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On American Idol this week, judge Katy Perry suffered a major wardrobe malfunction. During an audition a dancing queen and self-described “show-woman” asked the judges to dance with her. While trying to ‘drop it low’, Katy fell to the ground and her short, sparkly dress slipped up–leading producers to blur out her lady bits using the American Idol sign. Her co judges, Lionel Ritchie and Luke Bryan, both rushed over to try and help her. But, she stayed down for quite a while.
Amy Schumer explains why she isn’t taking her husbands last name, Fischer. In an Instagram Story her dad asks about the last name and she said “Do you remember who Amy Fischer is? The Long Island Lolita! Yeah, no, I’m keeping my last name. I’m keeping your last name.” Amy Fisher was a high school student who shot her lover’s wife in New York in 1992, then served seven years in prison for assault. Since being released, she’s starred in adult films like Fatal Seduction and Seduced by a Cougar 22.
*photo from US Weekly


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Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.
Notice of funding availability.
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Innovative Public Transportation Workforce Development Program Ladders of Opportunity Initiative. FTA will make available approximately $7.85 million in funds appropriated in Fiscal Year 2013 and Prior Years, in support of this effort. This NOFA solicits proposals that promote innovative nationally and regionally significant public transportation workforce development models and programs that invest in America's economic growth and help build ladders of opportunity into the middle class for American workers.
Complete proposals are due by 11:59 p.m. EDT on November 4, 2014.
All proposals must be submitted electronically through the GRANTS.GOV “APPLY” function. All entities intending to apply should initiate the process of registering on the GRANTS.GOV Web site immediately to ensure completion of registration before the submission deadline. Instructions for applying can be found on FTA's Web site at http://www.fta.dot.gov/grants/13093_3561.html and in the “FIND” module of GRANTS.GOV. Mail and fax submissions will not be accepted.
Start Further Info
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For specific information regarding the areas of research targeted within this NOFA, please contact Betty Jackson, Workforce Development Program Manager, Office of Research, Demonstration and Innovation, phone: (202) 366-1730, fax: (202) 366-3765, or email: email@example.com. A TDD is available at 1-800-877-8339 (TDD/FIRS).
End Further Info
Start Supplemental Information
I. Discretionary Program Overview
Section 5322(b) of Title 49, United States Code authorizes FTA's discretionary Innovative Public Transportation Workforce Development Program, pursuant to which FTA makes grants to transit agencies and other entities to undertake workforce development activities, including those that create employment training programs, increase minority and female employment in transit, conduct research on public transportation and training needs, and provide training and assistance for minority business opportunities. Under this authority, FTA is issuing this funding opportunity for the Innovative Public Transportation Workforce Development, Ladders of Opportunity Initiative. FTA plans to fund nationally or regionally significant public transportation workforce projects that will assist in building ladders of opportunity for American workers to move into the middle class, as well as build the critical skillset needed in the public transportation industry.
B. Policy Priorities
Supporting a highly-skilled transit workforce is critical to maintaining a Start Printed Page 53096competitive and efficient public transportation system. As public transportation experiences significant growth in the United States and investments continue in the physical capital of the nation's transit systems, it is essential to build and maintain the nation's human capital in public transportation as well.
FTA is seeking projects that create a new nationally or regionally significant workforce development program, or augment or replicate a successful existing program that will have benefits for transit agencies or the transit industry. While either type of effort will be considered, programs or approaches with an existing track record of success are likely to receive significant consideration.
FTA is prioritizing applications that focus on one or more of the following activity areas:
- Targeting areas with high rates of unemployment;
- ensuring that persons in local communities directly benefit from employment opportunities created by the construction and operation of new transit capital projects or other public transportation activities within their region;
- providing career pathways that support the movement of targeted populations (e.g. new transit entrants and other underserved populations, etc.) from initial or short-term employment opportunities to sustainable careers;
- giving priority to minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, low income populations and other underserved populations;
- addressing gaps in areas with current or projected workforce shortages in fields related to public transportation;
- pre-employment training/preparation/tracking; and/or
- recruitment and hiring.
FTA also is requiring that applications provide sufficient evidence of a partnership between the primary applicant and at least one other unrelated entity, such as an educational institution, a public workforce investment system, a labor organization or a non-profit organization. A primary applicant that is not a transit agency or consortium of transit agencies must partner with at least one transit agency. FTA will assess the strength of these partnerships in its evaluation of applications by contacting each partner to determine its level of involvement and financial commitment in the proposed application.
II. Program Information
A. Program Description and Purpose
The Innovative Public Transportation Workforce Development Program assists in the development of innovative programs and activities in public transportation that address the human resources needs of public transportation operators, as well as build pathways to long-term careers in the public transportation industry.
B. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants are urban and rural transit agencies; state departments of transportation (DOTs) providing public transportation services; Metropolitan Planning Organizations; Indian Tribes; nonprofit institutions; institutions of higher education; and private corporations. Only these types of organizations are eligible to apply to this program. The cooperative agreement will be between FTA and the selected organization, which must have a substantial interest in the project and must not simply act as a pass-through for funds. Applicants may apply individually or in a consortium of eligible applicants. The consortium of eligible applicants must include a lead applicant as the primary recipient of federal funds.
Individuals, for-profit entities, and Federal agencies are not eligible to apply to this Program.
2. Strategic Partnerships
To be eligible for funding under this NOFA, applicants must demonstrate that the proposed project is supported by the primary applicant in partnership with one or more external strategic partner(s) with a substantial interest and involvement in the project. An external partner must be an entity that has no direct relationship to the primary applicant. For example, the external partner may not be a department within the applicant's organization. If the primary applicant is not a transit agency or consortia of transit agencies, the external partners must include at least one transit agency as an external partner.
In addition to transit agencies, an external partner entity could include, but is not limited to:
1. Educational institutions, which include entities providing professional accreditation, degree, and/or certification programs, such as universities, community colleges, or trade schools, either non-profit or for-profit.
2. Public workforce investment systems, such as local Workforce Investment Boards and their one-stop systems.
3. Labor organizations, such as labor unions and labor management organizations.
4. Non-profit organizations that support the mission of transit and transportation workforce development.
Applicants should include a letter of confirmed support from each potential partner as part of their application.
Applicants must include sufficient evidence of the partnership. Sufficient evidence may include a memorandum of agreement or letter of intent signed by all parties that describes the parties' roles, responsibilities and financial commitment in the proposed project.
3. Cost Sharing
There are two sources of funds used for this NOFA. SAFETEA-LU and MAP-21. In accordance with 49 U.S.C. Section 5322(c) of MAP-21, there is a minimum 50 percent non-Federal cost share for all funds awarded. Regardless of minimum share requirements, cost sharing is an evaluation criterion and proposals with higher cost share will be considered more favorably. The FTA Administrator will decide the source of funds to be awarded to each applicant. Cash and other high-quality match will be considered more favorably than in-kind cost matching, though all are acceptable. FTA will not approve deferred local share. Recipients must comply with all applicable FTA requirements.
a. Eligible sources of matching funds include:
i. Cash from non-governmental sources other than revenues from providing public transportation services;
ii. Non-farebox revenues from the operation of public transportation service, such as the sale of advertising and concession revenues. A voluntary or mandatory fee that a college, university, or similar institution imposes on all its students for free or discounted transit service is not farebox revenue;
iii. Amounts received under a service agreement with a State or local social service agency or private social service organization;
iv. Undistributed cash surpluses, replacement or depreciation cash funds, reserves available in cash, or new capital;
v. In-kind contributions, such as the market value of in-kind contributions integral to the project may be counted as a contribution toward local share.Start Printed Page 53097
4. Other Eligibility Requirements
a. Allowable Activities
Projects must provide direct support to workforce development projects. Capital expenses such as equipment purchases are not considered to be eligible costs unless they directly relate to the workforce development program being supported by FTA funds. Acceptable costs can include, but are not limited to: Faculty/instructors, including salaries and fringe benefits, support staff, classroom space, books, materials and supplies, transportation stipends for students.
b. Unallowable Costs
FTA funds under this program are not intended as an offset to regular transit agency employee salaries and may not be used to cover the regular or overtime salaries of employees at transit agencies offering training. Funds may be used to cover the costs of staff directly engaged in a program management or training role at an agency.
C. Evaluation Criteria, Review and Selection
1. Project Evaluation Criteria
FTA will evaluate the applications submitted according to the criteria set forth below. Proposals must have a minimum threshold of $200,000 and a maximum of $1,000,000.
FTA will assess the extent to which a proposal addresses the following criteria:
a. National Applicability
FTA will evaluate whether the project has national or regional applicability and will provide a replicable model of workforce development practices.
b. Statement of Need
FTA will evaluate the extent to which the project identifies a clear and specific industry need for the Federal investment in the proposed transit workforce development activities. An applicant must submit data and provide evidence of the industry need and value for the proposed program.
FTA will evaluate the extent to which a project identifies a unique, significant, or innovative approach to address workforce development issues in a transit agency.
d. Project Management and Organizational Capacity
FTA will evaluate the capacity of the applicant and its required partners to effectively staff the proposed initiative and deliver the proposed outcomes, as well as the fiscal, administrative, and performance management capacity to implement the key components of this project. FTA also will evaluate the track record of the applicant and its required partners to implement projects of similar focus, size, and scope.
e. Strategy and Project Work Plan
FTA anticipates awarding proposals for projects that will be completed within 18 to 24 months of receipt of the funding award. The period of performance will be up to 24 months from the date of execution of the grant documents. This performance period includes all necessary implementation and start-up activities, execution of the program, and completion of final deliverables as specified in the applicant's Scope of Work.
FTA will evaluate the project work plan pursuant to the following factors: (1) The presentation of a coherent plan that demonstrates the applicant's complete understanding of all the activities, responsibilities, and costs required to implement each phase of the project and achieve projected outcomes; (2) the demonstrated feasibility and reasonableness of the timeline for accomplishing all necessary implementation activities, including the ability to expeditiously begin training; and (3) the extent to which the budget aligns with the proposed work plan and is justified with respect to the adequacy and reasonableness of resources requested.
f. Outcomes and Deliverables
FTA will evaluate the extent to which the applicant and required partners demonstrate a results-oriented approach to managing and operating the project by providing projections for all applicable outcome categories relevant to measuring the success or impact of the project, describing the products and deliverables that will be produced as a result of the project activities, and fully demonstrating the appropriateness and feasibility of achieving these results. The applicant must include projected outcomes, which will be used as goals for the project.
g. Furthering Ladders of Opportunity
