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Ethanol plants are having a tough time thanks to the drought, which has driven up prices for corn.
The Wall Street Journal reported that corn prices have led ethanol producers to shut plants and some experts fear that consolidation in the industry or bankruptcies are on the horizon. Not only are corn prices a concern, but also dropping demand for gasoline and imports from China.
SLIDESHOW: On the farm, plenty of trouble
The turn in business hasn't been good timing for ethanol producers, who recently lost their federal subsidies that were worth $6 billion a year.
Meanwhile, the drought that has led to increases in corn prices is affecting farmers and others in the Pittsburgh region too.

domain: finance


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Everyone grows up with different interests and choices in terms of TV entertainment, but for some generations there was one thing we all had in common―sitting through back to back commercials that interrupted our favorite shows every few minutes. From laundry detergent to shampoo, it seemed like every product was “New and Improved.” And, today, while we have the ability to fast forward or avoid TV commercials all together, social media and online platforms now bombard us with marketing messages.
Over the years the “New and Improved” messaging became more frequently associated with the foodstuffs we consume. Seems harmless, but the label hasn’t been monitored or measured, and historically reflected the seller’s opinion. So, how exactly do you define “New and Improved” when it comes to food? It could mean more marshmallows in a cereal box, less fat or sugar in a container of creamer, or more natural flavors in a frozen dinner entrée.
In recent years, we’ve seen an increase in genetically modified (GMO) crops and products produced from them, and they’re considered to be safe for human consumption.1 Many would consider the results that GMOs produce to be an improvement and that “New and Improved” would certainly apply. However, the movement in the marketplace now is away from GMO products due to perceived concerns over safety. Non-GMO labels are taking the place of “New and Improved” labels and you’re sure to notice as you stroll the grocery store aisles.
But a constant in the food industry is evolution, and one of the biggest changes on the horizon is the shift toward gene editing.
What is gene editing and how does it differ from genetically modifying?
To create genetically modified crops and animals, scientists will typically remove the preferred gene from one organism and randomly introduce it into another organism.2 A well-known genetically modified type of crop is Bt corn and cotton, where a bacterial gene was introduced that produces insecticidal toxins into the part of the plant where the insect eats, causing death to the insect.3
In simple terms, gene editing is a small, controlled tweak to a living organism’s existing DNA versus the introduction of a new, foreign gene. It is nearly impossible to detect whether an organism’s DNA has been edited or not because the changes are indistinguishable from naturally occurring mutations.7
In association with gene editing, you will often hear the term, CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat). CRISPR is a common method, or tool, of gene editing. The science behind CRISPR is detailed and complex, but it is a naturally occurring enzyme in bacteria that allows scientists to edit DNA with precision.4
There are many pros to gene editing. It’s editing is less expensive, easier to use, and more accurate than genetic modification. This is creating opportunities by allowing the technology to expand to new startup biotechnology companies and academic scientists, outside of the traditional multinational corporations that dominate the genetically modified crops.
Is gene editing considered GMO?
Does gene editing fall under the category of a GMO? The answers depends on where you are located. Two major countries issued rulings around gene editing in 2018.
In March 2018, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, issued the following statement, “USDA does not regulate or have any plans to regulate plants that could otherwise have been developed through traditional breeding techniques as long as they are not plant pests or developed using plant pests. This includes a set of new techniques that are increasingly being used by plant breeders to produce new plant varieties that are indistinguishable from those developed through traditional breeding methods.”5
This clarifies that gene editing will not be part of the same regulatory oversite as GMOs in the U.S. The fact that it is nearly impossible to detect whether an organism’s DNA has been edited or not, is a key point for the USDA. In addition, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) that was signed into law in early 2020 reportedly includes provisions to support gene editing.
A few months after the U.S. ruling in 2018, the EU took a different route and announced that any organisms altered by gene-editing techniques would be subject to the same regulations as GMOs.6 With the EU’s ban on most production of GMO crops, many in the scientific community are concerned that this ruling many hold back cutting-edge research and innovation in gene-editing research.7
A crop that is well poised for gene editing is the peanut. Through a funding partnership between growers, shellers, and manufacturers, the Peanut Research Foundation initiated a research program in 2012 to map the genetic code of the peanut plant. The research was finalized in 2017 and the Peanut Research Foundation is now focusing on assisting researchers in developing traits that benefit the industry and consumers. Healthier and more shelf-stable high-oleic oil chemistry is already a reality in some peanut varieties, but helping breeders more easily incorporate this trait is only one goal. Other goals are resistance to common peanut diseases, drought tolerance, resistance to the fungal toxin aflatoxin, and conservation of key flavor traits. While peanut allergy is of huge importance to the industry, at this time, most of that work focuses on avoidance and treatment rather than breeding for non-allergenic peanuts.8
The marketing aspect of gene-edited crops will be key to their adoption and success. The Peanut Research Foundation is has expressed excitement about the new opportunities afforded by gene editing, but with a caveat. Due to EU’s insistence that gene editing is GMO, the Foundation is reluctant to label varieties as gene edited. USDA has clearly stated that gene editing is not GMO. While this distinction is debated, it is clear that gene editing offers a wonderful research tool to help discover how genes work.
Is gene editing the answer to the food allergy epidemic?
The traits mentioned above are all very valuable in terms of health and production enhancements, but success in these areas will likely lead to work on the allergy aspect of peanuts. Peanut allergies have become commonplace and a significant detriment to peanut and peanut product sales.
Peanuts are the number one cause of emergency-room visits by American children suffering allergic reactions to foods. According to The Economist, the number of children allergic to peanuts has tripled since 2001.9 More than one child in 50 is now allergic to peanuts.9
In addition to the increase in peanut allergies, the fear of impacting those that are allergic has hurt demand. For example, while only one child in a school may be allergic, often the entire student body and staff must limit their peanut consumption. And, the limitation of peanuts isn’t limited to schools – peanuts have also been largely eliminated from distribution on commercial airlines.
In a nutshell, gene editing is simply speeding up natural selection, which has been an approach taken to make crop improvements for centuries. Educating the consumer is the key to full adoption of this technology and process. Identifying or linking trait enhancements with gene editing will lead to assurance for the consumer that products are not only safe, but also truly “New and Improved.”
- The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, Press Release dated 5-17-2016
- Steve Brown, Ph. D, Executive Director, The Peanut Research Foundation

