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Old Structures Inside and Out
Photographing and exploring old structures inside and out is exciting. There is nothing more thrilling than driving up on an old barn or structure that captures my attention. Well, except old vehicles 🙂 Some of my old building finds are located in the country and many times, right smack dab in the middle of a city.
Soon, these structures will only be faded memories. Old barns give way, old homes get torn down and old city buildings get knocked down to make way for something new. I feel a certain need to photograph them. To preserve the memory and on some occasions, to find out the history of the building or structure.
I have blogged about some of the locations.
Old Structures Inside & Out Gallery
Showcasing Wisconsin barns, old houses and old structures. Depicting life that has passed us by.
Old House Stephenson, Wisconsin
An old house that my husband and I ran across on a Sunday drive together. I have found my happy balance of spending time on weekends lately with my husband. Trap two people in a car together without a radio or internet and we get back to actually talking and sharing a great deal of information. Additional landscape pictures from the area under the blog post-Sunday Drive in Early March.
Inside the Old Rail Car
Mill in Cades Cove Tennessee Smokey Mountains National Park
Cades Cove is an isolated valley located in the Tennessee section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The cove holds some historical buildings and an excellent place for wildlife viewing. We went during early spring and tried to dodge in-between the rains to explore.
Inside One of the Old Cabins
Ventured out into the heavy wooded areas of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park trying to locate the old section of cabins on this visit. Our first attempt was unsuccessful. We stopped at a local country shop and the gentleman there knew exactly what I was wanting to see and drew us a map.
The cabins met the wrecking ball the following week. We were successful, the heavy rains didn’t stop us, but the trees and rain took out our umbrella and we were a muddy mess. You can see my album with some of the Tennessee photograph, including some old cabins on Smugmug.
Turret Spring House Rock Island State Park, TN
Located in Rock Island State Park in Tennessee. The spring house was built in the 1890s.
The Spring Castle has a medieval-looking turret and is set back into a hill. The elaborate spring house was built when the cotton mill across the street was in operation. There is a reservoir behind the stone wall that has a natural spring, The spring provided water for the town, the mill and also for fire protection for the cotton mill across the street.
Old Bell Tower
Old Cheese Factory Southern Door County
Old Belgian stonework makes up the outside of this outbuilding in Southern Door County from my vintage photography collection. I was told by the locals it served as a cheese factory and store back in the day. The counties had small community cheese factories that they would visit.
Pembine Wisconsin Milwaukee Railroad Train Depot
Pictured is the former Pembine Wisconsin Milwaukee Railroad Depot Wisconsin. Pembine was named after the Pemebonwon River. The name means cranberry in the language of the Menominee Indians.
The station located in Pembine was built in 1887 when the logging industry was flourishing in the area. The heyday of logging is long over but the depot seems to still be used by the railroad by the rail cars stored on the side tracks.
Lower Ore Dock Marquette Michigan
The lower ore dock in Marquette Michigan is a good place to stand during the early eve. A pastel coloring consumes the sky for an area that is most certainly a sunrise location over Lake Superior. See the additional places we visited on this trip under the photography blog posting Lower Ore Dock Marquette Michigan.
1798 Rice Grist Mill Lake City, TN
Rice Grist Mill Lake City, TN. This 18th Century Rice Grist Mill was originally constructed in 1798 in Union County. The mill was later dismantled and rebuilt on Clear Creek in 1935, where it sits today.
The mill is a two-story log structure with a wooden water wheel. Water is channeled from the top of the wheel and pours over allowing the wheel to turn.
Old District Number 8 Schoolhouse
District number 8 brick schoolhouse. This building was built in 1901 and housed many grades from the Southern Door, Wisconsin area. I have blogged about some additional buildings and structures from the area under the photography blog post-Belgian Brick by Brick.
This building was the building that honey was processed at, located on an old cherry orchard property in Door County, Wisconsin that had bee houses. You can read additional information on the property under the photography blog post-Honey House in Door County.
Wisconsin once had over 40 covered bridges, that is just an amazing fact to me. The last covered bridge in Wisconsin is located in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. Want to read a little more about the history of this bridges? Look for the photography blog posting Last Covered Bridge in Wisconsin.
St Coletta Jefferson, Wisconsin
The places you explore that you didn’t have a clue about! I received a brief history lesson about this building called St. Coletta Institute for Backward Youth. It was a medical, residential, and educational institution for the developmentally disabled. It was organized by the sisters of St. Francis Assisi in 1904 at the behest of Father George Meyer of St. Lawrence Catholic Church.
I have a post that shares additional pictures and information from the area. Including a little history about a daughter of a United States President that lived on the grounds of the institute. You can read the photography blog St Coletta Jefferson Wisconsin post for additional information.
Old IGA Store in Watson Michigan
My husband and I took an extra long motorcycle ride from Green Bay, Wisconsin to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula a few years back. We stumbled upon this beautiful old IGA store in Watson Michigan. You can see additional pictures from the visit under Old IGA Store Watson, Michigan.
Rockland Lincoln School Brown County, Wisconsin
Rockland was settled by immigrants of mainly German, Dutch, and Irish heritage. This schoolhouse was established in 1901. I was sad to get word about a month after I photographed the schoolhouse that it had burnt down. Gone but not forgotten. You can read a little more about the history of this little school under the post- Rockland Lincoln School.
A train bridge that rotates over the Fox River in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The swing bridge will rotate over the water to allow trains to cross. It is still in operation today. Want to see a video I took of the swing bridge in action or additional items you can see on the Fox River in Green Bay, Wisconsin? See the posting Summer on the Water.
Backroads Denmark Wisconsin
Feeding the need to hit the road – Today, that journey leads me down backroads Denmark Wisconsin. Once in a while, I happen upon an old building, structure or vehicle that will make me let out a squeal and scare anyone that is along for the ride.Someday they will be gone – Thankfully, nobody was with me this weekend when I drove up to this old schoolhouse or church (not sure which). They most certainly would have had some form of heart arrhythmia with my vocalization of this find.(You can purchase most art as prints, cards and more by following a link to the marketplace it is sold in. All photography is fulfilled by a contracted company. Read about the ordering process. )Round Barn Vanishing Symbol
A man by the name of Orson Fowler wrote a book on octagon shape barns. According to him, it was better utilization of space. It required fewer materials and less time to build.This octagon barn was found in Kewaunee, County in Wisconsin. A huge advantage for Wisconsin communities along the Lake Michigan shoreline was that the octagon shape withstood heavy winds.Most of the octagon-shaped barns were built between 1880 and 1920.Listed in Fine Art / SmugmugStavkirke Church Washington Island,Wisconsin
The Stavkirke Church on Washington Island is patterned after an ancient church of Norway from medieval times. You can see the Viking shipbuilding influence in the interior and exterior architecture. There are four dragons on the front and rear roofs of the church which were designed from a Stavkirke book. There is a prayer path to stroll along and sit and reflect. This is a lovely example of Scandinavian architecture. Read a little more about the church and see additional pictures and posts from the area.Listed in Fine Art / Smugmug
White Star Psychic Church Brussels, Wisconsin
I love the history of this church. In the 1880’s John B Evearts wife fell ill. Traditional doctors gave her no hope. John brought his wife to a spiritualist medium, who healed his wife. The medium told John, he to had the gift and needed to practice it. John quit his job, sold his business and built The White Star Church in 1888.
The church still stands today and does have a following in the area. It is the last remaining spiritualist church in Northeast Wisconsin and one of the few remaining in Wisconsin. My daughter and I paid a visit to church one Sunday, you can read more about the history and our visit.
Hotel Hell Maribel
This building is commonly known to locals as Hotel Hell, plenty of history and stories surround this building. So, which are fact and which are fiction? What is the history of the building? Read about The Maribel Hotel.
Sturgeon Bay Historic Steel Bridge
The Sturgeon Bay Bridge (known as the Michigan Street Bridge) is a historic bridge in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, United States. The bridge was built in 1929 and opened July 4, 1931, with a grand parade where it was officially dedicated as a Door County Veterans Memorial which plaques at either end still reads “To honor those who gave of themselves, to their country, in times of need” as a gift by the State of Wisconsin. You can see additional photos of the area under the post- Sturgeon Bay Wisconsin at Night.
The Francis Hardy Gallery is housed in a building that is a part of the water navigation history of Lake Michigan in Ephraim, Wisconsin. Sailors once left messages on the building for other sailors on it. Today, visitors to the gallery now leave their mark. If you want additional history or see photos of the building please visit Door County Anderson Dock posting.
Old Brick Building in Oconto County
Abandon House Door County, Wisconsin
Inside Railroad Storage Building
Inside of an old railroad storage shed with no lights and dark as can be, except one glorious window of light. I used an old cupboard as a tripod to get this indoor shot. For myself, photography just gives me another reason to ask for permission to explore places that many people won’t think of going.
Crystal River Grist Mill
The Crystal River Grist Mill in Waupaca, Wisconsin was built in 1855 and it was a property that I wouldn’t have paid a visit if we weren’t in the area for a funeral. A local paper caught my eye at breakfast of a little chapel and that is what guided me to the mill. My photography travels have brought me to some interesting places over the years. If you want to read a little more about this mill or see additional photos from the property visit the Crystal River Grist Mill Wisconsin post.
Moon and Stars Outhouse
The moon and star cutout on the outhouses came about in a time when few people could read, The crescent moon was the symbol of women and the star cutout was for men.
Midwest Photography Blog & Collections


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NEW DELHI: Blaming the Opposition for stalling the reform process in Parliament Union minister Kapil Sibal said that the Indian economy would have to grow at least 9% for government schemes to be successfully implemented.
Sibal, the minister for communications and information and technology, said the Opposition should go hand in hand with the government in taking forward the reforms agenda.
"There are several very innovative schemes that we have put forward and we are expecting that Parliament would rise to the occasion to understand the importance and gravity of growth. That unless we have double digit growth, at least 9% growth, we'll not be able finance these schemes," Sibal said at a DAVP function to mark the launch of the Government of India Calendar 2013.
Sibal said there is no point moving forward with these schemes if the opposition does not allow the bills concerned to be passed in Parliament.

