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Concerts are usually about the music, and also about the spectacle, but for Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball show at American Airlines Center on Thursday night — a second show is tonight — it was about the message. And that’s a good thing.
Gaga is only 24, but she has an ability to manipulate an audience like a Southern demagogue. She’s a huge star of the kind you rarely see authentically anymore — she’s not a train wreck or a camp icon or flavor of the month, but a charismatic personality on whom people of all ages, sexes and backgrounds project their better angels. When, before her show began, she appeared in a pre-recorded video message about supporting gay rights, the audience was instantly hushed. Would that opening-act Semi Precious Weapons had that effortless power. More than once in the show, she would stand statue-still for long stretches — 30 seconds, a minute — building anticipation without doing anything. It’s remarkable to watch.
More so, as well, because Gaga isn’t shy about her message. She’s of that generation that doesn’t think about alternative sexual identity as something shocking, so her shout-outs to gay teens — and, repeatedly, her references to touring gay clubs before she hit it big, especially the Round-Up Saloon — meant that a mixed crowd that included some ‘tweens were cheering tolerance in a way that seemed more authentic than, say, when Bono lectures audiences about the International Monetary Fund. He may plant a seed, but Gaga has furrowed acres of lush soil.
That she does so entertainingly is a plus. This concert more resembles a star turn in a Cirque du Soleil show than a pop concert. There’s the continually changing set, a landscape where freaks and outcasts live in glorious freedom. Like Dorothy and her Ozian allies, they head out for the Monster Ball, where even freaks can be whoever they want. It’s an empowering message for gays, but also fat kids, pimply faced dorks, even middle-aged men who’ve put on a few pounds.
The showmanship is impressive. Like a good magician, Gaga does an excellent job of secreting herself off stage for a costume change (I counted 13 throughout the evening) only to arrive more outrageously garbed than before. (Sparks shooting from her boobs and crotch recall Madonna at her peak.) The dancers — mostly muscular, fluidly androgynous and barely-dressed men with padded codpieces — keep the eye candy factor high.
And there is the ear candy. Gaga’s songs are infectiously likable pop, and she trots them all out with a live vocal performance amid all the flurry of activity that remarkably maintains the lyrical fidelity. Her mega-hit, “Poker Face,” got the audience on its feet, but that’s just because she told them to — they also bared their paws during “Teeth” (her most aggressively outre song) and other numbers, and the audience went along with new songs, ballads … whatever she wanted. The show ended with a curtain call after a single-number encore that started immediately. This is theater more than music.
The boyfriend and I had lots to discuss after Gaga’s concert and came to the agreement that this wasn’t just a concert — it was an iconic live music experience. Much like Madonna’s Blonde Ambition tour or the Jacksons’ Victory tour, the Monster Ball could go down as one of pop music’s more important tours. A lot of that was because Lady Gaga wasn’t there merely performing — she was giving. As her first major tour, Gaga not only had to impress her fans (easy enough), it felt she needed to impress herself.
Gaga’s funny that way because as big as she is, she’s more relatable than many pop stars. Her admission last night that she wasn’t the prettiest girl and got picked on can be empathized by the masses and so when she demands applause, it’s tongue in cheek but it’s also a victory for all those who felt/feels the way she did. Now, she’s living out her fantasies in front of the world and giving a big middle finger to what she saw as her obstacles in life. Her story is Lifetime Channel, but her life is definitely late-night Cinemax.
I missed the first half of the show because I also snapped some pics, so she was in full swing by the time I returned to my seat to catch “You and I.” After that tune, her spectacular outfit of white and webbing (?) during “So Happy I Could Die” while performing on a rising platform proved she’s up for the spectacle of a show. The audience around me screamed in almost deathly shrills as she rose and for what? She’s just on a platform. But in essence, she’s revered because you really can say, “That could be me” and it doesn’t sound so unbelievable.
The show continued with energetic hits like “Poker Face,” “Paparazzi” and “Alejandro.” Too many breaks in between though broke the energy while she changed costumes. If she has a weakness, it’s her almost mandatory need to keep changing instead of trucking through each song. For the overall picture, that’s a small complaint. In-between videos of Gaga in S&M crazy mode kept eyes glued to the screen or light shows projected onto screens were nonetheless thrilling.
Ending with “Poker Face,” the audience was in dance pop euphoria. They didn’t just want to see Gaga, they needed to. She’s on TV, videos, the radio, but last night, she was real and the audience was appreciating that one-on-one touch, even from the 300 section. Twenty thousand people were giving her every bit of energy they had, and she reciprocated. Proof was in her predictable but satisfying encore of “Bad Romance.” That signature deep vocal run at the beginning of the song played before she and her crew appeared and the crowds roar sounded impossibly louder. The song flooded the AAC and people around me had become crazed.
Openers Semi Precious Weapons was a bit off the mark. They rocked out as best they could but because the audience response was tepid, they soon became the same. Their vibrancy fell victim to an audience trying to figure them out. It’s a shame because they have all the right components to give a heck of a show themselves and Justin Tranter is one of the best frontmen this side of Freddie Mercury. With every mention of Gaga, the crowd went nuts, but their punk rock wasn’t swaying the audience. SPW performed for just about half an hour and they were off. But they were nuts after the show autographing merch and taking pictures. I thought it was cool for them to take the time to do that. It’s not uncommon for an opener to do that but it added to the night’s excitement.
As to be expected, the concert was an energetic circus of theater and music by the biggest pop star right now. At the same time, when she mentions her support for gay folk, it’s surreal. Maybe it was just me. At 37, I straddle a time when people weren’t all that cool with the gay thing and now, where it’s just shy of mainstream status. But when she screamed to the audience to fight for gay rights and 20,000 people in the stadium cheered, I teared up. In that one moment, there was instant and almost unconditional approval by people I will never know. It was a moment to linger on, but a party was going on all around me. I don’t want to give a pop star such power, but she’s proving to be the right artist at the right time.


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David R. Ellis, Snakes on a Plane Director, Dies at 60
Director David R. Ellis, best known for helming Snakes on a Plane,died Monday at the age of 60, Deadlinereports. No cause of death has been released.
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Ellis died in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he was preparing to start production on his next film Kite, an adaptation of a Japanese anime that had Snakes star Samuel L. Jackson attached as the lead.
"So sad to hear of David R Ellis passing! So talented, so kind, such a Good Friend. He'll be missed. Gone too soon!" Jackson tweeted Monday.
Winter TV: Get scoop on all the must-watch new shows
Ellis got his start as an actor before transitioning to stuntman and eventually stunt coordinator. He later did second unit directing for action sequences in films such as Waterworld and The Matrix Reloaded. In 1996, he made his directorial debut with Homeward Bound 2: Lost in San Francisco.
Ellis then moved on to directing high-action films, including Final Destination 2, Cellular, and Shark Night.
View original David R. Ellis, Snakes on a Plane Director, Dies at 60 at TVGuide.com
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The American Dental Association has a library of information available For the oral health consumer on topics from Access to Dental Care to X-rays. For additional information, you may access their library by linking to http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/.
A toothbrush should be replaced every three to four months, or sooner if the bristles become frayed. A worn toothbrush does not do a good job of cleaning your teeth.
Knocked Out Tooth
Hold the tooth by the crown and rinse off the root of the tooth in water if it’s dirty. Do not scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments. If possible, gently insert and hold the tooth in its socket. If that isn’t possible, put the tooth in a cup of milk and get to the dentist as quickly as possible. Remember to take the tooth with you.
Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area. Use cold compresses on the area to keep any swelling down. Call your dentist immediately.
Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss or an interdental cleaner to ensure that there is no food or other debris caught between the teeth. Never put aspirin or any other painkiller against the gums near the aching tooth because it may burn the gum tissue. If the pain persists, contact your dentist.
Apply cold compresses to control swelling. Go to your dentist or a hospital emergency department immediately.
Thank you for visiting the GCDS website. Please check back for the latest consumer information.

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Electric scooters are becoming increasingly popular. This is due mainly to high fuel prices, people’s desire to improve the environment, and traffic congestion in cities. What this means is that people who have spent their lives driving cars are getting onto two wheels for the first time in their life.
So what are the differences you notice and what do you have to take special notice of in making the switch. I am one of those people who ditched the car for my shorter journeys around the city.
One of the things you don’t have to pay attention to when driving a car is balance. I’ve never felt as if I’m going to fall off but early on, when I looked over my shoulder to see what was behind me, I had a tendency to veer to the left or right.
Something else you have to get used to is leaning in order to steer. In a car you simply turn the steering wheel. On an electric scooter you lean to get round bends. Of course, if you’re taking a sharp turn you do turn the handlebars. But for bends you have to lean. At first that’s a strange feeling. Obviously it’s the same technique as riding a bicycle but it’s faster so it takes some getting used to.
What you have to do on a scooter is pay more attention to the road surface. In a car, unless there’s a pothole in the road that’s three feet deep, or it’s an icy day, you find yourself not paying it much regard. But on a scooter you don’t want to be surprised by a hump in the road or a pothole. You don’t have to be obsessed with the state of the road but you need to keep a lookout.
Something else that is a particular facet of the electric scooter is the lack of noise. Electric scooters don’t have noisy petrol engines. And one thing that alerts you to the speed you’re doing is noise. A couple of times I’ve not been aware of how fast I’m going just because there is no engine noise. Sometimes it’s only when the wind rush becomes noise that I look down at the speedometer.
A scooter is not quite like a motorbike. If you ride sensibly you’re unlikely to get yourself in a difficult situation. Most car drivers switching to electric scooters are buy those that are restricted to 30 mph because they don’t need to take a separate motorcycle test. Always remember that it is restricted to that speed. Don’t try and make it into gaps because by the time you get there the gap might have closed.
But, most of all, remember to enjoy yourself on the scooter. When I switched, after the initial climatization, when I was a little nervous, the thing I noticed the most was how much I was enjoying my journey to work. And I’ve never done that before.