domain: agronomy


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When people learn that I’m a (mainly) non-fiction writer, they sometimes say, ‘I don’t know how you write a book. I wouldn’t know where to start.’
When it comes to non-fiction, you should start with the primary purpose of the book. Why are you writing it?
If it’s a memoir, are you writing it for yourself or for others to read? If it’s a history, what are the main themes you want to stress, i.e. what are the points you want to get across through the story you are telling? If it’s a self-help book, what messages do you want the reader to go away with, or what actions do you want them to take? And so on.
In the introduction to Speechless (Melbourne University Press, 2012) James Button writes:
I wrote this book because I feel an important issue is at stake. Our politics seem thin and barren. Ordinary people are increasingly uncomprehending and disengaged. … But this view, however understandable and widely felt, does not do justice to the many people I met in Canberra who are trying to do good things … On the inside, the stories of politics and government are as fascinating and vital as ever.
Whether or not you agree with his viewpoint, Button’s words go to the heart of any writing: the author’s passion for the subject, passion for the story, passion for the message. What is it that you are passionate about that you want to convey in your book?
Once you have decided on the main purpose of your writing, you need to deal with how best to sequence the material you want to present. If you’re writing a history or biography, it might seem a no-brainer that the events will be in chronological order, but that isn’t always so. You still need to engage the reader, and some information may better serve as background to the main events.
For example, in Jon Krakauer’s book about a disastrous series of accidents and misjudgements on Mount Everest in 1996, Into thin air (Pan Books, 2011), he lets us know in the Preface that twelve people died – we don’t need to wait for the final chapter for that piece of tragic news. He is counting on the reader wanting to know how such appalling loss of life came about. In addition, the first three chapters leap back and forth in time: May 10, 1996; 1852; and March 29, 1996, respectively. In Chapters 2 and 3, Krakauer explains how past events had an impact on the happenings he describes in Chapter 1.
You will also need to decide how to structure your information, e.g. in chapters around key events, by theme, or by topic. If you compare cook books, you will see that culinary authors use a variety of criteria to decide what they will include and how they will group and sequence it. Stephanie Alexander’s classic, The cook’s companion (Penguin, 1997), features recipes based around foods in alphabetical order, beginning with ‘Anchovies’, and ending with ‘Zucchini and squash’, but the opening sections are about ‘Equipment’ and ‘Basics’. The sections in Annabel Langbein’s The free range cook (ABC Books, 2012) on the other hand, start with ‘From the oven’ and conclude with ‘From the orchard’. The authors and publishers not only have a particular purpose in mind for each of those books, but also a particular audience, which is the third issue you need to consider: for whom are you writing?
The answer to that question will help you decide on both the content and sequence for your book.
If you’re writing a self-help book about computers, for instance, what level of expertise do you expect the readers to have to be able to make use of what you tell them? In the early days of home computers, an American professor of adult education, Malcolm Knowles, complained that manufacturers’ manuals were geared towards teaching buyers how a computer works rather than about using it to perform the real-life tasks people bought them for. The point he made is still an important one for non-fiction authors: consider what the end-user is likely to want the information for.
Even in memoir writing, you need to consider what your intended readers might be most interested in. Putting in everything you consider important may be boring to those not so intimately connected with your life events and activities.
Nevertheless, as Simon Nasht says in The last explorer, a biography of Hubert Wilkins, the sum of a person’s life is not measured just by its accomplishments, but by how it is spent. The challenge for an author is to present that life, whether it is their own or someone else’s, with a sense of purpose in the writing, and with the information ordered in a way that makes sense to the reader, while at the same time not overburdening the book with trivia.
Finally, you may want to supplement your text with images, and once again you need to consider what will be helpful to the reader. Can you imagine a cookbook without photographs to help you see what you are aiming for? A map will make clear an explorer’s path, drawings can transform a how-to book, a graph can provide an instant comparison of a bunch of statistics, and carefully selected images can illuminate a biography or memoir.
I’ll be leading a one-day workshop at the Queensland Writers Centre in Brisbane on Saturday May 3 on the topic of ‘Harnessing your research for writing’, and we’ll be working our way through all those elements of a non-fiction book.
It doesn’t matter where the participants are up to in the writing process – whether it’s still an idea in their heads, or whether they’ve assembled some research and have begun writing. At the end of the day, they should go away with a plan of how to put it all together in a way that will be attractive to readers.
This should be the perfect opportunity to kick off the project they’ve always been intending to do.
If you can’t make it to the workshop, I hope the ideas above might stimulate you to begin or continue your own non-fiction writing journey.
What’s your passion and how do you or will you write about it? Whatever sort of writer you are, I’d love to hear from you via the Comments button on this page.
PS My ‘self help’ book, Extending your use-by date, is now also available in print format, from the publisher: Xoum Publications.

