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It's been almost three years since Kelly Clarkson released her last studio album, 2011's Stronger, but thankfully, fans shouldn't have to wait too much longer to hear new music. On Friday last week, Clarkson revealed on Twitter that her next studio album will be out in "early" 2015. Score! Of course, Clarkson previously said that she was shooting for a 2014 release, but she just recently got married and had a baby — we have to cut her some slack.
If I had to pick a favorite Clarkson album out of the six that she's released so far (not including her Christmas album, 2013's Wrapped In Red), it would probably be 2004's Breakaway — but they're all awesome in their own unique ways. Yes, even 2007's much-maligned My December can still be a really satisfying listen when you're feeling all dark and moody and just want to lock yourself in your room, put on your headphones, and feel feelings for a little while.
To be honest, I would listen to Clarkson sing just about anything — but I do have some hopes and dreams for her upcoming project. This is what I want to hear on Clarkson's next studio album (in no particular order):
More Max Martin & Dr. Luke
Max Martin and Dr. Luke are the two legendary pop producers behind these three signature Clarkson hits: "Since U Been Gone," "Behind These Hazel Eyes," and "My Life Would Suck Without You." She absolutely must record more music with them! She must!
A Ballad As Powerful As "Sober"
"Sober" is hands down my favorite song on My December. The way that the track slowly builds to its emotional, explosive final chorus is truly extraordinary. More of that, please.
"Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" Part 2
It certainly looks as though Clarkson has become buds with "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" producer Greg Kurstin over the past couple of years, so it seems likely that his work will be featured on her new project — but I don't want to take any chances. So, I'm putting this message out into the universe: Kelly, you need to team up with Greg again for your new album! You just gotta.
Two Words: Bonnie McKee
Bonnie McKee is one of my favorite songwriters in the music industry today. In the past, she's written hits for big names like Katy Perry and Britney Spears, and her contributions to Stronger are just fantastic. "Alone" is an infectious, '80s-influenced pop-rock anthem with a stadium-sized chorus that you won't be able to get out of your head.
A Country Duet Like "Don't You Wanna Stay"
Admittedly, I don't listen to a lot of country music — but I know a stunning duet when I hear one. I'd love for Clarkson to record another track with Jason Aldean for her next album. Their voices blend so beautifully together.
Ryan Tedder & Benny Blanco
Clarkson worked with OneRepublic front man Ryan Tedder on a few songs on 2009's All I Ever Wanted (most notably, "Already Gone"), but I don't know that she's ever spent any studio time with Benny Blanco before. Tedder and Blanco worked together on Maroon 5's smash hit, "Maps," earlier this year, and are rumored to have produced Gwen Stefani's big comeback track, "Baby Don't Lie." I think that they could be the next big production duo in pop music.
A Song Like "I Know You Won't"
Clarkson loves to cover Carrie Underwood's "I Know You Won't" live, and it's easy to understand why — it sounds like it was tailor-made for her voice! At a tour stop in Nashville in 2012, Clarkson said that she met one of the song's writers and asked him to pen a similar ballad for her. Um, I hope that she wasn't just kidding around because I would actually be really, super duper interested in that happening.
More Kara DioGuardi
Former American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi co-wrote a number of songs that appear on Breakaway — my favorite Clarkson album — so it should come as no surprise that I'd like to hear more of her work on Clarkson's new effort. I mean, "Walk Away" is flawless. Flawless.
A Big Dance Track Like "Good Luck"
Sure, Clarkson's done up-tempo, dance-poppy stuff like "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" before, but she's never really recorded a true dance anthem with big beats and lots of uncontrolled wailing — something like Basement Jaxx's "Good Luck," Ariana Grande's "Break Free," or even Christina Aguilera's "Let There Be Love." I realize that this is my most unrealistic wish, but I want it so, so badly.

domain: entertainment


Republic Act No. 9654 - AN ACY DECLARIN JULY 18TH A SPECIAL NONWORKING HOLIDAY IN THE PROVINCE OF SOUTH COTABATO IN COMMEMORATION OF ITS FOUNDATION ANNIVERSARY AND THE CULMINATION OF THE T'NALAK FESTIVAL
Republic of the Philippines
CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES
Second Regular Session
Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-eighth day of July, two thousand eight.
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9654 July 17, 2009
AN ACT DECLARING JULY 18TH A SPECIAL NONWORKING HOLIDAY IN THE PROVINCE OF SOUTH COTABATO IN COMMEMORATION OF ITS FOUNDATION ANNIVERSARY AND THE CULMINATION OF THE T'NALAK FESTIVAL
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
Section 1. July 18 from this year hereon is hereby declared a special nonworking holiday in the Province of South Cotabato in commemoration of its foundation anniversary and the culmination of the T'nalak Festival.
Sec. 2. This Act shall take effect immediately upon its approval.
JUAN PONCE ENRILE
President of the Senate
PROSPERO C. NOGRALES
Speaker of the House of Representatives
This Act which originated in the House of Representatives was finally passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on March 10, 2008 and May 26, 2009, respectively.
Secretary of the Senate
MARILYN B. BARUA-YAP
Secretary General House of Representatives
Approved: JUL 17 2009
GLORIA MACAPAGAL - ARROYO
President of the Philippines


Linshof i8, a new Lollipop Android phone comes from Germany
The Linshof i8 is a high-end smartphone that is going to hit the market in early 2015. The German company has introduced this new device just a few days ago with the intention to offer a first class hardware at a reasonably low price.
The most striking feature of the i8 is undoubtedly its design. The German company has opted for a rather risky octagonal-shaped body. The back is brushed aluminum, and although the exact dimensions are unknown, it only weighs 140 grams. Linshof claims that this peculiar shape is useful to have a more comfortable hold on your phone.
The Linshof i8 has a 5-inch Super AMOLED screen with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It carries an 8-core processor clocked at 2.1 GHz, and the company says that the processor is done with power-saving technology and has a fully customizable overclocking feature. It is powered by a 3100 mAh battery.
In the storage capacity, we also find surprises. It has 3 GB of RAM and an impressive 80 GB of internal memory (maybe due to some microSD card, but there aren’t more details). It has two cameras. A 13 MP rear camera with Sony CMOS sensor and a front 8MP one. Both include autofocus, HDR and face recognition.
It goes on sale with Android 5.0 Lollipop customized with its own version, Linshof UI. This software layer is supposed to improve some aspects over pure Android and it also includes the possibility to use an optional interface with a tile-like style.
In addition, the Linshof i8 includes GPS, Bluetooth 4.0, compass, gyroscope, HDMI 1.4 with 3D support, USB port, NFC and Wi-Fi/LTE (4G).
Linshop states that the smartphone will be released in the first quarter of 2015 for a price of $ 380.
The press release from the company did just referred to that smartphone, even at their website there is also a tablet. If the information is correct, it also would be released at the first quarter of 2015 with a price of $ 360.
This is a 10-inch tablet with AMOLED screen and 2048 x 1536 pixel resolution. The other specifications listed on the website are exactly the same as for the smartphone: 8-core processor, 3GB of RAM, 80 GB of internal memory and two cameras with 13 and 8 MP respectively.
In the coming weeks we will probably see more information about both devices. At the moment, if you want to see them in more detail you can have a look at their website.


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- FREE Delivery on today's orders!
- Or priority 5-7 day delivery for R250p/order
- Get help with what size to choose HERE
Tranquil Lake at Dusk Wall Art
Exquisite reflections, colours and detail in the long-exposure image shot in Tuscany, Italy.
A great image for framing behind glass, or block mounting on canvas to create a focal point and conversation piece in any contemporary home.
See why we're #1 in SA:

domain: artistic


ERECTION OF CARBON BURN-OUT BOILER PLANT The Carbon Burn Out boiler utilises fly ash and bed ash deposits from existing operating boilers as a fuel to generate steam and deposits with reduced carbon content. The project included the construction of a fluidized bed Thermax boiler of capacity 16.2 TPH, and pressure 16 bars. List of [...]
The Medine Sugar Factory upgraded its existing capacity of electricity generation with the addition of a 70 kW John Thompson boiler transferred from Union St Aubin Sugar Factory. The boiler and its associated equipment, piping, pressure parts, impulse line and ducting were dismantled, refurbished, installed and commissioned during a ten months period.
FABRICATE TANKS FOR FORT VICTORIA POWER STATION The works consisted of a supply, fabrication and erection of 10 non pressurized tanks for HFO storage, ranging from 3 x 10m3, 1 x 16m3, 4 x 25m3, 2 x 30 m3. The tanks consisted of 5mm thick mild steel plates. They were also grit blasted and painted. [...]


