over twenty books for young people. As publisher of the award-winning Laura Geringer Books, an imprint of HarperCollins,she collaborated with many celebrated authors and illustrators. Her novel, THE GIRL WITH MORE THAN ONE HEART, (Abrams, 2018) inspired her prompt-based writing workshop “Finding the Heart of Your Story” which she has presented in schools and libraries nationwide. She serves on the National Advisory Board of First Book, an award-winning organization that has delivered over 200 million books into the hands of children in need. This is her sixth year as a mentor for GWN.

domain: library


Filipino rituals are often shown in dance, because for Filipinos, dance is the highest symbolic form. It transcends language and is able to convey emotions, collective memory, and articulate their purpose. Dance in this case, is the fundamental expression of their complex message and intention.
Why is dance important to culture?
Cultural Dance is really important, this is our way to tell other people on what are the things that they need to know about our culture. … It is also the way that other people could have respect, knowledge and give importance to our traditions and norms.
What is the importance of folk dance and cultural dance?
What is the importance of folk dance? Primarily, it keeps a culture of people alive, by sharing and teaching younger generations the dances. Dance keeps the history of people alive as well. Dances are ways a community celebrates a special event or important date in time.
Why is it important for each country to have their own cultural dance?
Cultural dance as an art form allows other parts of the globe to better understand a country, it’s people, and their values. Each country has its own styles of folk dancing that showcase and respect the origins of the culture and their people while emphasizing the importance of traditions and norms.
What is cultural dance in the Philippines?
Tinikling is one of the most famous dances in the Philippines. The movements of this Filipino folk dance imitate the movements of the tikling bird as it walks around through tall grass and between tree branches. People use bamboo poles to perform this Filipino traditional dance.
What does dance teach you about life?
It improves more than your flexibility, and it builds more than your strength. Think about it—the qualities you take on as a dancer don’t just help you in the studio. From self-confidence to teamwork, here are five life lessons you learn from dance that may help you succeed at school and work, too: Determination.
Why dance is an important aspect of human life?
Dancing can be a way to stay fit for people of all ages, shapes and sizes, having a wide range of physical, and mental benefits including improved condition of the heart and lungs, increased muscular strength, endurance and motor fitness, increased aerobic fitness, improved muscle tone and strength, weight management, …
What are the benefits of dancing?
Health benefits of dancing
- improved condition of your heart and lungs.
- increased muscular strength, endurance and motor fitness.
- increased aerobic fitness.
- improved muscle tone and strength.
- weight management.
- stronger bones and reduced risk of osteoporosis.
- better coordination, agility and flexibility.
How does dance defines our culture?
Dance, like all forms of cultural expression, reflects the society in which it exists. … Dance provided a form of social affirmation and a means of expressing national or tribal loyalty and power, and it was a part of religious ritual, providing a direct means of communicating with the spirits.
What is the main objective of folk dance?
Philippine folk dances are a celebration of daily life, health, peace, war, harvest times and other aspects of life. According to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Philippine folk dances imitate nature and life because they are rituals for social and spiritual expression.
Which country is famous for dance?
1. Salsa Dance, Cuba. Although it is assumed that it originated in the Caribbean, the introduction of Salsa dance to the world has been due to its prevalence in Cuba and today it has been identified with a wide geography as “Latin American dance”.
Why do people dance?
People dance for all kinds of reasons – to mourn, to celebrate, to heal, to give thanks, to preserve cultural heritage and treasured legends, to demonstrate physical prowess, to assert individuality, to provoke and to entertain. Almost anyone can dance, regardless of age or ability.
What is the importance of Cariñosa?
The cariñosa is a much-loved folk dance in the Philippines. Spanish in origin, it is regarded as a national dance by scholars, and the characteristic shy behavior of the female dancer is said to represent the mannerisms of Philippina women. Cariñosa was introduced to the country by Spanish colonizers.
What are some of the common Filipino dance?
Folk dance in Philippines
- The Tinikling. The Tinikling is considered by many to be the Philippines’ national dance. …
- The Sayaw sa Bangko. The Sayaw sa Bangko is performed on top of a narrow bench. …
- The Binasuan. …
- The Pandanggo sa Ilaw. …
- The Pandanggo Oasiwas. …
- The Maglalatik. …
- The Kappa Malong-Malong. …
- The Cariñosa.
What is the culture and tradition of Philippines?
The culture of the Philippines comprises a blend of traditional Filipino and Spanish Catholic traditions, with influences from America and other parts of Asia. The Filipinos are family oriented and often religious with an appreciation for art, fashion, music and food.
Why Philippine folk dance is unique?
Filipino folk dances are colorful, beautiful, and vibrant. Their movement, dress, and music reveal the unique Filipino culture and are important in building a national Filipino identity. … Apparent in these romantic dances are courtship, love, and flirtation.