domain: library


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Chongqing Hot pot has a famous brand is the Chongqing Guojianglong Hot pot, from the founding of chain stores has been extended to all parts of the country. Chongqing Guojianglong Catering Management Company Limited (hereinafter referred to as "Guojianglong") is the first food and beverage brands. Is a professional engaged in franchising project innovation, development, marketing planning, operation and promotion of professional knowledge-based enterprises. Mainly focus on the provision of differentiated hot pot chain operations, product technology and quality services to enhance customer satisfaction as the center. Guojianglong company invites the majority of a person of noble aspirations to join, currently in the country has opened more stores.
Analysis of eight advantages over
Hot pot Jianglong brand:
1 brand advantage: Chongqing ten Hot pot brand! The most investment value of the brand Hot pot! The most promising brand! The most star edge of the Hot pot brand, fashion from Guojianglong, happiness comes from guojianglong.
2, a large market space: Guojianglong Hot pot in the country is a time-honored brand new stores are mainly concentrated in some provinces and cities, many gaps in the market, the market with the advantage of pre general agent.
3, big profit: general agent to do big things, profit from its own direct objects with franchise stores, franchise stores within the jurisdiction of the initial fee, within the jurisdiction of the franchise management fees, agency fees within the jurisdiction and so on, reasonable price is extremely high, two, three, two life comes all things, spend a little money, also joined the wholesale value of unlimited value value value!!!
4, the success of the general agent model: Hebei Handan general agent, the successful operation of the general agent and profit model, so that all have lofty aspirations of the cause of the family favor and echocardiography, the next success is you.
5, replication technology advantage: general agent to do the most worried about is the technical problem, the headquarters is the strong backing of combat training, seasoning supply unified technical manuals, unified base; eternal security fool operation, stable quality, reduce cost and save manpower cost, supply and technology within the region; mutual learning and innovation.
6, regional marketing advantage: regional stores can pay certain advertising and marketing costs, regional VIP unified electronic card, consumption volume, telephone address and other network marketing; the unified 400 reservation telephone; regional media advertising; brand resonance, resource sharing.
7, regional distribution advantages: regional unified purchase and distribution of materials, the establishment of a central kitchen, unified new research and development and training, reduce costs, ensure product standards and quality stability.
8, headquarters service advantage: Guojianglong general >