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A Real Case of Awesome Parenting
A Real Case of Awesome Parenting...
Home Remedies and Natural Cures - User Recommended Herbal...
C Major Guitar Chord Tabs
Chord Theory - Guitar Chords World
Guitar Fret Board Simulator
Do you like these tools and you want to do something back? I have an here!
Teachers Seek to ‘Reclaim' Education - Working In These...
The Bro code (fixed version)
SAT prep courses
A Guy With No Experience Had a Crazy Idea. And The Result...
Bacon Cheddar Pinwheels Recipe
Test color : THE color test, free of charge.
Personality test and color test, free of charge, based on the language of the color.
Short Story and Creative Writing Contests and Competitions...
Short Story and other creative writing contests and competitions with big cash prizes like the ones below can provide a real step up for writers. Writing competitions can jumpstart a career.
Eerie photos of couples in an embrace taken using X-ray...
Two art students from Musashino Art University, Japan, scanned couples to show the 'finite nature' of the human body.
Beta Sites and Cool Web 2.0 Chart
funpics 30 januari 2006
Page 34 of 100

domain: hobby


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Making Bisquick pie crust is easier than you can imagine! This no-roll pie crust recipe is so quick to make with just 4 ingredients, and it’s the perfect foundation for every pie. Included are plenty of tips and tricks to make the best pie dough with Bisquick!
The easiest no-roll pie crust with Bisquick
Did you know that good ol’ Bisquick can be turned into the most amazing pie crust? When my mom and I recently planned our family’s Thanksgiving dinner, she mentioned a Bisquick pie crust she used to make.
As she went to college in Toronto, she babysat for family friends. Their kids loved cream pies, and she would bake one each week. Because it had to be quick, my mom would mix up a box of jello pudding mix and whip up her super easy Bisquick pie crust recipe.
Not only is it quick, but it’s also a pie crust that you can mix right in the pie pan, has only 4 ingredients, and doesn’t need to be rolled out. It goes with any pie you can think of, cream pies, fruit pies, just about any pie, really.
When she asked me if I wanted to share her recipe on the blog, my answer was a resounding “Yes, please!”. I could even win her over to make the crust while I took the step-by-step photos!
And for more pie crust recipes, check out my 3-ingredient pie crust!
What is Bisquick pie crust?
A Bisquick pie crust is exactly what you think. It’s a delicious, buttery pie crust that you magically don’t have to roll out. Instead of flour, the crust is made with Bisquick baking mix.
This Bisquick pie crust recipe uses only 4 ingredients. It really doesn’t get much easier than that! Check out the recipe card below for exact measurements.
- Original Bisquick mix: It’s a premade baking mix made of flour, cornstarch, salt, shortening, and leavening agents. For accurate measurements, weigh the baking mix with a digital scale or use the spoon and level method.
- Melted butter: Most pie crust recipes call for cold butter, but you need melted butter for this one. If you want to make a sweet crust, opt for unsalted butter. Salted butter is a good option for savory pies.
- Sugar: A little granulated sugar sweetens the crust. If making a meat pie or quiche, simply omit the sugar.
- Cold water: A few tablespoons cold water help bind everything together.
The fantastic thing about Bisquick is that it contains shortening. The combination of butter and shortening gives you the best pie crust! Shortening creates a delicate, flaky texture, while butter provides delicious flavor. The best of both worlds!
- 9-in to 10-in / 23 cm to 25 cm pie pan (can be regular or deep-dish)
- measuring cups + spoons or kitchen scales
How to make Bisquick pie crust
I love baking with Bisquick, and it works so well in this simple pie crust recipe. Here’s the process step-by-step:
#1: Combine dry ingredients
- Pour the Bisquick baking mix and granulated sugar into a 9-in or 10-in / 23 cm or 25 cm pie pan. Stir together with a fork until well combined.
#2: Add wet ingredients
- Next, from a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the melted butter and water.
#3: Form crumbs
- Using your fork, stir the ingredients until clumps form.
- Gently knead the dough with your hands until it just comes together.
- Be careful not to overmix the dough. You want to stop kneading when you no longer see dry ingredients.
#4: Press dough into pan
- When the Bisquick dough is formed, push it into the bottom and sides of the pie pan, using your hands.
- Try to get the dough into an even thickness throughout and crimp the edges if desired.
#5: Bake or freeze
- Your Bisquick pie crust is ready! You can blind-bake it, fill and bake it, or freeze it for future use.
Blind bake Bisquick pie crust
If you plan to make a pie with a no-bake filling (like old-fashioned chocolate pie), or you don’t want a soggy crust (like for pumpkin pie), you’ll need to blind bake the crust. Blind baking means baking the crust partially or completely before adding a filling.
#1: Chill crust
- Once you have pressed the Bisquick pie dough into the pan and finished the edges, put it in the refrigerator to chill while the oven preheats.
#2: Preheat oven
- Position a baking rack in the center of your oven and preheat to 350°F / 180°C / gas mark 4.
#3: Prep pie shell for baking
- Cut a circle of parchment (baking) paper. Crumble it together, then unfold and place it in the chilled pie shell.
- Add a layer of tin foil and press it gently into the crust. The foil supports the side of the crust, preventing it from sagging.
- Fill the foil with pie weights or dry beans.
#4: Pre-bake pie crust
- Bake the Bisquick pie crust for 15 minutes. Then remove from the oven and take out the paper, foil, and weights.
- If desired, brush your pie shell with egg wash to give it a beautiful golden-brown color.
#5: Tent edges
- Cover the edges with foil or a pie crust shield to prevent the edges from burning.
#6: Fully bake pie crust
- Continue baking the pie crust for another 10 minutes (if the pie will be baked with a filling) or for 20 to 25 minutes (if the pie is filled with a no-bake filling). I explain this more in the how-to-use section below.
- Measure the Bisquick precisely: Over-measuring will make the pie crust dry and crumbly. For best results, use a kitchen scale or spoon and level your baking mix.
- Don’t overmix the dough, as this can make the pie crust tough. You just want to mix until you no longer see streaks of Bisquick.
- Chill the pie shell: This one is optional but can help to prevent shrinking and sagging as you pre-bake the pie crust.
- Flatten the crust: Bisquick contains baking powder, which can cause the crust to puff up during baking. You can flatten it out by gently pressing the crust down with the back of a tablespoon.
- Cover the edges: Cover the pie edges with a pie shield or a piece of foil to protect them from burning or browning too much.
How to use Bisquick pie crust
This Bisquick crust recipe is so versatile and can be used in your favorite pie recipes. It makes enough for one 9-in or 10-in pie pan, both regular and deep-dish will work. Here are some tips for different types of pies:
Custard pies such as lemon pie or pumpkin pie benefit from pre-baking the pie crust. First, par-bake the crust (lined with parchment paper, aluminum foil, and pie weights).
Then remove those and bake for another 10 minutes. Finally, pour in the custard filling and bake the pie following your recipe’s instructions.
To make baked fruit pies like apple, blueberry, cherry, or peach pie, pre-bake the pie crust for 15 minutes. Then remove the linings and bake for another 10 to 12 minutes.
To avoid a soggy bottom, brush the pre-baked pie shell with egg white. Add the fruit filling and bake the pie according to your recipe.
If you want to fill your Bisquick crust with a no-bake filling, bake the crust until it is cooked all the way through and looks golden brown.
Start by pre-baking the pie crust for 15 minutes. Then remove the paper, foil, and weights. At this point, feel free to apply egg wash to seal the crust and achieve a beautiful golden color.
Bake the pie shell for an additional 20 to 25 minutes. Let the pie crust cool to room temperature before adding the filling.
There are several ways you can change up this Bisquick pie crust and give it a new flavor every time.
- Sweet: For a sweet crust, follow the recipe and add 2 to 3 tablespoons of sugar.
- Savory: If you plan to make a quiche or savory pie, simply omit the sugar and use salted butter or add more salt.
- Brown Sugar: Try brown sugar instead of white sugar.
- Spiced: For a cozy, spiced pie crust, add
- Chocolate: For chocolate Bisquick pie crust, combine 2 tablespoons cocoa powder with the Bisquick mix and sugar. You may have to use slightly more water to adjust for the cocoa.
- Fridge: Pat the crust into a flat disk, wrap it into 2 layers of plastic wrap, and place the wrapped dough into a zip-lock bag. Refrigerate for up to 1 week. When it’s time to bake, let the crust soften slightly, then press it into your pie pan.
- Freezer: Flatten the dough into a disk shape, wrap in plastic, and put inside a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Let thaw on the counter for a few hours or overnight in the fridge.
- 2 cups / 240 g / 8.5 oz Bisquick baking mix
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 6 tbsp / 85 g / 3 oz butter, melted
- 2 to 3 tablespoons cold water
How to make Bisquick pie crust
- Combine dry ingredients. Pour the Bisquick baking mix and granulated sugar into a 9-in or 10-in / 23 cm or 25cm pie pan. Stir together with a fork until well combined.
- Add wet ingredients. Next, from a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the melted butter and water.
- Form crumbs. Using your fork, stir the ingredients until clumps form. Gently knead the dough with your hands until it just comes together. Be careful not to overmix the dough. You want to stop kneading when you no longer see dry ingredients.
- Press dough into pan. When the Bisquick dough is formed, push it into the bottom and sides of the pie pan, using your hands. Try to get the dough into an even thickness throughout and crimp the edges if desired.
- Bake or freeze. Your Bisquick pie crust is ready! You can blind-bake it, fill and bake it, or freeze it for future use.
Blind bake Bisquick pie crust
- Chill crust. Once you have pressed the Bisquick pie dough into the pan and finished the edges, put it in the refrigerator to chill while the oven preheats.
- Preheat oven. Position a baking rack in the center of your oven and preheat to 350°F / 180°C / gas mark4.
- Prep pie shell for baking. Cut a circle of parchment (baking) paper. Crumble it together, then unfold and place it in the chilled pie shell. Add a layer of tin foil and press it gently into the crust. The foil supports the side of the crust, preventing it from sagging. Fill the foil with pie weights or dry beans.
- Pre-bake pie crust. Bake the Bisquick pie crust for 15 minutes. Then remove from the oven and take out the paper, foil, and weights. If desired, brush your pie shell with egg wash to give it a beautiful golden-brown color.
- Tent edges. Cover the edges with foil or a pie crust shield to prevent the edges from burning.
- Fully bake pie crust. Continue baking the pie crust for another 10 minutes (if the pie will be baked with a filling) or for 20 to 25 minutes (if the pie is filled with a no-bake filling).The crust should be cooked through and golden brown if adding a no-bake filling. But if you add a baked filling (e.g., pumpkin pie or sweet potato pie),you should bake the crust only for 10 minutes to dry out the bottom before adding and baking the filling.
Nutrition Information:Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 145Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 302mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 0gSugar: 4gProtein: 2g
How do I make a Bisquick pie crust top?
Double the ingredient amounts and prepare the pie crust as instructed. Divide the dough in half. Line your pie plate with 1 portion of the dough and add the filling. Roll out the other portion on a floured surface and place on top of your pie.
Can I make a Bisquick pie crust with oil?
Yes, feel free to swap out the melted butter for vegetable oil.
Can I make gluten-free Bisquick pie crust?
While gluten-free Bisquick mix is available, it can’t be substituted in this recipe. Regular and gluten-free baking mix work differently and can’t be used interchangeably.
Reasons to love Bisquick pie crust
- Amazing taste + texture: The flavor is rich, sweet, and buttery. The crust has a tender and flaky texture.
- Versatile: This Bisquick dough recipe can be used for pies, quiches, and tarts, sweet and savory.
- Quick + easy: You just dump everything into a pie dish, mix it up, and voila! It takes about 10 minutes and could not be easier!
- Simple ingredients: You only need 4 ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen (one is actually water!).
- Minimal equipment: Measuring cups and spoons, a pie pan, and a fork are all the tools you need to whip up this easy baking mix pie crust.
- No-roll pie crust: Instead of using a rolling pin, you push the dough into your pie dish with your hands. It’s perfect for any pie recipe that doesn’t require a top crust.
Betty Crocker Bisquick pie crust
Before closing this post, I also want to share the Bisquick pie crust from Betty Crocker. It uses even fewer ingredients and comes together in a pinch.
It makes enough for a regular 9-in / 23 cm pie pan. I recommend doubling the ingredient amounts if you have a deep-dish pie pan or need a top crust.
- 1 cup / 120 g / 4.2 oz Bisquick mix
- 1/4 cup / 1/2 stick / 55 g / 2 oz softened butter
- 2 tbsp boiling water
- Mix the Bisquick mix and butter in a small bowl. Add the hot water and stir vigorously until a soft dough forms.
- Using floured hands, press the dough into a 9-in pie plate.
- Bake in a 450°F / 230° C / gas mark 8 oven for 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool and fill with your desired filling.
Delicious pie recipes
Now that you have your Bisquick pie crust, want delicious and easy pie recipes? You’re in the right place! I’ve rounded up some of our favorite pie recipes for you:

domain: food


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On March 18th, 2016 Twitter CEO and cofounder Jack Dorsey, gave an interview on The Today Show, in witch he discussed points of view surrounding the Twitter as well as his public point of view while engaging the community. As pointed out by Business Insider Dorsey stated:
I’ve never blocked anyone. I want to see what people are saying and I want to hear from them,
Business Insider also states that “He went on to explain that he sees Twitter as “empowering dialogue” so that people can talk about issues.” This statement runes counter to the companies actions as a whole over the last two years as Twitter continually has political points of view and ideas sculpted to their liking. A company insider, who spoke to Breitbart Tech, admitted the company actively engages in the practice of “shadow banning”, hiding the users posts without the knowledge of the user, as well as white listing and black listing search terms, promoting or hiding respectively, regardless of popularity. Many users have noted that they at times cant seem to see posts by individuals they follow, which Gamertics can verify has happened to a number of our staff, as reported by our followers.
Jack Dorsey, Photo by Kimberly White/Getty Images
The Breitbart reporter who uncovered that story in question, Milo Yiannopoulos, also had his verified status removed from the platform, in an act that has been pointed out by many as reflecting poorly on Twitter, as a petty and childish action. While this is the first time such an action has been noted, it must be stated that it is extremely dangerous for a company like twitter to do such an action, especially to a member of the press, as it opens the door for impersonators to potentially get there hands on information that would otherwise be confidential in nature, that would be used for reporting purposes.
Noted actor Adam Baldwin quit Twitter after a string of actions made by the company silenced many conservative voices. Robby Soave, staff editor at Reason and columnist for The Daily Beast, notably an extreme liberal outlet stated:
Nobody, right or left, wants to get banned for saying the wrong thing.
This trend of fear and self censorship, culture that will say the “right things” because of the anxiety developed from approval seeking, and growth of communication has cause a schism among Twitters user base that is reflected by there stock(NYSE: TWTR) hitting a record 5 year low mirroring Benjamin Franklin’s quote:
If all printers were determined not to print anything till they were sure it would offend nobody, there would be very little printed.

domain: news


The Compound Crossbow is a single shot bolt loaded weapon found in almost every weapon spawn location.
The low audibility rating of the Compound Crossbow makes it great for raiding cities, however its poor rate of fire, lack of ammo storage, and low range make it easy to drop in lieu of a more reliable weapon.
Once fired, bolts will become lodged in whichever surface they impact, and this makes the ammo last a long time. Occasionally the bolt will become irretrievable after killing a zombie, however this can be fixed by using the "Hide Body" action on the corpse. Sometimes, however, hide body will hide the crossbow bolt as well.
To effectively aim the Compound Crossbow, draw a line from both ends of the ironsights towards each other at a perfect 90 degree angle. Where the two lines meet is where your bolt will strike.
While the damage of the crossbow is less than the amount needed to kill a zombie in one hit, it often does so anyway. Whether the damage calcuation on the crossbow is unusual or bugged is not known, but only take that value at it's face. It is possible, that because of the collision detection of the bolt, that the bolt is registered as hitting twice, or that the multipliers of the upper chest and head shots are expanded on purpose due to the nature of the weapon.
- Damage: 5332
- Raw damage: 8
- Audible range: 3.3m
- Effective range: 30m
- Rounds: 1
- Fire modes: Single
- Slot: Primary
- Magazines: Steel Bolt, Arrow
- Source: Common


Three separate murderers up for parole have been denied their freedom, after District Attorney Jeff Reisig and other prosecutors attended “lifer parole hearings” in three separate prisons across the state.
Reisig reported the District Attorney’s Office averages less than one lifer hearing a month so having three in a single day is unprecedented.
In this instance, convicted murderer Kenneth Buffer was denied parole for five years at Folsom Prison in Sacramento; Kenneth Smith, who was convicted of murder in September 2000, was denied parole at CSP Solano in Vacaville; and Daid Cree was denied parole at the Duel Vocational Institute in Tracy.
According to the DA’s office, Buffer and his co-defendant, Michael Andre Todd, attacked James Williams in March 1995 at his home in West Sacramento.
Buffer, now 56, lived in Sacramento at the time. During the trial, witnesses testified that Williams owed Buffer and Todd $10,000 as a result of drug deal.
Buffer severely beat Williams and Todd burned him with a knife that had been heated on a stove, according to the DA’s Office.
The pair also poured a caustic liquid on Williams’ body which caused severe burns. Buffer later drove Williams, who was nearly dead, to his friends house where he was abandoned in the back seat of his own car.
Williams died days later after being taken to the hospital.
After the jury convicted both Buffer and Todd, the trial judge sentenced Buffer to 25-years-to-life in prison for the murder. Buffer will be eligible for another hearing in five years but he is eligible to advance that date. The hearing was attended by Chief Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Raven.
Smith, who was convicted of murder in September 2000, was denied parole at CSP Solano, and his hearing was attended by Assistant Chief Steve Mount.
Smith, now 43, lived in Sacramento when on Oct. 27, 1998, despondent over the break-up with girlfriend and mother of his young children, threatened suicide, talked of driving his car into the river and ultimately tried to end his life by running his car in the closed garage of their Sacramento home.
When his girlfriend stopped his suicide attempt by opening the door, he sexually assaulted her in the garage in front of their young child and then drove off, ultimately crossing the Freeport Bridge and turning onto South River Road in Yolo County.
As Smith was driving southbound at around 5:30 a.m., the victim, Bryan Tenney, was driving in his truck northbound, headed into work.
Smith was proven to have intentionally crossed the center line colliding head-on with the victim’s work truck.
Tenney was killed as a result of the collision, leaving behind a wife and two sons. When paramedics pulled Smith from the car, he stated that “I was trying to do suicide.”
The commissioners from the Board of Prison Hearings found that Smith needed to do more work in exploring the root causes of his domestic violence and impulsive behavior before he could be found to no longer be a danger to society. Smith will be eligible for parole in three years.
The final hearing occurred at the Duel Vocational Institute in Tracy, was where Cree was denied his parole.
This case was attended by Assistant Chief Melinda Aiello.
Cree, now 39, lived in Sacramento when on Oct. 8, 1999, after a night of drinking, he, along with his co-defendant, were driving around with a sawed-off shotgun with plans to search for the individual that had robbed and stabbed them two months prior.
While driving in West Sacramento past the Townhouse Motel, Cree saw two people, one of whom slightly resembled the person Creek believed had stolen from him.
Cree pulled over and Gregory Rowen approached the car and moments later, he and the unidentified co-defendant shot twice striking Rowen and Jimmie Lee Richardson.
Richardson died while Rowen survived.
The commissioners from the Board of Prison Hearings found that Cree lacks insight into his past criminal conduct and that he needs to work on obtaining a better understanding of what caused his life crime. Cree will be eligible for parole in three years.


