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Twitter has launched a new-look website for its mobile video service Vine, designed to make it easier for users to find and discover Vine videos on the web.
Vine.co, which first launched as a website in January, now features an explore page, which features specific channels alongside trending tags and popular-now videos.
Vine has also added new sections that include “hand-curated content,” and a “powerful, new search bar” that will let viewers search by person, tag or location.
“Up until now, the primary way to watch, share and discover Vine videos has been on your phone. We’ve heard from the Vine community that you sometimes want to explore Vine and view videos on your computer too,” said Vine announcing the revamp.
Twitter launched Vine last year, allowing users to post and share six-second video clips that can be easily shared on the microblogging network.


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Living to Tell the Tale
By Gabriel García Márquez
Translated by Edith Grossman
No writer of his time exerted the magical appeal of Gabriel García Márquez. In this long-awaited autobiography, the great Nobel laureate tells the story of his life from his birth in1927 to the moment in the 1950s when he proposed to his wife. The result is as spectacular as his finest fiction.
Here is García Márquez’s shimmering evocation of his childhood home of Aracataca, the basis of the fictional Macondo. Here are the members of his ebulliently eccentric family. Here are the forces that turned him into a writer. Warm, revealing, abounding in images so vivid that we seem to be remembering them ourselves, Living to Tell the Tale is a work of enchantment.
Paperback / Autobiography / Literary Figures / Latin America / South America
0.86" H x 7.98" L x 5.38" W (0.88 lbs) 544 pages
We Also Recommend
The Legend of Aguila Azul: Lucha Legends No.1, a Dual Language Chapter Book

domain: literature


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Little Olive Roller Coaster Tricycle Review
When your child is really young and you decided to let them ride their first bike. It is always a good idea to start with a tricycle because it is much safer to ride than a bicycle. So this is a perfect starting point for toddlers to learn how to ride a bicycle.
With regard to that, we would like to introduce to you this high-quality tricycle that is made for 1 to 6-year-old kids. This Little Olive Roller Coaster Baby Tricycle, is made of the finest materials that will guarantee a fun-filled experience. Your child will enjoy a comfortable and satisfying ride.
Table Of Contents
3D Steering and EVA Tires
It makes the steering much easier to accomplish providing your child a hassle-free riding experience.
It is weighted 8.5 kilograms and has the ability to endure the weight of a 6-year-old kid or even more. Its suggested minimum age requirement is 12 months though.
This is where you can put the belongings of your child such as toys, snacks or tumbler.
The cute-looking bell will provide a more interactive riding experience for your child and will teach them some road courtesy essentials.
It will allow you to fully-control the tricycle so that your child will not be tired of pedaling.
Fold-Down Foot Rest
This is where your kid can place their foot for them to have comfortable riding experience.
This tricycle has a soft cushioned seat which allows the child to sit comfortably reducing any kinds of strains from occurring.
What Do We like
This tricycle has an affordable price tag which gives people with limited budget a chance to have it.
It has an astounding design that makes it desirable to use and will up a lot of awesomeness to your child while they are riding it.
No Maintenance Needed
This tricycle does need any tremendous maintenance for it to function well.
What We Don’t Like
Noisy while in use.
We have finished discussing this nice tricycle for kids. We have known that it will give you premium features just like 3D Steering, EVA Tires, Storage Space, Bell, Push Bar, Fold-Down Foot Rest, and etc. all for a very low price.

domain: design


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Miss Youghal's Sais
"Miss Youghal's Sais" is a short story in Rudyard Kipling's collection Plain Tales from the Hills (1888). It is the first appearance in book form of the fictional character Strickland. (It was first published in the Civil and Military Gazette on April 25th 1887.)
Strickland, a policeman who is regarded as disreputable for his habits in going undercover disguised as a native, falls in love with Miss Youghal. Her parents do not approve, not only are "ways and works" untrustworthy, but he works in "the worst paid Department in the Empire." Her parents forbid him from speaking with or writing to their daughter. "'Very well,' said Strickland, for he did not wish to make his lady-love's life a burden." Then he takes three months leave, disappears, and is employed as her Sais, or native groom, called Dulloo. One day, towards the end of the three months, "an old and very distinguished General" takes Miss Youghal riding, and flirts with her. Strickland "stood it as long as he could. Then he caught hold of the General's bridle, and, in most fluent English, invited him to step off and be flung over the cliff." Miss Youghal explains, and the General begins to laugh. He intercedes on the behalf of the young pair to her parents, and they are married.
|Wikisource has original text related to this article:|
- All quotations in this article have been taken from the Uniform Edition of Plain Tales from the Hills published by Macmillan & Co., Limited in London in 1899. The text is that of the third edition (1890), and the author of the article has used his own copy of the 1923 reprint. Further comment, including page-by-page notes, can be found on the Kipling Society's website, at .