domain: economics


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Mumbai: After a lot of drama and controversy, Karan Johar’s much awaited film ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ hit the theatres on Friday. While Bollywood celebrities such as Gauri Khan, Alia Bhatt, Sidharth Malhotra, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Kiran Rao and others were the first ones to watch it, Karan’s another good friend and Ranbir’s ex girlfriend Katrina Kaif was missing from the scene.
Just when everyone wondered why Katrina, who was recently often spotted hanging out with Karan, was nowhere to be seen at filmmaker’s movie screening, recent reports suggest that she wasn’t invited in the first place.
According to a report that appeared in DNA, Ranbir Kapoor asked the makers to not invite his ex lover for the screening.
A source was quoted saying, “Ranbir told his director not to invite her as it would make the atmosphere uncomfortable.” When Katrina heard of this, the actress was upset and decided to not show up for the screening at all. The actress is over Ranbir and just wants their film ‘Jagga Jasoos’ to hit the screens soon....

domain: entertainment


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Zu dieser ISBN ist aktuell kein Angebot verfügbar.Alle Exemplare der Ausgabe mit dieser ISBN anzeigen:
Book by None
Die Inhaltsangabe kann sich auf eine andere Ausgabe dieses Titels beziehen.
It is an insidious illness with no known cure, afflicting those who suffer from it with near-uncontrollable tremors, speech impairment, and balance problems. In addition, one's intelligence experiences decline. Among its most prominent victims are Muhammad Ali and Michael J Fox. Parkinson's disease is a disorder of certain nerve cells in the brain that produce dopamine, which is a chemical messenger that the brain uses to help direct and control movement. In Parkinson's disease, these dopamine-producing nerve cells break down, dopamine levels drop, and brain signals directing movement become abnormal. Usually, the disease begins in later life (in one's 50s or after), although there are cases of 'early-onset' Parkinson's affecting those in their 20s and 30s. Medical science has yet to determine a cause for this illness, although recent tests have seemed to rule out genetics. In addition, there is no known cure, but treatment can lessen some of the symptoms. The importance of understanding Parkinson's disease is quite clear, and medical research in the field is moving ahead, although there are continual battles for funding. This book is a key resource in researching an illness that afflicts many across the world. After giving a thorough overview of Parkinson's, the book gives a carefully selected list of abstracts of relevant literature, then provides easy access via author, title, and subject indexes.
„Über diesen Titel“ kann sich auf eine andere Ausgabe dieses Titels beziehen.

domain: health


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VinylPlus Registers Record Number of Recycled PVC
VinylPlus, the sustainable development programme of the European PVC industry, registered a record 444,468 tonnes of recycled PVC last year. The goal is to recycle 800,000 tonnes per year by 2020.
In 2013 VinylPlus registered a decrease of 81.4% in the use of lead-based stabilisers in the EU-27 compared to 2007 levels, well on target to completing their substitution by the end of 2015. In 2014, the commitment will be extended to the EU-28.
The 2013 results were presented at the 2014 Vinyl Sustainability Forum in Rome, Italy. VinylPlus Chairman Michael Träger said: “We are very proud to show how VinylPlus is continuously progressing toward its targets. At the heart of our Commitment’s progress is the strong cooperation among PVC industry sector groups, companies, national associations and the factual contribution of our stakeholders."
In 2013, EU regulations’ potential impact on recycling because of the presence of ‘legacy additives’ in PVC waste was a serious challenge for the industry as it has the potential to reduce the amount of PVC that can be recycled. This concern is valid for PVC recycling but also for many other recycled materials. VinylPlus made significant efforts to address this issue with the relevant authorities.
Raising sustainability awareness is a key component of the VinylPlus programme. In 2013, VinylPlus’ Voluntary Commitment, its progress and its achievements were presented through active participation in high-level conferences, events and exhibitions at European and global level, such as the European Commission’s annual forum on international affairs and development cooperation, European Development Days. In November 2013, VinylPlus became a member of the Green Industry Platform (GIP), a joint initiative of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Would you like to subscribe to our Newsletters on plastics technology and profit from the latest information?
Looking for a new challenge? Check out our jobs market!
Patents encourage innovation: Stay on the ball with the latest innovations in the plastics industry in our patents section.

domain: chemistry


Atomic agency finds damning Iran evidence
IN AN unusually blunt and detailed report, the International Atomic Energy Agency has said Iran's suspected research into the development of nuclear weapons remains a matter of serious concern and that Iran continues to owe the agency substantial explanations.
The nine-page report released on Monday accused the Iranians of a wilful lack of cooperation, particularly in answering allegations that its nuclear program might be intended more for military use than for energy generation.
Part of the agency's case hinges on 18 documents listed and presented to Iran that, according to Western intelligence agencies, indicate the Iranians have ventured into explosives, uranium processing and a missile warhead design - activities that could be associated with constructing nuclear weapons.
"There are certain parts of their nuclear program where the military seems to have played a role," said an official close to the agency, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "We want to understand why." The report highlights the work still to be done before definitive conclusions about the nature of the program can be made, a task that the official said would require months.
Iran's nuclear program has long been a flashpoint, with critics fearing that suggestions Iran is developing weapons could embolden factions within the US Administration which have been pushing for a confrontation with Iran.
Iran dismissed the documents as forged or fabricated and claimed its experiments and projects had nothing to do with a nuclear weapons program, but refused to provide documents and access to its scientists to support its claims.
The report was released a day after the former US president, Jimmy Carter, said Israel held at least 150 nuclear weapons. The Jewish state, which views Iranian nuclear power as a threat, has never publicly acknowledged its own possession of nuclear warheads.
The report alleges Iran is learning to make faster and more powerful and efficient centrifuges. So it may be producing enriched uranium - which can be used to make electricity or bombs - faster than expected while it replaces older, less reliable centrifuges. The report was prepared by Mohamed El-Baradei, the director-general of the agency.
The report did not say how much enriched uranium the Iranians were producing but the official said that since December, it was slightly less than 150 kilograms, about double the amount they were producing in the same period 18 months ago.
David Albright, a former weapons inspector who founded the Institute for Science and International Security, said: "The Iranians are certainly being confronted with some pretty strong evidence of a nuclear weapons program, and they are being petulant and defensive. The report lays out what the agency knows, and it is very damning."
Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Iran's ambassador to the agency, said the report vindicated Iran's nuclear activities. It "is another document that shows Iran's entire nuclear activities are peaceful", he was quoted as saying.
The New York Times
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On-demand ride-hailing service Uber has spent four years building a perfect transportation alternative to taxis and black car services in cities around the world. But until today it’s just been focused on consumer travel. Now the company is going after a huge new opportunity by changing the way business users can book and expense rides on its platform.
The company is launching a new offering, called Uber for Business, which is designed to make it easier for users to bill trips directly to their company while working. On the flip side, Uber is providing participating companies with a centralized dashboard which they can use to keep track of rides that have been expensed.
The new product is basically an acknowledgment that many consumers have been using Uber for both personal and business use cases, but their employers didn’t have a good way to manage those expenses. “Ever since we started, businesses and corporations have been asking us to design something with business in mind,” Uber SVP of business Emil Michael told me in a phone interview.
Uber for Business will provide travel managers with a dashboard for inviting employees into a shared payment account for rides made on the platform. Once invited, employees need only click a link to connect their personal Uber accounts to their company’s business account.
Once that’s done, users will be able to quickly toggle between personal and business accounts. If it’s a business ride, their Uber receipts will be automatically added to their expense reports. That cuts out a lot of hassle when it comes to filing expenses.
For travel managers, the new dashboard will provide greater visibility into ground transportation booked by employees. According to Michael, most ground transportation expensed to date consisted of some combination of travel vouchers, paper taxi receipts, credit card taxi receipts, and no receipts. Uber will change that by providing more data and analytics for measuring spend across an organization.
But most importantly, accepting Uber will most likely mean saving money. In most markets, at least in the U.S., Uber is priced below the cost of a taxi, making it a more affordable alternative for getting around.
Even if employers don’t explicitly opt-in to Uber for Business, the company is still making it easy for many business users to expense their trips. That’s because Uber has announced a partnership with business travel and expense management company Concur. That integration will allow any of the 25 million Concur users around the world to link their accounts and automatically send Uber receipts to their expense reports.
In addition to all that, users who have American Express corporate cards will get the same membership rewards benefits as personal cardholders. Building on a partnership that Uber announced with AmEx earlier this summer, corporate cardholders will be able to earn double points on Uber rides and pay for Uber travel in the same way that personal AmEx cardholders can.
Targeting business travelers seems to be all the rage these days among startups. After all, it was just a few hours ago that Airbnb announced its own partnership with Concur to simplify the process of booking and expensing stays on its platform.
With those moves, Uber is going after a potential tens of billions of dollars in travel expenditures, according to Michael. By positioning itself not just as one option accepted by travel managers, but the preferred option, Uber could see a huge increase in rides by business travelers.

domain: finance


Evolution News has staff members in the field currently converging on the eclipse path or preparing to do so. As Jay Richards points out, it’s more or less a mass public display of cosmic evidence for intelligent design.
I’m a little wary about sending you into the path. Mass events always carry some risk of the unpredictable. But if you’re going, wear approved eyewear, be smart about traffic — and send us your impressions! Use the Contact link at the top or bottom of this page. I’d love to know about your experiences. Obviously, the sight will be awesome, but I’m curious about the logistical and other aspects of it for you as well. Be in touch!
Photo credit: Mark Rankin, U.S. Army.


THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL
The Athletic’s guide to Bears-Buccaneers: How will the offense adjust? – The Athletic - Can Chuck Pagano's defense make things difficult for Tom Brady and Co.?
‘The Big 50’ excerpt: Charles ‘Peanut’ Tillman’s lasting Bears legacy – The Athletic - Adam Jahns' "The Big 50: The Men and Moments That Made the Chicago Bears" is on shelves now.
Meet the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (with WTSP's Grace Remington) - Chicago Audible Podcast - 10 Tampa Bay's Grace Remington joins the show to discuss her takeaways of the Chicago Bears Week 5 opponent - the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Bears vs. Bucs: Preview, X-Factors, and Predictions - On Tap Sports Net - Coming off their first loss of the season, the Chicago Bears will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a Thursday Night Football showdown to kick off NFL Week 5 action.
Turnover Shortage Dragging Down the Bears on Defense - SI.com - If it hadn't been so important, Bears defensive players all could have kidded Khalil Mack and had a good laugh with him. The dropped interception Mack had in his hands could have had a huge impact in Sunday's 19-11 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
Injury Update: Who's in & out for Chicago Bears vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football - ChicagoBears.com - The Bears likely will be down two backup safeties and special-teams contributors in Deon Bush and Sherrick McManis Thursday night against the Buccaneers, but Tampa Bay will be missing key members of its offense in the game.
Choosing Sides: How many Bears players will catch passes against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football? - ChicagoBears.com - This week, we ask our panel—which includes former Bears Alex Brown, Patrick Mannelly and Jim Miller—how many different Bears players will catch passes Thursday night against the Bucs.
Report: Coaches worry NFL more focused on blame than virus - 670 The Score - The NFL’s handling of the first coronavirus outbreak of the 2020 season is beginning to cast doubt on the league’s credibility among some in the sport, according to a report.
Chalk Talk: How has the Chicago Bears offensive line performed? - ChicagoBears.com - Senior writer Larry Mayer discusses how the Bears offensive line has fared so far this season, if the Bears have ever beaten Tom Brady and why veteran running back Lamar Miller was signed to the practice squad.
Titans could end up being hammered by league - ProFootballTalk - There’s buzz in league circles of possible “historic” punishment for the Titans given the various violations.
Bears vs. Buccaneers preview: 5 things to watch during the Week 5 matchup - Shaw Local - Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit Soldier Field on Thursday night for a primetime matchup against the Bears. Here are five things to watch for during the Bears-Bucs game.
Chicago Bears: How to defend Tom Brady - Chicago Tribune - Tom Brady is 5-0 all time against the Chicago Bears with 14 touchdowns and a 109.2 passer rating. "He knows what you’re doing, where guys are going to be," Bears defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano said. "Very seldom is he wrong."
Chicago Bears Q&A with Brad Biggs - Chicago Tribune - After the Chicago Bears' listless 19-11 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, readers filled the mailbag with finger-pointing, particularly at coach Matt Nagy.
Chicago Bears: Nick Foles transition may take time - Chicago Tribune - This is a difficult spot for Matt Nagy, Nick Foles and the Chicago Bears to be in, with the energy of a 3-0 start potentially transforming into intense 3-2 anxiety in a span of five days as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers arrive at Soldier Field as 5½-point favorites Thursday night. Much of the city, it seems, is already bracing itself for the worst.
Darnell Mooney: Chicago Bears rookie's instant impact - Chicago Tribune - Darnell Mooney made an impression on Chicago Bears coaches from the first day he stepped on the field at training camp. His speed, explosiveness, route running and tireless work grabbed their attention, and the rookie wide receiver has kept it by stepping into big moments with confidence.
Chicago Bears vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5 things to watch - Chicago Tribune - Tom Brady, this is Nick Foles. Nick, this is Tom. The introductions shouldn’t take long at Soldier Field. Thursday night’s starting quarterbacks already know each other from somewhere: Super Bowl LII, specifically.
Bears’ Nick Foles, Bucs’ Tom Brady set for Super Bowl rematch — with new teams - Chicago Sun-Times - As midnight green confetti stamped into Lombardi Trophy shapes floated to the ground two-and-a-half years ago, Nick Foles knew his life would never be the same.
Star-studded Buccaneers, downtrodden Bears meet with vastly different ambitions - Chicago Sun-Times - Many expect the Buccaneers to contend for a spot in the Super Bowl, and they’ve started to look capable of that recently. The Bears, meanwhile, are trying to fight off collapse after a shaky 3-1 start.
Bears-Buccaneers injury report: Rookie WR Darnell Mooney’s shoulder a concern - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears have seven players on their injury report heading into a game against the Buccaneers on Thursday.
Bears defense vs. Tom Brady: Team hoping opportunity knocks - Chicago Sun-Times - At 43, Tom Brady hasn’t lost this touch. Thursday night’s game is a huge test for a Bears defense that has been good this season but expects to be great. This is how you prove it.
Bears vs. Buccaneers: Key matchups to watch for - Chicago Sun-Times - After getting whipped by the Colts’ defensive front last week, the Bears’ offensive line faces another tough challenge against Nadamukong Suh and the Bucs, who rank second in the NFL vs. the run.
Joe Flacco to start for Jets this week - ProFootballTalk - Jets head coach Adam Gase said on Wednesday that Joe Flacco will get the start at quarterback when the NFC West comes calling on Sunday.
Super Bowl contenders or pretenders? Classifying NFL's eight division leaders - A quarter of the way into the 2020 regular season, which division leaders are contenders? Which ones are pretenders? Cynthia Frelund crunched the numbers, and some of the answers might surprise you.
KNOW THINE ENEMY
Buccaneers News: Tom Brady named FedEx Air Player of the Week - Bucs Nation - The recognitions keep coming.
Godwin, Watson, McCoy all out on Thursday night - Bucs Nation - Wide receivers Chris Godwin and Justin Watson as well as running back LeSean McCoy are all officially out for the Buccaneers’ week five match-up with the Chicago Bears on Thursday night.
Time for the Bucs’ offensive line to carry the team - Bucs Nation - Thursday night will be a huge test.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON
Bears vs Buccaneers: Keys for a Chicago Win - Windy City Gridiron - The WCG crew runs down a few things they think the Bears should do this week against the Buccaneers.
Wiltfong’s Bears vs Buccaneers Injury Report: Mooney questionable, McManis doubtful, Bush out - Windy City Gridiron - Neither the Chicago Bears nor the Tampa Bay Buccaneers actually held a practice today with the game on Thursday night, so the injury reports for Wednesday are just an estimate had the players...
Householder’s Week 5 Thursday Night Game Preview: Chicago Bears-Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Windy City Gridiron - A quick turnaround and the Bears are playing Tom Brady, Bruce Arians and the Bucs
Leming’s Bears Mailbag: Troubles on offense, time to draft a QB, Cole Kmet concerns? - Windy City Gridiron - The Chicago Bears are on a short week before Thursday night’s game, while currently sitting at (3-1). How concerned should we be with this offense? All that and more in this week’s mailbag.
Schmitz: Breaking down a Chicago Bears game plan that was doomed from the start - Windy City Gridiron - In this episode of Rule of 3, Robert S, Brandon Robinson, and Danny Meehan walk through the many ups and downs of the Chicago Bears’ game against the Indianapolis Colts
Windy City Gridiron Community Guidelines - SBNation.com - We strive to make our communities open and inclusive to sports fans of all backgrounds. The following is not permitted in comments. No personal attacks, politics, gender based insults of any kind, racial insults, etc.
Windy City Gridiron Podcast Channel which includes Bear With Me from Robert Schmitz, Bears Over Beers featuring Jeff Berckes & EJ Snyder, Bears Banter hosted by Bill Zimmerman, and T Formation Conversation from Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.; EJ also co-hosts The Bootleg Football Podcast with Brett Kollmann; R. Schmitz has a film breakdown show on YouTube titled Run Pass Opinion; and Steven’s Streaming Twitch Channel from Steven Schweickert.
Click on our names to follow us on Twitter: Jeff Berckes; Patti Curl; Eric Christopher Duerrwaechter; Kev H; Sam Householder; Jacob Infante; Aaron Lemming; Ken Mitchell; Jack R Salo; Steven Schweickert; Jack Silverstein; EJ Snyder; Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; Whiskey Ranger; Robert Schmitz; Robert Zeglinski; Bill Zimmerman; Like us on Facebook.


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Power Prices Jump From California to Washington Amid ChillHarry R. Weber
Spot wholesale electricity prices for California advanced as demand exceeded expectations, while Texas and mid-Atlantic prices also jumped amid a wintry chill that spread across the regions. Northeast prices fell.
Power use on the grid operated by California Independent System Operator Corp. averaged 28,237 megawatts at noon local time, a 3.6 percent increase versus the day-ahead forecast of 27,244 megawatts, according to the grid’s website.
Northern California prices rose $8.78, or 18 percent, to average $57.42 a megawatt-hour during the period ended at noon from the same time Dec. 6, grid data compiled by Bloomberg show. Southern California prices advanced 5.2 percent to average $49.95.
The high temperature today in San Francisco may reach 51 degrees Fahrenheit (11 Celsius), 7 below the historical average, according to AccuWeather Inc. in State College, Pennsylvania.
The increase in power prices in California can be attributed to a combination of higher prices for natural gas, which is used to produce electricity, and continued cold weather leading to an increase in demand, Chris DaCosta, a Boston-based analyst for Genscape Inc., said today in an electronic message.
Cold weather extended across large swaths of the country, affecting power prices in those areas.
Spot prices for the Texas North Hub, which includes Dallas, rose 24 percent to average $37.74 a megawatt-hour for the hour ended at 2 p.m. local time from the same time Dec. 6, while Houston Hub prices increased 26 percent to average $37.74, the grid data show.
The high temperature today in Dallas, where ice is just beginning to thaw, may reach 37 degrees, 21 below normal.
Prices at PJM Interconnection LLC’s benchmark Western hub, which includes Washington, rose 3.9 percent to average $37.08 a megawatt-hour for the hour ended at 3 p.m. New York time from the same time Dec. 6. Eastern hub prices advanced 8.5 percent to $39.61.
New York City prices slid 6.3 percent to average $40.47 a megawatt-hour at 3 p.m. from the same time Dec. 6, the grid data show.
“Transmission work on a line connecting New York and New England is preventing flows between the two regions, depressing New York prices,” Matthew Oatway, a Genscape analyst in Boston, said today in an electronic message.
Natural gas futures climbed to a six-month high in New York as the chilly weather created more demand for the heating fuel. New York City may get snow late tomorrow before it changes over to sleet, according to the National Weather Service and AccuWeather.
The high temperature today in Washington may reach 40 degrees, 8 below normal, while the high in Manhattan may reach 44 degrees, 1 below normal.

domain: news


text:
Coming Closer to the Day
Label: Provogue Records
Diving Bell; Truth or Lies; Coming Closer to the Day; Ghosts; Tide of Confusion; The Perfect Wrong; Little Girl Blue; Someone of Great Renown; Lonesome Road; Tell Me; Don't Ever Change; Take Me with You.
Additional Personnel / Information
Robin Trower: guitar, bass, vocals; Chris Taggart: drums
Psychedelic blues rock
- Coming Closer to the Day by Doug Collette
Album uploaded by Doug Collette