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Rivian's R1S is different from other electric SUV's
Nov 29, 2018
Rivian's R1s SUV model is the second vehicle that the company will release following its debut as an official automaker. The new SUV its a wide and spacious seven-seat vehicle that is capable of reaching 400 miles. The R1S's powertrain can go from 0 to 60 mph in only just 3.0 seconds. According to the electric automaker, deliveries for the brand-new SUV will start in 2020. The truck comes with different battery options, and its performance even matches supercar standards. Pricing for the SUV will start at $65,000 not including taxes.

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tralac Daily News
StatsSA’s latest figures show retail trade falling 3.5 percent year-on-year from 2019 to 2020, continuing a 10-month downward spiral. However, South African retailers are starting to show signs of adapting to the needs of the changing market. Dov Girnun, chief executive of Merchant Capital, said that although the sector has yet to recover from a combination of the country’s Covid-19 measures and reduced consumer spending power, the company’s collection data suggests the early signs of recovery in several key categories. “We’re starting to see South Africa’s retail sector adapting to the reality of new customer preferences, lifestyle changes, the impacts of Covid-19 and technological developments. We believe the retail sector is on the mend, and will see greater recovery throughout 2021,” Girnun said.Figures from Merchant Capital show five categories that could drive the retail sector’s recovery this year
South African citrus: Capacity, infrastructure may be “tested to the limits” (FreshFruitPortal.com)
While hopes are high for the South African citrus season in terms of production volume, the industry looks set to be challenged by a lack of refrigerated containers and sky-high shipping costs. The country expecting citrus exports in 2021 to set another consecutive record - now revised even further upwards by the Variety Focus Groups to 162 million cartons in total - driven in large part by late mandarins.
However, Citrus Growers Association of Southern Africa (CGA) CEO Justin Chadwick cautioned that there "could well be a challenge" in meeting the citrus industry's expected demand of 95,000 reefer containers this season. This figure rises to 120,000 when deciduous and subtropical fruit volume is included.
South Africa’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs) continue to thrive despite the challenges brought on by COVID-19, says Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Nomalungelo Gina. In a statement on Tuesday, Gina said the SEZ programme continues to attract investors. “This has seen the value of operational investments increasing from R17.7 billion by the end of the third quarter of the 2019-2020 financial year to R19.5 billion by the end of the third quarter of 2020-2021 financial year. “This is a positive increase of R1.8 billion. During the same period, the number of investments have increased from 129 to 143,” said the Deputy Minister.
As part of the economic recovery and reconstruction plan, South Africa is using the SEZs to reignite manufacturing-led industrialisation in an accelerated manner.
KRA targets Sh81bn on removal of tax reliefs for wealthy (Business Daily)
Wealthy individuals and firms have lost more than Sh80 billion in annual tax breaks after the Treasury withdrew a raft of incentives in April last year to partly make up for losses as a result of short-lived Covid-19 reliefs. The Treasury estimates the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) will collect Sh81.29 billion in the first 12 months following withdrawal of some income and value added tax (VAT) breaks in early days of Covid-19 pandemic shocks. Treasury secretary Ukur Yatani used the Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, which handed businesses and households tax reductions between April and December last year, to remove some of VAT exemptions and rebates on corporate income tax. The Treasury and the taxman have in recent years been looking to claw back some of the preferential rates of tax, investment deductions, tax reliefs, zero-rating for VAT purposes, remissions of taxes and exceptions.
Kenya in new search for oil off Lamu coast (Business Daily)
Kenya has launched a fresh search for oil and gas in its Indian Ocean territory by tapping an American firm to conduct seismic surveys to detail petroleum prospects within Lamu County. “We are pleased Kenya’s Ministry of Energy and Petroleum selected ION to increase the understanding and promote the hydrocarbon potential of these offshore resources to attract future investment,” said ION senior vice president Joe Gagliardi in a statement confirming the deal.”The programme will leverage our extensive data library and knowledge offshore Kenya and East Africa.”
Kenya, Pakistan to review trade agreements (The Standard)
The governments of Kenya and Pakistan are in high-level discussion to review the bilateral trade agreement of 1983 to harmonise business levels between the two states. The talks are geared towards harmonising tariffs and diversifying products traded between the two countries as they aim to hit one billion dollars annually.
According to Dr Julius Bittok, Kenya’s ambassador to Pakistan, the two states are set to review their bilateral trade agreement to increase and sustain trade and investment as well as diversify products traded. “The countries have enjoyed good trade in tea and rice. We seek to diversify into new products aimed at boosting volumes and exchange rate earnings between our countries,” Dr Bittok told The Standard.
A Kenyan delegation led by Amb. Johnson Weru, the Principal Secretary of State-Department for Trade and Enterprise Development is meeting Ugandan officials from Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Trade led by Ms Grace Adong, the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives to discuss the Kenya – Uganda sugar export crisis. The closed door meeting is underway at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kampala. In July 2020, Kenya banned sugar imports, opting to solve challenges facing the country’s sugar industry. The East African country had announced a ban on all sugar imports and subsequently revoked all sugar import permits, some of which were held by Ugandan manufacturers and exporters. However, in January 2021, Kenya lifted the ban and allowed to import 90,000 tonnes of sugar from Uganda after, Uganda through the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA), clarified to Kenya that it had enough sugar both for domestic and export markets and denied importing sugar from outside the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) region.
Rwanda banks on seed multipliers to increase cassava production (The New Times)
It requires ‘quick multiplication of cassava clean seeds’ as part of efforts to scale up new disease-resistant cassava varieties on about 200,000 hectares that are used for cassava growing in Rwanda, researchers have said. “The average of cassava production is 15 tonnes per hectare due to using traditional seeds that have diseases yet model farmers using the cassava clean seed are harvesting over 35 tonnes per hectare,” he explained. Figures show that some farmers are still even harvesting below the potential yield.
Build The Nation: South Sudan Prioritizes Infrastructure Development (Africa Oil & Power)
While several African countries saw significant delays to infrastructure projects due the COVID-19 pandemic, South Sudan has been committed to dramatically raising its living standards, spurring industrialization and generating economic benefits through large-scale infrastructural investments. Built against a backdrop of reformed political stability, the new administration is focused on improving infrastructure to stimulate growth and investment across energy and non-energy sectors. Accordingly, the country is prioritizing significant improvement of roads, the revitalization of power generation infrastructure and the development of improved water and sanitation infrastructure, supported by a new Infrastructural Development Plan and the establishment of foreign partnerships.
By prioritizing new and improved road networks, South Sudan is growing both trade and transportation opportunities within the country. By focusing on linkages with the wider region, South Sudan is opening up trade and transportation opportunities, encouraging economic growth in the process. “Logistics is one of our biggest problems that we are trying to solve. Last year, we started work on national roads that will connect South Sudan to both Ethiopia and Sudan. This will assist with the movement of goods and materials, especially to the oil fields, which are very close to the borders of both countries,” H.E. Awow Daniel Chuang, Undersecretary, Ministry of Petroleum, told Pump Africa.
Egyptian ministry of Finance has announced a new decision regarding the Customs Authority’s new digital platform, which goes live later this year, stating that shipping companies will be required to send information about their cargo electronically to the platform.
Companies shipping to Egypt must follow the new rules as the second stage of the pre-registration (Advance Cargo Information) system begins and joining the system becomes mandatory in July 2021. The decision includes stipulations for importing companies to electronically send shipping and cargo data and documents, such as packing lists and commercial invoices, to the new Advance Cargo Information (ACI) system. Importers are also required to review and confirm shipment files and documents with the shipment identification number (ACID), and approve them using an electronic signature.
The system, part of the National Single Window for Foreign Trade Facilitation (Nafeza), is meant to facilitate customs procedures and improve border security.
After Mauritania, Mali and Niger, Algeria is to reopen its land border with Libya and Tunisia soon, Algerian Echoroukonline.com reported yesterday. The northmost Libyan Algerian land border crossing is the Ghadames-Debdeb crossing. The revelation was made by Algerian Trade Minister Kamal Razik yesterday speaking on the side-lines of the opening day of the Inter-African Exchanges event organized by Condor Electronics at the International Convention Centre in Algiers. Razik was quoted as saying that the opening of border crossings with neighbouring countries is aimed at exporting and importing African products, and stressed that Africa is and will remain the historical and strategic depth of Algeria. He said Algeria is ready and will help African countries import their products, as well as from around the world through Algeria and deliver them by road to the Algerian border.
Nigerian banks raked in a sum of N216.52 billion from their e-business earnings in the year 2020 as tier-1 banks popularly known as FUGAZ (First Bank, UBA, Access Bank, GT Bank, and Zenith Bank) topped the list of highest earners. Income from digital channels is also classified as electronic business or banking income by the majority of commercial banks. Nairametrics gathered this research from the audited financial statements of 12 of the leading banks in the country. The same banks reported N217 billion in income from digital channels in 2019 dipping marginally by 0.24%.
The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) a member of the Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB) and the Republic of Cameroon have signed on April 12, 2021 two agreements in a virtual signing ceremony between H.E. Alamine Ousmane Mey, Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development (IsDB Governor) and Eng. Hani Salem Sonbol, CEO, ITFC. The first signing is a three-year framework agreement amounting to US$ 750 Million under which ITFC will provide to Cameroon a financing envelop of US $ 250 Million annually over a period of three years to facilitate the imports of key commodities in the strategic sectors of energy, mining, in addition to the health sector with medical supplies including healthcare equipment. It will also sustain its already strong support to the priority sector of agricultural with the exports of agricultural commodities such as cotton, soy amongst others.
A resilient sector amid the crisis is one of the conclusions of a major study conducted by the International Trade Centre’s (ITC) Global Textiles and Clothing Programme (GTEX) and Middle East and North Africa Textiles Programme (MENATEX) on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Tunisian textile-clothing sector. The report also shed light on the post-pandemic opportunities and the sector’s recovery plan.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, la Fédération Tunisienne du Textile et de l’Habillement (FTTH) and the Technical Center for Textiles, the study is based on a survey conducted by national and international experts in 248 companies, spread over nine regions and seven production chains, between April and September 2020.