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FAIRPORT CONVENTION-MYTHS AND HEROES.
FAIRPORT CONVENTION-MYTHS AND HEROES.
There aren’t many groups that enjoy the longevity that Fairport Convention have. They were formed in 1967, and are widely recognised as the founding fathers of English folk rock. Since then, Fairport Convention have influenced several generations of folk musicians. However, it’s not all been smooth sailing for Fairport Convention.
The story began in 1966, when bassist Ashley Hutchings met guitarist Simon Nichols were both members of the Ethnic Shuffle Orchestra. The band rehearsed above Simon Nichols’ father’s medical practice, in a house called Fairport, in Fortis, Muswell Hill. This house would lend its name to a future musical institution a year later.
A year later, in 1967, guitarist Richard Thompson and drummer Shaun Frater joined bassist Ashley Hutchings met guitarist Simon Nichols, and became Fairport Convention. However, quickly, Fairport Convention’s lineup changed.
The newly formed Fairport Convention played their first concert at St Michael’s Church Hall, Golder’s Green, North London. That night, a member of the audience Martin Lambie convinced the rest of Fairport Convention that he could play better than their drummer Shaun Frater. This would be the first of many changes in lineup over the next forty-eight years.
Things have never gone smoothly for Fairport Convention. There’s been numerous changes in lineup, fallouts and even the occasional musical sabbatical. Despite this, Fairport Convention have still managed to release twenty-five studio albums between their eponymous debut album in June 1968, and their twenty-fifth album, Myths and Heroes, which was released on Matty Grooves Records.
For any group, releasing their twenty-fifth album is quite an achievement. However, in the case of Fairport Convention, the founding fathers of English folk rock, this was an amazing achievement. Several times, it looked as if Fairport Convention were about to become history. Somehow, they pulled through, though not necessarily without the occasional casualty. Fairport Convention have lived to fight another day, and last year, recorded their twenty-fifth album Myths and Heroes.
Myths and Heroes features thirteen tracks, including the Chris Leslie composition Myths and Heroes, Theodore’s Song, Love At First Sight and Grace and Favour. Chris Leslie cowrote The Fylde Mountain Time/ Roger Bucknall’s Polka with Dave Pegg, and Weightless/The Gravity Reel with James Wood. Ric Sunders penned The Gallivant and Jonah’s Oak. The other five tracks on Myths and Heroes were cover versions. This includes Ralph McTell’s Clear Water, Rob Beattie’s The Man in the Water, Anna Ryder’s Bring Me Back My Feathers and P.J. Wright’s Home. John Condon was written by Richard Laird, Sam Starrett and Tracey McRory. These thirteen tracks became Myths and Heroes, which was recorded at Woodworm Studios, in Barford St. Michael, Oxfordshire.
Recording of Myths and Heroes started at Woodworm Studios, in March 2014, and was completed in November 2014. For seven months, Fairport Convention worked on the twenty-fifth studio album of their career. They brought onboard their favoured producer, John Gale, who co-produced Myths and Heroes with Fairport Convention. Their lineup included founding member and vocalist Simon Nichols, who played guitar and electric guitar. Dave Pegg played bass, double bass, mandolin, bass ukulele, bouzouki, tenor banjo and added vocals. Chris Leslie played violin, mandolin, bouzouki, banjo, Celtic harp, tenor guitar, chromatic harmonica, whistle and added vocals. Ric Saunders played violin, ukulele, bass ukulele and keyboards. Gerry Conway played drums and percussion. However, to complete Myths and Heroes Fairport Conventions brought in some guest artists, and a member of the Fairport Convention family.
This included bassist Matt Pegg, who played on four tracks. However, most of the guest artists were brought in to play on just one track, The Gallivant. The string section included violinists Joe Broughton, Paloma Trigas and Aria Trigas. They were joined by a horn section that featured trumpeter Rob Spalton, tenor saxophonist Emma Jones and alto saxophonists Jake Thornton and Benjamin Hill. These guest artists all played their part in Myths and Heroes, which was released in two stages.
As 2015, dawned, Fairport Convention were on their Winter Tour. During the tour, Fairport Convention played tracks from Myths and Heroes. So, it made sense to sell the album after shows. Fairport Convention fans could also buy copies of Myths and Heroes from their website from the 1st of January 2015. However, everyone else had to wait until March 2015. That’s when Myths and Heroes was eventually released. By then, the critics had had their say.
Mostly, reviews of Myths and Heroes were positive. Yet again, critical acclaim accompanied the release of a Fairport Convention album. This seemed fitting, given Myths and Heroes was Fairport Convention’s twenty-fifth album since they formed in 1967. However, what Fairport Convention’s latest album, Myths and Heroes sound like? That’s what I’ll tell you.
Myths and Heroes opens with the title-track, Myths and Heroes. Straight away, Fairport Convention’s rhythm section, guitars and violins drive the arrangement along. Chris Leslie delivers a questioning, probing vocal. His lyrics draw inspiration from the Romulus and Remus, the main characters in Rome’s foundation myth. As Chris paints pictures with his lyrics, violins urgently sweep and swirl. Meanwhile, the rhythm section, guitars and mandolin match the urgency of the violins. It’s Fairport Convention doing what they do best, playing their award winning brand of folk rock.
Clear Water was penned by Ralph McTell, who in the sleeve-notes writes of his admiration and respect for Fairport Convention. His lyrics are delivered by Simon Nichol, against a much more traditional arrangement. Everything from an acoustic guitar, violins, percussion, drums and ukelele combine with harmonies. Simon’s vocal is full of hope as sings: “I want clear water from here to the horizon.” This is a metaphor for the journey that’s life. He’s a realist though. He knows it won’t always be plain sailing. Despite this, Simon is forever an optimist, with hope filling his voice during this quite beautiful song.
The traditional folk sound continues on The Fylde Mountain Time/Roger Bucknall’s Polka. Fairport Convention deploy a myriad of traditional instruments. At the heart of the song is multi-instrumentalist Dave Pegg. If he can strum or pluck it, he’s guaranteed to get a tune out of it. Bazoukis add to the Greek influence and sound on Roger Bucknall’s Polka which is truly joyous and uplifting.
From the opening bars, it’s obvious that Theodore’s Song is more than a little special. The song tells the story of Theodore, a travelling watch and clock repairer and musician, who travelled across Oxfordshire in the first half of the 20th Century. He had been hurt, and hurt badly. Chris Leslie takes charge of the vocal and tell his story. His worldweary vocal brings the lyrics to life. Meanwhile, drummer Gerry Conway marks time. An acoustic guitar, ukelele and tenor guitar combine, as Chris tells the story of how Theordore was jilted at the altar, and how he never was the same after that. Together, Fairport Convention play their part in a song that manages to be heartbreaking, emotive and also, beautiful.
Violins urgently play, drums pound and Fairport Convention’s rhythm section kick loose on Love at First Sight. Bursts of search guitars are added, as Fairport Convention get into their stride. They’ve been transformed into a hard rocking folk rock band. Chris Leslie tells the story of the lengths a woman goes to join become a Morris dancer. Having done so, she finds love. This hook laden, irresistible rocky track tells her story as only Fairport Convention can do.
John Condon marks a return to a more traditional folk sound. Wistful violins play and a guitar is strummed, before Simon Nichol delivers melancholy vocal. He tells the story of those who fell on the Belgian battlefields during World War 1. In John Condon’s case, he was a “wee lad who’ll not grow old, heroes who won’t come home, here they lie in Belgian fields and Picardy.” It’s a heartbreaking song, that brings home the folly of war, and reminds the listener of all the lives that were lost, including many like John Condon, who were just boys.
For recording of The Gallivant, Fairport Convention brought onboard the Broughton’s Conservatoire Folk Ensemble. They supply the string and horn section. Meanwhile, Fairport Convention drive the arrangement. Again, they deploy an eclectic selection of instruments. Drums and keyboards are joined by an Ibanez bass, a mandolin, and electric violins. They play their part in a stirring, scorching slice of folk that’s guaranteed to get any party started.
Rob Beattie wrote the wistful sounding The Man in the Water. From the opening lines: “there’s a man in the river, policemen standing in a circle, round the man, man in the water, who sees nothing but circles,” you’re captivated. The track has a cinematic sound. Especially with the understated arrangement, and Chris’ wistful, questioning vocal. He’s searching for answers. Who was he, what did he do? Meanwhile, swathes of melancholy strings, a Celtic Harp, drums and a bouzouki join the fretless bass. Fairport Convention play thoughtfully and with subtlety, framing Chris’ vocal, on what’s one of Myths and Heroes’ highlights.
Anna Ryder wrote Bring Me Back My Feathers on what was originally a five-string banjo. However, when she bought it in a charity shop in 1987, it had lost a string. She’s never rectified this, and still managed to write this song. Chris Leslie sings the lead vocal and plays a banjo. Gerry Conway’s drums provide the heartbeat. Soon, the arrangement unfolds. An electric violin, Ibanez bass, percussion and electric guitar enter, and drive the arrangement along. It has a much more traditional folk sound. So has Chris’ vocal. It’s needy and hopeful as he sings: “bring me back me sweetheart, else I cannot live, bring me back me sweetheart, anything I give.” Chris’ vocal plays an important part in the sound and success of Bring Me Back My Feathers.
Grace and Favour was written by Chris Leslie after visiting the Grace Darling Museum in Bamburgh. That’s where he saw the gold medal awarded to Grace Darling from the Humane Society. She rescued nine people from a raging storm. Here, Fairport Convention tell her story, and pay tribute to a incredibly brave woman. From the opening bars, Chris’ lyrics are cinematic. So much so, that if you close your eyes, the scenes unfold before your eyes. Meanwhile, a violin, electric guitar, bouzouki and the rhythm section provide the backdrop, as this breathtaking story of courage and selflessness unfolds.
As Weightless/The Gravity Reel unfolds, Chris delivers a despairing vocal. He brings to life Weightless’ lyrics, which deal with loss. The arrangement floats along slowly. Drums mark time, violins add a melancholy sound and Chris’ vocal is full of despair. Then as a crystalline guitar weaves its way across the arrangement and Celtic violins sweep and swirl, The Gravity Reel begins. It was inspired by the film Gravity, which tells the story of a woman rebuilding her life after losing a child. The deliver of the lyrics: “I am striving, am striving to rebuild,” is heartfelt and full of hope, hope for the future. Just like Weightless, The Gravity Reel is a truly poignant and moving song.
Home was written by P.J. Wright. An acoustic guitar is strummed before Chris vocal enters. He’s in a reflective mood, realising that the years are passing by. That’s why he sings: “this is home and where I’ll stay.” He wants to be with his family and friends. Later, there’s a sense of realisation: “were any of us ever aware, we’re living on borrowed time?” By the, a guitar and violin combine with the rhythm section and percussion play. They provide a backdrop to Chris’ sudden realisation of how “we’re living on borrowed time.” It’s a wakeup call, and makes him realise how precious life is.
Jonah’s Oak closes Myths and Heroes. A melancholy violin plays, a guitar is strummed and they rhythm section play slowly, thoughtfully and with a subtlety. Together, they provide a beautiful, wistful track that’s the perfect way to close Myths and Heroes.
Myths and Heroes is Fairport Convention’s twenty-fifth album since they formed in 1967. Since then, there’s been numerous changes in lineup, fallouts and even the occasional musical sabbatical. Despite this, Fairport Convention have still managed to release twenty-five studio albums between their eponymous debut album in June 1968, and their twenty-fifth album, Myths and Heroes, which was released on Matty Grooves Records. It’s a very welcome addition to Fairport Convention’s discography.
On Myths and Heroes, we hear three different sides to Fairport Convention. There’s the traditional folk sound, balladry and Fairport Convention where they kick loose, and rock out. Much as I like the traditional folk sound, Fairport Convention are at their best delivering beautiful ballads and unleashing their trademark folk rock sound. Both feature the veteran band at the peak of their powers. All their years of experience shines through on Myths and Heroes, Fairport Convention’s twenty-fifth album in forty-eight years. Fairport Convention, the founding fathers of English folk rock, might be reaching veteran status, but as Myths and Heroes shows that they’re still a band with much to offer.
FAIRPORT CONVENTION-MYTHS AND HEROES.
- Posted in: Folk ♦ Folk Rock ♦ Rock
- Tagged: Chris Leslie, Dave Pegg, Fairport Convention, Gerry Conway, John Gale, Matty Grooves Records, Myths and Heroes, Ric Saunders, Simon Nichols

domain: entertainment


Hello everyone, my question is this,
I have a server with Tomcat on port 443, is there a problem with having the agent installed on that server and sharing port? any block? can they shared port?
View best response
@Javier1980 There is no problem with the Log Analytics agent and any application installed on the server. The Log Analytics agent just has outbound connection from port 443 to Azure. Your Tomcat application is inbound connection.


Media General Inc., a newspaper publisher and television station operator, said it lost $85.5 million in the fourth quarter on an impairment charge and a steep drop in publishing profits due to declining advertising sales.
The company also said it was suspending its dividend. Its shares dropped 24 percent.
The publisher of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, The Tampa Tribune and the Winston-Salem Journal said Thursday that its loss for the period ended Dec. 28 amounted to $3.86 per share, compared with profit of $9.6 million, or 43 cents a share, in the year-ago period.
Revenue fell about 12 percent to $207 million from $235 million in 2007.
The loss in the latest quarter included a non-cash impairment charge of $130.4 million, primarily a write-down on the value of Federal Communications Commission licenses and network-affiliation agreements to what the company considered current estimated fair values.
"The market's perception of media stocks has become negative," chief financial officer John A. Schauss told analysts in a conference call.
Excluding the impairment charge, a tax valuation allowance related to continuing operations and $6.1 million of pre-tax severance expense, income from continuing operations was $8.6 million, or 36 cents a share.
Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected per-share earnings of 59 cents on revenue of $221.3 million. The earnings estimates typically exclude one-time items.
Media General also said that its board voted to suspend dividends on its Class A and Class B shares so it can direct cash to reducing its debt. Company officials didn't disclose the amount of additional cash it would have as a result of the suspension. The company already has cut hundreds of workers, suspended profit-sharing and executive bonuses, and plans to halt contributions to employees' 401(k) accounts.
Its shares slumped 68 cents, or 24 percent, to close at $2.16.
Media General said its publishing profit fell 68 percent to $8.5 million from the prior year.
"The publishing division's lower fourth-quarter results were due to the continuation of the declining economic trends that we have experienced all year, particularly in Florida," chief executive Marshall N. Morton said.
Richmond-based Media General is among a number of newspaper companies suffering from declining ad sales. The New York Times on Wednesday said fourth-quarter profit plunged 48 percent and online sales fell for the first time as the recession dampened ad spending. Gannett Co., the nation's largest newspaper company and publisher of USA Today, will report fourth-quarter and annual results Friday.
Media General's total publishing revenue fell nearly 17 percent and advertising revenue fell 20 percent. Classified ad sales fell by $14.2 million, or 37.6 percent, in the fourth quarter, most significantly in its three metropolitan markets. Retail ads declined 12 percent and national ad revenue fell 11 percent. Circulation revenue was up 5.7 percent, reflecting higher single-copy prices and home-delivery rate increases but circulation numbers continue to fall, company officials said in the conference call.
The broadcast division saw quarterly profit fall 8.5 percent to $21.6 million. Revenue mostly came from presidential campaign spending in Florida, Ohio, Virginia and North Carolina, along with ad spending on congressional and state races in several states. The company also decreased broadcast expenses more than 10 percent, mainly by cutting jobs and adopting other money-saving initiatives.
The interactive-media division reported an operating loss of $1.6 million versus a loss of $2.6 million in 2007, partly due to results of online coupon-and-shopping site DealTaker.com, which Media General acquired in March, and higher online revenues on the company's local media Web sites. But those sales were offset partially by a 24.5 percent decline in online classified ads and a 37 percent decline in online national ads.
Overall sales fell 17.5 percent in December to $56.1 million from $68 million, Media General said. Publishing revenue fell 15 percent and broadcast revenue fell 24 percent. Interactive-media revenue grew 17 percent.
Media General has been plagued by debt in recent months, but lenders granted the company more flexibility in the mid-December when it agreed to pay higher interest rates and reduce its revolving credit line from $1 billion to $600 million.
The company had signaled that it might miss its lender-imposed benchmarks, which have been harder to meet as advertising declines have depressed cash flow. Under the new terms, Media General also was allowed to exclude up to $15 million in severance costs, making the company's income appear higher.
For the year, Media General lost $631.9 million, or $28.57 a share, on $800 million in revenue, compared with a profit of $10.7 million, or 47 cents a share, on $898.8 million in revenue in 2007.
Besides its three metropolitan newspapers, the company owns 21 daily community newspapers in Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Alabama and South Carolina, about 275 weekly newspapers and other publications and 19 network-affiliated television stations.