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2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil is undoubtedly one of the biggest events of this year. Millions of people from all around the world are preparing themselves to fly to Brazil from 12TH June to 13TH July to witness the history.
Since Adidas has designed Japan National Team’s kit for Rio’s 2014 World Cup, Nintendo & Adidas have partnered up to cheer Team Japan in World Cup 2014 by making several Pokémon dress up in Football shirts.
Pikachu and his friends are not new to such advertising campaigns and have appeared in several promotions for Japanese planes, curries, and trains.
As for this promotion, we have seen nothing else than a bunch of promotional images of Pikachu perfectly carrying Japan’s blue shirts. It is not known whether any such thing will be implanted within the game itself in form of Pokémon playing FIFA or something like that but, it is safe to expect branded clothes or other merchandise.
Now that the trend has kicked off, maybe we will be able to see such promotions with Mario, Zelda, etc. And despite of the fact that I’m completely ignorant to the fact how Football works, I would be interested to know which team you guys will be supporting? Comment away!
Source: Nintendo Life


INTEL CORE 2 T7200 DRIVER DETAILS:
|File Size:||14.9 MB|
|Supported systems:||Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows 2008, Windows Vista|
|Price:||Free* (*Free Registration Required)|
INTEL CORE 2 T7200 DRIVER
Please contact system vendor for more information on specific products or systems. Some manufacturers place restrictions on how details of their products may be communicated. When I installed intel core 2 t7200, I didn't have any extra thermal paste, and relied on what was still on the heat sink. I've never gotten a refurbished item that didn't look almost new very disappointed. What this means is the T 2. Functionality, performance, and other benefits of this feature may vary depending on system configuration. Menu Menu.
|lenovo x200s pci serial port||Specifications|
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Save as guest. Today's hottest Amazon Ebay. T T T Much faster single-core speed. QC Mixed Avg. Quad Core Mixed Speed.
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Much faster quad-core speed. MC Mixed Avg.
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As I mentioned, I've been doing a thousand things since the Classic — but it hasn't stopped me from thinking about my performance. I disappointed a lot of people.
As we grow up in the fishing business, it's a one-on-one sport and a real roller coaster. We know. We don't want the lows, but I think the lows make you appreciate the highs even more.
Normally, you only have the pressure of dissapointing yourself — and maybe a small group of people around you. But this was different.
After I won the Classic last year I met a lot of people around the country. They said they appreciated seeing me win, and they'd be pulling for me from now. A lot of people said they were in my corner. And it was not just Elite Series fans, it was people within the industry and even in the media. Some of the media guys went out on a limb and picked me to do well.
I got a lot of calls from media people after it was over, and they all had the same question: "What the hell happened?"
So here's what I did on Sunday: I felt like the only thing I could do, not making the cut, was go to the outdoor show and support my sponsors. Show them I'll be there, whether I win or lose.
I spent time with Triton and Mercury and time with E-21 ... I felt like it was the right thing to do, going to the outdoor show. I talked to fans all day long and signed autographs.
But I think people will understand when I say while it was great getting to talk to people that love the sport, it was awful being there instead of fishing in the finals.
People were nice to say, "Man, I hate it for you, but that kind of stuff happens. You'll get them next time."
But it was killing me.
I'll say again that it was a great, great tournament ... I just wish I'd done better.
For more information on 2007 Classic champion Boyd Duckett, visit his Web site.


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(1 of 2 reviews match)
He killed my dog she was only 9 years old, and was a small 15 lb dog. I left her in his care where he told me she would be given an IV, I came to see her the next day ...she was obviously dying. There was no IV or port..he had a hard time finding her blood vessel to...Read more
Do you have something to say about Goshen Animal Hospital? What happened? What can we help you with?

domain: pet


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With the chef himself at this authentic 'peranakan jawi' cuisine cafe cum gallery. A true culinary gem. Our first senses caught the most beautiful scent of homemade cooking when we first step foot into this place. One may not just be able to savour the beauty of his dishes but you get to learn some of the culture of his cuisine and traditions. A must visit for some food cultural experience.
We cook for living, we live to travel, and we travel to eat. At our Airbnb stay, Dou Houz, Georgetown.

domain: travel


Deliveroo UAE Introduces the Cautious Rider Award with Dubai Police
Deliveroo UAE launched the Cautious Rider Award, a program to honor and incentivize riders who prioritize road safety, in partnership with Dubai Police. A number of Deliveroo riders received cash awards and formal certificates of appreciation as a consequence of the initiative's first round.
Promoting road safety:
Aligned with Deliveroo's commitment to collaborating with various stakeholders to foster a safer community, the Cautious Rider Award serves as an annual incentive for riders to emphasize safety on the road. The initiative reflects the company's dedication to acknowledging and promoting the well-being of its riders.
The selection criteria for the award are centered on crucial factors such as maintaining a clean traffic record and avoiding fines, violations, and accidents throughout the entire calendar year. This approach emphasizes Deliveroo's commitment to rewarding riders with exceptional safety practices.
Collaboration with Dubai Police:
Deliveroo's Head of Operations, Yazan Aburaqabeh, notes the significance of the joint effort to make Dubai's roadways safer while thanking Dubai Police for their assistance and formal recognition. In order to set a positive example for others, the partnership seeks to honor and acknowledge the thousands of Deliveroo riders who prioritize road safety.
Ongoing Efforts for Rider Well-Being:
Deliveroo is committed to addressing its riders' well-being and recognizing those who continually raise industry standards. The creation of the Cautious Rider Award exemplifies this devotion. In 2023, all riders received full training in Dubai, where they learned important road safety information and abilities, followed best practices, ensured regulatory compliance, understood UAE labor regulations, and became familiar with local subtleties.
Deliveroo maintains a series of ongoing initiatives and programs focused on enhancing rider well-being. These efforts aim to equip riders with the necessary tools to ensure their safety, as well as the safety of pedestrians and other drivers on the road.
The Cautious Rider Award underscores Deliveroo's commitment to promoting road safety and recognizing the contributions of riders who prioritize this crucial aspect. Through collaboration with Dubai Police, the initiative not only rewards exemplary riders but also sets the foundation for ongoing efforts to create a safer environment for all road users in Dubai.


Guestpost! Natasha on Canadian duo Otarie: ‘They are like leather pants: sensual, supple, smelly and sexy.’
Although they’ve played big festivals like Francofolies and keep gigging in all kinds of local places in their native Montréal, Québec duo Otarie (a reference to a baby seal, or ‘bébé phoque’ in French) has been around since 2006. They are still considered part of the alternative scene not for their simplistic sound, but because of their lyrics, which are explicitly fun with a hint of gay bitchiness, especially when they slam local has-beens, all in quality Québécois slang.
Canine Sutto, the guy (Janine Sutto was an actress, think gay stage name) and Gaétane Montana, the lovely red head, say they’re just friends and share the same taste in dirty lyrics. They mix all kinds of styles (and different positions) and use words you’ll have to Google like ‘plotte’ (‘muff’), ‘poche’ (‘scrotum’), ‘graine’ (‘dick’) and ‘foune’ (‘ass’).
The puns fly very low in songs like ‘Kuni Kuni’ and ‘Au Camp Trois Pinis’, titles that don’t need translation and ‘Spourrer’, a loving song about ‘spooning and screwing’. Students love Otarie’s in your face-ness and just like jerking off, other people either like it too or just lie about it.
If you like it fast: Otarie – Horny
If you like it slow: Otarie – Dans mon lit