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If you’re resolving to eat more whole grains in the New Year, a good place to start might be with some whole grain pasta. In the past, our main decision in buying pasta was shape – did we want sinewy strands, or curly corkscrews? Nowadays, we’ve got delicious whole wheat pastas or noodles with spinach or tomato added, and we’ve got pasta made with rice, corn or quinoa. So how do these different noodles stack up?
Most people buy regular pasta – it’s made from a type of high-protein wheat – durum or semolina – that gives pasta its characteristic yellow hue. A serving – which is defined on the package as 2 ounces of dry pasta (about a cup cooked, depending on the shape) -– has about 200 calories, a trace of fat, about 2 grams of fiber and around 40 grams of carbohydrate. Not a bad deal, but if you switch to whole wheat pasta, you’ll save about 20 calories and more than triple your fiber per serving. That’s a great deal, nutritionally speaking. And those numbers look more impressive when you consider what people typically eat – not one cup of cooked pasta, but more like three.
Read more »
It really hurts me to throw away food. Aside from the money that’s being wasted, I’m ashamed to be tossing out food when I know there are those who don’t have enough nutritious food to eat. I felt even worse after I read a recent report1 describing the impact of food waste on the environment. After calculating how much energy it takes to produce our food – and how much of that food we toss out – it was estimated that we could save the energy equivalent of about 350 billion barrels of oil if we didn’t waste any food.
Producing food costs a lot of energy – 10% or more of total US energy consumption goes towards food production. It takes the equivalent of about 1.4 billion barrels of oil to produce, package, prepare, preserve and distribute a year’s worth of food.
Read more »
Generally, this isn’t the time of year that most people are watching their weight – because if they were, they’d probably be watching it go up. But you’d be surprised. It’s not unusual for people to call me in a panic mid-December – realizing they’ve got a big New Year’s eve event coming up – and wondering what they can realistically accomplish in a couple of weeks. Of course, this comes up at other times of the year, too. An upcoming wedding, a cruise or a graduation – all can spark the question: How much can I lose in a couple of weeks?
Let me start by saying that there’s no simple answer that applies to everyone. For one thing, a lot depends on a person’s starting weight. The larger a person is, the more calories it takes for them to maintain their weight. So heavier people can cut their usual calorie intake back quite a bit, and will usually lose more weight in two weeks than a smaller person will.
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It’s been said that there are no bad foods, only bad diets. The idea is this: if we simply ate a wide range of foods – mostly healthy foods – and didn’t eat too much, we’d all be better off. But even though most people might understand the concept of a diet based on variety, balance and moderation, for many it’s still difficult to put into practice.
We crave variety. Humans evolved in surroundings overrun with a huge range of plant foods. And the drive to consume them was nature’s way to ensure that nutrient needs would be met. We carry this same urge with us today – which would still serve us well if we were merely selecting from a spread of edible plants. But we’re not. We’re faced with way too many food choices – not all of them good for us – and studies show that the more choices we have, the more we eat.
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When we hear that an individual is malnourished, most of us would picture someone who’s starving – a wisp of a person who appears to be simply wasting away. Certainly, people who lack adequate nutrients and calories are malnourished, but malnutrition can exist even when calories are plentiful – it just requires too much food with little nutritional value. So here’s a new word for your vocabulary: “malnubesity”. A merger of malnutrition and obesity sounds like a conflict in terms, but, in fact, malnubesity is real – many of us are overfat and undernourished.
How did we get here? We need to look at our evolutionary history for an explanation. Our prehistoric ancestors needed to eat a lot of food in order to meet their calorie needs. For one thing, they were extremely active – burning thousands of calories a day in their constant quest for food. And, their plant-rich diet didn’t have abundant sources of concentrated calories – think added fats and sugars – like we do today.
Read more »


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This crispy biscuit reminds us of the crepes you can find at any summer festival. A delicate wafer made from crepe batter is rolled up and the interior is coated with sweet milk chocolate.
Please Note: If temperatures in your location are above 28°C (82°F), this chocolate product may get heat damaged in transit. We cannot be held responsible for any temperature-related damages caused during shipping.
- Product of Tokyo
- Common Allergens: Milk, Eggs, Wheat, Soy
- 10 Box (20 Packs)


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MAASTRICHT, Netherlands -- The European superstate was born here late last night, the child of a dozen fathers with varying enthusiasm for it and differing expectations for its future.
The leaders of the 12 European Community countries agreed to treaties that would amend the EC's basic document, the Treaty of Rome, and set Europe irrevocably on the road to monetary union with a single currency by the end of the century.
The treaties also ordained a deeper political union for the 12 by assuring that they would act increasingly under the guidance of single foreign and defense policies.
They extended the community's authority further into the internal affairs of the member states, in the care of the environment, in health and education. They enlarged the role of the European Parliament. They guaranteed the primacy of NATO in European defense.
More decisions in the community will be made by majority vote rather than by unanimity, as is now the case, a system many members have complained allowed one state to frustrate the will of the other 11.
Britain and Denmark regarded some of what was effected here over the last two days as intrusions into their domestic affairs, although both agreed to the treaties overall, guaranteeing the summit's success.
Britain got an opt-out protocol allowing it to decide in about five years whether to join the single currency. Denmark will decide by referendum. None of the others had reservations on the single currency.
Britain also managed to have a major section of the draft treaty virtually excluded from the final text, the so-called social charter, although the other 11 countries vowed to adhere to it in a protocol outside the treaty. It all might not have come off, however, but for a last-minute collapse by the 11 on the social policy issue before what was described by a Spanish spokesman as Britain's "intransigence."
Throughout the two days of the summit, Britain had put up the most stubborn fight on just about every issue taken up and was often alone against all its partners. It won the right to opt out of the unified monetary system and managed to get the word "federal" struck from the treaty.
Its last successful stand was against that part of the political union treaty that treats with social welfare and labor legislation throughout the EC, such things as wages, working conditions, benefits and pregnancy leave.
Prime Minister John Major's position was so unbudging through the day, it was thought for a while that the summit would collapse.
At one point the Dutch state secretary for European affairs, Piet Dankert, seemed to have just about given up. He said there was no longer any room for negotiation. "On social policy there is, I would say, a cultural difference" between the continentals and Britain, he said.
Mr. Major came to Maastricht vowing not to sign a treaty giving the EC authority over the laws that are supposed to protect British workers.
He argued that it would cost too much and put British industry at a disadvantage against the United States and Japan.
None of the other 11 agreed. France's minister for European affairs, Elisabeth Guigou, indicated just how far removed the continentals are from Britain in their view of the community, and society in general, when she said, "We don't want just a Europe of traveling salesmen, a big free-trade zone. These elements are important for us, and we want to see them in the treaty."
The ruling British Conservative Party's anti-labor policies and commitment to absolute free-market principles, as well as the party's need to cultivate the generally anti-labor business sector at home, assured that Mr. Major would show little flexibility in this area.
He showed none, and his position so riled French President Francois Mitterrand that he suggested that Britain opt out of the social chapter.
In the end, a compromise was reached when the other 11 agreed to strike the ambitious social chapter from the treaty.
"This is one of the best developments we've had in the whole two days," said a senior British official, adding, "It remains to be seen how everyone interprets it."
With Britain now standing aside from its EC partners on two vital issues, it is likely to reinforce doubts about Britain's commitment to the community and raise questions on its future within the EC.
Of this, President Mitterrand said, "The fact that one country could not erase the march forward of the others is a considerable fact."
Germany's Chancellor Helmut Kohl called the agreement "a decisive breakthrough."


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Road Fest, Pure Fest And Maybe Even No Fest
Woodstock co-founder Artie Kornfeld has pulled out of Dragan Vujin’s Serbia summer festival and it seems the international live acts have done the same as it is now being advertised with an all-DJ lineup.
And that looks unlikely to go ahead unless Vujin comes up with hundreds of thousands of pounds for binders and deposits within the next few days.
The event, which was originally slotted for June 28-30, began as Road Fest To Peace Through Music and then morphed into Pure Fest To Peace Through Music.
It’s been dogged by controversy since Vujin announced a lineup including Iggy & The Stooges, Foo Fighters, Metallica, Daft Punk, The Prodigy, Jamiroquai, Deep Purple, Underworld, Motörhead, Tricky, Joe Cocker, and The Cult at a February 12 press conference at Belgrade Sava Centre.
It turned out some of the acts hadn’t been contacted, let alone contracted, and a Web site detailing the bill was quickly removed from the Web when Vujin was asked to explain.
He said the site listing the acts wasn’t the official one and had it taken down as soon as he’d found out about it. He used the same explanation when the festival changed names from Road Fest to Pure Fest and a similar site popped up with a similar lineup.
It turned out that he’d made offers to some of the London agents repping the artists on his bill, but all had proved reluctant to give a final confirmation or allow the act’s name to be used in ads until some binder or deposit payment had been received.
Although Vujin said he’d taken a back seat and left Pure Festival to be run by staff from his SFL Europe sports marketing company, he did clear up any confusion over the name by telling the country’s daily Blic newspaper that Road Fest and Pure Fest are the same thing.
Kornfeld originally got involved because he hoped to "make a difference" in the formerly war-torn country, but backed off when he realised the festival was advertising acts it hadn’t secured.
The festival’s pure-rock.org Web site has the new Pure Festival dates – expanded from three days to six – as June 28 to July 1 (June 26-27 are "warm-up" days), but there are no details of the venue. The original Road Fest was scheduled to be held on a river island site at Zrenjanin.
Wherever it’s due to be held, the Web pages are still promising the Euro 75 ticket includes free accommodation in the camp provided, free use of all camp resources, free online access in the Internet café situated in the camp, free parking space for the entire six days and "free lunch every day during these six days."
At press time, the bill being advertised at www.chillout.co.yu – one of The Balkans’ most visited dance music Web forums – had an impressive lineup of DJs including Tiesto, described by the U.K.’s Daily Telegraph as "arguably the biggest DJ in the world," Junior Sanchez, and Felix da Housecat, among others.
There are a few live acts, including Kosheen, The Cult, Laibach, U.K. Subs, and Glen Matlock, still being advertised on the pure-rock.org site.
James McKay from Decked Out, London-based Primary Talent’s dedicated dance division, which has Sanchez, Emerson, Felix da Housecat, Radio Slave,
Dave Clarke, and FC Kahuna on the bill, said he’s received Vujin’s offers and is ready to exchange contracts but wants payment of all the artist fees in full by May 1.
Maurice Verscheuren from Holland’s Prime Time Management, which handles Tiesto’s live appearances, said that so far he’s had no qualms about confirming the date, but also added, "If there’s no deposit before the show, then there will be no show."