African regional and continental news
AfCFTA: Africa must shun detractors (GhanaWeb)
Mr Silver Ojakol, the Chief of Staff of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, has asked African countries to shun detractors and doubters of the successful implementation of the Area. There is geopolitics and those that cast doubts about the implementation of AfCFTA, “We, however, know at least from the studies of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the World Bank that if successfully implemented, the AfCFTA will add $450 billion onto Africa’s trade portfolio by 2035 and lift 30 million people from extreme poverty and another 68 million from moderate poverty. “We also know that this should catalyse infrastructure development in the continent,” he said.
For decades, African women have been trapped in poverty cycles due to several underlying factors including unequal access to education, factors of production, and trade facilities; inequitable labour saving technologies; underpaid or unpaid labour; harmful cultural practices; and limited legal protection from gender inequality practices entrenched in society. To break the cycle of poverty and inequalities, the African Union continues to advocate for the development and implementation of policies and legal; frameworks that will create a wider array of opportunities for women, and which will lead to their economic empowerment at the national and regional levels, and ensuring that the development envisaged for Africa is inclusive and sustainable. With the launch of trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in January 2021, the expectations are high as relates to the expanded business prospects for women-led businesses, which will unlock the potential for African women to grow their businesses from micro to macro enterprises.
Furthermore, the AfCFTA Protocols on Trade in Goods, Trade in Services, Investment, Intellectual Property Rights and Competition Policy, provide clear guidelines to ensure emerging enterprises and infant industries are protected thus adding impetus to the Agenda 2063 goals of gender equality, women empowerment and youth development.
Women remain integral part of AfCFTA agenda ― Co-chairman (Nigerian Tribune)
Co-champion of the National Action Committee on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for Transportation, Mrs Funmi Folorunsho, has revealed that women remain an integral part of the agenda and activities to be implemented under the agreement. Folorunsho made this declaration during a courtesy visit on the Iyalode of Egbaland, Chief Mrs Alaba Lawson, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, as part of efforts aimed at making women thrive as vital components of regional trade activities. She noted that AfCFTA activities will leverage on women and the youth because of the advantages they offer in the business.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Parliamentary Forum’s standing committee on trade, industry, finance and investment has called for the harmonisation of cross-border trade systems to reduce “trade costs and time spent at borders”. This echoed calls that were made by the governments of South Africa and Zimbabwe earlier in the year after thousands of people and vehicles were stuck at the Beitbridge border post for days following the Christmas and New Year holidays. At the time, the delays resulted in more than 100 people reportedly testing positive for Covid-19. The standing committee, chaired by Zimbabwe Member of Parliament, Anele Ndebele, met virtually on Sunday under the theme: “Enhancing regional economic integration through infrastructure development: A case of one-stop border post”. Discussions centered on ways in which regional economic integration, through infrastructure development - with a special focus on one-stop border posts, could be enhanced.
The African Development Bank, the African Union Commission, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa will host a webinar to discuss the implications of the latest Africa Regional Integration Index for the East African Community, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, and the Southern African Development Community. Policymakers, analysts, government leaders, the private sector and task managers can expect to gain insight into how to accelerate and deepen regional integration in Africa. The Africa Regional Integration Index is the most authoritative source of data on the progress and scope of Africa’s regional integration. The second edition was published in May 2020, and includes dedicated online data platforms and tools to help users, especially policymakers, better understand the methodology and statistics of the index.
African Experts Urge Local COVID-19 Vaccine Manufacturing (Voice of America)
Africa is lagging in vaccinating its people against the COVID-19 disease, and continental heads of state and international health officials say vaccine manufacturing must come to Africa in earnest to combat both the illness and future health emergencies. These experts, alongside African heads of state and international finance figures, are meeting virtually this week to hash out an ambitious plan to bring more manufacturing capability to the continent. South Africa only recently started to make the COVID-19 vaccine, but is the main producer on the continent.
“There remains a shocking imbalance in the global distribution of vaccines, as I have said many times,” he said. “More than 700 million vaccine doses have been administered globally, but over 87 percent have gone to high-income or upper-middle-income countries, while low-income countries have received just 0.2 percent. The pandemic has shown that global manufacturing capacity and supply chains are not sufficient to deliver vaccines and other essential health products quickly and equitably to where they are needed most. That’s why building up vaccine manufacturing capacity in Africa is so important.”
- Call for African medical supplies manufacturing facility (SAnews)
Some African countries could face delays to their vaccine rollouts as they use up initial supplies, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control (CDC). Meanwhile, both organisations have recommended that the AstraZeneca vaccine should continue to be used despite concerns raised about its safety. How are African countries getting vaccines?
Globally, populations wait in earnest for the effective eradication of the coronavirus. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented distress to the African continent through continual COVID-19 related sicknesses and loss of lives. In addition, the pandemic has negatively impacted several socio-economic sectors such as health, education, economy, agriculture, and trade. As such, the pandemic has altered the cultural and social dynamics of how people live. For instance, numerous countries have put measures in place, such as partial national lockdowns, and have recommended minimal socio-economic activities to sustain social distancing.
African countries have prioritized vaccine roll-out towards their citizenry in utilizing it to improve herd immunity against COVID-19 and subsequently reduce hospitalization and deaths from COVID-19 related sicknesses. Through various agreements and mechanisms, such as the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX), several African countries have acquired vaccine shots for their national campaigns, although inadequate. Vaccine manufacturing delays and the subsequent unavailability of adequate vaccines to meet demands is a global problem. To mitigate this, the available vaccines are being prioritized towards Africa’s populations’ riskier sectors, such as health workers and frontline workers.
As more vaccines are being procured to meet demands, lessons have been learnt from the initial vaccination roll-out targeted towards frontline and riskier sectors. These challenges will be exacerbated when scaling up the vaccination programme to cover their entire population, if not mitigated. Besides current vaccine supply shortages, some African countries are falling short on accelerated vaccination programmes within their countries. African governments are faced with the dilemma of systematically and effectively implementing distribution mechanisms of the vaccines to reach every community in their countries.
Vodacom Group, part of Vodafone Group, will work with AUDA-NEPAD to build digital infrastructure to manage vaccinations across up to 55 countries, following successful deployments in South Africa - to manage Covid-19 vaccinations - and in Mozambique, Tanzania and Nigeria - to manage infant inoculations. The roll-out of mVacciNation, developed by Mezzanine, a member of the Vodacom Group, is the first project in a public-private partnership that has been formed between Vodacom Group and AUDA-NEPAD to boost Africa’s digital transformation and build resilience for the post-Covid world.
Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, CEO of AUDA-NEPAD, said: “The response to the Covid-19 crisis has significantly accelerated the adoption of frontier technologies. Africa’s booming digital sector offers great opportunities for public-private partnerships to help build resilience in the aftermath of the Covid-19 crisis and respond to critical continental priorities. As the development agency for the African Union, we act as a channel to connect innovators and governments to roll-out and localise these solutions.”
Covid response deflates project spending across eastern Africa (The East African)
Eastern African countries cut $68.3 billion spending on infrastructure projects last year, the largest decline in number of projects and value of projects in sub-Saharan Africa in a year. This is as a result of the economic fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic sweeping across the region, hitting public finances and pushing governments into massive indebtedness .The Africa Construction Trends Report (2020) by consultancy firm Deloitte released last week shows that the number of infrastructure projects in the region covering Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda dropped by 35 per cent to 118 in 2020 from 182 in 2019 while the total value of the projects declined by 47 per cent to $77.7 billion from $146 billion in the same period.
The COMESA Secretariat COVID-19 Taskforce led by Assistant Secretary General for Programmes (ASGP) Amb. Dr Kipyego Cheluget on Tuesday 6 April met representatives from the Africa Union Centre for Disease Control (AU – CDC) to discuss the pandemic and how the Secretariat should plan and prepare to return to work physically. The Secretariat closed physical operations and migrated to online operations in March 2020 due to the continued escalation of COVID-19 cases in Zambia and the region.
Rwanda tops region, takes bulk of $142m IMF debt relief (The East African)
Countries in the region led by Rwanda and Tanzania are drawing benefits from over $142.7 million in debt relief from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).This comes even as the Bretton Woods institution last week approved a third tranche of grants for debt service relief, for 28 member countries, under the Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust (CCRT). Rwanda leads the region in the countries that enjoy the highest debt relief at $71.23 million, followed by Tanzania at $26.43 million. Burundi is third at $25.42 million, while Ethiopia wraps up the list at $19.71 million, latest figures from IMF shows. Kenya, South Sudan, and Uganda are not part of the 28 countries that were picked to benefit from the debt relief programme.
“This tranche of grants for debt service relief will continue to help free up scarce financial resources for vital emergency health, social, and economic support to mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic,” IMF said, adding that subject to the availability of sufficient resources in the CCRT, debt service relief could be provided for the remaining period through from October 2021 to April next year, amounting to $964 million.
A new focus report produced by the global research and advisory firm Oxford Business Group (OBG) shines a spotlight on Africa’s agriculture sector, examining the potential it holds to strengthen food security across the region and the tech-led solutions that are expected to be key in driving post-pandemic growth. Titled “Agriculture in Africa 2021”, the report charts the industry’s performance to date on both a regional and country-by-country basis.The report in partnership in partnership with OCP Group, the world’s largest phosphate mining and leading fertilizer company, gives crucial facts and figures on topics that include variations in land use and crop production, cross-border trade volumes, agriculture’s contribution to GDP and financing.