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Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!
|Value for money||8.7|
|Distance to city center||10.00 Km|
|Nearest airport||Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS)|
|Distance to airport||13.4 km|
The Pandan Tree Villas is an exclusive private villa complex situated amongst serene nature and just a short drive to the beaches of Canggu and the excitement of the city. All three villas have their private swimming pool, en-suite bedrooms, private garden, living room, and fully equipped kitchen. The villas are built to modern standards in a minimalist style, yet with charming elements of traditional local craftsmanship. The superb facilities include Wi-Fi Internet access, air conditioned bedrooms, extra size bathrooms, in-villa dining, and an LED TV with satellite channels and DVD collection.
The excellent and personal service here ensures guests get all the comfort they require. The Pandan Tree Villas offers access to a vast array of services, including in-house spa services, in-villa dining, tour service, laundry service, money exchange, and car/bike rentals. Guests can choose from 3 villas, all of which exude an atmosphere of total peace and harmony. Superb facilities and a peaceful natural location make The Pandan Tree Villas the perfect base from which to enjoy your stay in Bali.
Children and extra beds
Minimum age of guests is: 0 year(s).
|Guest's age||Extra bed|
Infant 0-1 year(s)
Stay for free if using existing bedding.
Baby cot/crib may be requested directly from the property.
Children 2-11 year(s)
Stay for free if using existing bedding.
Extra beds may be requested directly from the property; additional charges may apply
Guests 12 years and older are considered as adults
Extra beds may be requested directly from the property; additional charges may apply
Extra beds are dependent on the room you choose. Please ask the property for more details.
Show reviews that mention
Fantastic private pool and staff. Our third visit has been as good as the first in 2016”
For those that need a full service hotel or want a party atmosphere this place is not for you. For those that love privacy and those with an independent spirit that can take on using a scooter in Bali this place is for you. 24 hour car service (extra) is available as well as in villa dining as this villa is 10 minutes away from the main area of canggu. The drivers are very good and will take you to local warnings instead of the big tour bus drivers going to the same restaurants. Scooters can be rented here as well but bring your international drivers licence and always wear a helmet otherwise police stops will consist of "fines". Breakfast is served to you in your villa every morning but is good but limited and may get boring after a few days. Otherwise exceptional service, cleanliness and exotic private gardens with pool in all units.
Cannot fault Pandan Tree Villas, the staff were awesome, nothing was too much trouble. The drivers were wonderful - and such a great idea to give guests a mobile to call driver, reception & for breakfast orders !! I would DEFINITELY stay here again. Such a beautiful spot ⭐
This villa is beautiful, exactly how the photo shown. We have fresh coconut as our welcoming drinks, this is very good refreshment when we check in at noon time. Quick and simple check in process, just told them our name. Outdoor pool and the garden is well design with open kitchen concept. Quiet environment, but location is far from attractive point, not convenient to go out but you may just stay in this beautiful villa, enjoy in-house massage service with cheap price. Mobile phone is provided so that you can call for reception (to order food/service) or transport (with charges). Baby fan in living room is a bit weak to cool the open area during daytime, but night time is fine. Towel and hair dryer is provided except for toothbrush set. You may cook in their kitchen, simple cookware and utensils is provided. Free coffee powder and tea bags. Water dispensers available. We stayed for 2nights and blackout is happen on 2nd night from 3am, unable to contact villa staff even with the mobile phone that they provided (when we check with staff they said it was out of credit), informed to counter at 6:30am and electricity back at 8am, it was lucky that the night is cold so we can still sleep until 6:30am.
Awesome stay ^^”
My husband and me love the villa very much, we stayed 2 nights in the one bedroom private pool villa (villa cinta). The staffs are friendly, the breakfast is good (basic but the portion is just right for us), pool is clean although the water is too cold for me even in the afternoon, location is quite far from town but we enjoy the quiet and peaceful atmosphere. There were no mosquito or ants problem during our stay, weather is nice and windy all the time. We rent a bike from the villa at only Rupiah 50,000 a day. There are stove, pans, kettle available so you can cook there. It was really a nice stay and I can't find any other villas cheaper but awesome than this Pandan Tree Villas.
Dear Xiao, thank you so much for your kind review! It is a pleasure to hear that you enjoyed and appreciated our services. We hope we can have you stay again in the near future. Best wishes, The Management
This place has an amazing design. Felt like a tranquil slice of heaven with the open living spaces, pool, high ceilings and total privacy. Staff were so so, but the place itself makes up for it. Will need transport - about 10-15 mins by scooter to get to food/tourist areas.
Would come back ”
Location is in Canggu where everywhere is a bit far. However, that's just how we love due to the serenity of the hotel. Staff is a bit short handed, need to recruit more. However, the staff is very helpful. Bfast is acceptable. Room is spacious and clean. Living room is awesome Love the pool design but it's a shame that the pool is a bit dirty
All in all an awesome villa!”
Even before arriving in Bali, I was already in touch with Daniel who accommodated all my requests since I was planning a birthday surprises for my partner. He arranged for a cake, which was greatly appreciated. We arrived earlier than the standard check-in time, but we were able to check-in and relax early. In terms of cleanliness and staff interaction, they're superb! We can't get enough of the pool and we had an awesome time just lounging around the gazebo. If there's only one criticism I have - it would be the room-service menu. It was a bit pricey and when we went to the nearby plaza, we found out that a part of the menu is the same as one of the restaurants there - forgot the name and maybe they have a special arrangement with the restaurant, but I don't recommend ordering from the room service since the additional charge was kind of too much - it's actually better if you'll just have the food delivered, which we did the next day. Aside from that, everything was perfect! We even rented a scooter on our last full day and explored Canggu!
Nice & comfortable villa”
Imagine waking up at 8am to freshly toasted bread, jam and fresh fruits. This was our typical day at Pandan Tree Villa - breakfast, swim in the pool before leaving the compound to explore the rest of Bali. Pandan tree is located in a Balinese village called Canggu, right next to a small paddy field. Canggu itself is not a tourist hot spot, so if you happen to be looking to have drinks in pubs and shopping centers nearby, best to go for another location. Instead, if you are looking for a rustic and quiet stay, where a couple can spend some quiet time together reading, swimming and relaxing - this is definitely the place for you. Transportation can be arranged at the front desk and a mobile phone is provided in the event you get lost (which certainly helped us). I would definitely recommend Pandan Tree Villa to friends.
Beautiful villa, service need improvement.”
The villa is beautiful but far from shopping areas or the beach. The service needs improvement, staff hardly smiles and always look grim. Also when we requested for earlier breakfast at 6am (usually starts at 7am) as we are going out early that morning, staff basically told us no because they only start prepping food at 6am, so we left without breakfast.
Private Pool Villa Yang Menyenangkan”
Sudah kedua kalinya menginap di Pandan Tree, & sangat suka dengan villanya. (+) Harga tergolong cukup murah di daerah Canggu (+) Cukup dekat dgn pantai, krn sy bawa mobil (+) Desain villa dgn pool yang bagus & asri (-) Tidak disediakan slipper & sikat gigi & odol (-) Sarapan hari kedua harus inisiatif order pilihannya, krn staff villa tidak menanyakan
Would not recommend”
The villa was very nice and beautiful. Its very calm and peaceful. But it all ends there. The staff is very very unfriendly and would not do anything to make us comfortable. We checked in in the afternoon, and at night we wanted to go out for dinner. Since we used the private pool, the bathroom already got wet and we used up the towels. when leaving for dinner, we asked them to clean up the bathroom and replace towels for us, but they said they will not and cleaning service is only once. Then we asked them to clean the villa in the morning. They said they will not as only two people are available to serve breakfast and clean all the rooms.They are understaffed. They kept telling me since we are checking out in the evening then why should we ask for cleaning. Farthermore, there is no breakfast buffet. The staff even had the audacity to tell us to wash our own dishes after breakfact. There is no ntercom in the room to call the reception but they provide a cell phone with no credit.
I spent a couple days at the Pandan Tree Villas and enjoyed it immensely! Ady, and his staff, are extremely accommodating and friendly. Even though we had a slight mishap in regard to maintenance of an AC, Ady made sure to take care of us. The villas are well appointed, clean, modern, open-space designed, and in a very quiet part of Canggu. They have a few scooters available for rental, at a reasonable price, which will allow you to travel into town for the restaurants and such. I'd highly recommend anyone to book a stay here versus the more populated and noisy areas. If you're looking for peace&quiet, this is a sure shot win.
The place was actually nice. The pool and garden area was so pretty. However, my friend and I were having trouble to use the bathroom as there were many insects due to the "nature" concept. Another thing is the place was quite dusty when we arrived but the staff immediately clean the room after we requested so. Breakfast was okay.
Paradise in paradise”
Staying at the Pandan Tree Villas was amazing! From the service to the layout to the breakfast! I truly enjoyed my stay. The staff were very welcoming and had great customer service. I also had amazing transportation around Bali from their shuttle service. If anything, the location is a bit far out,but perfect if you want to be in a quiet area.
Best experience ever better than Marriotts”
We were on our honeymoon... on the way I was not sure where we t heading... but once we reached there our jaw dropped... we had the best... everything and everyone was awesome... will definitely come back
Dear Ahmed, thank you so much for your kind review! We are so happy to hear that you had an awesome experience at our villas! We hope to welcome you again in the future. Kind regards from the whole team
Great villa and friendly staff”
Pros: awesome villa, friendly staff, flexibility in accommodating our requests. Cons: Aircon in room is too small to cool the room effectively and the fan in open living and dining area is useless. Not ideal in hot climate.
Peaceful and lovely place”
We enjoyed the stay, great outdoor area and good pools (villa 1&2). V1 gas a bigger outdoor area but we all preferred 2s pool. Drivers and staff were all fantastic. Only downside in hindsight was proximity. We knew in advance but in reality would have been nice to be able to walk to a cafe etc. But then again we enjoyed being away from the tourist spots. Catch 22.
Location, cleanliness, value of money”
Located in village far from town, peace, quiet & private stay. I'm not satisfied of cleanliness especially sofa quite dusty and dirty. My husband and me got red spot on both legs and butt and very itchy while sitting on sofa for half an hour later. Feel got something bitten me. Many insects, mosquitos, frogs at night. Breakfast so so and not much choices. I was order pancake. Food served cold and dry and hard. Many ants when the breakfast put aside for few minutes later. Staff are helpful but know limited English, when I was telling them the sofa so dirty may be she don't understand what I mean. She was calling a guy to clean the pool. Anyway, the villas really value of money.
Bali Vacation ”
I've visited Bali many times before and stayed at a lot of incredible places all around the island. And this was by far my favorite trips because of the incredible villa we stayed in! The villa itself was great, even better than the photos we saw online! There are only 3 villas on the property so you really do get some R&R. You'll understand the name of the villa since you pass so many fragrant pandan trees as you walk to your villa door from the reception. The only complaint is that since it is a quiet location, you could hear other guests in their villas while they were outside since the villas are all side by side. The location is quiet and relaxing compared to some of the busier towns yet still a stone's throw away from beaches, restaurants and Seminyak (about 20 mins away). The beaches in Canngu are much cleaner, quieter, and seriously just more beautiful than any of the other beaches we've been to in Bali. You can rent a beach chair for about 5USD for the entire day and you can grab a drink (we loved the fresh coconut) right on the beach! The staff were INCREDIBLE. All of them were so attentive and helpful with all of our requests! They are on hand around the clock to ensure each guest has a great experience! Recommendation: Use their drivers to get around the island, they're reliable and can be reached by phone (the villa even provides you with a phone so you don't have to rack up long distance fees!) and you don't have to worry about haggling with taxis! The 1 hr Balinese massage were so easy to book via the staff and they come right to your villa. This is definitely a place we plan on coming back to and refer all friends & family to for their next Bali holiday and vacation!
Friendly staff, clean private swimming pool and nice environment ”
Highly recommended for this Villa because the environment is superb. i reached the villa at night time, and the staff is so friendly. The facilities of the villa is superb too. i would recommended my friend to stay here n i will stay here again next time.
The Pandan Tree Villas


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based on NaN reviews
|Check in anytime after 2:00 PM, check out anytime before 12:00 PM|
|Cancellation/prepayment policies vary by room type and provider.|
Sali House is located at Ta Van Day 1, Ta Van Village, 3.9 miles from the center of Sa Pa. Muong Hoa Valley is the closest landmark to Sali House.
Check-in time is 2:00 PM and check-out time is 12:00 PM at Sali House.
Yes, Sali House offers free Wi-Fi.
No, Sali House does not offer free parking.
No, Sali House does not offer free airport shuttle service.
Sali House is 84.5 miles from Dien Bien Phu. Sali House is 90.7 miles from Wenshan Puzhehei.
No, Sali House does not have a pool onsite.
Distance to city center

domain: geography


Cryptocurrency is receiving a shot in the arm with the formation of a new digital platform.
According to Bitcoin Magazine, a new crypto payment system will be introduced to retailers, and cryptocurrency users, for the purpose of buying and selling digital currencies. Intercontinental Exchange introduced Bakkt, a company designed to normalize cryptocurrency trading in order to help fasttrack a globally regulated marketplace for digital assets, such as bitcoin. Thus far, Bakkt has partnered with Microsoft, and received funding from Galaxy Digital, and Horizons Ventures.
It must receive the approval from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission to begin trading in November this year.