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It’s no surprise to us that some of the most groundbreaking literature of both the past and present has landed on a banned books list somewhere in the world. Stories meant to act as windows, as mirrors, or as inspiration, are deemed threatening, too controversial, and unfit for the public. This year, as even more books are targeted for removal, we honor these stories by highlighting a few of our favorite ones, which will always have a spot on our shelves.
Child abuse, religion, incest—these are just a few of the controversial topics in V.C. Andrews’s 40-year-old novel FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC. But these are the very same issues that make it such an insatiable read. The first of the Dollanganger series, this novel centers on Cathy, Chris, Cory, and Carrie—siblings who are locked in their grandmother’s attic by their superstitious mother. What happens in the attic reverberates over decades and generations, and is told over the course of many books.
They were a perfect family, golden and carefree—until a heartbreaking tragedy shattered their happiness. Now, for the sake of an inheritance that will ensure their future, the children must be hidden away out of sight, as if they never existed. Kept on the top floor of their grandmother’s vast mansion, their loving mother assures them it will be just for a little while. But as brutal days swell into agonizing months and years, Cathy, Chris, and twins Cory and Carrie realize their survival is at the mercy of their cruel and superstitious grandmother…and this cramped and helpless world may be the only one they ever know.
For a book that first hit shelves in 1953, Fahrenheit 451 remains alarmingly relevant. In our present-day era of “fake news” (deemed as such by politicians who don’t like unflattering news coverage) and actual fake news distributed by bots, censorship is a very real concern. Suddenly, Ray Bradbury’s cautionary tale about a dystopian world where reading is forbidden and books are banned doesn’t seem quite so far-fetched. Luckily, we have this enduring American classic to remind us why learning and independent thought must always be protected.
First published in 1953, Fahrenheit 451 is a classic novel set in the future when books forbidden by a totalitarian regime are burned. The hero, a book burner, suddenly discovers that books are flesh and blood ideas that cry out silently when put to the torch.
Read the full review here.
When a black teen girl witnesses a police officer fatally shoot her unarmed friend Khalil, she must find the courage to speak out despite the inevitable backlash. With a plot that mirrors current national news headlines, it’s unsurprising that this book would spark as much controversy as the real-life shootings of unarmed black teens like Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, and Tamir Rice. Yet it was a parent’s complaint of “inappropriate language” that led a school district in Katy, Texas, to remove it from circulation; a superintendent went on to claim that it was the book’s “pervasive vulgarity and racially insensitive language . . . not its substantive content or the viewpoint expressed” that led to the ban. Author Angie Thomas was quick to respond on Twitter: “I’m saddened to hear that a school district in Texas banned #TheHateUGive, but I’m also empowered—you’re basically telling the kids of the Garden Heights of the world that their stories shouldn’t be told. Well, I’m going to tell them even louder. Thanks for igniting the fire.”
Generations of readers have been captivated by the cautionary tale in this “anonymous” diary of a teen girl’s downward spiral of addiction. The harrowing journal entries provide an intimate look into the struggles of the narrator, who is served a soft drink laced with LSD at a party and within months, is hooked on drugs and in danger of losing everything.
Love it or hate it, there’s no denying that FIFTY SHADES OF GREY was a literary sensation for a hot second there. Originally published online as Twilight Saga fan fiction, the explicit love story between billionaire Christian Grey and ingénue Anastasia Steele fueled conversation everywhere, from book clubs to family reunions. Did it titillate? Sure. But it also encouraged frank discussions about female desire and introduced scores of readers to their new favorite genre: romance.
"My best friend gave me this book and told me I HAD to read it. Plus it was pretty much the hottest book around at the time. So I tried. Maybe I’m a big prude, but I read a few chapters and just couldn’t handle it…I felt so awkward I had to stop." — Sarah Jane
In 2016, Texas prisons banned Dan Slater’s nonfiction work WOLF BOYS, and Slate magazine called the move a “national disgrace.” In the book, two American teenagers are hired by a Mexican cartel as killers and drug dealers. The ban, which was implemented because of the “criminal schemes” portrayed in the book, sparked debate about prisoners’ rights and freedom of speech.
This classic coming-of-age novel is no stranger to being banned. THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER follows shy high school freshman Charlie as he befriends a group of seniors who usher him into a world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. While one might understand some parents’ concerns about the book’s depiction of teens tripping on acid, others have cited its inclusion of masturbation and homosexuality as reasons to boot it off the required reading list. Those who focus solely on the controversial content, however, miss out on the book’s tender portrait of friendship and healing from trauma.
Read a Book That Has Been Banned or Frequently Challenged in Your Country
Observant “wallflower” Charlie charts a course through the strange world between adolescence and adulthood. He deals with first dates, family drama, and new friends. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it, Charlie must learn to navigate those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up.
THE BLUEST EYE very explicitly depicts sex and child molestation, so it’s incredibly shocking and upsetting. However, as you could expect with Toni Morrison, the novel is also profoundly, beautifully written. It shows how racism can be internalized, and the impact it has on children as they grow up. It also touches on shame and society. Exceptionally powerful, emotional, and powerful, it’s a classic Morrison book everyone should have on their bookshelves.
Pecola Breedlove is a young black girl who prays every day for the blonde hair and blue eyes that she believes will allow her to fit in with her peers. This novel is a powerful examination of beauty, conformity, race, class, and gender from the legendary Toni Morrison.
In 2019, a Catholic school in Tennessee banned students from accessing the Harry Potter book series, citing fears it would drive students to the darkness of witchcraft and that spells included in the (and I cannot stress this enough) fictional children’s series could be real spells. This isn’t the first time the series has been banned, even at one point reaching the peak spot of “most banned book” in America. There were numerous reasons cited for why schools weren’t encouraging students to join Dumbledore’s Army. From claims it was too scary for children to the religious angle that wizards inherently can’t be the good guys, Harry Potter has stirred debate during Banned Books Week since its inception. Still the most lucrative book series in the world, Harry Potter is the best example of not letting the haters get you down.
Let yourself be enchanted by this international phenomenon of a series about an orphaned boy wizard who holds the fate of the magical world in his hands. Whether you’re revisiting the world of witchcraft and wizardry or diving in for the first time, Harry’s story lives up to the hype.
In 2020—at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement—ALL AMERICAN BOYS became the third most banned book of the year, most notably due its inclusion of anti-police messages and being “too much of a sensitive matter right now.” The book follows the divisive aftermath of an extreme act of police brutality between a fist-happy cop and an innocent African American teen. Through the interwoven narratives of both a black victim and a white witness, the nuances and complications of racial injustice are explored in a way where everyone has something to learn and understand. Exceptionally honest and powerful, this story is one that not even a ban can silence.
A 2016 Coretta Scott King Author Honor book, and recipient of the Walter Dean Myers Award for Outstanding Children’s Literature.
In this New York Times bestselling novel, two teens—one black, one white—grapple with the repercussions of a single violent act that leaves their school, their community, and, ultimately, the country bitterly divided by racial tension.
A bag of chips. That’s all sixteen-year-old Rashad is looking for at the corner bodega. What he finds instead is a fist-happy cop, Paul Galluzzo, who mistakes Rashad for a shoplifter, mistakes Rashad’s pleadings that he’s stolen nothing for belligerence, mistakes Rashad’s resistance to leave the bodega as resisting arrest, mistakes Rashad’s every flinch at every punch the cop throws as further resistance and refusal to STAY STILL as ordered. But how can you stay still when someone is pounding your face into the concrete pavement?
There were witnesses: Quinn Collins—a varsity basketball player and Rashad’s classmate who has been raised by Paul since his own father died in Afghanistan—and a video camera. Soon the beating is all over the news and Paul is getting threatened with accusations of prejudice and racial brutality. Quinn refuses to believe that the man who has basically been his savior could possibly be guilty. But then Rashad is absent. And absent again. And again. And the basketball team—half of whom are Rashad’s best friends—start to take sides. As does the school. And the town. Simmering tensions threaten to explode as Rashad and Quinn are forced to face decisions and consequences they had never considered before.
Written in tandem by two award-winning authors, this four-starred reviewed tour de force shares the alternating perspectives of Rashad and Quinn as the complications from that single violent moment, the type taken directly from today’s headlines, unfold and reverberate to highlight an unwelcome truth.
It’s hard to imagine why a book as heartwarming as ARISTOTLE AND DANTE DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE could be taken off the shelves. But it’s one that’s frequently banned and was even included on one U.S. representative’s lists of works that “might make students feel . . . psychological distress because of their race or sex.” Aristotle and Dante are two young Hispanic boys who have little in common. Aristotle is angry, antisocial, and doesn’t understand why his family won’t talk about difficult topics. Dante, on the other hand, loves poetry and deep thoughts, but struggles with his cultural identity and the feeling that he’s not Mexican enough. One summer in El Paso, the two meet at the pool and begin to bond over their differences, changing each other for the better, and ultimately falling in love. Their story highlights so many important lessons for kids of any background: how to show up for a friend, how to feel like you’re enough, and how to work through painful, unfair events. While it explores the teen perspective through the specific lens of two Hispanic queer teens, it covers universal themes that everyone experiences, including the slow, thrilling process of discovering and listening to your true self. It’s an important book that can serve as a lifeline, whether it helps prepare you for what’s to come, or lets you know you’re not alone.
Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison and Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common, but as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime.