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Germany’s support for nuclear sharing is vital to protect peace and freedom
Op-ed article by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
This op-ed article was originally published by Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on 11 May 2020.
The Coronavirus is among the greatest threats the world has faced since the Second World War. However, that does not mean that others have gone away. We face the most difficult security environment for a generation. Around the world, terrorism continues, authoritarian regimes challenge liberal democracies, and we see the proliferation of nuclear weapons to countries like North Korea, as well as the continuing aggressive actions by Russia.
In recent years, Russia has invested significantly in its military capabilities, and especially in its nuclear arsenal. While NATO views its own nuclear deterrent primarily as a political tool, Russia has firmly integrated its nuclear arsenal into its military strategy. It has placed nuclear-capable missiles in Kaliningrad, just 500km from Berlin. It has threatened Allies such as Denmark, Poland and Romania with nuclear strikes. Russia also forcibly and illegally annexed part of Ukraine, a country whose borders it had previously committed to respect in return for Ukraine giving up its own nuclear protection.
In stark contrast, NATO seeks a world without nuclear weapons through effective arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation. And we have made great progress in achieving this. Since the end of the Cold War, NATO has reduced the number of nuclear weapons in Europe by around 90%. That is significant.
Despite Russia’s flagrant breach of the INF Treaty with the deployment of a new intermediate range missile, which can reach European capitals with little warning, NATO has made clear that we have no intention of pursuing our own land based nuclear missiles in Europe. We will maintain an effective deterrence and defence, including through our existing nuclear deterrent.
Therefore, I welcome Germany’s clear commitment to NATO and our nuclear deterrent. This is even more significant since we have just marked the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe. Our Alliance was built on the ruins of that devastating war, to ensure peace and freedom for future generations. Germany joined our Alliance just 10 years after the war ended, on May 6 1955. Since then, you have been a valued member of the NATO family, with all the benefits and responsibilities that implies.
Our nuclear deterrence remains a vital part of keeping our peace and freedom. It is for the security of the whole alliance, for Germany, its neighbours, friends and Allies, who all have legitimate security concerns and who are all protected by NATO’s nuclear deterrent.
An important part of our nuclear deterrence strategy is nuclear sharing. NATO’s nuclear sharing is a multilateral arrangement that ensures the benefits, responsibilities and risks of nuclear deterrence are shared among Allies. Politically, this is significant. It means that participating Allies, like Germany, make joint decisions on nuclear policy and planning, and maintain appropriate equipment. It has also always been an important trust-building measure for Germany’s neighbours. Our common procedures, doctrine and exercises give Allies a voice on nuclear matters that they would not otherwise have.
NATO’s nuclear sharing arrangements also directly support non-proliferation. For many decades, it has provided European Allies with an effective nuclear umbrella. This was essential for the development of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which prevents the spread of nuclear weapons, as it removed the incentive for nations to develop their own nuclear capability. If our nuclear sharing arrangements came to an end, more countries may again seek their own nuclear weapons. This would result in a world this is less safe, not more.
All Allies appreciate Germany’s role in NATO’s nuclear sharing arrangements. Germany has contributed dual-capable aircraft for NATO’s nuclear mission since the beginning. It provides important leadership based on decades of experience working together with other Allies. To provide security for all our Allies it is essential that those who participate in nuclear sharing do so fully. This includes having capable aircraft that can support our nuclear deterrence mission.
NATO unites democratic nations in defence of our values - freedom, liberty and the rule of law. The commitment of NATO Allies to each other’s security remains rock solid. Our solidarity is our strength and the ultimate expression of that solidarity remains our nuclear deterrent.
The purpose of NATO’s nuclear weapons is not to provoke a conflict but to preserve peace, deter aggression and prevent coercion. Our Alliance seeks a world without nuclear weapons, sadly, these conditions do not exist today. A world where Russia, China and others have nuclear weapons but NATO has none, is simply not a safer world.
That is why all Allies have agreed that as long as nuclear weapons exist, NATO will remain a nuclear Alliance. To preserve peace and our freedom.

domain: news


podium dd2 wheelbase desk clamp or what?
Hello all, I'm getting too old and now I need some help/advice, please...I have a Clubsport v2.5 attached to my PC desk with the clamp it came with...I would like to purchase either the podium DD1 or the DD2 wheelbase, so, what or how would I clamp either DD1 or DD2 to my PC desk? I can only find a clamp made for rigs/cockpits. I don't want a racing cockpit/rig I want it on my desktop at an angle the same as my Clubsport v2.5!
Can someone help an ageing sim racer, please....What do I need to purchase to do this? Thank you, Steve


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Because of the confusion around Brexit, one of the Geezers has asked that to post a guest post from Ted Jeory’s blog Trial By Jeory, where Cat Overton, a lawyer and Labour party campaigner, reflects on the vote and turnout in Tower Hamlets. She is also chair of Wapping Labour and Treasurer of the Tower Hamlets Labour party. We decided to reprint the post in full.
This is her guest post:
It is, admittedly, not something you hear uttered very often, but the EU is close to my heart. I attended the European School of Brussels from primary school through to sitting the European Baccalaureat leaving exam. My identity is European as well as British, this dual identity I had always felt to be compatible and complimentary. Like so many Londoners, my cultural identity is multi-layered. So for me the Brexit vote feels like a personal tragedy as well as a tragedy for our country and our local community.
Londoners are in shock and are angry. People living here from other EU countries are variously wondering what their future holds and whether they are still welcome here. A (albeit somewhat far-fetched) petition is circulating calling for the Mayor of London to declare London independent from the rest of the UK.
City workers are fearing for their jobs, following announcements by JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley and HSBC that they may be relocating thousands of jobs to the continent. If realised, this will of course have a knock-on effect on our local economy in Tower Hamlets, in addition to the more obvious impact on Canary Wharf.
[The sheer scale of the Brexit challenge is mind-boggling. We will have to see whether Boris has the guts to pull the pin from the grenade that Cameron has dutifully handed to him by triggering Article 50, or whether he will somehow find a way of wriggling out of it. There could even be a second referendum. Remember we have not yet “left” Europe, despite the loose words of pundits and politicians alike. The referendum may have been an exercise in democracy but it is not binding on Parliament.]
But turning the focus more sharply on Tower Hamlets.
In the build-up to the Brexit vote, Tower Hamlets was listed as the tenth most pro-European local authority in the country. Sociologically, this was presumably because Tower Hamlets has a very young demographic, with many young professionals, a high graduate population and many liberal-minded residents working in the creative industries. Much of the local population could be described in ‘journo-speak’ as “cosmopolitan”.
It is a place where people from all over the world and from all over Europe live and work side by side and it feels to me like a culturally open place. It is forgotten that there are also massive levels of poverty, social deprivation and overcrowding. Nevertheless, there are opportunities here that are not necessarily enjoyed by the northern Labour heartlands.
Remain Supporters wait for Alan Johnson to come out of press conference in Brick Lane
In the event, Tower Hamlets did vote to Remain. However, London lost the tug-of-war with the rest of England, partly because of unexpectedly high turnouts in Labour northern and midlands heartlands that voted heavily for Leave, but also because the Remain vote in London was not large enough to counterbalance the haul of Leave votes in those areas.
Tower Hamlets voted 67.5% (73,011) for Remain, 32.5% for Leave (35,224). By contrast, the high watermark was Lambeth where 79% voted to Remain. Turnout in Tower Hamlets was 64.5%. So turnout in Tower Hamlets was high compared to other elections, but Remain needed it to be significantly higher.
In the tenth most pro-European local authority, Leave still managed to secure a third of the votes. One in 3 people who voted in Tower Hamlets voted for Leave. Of course, many of those 35,224 Leave voters will have been Conservative or Ukip voters who could finally express their euroscepticism explicitly at the ballot box. But many of the Leave voters will also have been Labour voters.
Our two local Labour MPs firmly backed Remain, as did the Labour Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs and the newly elected GLA member Unmesh Desai. And yet thousands upon thousands of Labour voters in Tower Hamlets voted for Leave.
The following observations are unscientific and based solely on my anecdotal experience as a campaigner who went out on the doorstep many many times during the referendum campaign:
1. Some of the white working class residents who we spoke to, typically over the age of 50, were very clear they would be voting Leave in order to lower immigration, whether immigration from outside the EEA or internal EU immigration. Time and time again I heard that their children and grandchildren had been forced to move out of Tower Hamlets due to pressures on housing caused by migrants. Others spoke of their wages being under-cut by EU migrants.
2. Again, anecdotally, there were apparently several splits in the British Bengali community. During the course of the campaign some activists spoke by way of hearsay of Priti Patel meeting the owners of catering companies telling them that if we left the EU it would be easier to secure UK visas for chefs from Bangladesh. We later heard on the doorstep that if internal EU immigration were to fall, it would perhaps be easier to bring others in from Commonwealth countries. We Labour activists campaigning for Remain (many of them themselves British Bengali) tried to persuade voters on these issues. It was unclear how successful we were being with that endeavour. [Note from Ted: Cllr Oli Rahman, leader of the Lutfurite Tower Hamlets Independent Group also voted Leave, according to his Facebook page.]
3. Closer to the day and on polling day itself, others splits appeared to be emerging. We noticed that previous Respect voters were telling us they were voting Leave. An articulate young man candidly told me that, whilst he believed that Remain was in the national interest, the economic meltdown that a Brexit vote would herald would prove to be his young family’s best chance of moving out of a council flat and buying their own home.
So unscientific as they may be, these anecdotal observations as a Labour campaigner in Tower Hamlets suggest a not dissimilar dynamic to what was happening in the working class communities in the northern and midlands Labour heartlands.
There can be no doubt now that Labour has a massive uphill battle to reconnect with its grassroots supporters. Labour is fighting for its very survival. Forces have been unleashed that appear to be out of control. But we have to carry on in the face of national despair and fight for the values we believe in and for the communities that we are in politics to serve.