FTA has prioritized and will use the following activity areas of: (1) Targeting areas with high rates of unemployment; (2) ensuring that persons in local communities directly benefit from employment opportunities created by the construction and operation of new transit capital projects or other public transportation activities within their region; (3) providing career pathways that support the movement of targeted populations (e.g. new transit entrants and other underserved populations, etc. from initial or short-term employment opportunities to sustainable careers; (4) giving priority to minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, low income populations and other underserved populations; (5) addressing gaps in areas with current or projected workforce shortages in fields related to public transportation; (6) pre-employment training/preparation/tracking; and/or (7) recruitment and hiring. Further, these activity areas will be used to evaluate the extent to which an applicant and its required partners demonstrate how this program or project can assist in building ladders of opportunity to the middle class; how the proposed program can connect people and economic opportunities in public transportation; and how it can build pathways to new job opportunities in the transit field.
D. Review and Selection Process
A technical evaluation committee will review proposals under the project selection criteria. Members of the technical evaluation committee and the FTA Workforce Program Manager reserve the right to screen and rate the applications it receives and to seek clarification from any applicant about any statement in its application that FTA finds ambiguous and/or to request additional documentation to be considered during the evaluation process to clarify information contained within the proposal.
After consideration of the findings of the technical evaluation committee, the FTA Administrator will determine the final selection and amount of funding for each project. FTA may consider geographic diversity and the applicant's receipt of other discretionary awards in its award decisions.
III. Proposal Preparation and Submission
A. Proposal Submission Process
Applicants may submit more than one proposal. However, each proposal must support a new idea or program and not be duplicative. Submission of multiple proposals from a single entity will not increase that entity's chances of being awarded a grant.
Complete proposals for the Innovative Public Transportation Workforce Development Program Ladders of Opportunity Initiative must be submitted electronically through the GRANTS.GOV Web site by 11:59 EDT on November 4, 2014. Late applications will not be accepted. Proposers are encouraged to begin the process of Start Printed Page 53098registration on the GRANTS.GOV site well in advance of the submission deadline. Registration is a multi-step process, which may take several weeks to complete before an application can be submitted. Registered proposers may still be required to take steps to keep their registration up to date before submissions can be made successfully: (1) Registration in the Systems for Award Management (SAM) (formerly the Central Contracting Registry (CCR) system) is required; and (2) persons making submissions on behalf of the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) must be authorized in GRANTS.GOV by the AOR to make submissions.
Eligible entities must have or must secure a DUNS number for the purposes of formal application and potential entry into a cooperative agreement with FTA. The DUNS number is a unique nine-character number that identifies your organization. It is a tool of the federal government to track how federal money is distributed. Each FTA applicant's DUNS number will be maintained as part of the applicant's profile. This number can be obtained free through the Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Web site (http://www.dnb.com/US/duns_update/).
In addition, each entity that applies and does not have an exemption under 2 CFR § 25.110 should:
(1) Be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to submitting an application or plan (www.sam.gov), and
(2) Maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by an agency.
B. Proposal Content
The applicant should submit a project narrative statement describing the project objectives, proposed work tasks, outputs, and benefits of the proposed project for which Federal assistance is being requested. If the project is a proposal seeking support for an existing program, it should describe the proposed FTA-supported project within the context of the larger effort.
The narrative also should indicate whether matching funds will be provided, the expected duration of the project, and other information that would assist FTA to understand and evaluate the project. Each submission for a project narrative statement should not exceed 12 pages (single-spaced, single-sided, 12 point font on 8.5x11 inch paper) and must include the information listed below:
1. Project Title, Objective(s), and Contact Person
At the top of the document, state the title of the project and provide 2-3 sentences describing the intended project goals and outcomes. List the contact person for this application along with his or her address, title, phone number, fax number, and email address.
2. Statement of the Problem(s)
Provide a description of the new or existing program to be supported by the proposed project. Describe the national or regional impact of this project. Characterize the workforce issue or problem present in the public transportation industry that the project directly addresses. Describe how the project will specifically address the issue for the applying organization. Explain why the specified approach is being taken as opposed to others, and how its innovative aspects have potential for nationwide or regional application. In addition to innovative workforce practices, cite the unique features of the project, such as design or technological innovations, reductions in cost or time, environmental benefits, benefits to riders, or social and community involvement. Finally, identify uncertainties and external factors that could affect the schedule, cost, or success of the program. Supporting documentation may be provided as an attachment that will not count toward the total page limit. Such information will be considered supplementary and will not necessarily be considered by FTA in the project selection process.
3. Geographic Location, Target Groups, and Emphasis Areas
Give a precise location or locations of the project and identify the area(s), and target group(s) to be directly served by the proposed effort. Maps or other graphic aids may be attached as needed.
4. Strategic Partners
Provide a list of the strategic partner(s) that will be participating in the project, as well as a description of each organization, the unique skill sets and capacity they will bring to the project, and the activities they will carry out. Also provide documentation of the strategic partnership, such as a memorandum of agreement or letter of intent signed by all parties that describes the parties' roles, responsibilities and financial commitment in the proposed project.
5. Scope of Work
Outline a plan of action, organized by work task, pertaining to the scope and detail of how the proposed work will be accomplished. List estimated milestone dates for major activities and products. Activities should be justified in terms of eligible program activities and proposals should clearly demonstrate the connection between the planned work and at least one of the specific program activities cited. The Scope of Work also should address supporting activities, such as marketing plans for engaging participants and/or dissemination strategies for sharing the results, if such are critical to the success of the supported program.
Proposals must describe at least one final project deliverable and how it will improve the state of the practice. Final products and project deliverables must be made available at no cost to FTA and other agencies at the project's close for dissemination and sharing throughout the industry. Acceptable final products and deliverables include, but are not limited to, class materials, Web sites or software, recruitment materials, flyers, brochures and reports. This product is in addition to the performance reporting requirements described in Section 6 below. Additionally, a written Final Report that is consistent with FTA Report guidelines: http://ftanet.fta.dot.gov/TRI/Documents/Preparation%20Instructions%20for%20FTA%20Final%20Reports.pdf is required.
If a phased plan is being proposed, describe the context and additional phases on a separate page or separate pages.
6. Period of Performance
Provide a schedule for completion of tasks assuming a total period of performance of up to 24 months. If a phased plan is being proposed, describe schedule for additional phases on a separate page or separate pages (not counted toward the page maximum).
7. Cost/Budget Proposal
Provide the Federal amount requested, and a cost proposal indicating staffing levels, hours, and direct costs for the total project and amount of funding requested from FTA. The proposal must describe the source and amount of matching funds. As appropriate, the cost proposal also must set forth the nature and value of in-kind resources that team members will contribute to meet the match requirement.
Provide a line-item budget for the total project, with enough detail to indicate the various key components of the project. As FTA may elect to fund only a portion of a proposal rather than the full amount requested by the Start Printed Page 53099applicant, the budget should set forth the minimum amount necessary to fund specific project components. As funding for the Innovative Public Transportation Workforce Development Program (Ladders of Opportunity Initiative) is limited, an application that can be scaled may receive additional consideration for funding.
8. Performance Measurement
Provide an approach for demonstrating the local, nationwide or regional impact of the project on the transit industry and broader employment opportunities, including the number of jobs directly supported or created by the program. The proposal should include a description of the applicant's plan for recording the outcomes and reporting in a Final Report, at a minimum, the following to FTA at the end of the project:
- The number of individuals affected by the project. Applicants should define “affected individuals” in terms that make sense for the proposed project.
○ For example, other common reported outcomes include:
Target Individuals (Veterans, Women, Youth, Incumbent Workers, etc.);
Number of eligible individuals entered into program;
Number of successful completers (completed training program, achieved applicable credential, etc.);
Number of placed new workers and/or advanced incumbent workers;
Number of retained workers after 90 days.
- The costs of the project and the share of federal investment.
- At least one measure of quality. Quantitative metrics are preferred, but qualitative metrics will be considered provided they are based on the experiences of those affected by the program (as opposed to the self-assessment of the applicant or partner agencies). Metrics could include, but are not limited to, survey results; exit interviews; longitudinal tracking of staff (during the period of performance only).
- A 1-2 page project description that will state the project's initial goals and measure achievements against those goals. This statement can also include “lessons learned.”
- A 1-2 page statement of applicability to other entities. Once the program is complete, the applicant must describe how the project could be scaled and/or altered for application elsewhere, and what types of benefits could be realized by doing so.
- Any other performance measure that the applicant determines would describe the strengths and weaknesses of the project.
As part of the proposal, provide projections (for quantitative measures) or short hypotheses (for qualitative measures) of what type of impact/performance FTA could expect from the project.
9. Project Management
Describe the applicant's approach for managing and staffing the project, including the distribution of responsibilities among partner entities and an organizational chart, if applicable. Include responsibilities such as regular reporting, performance measurement, and technical/management interactions with FTA. Quarterly cost and activity progress reporting is required and can be submitted in the FTA electronics grant award system and by email submission to the FTA Workforce Program Manager. A template can be provided by FTA.
10. Project Staff
List each organization, operator, consultant, or other key individuals who will work on the project, along with short descriptions of their appropriate technical expertise and experience (such as past, relevant research). Attach resumes or curriculum vitae if available. Project staff resumes or curriculum vitae will not count towards the total page count for proposal submissions.
IV. Award Information
FTA will award grants of a minimum of $200,000 and a maximum of $1,000,000. FTA intends to award as many meritorious projects as possible, and may elect to award less than the amount requested by an applicant. In addition, geographic diversity and the applicant's receipt of other discretionary awards may be considered in FTA's award decisions.
a. Notification. After FTA has selected the proposals to be funded, successful applicants will be notified by email or telephone of their status. Upon notification of intent to award funds, FTA may withdraw its offer to provide Federal assistance if the recipient does not provide a formal application consistent with its proposal submission within 90 days following the date of the offer.
b. Execution of the FTA Agreement. Successful applicants will be instructed by FTA on how to execute their cooperative agreements in FTA's electronic grants management system.
c. Start Date and Incurred Costs. Absent special circumstances, costs incurred prior to FTA award are not eligible as project expenses. Absent highly unusual circumstances, FTA cannot retroactively approve a project. The recipient may begin to incur project costs as of the date the award letter is signed by FTA and the awardee executes the final signature. FTA expects grantees to implement the projects awarded as soon as possible and to fully expend grant funds during the period of performance, recognizing that full transparency and accountability are required for all expenditures.
V. Contacts for Additional Information
Prospective applicants may visit the following Web sites for more information:
- For more on managing projects in accordance with FTA Circular 6100.1D: Transit Research and Technology Programs: Application Instructions and Program Management Guidelines: http://fta.dot.gov/legislation_law/12349_12669.html. This Circular includes requirements on project management and administration including quarterly reporting, financial management, and payment.
For general program information, please use the contact information identified in the front of this notice. Please contact the Grants.gov Helpdesk for assistance with electronic applications at http://www.grants.gov. You also may contact firstname.lastname@example.org or call toll-free (800) 518-4726.
End Supplemental Information
Therese W. McMillan,
[FR Doc. 2014-21155 Filed 9-4-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P