domain: library


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Picture of the Day: What Lurks Beneath
WHAT LURKS BENEATH
In this amazing over/under photograph we see a southern right whale underneath the boat of whale watchers off the coast of Argentina in the Peninsula Valdez. The whales come to these waters to birth their calves and mate.
The photo, by wildlife photographer Justin Hofman, is just one in an incredible series of photos from the day, which he describes as ‘life changing’. All images were taken under the supervision of Argentine authorities with all appropriate permissions and permits.

domain: geography


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2021 Reader’s Favorite International Book Award – SILVER MEDAL WINNER
An intriguing psychological thriller of historical fiction, Nordic mythology, romance, mystery, and suspense. Set in the English Lake District of 17th century England, a 10th-century runic ring and a horse messenger of the gods invoke the spirit of a female Viking warrior, and an ancient prophecy comes to pass. Three young cousins are complicit in the disappearance of a woodcutter, and the superstitious villagers believe it is witchcraft. But the secret of the forest lays dormant, and Quaker persecution intensifies as the story races to an exciting climax.
Review by Romuald Dzemo for Readers’ Favorite. 5 Stars.
Highly descriptive.The Ring of Mann is a well-written novel for fans of historical fiction and fantasy.The story follows very captivating and richly developed characters. It is pulsating and filled with action and romance. David Thomas Kay has just become one of my favorite fantasy writers.
Review by Rabia Tanveer for Readers’ Favorite. 5 Stars.
I loved it!The Ring of Mann is a fantasy novel that young adults and readers, in general, will love.I loved the folklore mentioned in the book, absolutely loved the mythological elements, and how the descriptions pull the reader into the setting. It is perfect.
Review by Jamie Michele for Readers’ Favorite. 5 Stars.
Very well written.David Thomas Kay puts a diverse cast of characters into some of England’s most volatile moments.Kay is able to balance multiple subplots, particularly with regard to romance and a bit of mystery. The Ring of Mann will be well received by readers who enjoy sweeping sagas along the lines of Bernard Cornwell.
Review by Christian Sia for Readers’ Favorite. 5 Stars.
A fascinating story. The plot in The Ring of Mann is ingenious and the world-building is impeccable.It is filled with humour and a lot of elements that readers want in a good book. David Thomas Kay has the unique gift of capturing the interest of readers and keeping them engaged from page to page.
The Ring of Mann: Circles of Time Book II
Size: 152mm x 228mm


Central used a pair of four-run innings to rally past Bellefonte 11-6 Wednesday in Mountain League play.
Down 5-3, the Scarlet Dragons took the lead on a Janine Snyder two-run single and an Ashley Smith two-run double in the fourth inning. They then solidified the advantage with four more in the sixth, highlighted by a Kerry Walters pinch-hit three-run home run.
Smith finished with a 3-for-4 day, and Lexi Ritchey earned the win.
The Lady Red Raiders got RBI singles from Jenna Ault in the second and third innings and a two-run single from Angela Capparelle in the second to highlight their scoring. They also had the bases loaded with no outs in the seventh, but managed only one run.
Stevie Confer took the loss.


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This article is only available in the PDF format. Download the PDF to view the article, as well as its associated figures and tables.
Vaccine Needed Against Venereal Disease.
—Research to produce a vaccine against venereal disease is urged by World Health Organization experts. They admit "complete failure to control gonorrhea throughout the world," despite widespread use of penicillin and other antibiotics. "The only hope for the future" lies in discovering a vaccine to immunize persons against the disease. Experts from many countries who reviewed the situation confess that "for several years the number of cases has been increasing, especially among teenagers."Disquiet at the rise in venereal disease among adolescents in Britain was expressed recently by Sir George Godber, Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health. The World Health experts say that for gonorrhea the "ideal" drugs, penicillin and streptomycin, are no longer ideal. The microorganism which causes the disease has been developing a resistance to antibiotics, and there have been more and more treatment failures. After the discovery of antibiotics, the
UNITED KINGDOM. JAMA. 1963;183(7):618. doi:10.1001/jama.1963.03700070146026
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Giving College Students the Extra Help They Need to Succeed
National Grid Foundation Teams With Project Access
With a $15,000 grant, the National Grid Foundation is showing its support for the College’s Project Access Program, an initiative at St. Francis College that provides extra tutoring, mentoring, and monitoring for students who may not be entirely ready for the college experience.
“National Grid Foundation believes in the value of education and the power that education has in transforming lives,” said Albert Wiltshire, Vice Chairman of the National Grid Foundation at an event on September 15 held to welcome the new class of students to the fall semester.
The funds from the Foundation will be used to increase the amount of Math, English, and Liberal Arts tutoring offered through the program, which is housed in the College’s Academic Enhancement Center.
“Students who come through the Project Access program have the opportunity to realize their dreams and fulfill their promise,” said Stefan Spezio, Director of the College’s Academic Enhancement Center. Spezio added that recognizing the true potential within the Access students is the cornerstone of the program.
Over the past 10 years more than 1,100 students have been helped by Project Access, including many who attended the event.
Phoebe Lee ’15 quickly rose through the academic ranks at St. Francis and is working as an intern while completing the College’s five-year Bachelor’s and Master’s degree program in Accounting. She told the incoming freshmen “Do not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone because college is about adventures. It is about learning new knowledge and experience new challenges. You’re going on this ride with many ups and downs along the way. But it’s worth it at the end because you’re going to see a lot of opportunities coming up for you.” Lee hopes her next opportunity is to work at a “big 4” accounting firm.
Frank Randall ‘15 attended the Project Access Program during his freshman year and credits it with helping him achieve a 3.8 GPA and a spot in the Duns Scotus Honor Society. Randall interned for Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis where was able to help those affected by Hurricane Sandy and spent a summer interning at the International Center for Terrorism Studies in Washington D.C. where he worked on an article about the crisis in Ukraine. He plans to attend law school and become an Assistant District Attorney. “All of this would not be possible without the help of the Project Access Program instructors and tutors who, with kindness, expertise, and patience, allowed me to succeed.”
Anthony Carucci ’13 graduated from St. Francis with a degree in Physical Education. He enrolled in Project Access upon his arrival as a freshman. He is currently a personal trainer and works with clients at gyms throughout the city including Harbor Fitness and Equinox. In addition to his work, Anthony is continuing his academic career at Brooklyn College where he is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Exercise Science. With his experience and academic credentials, Anthony hopes to become a strength and conditioning coach at either the collegiate or professional level.
About National Grid Foundation: The National Grid Foundation was created to enhance the quality of life across its grant making territory. The Foundation’s ongoing challenge is to create opportunities for solutions to educational and environmental issues. Its objective is based on the principle that giving people the tools to build hope is an essential ingredient in the development of individuals, families and communities. Since its inception in December of 1998, the Foundation has provided more than $18 million in grants to hundreds of organizations.
Attached photo: Project Access students Anthony Carucci ’13, Frank Randall ’15, Phoebe Lee ’15, Sara Yellen ’15, and Bálint T?th ’15 with Vice-Chairman of the National Grid Foundation Albert Wiltshire ‘78.
St. Francis College, founded in 1859 by the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn, is located in Brooklyn Heights, N.Y. Since its founding, the College has pursued its Franciscan mission to provide an affordable, high-quality education to students from New York City’s five boroughs and beyond.
St. Francis College, 180 Remsen Street, Brooklyn Heights, NY 11201