Financing climate change in Africa (Independent)
As Africa struggles to emerge from shocks caused and accelerated by climate change amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, world leaders have committed to prioritise actions that will help the continent emerge stronger, healthier and more resilient. Speaking April 06 during a virtual leaders’ dialogue convened by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Global Centre on Adaptation and the Africa Adaptation Initiative, more than 30 African heads of state and other global leaders rallied behind a bold new Africa Climate Change adaptation programme. The leaders resolved that the continent’s development –be it in infrastructure, food security, urban development, and youth empowerment through education, jobs and entrepreneurship– can take a different path based on a deep understanding of climate risks. “Africa’s only choice is to adapt to climate change. We all must change how we plan, invest and grow in a warming world,” they said.
Leaders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are now considering, without foreign interference, tackling frequent insurgency devastating regional development, causing havoc to human habitation and threatening security in southern Africa. This collective decision came out after the Extraordinary Double Troika meeting on 8th April in Maputo, Mozambique.
Many international organizations and foreign countries have responded with humanitarian support and with financial aid aimed at alleviating situation, specifically in Mozambique and generally in southern Africa.
As a first step, SADC has called for cooperation in cross-border surveillance as essential to stem the flow of foreign fighters fomenting terrorism in Cabo Delgado, and further warning the spread of violence throughout southern Africa. Among other measures, SADC suggested that southern African police and judicial systems must consistently work to combat trafficking and money laundering that funds terrorism.
Global economy news
The head of the World Trade Organization said on Monday a meeting this week to tackle “glaring” inequity in COVID-19 vaccine allocation will be attended by major manufacturers and look at solutions such as firing up idle or under-used manufacturing plants in Africa and Asia.
WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a former Nigerian minister and World Bank executive who took up the position last month, has vowed to “forget business as usual” at the ailing 25-year-old global trade watchdog and said her top priority was to address the COVID-19 pandemic.The April 14 meeting will bring together vaccine makers from the United States, China and Russia, ministers from wealthy and developing countries, and banking officials to discuss vaccine export restrictions, scaling up manufacturing and a waiver of intellectual property rights for COVID-19 drugs and shots, she told Reuters.
Secretary-General António Guterres painted a grim picture of the past year during which more than three million have died from the virus. Around 120 million have fallen into extreme poverty and the equivalent of 255 million full-time jobs have been lost.
He noted that as the speed of infections is increasing, ”the crisis is far from over”. “An enormous push at the highest political level” is needed, said Mr. Guterres, to reverse these dangerous trends, prevent successive waves of infection, avoid a lengthy global recession and get back on track to fulfil the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change.
Advancing an equitable global response to recover from the pandemic is “putting multilateralism to the test”, the UN chief said, adding, “so far, we have failed”. To illustrate this, he pointed out that just 10 countries globally account for around 75 per cent of COVID vaccinations given, noting that some estimates put the global cost of unequal access and vaccine hoarding at more than $9 trillion. Mr. Guterres underscored the need for “unity and solidarity” to save lives and prevent catastrophic debt and dysfunction.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres declared Monday that the world’s failure to unite on tackling COVID-19 created wide inequalities, and he called for urgent action including a wealth tax to help finance the global recovery from the coronavirus. The U.N. chief said latest reports indicate that “there has been a $5 trillion surge in the wealth of the world’s richest in the past year” of the pandemic. He urged governments “to consider a solidarity or wealth tax on those who have profited during the pandemic, to reduce extreme inequalities.”
Guterres told the U.N. Economic and Social Council’s Forum on Financing for Development that since the pandemic began “no element of our multilateral response has gone as it should.”
“Advancing an equitable global response and recovery from the pandemic is putting multilateralism to the test,” he said. “So far, it is a test we have failed.” “The vaccination effort is just one example,” Guterres said, stressing that just 10 countries account for around 75% of global vaccinations and many countries haven’t even started vaccinating their health care workers and most vulnerable citizens. “Some estimates put the global cost of unequal access and vaccine hoarding at more than $9 trillion,” he said.
The 2021 Financing for Sustainable Development Report (FSDR) of the Inter-agency Task Force on Financing for Development warns that COVID-19 could lead to a lost decade for development. The report highlights the risk of a sharply diverging world in the near term where the gaps between rich and poor widen because some countries lack the necessary financial resources to combat the COVID-19 crisis and its socioeconomic impact. Short-term risks are compounded by growing systemic risks that threaten to further derail progress, such as climate change. The report recommends immediate actions to prevent this scenario and put forward solutions to mobilize investments in people and in infrastructure to rebuild better. It also lay outs reforms for the global financial and policy architecture to ensure that it is supportive of a sustainable and resilient recovery and aligned with the 2030 Agenda
ODI’s report, Development Finance Institutions: need for bold action to invest better, finds that progress towards the vision set out in the AAAA has been slow, with major course correction required in order for the investment potential of DFIs and Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to be realised. ODI’s report urges shareholders of DFIs and MDBs to urgently rethink their objectives and investment approaches. To do so, the report puts forward the following recommendations: 1) A new focus on transformative investment and market creation – especially in lower-income countries (LICs) and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs)2) Mobilisation of institutional capital at scale, especially in upper-middle-income countries (UMICs).
For transformative investment this would include close coordination with governments, donors and the public sector operations of MDBs who should step up efforts to support upstream policy reform. It would also mean developing new investment opportunities. This would require an increased focus on pipeline development, demonstration and early-stage investments, and would also require a shift away from the use of senior debt towards an increased use of high-risk capital, for example, in the form of grants, equity, mezzanine financing including convertible finance and contingent grants, as well as guarantees.
COVID-19: What low-income countries need for a more equal recovery (World Economic Forum)
Many of the poorest countries in the world are facing the threat of a weak recovery, and setback in their development path. A new IMF paper suggests that low-income countries will need approximately $200 billion until 2025 to improve their pandemic response, and a further $250 billion to catch up with advanced economies.
Several factors hamper the economic recovery of low-income countries. First, they face uneven access to vaccines. Most of these countries rely almost entirely on the multilateral COVAX facility—a global initiative aimed at equitable access to vaccines led by a consortium of international organizations. COVAX is currently set to procure vaccines for just 20 percent of the population in low-income countries. Second, low-income countries have had limited policy space to respond to the crisis—in particular, they have lacked the means for extra spending (see chart).
For technology to benefit everyone, private sector innovation needs to be supported by public goods Digital technology is transforming the financial industry, changing the way payments, savings, borrowing, and investment services are provided and who provides them. Fintech and Big Tech companies now compete with banks and other incumbents across a range of markets. Meanwhile, digital currencies promise to transform the heart of finance: money itself. But just how much has technology advanced financial inclusion? For sure, in the past year alone, digital finance has helped households and businesses meet the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. It has also given governments new ways of reaching those who need support.
COVID-19 crisis recovery policies must be human-centred and address pre-existing world of work challenges as well as the impact of the pandemic, the Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Guy Ryder, told the members of the Development Committee and the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC), who convened during the 2021 Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group (WBG) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Citing the sharp increase in poverty and inequalities seen since the pandemic began, he also warned delegates that without comprehensive and concerted policy efforts, “there is a very real risk that the COVID-19 crisis will leave a legacy of widening inequality and social injustice.” Coherent, multilateral action is essential to ensure that economic and social recovery is as human-centred as the impact of the pandemic itself, he said, pointing out that the ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work, adopted unanimously by ILO Member States in 2019, offered an internationally-agreed roadmap to more inclusive and resilient societies.
UNCTAD is working with national statistical offices to better measure the scale of illegal movements of money across borders to inform firmer policy action.
As the world frantically searches for the funds needed to recover from the COVID-19 crisis and achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), concerns remain that billions of dollars of illicit financial flows (IFFs) will slip through the cracks this year. A conceptual framework designed by UNCTAD and the UN Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) can help governments measure IFFs better and design more effective policy responses. “The pandemic has made it even more urgent to track illicit financial flows,” UNCTAD’s chief statistician, Steve MacFeely, said. “Without resources, countries will not be able to achieve SDGs, and progress that has been made may even be reversed.”
Only Multilateral Cooperation Can Stop Harmful Tax Competition (Inter Press Service)
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has urged all governments to support a global minimum corporate tax rate of at least 21%. The US is working with other G20 nations to get other countries to end the “thirty-year race to the bottom on corporate tax rates”.
As countries raced to the bottom, offering increasingly generous tax incentives to attract investments by transnational corporations (TNCs), the average worldwide statutory corporate tax rate fell from 40% in 1980 to 24% in 2020. Thus, US$500–600bn, or around 10–15% of annual global corporate tax revenue, is lost yearly to TNCs shifting profits to tax havens, using base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) book-keeping.
Developing country governments undertook reforms reducing often progressive direct income tax systems in favour of supposedly neutral, but actually regressive indirect taxation on consumption. Digitisation and changing business models are making it more difficult to determine the actual location of economic activities. Thus, digitisation enables BEPS, reducing revenue due to under-reported taxable income. Consequently, in 2017, developing countries lost US$10bn in revenue from e-commerce compared to HICs’ US$289 million loss. Least developed countries lost US$1.5bn while sub-Saharan African countries lost US$2.6bn.
Supported by the G20, the OECD has been working on BEPS since 2013. The OECD BEPS initiative seeks to check tax base erosion by setting a global minimum corporate income tax rate and taxing TNCs selling cross-border digital services. OECD and G20 countries now aim to reach consensus on both by mid-2021.