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I never thought that I would say this since I am not the biggest fan of nature or active sports, (click here to read my article on how backpacking made me appreciate nature more) but I like kayaking. After two trips through Southeast Asia I found out that kayaking is not only a great way … More Tips: Kayaking in Southeast Asia
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Vang Vieng is known for tubing and partying, but this town has much more to offer. The landscape is gorgeous with the mountains covered in clouds, wide green fields and palm trees. Since I only spend two days in Vang Vieng, I wanted to stay far away from the partyscene. Instead, I went on a … More Travel guide: Vang Vieng, Laos
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With more Australians living in apartments than ever before, traditional pets such as cats and dogs are sometimes not the most suitable.
But this doesn’t mean these owners need to miss out on the companionship provided by a pet and are instead turning to alternative pets such as birds, reptiles, and small mammals, which often require far less space and are perfect for the urban family.
According to Animal Medicines Australia’s Pets in Australia study, 11 per cent of Australian households keep birds, four per cent of households keep small mammals, and three per cent of households keep reptiles.
This means that nearly one in five Australian households is home to an avian or exotic pet.
When you look inside these households, an impressive number have more than just the one animal, with 54 per cent of bird owners having more than one bird, 48 per cent of small mammal owners keeping more than one small mammal, and 41 per cent of reptile owners keeping multiple reptiles.
Ben Dessen, Retail Manager at Kellyville Pets, said the Covid period saw rapidly accelerated demand for exotic pets as people were restricted to their homes offering an ideal opportunity to bring a new animal into their family.
“This trend extended across the board including avian, reptile, small animals and even invertebrates. In the past six to 12 months, with the sharply rising cost of living, people are thinking twice before bringing a new animal into their life and demand has definitely reduced.”
Dessen said at Kellyville Pets, the most popular exotic pets would include reptiles, in particular the central bearded dragon and small pythons such as spotted and children’s pythons.
“When it comes to birds, nothing can beat the humble budgie, along with small hand raised parrots such as cockatiels, princess parrots, conures and quakers.”
Emma Mitchell-Collett, PETstock Live Specialist, said that since Covid, they’ve seen an increase in people owning more exotic pets.
“The latest PETstock Pet Parent report shows that when it comes to types of pets, the family dog is still Australia’s number one pet, but cohabitating with reptiles, birds, fish and even spiders is growing more common and confirms a trend towards smaller pets.”
Sam Brown, Executive Manager at iPetz, a wholesale business, which specialises in reptiles, said that in the reptile category, bearded dragons and smaller python species are the most popular.
“Bearded dragons are very easy to keep and are particularly good for children as they are placid and easy to handle when handled regularly. The smaller pythons such as children’s pythons and eastern small-blotched pythons only grow to around a metre in length, so only need a small enclosure and again are generally good to handle if handling is practiced from a hatchling stage.”
Brown has also seen interest in frogs as well as reptiles increase over the past few years as they cater for the busy, time and space poor pet lover who still wants to enjoy the benefits of a pet without the higher level of commitment.
“Typically, these species require smaller spaces and less care time than a cat or dog. They are also relatively quiet, making them appealing to both keeper and neighbour alike. The exception perhaps would be frogs during breeding time.”
While most people know what products and services are required when caring for a dog or cat, the first-time owner of an avian or exotic pet should be doing their research and ensuring their setups are correct for the animal they’re keeping.
Melinda Cowan, Avian Specialist and Exotics Veterinarian at Small Animal Specialist Hospital (SASH) said the care of more unusual pets can be challenging compared to dogs and cats.
“Many birds and exotic pets can be high maintenance, requiring specific diets and environments. Reptiles, in particular, have species specific housing requirements that are essential for the health of the pet. Parrots and many other exotic pets also have strong emotional and social needs.
“Health care can be challenging for birds and exotic pets since many are considered prey animals. This means that they hide signs of illness or injuries, often until the problem has become advanced. At this stage, there are also very limited options for pet insurance for these animals.”
Cowan explained that many health problems found in exotic pets unfortunately develop as a direct result of incorrect diet or housing.
“We see overgrown teeth in rabbits and guinea pigs that are fed a diet deficient in high quality hay. Reptiles are often seen with bone deformities or severe bacterial infections because they have not been kept with the correct UV lighting or heating. We also encounter many behavioural problems that occur as a result of captivity, especially in parrots.”
Matthew Seychell, Manager at Pets Unleashed, said it is important to consider the size of the terrarium and growth potential of the animal being considered.
“Consider the time you must spend with said animal and maintenance for enclosure. Consideration needs to be given around obtaining the correct license and ensuring that they undertake any courses if required.”
Brown emphasised the importance of doing research, as although time and maintenance can be low, the initial set up costs can be high, and it is important that this is done correctly.
“Work out first where the interest lies and find out how big an animal will get and whether the person has the resources and space to accommodate this. Often first-time owners will purchase an animal in its juvenile stage and some of the pythons, for example, can get very large.”
The criticalness of providing the right environment for these pets, is a reason why Brown and iPetz focus on ready-to-go packages that are easy for the customer to take home, plug in and use, and they contain the correct equipment for the species they are keeping.
“Initially, the most important products and accessories a customer should take home (if they haven’t set up already) is an appropriate enclosure with correct heating, lighting, and thermostat control. This is the imperative basic requirements that should be met prior to a customer taking the animal from the store.”
Dessen said that with such a wide array of exotic and avian pets available, all with vastly differing husbandry requirements, it is crucial that people do thorough research about the species they are considering caring for.
“Non-negotiable products and accessories would include a suitable enclosure, heating/lighting (for reptiles and amphibians), specialised diets, enrichment, and enclosure furnishings etc.”
Before the pets reach their future homes, they are cared for by the staff of the store they’re in, so it is important that team members understand the appropriate care and husbandry required.
Dessen explained that these animals require specialised in-store care with suitable housing, diet, and husbandry routines.
“Most importantly, stores that wish to find homes for exotic pets need qualified and experienced staff with a wealth of practical, hands-on experience working with each animal type.”
Seychell agrees that a properly trained member of staff should be responsible for the care of these animals.
“There needs to be daily feeding and health checks with someone trained on healthcare and maintenance. As well as regular temperature checks and light changing. Some species also need individual housing to avoid fighting and aggression.”
Mitchell-Collett said that in-store care at PETstock involves both daily and weekly routines to ensure the health of the animals.
“Daily, we do health checks, spot cleans, replacing food and water and interaction throughout the day as well as detailed record keeping. Weekly, we do deep clean and an enclosure refresh. In-store, the animals are treated as though they are our own pets and are provided with the highest standard of welfare, care, and love.”
Speaking about the sale of reptiles and frogs, Brown said that enclosures must be immaculate and feature all the basic elements that fulfill the animal’s needs.
“Animals should be in good condition with records kept of feeding and any other healthcare. In the case of reptiles and frogs, it is essential to offer an appropriate range of enclosures in various sizes, featuring products that can heat and regulate an environment’s temperature, and products that emit the correct lighting.”
Laying down the law
As laws and regulations around the keeping of avian and exotic pets vary from state to state, it is imperative that the retailer is well-informed, for both their and the consumer’s sake.
Brown said that these laws and permit systems are there to protect the animals, which is important to the continued success and sustainability of keeping these animals in captivity.
“Overall, we support this idea as this reflects both our passion for these animals as well as our ability to continue to grow in this industry. There will always be sections or features of legislation that could be improved or changed but for the most part the system works and achieves what it sets out to do.”
Seychell agrees that most laws and regulations have been introduced with animal welfare in mind, but there are some he would disagree with.
“The import/export permit for NSW is outdated, with NSW the only state required to pay these permits. Also, the regulations around buying from WA is allowed but selling to WA is prohibited.”
For Dessen, he would like to see specialised stores in NSW such as Kellyville Pets permitted to carry a wider variety of unique pets, such as a broader range of reptile species as well as suitable amphibians.
“Specialised stores can provide a one-stop-shop to customers including healthy, ethically bred animals, expert advice and education as well as a myriad of high-quality husbandry products and equipment.”
Mitchell-Collett said another challenge is keeping up with the supply and demand and ensuring they are sourcing from only the most ethical and loving breeders.
“Supply and demand for the products needed to keep these animals happy is increasing so yes, a challenge, but also an opportunity for range expansion and new supplier relationships.”
This article originally appeared in the 2023 Winter Issue of Pet Industry News.