domain: politics


- 16,183 Posts
Official Reddit app for iPhone is finally available
The official Reddit app for iPhone is finally here. This app was built in-house by the Reddit team, and will offer a fast experience that has you in mind. You can download the app from the App Store now.
Full story from the iMore Blog...
- By iMore Question in forum General Apple News & DiscussionReplies: 4Last Post: 04-10-2016, 09:20 AM
- By iMore.com in forum iMore.com News DiscussionReplies: 0Last Post: 04-07-2016, 07:12 AM
- By iMore Question in forum General Apple News & DiscussionReplies: 0Last Post: 04-07-2016, 06:38 AM


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With the best Mini LED TV you can make the most of the latest technology for the small (or sometimes not so small) screen.
Mini-LED TVs only came onto the scene in 2021. As the name suggests the diodes (the things that are emitting the light), are much smaller than in traditional LED displays. This gives the screen far more ability for local dimming, as the backlighting for a region can be far more precisely turned off. This creates much deeper blacks and also largely avoids blooming. Compared to other LCD TVs on the market, mini LEDs excel at super bright and dark scenes and have a much lower chance of burn-in than compared to LCDs, plasma and even older OLED displays. Cutting straight to the chase, below you’ll find three of the best LED TVs currently on the market. We keep this page updated regularly so we can be sure we’re showing you the most relevant TVs.
Compared to a super-bright OLED or QLED display, the humble LED display offers an excellent all-round performance without breaking the bank. There’s a lesser risk of burn-in (compared to OLEDs), and mini LEDs generally achieve much higher contrast ratios than IPS displays, thanks to the ability to dim individual zones of the backlight. Many people also opt for a mini LED display because of its high brightness levels too. For more expert recommendations exclusively based on brightness levels, have a look at the best TVs for bright rooms – you’ll find a number of mini LED displays there.
Some want a huge 65-inch screen to create a cinema-like experience in their home, while others need the best TV for showing sport, or for gaming. If you want to get really precise, there is now enough TV variation to get a TV that is specifically great for PS5. While we focus on TVs here, monitors also benefit from this technology. You can check out the best mini-LED monitors, though it’s worth adding some of these TVs can double up as monitors.
How we pick
Our roundup of the best TVs has been chosen based on several different factors. Technical specifications like resolution, display size and connectivity are super important. We also take gaming features into account where relevant and consider the OS since some Smart TVs can have cluttered menus that are difficult to navigate.
Best Mini LED TVs
The technology came at a convenient time. We are demanding more and more from our TVs. This is, in part, because we have started using them for more and more things. If you want the best overall mini LED TV, the Samsung Neo QLED QN90C comes highly recommended, closely followed by the LG QNED85 which delivers a super bright and bold picture. These TVs don’t come cheap though, so anyone looking to find the best budget mini LED TVs should focus on either the TCL 55″ Class 6-Series 4K Mini-LED or the enduringly popular Hisense U8H. Finally, if budget is more important than a mini LED display, we’ve selected the best TVs under $1000.
1. Samsung QN90C/QN90CD QLED (2023)
Samsung Neo QLED QN90C
- High contrast ratio
- Good in a bright room and overcomes glare
- Very low input lag
- VRR support
- Excellent HDR performance
- Doesn’t support Dolby Vision
We’ve chosen the Samsung QN90C as our best mini LED TV thanks to its elegant design and fantastic peak brightness levels, especially when it comes to viewing HDR content. The successor to the Samsung QN90B QLED, the QN90C excels in wide viewing angles, and
Its low response time means it’s a popular choice for watching sports or playing games, combined with a low input lag and 120Hz refresh rate. Perhaps if you’ve been eying up the PS5 Slim, the QN90C is a good excuse to go all out, thanks to its 4K resolution and four HDMI 2.1 ports.
A special shoutout goes out to Samsung’s rechargeable remote. It comes with a solar panel on the back to harness ambient light and a USB-C port for rapid charging.
2. Samsung Class NEO QLED 4K QN95B Series (2022)
SAMSUNG 55-Inch Class Neo QLED 4K QN95B Series
High Dynamic Range
- Amazing design
- Excellent contrast
- 120Hz refresh rate at 4K
- Ideal for next-gen consoles
- Massive improvement on its predecessor
- No Dobly Vision
The Samsung Neo QLED QN95B is a great showcase of what Mini-LED technology is capable of. This is mostly thanks to its stunning image quality. The mixing of 4k image processing, SDR, HDR with the local dimming technology of the Mini-LED screens leads to some of the most gorgeous images you can expect to see on a TV. For this reason, it’s our top pick for the best Mini-LED TV.
It matches this beauty with its exterior. It’s ultra-thin, stylish and virtually bezel-less on 3 sides. This means you look at the image rather than the screen housing it which is great for immersive game-play. Part of how it achieves this is by sneaking the speakers into the sides panels, speakers which are excellent quality. It’s also got HDMI 2.1 inputs, allowing for 4K at 120fps from your Xbox Series X.
There are some downsides however, the most obvious being the high price. This is almost inevitable with Mini-LED at the moment currently, as the technology is so cutting edge. The good news is that we’ve seen the price gets slashed up to $2000 during sales periods, so definitely bide your time if you have your eye on this TV. Beyond that, sometimes the built-in automatic image treatment is a bit too much, though this can be adjusted in the settings.
3. Hisense U8H (2022)
QLED, Quantum Dot
- Great contrast
- Excellent reflection handling
- Brilliant for gaming
- Deep legs can make it difficult to place
This TV from Hisense makes use of their exclusive ULED technology to boost colour, contrast and brightness, all things perfectly complimented by the strengths of a Mini-LED screen. As you’d expect the display is bright enough to be largely glare-proof. It pares is speedy 120Hz refresh rate with smooth motion, a technology that calculates, and removes, the digital noise that the reproduction of fast-moving images can bring.
Hisense has positioned this screen as especially good for watching sports, having sponsored the Qatar World Cup. It does use its wide colour gamut and HDR well to create an image as vivid as the real thing. It also manages to do this without charging an extortionate price, though naturally, you do pay more for the Mini-LED tech.
4. TCL 55″ Class 6-Series 4K Mini-LED (2022)
TCL 55″ Class 6-Series 4K Mini-LED
High Dynamic Range
Dolby Vision HDR
- High peak brightness
- Wide color gamut
- HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support
- Hands-free Google Assistant
- Minimal blooming
- Lackluster remote control
- Contrast levels don’t compete with OLED TVs
The TCL R646 brings mini-LED technology down to a more reasonable price, without making any major sacrifices. As you’d expect for a more budget-friendly option, it is a modest but significant 55-inches. It’s great to see it still includes HDMI 2.1 ports, and VRR support though.
It puts its Mini-LED technology to good use too, with a large colour gamut complimented by the high brightness the technology is able to produce. This means the TCL R646 outputs vivid colours and images. It is worth noting that it is inferior in local dimming that the more expensive options on this list, meaning you are not reaping the full capabilities of Mini-LED. However, it is still far superior to traditional LED screens, as well as being brighter, and cheaper, than OLED equivalents.
The metal feet for standing are sturdy enough to minimise wobble and the border is not too thick at 0.35 inches. However, because of the foot design, you won’t be able to place it directly against your wall.
5. LG Class QNED 85 Series (2022)
LG 75-inch Class QNED 85 Series
Mini-LED, Quantum Dot Nanocell
- Good reflection handling
- High peak brightness
- Great for gaming
- Colors aren’t super bright
Measuring in at a whopping 75-inches, the LG QNED really makes use of the engaging brightness and image quality that Mini-LED screens are capable of. It’s bright enough to not feel the effects of even pretty significant glare, and adds to this with the ability to replicate true colours at wide angles.
It’s also geared towards gaming, as well as movies and tv shows. It supports 120Hz through its HDMI 2.1 ports, and comes with an ALLM mode, which stands for auto-low latency mode. This essentially minimises lag and makes the gameplay smoother. It matches these premium features with a premium build quality of solid metal. Our main issues are the high price, though that is inevitable with this size and quality of the screen, and the speakers could have been higher quality. To solve that issue, simply do some research into the best soundbars for TV to unlock the best possible experience.
6. Samsung QN90B QLED (2022)
Samsung QN90B QLED
Up to 144hz
LED, Quantum Dot
- Wide viewing angles
- Brilliant gaming performance
- Interface a little slow
Our second Samsung on the list, the QN90B QLED, is slightly different from other Mini-LED screens and these differences feed well into gaming capabilities. This includes support for G-Sync and Freesync as well as the VRR we saw with the R646. These are features designed for gaming-specific visual technologies like monitors and TVs. They work together to minimise screen tearing and make the experience of playing even the most fast-paced games smooth. Naturally, we included it in our best 43 inch TVs which often double up as monitors.
For a long time, OLED screens have been held up as superior for gaming, but this gives them a run for their money. This is thanks in no small part to its incredible brightness, which is powerful enough to overcome a significant glare. It also largely avoids blooming even in darker cutscenes. This makes it one of the best TVs for Xbox Series X, and arguably one of the best gaming TVs, period.
It has a snappy 120hz refresh rate, a must-have for a competitive gaming monitor. The only fault I could find is its high price tag but it still beats most OLED screens making it a great choice as a gaming monitor.
Frequently asked questions
As with any new piece of technology, there are inevitably some questions. While we can’t cover everything here, we’ve selected a few ones that keep coming up and sought to answer them here.
Is Mini LED better than OLED?
Mini LED and OLED each have different strengths. Mini-LED is able to produce a far brighter image than OLED screens can, and they aren’t susceptible to the same screen-burning image issues. However, though they are excellent at true dark and high contrast, especially compared to traditional LED screens, OLED screens are superior in that regard.
Is Mini LED worth it?
Mini-LED screens do vastly improve picture quality when compared to traditional LED screens. This is thanks to their local dimming abilities. You do, of course, pay for this improvement, though they remain cheaper than OLED, making them a good middle ground for those who care about image quality but can’t afford to break the bank.
Are Mini LEDs durable?
Always check the specs sheet to get an accurate answer. However, the industry standard for a Mini LED TV is around 10 years – meaning you can have peace of mind knowing your Mini LED TV will last.
What is the best benefit of a mini LED TV?
A Mini LED TV has the advantage of delivering superior picture quality over traditional LED TVs. This is due to the use of smaller, more precise LED backlights, which can be dimmed or brightened more precisely to produce higher contrast ratios and more vibrant colors. They are also generally less expensive than traditonal OLEDs, while boasting wide viewing angles.