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Category Archives: X-Men
Can you believe we have to wait all the way until November for another superhero movie? Man, what’s wrong with the world? Good thing we’ve got other comics to fill the time! Detective Comics, Hulk comics, Wonder Woman comics, X-Men comics and Squirrel Girl comics!
Unbeatable Squirrel Girl wins Comic Book of the Week because Ryan North and Erica Henderson revel in what it would actually be like to visit the Savage Land!
I checked in on Amazing Spider-Man this week but decided not to review it because it’s largely a Secret Empire tie-in and I’m not super keen on reading or reviewing a ton of tie-ins. Thankfully, this tie-in is largely focused on Dan Slott’s ongoing story of Doc Ock taking back Parker Industries, so I dig that part of it. And it moves the Spider-Man/Mockingbird relationship forward a little, which I also like. But mostly it was a big, busy, crazy issue. So good times there!
Comic Reviews: Defenders #3, Detective Comics #960, Hulk #8, Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #22, Wonder Woman #26 and X-Men Blue #7.
Welcome back, faithful comic book fans, for all the latest Strong Guy news! Why am I giving you news on Strong Guy, one of the most obscure and underused X-Men of all time? Because I think it’s pretty hilarious! Also, I’m a big fan.
As I’ve detailed over the past few months, the mutant Strong Guy has been making odd background appearances in a lot of Marvel Comics lately. He often just shows up, usually as part of a group, and rarely says a word. It’s like some edict went out across Marvel to just use Strong Guy in the background of stuff. As a longtime Strong Guy fan, I found this rather neat. It’s the most action he’s ever gotten outside of X-Factor.
And this week, we have a super neat appearance! For some reason, the Strong Guy Edict has reached the Spider-Man office! Behold, Amazing Spider-Man #30!
That’s Strong Guy joining a couple other X-Men to try and defend Horizon Labs from Superior Octopus at the start of Secret Empire! Strong Guy vs. Doc Ock? Cool!
Now, as we all know, and as surely Amazing Spider-Man writer Dan Slott knows, Strong Guy’s mutant powers are based on absorbing kinetic energy and transforming it into crazy musculature. So when Strong Guy lands, his body is going to absorb a metric ton of energy and likely blow up his body to a crazy degree!
And as we know from Strong Guy’s past, that sort of thing can be pretty traumatic.
Perhaps that is the origin of his Secret Empire beard? Is it a trauma beard?
This untold Strong Guy story just keeps getting more exciting and deep!
Woo boy, do we have a wallop of a column today. As I’ve whined about in the past, all of my favorite comics tend to have the habit of coming out in the same week. Or maybe I’m just reading too many comics. Whatever the case may be, I went all out and have reviewed nearly a dozen comics this week!
We’ve got Power Rangers, we’ve got a new Spider-Man comic, we’ve got Luke Cage and Iceman, and I tried to throw in more DC comics, like Batman, Harley Quinn and hopefully the start of my Aquaman coverage. Thankfully, there were some real gems this week.
But the standout, as has been said numerous times, is the new issue of Silver Surfer. This consistent Comic Book of the Week is going to break my damn heart.
I almost jumped back into reviewing The Mighty Thor now that the Shi’ar story arc is over, but this week was a standalone issue to introduce The War Thor…which, I guess, is similar to The War Doctor? It was a fine issue, and I suppose this new concept could be fun, but there were just way too many comics on my review pile already.
Comic Reviews: Aquaman #25, Batman #25, Batwoman #4, Iceman #2, Luke Cage #2, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #16, Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #1, Silver Surfer #12 and The Wild Storm #5.
I need to read more DC Comics. There’s no getting around it. This week saw an overflow of Marvel Comics that I read, but I only found time to review one DC Comic. It’s shameful! To say nothing of my apparent inability to read any indie comics. I’m not trying to be a Marvel Zombie! I’m not!
But Marvel delivered both the best and the worst this week. For reasons I wish I had an answer for, the new Hulk series seemed to implode this week, undoing everything that made this series special. Meanwhile, Ms. Marvel kicks off a new story with everything I love about this comic, so I’m rather pleased to award it Comic Book of the Week!
Secret Empire had a weird little issue this week. The idea that Captain America and HYDRA have completely conquered the United States has shrunk in scope to a race between two super-teams to get pieces of the broken Cosmic Cube. It makes for a fun enough comic as the two teams get treated to a family dinner from Ultron Pym.
Also, Batman has kicked off a rather continuity-heavy, mind-erasing bit of big story at DC. Gotta get caught up on that!
Comic Reviews: Defenders #1, Detective Comics #958, Generation X #3, Hulk #7, Ms. Marvel #19, and X-Men Blue #5.
I am not reading all of the Secret Empire tie-ins, so twice now the Strong Guy Watch has been caught with its pants down! I didn’t know he showed up in the pages of Secret Warriors, and I had no clue he popped into this week’s Secret Empire: United. Ugh. Too many tie-ins!
Fortunately, I’ve got some dedicated readers, and friend-of-the-site josta59 pointed out to me that Guido shows up and actually has speaking lines in United this week! Fantastic!
Of course, this blows my leading theory out of the water: that someone at Marvel decided to start putting Strong Guy into the background of X-Men scenes without a word. Now that Guido actually has lines, I’m not sure what to make of any of this…
At least they’re putting him to good use! I can only hope he becomes a regular in one X-Book or another. We’re two years away from the next massive status quo change for the X-Men, so here’s hoping Guido sticks around until then!


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Secret key generation by multiple terminals is considered based on their observations of jointly distributed Gaussian signals, followed by public communication among themselves. Exploiting an inherent connection between secrecy generation and lossy data compression, two main contributions are made. The first is a characterization of strong secret key capacity, and entails a converse proof technique that is valid for real-valued (and not necessarily Gaussian) as well as finite-valued signals. The capacity formula acquires a simple form when the terminals observe “symmetrically correlated” jointly Gaussian signals. For the latter setup with two terminals, considering schemes that involve quantization at one terminal, the best rate of an achievable secret key is characterized as a function of quantization rate; secret key capacity is attained as the quantization rate tends to infinity. Structured codes are shown to attain the optimum tradeoff between secret key rate and quantization rate, constituting our second main contribution.


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Power Academy is a school for teens with super powers.
A camp for young superheroes to train and learn to control their powers.
Free forum : A Hetalia RPG AU with supernatural beings~ Where all types of creatures can come to learn
We are a Role Play forum, We are In the SCP universe. We ask little preparation of our players just be kind, no powers, and no mary sue.
An Axis Powers Hetalia (APH) based roleplay and community forum board. Come and roleplay the country you reside in!
The Lawlor 18 forum!. Action Jones Forum. Action Jones Havoc Jack Samurai Gukido Lawlor Powell Powers Azerberjan
Study area all needed to learn about vampires
Come and enjoy a place where you can talk all about Kelley Armstrong's Darkest Powers Trilogy: The Summoning, The Awakening, and The Reckoning.
A modern day Vampire role play set in Italy. Come and join our coven and our safe house. Here you are free to use your powers without fear of being hunted! Aka Cacciatori di Sangue. Connected though d
Free forum : An Axis Powers Hetalia role play forum that focuses on real life historical events.
A Free-form place to live out your superhero dreams! Be anyone you want with almost unrestricted powers.
When magic runs rampant through the wilderness, it has strange affects on those around it. Trees glow, flowers never seen, but only one species controls it. Wolves.
This is a forum to chat about everything vampire, From being bitten to special powers. There's really nothing more to say except, well, have fun!
Free forum : A place where nations, large and small can invade vital regions, eat pasta, and be random!
The fields, be ours. And by the powers. Where we will, we'll roam. Hey, ohh. Howl together. Hold your muzzles high. We are, Assassins and killers. Never shall we die
Dragon Powers is a forum for the chatland called Dragon Powers, that are based on dragons and mythical creatures. You can choose your avatar, get subs, friends and a lot more! Have fun in our forum
Octela Academy is a Harry Potter fansite, based on a magic school other than Hogwarts, where the kids there have special powers.
Free forum : You and your friends are standing alone against an enemy of thousands. But their is hope. You find out that their are pets that share a connection with you. Learn to harness their powers
Home and chat of the powers of atlantis clan!!!
Humans turned into soldiers with super powers against their will have broken off from the Dictatorship and have formed the Resistance. 3 years on and the war continues.
Free forum : Welcome to the nightshifters clan forum site
The official forum of the NSS Organization
organization, spritual, shaman, reiki, esoteric, healing, #powers, angels, entity, entities, light, indigo, crystal, quartz, crystals, divine, medicine, native, american, supernatural, paranormal, psychic, aura
Free forum : An academy of students with powers beyond your imagination. Good or evil... Which side will you choose?
Aha! The world of Axis Powers Hetalia has been brought to the USA!
~*Wolf Romance, Fantasy, Powers*~ Thanks to Sargerules For the Usage of this idea.
A RPG game of a group of people with strange powers and animal companions. Within this city there are many dangers, like spies and federal agents.
An original fantasy themed, texted-based role-playing site set in a medieval world where magic and powers are a integral part of society.
The Official Forum for FHAPH(Feral Heart Axis Powers Hetalia) The first and longest running Feral Heart Roleplay group dedicated to the webcomic, Hetalia.
free, forum, hetalia, feral, heart, roleplay, fhaph, (feral, axis, #powers, hetalia), first, longest, running, group, dedicated, webcomic, community, family, friend, funny, america, england, russia, canada, jspsn