domain: pet


text: A layer-cake trip with a touch of “Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” Sucker Punch begins, after a murky prologue, with Baby Doll (Emily Browning, a peroxided kewpie) being dragged into a home for the “mentally insane” by her wicked stepdad. Our heroine in a no-exit corner, we shift abruptly into what is presumably Baby Doll’s psychogenic fugue state, in which she imagines herself among a stable of alt-porn-y chicks imprisoned in a bordello by some guys dressed as lounge singers. When forced to dance for her captors, Baby Doll escapes still deeper into “empowering” non sequitur action-combat stages, her fantasies looking remarkably like the daydreams of an adolescent GamePro reader. The video-game frame of reference is confirmed when Scott Glenn pops up at the beginning of each level to deliver nostrums and mission objectives, sending the girls after “a map, fire, a knife, and a key” (all that’s missing is an inventory menu). Director Zack Snyder’s dispensing with any explanatory exposition—hence the blindsiding implicit in the title—makes this King Ludwig–size extravagance marginally less dreary than Inception. But his mash-up set pieces (“Call of Duty” meets “Castlevania,” etc.) blend into so-awesome-they’re-awful slo-mo monotony, and the awful sisterhood stuff in between makes you anticipate the action as though waiting for the bus.

domain: artistic


text:
tags, snags, signatures, graphics, avatars, challenges, contest, win, tubes, fun, chat, non taggers, taggers, tagging, psp, ps, games, drama free at Taggers Gone Mad.
Home of all things Battrick Related, Sports and Everything Else
Free forum : The romance dawn is non-canon forum RP where people can role-play as a pirate, a marine or a revolutionist in the world of One Piece.
Free forum : A mansion for those that have no other place to go
An RPG site that is based off of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series! Come join Camp Half-Blood and RP, chat, and meet new campers! Have fun and watch out for monsters!
Free forum : A forum that welcomes any roleplayer. Young or old, new or expirenced, a Sonic or your own. All is welcome to join in the fun.
Laconics Round Table
A Percy Jackson and the Olympians RPG. Free forum : Half-Blood Hill
A professional wrestling forum that covers WWE, TNA, ROH and all independent wrestling. Also the official forums of the talkIMPACTradio podcast.
Free forum : The world of Hetalia!STORIES, RPGS, FRIENDSAND MUCH MORE XD
Free forum : Welcome to the new HARROGATE TOWN AFC Forum. Please feel free to leave your comments regarding HTFC!!
Free forum : In the beginning of things, in ages past there was the Elexorien, master of flesh, fire, steel, water, earth, air, acid and lightning who forged the elements of which the land of Lokonia

domain: entertainment


text:
By Oona Hanson
“When did this start?” “When will things get any better?” “When will this be over?”
Time is one of those things parents think a lot about during their child’s eating disorder treatment.
We may spend hours, even days, going back in our minds to earlier moments: When did I first notice changes happening? When should I have known something was wrong? When did I make things worse by mistake?
At the start of treatment, things often feel even harder for a while, and “when” can also take us into the future. We project forward in time with a mixture of dread and fear, maybe even despair. As the months or years march on, it’s natural to feel impatient for our loved one–and our lives–to get back to some kind of normal. When will they recover? When will they be able to attend college or live independently? When will we get our lives back?
The word “when” can start to mock us, haunt us, torture us. But it doesn’t have to.
There is another kind of “when” that can empower us and give us hope.
And it all comes down to the role of “when” in the sentence. “When” is one of those words that can be more than one part of speech–giving it a different function and impact depending on the context. I realize you probably weren’t expecting a grammar lesson here. I hope you’ll bear with me.
As a former English teacher, I love the subtle nuances of word choice. And I’m keenly aware of the power of language to shape our thoughts, beliefs, and emotions. And so here is why I care so much about “when”: if referring simply to the timing of an event, the word “when” is an adverb. And by definition, this descriptor separates us from the present moment.
But “when” can do so much more.
“When” can also function as a conjunction, something that connects two parts of a sentence–and two ideas. As a connecting word, it becomes an effective tool for parents fighting an eating disorder. And here’s why: “when” can work its magic when we are coaching our loved one through a tough meal.
For families supporting a child to renourish their body, it’s essential to hold boundaries around the eating disorder. Parents often must adopt a “life stops until you eat” approach; otherwise, the illness will make its own harmful decisions about food. And so during mealtime battles it’s common to say things like, “You can’t go to school if you don’t complete your breakfast,” “If you have that last bite, you can have your cell phone back,” or “You know you need to finish this smoothie or else you can’t go out with your friends.”
I invite families to consider a little grammatical shift and harness the power of “when” as a conjunction:
“When you complete your breakfast, you can go to school.”
“When you have that last bite, you can use your phone.”
“When you finish your smoothie, you can go out with your friends.”
Do you hear the difference?
And even more important, do you feel the difference?
This “when” implies optimism, that eating isn’t a matter of if but when. It demonstrates you expect them to be able to eat and that the thing they want to do will happen. It lays out a simple order of operations. “When” helps parents stay both calmer and firmer–and also shrinks the opportunity for negotiation or power struggle. “When” takes out the guess-work, the doubt. “When” suggests inevitability.
Of course, one little word isn’t going to slay the eating disorder beast. If only it were that easy.
But I also know that language matters during recovery, not only in terms of what we are communicating but how. And so I believe in the power of “when” as an important component of a family’s toolkit.
When parents feel calm and confident, the eating disorder starts to lose its power. When we know our love is stronger than the illness, we can continue the hard work of supporting recovery. When a child feels our fierce protection, healing is possible.

domain: literature


text:
Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Saïgon) boasts a striking red façade and towering stone arches constructed with materials imported from France in the 1800s. But its architecture isn’t the only draw. In 2005, visitors reported seeing a tear flow from the eye of a statue of the Virgin Mary here, making it a destination for Catholics on a religious pilgrimage.
The Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica (Nhà Thờ Chính Tòa Đức Bà Sài Gòn) has become an architectural and religious icon in the bustling southern city. The neo-Romanesque structure serves as an active place of worship for Vietnam’s 6 million Catholics. Most private and group city sightseeing tours, including a fun cyclo option, stop at the cathedral, as well as the nearby Reunification Palace and the sobering War Remnants Museum.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The cathedral basilica is a must-visit for spiritual travelers, architecture buffs, and first-time visitors to Saigon.
- Remember to dress respectfully, as this is an active place of worship.
- Expect a full house for Sunday morning Mass; arrive early to get a seat.
- The cathedral is undergoing a major renovation and is closed to tourists (with the exception of Sunday Mass) until its expected completion in 2020.
How to Get There
Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral is located in downtown Ho Chi Minh between Le Duan and Nguyen Du near the Cong xa Paris bus stop. It is one block northeast of the Reunification Palace.
When to Get There
The cathedral is open for cultural visits Monday to Saturday in the morning and afternoon. If you’d like to attend a Mass, they are held twice daily on weekdays and seven times on Sunday. One Sunday morning Mass is celebrated in English.
The Miracle of Our Lady of Peace
The Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica gained international attention in October 2005, when a few visitors claimed to see a single tear slide down the right cheek of the statue of the Virgin Mary standing outside. Hundreds of subsequent visitors have claimed that the stain remained for more than a week, yet the Catholic Church of Vietnam ultimately refuted the “miracle.”


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Everyone loves to get a new, “fancy” camera. Everyone also loves a photo tip to go along with it! You dream of the beautiful photos you will take once you get that DSLR home and in your hands. What a difference a new camera will make in your photography!
A Cottage Poem That Will Make You Long for the Lake My family loves to take a vacation at my husband’s parents’ cottage about ninety minutes from our home. They are so very generous in allowing us to come to their second home near Scottville, MI each summer. We enjoy spending time playing at the lake and on the water. At home we are far too busy to wash dishes by hand My children have grown up spending long weekends […]
All About a Boat, an Osprey, and a Photograph When I packed my camera that morning, I had no idea I’d get an opportunity to not only watch an Osprey hunt, but I’d also come home with some fantastic photographs of a local Osprey! I didn’t even know we had such a thing in my little corner of the world. Suddenly a little head popped up… then another… Osprey heads? I had no idea what kind of bird it was, […]