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How well do you know Dylan’s Candy Bar? Test yourself on 21 years of sweetness with the questions below — keep score & check your answers at the bottom to see how you did!
1. Each symbol in the Dylan’s Candy Bar logo represents a different aspect of the brand so customers will know it’s much more than a candy store. What does this symbol represent?
- Ice Cream Parlor & Café
- Gifts & Personal Shopping for All Celebrations
- Candy Cocktails & Events
2. With a passion for candy and an artist’s eye, Dylan designed the Dylan’s Candy Bar branding and packaging to make all of its products extra special, luxurious, and hip gifts. What two main items inspired the brand’s signature stripe?
- Moon Pies and Satellite Wafers
- Gold and Glitter
- Fashion Ribbon Belts and Unicorn Pops
- Chocolates and Taffy
3. What is the mascot of Dylan's Candy Bar?
- Caramel the Unicorn
- Gummy the Bear
- Chocolate & Vanilla the Bunny
- Sprinkle the Dog
4. Dylan pioneered creating the world’s largest confectionary emporium in 2001. In which city was our flagship born?
- New York
5. Our stores are designed with large Pop Art-inspired candy installations. What is our most iconic piece?
- Candy Floors
- Lollipop Tree
- Giant Chocolate Bar
- Gumball Mosaic
6. What are some candies featured in our signature “Candy Spill” wallpaper? Select all that apply.
- Gummy Bears
- Chocolate Bars
- Rock Candy Sticks
7. Our newest store is right on the beach and includes a walk-up window where you can order some sweet desserts. Where is it located?
- New York City
- Los Angeles
- East Hampton
8. Inspired by a lifelong love of animals and an avid desire to come to their aid, Dylan created which of the following charitable foundations?
- Dylan’s Candy BarN
- Home Sweet Home
- Sweet Pups
9. How many colors are featured in our iconic “candy stripe”?
10. How many chocolate bars are in the Anniversary Edition XL Chocolate Bar Sampler?
11. What is the name of Dylan’s rescue pet?
12. What is Dylan’s Candy Bar’s official mission?
- To Give Everyone That Visits Us a Sugar Rush
- To Have the Most Types of Chocolate in Any Candy Store
- To Merge the Worlds of Fashion, Art & Pop Culture with Candy to Inspire the Creative Spirit & Inner Child in All Who Visit
- To Inspire Our Guests to Try More Sour Candy
13. Dylan’s Candy Bar has Created Collections for the Following Movies EXCEPT:
- Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
- The Wizard of Oz
- Mean Girls
14. Dylan’s Candy Bar carries some unique treats. Which item is NOT available on our site?
- Gummy Pizza Slices
- Salty Licorice
- Chocolate Covered Gummy Bears
- None of the Above
15. What is the name of Dylan’s first book? Hint—it starts with “Dylan’s Candy Bar:”
- Unwrap Your Sweet Life
- America’s Candy Girl
- Indulge Your Sweet Tooth
- You’ll Want To Eat This
16. Celebrities love candy & visiting Dylan’s Candy Bar! Can you guess which treat Blake Lively, Ricky Lauren & Will Ferrel chose to fill their Famous Favorites Mini Bin?
- Sour Patch Kids
- Peanut Butter Cups
17. Dylan’s twins are the absolute sweetest! What’s their nickname?
- The Gumdrops
- The Twinkies
- The Gummy Bears
- The Tootsie Pops
18. Dylan has a collection of over 3,000 figurines, toys & beyond featuring her favorite animal. What is it?
19. Each Dylan’s Candy Bar location is more than just a store, it’s an experience! What’s the word we love to use to describe our shopping philosophy?
- Sweet Shopping
- Sugary Spending
20. What’s one of the iconic seasonal treats that Dylan’s Candy Bar stocks year-round? Hint: It’s one of Dylan’s faves!
- Cadbury Crème Eggs
- Candy Corn
- Conversation Hearts
- Snowman Gummies
Answers: 1. C, 2. C, 3. C, 4. D, 5. B, 6. A, B, D 7. B, 8. A, 9. D, 10. B, 11. B, 12. C, 13. D, 14. D, 15. A, 16. A, 17. B, 18. B, 19. A, 20. B
There are more ways to celebrate! Keep an eye out for sparkling Limited Edition items, special savings, fun events & more.


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Can You Get Your Period While Pregnant?
Last updated on July 27th, 2018 at 05:28 pm
Can you get your period while pregnant is a common question women ask during pregnancy.
It is not possible that you will have period while pregnant. However, you can have spotting while pregnant.
Do you feel abdominal pain with spotting? Are you having heavy bleeding while pregnant?
This article explains the reasons why you have bleeding while pregnant and when to worry?
What is period and what causes it
Period is monthly cyclical vaginal bleeding that occurs in women due to interplay of hormones resulting in shredding of the endometrium.
Days between 2 period is your period cycle length and can vary among women. However, normal period cycle length is 21 – 35 days.
4 parts of period are
- The follicular phase (which occurs before ovulation)
- The luteal phase (which occurs after ovulation)
- Period (shredding of the inner uterine lining called endometrium)
Causes of bleeding while pregnant
These are the possible reasons you may have bleeding during pregnancy
More than 30 percent of women during pregnancy will have bleeding during the first trimester. Implantation bleeding is the most common cause.
What is implantation bleeding?
If you get pregnant after fertilization, the embryo or fertilized egg is moved back to the uterus, where it is attached to the endometrium.
This attachment to the endometrium may cause slight vaginal bleeding in some women. This bleeding last for 1 – 3 days and is called implantation bleeding.
Implantation bleeding occurs few days to a week before you’re expecting your period.
Different form of vaginal discharge that may be due to implantation bleeding are
- Bloody mucus discharge before period
- Brown mucus discharge before period
- Pink discharge before period