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A Hawaii Democrat who has been absent from Congress for months has a special arrangement with Hawaiian Airlines to continue to earn a living as a pilot, while helping the airline's priorities in Washington, according to a new report.
Rep. Kai Kahele, D-Hawaii, benefited from a new leave policy for Hawaiian Airlines pilots crafted after Kahele's election to Congress in November 2020 that would allow him to maintain flight status and seniority with the company while he represented Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District in Washington, according to the Honolulu Civil Beat.
The arrangement, approved by the airline and Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), applied to elected officials and appointees in government "directly connected with aviation."
Kahele sits on the aviation panel of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the committee that oversees the airline industry. Hawaiian Airlines lobbies Congress, and Kahele is directly involved in considering legislation that his employer is looking to influence, Punchbowl News pointed out.
Meanwhile, Hawaiian Airlines' political action committee has donated thousands of dollars to Kahele’s campaign. It also has business before another committee Kahele sits on — the Armed Services Committee. The ALPA also donated thousands of dollars to Kahele's campaign.
Hawaiian Airlines lobbied Congress on at least six bills for which Kahele was a co-sponsor, including the Fair and Open Skies Act, which aimed to address labor concerns and curb competition from foreign air carriers, the Civil Beat reported.
"Rep. Kahele's actions raise alarming ethics and conflict-of-interest concerns," a senior Republican aide told Fox News Digital. "He was considering, drafting and amending legislation that would have a direct impact on his employer and ultimately his paycheck. And it is unclear whether he was also receiving special accommodations by his employer to arrange for his flight schedule, which could be considered something of value in violation of the gift rule."
The issues of Kahele's double employment have come to light as the freshman lawmaker has rarely shown up to work in Washington this year, only casting five votes in person over the course of three days in January, according to an analysis from the Honolulu Civil Beat.
The rest of his 120 votes were cast by proxy, which means a colleague voted on his behalf while he remained in Hawaii.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has permitted proxy voting since the start of the pandemic, whereas in-person voting is still required in the Senate. Kahele's office has defended his proxy voting as necessary because he's "deeply concerned" for the health of his family and sought to "limit his exposure" to COVID-19 by cutting "cross-country travel."
Kris Tanahara, managing director of corporate communications for Hawaiian Airlines, defended the agreement to the Civil Beat, saying the company "worked to understand the laws relating to Congressman Kahele’s interest in maintaining his currency as a pilot while adhering to his compliance obligations as an elected official."
"The agreement that is currently in place covers all pilots, allowing them to meet their civic duties and employment responsibilities in accordance with established ethics rules," Tanahara said.
Neither Kahele nor his spokesperson responded to Fox News' request for comment Friday. A spokesperson for Pelosi did not immediately respond on whether she was aware of Kahele's double employment and backing legislation from his employer.
Kahele's office previously defended his work at Hawaiian Airlines as being permitted by House ethics rules and argued his flight experience brings a positive perspective to Congress.
"The Congressman brings a unique perspective to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee as a current and qualified U.S. commercial air transport pilot and strengthens the voices of all pilots, cabin crews and air cargo operators at home in Hawaii and throughout the United States," Kahele's office told Fox News Digital Tuesday.
As for the pilot income, Kahele's office said he flies for Hawaiian Airlines only on occasion to maintain his pilot certification and within the limits of House ethics rules, which capped annual outside income at $29,895 in 2022.
"The Congressman’s outside employment is in accordance with rules set by the U.S. House Committee on Ethics," the congressman's office said.
"In 2022, Congressman Kahele has flown three flights for a total of 14.2 flying hours and has earned $2,861.90. In 2021, the Congressman’s outside earned income totaled $29,151.79."
The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) declined to comment specifically about the agreement that allowed Kahele to work part-time while serving in Congress but issued a statement praising the congressman for bringing "practical, real-world experience" to Washington.
"Rep. Kahele is a strong advocate for aviation safety, frontline workers and those who helped us through the pandemic," the ALPA said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "His practical, real-world experience as a commercial and military aviator provide him with subject matter expertise that is extremely beneficial in Congress and to the American public.
"We salute him for his service to our nation and his commitment to staying grounded in the real world while serving in Congress."
Fox News' Timothy Nerozzi contributed to this report.


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If you have been asking yourself when does the star wars the old republic beta start, then you might receive an answer next week. A subdomains of stwor.com revealed that they are preparing the beta launch and that a server status screen is already up:
We have previously invited you to join the SWTOR beta, but if you haven’t joined it yet, now might be *the* time to do it.
Why? Because a mysterious subdomain of swtor.com https://launch.swtor.com/ allows registered SWTOR players to log in and then you get this:
A server status screen. It currently says “No game servers are currently available for play”. Some rumors say that the countdown on the official Bioware, Mass Effect 2 and Dragon Age Site could somehow be related to the SWTOR beta launch. But honestly, I doubt it. Bioware would have posted a countdown on SWTOR.com if they wanted to release some CRUCIAL information about the SWTOR beta. Nonetheless, the subdomain is already there, which means the beta will start soon. Soon could be next month or this summer, who knows?
Bioware PR guy Ben Gilbert stated that the countdown is about the community and not a new game. So, possibly a new community platform? Maybe Bioware’s own publishing platform or it’s own Battle.net platform for SWTOR, Mass Effect 2 and Dragon Age players? We don’t know yet.


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A Well-Traveled Life: A Journey Through Cuba
Christopher Baker is a journalist, among other things, and specializing in motorcycle touring and travel. His moto journalism has reached into some of the biggest named publications in the industry and he is a motorcycle tour leader specializing in California and Cuba. It was the Cuba note that pulled me into devouring his site. I fell in love with Cuba and the rhythm it created years back when I was able to spend about 10 days exploring. While exploring upcoming talks at Horizons Unlimited in California this September and came across Christopher and began to learn more.
If you pick up a Moon Cuba (Travel Guide) book or National Geographic Traveler costa Rica, 6th Edition book you may recognize the name of the author. Christopher has authored more than 30 books from travel guidebooks to literary books, from coffee table books, and more than 200 international publications.
He is considered a pioneer of motorcycle travel and group two-wheeled tours in Cuba with many a journey regaled in the National Geographic Adventure Press book: Mi Moto Fidel: Motorcycling Through Castro’s Cuba. As a moto-journalist and Cuba expert, he then partnered with Ernesto Guevara and La Ponderosa Tours to offer private customized group motorcycle tours of Cuba for U.S. Citizens using Harley-Davidsons.
A name that may sound familiar, “riding with Ernesto brings an extra panache and interest to any tour. His father, the revolutionary icon Ernesto “Che” Guevara, famously rode his Norton motorcycle around South America in 1956. Although Ernesto Jr. was only an infant when his father died, he inherited his love of motorcycles, and for mechanics in general. For many years, his personal ride was a 1948 Panhead.” There is so much history throughout Cuba and surrounded by a historical vibe from vintage cars that fill the roads, to the smells of cigar smoke, and the rhythm that fills your soul in jazz clubs and street sounds. A few years back I wrote an article in Mainstream Magazine about the way Cuba ignites the soul, and if you get a chance to experience the fluid sway that beats within your steps, all of the life in Cuba is one that radiates through your soul.
When it comes to the legalities of traveling to Cuba and especially motorcycling, Christopher is the go-to expert, and he “literally wrote the book about motorcycling in Cuba after shipping his BMW R100PD to Cuba in 1996 and riding the island end-to-end during three months as a journalist.” It kicked off in 2012 when he arranged the first U.S. group motorcycle tours of Cuba since the Revolution and he has since many more.
Want to take on the expedition through the past, Baker tailors his itinerary to the wants/needs of the tour group. With the flexibility to custom design around Bay of Pigs, colonial-era UNESCO World Heritage Cities, mountains, and shorelines, there is no shortage of adventure. Stay in private B&Bs, eat at the best private restaurants and enjoy Cuba’s renowned cigars, and – following your ride at the end of the day – superb rums! You will enjoy your 2-wheeled exploration and enjoy vintage car vibes and rides as well. Cuba has so much to offer, even the seasoned adventurer will find new passions.
For more information on the amazing adventures visit: https://christopherpbaker.com/ride-with-ernesto-guevara-harley-davidson-motorcycle-tours-in-cuba/
So allow yourself to dance in the streets, add that extra beat to your step, and explore the beats that vibe through you in Cuba. See you out there on the road, enjoy the ride.
Written by Danell Lynn, www.danelllynn.com Guinness World Record Motorcyclist. Photo Copyrights: La Ponderosa Tours and Christopher P. Baker.


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If the national and Sabah Barisan Nasional parties can disregard the
solemn pledge given in two Sabah state general elections on power-sharing
in Sabah by rotating the Chief Ministerís post among the stateís three
main communities, and denied the Kadazandusuns their opportunity and right
to a full two-year slot of the Chief Ministerís post before the formulation
implementation of a new formula, the message to all Malaysians is that Barisan Nasional election pledges are not iron-clad and cannot be trusted!
The Kadazanduzun community had a chief minister for only 10 months in
the person of the United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun-Murut Organisation (UPKO)
president, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, when Sabah state general elections were
held in early 1999.
Although Bernard failed to defend his Moyog seat in the 1999 state general election, there was no reason why another Kadazandusun Chief Minister could not be appointed to take up the remaining 14 months of the two-year slot for a Kadazandusun Chief Minister.
Furthermore, there is even less credible reason why a Kadazandusun could not be appointed as Chief Minister after the expiry of the two-year term of office of Osu Sukam so that the Barisan Nasional election pledge for the rotation of the post by the three main communities in the state could be honoured to the letter.
It has been reported that under the new "2:1:1" formula as described by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad at his meeting with Barisan Nasional leaders yesterday, Sabah Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president Datuk Chong Kah Kiat will serve as the Chinese representative for two years starting from the day he is sworn in.
When Chong's term expires, Umno, as the Muslim representative, will get its turn. After that, a Kadazandusun will be made the chief minister to represent the non-Muslim bumiputras. Upon the end of the Kadazandusun term, the post will revert to a Muslim representative from Umno.
This is a most shocking interpretation of the "2:1:1" formula calculated to impose UMNO hegemony in Sabah at a time when UMNO has lost its traditional hegemony in Peninsular Malaysia as the Malay majority party after the last general election.
It would firstly mean that the Kadazandusun would be denied its two-year rotation as Chief Minister in the first cycle of "1:1:1" formula. This is shortchanging the Kadazandusun community.
Secondly, it would mean an unfair interpretation of the "2:1:1" formula as to give UMNO an unfair extra two-year term at the expense of the other two communities.
This is because Osu Sukamís two-year term as Chief Minister should be considered as the first of the two-year stints as Chief Minister in the second rotation cycle. If this is the case, when Chongís term expires, it should be followed by a Kadazandusun, and then rounded up with a UMNO nominee to complete the "2:1:1" cycle.
Any other interpretation would mean UMNO abusing its hegemonic position to take unfair advantage to deny the other Barisan Nasional component parties a fair and equitable power-sharing in Sabah.