domain: economics


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Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James find themselves drawn into a web of deceit and treachery that has its roots in the turmoil of 1939, as England and Germany hover on the brink of war. Gemma learns that her friend Erika Rosenthal lost a valuable brooch during her escape from Berlin, a piece made by her father, a noted Art Deco jeweler.
Now that the heirloom has turned up for sale at a venerable London auction house, and Erika asks Gemma's help in discovering its whereabouts for the last fifty years. But the past bleeds into the future when those connected with the brooch begin to die, and Gemma and Duncan learn that the long-ago unsolved murder of Erika's husband has deadly repercussions in the present. Where Memories Lie is Crombie's most suspenseful outing yet, and will keep you turning pages until its shocking end

domain: literature


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Yesterday I showed you some of the beautiful birthday cards I received in the mail. It is just so much fun to get cards because not many people send them anymore. Here is another batch of them. These are just as fantastic as yesterday’s cards!
Every single one of these are gorgeous and each one put a smile on my face.
I had the best birthday. Not only did I receive all these great cards but Zachary, my son and Emory, my beautiful granddaughter, came to visit me for a few days. I’ll be posting pictures soon.
Thank you to everyone who sent me a card. I am truly touched by your thoughtfulness!
Don’t forget to check out my Star Rewards Program!

domain: artistic


text: Clinical ReviewMoving Pulmonary Rehabilitation Into the Home A CLINICAL REVIEWGarvey, Chris FNP, MSN, MPA; Singer, Jonathan P. MD; Bruun, Allan Murphy HDA; Soong, Allison MPH; Rigler, Julia BA; Hays, Steven MDAuthor Information University of California San Francisco. Correspondence: Chris Garvey, FNP, MSN, MPA, University of California San Francisco, 2330 Post St, Ste 420, San Francisco, CA 94115 ([email protected]). Mr Murphy Bruun developed a home exercise application and software that is used in Denmark and the United States. All authors are participating in a clinical trial of home exercise supported by a wireless technology company. Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention: January 2018 - Volume 38 - Issue 1 - p 8-16 doi: 10.1097/HCR.0000000000000287 Buy Metrics AbstractIn Brief Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is the standard of care for persons with chronic, symptomatic lung disease. The availability of PR is limited, particularly in rural areas. In addition, barriers to PR include the lack of transportation, patient inconvenience, inadequate insurance coverage, and cost. Technology has the potential to overcome several barriers to PR by enhancing the availability and uptake of PR principles through the development of technology-supported, home-based PR programs. For technology-supported, home-based PR, or telehealth PR, to be effective, key components of traditional PR must be present including appropriate individualized exercise prescription, self-management education, outcome measurements, and patient support. This clinical review summarizes the current practice of PR, describes limitations to the availability of PR, describes key principles that technology should feature to ensure best practices are met, and proposes current and future technology options as an emerging strategy for home delivery of PR and its components. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) availability is limited by barriers of availability, cost, and convenience. Technology has the potential to overcome several of these barriers. For home-based PR to be effective, it must include appropriate individualized exercise prescription, self-management education, outcome measurement, and patient support. © 2018 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