If you are still not sure about pregnancy, you can use first response pregnancy kit to test. First response pregnancy kit detects pregnancy before your period.
If negative, you should wait till 7 days after your period is late to test again.
Symptoms if pregnant are
- Increased vaginal white discharge
- Breast soreness
- Nipple discharge
- Breast swelling and pain
- Felling like vomiting
- Cramping before your period
- Cramps after your missed period
- Abdominal swelling or bloating
- Food craving and aversion
If you are already pregnant, your vaginal bleeding may be resulting from a miscarriage.
What is miscarriage and what are the types?
A miscarriage is actually an unexpected loss of pregnancy before unborn infant can live out of the womb. There are several types of miscarriage women experience
Threatened miscarriage – You may or may not have abdominal pain with bleeding from your vagina.
Missed miscarriage – You stop feeling pregnant without any vaginal bleeding
Incomplete miscarriage – This occurs when some part of the fetus is still within the uterus resulting in heavy bleeding.
Symptoms and signs of miscarriage are
- Abdominal pain
- Back pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Vaginal bleeding
- Body weakness if bleeding is severe
What to do?
You must inform your doctor about any bleeding during pregnancy. If due to a miscarriage, an ultrasound will be carried out to determine if your baby is still alive.
If you have threatened abortion, you will need bed rest. Though not much evidence to prove its beneficial.
However, if pregnancy is not viable, surgical evacuation is done to remove products of conception.
Ectopic pregnancy occurs, if your baby after fertilization, is implanted outside the uterus. If it occurs within the Fallopian tube, it may cause rupture and bleeding into the abdomen with very severe pain.
If you’re bleeding from your vagina with severe abdominal pain, you should certainly convey your symptoms to your health care provider as quick as possible.
Other signs of an ectopic pregnancy are
- Feeling tired easily
- Abdominal pain worse on either the left or right side of the abdomen
- Generalized pain in the abdomen due to collection of blood inside the abdomen
- Feeling like fainting
- Fainting attacks
- Low blood pressure in severe cases
Who are at risk to develop ectpic pregnancy?
- Untreated chlamydia infection
- Untreated gonorrhea infections
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Untreated bacterial vaginosis infection
- You’ve had an ectopic in your previous pregnancy
- Previous Fallopian tube surgeries
- Intrauterine devices
During sexual intercourse
Did you notice vaginal bleeding after a rough sexual intercourse with your partner?
Sexual intercourse during pregnancy may cause trauma to the cervix and vagina resulting in slight bleeding. This occurs due to improved circulation to your vaginal canal and cervix during pregnancy. However, this bleeding is for a short while.
If your bleeding after intercourse is heavy, you will need to communicate to your doctor to exclude numerous other causes of bleeding.
Abruptio placentae and placenta previa is a common cause of bleeding after 24 – 28 weeks of pregnancy.
Abruptio placentae occurs due to detachment of placenta from uterine wall with reduced blood supply to your baby leading to fetal death.
Other symptoms are
- Abdominal pain,
- Body weakness
Placenta previa occurs as a result of abnormal position of the placenta that may cause bleeding during the second half of pregnancy. Depending on the location of placenta can prevent vagina birth, thereby necessitating cesarean section.
If you are bleeding after 22 to 24 weeks, its likely due to placenta issue. You should notify your doctor as quickly as possible.
FAQs: Can you get your period while pregnant?
These are some commonly asked questions that may concern you if you’re spotting while pregnant.
Can you get your period and still be pregnant in the first month
You cannot get period when pregnant. If you have period, then you are not pregnant. However, if you are pregnant, you can have spotting once in a while due to intercourse, trauma to the cervix or miscarriage.
The most known reason for blood loss during the first month of pregnancy is implantation, which occurs before your expected period with mild cramps. Implantation bleeding does not last more that 3 days with light intermittent flow.
Other reason you may spot in your first month are
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Pelvic examination by your doctor
- Pap smear
What to do?
Always inform your doctor about any bleeding during pregnancy.
Can you have heavy bleeding and still be pregnant?
If you’re having heavy bleeding during pregnancy, then the chances you are still pregnant is slim. Causes of heavy bleeding are
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Abruptio placentae
- Placenta previa
You should inform your doctor. It’s possible you are bleeding heavily due to retained products of conception.
Can i be pregnant and still have regular period?
You cannot have regular period while pregnant. If you have period like regular bleeding that last between 3 – 7 days, then its unlikely you’re pregnant.
However, you can confirm pregnancy by informing your doctor or taking a pregnancy test.
How rare is it to be pregnant and have period?
You cannot be pregnant and still have period. During the first 3 months of pregnancy, about 25 to 35 percent of women will have vaginal bleeding. Implantation bleeding is the most common reason women bleed in the first trimester. During the second half of pregnancy, bleeding occurs due to placenta problems.
Other reasons you’re bleeding are
- Ectopic pregnancy
Now its your turn. Still worried why you’re bleeding while pregnant? comment below.