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In oestrogen-receptor (ER) positive women with advanced breast cancer, combining everolimus (EVE) with exemestane (EXE) reduces bone turnover and disease progression in the bone. This was shown during the 2012 European Breast Cancer Congress (EBCC) by the updated results from the randomised controlled BOLERO-2 study.
BOLERO-2 previously demonstrated that the combination of EXE and EVE significantly improves outcomes, stopping further tumor growth for nearly 11 months, in a group of breast cancer patients that is highly resistant to treatment. However, previous studies indicate that some anti-cancer drugs are associated with decreased bone mineral density and an increased risk of fractures. As such it was important to discover whether the combination of EXE and EVE used with or after treatment with other drugs such as non-steroidal aromatase inhibitors, has an effect on bone health. In this light, researchers evaluated the bone turnover and bone resorption in the 724 patients enrolled in BOLERO-2. Three different bone markers (i.e. BSAP, CTX and P1NP) were assessed at the time of enrollment and after 6 and 12 weeks.
The presented data showed that the levels of all three bone markers were decreased significantly after 6 and 12 weeks for women taking EVE, indicating a low bone turnover, which in turn improves bone strength and health. After six week the BSAP level dropped by 5.5%, the P1NP level dropped by 20.4% and the CTX level was reduced with 6.3%. After 12 weeks, the three markers had dropped by 3.6%, 26.8% and 0.5% respectively. In the placebo group on the other hand, all bone marker levels had increased. After 60 days of treatment, only 3% of the EVE+EXE treated patients displayed further bone metastases, compared with 6% in the placebo group. Furthermore, in the subgroup of women with bone metastases at baseline, bone metastases progressed in nearly 4% in the EXE+EVE arm compared with 8% in the EVE only group. Importantly, this trend continued to be visible for longer than 6 months. In total, 2.1% of the patients in the EXE+EVE arm suffered a bone fracture compared with 3.4% in the placebo arm.
According to the investigators, these results show that adding EVE to EXE is greatly beneficial to bone health by reducing bone turnover and improving the time to bone metastases and the time to progression of existing bone metastases. As such, EVE seems to make it more difficult for metastases to grow in the bone. In addition to the effect on outcome and time to progression this improved bone health is an important benefit of combining EXE with EVE. Currently a clinical trial is being designed to assess the effect of EVE in women with early breast cancer, where bone health may be even more important.
Gnant et al. Everolimus added to exemestane reduced bone markers and disease progression in bone in postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer: updated results from the BOLERO-2 trial. Presented at EBCC 2012; Abstract LBA3.

domain: medical


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News, commentary and multimedia about Saddam Hussein from The New York Times.<br/ ><br/ >Obituary: For 30 Years, a Terror to Iraq and Neighbors (Dec. 30, 2006)
Readers shared thoughts on the execution.
Highlights from the Archives
Transcripts and documents depict Saddam Hussein as a leader who harbored grand ambitions for his country but was prone to epic miscalculations.October 26, 2011 worldNews
Saddam Hussein’s burial place, in his native village, offers mixed messages as his legend lives on.August 3, 2007 worldNews
ARTICLES ABOUT SADDAM HUSSEIN
The aide, Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, an ally of the Islamic State, was the highest-ranking deputy to Mr. Hussein not caught in the American invasion.
April 18, 2015, Saturday
The two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning correspondent has written his last dispatch for The New York Times — for now.
March 28, 2015, Saturday
Questions about the United States’ invasion in Iraq and its operations in Libya give an inkling of a would-be president’s instinct about American military interventions.
March 23, 2015, Monday
MORE ON SADDAM HUSSEIN AND: Presidential Election of 2016 , Bush, Jeb , Clinton, Hillary Rodham , Obama, Barack , Iraq , Libya , United States International Relations , United States , United States Defense and Military Forces , Iraq War (2003-11) , Hussein, Saddam , Qaddafi, Muammar el- , Bush, George W
Officials said they were slowing the operation to call for reinforcements and to preserve property and civilian lives.
March 17, 2015, Tuesday
The effort to take back Saddam Hussein’s hometown could deepen the sectarian divide or become a pivotal fight in the campaign to reclaim the north and west of the country.
March 3, 2015, Tuesday
A Fort Lee, N.J., man pleaded guilty to trying to sell weapons believed to be tied to one of Saddam Hussein’s sons.
December 2, 2014, Tuesday
A report by a watchdog group reveals the United States recovered thousands of chemical weapons in Iraq from 2004 to 2009 and destroyed almost all of them in secret and via open-air detonation.
November 23, 2014, Sunday
Will Democrats take advantage of a Senate majority while they still have it?
November 10, 2014, Monday
A New York Times investigation incites a debate over weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, a conversation long thought to be resolved.
October 17, 2014, Friday
Between $1.2 billion and $1.6 billion in Iraqi funds were stolen after the American invasion and moved to rural Lebanon, a former United States investigator said for the first time, but the trail ended there.
October 12, 2014, Sunday
Many Kurds will have their first taste of retribution as the genocide trial against Saddam Hussein begins.
A walk through the tableaus of excess, secrecy, violence and vanity in the palace and bunker complex leaves little doubt about its historical significance as a diorama of Mr. Hussein’s obsessions and mad ambitions.
Michael Gordon discusses the strategy of Saddam Hussein and his aides to combat the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
From the Archive
Past articles on Saddam Hussein from The New York Times.
Iraqi Leader; Hussein's Errors: Complex Impulses (Feb. 28, 1991)
Hussein Burnishes Image as Fear Brews in Iraq (June 7, 1991)
Immovable Object; Granite Regime of Saddam Hussein Seems Little Worn by Political Storm (July 31, 1992)
Saddam Hussein Sees Himself as the No. 1 Target, and Lives His Life Accordingly: In Secret (Feb. 15, 1998)
10 Years Later, Hussein Is Firmly in Control (Feb. 26, 2001)
In Cheney's Words: The Administration Case for Removing Saddam Hussein (Aug. 27, 2002)
In Blunt Words, Bush Threatens Hussein Again (Nov. 21, 2002)
Bush Declares 'One Victory in a War on Terror' (May 2, 2003)
In Speech, Bush Reiterates Threat Hussein Posed, but Makes No Mention of Weapons Search (June 17, 2003)
Hussein's 2 Sons Dead in Shootout, U.S. Says (July 23, 2003)
Hussein Caught in Makeshift Hide-Out; Bush Says 'Dark Era' for Iraqis Is Over (Dec. 15, 2003)
Court Hands Legal Custody of Saddam Hussein to Iraq (July 1, 2004)
Defiant Hussein, Lashing Out at U.S., Goes on Trial (Oct. 20, 2005)
Hussein Is Sentenced to Death by Hanging (Nov. 6, 2006)