domain: finance


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Branch Wedding Centerpiece – There are many ideas that come to mind when believing concerning wedding party centerpieces. You need to consider ideas that match your colors, ideas that go with your style, exactly how big you want the centerpieces to be, and also if you want the centerpieces to be basic or to be over the top. Do you want your guests to have the chance to take the centerpieces home or are they totally simply decoration for their enjoyment? There are a lot of alternatives and also choices to be made concerning your wedding party centerpieces.
Wedding event centerpieces are one of things that a bride will certainly spend a substantial quantity of time on. With centerpieces, everything issue; the shade, the size, and also the shape. The centerpieces are meant to add to the wedding celebration style and also at the same time, they’re that critical component of the design that will certainly leave a enduring impact on your guests. In this post, we also consist of some images of branch wedding centerpiece and also could be your best wedding celebration ideas.
Considering all of the facets of your wedding party can aid to develop the centerpiece. Considering all of the special features of your wedding celebration, or concerning the individuals in the wedding celebration, can cause a terrific concept. Thinking of wedding celebration centerpiece ideas can be basic, and also can cause an impressive decoration.
We enjoy to inform you that you can check out all of your wedding ideas that could work for you. Right here is where we upload Beautiful Branch Wedding Centerpiece images by our expert coordinators along with cutting-edge ideas you can make use of for inspiration on your desire wedding. If you are seeking some originalities, pointers, and also inspiration regarding branch wedding centerpiece and also thinking about wedding ideas then you have actually gone into the best area where all your queries will certainly be resolved.

domain: design


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Eastleigh Platinum Jubilee Community Showcase a huge success!
Our Platinum Jubilee Community Showcase, that took place on Saturday 4 June, was a huge success as hundreds of people from across the Borough filled Leigh Road Recreation Ground.
Families enjoyed browsing over 30 stands that were in the park on the day offering; games, cakes, crafts and a Jubilee themed photobooth.
People brought along camping chairs and picnic blankets and soaked up the atmosphere and the sunshine whilst being entertained by choirs, brass bands and dance groups.
We joined with One Community and other charity and community groups to bring the day of festivities to the town centre and were really pleased with the fantastic turn out.
Councillor Adam Manning, the Mayor of Eastleigh, said: "What made the day really special to me, was the amount of people that came along and the wonderful sense of community and spirit of the people. They've wanted this sort of event for so long and it was great to see people coming together again."
An amazing team of volunteers helped the day run smoothly, with manning stalls, litter picking and directing people alongside our brilliant Street Scene Team who made sure the site was kept clean and tidy.
Volunteers handed out flags and everyone joined in waving the flags along to the 'Last Night of the Proms' style concert that closed the day.
We also hosted two brilliant evenings of live entertainment on Thursday and Friday from The Point, Eastleigh, before the Community Showcase on Saturday. Both evenings proved incredibly popular and we're really looking forward to our next weekend of live entertainment with Unwrapped taking place this Saturday and Sunday (11 & 12 June) in Eastleigh and Hedge End.

domain: entertainment


Source: www.rta.ae DUBAI TRAM FACEBOOK
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has unveiled the operation hours of the Dubai Tram; which will start passenger service as of Wednesday November 12th 2014 from 06.30 am up to 1.30 am (of the following day) from Saturday to Thursday.
On Friday, the Tram will start service at 09.00 am and continues up to 1.30 am of the following day.
Abdulla Yousef Al Ali, CEO of RTA Rail Agency, said: “The Dubai Tram constitutes a paradigm shift in the quality of mass transit means in the Emirate of Dubai as it contributes to easing the daily travels of community members side by side other public transport means in operation such as the metro and public buses. Fixing the tram service hours was geared towards meeting the needs of the public and responding to their daily transit patterns, particularly as the tram serves densely populated areas, offering commuter service from and to places of work, besides serving tourist attractions in the Emirate thus appeals to a whole host of community segments.
“The Dubai Tram serves 11 stations at a 10 minutes interval (headway) during peak times and 12 minutes interval during off-peak time. Each tram has a capacity to accommodate up to 405 riders in 7 carriages comprising Gold, Women & Children, and Silver Cabins. The stations served by the tram are: JBR 1, JBR 2, JLT, Dubai Marina Mall, Dubai Marina, Marina Towers, Mina Siyahi, Dubai Media City, the Palm Jumeirah, Knowledge Village, and Safouh.
Footbridges were constructed to link Dubai Tram and Dubai Metro at two stations namely Damac Properties and JLT. The Tramway also intersects with the monorail of the Palm Jumeirah at the entrance of the Palm, Safouh Street where a multi-level parking lot is in place at this station to serve tram and monorail users,” explained Al Ali.
“The NOL card is the only fare payment means and there are three fare tiers covering fares of transiting within the seven public transit zones. The first tier covers traveling over one or two zones, provided the distance covered is not more than 3 km and the fare is fixed at 3 dirham for a single trip. The second tier covers traveling over two zones at a fare fixed at 5 dirham, and the third tier covers travelling across all zones and the fare is fixed as 7.5 dirham per a single trip.
“The RTA is keen on realizing its vision of providing Safe and Smooth Transport for All, and its third goal of bringing happiness to people; which features prominently in the thinking and drive advocated by our prudent leaders,” said the CEO of RTA Rail Agency in a final remark. More info


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When was b. b. eight created?
BB-8 first appears in the 2015 Star Wars: The Force Awakens. It later appeared in 2017's Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and 2019's Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
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Help make Alexa smarter and share your knowledge with the worldLEARN MORE


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International Canine Garments & Sneakers Market revealed by MarketandResearch.biz is an in depth examination of the market. Trending know-how, market drivers, regional inclinations, market statistics, market predictions, producers, and gear distributors are all included within the content material. The report is a complete doc that helps and facilitates the evaluation of all points of the worldwide Canine Garments & Sneakers market. It gives an image of the market’s basis and framework. The market’s optimistic and restrictive components for international and regional development are additionally additional highlighted within the report.
The report features a detailed evaluation of the market, in addition to enabling applied sciences, present developments, alternatives, and obstacles, in addition to a self-governing perspective, deployment fashions, operator-specific conditions, future plan of motion, provide chain, profiles of main gamers. The current situation of the worldwide Canine Garments & Sneakers market, in addition to its future prospects, is defined.
DOWNLOAD FREE SAMPLE REPORT: https://www.marketandresearch.biz/sample-request/245083
There are a selection of necessary and rising market key gamers:
- Pets First
- Zack & Zoey
- Pet Leso
- Canine Helios
- Hip Doggie
- Mog & Bone
- Blueberry Pet
- Moral Pet
- Pleasure Love Hope
- Chilly Canine
The report research’s purpose is to assist key distributors, organizations, and end-users within the trade higher grasp the advantages and full options of market segments. It examines market dynamics and provides an outline to assist within the definition, categorization, and statistical evaluation of the worldwide Canine Garments & Sneakers market.
The next are the product varieties are coated within the report:
- Every day Put on
- Useful Put on
- Theme costume
The next are purposes are coated within the report:
The analysis accommodates info on product value, income, functionality, manufacture, provide, demand, market growth fee, and outlook, amongst different issues. This analysis report focuses on market quantity and worth on the regional alternative and firm developments from a world perspective.
The regional outlook by income covers the international locations specifically:
- North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)
- Europe (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Russia, Italy, and Remainder of Europe)
- Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia, and Australia)
- South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Remainder of South America)
- Center East & Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, South Africa, and Remainder of Center East & Africa)
ACCESS FULL REPORT: https://www.marketandresearch.biz/report/245083/global-dogs-clothes-shoes-market-2022-by-manufacturers-regions-type-and-application-forecast-to-2028
It represents the general international Canine Garments & Sneakers market measurement by analyzing historic knowledge and future prospects. The present market place and future prospects of the phase are additionally examined. Additionally, the report consists of the outcomes of different kinds of evaluation, akin to SWOT, and alternative evaluation, in addition to an organization overview and necessary plans and developments.
Customization of the Report:
This report might be personalized to satisfy the shopper’s necessities. Please join with our gross sales workforce (gross email@example.com), who will be sure that you get a report that fits your wants. You may also get in contact with our executives on 1-201-465-4211 to share your analysis necessities.
Head of Enterprise Growth
E-mail: gross firstname.lastname@example.org

domain: geography


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Augusta, GA – According to the police officials, the body of a female was found Thursday night.
The officials have reported that the body was found in a shallow grave in the backyard of a residence on the 1700 block of Tobacco Road.
The victim has not been identified.
An autopsy is scheduled at the GBI Crime Lab.
The investigation is ongoing.
This story will be updated when new information is available.

domain: law


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My son loves a maze. So I made this website for him. It started off as an experiment and quickly turned into an entire project with an idea for a game. Now I need to make it interactive.
There’s 1 new maze a day for each difficulty. Each maze is entirely random, and many can be solved in multiple ways.
The code is based on some code I found on a CodePen, but modified considerably. Initially I just tidied the code, but later I added paths joining up the maze to make it more circular, islands to break up the shape, and other patterns to make things more interesting. Many mazes, especially the larger ones have multiple routes - which is ideal for a 3 year old child (my son at the time of making this thing).
All the good tilesets for the mazes were created by a bunch of awesome artists - the less good ones were made by me.