domain: biology


The education world is all a-Twitter this morning with reports of 40 states applying for the $4.35 billion in competitive education reform grants being funded through the U.S. Department of Education as part of the $787 billion economic stimulus program – American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – that President Barack Obama signed into law soon after taking office. Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is asking for a cool $250 million in her application, which can be found in its 345-page glory here. If you just want what the governor’s office considers the highlights, you can find those in yesterday’s press release.
There are two rounds of competition for the grants, the deadline for the first being yesterday. Awards for that round will be announced in April and the application deadline for the second round is June 1. For the past two weeks, the listserv for the Education Writers Association was full of questions asking if anyone knew if their state had filed for the RTTT funds and/or when states planned to do so. Ironically for anyone who has sat through a teacher lecturing them on getting your work done early, most of the 40 states who applied did as Arizona did – wait until the deadline to turn the application in.
Now the talk on the listserv is about the states who are not posting their applications online, which is a no-no since there was much lipservice given to “transparency” when the stimulus dollars were first announced as part of the ARRA. The bloggers over at the newly launched edmoney.org – which has been set up specifically to track the spending of stimulus funds by state and school district – are calling out the slackers over here, if you want to see which states are dragging their feet in telling the public how public money is being spent in public schools.
For those not up with education stimulus funding, here’s a little background on the RTTT, courtesy of the governor’s office:
With Race to the Top, the U.S. Department of Education is asking states to build comprehensive and
coherent plans built around the four areas of reform outlined in ARRA, including: aid to struggling schools, improving data quality, supporting effective teachers and bettering standards and assessments. Race to the Top will reward states that have demonstrated success in raising student achievement and have the best plans to accelerate reforms in the future. The goal is for states to offer models for others to follow to spread the best reform ideas across the country. The application requires states to document their past success and outline their plans to extend their reforms by using college- and career-ready standards and assessments, building a workforce of highly effective educators, creating educational data systems to support student achievement, and turning around their lowest-performing schools.
Brewer’s office said her application noted the intent to increase and support more options for alternative certification to “attract the most qualified teachers” as well as creating a data system that would allow the public to be able to monitor student academic progress at various schools and adding a strong reading component through third grade and ending social promotion, among other plans. According to this story, John Wright, president of the state’s teachers union, decries alternative certification plans, saying more than 800 education majors graduated from the state’s three university teaching preparation programs in December “and we don’t have jobs for them.”
That’s discouraging news for the hundreds of laid-off workers like yours truly who’ve entered teacher certification programs this year, hoping for jobs in a year when we graduate. As for attracting the most qualified teachers, I still think hiking the base pay for teachers in this state would go a long way toward that. Just sayin’.