text:
Bicycle Mechanics - Light clunk when climbing
Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.
07-22-09, 03:45 PM
So I've been having an issue with my mountain bike. When climbing I get a light pop, clunk, or whatever when I reach the bottom of my stroke. If it's not under a heavy load (for instance flat ground) it doesn't do this. I'm wondering if it comes from the crank/bb. Everything else works fine but it's distracting. I was hoping you guys could help me identify the culprit and course of action. Thanks.
07-22-09, 08:13 PM
You many find the following links helpful in tracking it down:
It's usually just a matter of patiently removing, cleaning,
re-lubing, and re-torquing fasteners until it quiets down.
Check your seatpost first. Remove it, grease it and reinstall then test ride it.
07-22-09, 08:22 PM
And check your chain for wear, and the length. Sometimes a too-long chain will do this. And look for any stiff-links.
07-23-09, 12:11 AM
Panthers: The chain should be about right. I checked it and it has about one link overlap. Also recent developments lead me to believe that it's not the chain.
So...before anyone got back to me I took it into the local coop. We tried to tighten everything up and when that didn't work we were going to check the bb. Apparently my crank arm is fused. The crank puller was stripping the threads on the crank. So we stopped and put the crank bolt back in. Now the light pop is an audible click. I think it's going to drive me mad. I'm planning on selling the bike in a few months but I want it to be in good working order. Thoughts?
07-23-09, 12:28 AM
Did you find and remove some thin-washers after you removed the crank-bolt - but BEFORE you threaded-in the crank-extractor? I'm guessing here you have a sealed-cartridge bottom-bracket?
In any event - to anyone with an Octalink or such, removing the thin-washers on either side before screwing in the crank-extractor is absolutely needed.
07-23-09, 12:32 AM
Panther....uh, no. Would you expound upon this for my education? <slaps head>
07-23-09, 12:37 AM
I'll go dig up some references...
From Park Tool on Octalink/ISIS:
Procedure for crank removal:
Remove crankarm bolt and any washer inside the arm.
Unthread nut from handle stud of CCP-44 (http://www.parktool.com/products/detail.asp?cat=26&item=CCP-44) or CWP-6 (http://www.parktool.com/products/detail.asp?cat=26&item=CWP-6) until the tip is flush with the nut. This allows tool to have full thread contact inside the crank.
The full article:
So if you have an Octalink in your bike, and you left the washer in there when you tightened down the crank-extractor, you were working against yourself. Solution: Remove the washer. Now thread-in the extractor.
If you're going to buy an extractor - I recommend the CWP-7 Park Tool.
<EDIT> In the video on this subject from the BicycleTutor, you can see the washer I mention. In the video it comes out with the crank-bolt and is not specifically mentioned. I'll send a note to Alex to remedy this. While it shows it coming out, most often, in my experience, it does not come out with the bolt. It requires deliberate coaxing. Here's Alex:
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domain: hobby


text:
Scratch Kyrgios has pulled back from the US Open due to worries over the coronavirus and out of appreciation for the “hundreds and thousands of Americans” who have kicked the bucket from COVID-19.
Kyrgios said in an Instagram post on Sunday that he had no issue with the United States Tennis Association continuing with its arrangements to hold the competition from August 31 to September 13. However, he refered to wellbeing and security worries in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic as he joined individual Australian and world No. 1 Ash Barty in quitting the Flushing Meadows Grand Slam competition.
“I won’t play this year at the U.S. Open. It harms me at my center not to be out there contending in one of the game’s most noteworthy fields, Arthur Ashe Stadium,” Kyrgios said in the video. “In any case, I’m sitting out for the individuals, for my Aussies, for the hundreds and thousands of Americans that have lost their lives, for every one of you. It’s my choice.”
“We can revamp our game and the economy,” Kyrgios includes, “yet we can never recuperate lives lost.”
Kyrgios additionally scrutinized players who have kept on playing display competitions in the previous a while, chastening them for “moving on tables, cash getting your way around Europe, attempting to make a brisk buck facilitating a presentation.”
There have been various presentation occasions held, the most prominent one sorted out by No. 1-positioned Novak Djokovic. It was held in a few nations and photos of observers at the occasions indicated helpless social removing.
Djokovic, Grigor Dimitrov and Borna Coric later tried positive to COVID-19. Kyrgios depicted the choice to proceed with the show as “boneheaded,” saying individuals needed to adhere to the conventions.
On Thursday, Barty said she didn’t feel good about going during the pandemic. She will choose in the coming weeks whether to guard her French Open title. The Roland Garros competition begins on Sept. 27.


Police chiefs will try to stanch the battering to the Metropolitan police's reputation caused by the phone-hacking scandals by telling a powerful committee of MPs that mistakes had been made, but they were the result of cock-ups and confusion and not the sign of any conspiracy.
The home affairs committee resumes its hearings on Tuesday into phone hacking with four past and present Scotland Yard chiefs.
First up is assistant commissioner John Yates, who will tell MPs that he did not examine any documents before declaring in 2009 that the Met did not need to reopen its phone-hacking investigation, which had closed two years earlier after gaining two convictions.
Yates appears before MPs on a crucial day for Britain's biggest police force, who are under fire for missing numerous allegedly criminal acts of phone hacking by the News of the World, and for some of its officers allegedly selling information to the paper which facilitated the hacking of the royal family.
A concerted Yard fightback saw Yates acknowledge to the Sunday Telegraph that his 2009 decision was "pretty crap" and admit mistakes, followed on Monday by the Met accusing News International of leaking to try to derail its corruption investigation.
Tuesday's hearings, police chiefs will hope, will at least not add to the damage. They hope the flood of revelations about the police will then begin to dry up.
In a letter to the committee released on Monday, Yates said the failure to detect the hacking of Milly Dowler's phone was "a source of great regret".
He denied ever having said he had "reviewed" the Met's phone-hacking investigation following revelations in the Guardian in July 2009. Yates, in his letter to MPs, said he talked to the head of the 2006/7 inquiry: "Following detailed briefings from the senior investigating officer, it was apparent that there was no new material in the Guardian article that would justify either reopening or reviewing the investigation. A short while later, this view was endorsed independently by the director of public prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC.
"Therefore, as can be seen, in relation to events that took place in 2009, I was provided with some considerable reassurance (and at a number of levels) that led me to a view that this case neither needed to be reopened or reviewed."
But prosecution sources indicated they do not agree. A source said the Crown Prosecution Service's view was still that "the legal advice given by the CPS to the Metropolitan police on the interpretation of the relevant offences did not limit the scope and extent of the criminal investigation", as contained in a letter in April by Keir Starmer to MPs on the culture, media and sport committee.
Yates's previous sessions before MPs have been tetchy affairs. Labour MP Tom Watson used parliamentary privilege to attack Yates: "John Yates's review of the Mulcaire evidence was not an oversight. Like Andy Hayman, he chose not to act, he misled parliament. He misled readers of the Sunday Telegraph only yesterday."
Last night, Watson told BBC Newsnight: "He should resign with dignity." Tory MP George Eustice also said he no longer had confidence in Yates.
Bob Milton, a Metropolitan police commander between 1999-2003 who headed the Special Branch protection squad and was in charge of security vetting for officers at the level of national security, also gave Yates less than enthusiastic backing.
"John Yates is a very, very competent police officer. He has admitted that perhaps he had a lack of judgment two years ago. He will have to make his own decision as to whether he feels that his own position is untenable," he said on Newsnight.
Asked what his own view was, Milton replied: "It depends why he made the decision. If he made it on operational grounds, then fair enough. If for any other reason he was influenced in any other way, then he should step down."
Also before the committee today is former assistant commissioner Andy Hayman, who is expected to say he had limited involvement in the decision-making when the royal household contacted police over concerns their mobile phones may have been hacked. The investigation was handled by specialist operations, which include royal protection but also houses the counter terrorism command.
The 2006 investigation is accepted by the Met to have been too limited in its scope, failing to inform scores of victims, although it led to the conviction in 2007 of a News of the World reporter and a private investigator.
After leaving the Met over controversy about his expenses, Hayman wrote occasional columns about policing for the Times, which is also owned by News International.
Also before the committee will be former counterterrorism chief Peter Clarke. Hours after the 2006 arrests were made over phone hacking, police had to arrest alleged plotters in the biggest terrorism plot ever uncovered in Britain, which saw people convicted of planning to explode liquid bombs aboard planes heading from London to north America.
Sue Akers, head of the current hacking inquiry, will also testify, though the need not to compromise the investigation will restrict the scope of her answers.
The position of Met commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson also looks rocky, says Chris Boothman, a lawyer and independent member of the Met authority, which supervises the service: "I don't think the commissioner's position is safe. This is about the management and supervision of the police service. No one has the power to intervene in the way investigations are run, so the buck stops with the commissioner. If there have been failings, the commissioner has to take responsibility for it."
Last night the New York Times claimed that five senior Met officers discovered their mobile phone messages had been targeted shortly after Scotland Yard began its initial phone hacking inquiry in 2006.
"If it is true that police officers knew their phones had been hacked, it is a serious matter that requires immediate investigation," said ToryMP John Whittingdale, chairman of the culture, media and sport committee, which investigated phone hacking. "It would be shocking."
The Guardian also understands the Independent Police Complaints Commission plans to take over Scotland Yard's investigation into allegations that its officers were paid by the News of the World. The Independent Police Complaints Commission has confirmed that it will assert its authority over the Metropolitan police "as and when" the force identifies individual officers suspected of receiving bribes.


text:
All Photos by Stanley Abraham
Based on the performance at B.B. King’s, Al Di Meola’s precision and passion have not diminished over the years. Di Meola joined Chick Corea’s band, Return to Forever, in 1974, and he has been evolving ever since. Currently, his band consists of Elias Tona on bass, Luis Alicea on drums, Gumbi Ortiz on percussion and Philippe Saisse on keyboard. Evan Garr, who was introduced last year during a tour, is also now part of the team.
DiMiola’s ongoing “Elegant Gypsy meets Romantic Warrior Electric Tour” lived up to its name, as the group played “One Night Last June” and “Flight Over Rio” from the Elegant Gypsy era, before playing “Babylon,” a track from Di Meola’s new album, Elysium.
Di Meola interacted playfully with the audience and also shared a link with his bandmates that was evident throughout the performance. Gumbi Ortiz, who has been with Di Meola for 24 years, was clearly in sync, especially during the more intimate acoustic set. The audience greeted each song with appreciation, and the musicians used that energy in their playing.
Di Meola performed “And I Love Her,” by the Beatles, during the acoustic set. He expressed his connection to the Beatles with his album All Your Life (A Tribute to the Beatles), his thank you to those who inspired his own entry into music as a guitarist.
By the end of the show, many members in the audience were standing. They continued to provide a standing ovation during the encore, which ended with an energetic rendition of “Race With The Devil On Spanish Highway.”