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When I saw Anthony — aka A.J. Worden, formerly of Bull Black Nova — perform at The Mill recently, I was struck by how he sometimes sounds a little like Lou Reed. With Reed, you always hear the limitations of his voice. Worden is an actual singer, who confidently hits and holds pitch, but, like nearly everyone else in the American rock scene for the last year, his songs and delivery can’t help but be colored by the influence of Lou Reed.
This is refreshing, actually. Rock musicians have to choose between Lou Reed or the Beatles as their pole star. Nothing against the Beatles (or Guided by Voices, or The Replacements, or Cheap Trick, or …), but going down Lou’s twisted path is more artistically rigorous. Beatles-esque music seeks to entertain and ingratiate. Reed’s disciples aren’t afraid of the dark.
On “Who’s Who,” particularly, Worden talk-sings with deadpan weariness. “A question about my identity/Why you gotta know?,” he intones. The instrumental arrangement contrasts with Worden’s offhanded delivery; Brendan Spengler’s piano ostinato and Liz Moen’s cooed backing vocals remind me of T. Rex’s “Bang A Gong.” The song breaks down to jangly acoustic guitar one time and to sustained feedback another, but hangs together as a single thing. A lot of sonic territory is covered without ever seeming scattered.
“That’s All” is enveloped in clouds of sustained synth chords, and Worden chooses a prettier, almost crooning tone. The lyric is bleak and oblique: “When you wake up feeling just the same/Nothing’s different because from last night nothing’s changed.” It could be about lost love, but very little is given away; the chorus just repeats, “That’s all.” The music carries the emotional freight of the track; the melody is heartbreaking when the words say nearly nothing.
“The Style It Takes” seems to encapsulate the Iowa City music scene: “We got the style it takes/But there is no money to make.” “Vice” seems to be a tale of love and lust from an unreliable narrator, saying “I have no troubles anymore” but also “I haven’t slept in three days.”
Even though this release is named “Demos,” there’s nothing makeshift or tentative about it. Worden’s songs and lyrics are never complicated but there’s some shadow and mystery in the corners.
This article was originally published in Little Village issue 210.


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War, Strategy and Intelligence
By Michael I. Handel
- Release Date - Published: 2012-11-12
- Book Genre: Military
- Author: Michael I. Handel
War, Strategy and Intelligence Michael I. Handel read online review & book description:
Investigating the logic, conduct and nature of war on the highest political and strategic levels, these essays put less emphasis on operational and tactical aspects. They look at the impact of technology on warfare, the political nature of war and the limits of rational analysis in studying war.
@2019 – Go Read a Book. All Right Reserved. goreadabook.org is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners, to earn advertising fees by linking and advertising to amazon.com and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program; As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
War, Strategy and Intelligence book review War, Strategy and Intelligence ePUB; Michael I. Handel; Military books.
Post a review about this book

domain: library


- Guernsey (clothing)
The guernsey is the mainstay of Guernsey's knitting industry which can be dated back to the late
fifteenth centurywhen a royal grant was obtained to import wool from Englandand re-export knitted goods to Normandyand Spain. Exactly when the Guernsey was first knitted is unknown. Peter Heylindescribed the manufacture and export of "wast-cotes" during the reign of Charles I. The first use of the name 'guernsey' outside of the island is in the 1851 Oxford Dictionry, however, the garment was in use in the Bailiwick before that.Marr, L.J. (1982). "A History of the Bailiwick of Guernsey". Philmore & Co. Ltd.]
The guernsey came into being as a garment for fishermen who required a warm, hard wearing, yet comfortable item of clothing that would resist the sea spray. The hard twist given to the tightly packed wool fibers in the spinning process and the tightly knitted stitches, produced a finish that would "turn water" and are capable repelling rain and spray."The Story of the Guernsey" [http://www.guernseyknitwear.co.uk/story.htm] accessed
6 May 2008]
The guernsey was traditionally knitted by the fishermen's wives and the pattern passed down from mother to daughter through the generations. This is a practice which still exists today with the final finishing of the machine-knit parts completed by hand.
Through trade links established in the
seventeenth centurythe guernsey found favour with seafarers around the British Isles and many coastal communities developed their own 'ganseys' based on the original pattern. Whilst the classic guernsey pattern remained plain, the stitch patterns used became more complicated the further north the garment spread, with the most complex evolving in the Scottish fishing villages."A Short History of the Hand-Knitted Gansey" [http://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/pdf/FMCataloguePDF.pdf] accessed 6 May 2008]
Two styles of guernsey exist: a plain 'working' guernsey and a 'finer' example that was generally saved for special occasions and Sunday-best attire.Lambert, G. A. (2002) "The Taxonomy of Sweater Structures and Their Origins". Raleigh.]
The 'working' guernsey design was kept simpler in order to reduce the amount of time and materials needed to produce. The sale of knitted garments to supplement family income was important to many island families and thus the garments that were sold were also of a simple design. It is estimated that a total of 84 hours was needed to complete a guernsey: a simpler design could be produced faster than a more elaborate onePearson, M. (1984) "Traditional Knitting: Aran, Fair Isle and Fisher Ganseys". Van Nostrand Reinhold Company.]
The guernsey that is still produced on the island retains much of the original design and patterns. The rib at the top of the sleeve is said to represent a sailing ship’s rope ladder in the rigging, the raised seam across the shoulder a rope and the garter stitch panel waves breaking upon the beach. As a working garment the gussets under the arm and at the neck are for ease of movement, as are the splits at the hem.
Worn as a source of pride and often knitted by prospective wives 'to show the industrious nature of the woman he was about to marry, the 'finer' guernsey was more elaboratly patterned than its 'working' cousin. With the advent of the machine knitted guernsey and the decline in the knitting industry, this guernsey is a much rarer sight.
The guernsey's tightly woven fibers and its square-shape, with a straight neck so that it could be reversed, make it a particularly hardy item of clothing."The History of the Gansey" [http://www.manorhouse.clara.net/knitwear/history.htm] accessed
6 May 2008] It is not uncommon for a guernsey to last several decades and be passed down in families.
=Use in the British
The Guernsey was first widely used in the rating uniform of the
nineteenth centuryBritish Royal Navy. ["The History of Rating Uniforms" [http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.3772] accessed 6 May 2008] ["Traditional Guernsey knitwear and genuine Alderney sweaters from the Channel Islands" [http://www.channeljumper.com/?gclid=CJWNtM2TkpMCFQSKMAodvlxoYQ] accessed 6 May 2008] It is said that guernseys were worn at the Battle of Trafalgar. The association of the Guernsey with the British military has continued into the twenty first century. In 2006 the British 7th Armoured Divisionordered three hundred sweaters from a company in Guernsey and these were sent out to Iraq. Each jumper was hand-finished in a neutral colour and had the Desert Rat insignia sewn onto the left hand sleeve. ["Desert Rats get 'knitted out' for Iraqi winter" [http://www.mod.uk/defenceinternet/defencenews/militaryoperations/desertratsgetknittedoutforiraqiwinter.htm] accessed 6 May 2008]
Australian rules football
Australia, the word is used for the usually sleeveless woollen shirt worn by Australian rules footballplayers. The top worn by National Rugby Leagueand Australian Rugby Unionplayers is called a "jersey", [Jackson, Glenn; "Pride in the Rabbitohs jersey - and dollars, too", Sydney Morning Herald, 20 December 2006, accessed 9 January 2007] ["History of the ARU" [http://www.rugby.com.au/about_the_aru/history_of_the_aru/history_of_the_aru,183.html] accessed 9 January 2007] though it is still frequently called a "guernsey". As an extension of this tradition, the expression "to get a guernsey" [Miller, Nick; "Technology gets a guernsey", Sydney Morning Herald, 21 November 2006, accessed 9 January 2007] is to be selected for something or to gain recognition for an achievement.
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.


Day for Life
Clane Parish Ark and Labyrinth I.
In the green space at the back of our wonderful Church we have created
An Ark (Act of Restorative Kindness).
An Ark is a restored, native ecosystem,
a local, small, medium or large rewilding project.
It’s a thriving patch of native plants and creatures that have been
allowed and supported to reastablish in the earths intelligent,
successional process of natural restoration.
Over time this becomes a pantry and a habitat for our
pollinators and wild creatures who are in desperate need of support.
It’s that simple!
Effortless, yet it could create a powerful web of healed earth.
You need nothing more to do this than the willingness to be part of the solution,
to be kind and caring – that’s the
movement our Parish has joined.
It’s called ‘Arking’ – All we need to do
is to leave nature lead the way and
support her to heal and thrive.
Allow the land to re-wild itself
and protect it while it heals.
Stop cutting it back.
Stop spraying it.
Stop controlling it.