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Interview With Author Robyn Watts
Sci-fi and fantasy girl with a long-time subscription to life. Horror author and devoted mother.
At 39+ Robyn considers herself a late entrant to the publishing world, but that's something I can relate to, being around the mid-30s myself. Starting her author journey late in life, however, has given Robyn some perks: life has given her so much to write about. She currently lives in Canada with her partner and daughter, and when she's not writing, they love going camping and fishing together.
Robyn is also a freelancer and SEO writing expert, offering services ranging from corporate documents to web content, and all the things in between.
Her horror novel Shades of Survival is out now on Writers Republic and Barnes & Noble.
Hollywood glamourizes the end of the world. But, what would it actually be like? Shades of Survival is a journal style account of how one woman could do it. With a realistic view on subjects like women's health and what happens when you run out of hair dye.
Are you indie or traditionally published? What made you decide to take that route?
Indie. I wasn't getting picked up by traditional publishers and I wanted to see my dream come to life.
Tell us a fun story about your publication journey!
There is a rush you get when you see the email saying it's gone to print, or its out in online retailers. It's just so amazing. The whole journey has been such a rush and a whirl.
How about a horror story about your author life?
Marketing!! The worst part about being an indie author is the marketing. Having to self promote all the time, that's never been a strong point, and when I was told to start on TikTok, pretty sure my blood pressure went through the roof. There is nothing more daunting then trying to figure out daily videos.
What do you think is the best thing about being an author?
Getting to put my over active imagination on paper and sharing my weirdness with the world.
What keeps you up at night?
Lack of book sales lol.
What character archetype would you be if you were a character in a book, movie or TV series?
I'd like to be a Lara Croft type, but I'm probably more Shaun of the dead...
If you were a character in a book, movie or TV series, what would be your catchphrase or famous line or popular expression?
What food or drink best describes you?
Tea. I can be taken in many different ways, liked by some, loved by others and indifferent to the rest.
If you were cursed to only be able to sing ONE song in karaoke for the rest of your life, what would you like it to be and why?
Fighter by Christina Aguilera. It got me through a lot in life and is kind of my anthem.
What else do you enjoy doing other than reading and writing?
Fishing and camping. Going back to nature is a great reset.
What do you consider as your weakness as a writer, and what have you done to overcome it?
I'm a pantser. So I don't plot out or plan anything. I wrote what pops into my head. Sometimes that can mean I won't write for a few days. I'm overcoming that my making sure to open my WIPs at least once a day, even if I only wrote one sentence.
Who are some of your favorite authors?
Terry Pratchett (god rest his soul) and Stephen King.
Any book recommendations?
The Discworld series by Terry Pratchett.
Anything else you want to tell your fans, our readers, and the writing/reading/blogging community at large?
I am working on three very different projects. The sequel to Shades of Survival. A dungeons and dragons inspired collection of short stories and a corporate guide to raising children. Watch this space!
For more information, just visit Robyn's website at www.rwpublications.com. You can also follow her on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.
About the Creator
Filipino author, singer-songwriter and theatre actress. Loves writing fantasy short stories, composing songs for books, and reading SFF and YA. Also writes romance, horror and scifi. Married and based in the UK. linktr.ee/mariesinadjan
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The East Africa Open Data Fest provides a platform for sharing the experiences on the adoption of Open Data and also create opportunities for investment and partnerships related to Open Data. EAODF aims at achieving the following specific objectives: convene a growing network of local leaders to support and elevate ongoing work; ensure continuity of the open data conversation in East Africa; support a national and regional open data culture; promote market-led open data and create long lasting partnership opportunities; and develop an expert platform for learning, debate and collaboration between open data stakeholders…. (more)
Author: Open Data Watch
Open Data Watch is an international non-profit, non-governmental organization that works at the intersection of open data and official statistics. It monitors the accessibility and comprehensiveness of official data in over 180 countries and provides practical information and assistance in implementing open data policies and systems. The Open Data Watch team has unparalleled experience in development data and is committed to making open data a global reality in support of Sustainable Development Goals.


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Farmers waited for December fertilizer price drops
A fertilizer dealer says many farmers postponed their fertilizer purchasing decisions last month. Tony Grapsas is with Jay Mar in Plover, Wisconsin. He says, “The purchase decision had been postponed from a typical early December towards the later part of the month because prices on fertilizer were sinking, and I think they wisely waited until the low point or our cutoff date to finally sign on the bottom line.”
Grapsas tells Brownfield he and other dealers still have a lot of tons to cover. “There hasn’t been a lot of buying, whether it’s been N, P, or K, but if you look at the calendar, we’re going to be in the fields in about four months. We have to start committing and I think that could drive some prices.”
But, Grapsas says he’s not expecting the fertilizer price spikes seen in the previous two growing seasons. “The ridiculous numbers we saw the previous two years, that’s gone. We’ve gotten back to normalcy, but supply and demand, and having the product in place on time could nudge them upward.”
Grapsas spoke to Brownfield during the recent Wisconsin Agri-Business Classic in Madison.

domain: agronomy


Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched the test-run of the dynamic wireless charging of electric vehicles and buses in motion using the Shaped Magnetic Field In Resonance (SMFIR) technology in Dubai Silicon Oasis.
Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority has launched “HADI”, an AI-based conversational bot that can answer users’ questions and process transactions with respect to DSOA’s services.
The Roads of Transport Authority (RTA) and the Dubai Police has reportedly kicked off trials of driverless taxis in the emirate.
Visa and Startupbootcamp have hosted “FastTrack”, a mentoring session for startups participating in the Dubai Smart City Accelerator, which is hosted in Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Centre (dtec).
Dubai Silicon Oasis will soon be the home for the UAE’s first-ever smart police station providing services completely free from any human intervention.
UAE AI Minister Omar Sultan Al Olama commended government entities and private corporations on their harmonised efforts in contributing to the status of the country as a pioneer in the field of innovative artificial intelligence technologies.
Orange Business Services chief executive Thierry Bonhomme has said that the entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to adopt technology in Dubai …
Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) has reached $56 million (AED 205.7 million), an increase of 9.5 percent over the previous year, as the number of firms increased in 2017.
The move comes in an attempt to meet the increasing number of applications the university receives annually, and the new premises will span a total area of 129,000 square metres with the capacity to accommodate up to 4,000 students.
Schneider Electric chairman and CEO Jean-Pascal Tricoire today inaugurated the firm’s Innovation Hub on Wheels at Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSOA). …


Brain to computer interfaces are really interesting. It is one of those things that will not only help those with disabilities but also keep humanity on pace with AI. If we are "connected" to it in such a manner, than AI cannot get away from us since any upgrade to it will result in a similar move for us.
Will it work? Some seem to think so. At this point it is speculation but we are seeing a foundation with the likes of Neuralink.
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Fairview Health Services (fairview.org) is a Minneapolis-based nonprofit health system driven to heal, discover and educate for longer, healthier lives. Founded in 1906, Fairview provides exceptional care to patients and communities as one of the most comprehensive and geographically accessible systems in Minnesota. Through a close relationship with the University of Minnesota, Fairview offers access to breakthrough medical research and specialty expertise as part of a continuum of care that reaches all ages and health needs.
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Discover what else PAMED has to offer!
The job you are trying to reach from was originally posted at Pennsylvania Medical Society JobBank.

domain: medical


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The oxygen concentrator is intended for individual use in the home. It is an electronically operated device that separates oxygen from room air. It provides high concentration of oxygen directly to you through a nasal cannula. Clinical studies have documented that oxygen concentrators are therapeutically equivalent to other types of oxygen delivery systems.
- Guarantee stability and high oxygen concentration
- High intake position, cleaner air
- Remote control function
- Two users are provided with oxygen at the same time
- Provides atomization function


At the beginning of this season, I was a little curious about how some seemingly contradictory pieces would fit together on the Houston Rockets. I want to talk about a few of these pieces and how they butt heads.Modern GM versus old school coach This one stood out to me the most. Daryl Morey is known as the most data-driven, experimental, and somewhat avant-garde GM in the league. He relies heavily on data to make personnel decisions and craft an offensive philosophy that emphasizes close shots, free throws, and three-pointers. His head coach is legendary Hall of Fame big man who loved the post game and attempted 20 three-pointers over the first nine years of his career. I think JR Smith attempted more than that in one game this year. I can’t help but think that, if McHale were a TNT announcer instead of the Rockets head coach, he would be leading the charge in criticizing analytics and waxing nostalgic about the dying post game and mid-range jump shot. Obviously I’m stereotyping McHale based on his pedigree and projecting based on a completely hypothetical scenario, but the match between him and Morey just seems like a bit of an odd couple. Shooting threes with bad shooters OK, we know Morey’s offensive philosophy heavily emphasizes shooting three-pointers. We know that the Rockets shot more threes than any other team in the league. Most of us know that the Rockets aren’t actually an excellent three-point shooting team. That seems kind of strange. The above chart compares the Rockets most prolific three-point shooters against two league averages. The blue line is the overall NBA average, while the orange line is the average for “shooters,” defined as players who shot at least 200 three-pointers, roughly 100 players including the Rockets’ four. Measured against the NBA average, Parsons and Harden are above average, Beverley is barely above average, and Lin is barely below average. Measured against players who are supposed to shoot the ball a lot, they’re all below average. For all the talk about efficiency that Morey and company have engendered, the Rockets are probably the definition of high-volume but low-efficiency three-point shooting. Efficient players but inefficient plays On one hand, it seems like the Rockets acquired the two perfect superstars to fit this system in Harden and Howard. Harden crashes the rim, gets fouled a lot, and shoots threes. Howard finishes near the rim with great aplomb. But the shot is just the last part of a long story. While the data might say take close shots and three-pointers, actually creating those shots is another story. The data can’t help you there. This is important because despite their shot charts being very in sync with Morey’s philosophy, how Harden and Howard get their shots is very much out of sync with the same philosophy. Three-pointers are dependent upon movement, space, and pace. Unless your name is Stephen Curry, running to the three-point line and jacking up a shot with a hand in your face isn’t a particularly good idea. For mortals, even mortals who shoot well, a much better strategy is moving the ball more quickly than the defense can rotate until an open three-pointer is found. Similarly, close shots are best taken without the opponent’s big man protecting the rim. Occupying him with penetration or misdirecting him to open up a cutting lane are more efficient strategies. This is where the contradiction comes in. Despite taking the shots that Morey likes, Harden acquires those shots very slowly. As I wrote about before, Harden is one of the league’s leaders in stopping the ball. He is also second to last in the league in terms of how much he moves per 48 minutes of game time. His 1-4 flat isolations (maybe the least efficient play in basketball) have become quite nefarious. During these “plays,” Harden is dribbling between his legs while everyone else is standing around waiting for the play to finish. Not exactly great movement to find an open shot (though one can arise, described below). However, despite the criticism Harden receives for his isolations (my own included), it’s not the worst play in the Rockets repertoire. He “only” isolates 24% of the time he possesses the ball. His points per possession per isolation is 0.96, which is up from the mid-point of the season, though still below his average for all other plays. In the event that he makes it into the paint, the defense can collapse around him, which can open up a shot for someone else. The worst play is… Howard’s post up. According to Synergy, over 52% of Dwight’s offensive possessions were post ups. His points per possession on those plays is 0.76. That’s just putrid. That’s much worse than Harden’s ppp on isolations. That’s even worse than when he shoots free throws! And what happens when Dwight posts up? The other four players run to the other side of the court, saturating that side with eight players. Not exactly great spacing. Once again, the team that emphasizes efficiency the most runs the least efficient plays. Curious.