text:
Beyond the Flu and Bird Flu
Find out what's really ailing you this cold and flu season.
Like the flu, RSV is basically a respiratory illness. Its effects can range from a few sniffles to life-threatening pneumonia. Someone with the flu is more likely to have a fever and body aches, and someone with RSV is more likely to have a runny nose, a cough that produces mucus, and wheeze. It's especially virulent among infants. "Babies with RSV get wheezy, turn blue, and may go on ventilators," Walsh says. "It's a scary illness and it's really common." By contrast, he says when you are sick with the flu you will experience more fever symptoms than if you are sick with RSV. "In the very young and the very old, RSV can be quite virulent," says Neil Schachter, MD, medical director of respiratory care at Mount Sinai in New York City, and the author of The Good Doctor's Guide to Colds and Flu. "It is most dangerous in first six months of life because the infants can develop bronchiolitis," an infection of the smallest branches of the respiratory system, he says.
That's why early identification of RSV in infants is key, adds Albert L. Pizzica, DO, a neonatologist in Philadelphia and president of the National Perinatal Association, now based in Harrisburg, Pa. "You have to recognize a worsening cold because especially in preemies, we don't have a margin or error," he says. "It's a very short line between a mild cold and flu and being put on a breathing machine." Premature infants are at high risk of developing RSV, yet a new survey conducted by USA/DIRECT shows that parents of preemies know precious little about this bug. In fact, 90% of parents whose babies have been hospitalized with RSV say that they need better information about RSV prevention.
There is no widely used treatment for RSV, but ribavirin, an antiviral, can be used for the sickest of the sick. "It's controversial whether ribavirin helps or not and whether it can actually do some damage is not entirely clear," Schachter says.
Unlike the flu, there is no vaccine for RSV yet, Walsh says, although that's not from lack of trying. Unfortunately, attempts to develop a vaccine have met with varying degrees of failure.

domain: medical


Real Monarchs managed a win against a tricky BYU side, beating their neighbors, a PDL side, 3-2 in a friendly.
Garrett Gee, more a local entrepreneur than a pro-soccer-hopeful opened the scoring in the sixth minute to rocket the college side ahead. With five minutes left in the first half, Christian Bain gave BYU a 2-0 lead, leaving Real Monarchs a bit scraggly and rough around the edges.
All of that should perhaps be tempered by the fact that the three-man defensive line for Monarchs featured two academy players (Mckay Eves and Miles Stray) and one Monarchs player without much time under his belt (Marvin Baumgartner), and while they generally did well enough, the team didn't look particularly comfortable with the formation.
Real Monarchs clawed their way back into the game early in the second half, when Jonathan Caparelli, a trialist who featured for Monarchs in their friendly against the Real Salt Lake academy, scored for the away side with a stunning free kick from just outside the box.
A 60th minute complete lineup switch (save goalkeeper Victor Rodriguez, who played the full match) saw Monarchs come out with an ostensibly first-choice lineup.
From that point forward, Monarchs controlled nearly everything, and two goals from Sundly, the man of the half-hour, sealed a 3-2 win for the team.
Sundly's first, the game-tying goal, came from a shot taken as the ball was cut back diagonally through the box. The second came from a corner, with a ball bouncing around a heap of players before Sundly was able to finish it off.
Notably, a number of trialists, academy players, and Utah-based youth players saw time in the match.
The biggest name was perhaps James Rogers, a midfielder who was drafted by Sporting Kansas City this year but was cut before the July 1 deadline.
Unknown first-half player
Utah youth players
Unknown last-few-minutes player


text:
The Boy Next Door is a 2015 American erotic-thriller film directed by Rob Cohen & written by Barbara Curry, starring Jennifer Lopez, Ryan Guzman, John Corbett, Ian Nelson and Kristin Chenoweth.
| Spoiler warning: The following contains plot details about|
the entire movie.
Claire Peterson (Jennifer Lopez) separates from her husband Garrett (John Corbett), after he was caught cheating with his secretary. Her colleague and best friend Vicky Lansing (Kristin Chenoweth) urges Claire to divorce.
Claire meets 19-year-old Noah Sandborn (Ryan Guzman)—the orphaned nephew of her wheelchair-bound neighbor—who has just moved in next door. Noah befriends Kevin (Ian Nelson), Claire's teenage son and begins attending his school where Claire teaches English literature. Noah is drawn to Claire, expressing love for Homer's Iliad. With Kevin and Garrett away on a fishing trip, Claire watches a naked Noah in his room through her window.
Claire goes on a miserable double date with Vicky and her boyfriend Ethan (Travis Schuldt), and his ill-mannered friend Benny (Bailey Chase). With Kevin still away, Noah calls Claire over to help him cook. She ends up having dinner with him, during which he unashamedly flirts with her.
Despite Claire's hesitation, she lets Noah seduce her and they have sex. Claire tells Noah that she regrets their night together, causing him to punch a wall in rage. The school year begins with Noah joining an uncomfortable Claire's class after hacking into her computer, making it appear as if she had requested this.
Noah manipulates Kevin into hating his father, causing him to lash out at Garrett. Later, Kevin overexerts himself at the gymnasium and goes into shock; Noah saves his life by injecting him with Kevin's EpiPen. Claire receives flowers from Noah, and she confronts him about this. Noah witnesses Claire and Garrett on a date together, which escalates his obsession with her.
After an incident where Noah (in defense of Kevin) slams a bully's (Adam Hicks) head into a locker repeatedly, Vicky (who is vice principal at the school) discovers that Noah was kicked out of his previous school for disorderly conduct. After an encounter where Noah insults her, she expels him.
During the fall fling, Claire goes to investigate a leak in the boys' bathroom, where she instead sees the words "I fucked Claire Peterson" written on the wall before Noah emerges. He attempts to force himself on her, but she fends him off and demands that he stay away from her and Kevin.
The following day, Noah leaves a printer running in Claire's classroom, with images of them sleeping together scattered everywhere. When Garrett's car brakes fail to work, he and Kevin are nearly involved in an accident. Noah blackmails Claire; telling her that he has a tape of them having sex which he will relinquish to her if she continues sleeping with him. She refuses, and organizes a plot with Vicky to steer Noah away from his house.
Claire breaks into Noah's house and sees hundreds of images of herself in his basement. She finds his laptop, deleting their sex tape, and also sees images of car brakes, implying that he rigged Garrett's brakes. She meets with Detective Chou (François Chau), who informs her that Noah's father was killed after swerving into a truck with his minivan.
Noah binds and gags Vicky with duct tape and uses an audio recording of her voice to lure Claire to her house. When Claire arrives, she discovers Vicky's dead body, with her throat having been slashed by Noah. A horrified Claire contacts the police, but runs into Noah again. He reveals to her that his mother killed herself after his father cheated on her, so he rigged the brakes of his father's minivan, killing him and his mistress.
Noah takes Claire to a barn house where he has kidnapped Garrett and Kevin, threatening to kill them unless Claire stays with him.
A violent altercation occurs as Claire attempts to free them. Noah pours kerosene around the barn, causing it to ignite in flames. Garrett (having freed himself) attempts to choke Noah with a rope, prompting Noah to shoot him in the chest. Claire stabs Noah's eye with Kevin's EpiPen. When he later holds Kevin at gunpoint, she pulls a switch that drops an engine on Noah, killing him.
Claire and Kevin then help a wounded Garrett exit the burning barn house as the police arrive. Garrett is put in an ambulance. A paramedic says that Garrett will be fine. Claire and Kevin ride in the ambulance with him.
- Jennifer Lopez: Claire Peterson
- Ryan Guzman: Noah Sandborn
- John Corbett: Garrett Peterson
- Ian Nelson: Kevin Peterson
- Kristin Chenoweth: Vicky Lansing
- Lexi Atkins: Allie Callahan
- Hill Harper: Principal Edward Warren
- Travis Schuldt: Ethan
- Brian Mahoney: Cooper
- Adam Hicks: Jason Zimmer
- François Chau: Detective Johnny Chou
- Bailey Chase: Benny
Screenwriter Barbra Curry (who was a criminal lawyer for ten years) revealed that she developed the script's concept after running past a house which she described as her "dream house".
A "bad boy" her son went to school with resided in the house across the street which gave her a "really interesting" concept about a neighborhood boy creating conflict and "driving a wedge between a family". This served as her inspiration for the screenplay.
Curry stated that the "first few drafts of [the movie] focused on a 12-year-old boy and a mother's trial of trying to get her son out of this boy's clutches and gradually, it became something else".
In the original script, Claire was "happily married", but Curry chose to have her separated due to her husband's infidelity, so that she could be a "more sympathetic character". She was influenced by the real-life story of Mary Kay Letourneau, a teacher who became involved with her underage student which caused her to be convicted for rape charges.
Director Rob Cohen revealed that in Curry's draft, the character of Noah was younger, but he made the conscious decision to age him to 17 years old because he felt as if it was "not healthy" and that audiences would lose sympathy for the protagonist.
Explaining her character, Lopez stated that Claire was feeling "worthless" after her husband cheated and "people can understand that. They can understand making a mistake in a moment like that."
The Boy Next Door 's plot has been compared to the thriller films Swimfan and Basic Instinct while being dubbed "the Fatal Attraction of 2015". The formerly dominant erotic thriller genre had been fading from Hollywood features since the 1990s.
Director Rob Cohen stated that with the film, he wanted to "reinvent the genre in an entertaining way" that would reflect "2015, not 1990".
On his approach, Cohen said that he refused to consider making the film PG-13: "The first thing I said was, If you want me, I'm making an R-rated movie. I don't want to deal with sex and make it, like, for 13-year-olds."
The film took 23 days to shoot. Discussing its micro-budget, Lopez stated: "You know what, we put all four million dollars in front of the camera! We all shared one trailer, we had no craft service, it wasn't that type of luxury movie set, let's say."
Lopez also found that the limited budget and filming period was "super intense", saying: "I never had done a film like that in my career. That was the first time we did that, but it was very liberating as an artist because it made me realize I can make whatever movie I want like this."
The filming took place throughout the fall of 2013. In December of 2013, the film received permit to shoot in Placerita Canyon, Newhall.
The theatrical trailer for "The Boy Next Door" was released on September 8, 2014.
The teaser poster was unveiled in October of 2014, featuring Jennifer Lopez standing in a window wearing a "tight low-cut lacy cami."
The film's main demographic is women and Latinos.
Lopez made her largest Hispanic press tour to date in Miami in promotion of The Boy Next Door. She hoped that the film would appeal to Hispanic markets, due to featuring two Hispanic leads, which she stated may not have been possible if a big studio had produced it.
She visited the "¡Despierta América!" and "Nuestra Belleza Latina" shows which air on the Latin American network Univision, the latter of which saw 22% ratings gain with Lopez's appearance.
According to Variety, the film received 105,000 posts on Twitter by the day of its release.
Measuring the film's pros and cons, Boxoffice magazine said that the film's social media activity online and Jennifer Lopez's pull with Latino audiences would help it.
However, the publication also noted that Lopez's box office drawing power had been dwindling which worked against the film.
"The Boy Next Door" was released on January 23, 2015. It runs for approximately 91 minutes and was given an R rating from the MPAA for "violence, sexual content/nudity, and language".
On February 9, 2015, a BBFC classification gives the film a 15 certificate for "strong violence, threat, very strong language".
The film's UK distributors, also Universal Studios, chose to remove two seconds of material (the eye gouging scene) in order to obtain a 15. There is an 18-rated version available.
"The Boy Next Door" was projected to pull in $12–15 million over its opening weekend.
It earned $5.7 million on its opening day, well over its budget & opened at number two at the US box office, with an opening weekend gross of $14.9 million, significantly higher than the other new releases for that week.
The Hollywood Reporter revealed that 45 percent of the film's opening week audience was Hispanic while 71% of the overall audience was female.
The film became Lopez's best opening weekend for a January release, beating her romantic comedy The Wedding Planner which opened with $13.5 million.
Furthermore, it is Lopez's biggest live-action opening since Monster-in-Law, nearly ten years ago.
The film ended its domestic box office run with a total of $35.4 million, and has earned another $16.5 million in foreign markets.
"The Boy Next Door" received largely negative reviews from film critics, who felt that it promised "campy thrills" but did not deliver.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a rating of 10%, based on 115 reviews, with a rating average of 3.3/10.
The site's consensus reads: "The Boy Next Door may get a few howls out of fans of stalker thrillers, but for most viewers, it won't even rise to 'so bad it's good' status".
On Metacritic, the film has a score of 30 out of 100, based on 33 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".
According to CinemaScore, audiences gave the film a grade of "B−" on an A+ to F scale.
Writing for the San Francisco Chronicle, Thomas Lee wrote: "Why Lopez decided to do this inept, cliche-infested film is anyone's guess".
Peter Keough of The Boston Globe wrote that "[the film] may end up as one of the worst movies of 2015, but it is also one of the most entertaining".
The Guardian writer Jordan Hoffman gave the film two stars, writing that "it is bad, but it isn't THAT bad" and said: "for a would-be cult classic, this could have been much more".
Robert Abele of the Los Angeles Times was critical of the film, calling it "breathless, uninspired (...) junk that feels like the iffiest bits of a Lifetime movie and late-night cable schlock slapped together" and called Guzman's character boring.
Entertainment Weekly 's Leah Greenblatt similarly wrote that the film was a "few deliciously bonkers bons mots dot the Lifetime-grade dialogue" while calling its script "too timid to fully dive into the high camp it hints at".
Despite negative reviews, Jennifer Lopez has received praise.
Richard Lawson from Vanity Fair wrote:
"Given the material, Lopez is actually pretty darn good in the movie, taking it seriously enough that it’s not irksomely arch camp, but also plenty aware that she’s not doing Shakespeare. She’s a joy to watch throughout."
Claudia Puig from USA Today stated that the movie was an improvement on her previous romantic comedies, calling Lopez "believably powerful in moments of physical conflict".
Daniel D’Addario from Time called the movie "clunky and ridiculous", but also called it "a rare movie about women" and "the Bad Movie Hollywood Needs Right Now", adding that:
"Lopez's new project represents an earnest attempt to capitalize on a very real public hunger to see a woman at the center of a mainstream movie—not an indie, but an old-fashioned popcorn flick. Can either the boy-centric Best Picture nominees or the elusive Best Actress pictures say that? If every director, at every level of ambition, were making commercially ambitious movies about women, The Boy Next Door wouldn't feel so perversely refreshing. But its director is one of very few who actually did."
|2015||MTV Movie Award||Best Scared-As-S**t Performance||Jennifer Lopez||Won|
|2015||Premios Juventud||Actriz que Se Roba La Pantalla (Favorite Actress)||Jennifer Lopez||Won|
|2015||Premios Juventud||Pantalla Más Padre (Favorite Movie)||Jennifer Lopez, Jason Blum||Won|
|2016||People's Choice Award||Favorite Dramatic Movie Actress||Jennifer Lopez||Results pending|
|Favorite Thriller Movie||The Boy Next Door||Results pending|