The 2007-2013 Lincoln Navigator has 2 coilover struts in the front and 2 rear air struts. The springs on the front struts are designed to keep the vehicle at one height for one specific weight while the hydraulic-fluid and gas struts control the ride quality and the tire-to-surface contact of the vehicle. Air struts control both the height the ride quality, and the tire-to-surface contact of the vehicle. They are designed to fluctuate depending on how much weight is added (or subtracted) to and from the vehicle. The amount of air an air strut has is dependent upon level sensors, which, when altered by extra or less weight, sends a signal to the suspension control module. From there, the module sends a signal to the air compressor, which in turn pushes air through air lines into the top of the air springs via a solenoid until the vehicle is back at the desired ride height. This costly air suspension system can be more easily replaced by many of our Strutmasters conversion kits.
We offer the following products and more for your Lincoln Navigator (2007-2013)
Lincoln Navigator (2007-2013) Air suspension replacement kits like air springs, compressors, dryers, and solenoids are available so purists can keep their air suspension riding as smooth as the day they bought their vehicle.
Lincoln Navigator (2007-2013) Conversion kits allow you to replace your air suspension, electronic/magnetic suspension, or hydraulic suspension with a conventional coil spring suspension and save up to 75% over the cost of repairs. Strutmasters conversion kits are designed to bolt directly onto your vehicle without drilling or other modifications.
Lincoln Navigator (2007-2013) Lift kits help increase ground clearance and allow you to install taller tires for even more ground clearance. Lift kits are also available for specific Strutmasters conversion kits.
Lincoln Navigator (2007-2013) Shock absorbers and struts absorb the impact on your suspension and help keep the tires firmly planted on the road. Replace them every 50,000 miles for the best ride possible.
Lincoln Navigator (2007-2013) Strut mounts wear out just like any other suspension component and need to be replaced when you replace your struts. We carry new mounts for every strut we sell.
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Get fast, same day shipping on any products in stock when you order before 3 p.m. Eastern on any normal business day. No matter what you suspension needs, Strutmasters has you covered. In addition to our own high quality conversion kits, we carry a wide variety of products from industry leaders like Air Lift, Monroe, Rancho, ReadyLIFT, and SuperSprings. Need help finding your suspension solution? Trust The Suspension Experts® to help you find the right solution for you and save you money on your suspension repairs. Give Strutmasters a call at 866-597-2397 today.
Lincoln Navigator (2007 2013) suspension systems are great but when the Lincoln Navigator (2007 2013) struts fail or the Lincoln Navigator (2007 2013) air springs go out, it's almost impossible to drive. Find everything you need for your air suspension repair and maintenance at Strutmasters. Save even more money if you convert to our Lincoln Navigator (2007 2013) conversion kit for a smooth and soft ride. No more sagging ride, leaking struts or bad compressor problems. The Strutmasters conversion kit with our Trademarked GlideRide Technology™, comes with cold wound premium american-made coil springs and specifically tuned gas struts to give you a ride as close to the factory air as possible.
Navigator (2007-2013) Air Suspension Kits
Navigator (2007-2013) Load Leveling Kits
Navigator (2007-2013) Shock Absorbers
Navigator (2007-2013) Air Suspension Conversion Kits
Navigator (2007-2013) Struts
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China urged to use Nepal’s official mapKathmandu mayor cancels visit in protest. Government to communicate with China before making its stance public.
Calls are growing from different quarters urging the government to request China for a map revision, after a new map released by the northern neighbour on Monday did not show the Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura areas inside Nepal.
Nepal’s new map issued in May 2020 had included the three areas, which are currently under Indian control. Nepal government had issued the new map after India a few months earlier released its own map by including the areas.
On Thursday, Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah announced on social media that he had cancelled his scheduled five-day China visit, which was starting Thursday, to protest the Chinese decision to “show the Nepali territories inside India.”
The new Chinese map released on Monday night has included India’s Arunachal Pradesh and the disputed Aksai Chin area inside China. The map also shows the territories bordering China, but the pointed spur of the Nepal map is notably absent.
Beijing’s decision to use the old Nepal map has left many in Kathmandu surprised.
The government has, meanwhile, said it will register its concerns with China through diplomatic channels. On Wednesday evening, speaking at a press conference organised at the Ministry for Information and Communications to make public the Cabinet’s decisions, Minister for Information and Communication Rekha Sharma, who is also the government spokesperson, said the government would make its position public after discussing the map with the Chinese government.
“We will employ diplomacy to resolve the matter. Our official map has a pointed spur and it was endorsed unanimously by Parliament. We will ask them why they refrained from using our new map,” minister Sharma said.
After India unilaterally released a new political map in November 2019 by incorporating Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura areas, which are claimed by Nepal, and refused to entertain Nepal’s concerns over the map, the then government led by UML chief KP Sharma Oli, in a tit-for-tat move, unveiled the new map of Nepal in May 2020 by incorporating the three areas. This added a pointed spur on the northwest corner of the Nepal map.
“Our friendly neighbour China has undermined the map that was ratified by the sovereign parliament of Nepal. We objected to the move. We urge those concerned to study history and rectify the map immediately,” Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, a lawmaker from the Rastriya Swatantra Party, posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
Earlier in the day, Mayor Shah had taken to social media to register his protest against the map.
“I consider China’s step to show Nepali territory as that of India as wrong,” said Shah on Facebook and X. “So, I have decided not to embark on a five-day visit at China’s invitation on moral grounds.”
Leaders and members from various political parties have also criticised the Chinese decision to use Nepal’s old map.
A senior foreign ministry official said they are closely following the unfolding situation on the map row, but they would not rush to make the government stance public.
“The map row has surfaced right ahead of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s scheduled China visit, so we are not in a position to escalate the matter, but we will definitely follow up on it after ascertaining whether the then Oli government had communicated with China before releasing the new map,” the official said.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is visiting China from September 22, but an official announcement is yet to be made.
Similarly, the Nepal Students’ Union, the student wing of the ruling Nepali Congress, on Thursday staged a protest outside the Embassy of China in Kathmandu accusing the northern neighbour of failing to recognise Nepal’s actual territories in its new map.
Student leaders carrying placards chanted slogans demanding the northern neighbour correct its map. They also submitted a memorandum to the embassy calling for an immediate rectification of the new map. The protesters were briefly detained by police.


05 Jan The Juggalo Unity Tour is here!
The Juggalo Unity tour is here…
Kicking off tonight in New Haven at Carl’s Tavern!
Catch Blaze Ya Dead Homie and Any Body Killa performing the classics, new joints and the infamous “Drive-By”!
Check out a full list of dates and get your tickets here:


Virtually all marketers believe Artificial Intelligence can enhance SEO, according to a SearchDex survey of 100 marketers across industries.
Search Engine Marketing Statistics & Trends
e-Strategy Trends’ continually-updated collection of search engine marketing research, statistics and trends for marketing, public relations, advertising and strategic communications professionals.
On a 100-point scale, marketers working at advertisers around the world score their organizations’ digital capabilities at an average score of just 57.
Meeker’s annual Internet Trends Report is always highly-anticipated and this year is no different. The 2017 Internet Trends report was released at the Recode conference this year.
Eight out of 10 respondents said a search engine was their top choice among a collection of digital and nondigital sources to look up information for local businesses last year.
Topping the list of email list growth tactics is social media advertising, cited by almost half of respondents as being among their most effective tactics.
More hotel professionals are increasing their 2017 budgets for digital marketing and social media strategy in a bid to grow consumer awareness and attract more guests,
Where do America’s most racist people live? ‘The rural Northeast and South,’ suggests a new study just published in PLOS ONE.
Google search ranking factors no longer apply universally but must be analyzed on an industry-specific basis.
This infographic by Pickaweb illustrates the many paths to local SEO success.
About two-thirds of retail marketers are using AI for marketing purposes. This chart shows how.


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Legendary music executive J. Prince appeared on the newest episode of "The Joe Rogan Experience."
Rap-A-Lot Records icon J. Prince, who has been firing off some hot takes regarding young rappers lately, appeared on episode #1581 of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Friday, to discuss the music industry and his career.
Jemal Countess / Staff / Getty Images
Prince is a legend in the music industry and responsible for assisting in the careers of numerous legendary artists. "You are responsible for a tremendous amount of the music that I listen to," Rogan tells Prince in the podcast.
He adds, "You put together the Geto Boys. Willie D was on here and he explained the whole story to us, that you're the one that talked him into being in the Geto Boys."
Prince recently discussed violence in the music industry with The Jasmine Brand and remarked that there is a lot of "campaigning for darkness."
"Well, it's a lot of campaigning for darkness," said J. Prince. "And when I use that word 'campaigning for darkness,' it's like, when you get on that social media and you get to campaigning and asking for all of this confusion to enter your world, it'll enter your world if you ask for it. A lot of times, once it enter they world, they want to change they mind and it be everlasting too late. So we have to begin now... Let's not campaign and be somebody we're not. I see a lot of that."
Check out the new JRE podcast with Prince below.


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I’m a New Jersey native who relocated to London in 2018. A lifelong reader, I’ve always found structure and comfort in picking up a good book–and spending lots of time on trains, planes, and busses, I always find time to get a few more pages in.
I wanted to start this blog as a record of the books I’ve read and a way to share the good ones with others. Mostly I wanted to break up with Goodreads for… a variety of reasons. Enter this blog!
Like most of the world, I’ve been stuck inside recently due to coronavirus, and reading has remained one of my favourite hobbies in this very, very weird time.
I read a good range of stuff–literary fiction, nonfiction of all stripes, popular and not-so-popular. This blog will have my honest (but kind) opinions on the books I read. I’m always looking for new recommendations, so feel free to pop a comment on my posts or send me a message.

domain: literature


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2 x Bathroom Toilet Sink Tap Basin Faucet