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Sun El Musician, Culoe De Song & Shimza – Kunye Live Mix Audio
South African talented artiste, “Sun El Musician” comes through with a brand new mixtape captured ” Kunye Live Mix “, featured by well-known South African music singers, Culoe De Song & Shimza.
Also, Download this trending beat and new Nigerian song here; DJ Ozzytee – Southern Igbo, LadiPoe – Feeling ft. Buju, Kolaboy ft Ejyk Nwamba – Omalicha, Fireboy DML – Peru, Ajebo Hustlers – Kpos, Cheque – Call Me Baby, Omah Lay – Understand.
This new sweet song “Kunye Live Mix” serves as a follow-up to his previous released “Uhuru (Da Capo Afro Touch Remix)” and the track is well to be heard.
This vibe is an awesome song that will surely be worth a place on your playlist if you are a lover of good music.
Listen and share your thoughts below:
What do you think about this song?
We want to hear from you all.
Drop your comments
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Wide Days is Scotland’s only convention dedicated exclusively to music business seminars, presentations and showcases. The annual boutique event is run in Edinburgh by not-for-profit organisation, Born To Be Wide, which boasts a distinguished track record of bringing together industry veterans with those doing amazing things at grassroots level.
Since its launch in 2010, Wide Days has consistently attracted high-profile speakers including leading festival promoters, managers and technology experts.
Its evening showcases, which are open to the public, provide a snapshot of some of the most exciting emerging acts across a diverse rang of genres and have previously included acts such as Rachel Sermanni, PAWS, Meursault and Withered Hand.
Wide Days 2013 takes place at the University of Edinburgh’s Teviot Row House on April 10-11 - the world’s oldest student union building. Find out more...
"Wide Days is an amazing event, the platform it has given and the way it has directly affected the careers of acts like Paws and Rachel Sermanni is testament to the breadth and depth of the event. Its importance to the music scene in Scotland and the respect it is shown by the entire UK industry has grown year on year." Ally McCrae, BBC Radio 1
"Wide Days has interesting speakers and a clear vision. I found valuable contacts both in the Scottish music scene as well as international operators." Anna Hildur, Programme Director Nordic Music Export
"Wide Days cuts through the jargon and mystique of the music industry, giving the audience straight-talking, no-nonsense and genuinely helpful insights into all areas of the business. Add some cutting-edge live music in the evenings and convivial host Olaf Furniss into the mix, and you have a truly excellent event!" Vic Galloway, BBC Radio Scotland
There is a thriving scene in Scotland that is often overlooked in London. Coming to Wide Days allows me to connect with great Scottish artists and record labels. I still remember seeing Rachel Sermani there and praying I could sign her. My prayers were answered and now so many more people are getting to discover her amazing talent. Scott Cohen, Founder The Orchard


|?SHS Wrestling Warriors preparing for new season|
|Written by Administrator|
|Thursday, 20 November 2008 00:00|
? The Scottsburg High School wrestling team enters this season with several key members returning to action looking to improve on last year’s results.
The Warriors return four wrestlers that qualified for regionals last year and two of those wrestlers have been named to the preseason rankings.
Juniors Tanner Howard and Nick Henderson both have garnered some preseason attention as both sit in the top 15 of their weight classes. Howard enters the season ranked no. 9 at 145 pounds and Henderson no. 13 at 171 pounds. Head Coach Tyson Skinner stated, “The preseason rankings are nice, but there will be a lot of changes to them after the season gets going. Both our guys are ranked based on last year and this summer, but both will be moving up a weight, so we will have to wait and see how everything pans out.”
The Warriors’ lineup is still a work in progress but return several wrestlers that should be competing for a varsity spot. They include sophomore Dustin Petty at 130/135 pounds; juniors Wes Davis at 125/130 pounds, Andrew Palmer at 135/140 pounds, Kris Sandlin at 140 pounds, Tyler White at 145/152 pounds, Tanner Howard at 152 pounds, Sebastian Rodgers at 160 pounds, Nick Henderson at 189 pounds, Jordan Collins at 189 pounds,
Billy Douglas at 189 pounds, Billy Earlywine at HWT; seniors Chris Chasteen at 171 pounds, Will Napier at 189/215 pounds; and Will Stone at 215 pounds. “We have a good nucleus of kids returning from last year that should help us be successful this year as a team,” said Coach Skinner.
Newcomers to this year’s squad are freshmen Gage Kelly at 103 pounds, Stephen Gary at 103/112 pounds, Coty Fink at 119/125 pounds, Zach Bush at 125/130 pounds, Michael Harvey at 125/130 pounds, Tanner Perkins at 140/145 pounds, Caleb Cole at 160/171 pounds; sophomores Coty Wells at HWT and Greg Duke at HWT; junior Richie Eldridge at HWT; and seniors Mickey Righthouse at 189/215 pounds and Justin Vandegrift at 189 pounds.
The Warriors open their season on Saturday, November 22, at the Batesville 6-way tournament. Wrestling begins at 9 a.m.
|Last Updated on Thursday, 20 November 2008 09:04|


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The rapper has been teasing the new album since the beginning of the year, tweeting to fans that she’d be dropping buzz tracks like “AZILLION” without warning, though she clarified that official singles from Digital Distortion would be announced ahead of time.
On Friday, Azalea also tweeted that there would be “something coming” on Jan. 14. Maybe the first single?
It’s shaping up to be a big year for the rapper, who got engaged to Los Angeles Lakers star Nick Young last June. Young, a.k.a. Swaggy P, is also set to make an appearance on the album.
"Aw man, it’s gonna be the best album of 2016," the 30-year-old shooting guard told Billboard. "I got my Swaggy P feature on it so that’s why it’s gon’ blow up. I see how hard she be in the studio and I heard a couple songs. Couple surprises and a lot of features on there. It’ll be dope."