domain: news


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The third installment in the Bad Boys franchise that first started in 1995 and later with a 2003 sequel, Bad Boys for Life is a highly entertaining action comedy that revitalizes the long-running movie series anchored by the charismatic duo of Will Smith and Martin Lawrence and has a perfect mix of explosive action sequences and comedic banter between the two very different characters. The plot follows two old-fashioned police officers Detective Lieutenant Marcus Burnett, played by the very funny Martin Lawrence, who is contemplating retirement after the birth of his grandson and Detective Lieutenant Mike Lowrey, played by action super star Will Smith, who still wants to remain a cop and has no desire to settle down with a family. Their long-serving boss Captain Conrad Howard, played by character actor Joe Pantoliano, assigns Marcus and Mike to the newly-created tactical division AMMO led by Mike’s ex-girlfriend and well-respected lieutenant Rita, played by Paola Núñez. Being part of the joke about their age, the team is made up of younger police officers with technological knowledge and include a character who is played by Vanessa Hudgens. Their mission is to help solve the murders of several law enforcement officers involved in a drug cartel case years ago and track down the suspected killer Armando, played by Jacob Scipio, whose mother Isabel, played by Kate del Castillo, is a ruthless drug cartel leader living in Mexico City. Like its predecessors, the movie is filled with over-the-top action sequences in which gun battles and explosions are going off all over the place throughout the city of Miami and eventually Mexico. Things go terribly wrong for both Marcus and Mike that make them reconsider retirement and think about their future lives together and with family. In between the thrilling action scenes, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are perfect as buddy cops as a result of their believable chemistry and hilarious rapport in which they make fun of one another but no matter what see themselves as brothers. The movie was a nostalgic look back on the 1990s and early 2000s when theaters were filled with action comedies, including the original Bad Boys and other action flicks starring Martin Lawrence. Overall, I found it to be a first-rate action comedy that is much better than the original two versions of the Bad Boys franchise as a result of its effectively timed action and comedy that makes for a fun and exciting blockbuster movie.
Produced by Blue Sky Studios best known for the highly successful animated Ice Age franchise first released in 2002, Spies in Disguise is a delightfully entertaining family-friendly animated movie that is of the same quality as a Pixar movie as a result of a terrific voice cast and unique story. The plot follows super spy Lance Sterling, voiced by Will Smith, who is the top agent at a fictional secret American spy agency run by Joy Jenkins, voiced by Reba McEntire, but runs into trouble after the appearance of the super villain Killian, voiced by Ben Mendelsohn. Killian who has a powerful cybernetic arm is trying to steal a highly dangerous drone in order to kill Lance and all of his fellow agents. Eventually, the proudly self-sufficient Lance who loves to use lethal weapons must get help from a very unexpected source, a lonely and nerdy weapons lab technician named Walter Beckett, voiced by Tom Holland. Walter has always been an optimistic inventor who wants to make non-lethal weapons to make the world a safer place, and he discovers what he believes is a game-changing way to disguise anyone. To Lance’s great horror, he inadvertently uses Walter’s new weapon and is transformed into a talking pigeon. He eventually realizes in a series of funny moments that being a pigeon actually has its advantages, particularly as he is being chased by Killian and his own agency led by a security agent of the agency’s internal affairs Marcy Kappel, voiced by Rashida Jones. Over the course of the film, Walter and Lance begin to understand one another and become friends who are in it together to fight off Killian and reclaim their reputation that was tarnished by Killian. Overall, I found it to be a fun animated feature that can appeal to both kids and adults as a nice time to the cinema and brings a fresh story to the action-adventure animated genre.
The final installment in the nine-part Skywalker saga of the Star Wars movie franchise that has spanned over four decades beginning with Star Wars: A New Hope in 1977, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, although definitely not the best film in the series, is a suitably entertaining movie that will appeal to Star Wars fans for its attempt to wrap up all of the many different character narratives and also will attract casual viewers looking for a CGI space epic. The movie takes place in the midst of the Resistance against the First Order led by a mysterious leader that may be recognizable from the previous films, as well as the increasingly powerful Kylo Ren, played by Adam Driver. The characters that we have come to know over the previous two movies return as they are shown strategizing and bringing the fight to finally take down the even more malevolent First Order. General Leia Organa, played by the late great Carrie Fisher, is still the beloved leader of the Resistance along with the more symbolic leader Rey, played by Daisy Ridley, who finally masters the Jedi Force. Rey again teams up with the X-wing fighter pilot Poe, played by Oscar Isaac, and the former Stormtrooper Finn, played by John Boyega, to discover the whereabouts of the true evil overlord behind Kylo Ren who has one last major weapon that could destroy the Resistance and its supporters for good. Of course, a Star Wars movie would not be the same without the sidekicks Chewbacca, C-3PO, and R2-D2 who appear as members of this desperate mission. In order to please Star Wars fanatics, the film effectively uses the tropes of a Star Wars movie by including spectacular sci-fi action in space and on strange planets, showing the return of some of the more unique creatures, and finally answering such questions as who Rey’s parents are and who is really commanding the First Order. This final installment could have been one of the greatest if it was not for the feeling the filmmakers were rushing to find a way to conclude the long-running series that would give fans a satisfying conclusion to the Skywalker narrative arc. Yes, there are some emotional moments of the film, including the complex relationship between Rey and Kylo Ren in addition to a proper farewell to Carrie Fisher’s Princess Leia. The filmmakers did an excellent job of bringing Princess Leia back by using unused footage from the previous films that were filmed before Carrie Fisher’s death in 2016; the reappearance of such a beloved character made her scenes the most meaningful and sentimental parts of the movie. Overall, I found it to be a good continuation of the global phenomenon that is Star Wars by trying to tie up the loose ends of such a large cinematic universe developed over several decades, but it still did not live up to the very high standards of the first Star Wars movies made in the 1970s and 1980s.
The sequel to 2017’s Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle that is a reboot of the 1995 movie Jumanji starring Robin Williams, Jumanji: The Next Level is a very entertaining and fun adventure movie that relies on recapturing the magic of the 2017 version of the Jumanji franchise, with its creative plot and funny characters. Like Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, the same group of now college-age students find themselves sucked into the video game Jumanji after realizing that the nerd in the group Spencer has possibly entered the game by himself. However, some of the characters become different avatars in the video game, as well as the addition of two new characters of Spencer’s grandfather Eddie, played by Danny DeVito, and Eddie’s old friend Milo, played by Danny Glover. Due to all of their hilarious surprise, the grumpy Eddie becomes the strong archaeologist and explorer Dr. Smolder Bravestone, played by Dwayne Johnson, the slow talking Milo becomes the scrawny and squeamish zoologist and weapons valet Franklin “Mouse” Finbar, played by the hyperactive comedian Kevin Hart, the popular jock “Fridge” becomes the obese middle-aged archaeologist and cartographer Professor Sheldon “Shelly” Oberon, hilariously played by Jack Black, and the shy unpopular girl Martha remains the attractive commando and martial artist Ruby Roundhouse, played by Karen Gillan. While searching for Spencer in the Jumanji world, they are given a new mission that must be completed to return to the real world: retrieve the Falcon’s Heart jewel from the powerful villain Jurgen the Brutal, played by Rory McCann best known as The Hound in the HBO TV series Game of Thrones. Eventually, the very mismatched group reunite with the beautiful popular girl Bethany who was left behind but found her way back into the game as a horse named Cyclone with help from the pilot and adventurer Jefferson “Seaplane” McDonough, played by Nick Jonas. They also finally discover Spencer as a new and rather unexpected avatar and says he wanted to re-enter Jumanji because he feels out of place in the real world and estranged from his friends, especially Martha after they started a long-distance romantic relationship. Extremely similar to the previous installment, the film uses the effectively fun formula of creating eccentric characters who find themselves in rather hilarious situations dealing with their new bodies as they embark on a dangerous adventure. Overall, I found it to be a highly entertaining blockbuster movie that may have recycled the same premise as the previous movie but did so in a way that did not lessen the audience’s enjoyment and was helped by the addition of Danny DeVito and Danny Glover.
Directed by James Mangold best known for 2005’s Walk the Line and 2017’s Logan, Ford v Ferrari is a brilliant car racing movie remarkable for its terrific acting performances, entertaining story, and thrilling race sequences, all adding up to a film that can be enjoyed even by those who do not care for cars or racing. Based on a true story, the plot follows Ford Motor Company’s pursuit of winning their first 24 Hours of Le Mans race and finally overtaking the dominance of Ferrari. Ford Vice President Lee Iacocca, played by Jon Bernthal, pitches the idea in 1963 of creating a competitive racing team to Ford CEO Henry Ford II, played by Tracy Letts, as a means to appeal to the younger generation of car buyers, and he approaches famed car designer Carroll Shelby, played by Matt Damon, to help design the car to beat Ferrari. A brilliant yet somewhat eccentric Texan, Shelby is confident that, with the right mechanics and driver, he can optimize a Ford GT40 to compete and eventually win the coveted 24 Hours of Le Mans, which he himself won in 1959 in a different car before he was forced to retire. The only problem Shelby encounters is the complicated bureaucracy of such a large company as Ford, especially as it relates to Shelby’s handpicked driver Ken Miles, played by Christian Bale. Miles is a hot-headed yet excellent British race car driver who is struggling to make a living as a mechanic in Los Angeles with his wife Mollie, played by Caitriona Balfe best known for her role in the TV series Outlander. The Ford Motor Company and its racing division led by Ford Senior Executive Vice President Leo Beebe, played by Josh Lucas, are very much against having such a wild and brash lead driver as Miles and try almost anything to get rid of him, at least in public. Amidst all the dramatic infighting, the movie is filled with truly exciting and realistic racing scenes that show exactly how difficult it is to be an endurance race car driver and the very real dangers of serious injury or death, especially during that era when safety standards were lower than today’s. Eventually, Shelby American and Ford make it to the crucial Le Mans race in 1966 where they will finally have the best chance of taking down Ferrari. Overall, I found it to be one of the best auto racing movies ever made as a result of its extraordinary intense race sequences and surprisedly in-depth character studies of the iconic automotive designer Carroll Shelby and one-of-a-kind daredevil Ken Miles, making for an extremely entertaining cinematic experience for all types of viewers.
The third film in a franchise that began with the television series of the same name that first premiered in 1976, Charlie’s Angels is a fairly typical action Hollywood Blockbuster with some entertaining moments that is above average at best and did exceed my low expectations. Like the television series and the movies, the story revolves around a group of female spies working for the secret organization known as the Townsend Agency that is comprised of all female agents under the leadership of several individuals referred to as Bosleys. We first meet Angels Sabina, played by Kristen Stewart, and Jane, played by Ella Balinska, on a mission in Rio de Janeiro for the high-level operative John Bosley, played by Patrick Stewart, who is the original Bosley working for Townsend and is about to retire. A year later, they find themselves in London to investigate a new powerful technology developed by a large tech conglomerate owned by billionaire Alexander Brock, played by Sam Claflin, after it is brought to their attention by a brilliant programmer named Elena, played by Naomi Scott. The sometimes wild and terrifically smart Sabina and the beautiful former MI6 agent Jane are told to protect Elena who has knowledge that the technology she helped develop could be used as a deadly weapon if in the wrong hands. Eventually, the agents now working directly under Rebekah Bosley, played by Elizabeth Banks who also directed the film, are led to Istanbul to track down the devices that have been stolen by criminals and people working for Brock. Coming to be trusted by the Angels and Rebekah, Elena is recruited to become a Charlie’s Angel. The movie follows very much the formula of a light-hearted comedy action flick in that it is full of intense fight sequences, lots of plot twists, and fun and silly banter between the characters. Overall, I found it to be a mildly entertaining film that had its moments of thrills and laughter but with a feminist twist through the empowering portrayal of women secret agents taking down the bad guys. It was definitely not one of the best action comedies, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much better it was than what the promotional materials led the viewer to believe.
Directed by Roland Emmerich who is best known for such Hollywood Blockbusters as 1996’s Independence Day and 2000’s The Patriot, Midway is a large-scale war action movie that heavily relies on CGI special effects to recreate the pivotal Battle of Midway during World War II but does not fully satisfy as a well-rounded movie as a result of its fairly generic script and characters. Based on true events of the beginning of the American involvement in World War II, the movie shows the devastating surprise attack on the United States Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii by the Empire of Japan. The plot follows a bunch of American characters from the top with the Commander-in-chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, played by Woody Harrelson, to the top intelligence officer in the region Edwin Layton, played by Patrick Wilson, and all the way down to the Naval bomber and fighter pilots, including the real life Dick Best who is played by Ed Skrein and Wade McClusky who is played by Luke Evans. Also, unlike most traditional war movies, the film also follows several key Japanese Naval commanders and officers who are shown making battle decisions based on their best interest. After the somewhat haphazard introduction to almost too many characters to keep count, the story leads up to June 4, 1942 when the Japanese engage the American military at and around the remote islands of the Midway Atoll, a strategic base that allows for closer range to the Japanese Islands. What ensues is the Battle of Midway in which American aircraft carriers and their warplanes go up against the Japanese counterparts in what would become the one of the largest naval battles of World War II. In dramatic and spectacular fashion, the movie effectively uses special effects to capture what the battle must have been like with a constant flurry of aircraft and anti-aircraft fire on both sides. The main mission of the Americans is to destroy as many of the Japanese aircraft carriers as possible in order to recapture control of the Pacific Theater after the mass destruction of the United States Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor. The script also does scratch the surface of the personal lives of those involved, especially the Naval pilots, but is ineffective because it comes off as cheesy and formulaic, making for unnecessary storylines to the main thrust of the movie to portray a specific battle. Overall, I found it to be a suitably entertaining war movie that does a good job of using special effects to fashion realistic and thrilling battle sequences in order to tell the important story of the Battle of Midway, but, as a whole, relies on too many characters and a rather average screenplay to truly become an iconic war movie.


Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin – Marek Janowski
“Šárka”, Janácek’s first opera, has only in recent years returned to stages and concert platforms. Extra-musical circumstances prevented the reaping of a well-deserved success back in the period of its origin: the then very young Janácek had misjudged the legal issues involved in a libretto; as a consequence, the opera could only be performed a very limited number of times. Moreover, this early piece soon became eclipsed by the great success of the composer’s subsequent works.
Instead of into the psychological depths that give the composer’s most well-known works relevance and topicality even in our days, “Šárka” leads us back into early Czech history. The mythical tale of a warrioress who falls in love with her enemy may belong to a time long gone – the alluring qualities of the sensuous music of this early masterpiece stand all the more undiminished.


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By Bikram Timilsina, Brisbane
7 March 2017
Four individuals have lost their lives after police opened fire on protesters belonging to United Democratic Madheshi Front (UDMF). Dozens more reportedly sustained serious injuries as the disturbing development gripped Nepal’s Saptari district over the weekend. The incident took place at Maleth village just when a mass meeting of the Communist Party of Nepal – United Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) was concluding. CPN-UML had organised the event as part of its recently-announced Mechi-Mahakali Campaign. Mechi is the mountain nation’s easternmost border point while Mahakali the western – hence, the campaign is purported to be a cross-country event.
Prior to the incident, UDMF had warned CPN-UML not to enter Madhesh for political activities. The Front had made it clear that it would obstruct any campaign led by CPN-UML should it cross into the Southern plains districts, the Terai region. The campaigning party did not budge and instead announced that it would proceed as planned. It was their constitutional right to be able to go to any part of the country and engage in peaceful political activities, CPN-UML leaders said. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal himself had publicly reminded UDMF leaders that no party should be banned in any part of the country from organising peaceful political events.
Thousands of social media users had warned all concerned to be careful before things got out of hand. Many called on CPN-UML to withdraw the programme while some others urged UDMF not to obstruct the former’s campaign. Though CPN-UML moved the venue from Rajbiraj to Maleth VDC, it did not pull the plug on its declared programme. Similarly, the Madheshi Front also did not step back from its policy of obstructing UML’s campaign. This was how the clash was invited. It all became a recipe for disaster.
Following deaths of the four protesters, CPN-UML has now decided to put its campaign on hold in Province 2. The party is silent about when it will resume its announced programme there. It has also postponed the Mechi Mahakali Campaign throughout the country for three days. The UDMF, however, has announced a two-day-general strike all over Terai, while the Front local leadership has declared an indefinite strike in the district of Saptari where the fatal shootings took place.
The incident has set off the usual blame-game among political parties of Nepal. They are accusing each other of being responsible for the violence and human fatalities. No party involved in the incident has yet accepted that they are part of the problem. Let me briefly examine each party and their involvement in the incident to analyse who should be held responsible for such an atrocious clash and human fatality.
‘Democratic’ Front and its undemocratic deeds
It was a blunder on the part of UDMF to make a “formal” party decision to obstruct the peaceful political campaign of a legitimate political party of their own country. Peaceful political activities are guaranteed by the constitution as a constitutional right and all parties are free to do so in any corner of the country without any obstacle. One must be reminded that this is not the first time that the UDMF has sought to stop other political groups from freely carrying out their political events in Madhesh. The Terai party is particularly antagonistic to the CPN-UML due to its stance against the constitution amendment bill recently tabled in the parliament.
UDMF leaders have time and again claimed that they have huge support from the Madheshi people. If they are so confident about people’s support to them then why are they so anxious about letting other political parties do their business in Terai? If you believe that you must get your rights guaranteed by the state, by the same token you should not forget to respect others’ rights as well. In this respect, UDMF has failed on multiple occasions.
If UDMF wanted no confrontation, it should have instructed its district wings and local party cadres not to interrupt other political parties from exercising their constitutional rights. It did not. It rather encouraged them to confront UML. As a result, four have already lost their lives and many others have been seriously injured. It has also sowed a new seed of conflict in Madhesh. This is very unfortunate also because it can initiate a new series of conflicts in Madhesh. However, it is not only the UDMF which is responsible for this dreadful incident.
CPN UML and its rigidity
The UDMF has been resisting for long. There have been a series of violent incidents, including the gruesome Gaur massacre, in the Madhesh region where dozens of innocent people and security personnel lost their lives. The UDMF had already warned that it would obstruct UML’s political campaign in Madhesh. Given this background, it was perhaps unwise of UML to rush on. No one can deny that UML has its constitutionally guaranteed right to hold any event anywhere in the mountain nation. However, if the exercise of a right had the potential for triggering atrocities, the UML should have reconsidered its decision. If the party could withdraw all of its programmes in Province 2 as a result of the deaths then it could well prevent the four men from dying by postponing its campaign in the first place.
There is no doubt that Madhesh is home to the UML as it is to any other political parties. Madhesh is not solely owned by the UDMF and its supporters. This is why the UML has every right of organizing any peaceful political events in Madhesh. However, this particular context was not so appropriate. The UDMF leaders were looking for reasons to cause a new mass movement. They knew that violent clashes could work as fuel to intensify the fire. In addition, Prime Minister Prachanda had recently told the UDMF leaders that the chance of passing the constitution amendment bill tabled in the parliament was getting weaker. It had further deepened their resentment. In the meantime, the UDMF leaders were vehemently demanding the withdrawal of the local elections. In such a context, UML should not have launched the campaign in a hurried fashion. It should have followed the strategy of wait and see, at least for some time to come. Alternatively, it could have organised such programs in places where UDMF did not have strong influence. The party was so adamant about its plans and programmes that it eventually added fuel to the Terai fire.
The role of the government has also been suspicious in this regard. Prime Minister Prachanda had publicly asked the UDMF leaders not to hinder the CPN-UML’s campaign. It has also been reported that he had instructed the concerned authorities such as Minister for Home Affairs and the Inspector General of Nepal Police not to open fire and take the situation under control through peaceful methods. However, contradicting reports from Nepal claim that police opened fire on the direct instruction of the Minister for Home Affairs, Bimalendra Nidhi. He apparently accepted that he authorised the shooting but only with a clear instruction that they were to shoot below waist. Media reports indicate the Prime Minister is absolutely mad at Mr Nidhi for not obeying his instruction.
Here, it is worth noting that Mr Nidhi had previously accused CPN-UML for being the root cause of all problems facing Madhesh.
It is understandable that the security forces had to open fire if the situation could not contained through peaceful means, such as tear gas and baton-charge. So far, there has been no independent reports to verify that the situation warranted opening fire at the protesters. Even if the situation was really bad, the police had to shoot protesters below their waists. However, media reports claim that the victims sustained injuries in their heads and chests.
It is an alarming disorganisation within the government to see that the Prime Minister ordered all authorities not to open fire while his home minister let security personnel “shoot below waist”. But they did shoot “above waist” anyway, as victims’ injuries showed.
Thus, the Saptari incident clearly reveals the suspicious intentions of the government and its legitimacy as a unified governing body.
Who is responsible?
This battle is such a byproduct of complex and intricate political developments that you cannot hold anyone fully responsible, if you wanted to be reliable. This unfortunate upshot could have been prevented with the prudent act of any three parties involved. For instance, if the CPN-UML had postponed the campaign (at least in the areas where UDMF holds stronger influence) until situation got better, the loss of four precious lives could definitely have been prevented. It would also have been possible if the so-called democratic front, UDMF, had allowed CPN-UML to organise its peaceful political events. Similarly, the tact and wisdom of the government, and consistency in the thoughts of the Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs could have prevented such an appalling incident.
Such an atrocious confrontation could have definitely been avoided if only one of these three parties had been responsible towards peace and human lives. As all of them acted immaturely, they are all partially responsible for this dreadful incident.
All of them must realise this for preventing such acts from happening in the future.

domain: sociology


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The Phuket Big Buddha
The Phuket Big Buddha has been covered several times over the years since the Phuket Blog started in 2006. The construction had already started when I first blogged it in May 2006 - I wrote "Much of the enormous base is complete, and a small (12m) replica is already shining gold in the sun". A photo from September 2006 shows good progress, and this photo in July 2007 shows that things were moving on nicely. We go up the hill every now and then. Back in 2007, hardly anyone went up there, since the statue was not complete, although the views were nice (and the views are still nice!). By May 2009, the main 40m high statue was covered in white marble (see photos).
The last time I "blogged" about the Big Buddha was December 2010 and it was looking like not a whole lot had happened since 2009. Statue marbled, but otherwise a building site!
(above) The Big Buddha, photo taken October 2010
Seemed to be taking quite a while to get things done .. and by 2011 there were already lots of visitors, with the main statue being all white and visible from half of southern Phuket. The road up from Chalong which used to be dirt was paved, although inexplicably there are still several small stretches of dirt! Most people will go up by road, though I have done a hike to the Big Buddha one time, starting from Karon Beach. During 2011, quite a bit more work was done with most of the "lotus leaf" base also being marbled. Over the years it's been possible to pay a fee and write your name on marble or brick to be used in construction. The fee has increased plenty since 2006 and with the main statue now complete, I can't see where "your piece of marble" will end up! I hope the ones that we wrote on years ago are part of the Buddha.
By the end of 2011, the statue was looking great. There was also a big car park available now with no vehicles allowed to park near the temple. I am glad to see there is no entry fee, but there are a lot of donation boxes and Buddha related items for sale. With the donations, sales and people writing on marble, the money is surely pouring in. But the work seems to be slowing down. I have seen plans for building a park all around the statue with ornate steps and landscaping. The photo below was taken in November 2011, nearly 2 years ago.
(above) Looking Good - Big Buddha in November 2011
When we first went up the hill, when construction was just starting, there was one small restaurant not far from the top, and it's still there, but now the road on the way up has half a dozen restaurants or bars. I'm pretty sure at least some of them must be illegally built, but to be honest they are not really a blot on the landscape. I stopped one time last year for a sunset beer at the little bar shown below, great sunset and views across Karon beach and the ocean.
(above) Sunset from a small bar on the way up to the Phuket Big Buddha
So, how have things progressed in the last couple of years? We were up there again on July 20th 2013 with some of my wife's family. Certainly the car park seems bigger, and some (very nice, very clean) toilets have been built by the car park, which is below the main statue. You walk to the site now about 100 - 150m to reach the temple, which is still tin-roofed, I am not sure if there is a plan to build a nicer temple or not. When we arrived, Monks were saying prayers.
(above) Monks saying prayers at the temple below the Big Buddha statue
And then wander up the stairs from the temple to the top of the hill and "The Buddha" ... So, the photo below is from July 2013. Compare to the photo from November 2011. What's going on here? Has anything been done?
(above) Big Buddha, July 2013
Maybe some work has been done around the statue, and I saw that some work was underway building some steps lower down the hill. A Buddhism museum or something has been mentioned to be built inside the base of the statue. Nothing seems to have happened there in the last 2 years. But for sure the donations have been pouring in more than ever. Why is there scaffolding around the statue when it was not there in 2011? It's getting a little frustrating. Why / How is this project not complete? Well, at least Buddha looks calm as ever.
And the views are just as good. From up here I think you can see that Phuket is still very green. Much of the island is hilly. Sure there are areas of huge development, but if you look north from the Buddha, well, it's still one of my favourite views.
(above) View from the Phuket Big Buddha. The "radar hill" is the highest hill on the left. Phuket Town is in the distance looking very small (it's about 15km away).
I'm hoping to see some good progress at the Buddha in the next year. The statue is meant to be a "Symbol of Phuket", something to be proud of. And sure, with the main statue complete and covered in white marble, as it has been for years already, it's visible from miles away and looks out over Phuket I think as a reminder to be calm. If the project can get a move on and finish, people here can certainly feel proud. The longer it takes, more people start to wonder what's going on!
Related Blog Posts on the Phuket Blog
The Big Buddhas of Phuket (yes, there are others!)
Phuket Temples and Shrines
Phuket Hills and Viewpoints