text:
How many miles willing to travel for work:
chatham, New Jersey, United States
Also available for work in:
New York, Philadelphia, Atlantic City, Washington DC, anywhere!!!
I am a look-alike of:
Natalie Portman, Juliya Chernetsky
Tattoos, Glasses, Piercing

domain: geography


text:
The Digby wharf’s middle ell will start coming down next week.
Dexter Construction won the $441,550 contract to demolish the condemned section of the Digby wharf starting Nov. 1.
They have until the end of February to finish but Jeff Sunderland, manager for the Digby Harbour Port Authority says they are shooting to be done for Christmas.
Sunderland says the timing is perfect with the busy part of the lobster season winding down now.
The tender stipulates that the wharf be fully accessible and functional throughout the demolition.
A further contract will be let for dredging and installation of the poles for floating docks.
Sunderland says, optimistically the new floating dock system could be ready to go by April.
The floating docks will match the ones beside the middle ell. It will have five floats with room for two boats on either side, for a total of 20 boats.
Currently the port authority only allows boats 55’ and under to use the floats. Right now they are seven boats over capacity, with more of the scallop fleet yet to return and expecting additional scallop and lobster boats through the fall, says Sunderland.
He says they are accommodating everyone with some juggling.
Drilling has just wrapped up around the location of the old pier/ new breakwater just north of the wharf.
The ‘geotechnical investigation’ was to determine what the soil is like on the footprint where the breakwater will go.
Sunderland says there is 10’ of silt in some places and 40’ in others.
Different soils he says will displace differently under the weight of the stone.
It is important to understand what the soil will do, he says, in order to plan how much rock will be needed, how to pile it and how steep to make the sides of the breakwater.
That part of the project is still in the permitting process—which started in June and may take until the new year to complete.
Sunderland says construction schedules are often subject to change, but at this point, the breakwater could be done for June 2013.
He says the breakwater will protect the wharf from nor’easters that pound in across the Annapolis Basin.
Digby mayor Ben Cleveland has said the old Digby Pier lighthouse, recently returned from Saint John, will be erected at the end of the new breakwater. He is planning a ‘Let’s get lit’ party for June.
The complete project (middle ell demolition, dredging, floating docks, and breakwater) should cost approximately $7.4 million, says Sunderland.
The government of Canada is paying for the project.1
Earlier federal funding of $3 million, just after the authority obtained the wharf from the previous owners, allowed the authority to replace missing decking, remove a sunken boat and fixing broken ladders.
And last spring, another $250,000 from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans for storm damage repair allowed the port authority to put new decking on the outside faces.


text:
Gallery interiors hung with paintings, at the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition, Dunedin, 1889-1890, 1889
Reference Number: PA1-o-761-06
Gallery interiors hung with paintings by British and European artists, at the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition, Dunedin, 1889-1890. Shows seats for gallery visitors in the foreground. Photograph taken in 1889 by David Alexander De Maus.
McCormick, Eric :Album record of the art exhibit at the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition, Dunedin, 1889-1890, Reference Number PA1-o-761 (3 digitised items)
McCormick, Eric :Photographs, Reference Number PAColl-5030 (19 digitised items)
Extent: 1 b&w original photographic print(s)Albumen print 13.9 x 19.2, on album page. Horizontal imageSingle photograph
Conditions governing access to original: Not restricted
Usage: You can search, browse, print and download items from this website for research and personal study. You are welcome to reproduce the above image(s) on your blog or another website, but please maintain the integrity of the image (i.e. don't crop, recolour or overprint it), reproduce the image's caption information and link back to here (http://mp.natlib.govt.nz/detail/?id=67542). If you would like to use the above image(s) in a different way (e.g. in a print publication), or use the transcription or translation, permission must be obtained. More information about copyright and usage can be found on the Copyright and Usage page of the NLNZ web site.