domain: entertainment


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After the heavy losses recorded for its fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, Billabong International's loss for the six months ended Dec. 31 widened by 40 percent to 18.4 million Australian dollars (€11.7m-$14.4m) from the corresponding period of the prior year.
The financial report was in line with previous guidance. It came a few days after the Australian-based company's board of directors approved the proposed acquisition of the group by Quiksilver's holding company, Boardriders, for A$298.8 million (€190.4m-$233.2m) giving Billabong an enterprise value of A$380 million (€241.5m-$297.9m). The purchase price represents a 28 percent premium on the stock's trading price before the announcement of the takeover offer and almost twice the average stock market price in the previous six months.
Meanwhile, following an order issued by Australia's Federal Court, Billabong's shareholders have been convened to a meeting on March 28 to approve its takeover by Boardriders, but Oaktree Capital Management will not participate in the vote. Oaktree controls Boardriders directly and indirectly. It is one of the two senior lender to Billabong and owns 19.3 percent of the company's shares.
Billabong's revenues for the first half - excluding recently discontinued operations such as Tigerlily, which was sold to Crescent Capital Partners last year - were down by 3.1 percent from the year-ago period to A$474.5 million (€301.6m-$372.0m), or by 1.5 percent in constant currencies, weighed down by poor performance in the Asia-Pacific region. Furthermore, the company's Ebitda went down by 19.1 percent to A$19.3 million (€12.3m-$15.1m), or by 15.9 percent in constant currencies.
The management attributed the declines to a revenue shift in the wholesale shipping pattern in Europe, and a shift in the timing of some Billabong global marketing costs from the second half into the first half of the fiscal year.
However, the gross margin advanced by one percentage point to 52 percent and was up in every region, due to continued progress in global sourcing and concept-to-customer initiatives.
The management said these results reflect “a challenging industry undergoing tremendous change.” It noted that it has made substantial progress over the last four years, but had to confront adverse currency movements in its product costs, industry bankruptcies and account closures across multiple geographies, and channel shifts away from brick-and-mortar retailing.
The results varied among the company's big three brands: Billabong, RVCA and Element. Billabong's wholesale-equivalent sales, including sales to its own retail stores, were down by 0.5 percent, while Element fell by 13 percent, impacted by the timing shift in Europe and a change in distribution strategy in Canada. RVCA was up by 9.6 percent, with growth in every region.
In Europe, the group's results were affected by the timing shift in wholesale revenues and weaker-than-anticipated retail results. Sales were down in the region by 3.7 percent to A$81.7 million (€51.9m-$64.1m), or by 6.1 percent in constant currencies. While the regional gross margin improved by one percentage point, Ebitda prior to global allocations went down by 29.4 percent. Retail performed below expectations, with comparable store sales decreasing by 2.3 percent. Meanwhile, e-commerce grew by 15.1 percent and now represents 5.5 percent of European sales.
The Americas region performed well, which the company attributed to the benefits of change initiatives undertaken in the past four years. Sales in the region improved by 1.1 percent to A$194.2 million (€123.5m-$152.2m), or by 3.9 percent in local currencies. E-commerce grew by 19.5 percent in this region, representing a high level of 9.6 percent of sales. Comparable store sales inched up by 0.7 percent in constant currencies. Ebitda prior to global allocations went up by 34.1 percent.
On the other hand, Asia-Pacific saw sales decline by 6.6 percent to A$198.6 million (€126.2m-$155.7m), or by 4.5 percent on a currency-neutral basis. Billabong said this reflected ongoing weak market conditions, but also the lag effect of some assortment and execution issues that the company has previously identified and have been addressed. Comparable store sales were up by 0.9 percent across the region, but retail conditions remained challenging in Australia, where comparable store sales ended down by 0.6 percent. E-commerce grew by 28.7 percent, with a 40.2 percent increase in Australia. Ebitda prior to global allocations for the region decreased by 9.2 percent in constant currencies.
Moving forward, the company confirmed its guidance for its the current fiscal year. It is expecting Ebitda, excluding significant items, to slightly exceed last year's level of A$51.1 million (€32.5m-$40.1m) through a rebound in the second half.
The acquisition of Billabong International by Boardriders is now projected to close by April 24, although it remains subject to conditions including shareholder, court and regulatory approval. Upon completion, it will form a global player with some of the industry's most iconic brands and total annual sales of about two billion U.S. dollars, generating combined Ebitda of around $100 million before synergies. According to Boardriders, the tie-up will create a company with more than 630 retail stores in 28 countries, plus online sales operations in 35 countries, and more than 7,000 wholesale customers in over 110 countries.
Boardriders plans to fund the acquisition and refinance debt by taking on a term loan of US$450 million.


CM Yogi says his Government has given befitting response to the stigmatic question mark on the state’s law and order with action on ground.
By VIRENDRA SINGH RAWAT
LUCKNOW, Jan 8 (The CONNECT) - Yogi Adityanath, who was seen as the ‘surprise’ Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in 2017 following Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) stupendous electoral victory, is leading the charge of the saffron outfit ahead of the 2022 state assembly elections with no punches barred.
With the Election Commission of India (ECI) declaring the polls dates on Saturday in New Delhi, the onus of repeating the podium poll performance of the BJP, which scooped 312 of the total 403 UP assembly seats in 2017, is on the shoulder of the monk-turned-politician.
Nonetheless, Yogi, who has graduated from a hard-line Hindutva leader till 2017 to a perceptibly hard taskmaster with a chutzpah to boot, is unrelenting in his public discourse. He exudes confidence of turning the tide in favour of his party.
Among the newest yet wittiest of his pre-poll punchlines is successfully transforming a ‘Prashna (Question) Pradesh’ to ‘Uttar (Answer) Pradesh’.
While speaking at a UP Police function in Lucknow recently, the CM said the stigmatic question mark on the state’s law and order five years back (before he came to power) has now evaporated and now UP has become ‘Uttar’ (answer) Pradesh.
Did the CM anyway had in his mind the ‘ladki hoon, lad sakti hoon' slogan of Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi who has taken up the alleged oppression of women as the campaign plank? Priyanka also referred to the iconic dialogue Mere-Paas-Maas-Hai of Amitabh Bachhhan starrer Deewar and said Mere Pass Behane Hai!
Yogi on his part alleges that the sullying questions, raised nationally and internationally, on UP were not limited to only law and order or women protection domains, but pertained to other sectors as well.
“We had decided in 2017 to reserve 20 percent seats for women in new police recruitments. As a result, the female participation in the police force has gone up and women have zealously participated in these drives and contributed towards improving the law and order of UP,” Yogi observed.
Yogi goes on to explain: “We instituted transparent recruitment of 1,50,000 cops, while augmenting the training infrastructure of the police personnel”. Compared to the training capacity of merely 6,000 recruits earlier, the CM was witnessing the passing out parade of 15,428 recruits at one time on the occasion.
Moreover, the CM is seen recalling various other achievements of his government at different forums, including public meetings, which have played a major role in cultivating a positive image of UP among the people, industry and investors alike.
Slamming the opposition parties, he retorts the state was reckoned for rampant farmers’ suicide, tepid food grain procurement and delayed payments, including sugarcane during the previous regimes.
“We have facilitated payment of more than Rs 1.52 lakh crore to the sugarcane farmers in four and half years, which is more than the combined payment made during the previous two regimes (2007-2017) in UP,” he claimed.
Besides, the state government has claimed to have attracted investment proposals of nearly Rs 4.68 lakh crore by top national and international corporations at the UP Investors Summit in February 2018. A large number of these projects are already underway, while some have been commissioned too.
Besides, a number of expressway projects viz. Purvanchal Expressway, Bundelkhand Expressway, Ganga Expressway, Gorakhpur Link Expressway etc have been undertaken. These projects have a total outlay of nearly Rs 80,000 crore.
UP is also developing a Defence Manufacturing Corridor and Film City to rival the best available infrastructure anywhere in the South Asian region. The Jewar airport in Greater Noida is in the works and is touted to firmly put UP on the global aviation hub circuit spanning both passenger and cargo movement.