domain: geography


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If you’re one of the millions of Americans who spends eight to twelve hours every day staring into a computer screen, take note: You may need more lutein. Recent research from the British Journal of Nutrition showed that lutein, an antioxidant carotenoid in green leafy vegetables and winter squash, may protect eyes from damage associated with long-term computer use. In the study, individuals taking 12 mg lutein per day for 12 weeks showed improved visual performance. Other studies have linked lutein to a reduced risk of age-related macular degeneration, one of the leading causes of blindness in people over age 60. For the best results, take a combination of lutein and zeaxanthin (another eye-healthy carotenoid) per day with food. And try other eye-benefiting supplements below.
Protects the retina and staves off cataracts.
Take 240–600 mg/day
Increases blood flow to eyes and prevents macular degeneration.
Take 120–160 mg/day
Filters UV rays within the eye and prevents macular degeneration.
Take 15 mg/day with food
Slows macular degeneration and damage from free radicals.
Take 50 mg/day

domain: biology


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Michael Baker acquisition positions company for broader global reach
Thanks to its announced acquisition Monday by Integrated Mission Solutions LLC, Michael Baker Corp. may see an expansion in its presence overseas.
While Baker has served as a U.S. government contractor for years, due to uncertainty related to government spending in recent years, the company has faced some challenges. Mauricio Viaud, senior research analyst for Hefren-Tillotson Inc., said because business has slowed domestically, its acquisition by IMS, an affiliate of DC Capital, is a win-win.
"The geographical footprint of Baker and IMS is a good match," Viaud said. "While Michael Baker is mostly known in North America, IMS has a weak position on the North American front. On the flip side, Michael Baker will see greater international exposure."
MORE COVERAGE: Michael Baker to be acquired for $397 million
As part of the deal, IMS has agreed to retain the Baker name and maintain the company's presence in the Pittsburgh area, keeping the current organization and staff of Baker essentially intact. David Higie, spokesman for Baker, said the company employs about 750 people throughout its three offices in the greater Pittsburgh area. The company operates offices downtown and in Beaver County in addition to its Moon Township headquarters.
Viaud said while there has been some criticism that Baker didn't shop themselves around enough, he feels the company received a fair price, with shareholders receiving $40.50 per share of common stock.
"When DC Capital made it's initial offer in December, it was roughly half that value," he said. "But I think the price that was settled upon is a good deal for both Baker and DC Capital."
Justine Coyne covers manufacturing and higher education.
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domain: economics


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DC Finance London Family Office & Wealth Management Annual Conference
The event, taking place at London Four Season Hotel, is a high profile meeting, bringing HNWI's, family offices and investor for one day of exclusive s and networking.
DCF conferences reach over 1,000 families worldwide representing over 300 Billion USD. In the US alone the firm reaches over 400 families representing 200 Billion USD.
08:00-09:00 Registration and Refreshments
09:00-09:10 Opening Remarks: Mr. Denny Chared, CEO, DC Finance
Conference host: Mr. Ian Morley, Chairman, Wentworth Hall Consultancy Ltd
09:10-09:30 Post-Brexit Investing and the Known Unknowns – Ms. Gina Miller, Co-founder SCM Direct and Founder of True and Fair Foundation
The High Tech and Innovation Session
09:30-10:10 Investing in Innovation
Moderator: Mr. Aditya Nagarsheth, Investor, Perpetual Ventures
With: Mr. Dov Moran, Founder & CEO, Grove Ventures, Mr. Charles Crawford, Former Ambassador of Poland, Mr. Michael Lee, Managing Partner, Fortus Capital Partners, Mr. Laurence Kemball-Cook, CEO & Founder, Pavegen
10:10-10:20 Pioneering Last-Mile Logistics in Space – Investing in NewSpace –Mr. Arie Halsband, Founder & CEO, Effective Space
10:20-10:50 Creating Sustainable Impact – Philanthropy as a Means to Make a Real Difference by Dr. Percy Barnevik, Co-founder and Honorary Chairman of Hand in Hand International.
10:50- 11:20 Refreshment Break
11:20-11:40 The Options for Managing Significant Wealth – Mr. Ian Dembinski, Head of Rathbone Private Office
11:40-11:50 Unlocking the World of Private Equity – Mr. Martin Lally, Managing Director, Key Capital Management
11:50-12:20 The Real Estate Session
Moderator: Mr. Ryan McWater, Principal DeRoyce
With: Mr. Hans Veenhuijsen, Director, R365|Christie’s International Real Estate, Mr. Stephan Ott, CEO, Ott Immobilien, Mr. Bhavik J. Shah, Co-Founder and Director, Niveda Group
1:20-2:00 The Single Family Office Panel
Moderator: Ms. Katherine Hill Ritchie, CEO, PEX Global
With: Mr. Per Wimmer, CEO, Wimmer Financial, Mr. Gaurav Burman, Director, Dabur India Limited, Mr. Ian Dembinski, Head of Rathbone Private Office
2:00-2:30 The Impact Investing Panel
Moderator: Ms. Jean Ahlefeldt-Laurvig, Managing Director, ASDO
With: Ms. Nneka Eze, Partner, Dalberg Global Development, Mr. Galahad Clark, Shoe Maker, The Crossway Foundation, Ms. Tram Anh Nguyen, Senior Advisor, Niveda Family Office
2:30-2:50 The Neuroscience of Wealth – by Mr. Simon Bloom, CEO & Founder, Simon Bloom Consultancy
2:50- 3:10 Refreshment Break
3:10-3:45 The Next Generation Panel
Moderator: Professor Rania Labaki, Associate Professor, EDHEC Business School
With: Mr. Hector Fleming, Executive Director, Imara Holdings Limited, Mr. Harry Wulfsohn, Executive Director, Imara Holdings Limited, Mr. Jan Olszewski, Family Member, Solaris Bus & Coach S.A.
3:45-4:15 The Expedition Panel
Moderator: Ms. Sharon Foulston, FAB Forums
With: Mr. Per Wimmer, CEO, Wimmer Financial, Mr. Sandy Loder, Chief Executive, Loder Advisers Ltd.
4:15-4:40 The Arts Panel
Discussion about Transparency and Technology in the Art World: a Welcome Value Generator or a Poisoned Chalice?
Moderator: Ms. Bernadine Brocker, Co-Founder & CEO, Vastari
With: Dr. Anna Dempster, Head of Academic Programmes at Royal Academy of Arts, Mr. Julian Radcliffe, The International Art and Antique Loss Register Ltd
5:30-7:30 PM Cocktail Reception
Due to a limited number of seats, not all requests could be admitted and an email confirming your registration is required.
Tomer Ben, CEO & Founder of Solomon Mines with Nancy Spielberg


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WEST HARTFORD — — The sound of tribal drumming and the smell of spices wafted out of the town hall auditorium Monday evening, greeting the hundreds of visitors to the second annual Hello! West Hartford "Year in Revue."
The large space was packed with people — representatives of various local organizations and businesses and residents from different countries, employees of local restaurants serving up samples of ethnic cuisine, children performing traditional dances and revelers taking it all in.
Hello! West Hartford is an initiative started by the Community Connections group in 2011. Every month, the group focuses on one of the more than 70 languages spoken in town, educating residents about each one through videos and programs.
Over the past year, the group has focused on 17 languages, including Arabic, Spanish, Hebrew and Urdu.
On Monday, the group's mission came together in one buzzing room.
In every direction, residents huddled around tables, sampling traditional foods from China, Nepal, India and other countries, some provided by individuals and some by local restaurants like Peruvian restaurant Cora Cora, Umi Sushi, Gyro Palace, Butterfly Chinese restaurant and Blue Elephant Trail, which serves Thai food.
They learned about each country, how to speak the language and what traditional garb looks like.
At a cluster of tables dedicated to Indian languages, 16-year-old Conard High School sophomore Nimi Thomas ran through a crash course in Malayalam, pointing out pictures of traditional dress and teaching visitors how to say important words and phrases like "Matha pitha guru devam" or "Parents Teacher God." Thomas moved here from India last year.
Chinese immigrant Hong Tang, a parent on the Bugbee Elementary School Parent-Teacher Organization, demonstrated Chinese paper-cutting at another table, cutting out three-dimensional representations of the Chinese symbol for "spring" on brightly colored paper.
Up on stage, children from various groups performed Spanish dances, martial arts and Korean songs.
The remarks of town officials and keynote speaker Mark Overmyer-Velazquez, a school board member, could hardly be heard over the din.
Mayor Scott Slifka told the crowd he was "thrilled that almost none of you are paying attention to me" because everyone was busy learning about West Hartford's diversity.
"It's amazing to look out and see so many faces watching the children performing," Hello! West Hartford Director Bepsie Perry said in between announcing the acts. "We want people to gain an understanding of each other, and recognize that we all come from different places, we're all different."