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Over the past few weeks, there have been many resources shared on race, racism, and antiracism. Libraries have been working to find solutions to the meet the demand for antiracism books.
This list below is just a start. There are many resources to be found, in Duke University Libraries and beyond, to educate, inspire, and call to action. Please feel free to email Jacquie Samples (email@example.com) with any additional resources you find helpful, and I will add them to the list.
Antiracist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
The Condemnation of Blackness: Race, Crime, and the Making of Modern Urban America by Khalil Gibran Muhammad
How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Waiting ‘Til the Midnight Hour: A Narrative History of Black Power in America by Peniel E. Joseph
West Indian Immigrants: A Black Success Story? by Suzanne Model
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo

domain: literature


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Katy Perry and Rita Ora hit the red carpet at the premiere of the new movie Jeremy Scott: The People’s Designer on Tuesday (September 8) at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
Before the premiere, Katy joined the fashion designer Jeremy Scott himself for a handprint ceremony in front of the theater. Also in attendance at the event was Dita Von Teese.
Earlier in the night, Rita taped an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live across the street.
FYI: Katy is wearing a Moschino dress and an Edie Parker clutch. Rita is wearing a Moschino jacket, shorts, top, and purse at the premiere.
Sponsored Links by ZergNet


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In a positive news story for Australia’s viticultural industry, 13 Australian winemakers were recently inducted into Drinks Business’ Top 100 Master Winemakers list for 2024. This included Hickinbotham Wines’ Chris Carpenter taking home the awards’ top honour of Master Winemaker of the Year 2024.
The prestigious list, first published in 2020, differs from many comparable awards in that the winemakers are selected from wines that achieved a Masters medal in the Global Masters tasting series, the Drinks Business’ highest accolade. This means that awarded winemakers are being recognised alongside the best wine they produced that year, giving greater importance to both technique and innovation.
“Essentially, this guide is designed to shine a light on those talented people who toil deep within the dark environs of the wine cellar,” said Patrick Schmitt MW, Chair of the Global Wine Master, in a Drinks Business article.
“It is a way to raise the profile of the people behind brilliant wines – many of whom are personalities that, in our view, don’t receive enough recognition.”
Chris Carpenter was awarded Master Winemaker of the Year after receiving two Masters medals in 2023. Impressively, Carpenter – who’s work spans two continents – received a Masters Medal for both his McLaren Vale Hickinbotham Trueman Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 and his Napa Valley Mt. Brave Cabernet Sauvignon 2019.
Out of the 13 Australian’s who made the Top 100 Master Winemakers list for 2024, eight work for South Australian vineyards, which is equal to about the 80% of Australians named.
Château Tanunda’s Jeremy Ottawa was one of the inducted, awarded for his single vineyard Eden Valley wine, the Château Cabernet Sauvignon 2021.
“I’m incredibly honoured to be named alongside winemakers that I admire from all over the world,” he said.
“The Drinks Business and its Global Masters program sets the benchmark for quality and value on a global scale, it’s a fantastic result for the entire team at Château Tanunda.”
Also making the list are Australians Mike Brown (Gemtree), Kym Milne MW (Golden Amrita), Paul Lindner (Langmeil), Tim Pelquest-Hunt (Orlando Wines) Liam McElhinney (Bream Creek Vineyard), Marc Scalzo (De Bortoli Wines), Melanie Chester (Giant Steps) and Philip Shaw (Hoosegg). These Australian stalwarts placed alongside revered international winemakers such as Gérard Bertrand, Randy Ullom (Kendall-Jackson), and Mark Beaman (Kenwood Vineyards).
The strong performance comes at a time of developing tension in Australia’s wine industry, with the latest report from Australia’s Agricultural and Resource Economics Bureau (ABARES) predicting that, by the 2027-2028, domestic winegrape production will have fallen to 1.2 million tonnes, down from a peak of over 2 million in 2021.
ABARES has attributed this to a number of factors, namely the consistently low prices of red grapes, the global oversupply, and the above-average reduced rainfall years predicted over the period. IWSR data extends this list to include falling consumption, especially in the under-34 segment.
The ongoing trade tariffs in place on Australian wine in China are also a significant contributing factor.
As it stands, Australia’s wine industry is already starting to show signs that the economic pressures it is facing are unsustainable. Last week, South Australia’s Riverland region convened with state government to discuss the now urgent need for short-term financial assistance for its grape growers.
Every international accolade received by Australian wine is an opportunity to confirm our industry’s reputation as a leading international producer in a broad variety of export markets. As economic pressures continue to build in the global wine industry collectively, celebrating the quantifiable quality and consistency of our viticultural industry will become increasingly important.


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A scheme devised by and for people living with dementia is enabling them to share their experiences and provide support for carers.
I am a single woman of a certain age. I have Alzheimer’s disease and I live alone without a carer. I manage as best I can, but I am often in terror of inevitable future deterioration.
It began about two years ago, gradually, with the confusion of not being able to do familiar things, losing things and getting lost on the way to familiar places.
There were many hospital tests and then the shocking diagnosis. A further shock was finding there are no effective treatments for Alzheimer’s. Suddenly I was forced to stop working – I am a psychotherapist and have to be accredited annually by colleagues – and I had a new identity: a person living with Alzheimer's.
About the time I was diagnosed, the London borough of Brent was diving into financial hell. For a few blessed months I received monthly visits from a dementia nurse, also named Hazel, but when she left her job no one replaced her. The absence of dementia services for people living alone without a carer in south Brent was a huge blow to me. There was no structure available and no way to meet other people who had been diagnosed.
Being an ex-social worker and psychotherapist, I was gradually able to gather some of my old strident self and make a bit of a protest about the lack of services, particularly in my local area of south Brent, to whoever would listen. For a long time, no one did.
Then I joined the committee of the Dementia Peer Support Project based at Ashford Place in Cricklewood. The project is run by and for people with dementia, with the support of a professional project lead. For the first time since I was diagnosed, I feel I have a voice and can start making a difference.
For the first time since I was diagnosed, I feel I have a voice and can start making a difference
Hazel Robinson is a peer supporter for the Dementia Peer Support Project, Brent, London
While most programmes supporting people who have dementia are run by medical professionals, the Dementia Peer Support Service encourages the people living with the condition to design and deliver a range of activities for everyone. This is what I do with my fellow peer supporter Dianne Campbell, who was diagnosed when she was in her late 40s and is a pillar of strength for me and other members of the group. We meet fortnightly and activities include expeditions to museums and galleries, art classes and listening to invited speakers.
We also raise awareness of dementia in the community by sharing experiences of diagnosis and what can help on a day-to-day basis.
Clementine Femiola has been employed to oversee the project and she is a powerhouse of energy and determination. Coming to the group and hearing others talk helps people to open up. It also helps the carers who are trying to understand how to support their loved ones.
For more information please contact Clementine on 020 8208 8590 or email email@example.com.
This article was taken from: Nursing for Older People (The journal produced by Royal College of Nursing)
To view the original article, click here.

domain: psychology


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Play dominoes with our bright and colourful feet dominoes cards! The bright colours make it a little easier for younger children, and certainly more fun! Laminate the cards if you want to make them last a bit longer...
Learn about the five senses while you have a fun game of dominoes! Print and cut out our five senses dominoes, then laminate or back onto card or foam.
These colourful seaside dominoes might be handy for long journeys this summer, or for playing whilst on holiday! Simple print, cut out the dominoes (laminate or back onto card or foam to make them stronger if you prefer), then you're ready to play!


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Actress Kareena Kapoor Khan shared a drawing made by her toddler son Taimur Ali Khan, whom she lovingly tagged as the "in-house Picasso". Kareena took to her Instagram stories, where she shared a glimpse of what Taimur is up to while he stays home. Taimur drew an "ice cream". She captioned it: "The world is your ice-cream my love. #inhousepicasso #QuaranTimDiaries."
Earlier this week, Taimur made a "special appearance" in a live interview where his father Saif Ali Khan was interacting with a news TV journalist about the coronavirus lockdown, on a video call.
On Sunday, fan page of the actress shared a throwback photo of Kareena as the bride and left the fans in awe of her beauty once again. The photo shows Kareena Kapoor dressed in her mother-in-law Sharmila Tagore's heirloom sharara by designer Ritu Kumar and looking gorgeous. The designer refurbished the outfit for Kareena, which had intricate zardosi and gota work. The sharara set comprised of a tissue rust-orange kurta, a matching dupatta embroidered heavily in gold, and shararas with a contrasting, mint green border. The glow on the actress' face compliments the heritage jewellery she dons in the photo. Kareena's wedding outfit had a lot of vintage charm and sentimental value. Check out the photo here-
On the acting front, Kareena was last seen on screen in "Angrezi Medium", which also stars Irrfan Khan and Radhika Madan.
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domain: celebrity