text:
On his third full-length, the English dynamo shows the full wealth and range of his powers. ÷ is a ruthlessly melodic run through a staggering array of styles, further proof that Sheeran is a singer/songwriter for these musical times: a balladeer who can blur the lines between Celtic folk and hip-hop (“Galway Girl”) just as readily as he can summon big, festival-ready sentiments (“Castle on the Hill”), impassioned serenades (“Perfect”), and pulse-quickening pop (“Shape of You.”)
|1||Eraser||Ed Sheeran||3:47||USD 1.29|
|2||Castle on the Hill||Ed Sheeran||4:21||USD 1.29|
|3||Dive||Ed Sheeran||3:58||USD 1.29|
|4||Shape of You||Ed Sheeran||3:53||USD 1.29|
|5||Perfect||Ed Sheeran||4:23||USD 1.29|
|6||Galway Girl||Ed Sheeran||2:50||USD 1.29|
|7||Happier||Ed Sheeran||3:27||USD 1.29|
|8||New Man||Ed Sheeran||3:09||USD 1.29|
|9||Hearts Don't Break Around Here||Ed Sheeran||4:08||USD 1.29|
|10||What Do I Know?||Ed Sheeran||3:57||USD 1.29|
|11||How Would You Feel (Paean)||Ed Sheeran||4:40||USD 1.29|
|12||Supermarket Flowers||Ed Sheeran||3:41||USD 1.29|
|13||Barcelona||Ed Sheeran||3:11||USD 1.29|
|14||Bibia Be Ye Ye||Ed Sheeran||2:56||USD 1.29|
|15||Nancy Mulligan||Ed Sheeran||2:59||USD 1.29|
|16||Save Myself||Ed Sheeran||4:07||USD 1.29|
The most overrated album of the year.
if this were 200$, i would still buy it :))
This Album is Everything
I just cant!!
Never judge a song by its creator!🐺
it’s alright. overplayed a bit... don’t see what all the fuss is about. i do like some of the songs though! proud of ed and how far he’s come
I am so happy I got these!!
I liked a @YouTube video Ed Sheeran - Thinking Out Loud [Official Video]
@harryltkiwi: Nunca esqueçam de quando apareceu uma foto larry no show do ed sheeran durante friends #NatalLarrynaStar …
ed sheeran pisa demais
When will - (subtract) be out?
i think it’s basic
Supermarket flowers in my opinion is the best song on here! Not only does his voice sound beautiful, but it has a meaning to it and a story behind it!
How in the hell did this guy beat Kesha at the Grammys. All this man sings about is a woman. And Kesha was actually abused. The music company did that on purpose. Bìtches. This deserves to go on the Now This is what I call bull $h!t album. Team Kesha. iiswhoiis.
I love this song!!!
It is very soothing
I LOVE Ed!!!!!! And all of these songs!!! My favs are Barcelona and Supermarket flowers!!! I love ed so much! I don’t get why people are saying this is, “boring” it’s GREAT!!!!
e d h l s e b t e u r m a n
I love this album and Shape of you! I also like castle on the hill a lot! Edit: so I wrote that a while ago probably last year and now I realized how much of a basic girl I was. I literally only liked his basic songs such as “shape of you” now I really love Ed Sheeran and all his songs. They all have so much depth and are also romantic and gov end the feels😅 still a 5 star review, I just now realize how much I really love this album and can’t wait for the next


text:
Where to Purchase Organic and Natural Teas
There are numerous benefits of alcohol consumption tea, and one of the very best means to start is by drinking a few cups daily. There are many different kinds as well as flavors to try, and also they all have a special flavor and aroma. If you ‘d like to expand your tea understanding, below are some areas you can begin. You can additionally find a variety of organic as well as all-natural tea blends. This will certainly provide you much more variety when it concerns your tea selection. There are various tea brand names readily available. Arbor Teas, for instance, is a qualified B Corp. Its leaves are expanded without chemicals or GMOs, as well as they’re packaged making use of paper filters for maximum sustainability. Numi leaves are sold at Whole Foods as well as Kroger. They come in a variety of tastes, consisting of a delicious White Rose mix that contains natural whole rose buds. If you want a more special taste, you may consider trying a new brand. When buying your tea, make certain to try to find the USDA natural seal. This seal implies that it was expanded using organic techniques without harmful chemicals. Fair profession qualification is gained by naturally growing tea. This makes sure that the dirt and also water are safe for future generations. You can additionally discover natural teas at specialty shops. Depending upon your preference and spending plan, you can choose from several various type of natural teas. For the best quality, search for a brand name that has gone through a five-step qualification procedure. A USDA-accredited accrediting agent will certainly review the items. Natural teas can be discovered in different nations . They consist of green tea, black tea, pu-erh, as well as oolong tea. Besides purchasing your tea on the internet, you can additionally locate various other tea accessories as well as a variety of brewing accessories. This way, you can pick the very best tea for your demands. If you want to trying out various types of tea, you can even try some various tastes and maximize it. There are several benefits to purchasing all-natural teas. You can discover tea blends from different areas and taste the difference in between them. Some are better for you than others. If you’re a fan of green varieties, you’ll intend to try to find a top quality eco-friendly tea. The top notch environment-friendly teas will be fragrant as well as intense, and also they’re much healthier for you than the majority of other teas. You’ll be able to tell the difference in between two kinds as well as choose the ones that match your tastes. The initial advantage is that you’ll be drinking healthy tea. A number of studies have found that environment-friendly tea may make rheumatism and also arthritis even worse. So, before you acquire a bag of green or black tea, read up on the benefits of this herbal tea. It might be worth investing a little extra for a cup of organic tea – or just for the purpose of a mug of it. There are several reasons to consume it.

domain: food


text:
For a while there, it looked as if Birnam Wood would not come to Southmoreland Park, toil and trouble would not bubble in view of the Nelson-Atkins’ shuttlecocks, and cries of “Out, damned spot!” would not sound across midtown Kansas City.
But thanks to a tempest of support from the community, the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival was able to raise needed funds, and this year’s production of Macbeth will run from June 14 through July 3. It was just over a month ago that the Festival’s organizers announced they would need to raise $100,000 to keep the 19th season afloat. Luckily, the ducats came rolling in, and the show will go on.
That’s good news for the Kansas City Public Library, too. Not only are we fans of the Festival – which always brings veteran actors to top-notch productions of the Bard’s works – we’re also proud to host an annual Shakespeare lecture series that’s free and open to the community. In its 11th year, the series brings extra context and insight to the plays staged in the heart of our city.
Macbeth Mondays [And One Tuesday] begins on Tuesday, June 7, with Festival Dramaturge Dr. Thomas Canfield talking about “Macbeth in the Arts.” The series continues on Mondays in June at 1:30 p.m. at the Plaza Branch (4801 Main St.). All presentations are free and open to the public.
The speakers at Macbeth Mondays consist of UMKC instructors and theater professionals intimately involved in the Festival. In fact, local Shakespeare fans will have the chance to visit with the Festival’s own Producing Artistic Director Sidonie Garrett when she discusses “Issues of Gender in Macbeth” on June 20.
“The Festival is one of Kansas City’s jewels, and these lectures let people who are attending the Festival appreciate it even more,” says Ardy Pearson, who organizes the series each year on behalf of UMKC’s SPARK, an outreach program for seniors.
Young and old alike will enjoy this year’s series, which also includes a presentation by Dr. Laurie Ellinghausen on “Violence, Treason, and Equivocation,” on June 13, and concludes with a visit from the Fest’s costume and set designers to discuss “Kilts and the Stone of Scone,” on June 27.
So, as Lady Macbeth would say, “screw your courage to the sticking place,” and get down to the Plaza Branch for a series of discussions that will be more than just sound and fury.


The Kid's Pasaway Shirt is the perfect shirt for kids who are always getting into trouble. The fabric is made with a special blend of materials that makes it resistant to stains and easy to clean. Whether your child gets paint on their shirt or juice all over their clothes, the Kid's Pasaway Shirt will make cleanup a breeze.
The Youth Long Sleeve Shirt is made of Airlume combed and ringspun cotton, which is known for its softness and durability. The shirt has a regular fit, classic crew neck, and ribbed cuff, perfect for every "Dasurv mo ng pingot!"
• 100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton • Athletic Heather is 90% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 10% polyester • Fabric weight: 4.2 oz/yd² (180 g/m²) • Regular fit • Side-seamed construction • Ribbed cuff • Blank product sourced from Honduras, Nicaragua, US


text:
A small growing deciduous tree, Acer palmatum Butterfly has attractive and strong variegated on its 5 lobed leaves. It is the size and the strong variegation that make this such an attractive addition to garden, particularly in shaded areas.
Although rarely reaching more than 4 metres in height, Acer palmatum Butterfly under ideal conditions can grow a little larger than this. Best planted in a position where it is protected from full sun, very hot sun and strong drying winds. Because of its size it can be used to plant beneath taller trees which will afford it some protection.
Autumn tones turn to yellow orange and a touch of red.
Planting and general care
With its variegated foliage this is plant that grows best in a little shade. It does like moist soils, however wet soggy soils are not suitable.
- Prepare the soil before planting.
- Dig in some well rotted compost and aged cow manure.
- Plant at the same level that it was in the container.
- Stake if needed
- Water in with a liquid seaweed fertiliser.
- Mulch around the plant to maintain a cool root run and help with moisture.
- Water well trough the first summer
If growing Acer palmatum Butterfly in a container, choose a high quality potting soil, use a general purpose slow release fertiliser each spring.
Being smaller growing this is an excellent Japanese Maple for small gardens and is also suited to growing in containers in courtyards. A brilliant feature tree in a Japanese style courtyard garden.
Try underplanting with an ornamental grass such as Liriope muscari, Dwarf Mondo Grass or perhaps Epimediums.
Acer palmatum Butterfly – Summary Information.
- Height – Will reach 3 – 4 metres in height over time.
- Growth Habit – Upright.
- Spread – This is an upright vase sapped tree with a crown of around 2 meters over time.
- Growth Rate – Slow to medium.
- Position – Best in a position with light shade or afternoon shade.
- Soil – Humus rich well drained.
- Foliage – Olive green with a strong creamy white variegation on the leaf margins. Leaves are deeply lobbed.
- Frost Tolerant – Yes
Acer palmatum Butterfly is available for sale from the following participating suppliers
Mob: 0421 821 307 Fax: 03 9752 0976
Quality grafted Japanese Maples. Largest range in Australia. Supplying Landscapers and Retail Nurseries. Strictly Wholesale. All states except WA.
CNR Sherbrooke & Mt Dandenong Tourist Rds Ferny Creek. VIC 3786
Conifers, Magnolias, Maples, Dogwoods and Buxus.
55 McDougal Rd Neerim South Victoria 3831 PH: (03) 56281507
Advanced ornamental trees and garden designs and concept plans. Direct to your property combined with specialist knowledge and outstanding service.