Liverpool head into the fixture having suffered a 3-2 loss against West Ham before the international break.
Arsenal, on the other hand, is flying high and hasn’t suffered a defeat since those three early knockout blows. The last two title-challengers Arsenal faced – Chelsea and Manchester City – well and truly walked over the North London club. But it was a different set-up, with different personnel back then, especially at the back, as Merson backed his former side to get something from the game.
“This is most definitely the game of the Premier League weekend and a big one for both teams, said Merson.
“Liverpool are trying to win the league and have to bounce back from their defeat against West Ham.
“Arsenal, on the other hand, is flying a little bit and are on a run, but they won’t want to be billed as flat-track bullies. They need to get a result here against one of the best teams in the country and even if they don’t, there are ways to lose a football match.
“Judging by the aspirations of the two clubs, a draw would be good for Arsenal, while Liverpool will be unhappy with it as they are trying to win the Premier League. However, I predict the two sides to share the spoils at Anfield.
Mohamed Salah is the only goalscorer in the Premier League to have reached double figures, with ten in his eleven appearances so far this season.


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They say that what’s now known as the Great Vancouver Fire of 1886 swept down Water Street in Gastown faster than a sprinting man.
And according to storytelling group Forbidden Vancouver, many sprinting men were burned alive that fiery June afternoon. That story and others, including one of a gruesome Gastown murder and another about a flame-haired, gold-rush beauty who had her heart broken and pocket book stolen by a cold-blooded theatre magnet, are some of the forbidden tales that will be shared during the Lost Souls of Gastown tours, taking place during October leading up to Halloween.
The tour guide for these macabre journeys is Forbidden Vancouver’s chief storyteller Will Woods, who takes on the persona of George Turle, one of this city’s earliest residents described as “a man who witnessed first-hand the horrors of Vancouver’s earliest years.”
The tours include visits to some of Vancouver’s oldest sites and buildings, including its first, but not last, bawdy house and fire station, as well as its longest-running hotel and oldest standing buildings. The tours runs Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday nights beginning Oct. 4, departing Cathedral Square on Dunsmuir Street at 6:30 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit forbiddenvancouver.ca.
The B.C. Cancer Agency is looking for nominations for its Community Care Award given annually to someone making a difference in the lives of those with cancer.
Nominations are being accepted for anyone who provides exemplary cancer care and support in B.C. including volunteers, pharmacists, nutritionists, physicians, counsellors and educators.
Nominees must work in direct patient care, research, education or support services. The deadline to submit is midnight Oct. 12. Nomination forms can be found at bccancer.bc.ca.
The Vancouver Polyamorous Women’s Discussion Group meets regularly to talk about issues facing women involved in multiple relationships.
The next meeting, open to self-identified women, takes place Oct. 25 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at a private address near Main and Broadway to be released upon registration. Dubbed “Boundaries,” the workshop will offer advice and suggestions on setting “healthy boundaries with grace and kindness.” The group meets every second Tuesday at a different location. For tickets and information, email email@example.com, call 778-230-0825 or visit boundariesforwomen.eventbrite.ca.


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Naturally light with British accent but versatile, specialising in character voices for things such as cartoons & video games.
English (North American), English, English (British)
British, North American
Middle Aged, Teen, Young Adult
Animation, Audiobooks, Business, Documentaries, Educational, Internet Video, Jingles, Movie Trailers, Music, Podcasting, Radio, Telephone, Television, Videogames
Performed in many online productions, some created and animated myself, reaching large audiences on YouTube, (Website hidden) and others. Some professional voice work include television & radio work.
A Level - No college/university degrees
Samson C01U USB Condensor
Computer & Software
ACID Music Studio 8 & Audacity
Email or FTP
24 hours (longer for bigger scripts, multiple characters etc)
Payment to Eddie Bowley is made through Voices.com SurePay®, our escrow service that guarantees your project is completed to your satisfaction. Pay securely by Visa, Mastercard or PayPal through Voices.com and when your work is done, simply download the final files, and release funds to Eddie Bowley.
To invite Eddie Bowley to audition for your project, simply invite them to a job. Share your project details to quickly and easily receive a quote.
Have questions about posting a job?
See how Voices.com works here.

domain: artistic


Carrigan teams reign as city champions
This time it was a couple of teams that call Scott Carrigan Park home that emerged as the big winners.
The Fall City Championship in baseball featured teams from Highlands, Rotary and Scott Carrigan parks, in both Minors and Majors play. And in both instances, it was a Carrigan team that got the title.
In the Majors, the Carrigan Rays faced their toughest test in their opening game against the Rotary Park Red Sox. The Rays, unbeaten during the regular season, built a 5-0 lead and then saw it evaporate as the Sox climbed back into it. A game-winning home run by Ray Nieves enabled the Rays to post a 7-6 victory.
The Rays followed that with an 11-2 win over the Carrigan Pirates in the semifinals and, in the championship game, they toppled the Rotary Yankees 12-4. For the fall season, the Rays were 14-0.
Other team members were Zack Davis, Mitchell Ellis, Jacob Fischer, Adam Hodges, A.J. Jarrett, Christian Jimeniez, Stephen Johnson, Timmy Legge, Jacob Radford, Kavelin Rumalla and Andrew Schmidt. The team was coached by Darin Radford and Tim Legge.
In Minors League play, the Carrigan Yankees used a Scott Savage out-of-the-park home run to get past the Highlands Bees in the semifinal, then rode a seven-run fourth inning to subdue the Rotary Red Sox 13-7 in the title contest. The Carrigan Yankees finished the fall season with a 14-1-1 record.
Team members were Cameron Andre, Adam Calero, Elijah Dillon, Brady Drummond, Thomas Knowd, Amber McGee, Chase Petry, Scott Savage and Benjamin Wheeler. Team coaches were Nestor Calero, Greg Petry and Mike McGee.
The Ocala Crocs 13-and-under baseball squad rolled into the championship game in each of its last two tournaments, capturing the title at the Winter National Baseball Invitational last weekend in Newberry. Included among their victories were a 10-5 win over the Boys of Baseball National Team, comprised of players from 21 states, and a 4-2 triumph over the Gatorball squad. Travis Bruner, Steven Persavich, Robert Ritterhoff and Brandon Zacco were the driving forces behind the title run.
A week earlier, the Crocs made it to the final of the USSSA Turkey Classic, where they lost to the Florida Extreme 14-9. The Crocs had to survive a 10-4 extra-inning win to make it to the title game, with Jalen Gooden's decisive home run the key blow. Strong pitching by Cagon Scroggie, Kyle Stollar and Danny Miller and big hits by Travis Snell, Alex Merritt and Josh Gourley propelled the Crocs.
Sign-ups for T-ball, Cal Ripken and Babe Ruth baseball and Babe Ruth softball to be played at Wrigley Fields Park, located north of Ocala on Hwy. 301, are scheduled throughout January. T-ball is for those currently 4-6 years-old (must turn five by April 30); Cal Ripken is for those 7-12; Babe Ruth is for those 13-15; and Babe Ruth softball is for those 12-and-under and 16-and-under. Players birth certificates are required.
Cost is $50 for t-ball and $95 for baseball/softball. Sign-up sessions will be from 6-8 p.m. Jan. 11, 9 a.m.-noon Jan. 12, 6-8 p.m. Jan. 18 and 9 a.m.-noon Jan. 19.
Also: Certified umpires are needed for these north-end games.
For information, please call 595-3445 or 622-5972.
Open registration for Highlands Field baseball will be from 10 a.m.-2 p.m . Jan. 5 and Jan. 12 at Highlands Field, located behind Ward Highlands Elementary School on SE 36th Ave. Cost is $100 which includes full uniform with names on hats and shirts. Skills assessments for Rookies (7-8 year-olds) will be at 6 p.m. Jan. 22; for Minors (9-10 year-olds) will be 6 p.m. Jan. 23; and for Majors (11-12 year-olds) will be 6 p.m. Jan. 24. A Meet the Coach Night for all divisions is scheduled for 6 p.m. Jan. 28. Opening day is Feb. 23.
For more information, call 694-1004 and leave a message.
The Dale Hall Baseball Camp is scheduled for 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18 at North Marion High School's baseball complex. Sign in from 8-8:45 a.m. Jan. 18. Cost is $75 per player, with a camp T-shirt given to those who register by Jan. 9. The camp will be staffed by North Marion High School baseball coaches and varsity players.
For more information, call coach Dale Hall at (352) 671-6010.
The Boys and Girls Club of Marion County will sponsor the Junior NBA/Junior WNBA beginning in January. Age divisions are 6-8 years, 9-11, 12-14 and 15-18. The 6-8 division games will run from Jan. 8-Feb. 26, with the other divisions running from Jan. 5-March 8. A coaches and officials clinic will be conducted prior to the start of the season. For information regarding registration, contact Mac McCray Sr. at 690-7440 or email him at email@example.com.
The Mid-Florida Officials Association is looking for anyone interested in officiating middle and high school basketball for the upcoming season. Meetings will start soon. Please contact Dan Cannon at 694-5449 for further information or leave a message.
The Central Florida CC Sports Camp, for boys and girls 6-12 years-old, is scheduled for 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Dec. 18-21 at CFCC. Campers will participate in baseball, flag football, soccer, basketball and kickball every day. Cost is $155 if postmarked by Dec. 7 and $165 afterwards, which includes lunch and awards ceremony every day and a T-shirt. For more information, contact Marty Smith at (352) 854-2322 ext. 1571 or by email at firstname.lastname@example.org.
C.J. Risak may be reached by phone at 867-4141 or by email at email@example.com. For online youth sports information from across Marion County, visit ocala.com/youthsports.