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Eagles hold off tenacious Tigers
West Coast moved into second spot on the AFL ladder with a comfortable 31-point win over Richmond at Subiaco Oval on Saturday evening.
The Eagles prevailed 18.9 (117) to Richmond's 12.14 (86) in the round 20 clash.
Holding a 20-point lead at half-time, the Eagles were swamped by a rush of late third quarter goals by the Tigers, bringing the bottom placed side within nine.
Only a late goal by West Coast's Quentin Lynch pushed the margin back out to 15 going into the final break.
Fighting for a top four position going into the finals, the Eagles nullified any chance of a contest from the Tigers in the last term when Mark LeCras, Adam Hunter and Brent Staker kicked truly before Lynch grabbed his seventh goal of the match to add the icing.
A courageous rally by Richmond late in the second term kept them hanging in the match, after West Coast escaped to a 33-point lead.
Apart from Lynch's seven goal haul, LeCras grabbed four for the Eagles and Adam Hunter a handy three.
Key midfielder Daniel Kerr tallied an exceptional 31 possessions in the absence of captain Chris Judd, who was rested in an attempt to recover from a problem groin injury.
The Tigers remained competitive through the match thanks to three goals from Nathan Brown and Matthew Richardson, while Joel Bowden was influential as always at half-back with 23 possessions.
West Coast currently sit in second, but could slip back to fourth depending on the results of tomorrow's clash between Port Adelaide and Hawthorn as well as the Kangaroos and Geelong.
West Coast 18.9 (117) (Q Lynch 7, M LeCras 4, A Hunter 3, B Staker 2, M Braun, M Seaby)
Richmond 12.14 (86) (N Brown 3, M Richardson 3, B Deledio 2, S Edwards, R Tambling, A Pattison, J Riewoldt)


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Francis Scott Key
First match: Snow Hill’s Gabe Dennis (33-7)
Outlook: Two of his losses have come against Liberty’s Noah Wienclawski, but Imes needs to navigate through the entire bracket if he wants another matchup. Glenelg’s Sam Alsheimer (14-1, the top-ranked 2A-1A wrestler by the Maryland State Wrestling Association, in on Imes’ side of the bracket.
Jake Griffin, senior
First match: Fairmont Heights’ James Pitts (8-4)
Outlook: He’s a county and 2A-1A West champion, but Griffin’s state bracket seems challenging. Glenelg’s Max Sotka (31-7) is there, and he’s the top-ranked 2A-1A grappler by the MSWA. Southern Garrett’s Max Embleton (41-2) is ranked ahead of Griffin too, but he beat Embleton 8-4 in the regional final.
Noah Wienclawski, junior
First match: Patterson Mill's Hunter Crowley (34-0)
Outlook: A tough draw for Wienclawski, who won a county title and placed fourth in 2A-1A West. County fans should root for another matchup with he and FSK’s Nate Imes — Wienclawski beat Imes twice this season, but Imes edged him in OT in the regional tourney.
Hunter Green, sophomore
First match: South River’s Isaac Barber (36-2)
Outlook: Barber is ranked fourth in 4A-3A in this class by the MSWA, so Green has some work cut out for him. If he wins there, Green likely has to face Chopticon’s Tristan McGee (36-2, ranked second by MSWA) in the next round.
Kyle Mathias, senior
First match: Springbrook’s Sahid Antar (34-8)
Outlook: Mathias had to beat Westminster’s Hunter Myers twice to reach this point, taking third at the county and 4A-3A West tournaments. A win likely pits him against Leonardtown’s Trevor Crowley (22-5), a top seed, in the next round.
Troy Warner, senior
First match: Huntingtown’s Joseph Bannister (31-8)
Outlook: Warner didn’t have to face Westminster’s Christian Hauffman (35-12) in the regional tourney, which would have been a rematch of the county tournament finals. But Warner got to the 4A-3A West final, falling 5-3 to Churchill’s Alec Velikanov (35-5), while Hauffman placed third.
Dakota Bowers, sophomore
First match: Overlea’s Jerome Vonziah (22-9)
Outlook: Bowers certainly has momentum, with county and regional titles in tow. Plus, the Cavaliers won a state crown at this weight class last winter when Travis Crawford went 4-0 and won his first title.
Travis Crawford, junior
First match: Patterson Mill’s Ethan Harvey (29-11)
Outlook: He’s the county’s lone reigning state champion, but Crawford lost in the county and 2A-1A West finals after suffering one loss in the regular season. Crawford could face Eastern Tech’s Ryan Wagener (39-1) in the second round.
Christian Hauffman, senior
First match: Duval’s Elijah Fontem (15-3)
Outlook: Kenwood’s Dylan Budka (43-1) could pose a tough task should Hauffman get to the second round, and there’s a chance he could face MV’s Troy Warner (27-4) in the semifinals. Hauffman clipped Warner 7-4 two weeks ago to win the county tournament title.
Hunter Myers, senior
First match: Urbana’s Jake Nielson (37-1)
Outlook: It’s a tough draw for Myers for his state tourney opener, particularly since Nielson is the top-ranked wrestler by the MSWA in his class. Linganore’s Joey Bromley (40-1) also looms on Myers’ side of the bracket.
Parker Streib, senior
First match: Poly’s Ben Wright (31-6)
Outlook: Streib is charging into the state tourney as a county and regional champ, giving him one of the top seeds in this bracket. South River’s Trenton Puccinelli (31-6) could be waiting in the second round, and Centennial’s Jason Kraisser (35-0) is on the bottom of the bracket.
Brad Walsh, senior
First match: Mount Hebron’s Ali Pender (40-6)
Outlook: Walsh is already Westminster’s all-time wins leader, and he’s four wins away from a 50-win season and a state championship. He’s ranked third in 4A-3A by the MSWA, however, with Urbana’s Shane Acton (29-8) and Leonardtown’s John Podsednik (25-2) ahead of him.
Troy Blessing, senior
First match: Hereford’s Jimmy Kells (37-3)
Outlook: Blessing, a county champion, fell to Damascus’ Timothy Furgeson in the regional semifinals. If the Falcons’ 118-win man wants a rematch it could happen in the state semis. Furgeson is ranked third in this class by the MSWA.
Zach Kirby, freshman
First match: Loch Raven’s Marquis Kemp (39-5)
Outlook: If Kirby wants a shot at an all-county final, to face SC’s Dakota Bowers, he’ll have to get past two guys with 40-plus wins on his side of the bracket in North Caroline’s Ryan Bauer and Marriotts Ridge’s Ethan Bohan.
Hunter Lowe, senior
First match: Western Tech’s Ike Kafu (28-1)
Outlook: Lowe’s run to a 2A-1A West title was stymied in the semifinals, when Damascus’ Paul Evan Purkey (39-3) pinned him in 30 seconds. The county runner-up finished fourth at the regional tournament, and he wants nothing more than to get back on a winning streak.
Hunter Merson, sophomore
First match: Easton’s Maximus Bentley (26-0)
Outlook: If Merson hands Bentley his first loss, he’ll have a chance to face Catoctin’s Zach Bryant (34-1), who beat him in the 2A-1A West semifinals, if both reach the state semis. He’s one of nine guys in this bracket with 30 or more wins.
Alex Miller, senior
First match: Kent Island’s Hadyn Blanchard (11-4)
Outlook: Miller is one of eight wrestlers in his weight class with 30 or more wins, and he won a county title to help get this far. Southern Garrett’s Hunter Park (33-7) is the top seed on Miller’s side of the bracket.

domain: sports


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The South Africa Reserve Bank is expected to cut interest rates by 50 basis points on May 21 to a record low of 3.75% to ease the pain of the country’s recession, as this quarter shows signs of a steep downturn due to limited economic activity, a Reuters poll found.
South Africa’s government has implemented a nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus while the Reserve Bank has been buying secondary market bonds to deal with the economic impact. The Treasury is due to introduce a new budget on June 24 to add more stimulus.
“As the negative impact of the continued lockdown becomes more clearly quantifiable, there is room for a further rate cut of 50 basis points given current inflationary expectations,” said Frank Blackmore, an economist at EF Consult.
Nine of 20 economists surveyed in the past week said the central bank would cut rates by 50 basis points to 3.75% next week. Four expect just a quarter-point trim. Three said the repo rate would be eased by 75 basis points and three expect no change.
Nedbank economists were again the only forecasters to predict rates would be cut by a full percentage point – as happened on April 14 and March 19.
In the 2008/09 recession, the SARB cut rates by a cumulative 700 basis points through 2012 to stimulate the economy.
“We hold on to our call for another 125 basis points in cuts this year, a 75-100 basis point cut likely to be delivered again in the May meeting, with the SARB likely to continue to favour frontloading cuts in anticipation of more substantial economic pressure,” said Jeffrey Schultz, an economist at BNP Paribas.
This quarter is expected to be the deepest contraction in South Africa’s history at 36.2%, far gloomier than last month’s 23.0% prediction.
The latest poll median was for the economy to shrink 6.5% this year, compared with last month’s 4.9% contraction forecast, but it was expected to recover to 2.9% growth next year.
“A GDP contraction of above 10% year-on-year for 2020 is instead now quite possible on a lengthy, severe lockdown … as many corporates not only temporarily cease activity, but do so permanently,” said Annabel Bishop, chief economist at Investec.
Demand is so low in South Africa it is included in a number of emerging-market countries where inflation was predicted to show signs of deflationary trends.
“Strong deflation in fuel prices and collapsing demand are likely to outweigh a weaker rand and its limited pass-through into CPI, averaging a 17-year low of 2.8% in 2020, breaching the lower bound of the 3-6% target range,” Shultz said.
The survey’s median showed inflation was expected to average higher than Shultz’ expectations at 3.5% this year.
Still, Shultz said core CPI – a gauge for long-term trends in inflation – suggested the risk-sensitive priced items slipping into strong disinflation territory, or deflation, should not be underestimated.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Wednesday he aimed to further ease restrictions imposed to curb the new coronavirus, but places with the most infections likely would remain into June on “alert level 4” of a five-level system.
“54% of businesses surveyed by Statistics SA in the first two weeks of April already said they will cease to exist before mid-July if they cannot generate sufficient turnover,” said Bishop. “Most businesses will have lost incomes needed to pay staff and other costs, resulting in retrenchments rising substantially and firms shutting down permanently.”