You have to hand it to Avalanche coach Jared Bednar. He does have one of the best checking centers in the NHL at his disposal in Nazem Kadri. It would be easy, explicable, and defensible to just toss Kadri over the boards every time the Oilers put Connor McDavid out there, and be done with it. After all, it’s pretty much why the Avs acquired Kadri in the first place.
But it takes some balls to say, “Nah, fuck that. Let’s kick this pig!”
Bednar matched his best against the Oilers best in Game 1, pitting Nathan MacKinnon’s line against McDavid’s whenever he could. Hockey doesn’t really go for one-on-one matchups between a team’s two stars, given the vagaries of changes on the fly and a team’s usual indifference to matching up during the regular season. And even when it does, the sport’s culture doesn’t like to focus on it (which is why you get Eddie Olczyk mentioning Pat Maroon after any promo involving the Lightning). But this was the rare occasion when the league did get two of its premier stars eyeballing each other for a quarter of the game. And boy, was it a treat. And Bednar was rewarded with an 8-6 win.
Bednar isn’t the first, of course. The Flames and Daryl Sutter tried the same with their top line, but watched as McDavid and Leon Draisaitl skated past them at every opportunity and simply tore the injured — and not all that impressive to begin with — Calgary defense into chum. The Avalanche are far better equipped on the blue line though, and perhaps have the one pairing where both D-men can keep up with McDavid speed-wise in Cale Makar and Devon Toews. They were on the ice for almost all of McDavid’s shifts.
The theory must’ve been that MacKinnon has the speed to catch McDavid on the backcheck if he has to, and more to the point, would keep McDavid and his cohorts playing defense. And that Makar and Toews could skate themselves out of the deep end without providing McDavid and Draisaitl the turnovers that they have feasted on.
Which they all did. The Avs had 57 percent of the attempts when MacKinnon was on the ice, mostly against No. 97. Toews and Makar did even better, with rousing advantages in the Corsi and expected goals count while only facing Edmonton’s best.
And the difference came down to not only the Avs and Oilers’ top lines pretty much battling to a standstill, but Toews and Makar combining for one goal and five assists, while the Edmonton blue line only managed three assists.
This would have been a blowout if Avs defenseman Josh Manson didn’t see what it was like to spin around a baseball bat before every shift he had in the first two periods. He was culpable for the Oilers’ first three goals. Combined with Darcy Kuemper’s waywardness, either due to injury or just his natural state, it kept the Oilers around. But Mike Smith was no better for the Oilers, and neither starting goalie saw the end of the 2nd period.
While McDavid and Draisaitl can overcome a lot, they’re going to find it hard to fight off all the Avs’ weapons firing from every angle. There are too many forwards who can score, and when they don’t, the Oilers are also going to have to keep Toews and Makar on a leash, which no one else has been able to manage. Perhaps that will change when the series shifts to Edmonton and Jay Woodcroft can send out McDavid against other defensemen, but then he’ll be depending on his lesser forwards to watch over the Avs’ dynamic top pairing.
It should make for excellent television, and god bless Bednar for playing with all of his toys. What’s the point of being rich in speed and skill if you’re not going to push the pedal to the floor?
Of course, while the night saw hockey showcase how exciting it can be, the day showed how fucked up the culture is. The USHL, the country’s top junior league, saw its GMs vote Mitchell Miller their player of the year. If that name sounds familiar, that’s because he’s the fuckstick that was drafted by the Coyotes that they eventually had to renounce when it became public how Miller had bullied a disabled classmate.
Whether Miller was the best player in the league or not, it’s not exactly a great look to be holding this shitbird up as some sort of paragon of your league, wherever and whatever level it is. But it’s unlikely the GMs of said league care, if they even remember why Miller is in that league in the first place.
Hockey has never been able to take more than one step forward without stepping on a rake.


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With every passing year, children's literature continues to grow, both in volume and quality. 2023 has been no different, bringing a plethora of engaging, enlightening, and exciting books for young readers. From heartwarming picture books to thrilling middle-grade novels, this year has offered some incredible titles. Here, we delve into the best children's books of 2023. These books have not only topped the charts but have also won the hearts of children and adults alike.
Picture books are the foundation of a child's literary journey, and 2023 has seen some wonderful additions to this genre. Here are our top picks:
- Book Title 1 - Written by Author 1
- Book Title 2 - Written by Author 2
- Book Title 3 - Written by Author 3
For the slightly older age group, we have a selection of the best middle-grade novels of 2023. Here are the books that made it to our list:
- Book Title 4 - Written by Author 4
- Book Title 5 - Written by Author 5
- Book Title 6 - Written by Author 6
It's important to note that the best children's books aren't just about entertainment. They also provide a strong message, encourage imagination, and stimulate curiosity. The books mentioned have all these qualities and more.
Beyond our top picks, there are a few other books that have made waves in 2023. Here are some noteworthy mentions that deserve a read:
- Book Title 7 - Written by Author 7
- Book Title 8 - Written by Author 8
- Book Title 9 - Written by Author 9
These books have all made significant contributions to children's literature in 2023, delivering engaging stories, richly developed characters, and immersive worlds that captivate young readers.
To conclude, 2023 has been a remarkable year for children's literature. From inspiring picture books to gripping middle-grade novels, the year has brought a vast collection of books that cater to different tastes and interests. Whether you're a parent looking for the perfect bedtime story or a young reader in search of a thrilling adventure, the best children's books of 2023 offer something for everyone.


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Illegal and Prescription Drugs
A DUI/DWI arrest can be made when someone is under the influence of drugs, whether they are illegal or prescription, in addition to alcohol.
Utah law goes even farther by stating that an arrest can be made for a “per se” DUI. This means you can be arrested even though the drugs have no effect on you or your driving at the time you are pulled over! With a simple residue of a drug in your bloodstream – called the drug’s metabolite – you can be arrested for a per se DUI.
Of course, you can be arrested for DUI if you are driving a vehicle under the influence of illegal street drugs like marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine or heroine. But did you know that you can be cited for a DUI for driving while you are under a doctor’s order for prescription drugs? These include loratab, percocet, vicodin, soma, , ambien, oxycotton, or any other prescription drugs and/or their metabolites in your bloodstream.
The Ayres Law Firm has handled hundreds of narcotic DUI cases. We know how get the best possible outcome for your case.
For a free consultation regarding a narcotics DUI charge against you or anyone you know, call the Ayres Law Firm at (801) 255-5555 or contact us online.


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Shakkaria ni Bhakhri is combining the two staple, local, inexpensive foods into one to create an easy, healthy, quick flatbread that works well as a snack or breakfast or makes a good stuff to munch on. I bet it does not get any better than this!! I have always wondered on the minimal use of shakkaria or the sweet potatoes in various Gujarati cuisine. It remains a favorite falahaar (fasting) vegetable or one of the many vegetables that go into the Undhiyu.. thats it apart from couple of such uses, Shakkaria fails to find its hold a frequently used vegetable in Gujarati cooking. Maybe its because of Mr. Potato who just refuses to be pushed to the sidelines by the vast majority of Batakias ( the Potato lovers in Gujarati are christened so). Well, both these potatoes have charm and character of their own and the patrons of Mr. Potato should never feel insecure if at all the sweet potato does get a preference more often, isn’t he a sweet fellow after all 🙂 And it has such rich qualities, good for your eyes, heart, anti cancer, iron and fiber rich. The inexpensive root is good for the health of our wallet too. So think about it and try making it part of the meals as much as possible. I like baking them as chips and enjoy snacking them instead of potatoes.
Bhakhri is one of the most loved flatbreads of Gujarati cuisine, if Rotis are mornings breads, Bhakhri are our dinner breads. Roasted on open flame or shallow fried, shortcrust or softer, cooked on either clay or iron griddle, shallow fried in oil or slathered with ghee, there are variety of ways to make a Bhakhri and each family has its favorite. I have had the pleasure of enjoying both the shortcrust and softer version. I have grown up in a family that made Bhakhri using a coarse-ground flour to produce a shortcrust, biscuit like Bhakhri. The recipe here calls for the same technique. I have made it more wholesome by adding sweet-potato to it, the sweet potato has been roasted as that is the best we can bring out the flavors of this root vegetable, have then grated it and mixed it with the flour. The sesame seeds are added to give this flatbread an occasional bite and the sweetness is balanced with addition of freshly ground pepper. And our Bhakhri always has that extra pinch of salt.
Enjoy the Shakkaria ni Bhakhri with a spread made with thick yogurt, grated carrots and some methiya masala (achaar masala). They also work well as Chip-Dip combination. If you plan to use it as a chip to scoop some dip make it a bit thinner. Again be intuitive while mixing the dough as the variety of sweet potatoes will be different. The color of the Shakkaria ni Bhakhri in the picture is mild yellow because of the variety of sweet potatoes I have used.
Shakkaria ni BhakhariPrint Recipe
- 1.5 cups roasted and grated sweet potato
- 1 cup Bhakhari flour/ course ground whole wheat flour (more if needed)
- 1 tablespoon black sesame seeds
- 2 tablespoons ghee/oil ( I have used ghee)
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- a couple of tablespoons of milk
- salt to taste
You will need one large sweet potato to acquire 1.5 cups of grated roasted sweet potato flesh.
Wash and clean the sweet potato. Using the point of a knife or fork, prick its surface. Massage it with some oil.
On a very gentle fire, roast the sweet potato on open flame until it becomes tender from the inside.
Cool and remove the skin.
Measure 1.5 cups of loosely packed sweet potato flesh.
In a bowl add the grated sweet potato, bhakhari flour, black sesame seeds, ghee, pepper powder and salt.
Mix it well, using one tablespoon at a time bind the mix into a stiff (shortcrust pastry like) dough. If the sweet potato is moist you might not need the milk. If required, do not hesitate to more flour.
You are not required to knead the dough but bring the mix together. Kneading the Bhakhri dough is a strict no-no.
Let the dough rest for 10 minutes.
Divide the dough in 8 equal sized balls.
You will be able to get 8, 4 inch sized Bhakhri from the dough. The thickness we are looking for is 4-5 mm.
Put a clay or cast iron griddle on medium flame.
Roll the dough ball in 4 inch discs.
Simultaneously cook the Bhakhri on a gentle flame.
The Bhakhri requires special cooking skills. One has to be gentle with the flame. First each side has to be cooked till tiny spots appear. After this each side has to be pressed with a kitchen towel until it crisps up and turns in to beautiful pinkish brown on both the sides.
Never stack hot Bhakhri. Allow them to cool on a wire rack or inverted sieve and stack once the Bhakhri have cooled completely.
Enjoy with cup of chai.

domain: food


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Loss of InnocenceDownloadable Audiobook - 2013
From acclaimed author Richard North Patterson comes a sweeping family drama of dark secrets and individual awakenings, set against the backdrop of the tumultuous summer of 1968.America is in a state of turbulence, engulfed in civil unrest and uncertainty. Yet for Whitney Dane--spending the summer of her twenty-second year on Martha's Vineyard--life could not be safer nor the future more certain...
Publisher: Ashland : AudioGO, 2013
Characteristics: 1 online resource (1 sound file (10 hr., 20 min., 45 sec.)) : digital