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The US has more dollar-based billionaires than any other country, but China has taken the lead, according to Schweizer Bank
Annual Report of the Group AG on the status of Megarich.
Overall, billionaires' global wealth rose in 2017 to a record $ 1.4 trillion to $ 8.9 trillion. This year, economies around the world grew strongly, stock markets rose and bonds rose. Yields remained low as central banks mostly maintained monetary policy in a low inflation environment.
The financial backdrop was less favorable this year, as global equity markets were mostly below the year and bond yields higher. The prosperity of billionaires, however, is expected to continue rising this year. The wealth that the billionaires generated came mainly from their own businesses and not from the financial markets, according to UBS. The US tax cuts that came into effect this year are likely to impact as well.
The US added 22 billionaires last year, bringing the total to 585. "This could be due to pressure on hedge funds, where both fees and performance have declined," says the report, co-authored by consulting firm PwC. He also cited "stealth wealth," which is not so easy to see given that companies are staying private longer.
The explosion of Chinese billionaires continued last year with a net gain of 55 to 373. supported by the growth of e-commerce, technology and real estate. In 2006, there were only 1
"A new cohort of Chinese entrepreneurs challenges Silicon Valley in the context of growing tensions in commerce and intellectual property," the report said.
The Results The report appears to support UBS's business strategy outlined at an investor conference on Thursday to sharpen its focus on managing money for the ultra in the US and Asia. "Only the expansion in the US ultra-high-yield segment should deliver a significant net new money contribution over the next three years," said UBS.
Western Europe recorded a rise of 17 billionaires to 414 last year. The number of Brazilian billionaires fell by two to 42.
It is not just the richest wealthy who see their assets rise. In a report last week, UBS's Swiss rival, Credit Suisse Group AG, said the number of millionaires worldwide rose 2.3 million to 42.2 million in the 12 months to mid-2018.
The US has a bigger lead millionaires than billionaires. In mid-2018, it had more than 17 million millionaires, far more than second-placed China with 3.5 million.
Please contact Brian Blackstone at email@example.com


SEATTLE -- A 7-year-old girl was safely rescued Sunday after she was missing in North Cascades National Park for nearly a day, according to the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office.
They say Gwynn Dilstrom went missing from a campground near Newhalem around 6:30 p.m. Saturday, and search and rescue teams, along with volunteers, were out all day looking for the girl.
Just before 5 p.m., the sheriff's office says Gwynn was located by Search and Rescue Deputies Jilk and Stafford.
The park said over 120 volunteers searched for her along with several K9 units, a helicopter and other resources like a drone.
Newhalem is a heavily wooded area that runs along the Skagit River, and the park says it's a popular campsite during the holidays.


text:
Top critical review
6 people found this helpful
on 16 April 2007
There are several problems with this book beginning with the sad fact that there is no real story, just a loosely woven collection of vignettes featuring a collection of minor characters that are best forgotten. Vader never develops as a result of any of the events depicted between this book's covers, although the author claims that Vader makes a major breakthrough in understanding the darkside. Unfortunately, we're never shown why, how, or what that possibly means.
Secondly, the book is populated with minor characters (Vader isn't introduced until nearly page 50) that are really nothing more than fodder for the Dark Lord, characters that are stood up only so they can be knocked down. Except for their names, they are indistinguishable.
Which speaks to the major shortcoming of this book, the very poor writing. I was never once "drawn" into any of the scenes or the lives of the characters. The writing was flat, the characters d.o.a., and the story missing in action.


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- Man sentenced to 12 years in fatal hit-and-run
- White House fence jumper charged with kicking Secret Service dogs
- Man arrested on child pornography charges
- Woman hit with liquor bottle during home invasion
- Police arrest robbery suspect
- Rockford area trick-or-treat times
- The Odds Man: Three road dogs good bets in NFL Week 8
- IceHogs nipped in third period, return home Saturday
- BGA sues Chicago Police Department over transparency
- Clean water groups highlight progress for Apple River, call for more success stories
Appreciated Logli guest column on library
I would like to thank Paul Logli and commend him on his Guest Column article “What is ‘just a library’ today?” It was well stated citing all of the reasons a library must diversify to meet the needs of our community today and how the Rockford Public Library has accomplished that goal.
I would also like to thank Tim Hughes for his article giving Mr. Logli such a wonderful reason to respond with the logical and reasoned arguments that could be made.
From the March 20-26, 2013, issue


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Whether you're visiting York for a sporting event, visiting family, traveling with or without horses, we offer a private guest room with two queen beds with many amenities. Enjoy our outside area on those warm summer nights with fire pit, porch swing and arbor. Big driveway for easy in/out and parking. Diamond B is located 4 short miles from York with plenty of restaurants, (a few will even deliver!) Pets allowed in room for extra charge.
Diamond B is a working Horse Motel, in that we host travelers with horses as they venture across the country. If you love horses, you will love the variety of horses that we have come through.
On nice evenings, enjoy nice conversation in our outdoor area which includes an arbor, porch swing and fire pit. We also have a porch with table and chairs in case of rain.
We live on-site at the Diamond B so we will be here when you arrive and are available if you need anything during your stay.
As we are a working Horse Motel, there may be trucks/trailers loading and unloading at any time of the day or night.

domain: travel


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The following article was published by Idaho Rivers United.
A system of outdated dams and locks on the lower Snake River in eastern Washington state is in continued and serious economic decline, according to two reports released this week by Save Our wild Salmon and Idaho Rivers United.
The reports, authored by economist Anthony Jones of Rocky Mountain Econometrics, look at the dams’ two main benefits or services: flatwater transportation and energy production. Together the reports demonstrate that 1) commercial navigation on the lower Snake River generates less than 50 cents for every dollar spent to provide it and 2) that electricity produced by the dams wouldn’t be missed if it were to vanish from the Northwest power grid tomorrow.
“These reports raise new and serious questions about the economic value and viability of four dams whose costs appear to exceed their benefits,” said Save Our Wild Salmon Inland Northwest Director Sam Mace. “Can our region afford to maintain high cost, low value infrastructure when other valuable projects in the Basin that deliver greater value are themselves facing expensive upgrades and repairs? Costs to maintain and operate this infrastructure are going to continue to rise as it ages.”
IRU Conservation Director Kevin Lewis said that for decades industry and federal officials have touted the “benefits” generated by the lower Snake River dams. “These reports and others clearly show that such assertions are less than honest,” Lewis said. “And while we’ve been enduring the government’s rhetoric, endangered wild salmon, Puget Sound orcas, and Northwest fishing communities have suffered as collateral damage.”
The overall costs and benefits of these dams have been in dispute for years. These two reports show that benefits are modest and shrinking, while costs are large and growing. These reports beg the question: does it make sense for the region’s ratepayers and nation’s taxpayers to continue throwing good money after bad, especially when critical needs elsewhere in the Columbia system are piling up?
Lower Snake River Dam Navigation Study
The “Lower Snake River Dam Navigation” study was commissioned by SOS. It shows that the ongoing decline of transportation on the lower Snake River is likely to continue. Since 2000 the economic benefits of shipping by barge on the lower Snake River basin have plummeted by approximately 60 percent, from about $19.4 million per year to about $7.6 million in 2014.
The costs of maintaining and operating this navigation corridor through these four federal dams on the lower Snake River, meanwhile, have steadily increased. When these numbers are placed side by side, the report determines that the corridor’s annual maintenance and operations costs today are more than twice its benefits.
While lower Snake River shipping costs have mounted and benefits waned, public and private investors have been focusing on expanding rail networks in and adjacent to the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley. As a result, rail usage in this region has grown due to increased capacity, reliability and competitiveness when compared with waterborne shipping on the lower Snake.
Lower Snake River Dams Alternative Power Costs Study
The “Lower Snake River Dams Alternative Power Costs” study was commissioned by IRU. This study shows that the four dams on the lower Snake River “are neither a major or critical part of the Northwest energy landscape.” In fact, if they were to be removed tomorrow and their ongoing maintenance costs eliminated, residential power bills could actually decrease by about 6 cents per month.
Moreover, the study points out that the Pacific Northwest power system only runs at about 84 percent capacity with about 4,600 annual megawatts of surplus energy—more by far than the lower Snake River dams generate.
“To summarize, the [lower Snake River dams] are not needed from a capacity standpoint,” the study states. “From a cost standpoint there are options that result in lower cost power for Northwest ratepayers if the dams are removed.”
Rocky Mountain Econometrics (RME) has been actively analyzing Northwest energy and lower Snake River dam issues since 1985. In the 1980s and 1990s, the author served as staff economist for the Idaho Public Utilities Commission. In 1998, RME was hired by the state of Idaho to monitor the Army Corp of Engineers’ development of the Lower Snake River Juvenile Salmon Migration Feasibility Report/Environmental Impact Statement and the potential breaching of the four lower Snake River dams in Washington state.
The reports can be downloaded here:

domain: finance


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The New Scientist is reporting doctors from the University of Maryland Medical Center for the first time have placed humans in suspended animation as part of a trial to fix injuries in patients that would otherwise die. Samuel Tisherman, of UMMC's medical team, reported they have placed patients in suspended animation to help keep them alive but would not divulge how many people have survived while undergoing the procedure, which is called emergency preservation and resuscitation (EPR). The procedure includes a rapid cooling of the patient by placing all of their blood with ice-cold saline reducing the body temperature to between 10 to 15 degrees Celsius. The team then has two hours to work on the patient's injuries before warming the body to normal temperatures and restarting the heart. The results of the trial are expected to be published by the end of 2020.
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text: Bharti Cement is a producer of superior quality cement setting new standards in construction!Bharathi(BCCPL) is a subsidiary of Vicat Group. The Vicat Group manufactures Cement, Ready-Mixed Concrete, Concrete Product (Precast) and Aggregates. In 1817 Louis Vicat discovered artificial cement. His son, Joseph, created Vicat Company in 1853. The Group continues expanding under the President Jacques Merceron-Vicat and is present in 11 countries (France, US, Turkey, Senegal, Switzerland, Egypt, Italy, Mali, Kazakhstan, Mauretannia and India). The Vicat Group has 6,700 employees and generates sales of Euros 2 billions.


After nearly two weeks of work, the jumbotron outside of Neyland Stadium was finished on Wednesday.
The Tennessee Volunteers sealed their fate of making a bowl with a 30-10 loss to the LSU Tigers on Saturday night. Here are five takeaways from the Vols loss.
Butch Jones was fired as head coach of the Tennessee football program, but do the pros outweigh the cons in his time in Knoxville?
The Tennessee Volunteers and interim head coach Brady Hoke look to keep its bowl game hopes alive against the LSU Tigers on Saturday.
Seth Rayborn joins host Danielle Whaley to discuss Tennessee athletics, SEC Football and more.
Chase Carder joins host Danielle Whaley to discuss Tennessee’s win over Kentucky along with other sports news.