domain: health


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Toronto Film Society presented Vacation From Marriage (1945) on Sunday, November 8, 2015 in a double bill with The Mudlark as part of the Season 68 Sunday Afternoon Film Buff Series, Programme 2.
Director: Alexander Korda. Story and Screenplay: Clemence Dane and Anthony Pelissier. Produced by: Alexander Korda. Music: Clifton Parker. Cinematography: George Perinal. Film Editing: E.B. Jarvis. Art Direction: Vincent Korda.
Cast: Robert Donat (Robert Wilson), Deborah Kerr (Cathy Wilson), Glynis Johns (Dizzy Clayton), Ann Todd (Elena), Roland Culver (Richard), Elliott Mason (Mrs. Hemmings), Eliot Makeham (Mr. Staines), Brefni O’Rorke (Mr. Hargrove), Ivor Barnard (Chemist), Henry Longhurst (Petty Officer), Billy Shine (Webster), Billy Thatcher (Essex), Brian Weske (Gordon), Rosamund Taylor (Irene), Harry Ross (Bill), Edward Rigby (Charlie), Roger Moore (Soldier).
A British drama produced and directed by Alexander Korda in 1945. It stars Robert Donat and Deborah Kerr with a fine supporting cast including Glynis Johns, Ann Todd, Roland Culver and Roger Moore in his uncredited film debut. The screenplay was written by Clemence Dane and Anthony Pelissier and was based on a story by Clemence Dane. Dane won the Academy Award for Best Story.
The story has Donat and Kerr as a married couple living a normal if not perhaps boring life in London during the Second World War. Donat is a clerk and Kerr is his stay at home wife. Donat enlists in the Royal Navy and in spite of his protestations Kerr joins the Wrens (Women’s Royal Navy Service). They are separated by their military service for three years. During that time they both grow more self confident. They both meet and are attracted to other people but choose to remain faithful. They are eventually reunited but are unsure if they want to stay together however they do reconcile.
The film is similar in theme to others made about war and the effects on relationships. Films like The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), Coming Home (1978), The Deer Hunter (1978) and The Hurt Locker (2008).
I think a stand-out in the cast is Glynis Johns as Dizzy Clayton, Deborah Kerr’s character’s gregarious friend. With her distinctive voice and winsome demeanour, Glynis Johns has had a career in film, television and stage spanning 54 years.
She was born in Pretoria, South Africa in 1923 where her entertainer parents were on tour. Her father is actor Mervyn Johns who played Bob Cratchit in the 1951 version of A Christmas Carol. Her mother is Alys Maude Johns, a pianist.
She is triple threat; she sings, dances and acts. Steven Sondheim wrote “Send in the Clowns” specifically for her in his play A Little Night Music. She won a Tony Award for her work in that play. She also worked with Rex Harrison in his last stage role before his death in 1990. In 1963 she had her own television show titled Glynis in which she played a crime solving mystery writer. Unfortunately her show ran opposite The Virginian and lasted only 13 episodes. Another foray into television was the short lived Coming of Age, a program about retirees. Her husband in the show was Alan Young of Mr. Ed fame or infamy if you will. She has also appeared as a guest in many other television shows over the years from the 1950’s to the 1990’s including voice work in children’s animated programs.
Ms. Johns was adept at comedic roles as well as dramatic roles. Her more famous film roles include her turn as a mermaid in Miranda (1948) and Mad About Men (1954), The Court Jester (1956) with Danny Kaye and as Winnifred Banks in Mary Poppins (1964). She was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in The Sundowners (1960). Ms. Johns last role was in 1999’s Superstar, a mediocre comedy based on a Saturday Night Live character.
In her distinguished career, she has appeared with many movie and stage heavy weights including James Cagney, James Stewart, Lana Turner, Sean Connery, Gene Tierney, Jack Hawkins and David Niven to name a few.
Ms. Johns has given the cinema many years of many wonderful roles.
Notes by Bruce Whittaker
Toronto Film Society is back in the theatre! However, we’re still pleased to continue to bring you films straight to your home! Beginning Season 73 until now we have...
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I am currently in New Zealand where I participated in the 11th Colloquium of the IUCN Academy of Environmental Law from June 24-28. With me at the Colloquium were five of the Maryland law students from my Global Environmental Law seminar who presented papers at the Colloquium, Global Environmental Justice Fellow Gabby Queenan from Macalester College, and Bill Piermattei, managing director of Maryland’s Environmental Law Program. Monday June 24 featured an all day workshop on the teaching of environmental law. I gave a presentation on how a massive open online course operates and a demonstration of the SmartBook technology that enables me to include customized, multimedia materials in the electronic version of my casebook. Tuesday June 25 featured an all day research workshop. Plenary sessions were held on Wednesday and Thursday morning and a forum featuring some of the world’s top environmental judges was held on Friday morning. Combined with breakout sessions on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, more than 160 presentations were made on a fascinating array of environmental topics. The full program is available online at: http://iucnacademy2013.org.nz
The Academy of Environmental Law now includes 168 institutional members from 53 countries. More than 200 people attended the Colloquium from at least 30 countries. Despite the upbeat atmosphere from seeing so many old friends at the Colloquium, speaker after speaker shared depressing news concerning the state of the world’s environment and efforts to roll back environmental protection in several countries. Considerable discussion focused on why decades of effort to strengthen environmental law has not yielded more positive environmental results. This year’s distinguished scholar lecture was presented by Mas Achmad Santosa, Deputy Minister and Deputy Head of the President’s Delivery Unit for Development Monitoring & Oversight of the Republic of Indonesia. He gave a remarkably candid presentation concerning how Indonesia is trying to locate and suppress the sources of massive fires in Sumatran palm oil plantations that have blanketed Singapore and Malaysia with record air pollution.
Most of the participants in the Colloquium welcomed President Obama’s announcement on Tuesday June 25 of his Climate Action Plan (http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/president27sclimateactionplan.pdf) as a useful step for responding to this enormous global challenge. In his plan President Obama recommitted his administration to the goal of reducing U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 17 percent below 2005 levels by the year 2020. In a memorandum to EPA issued the same day, available online at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/06/25/presidential-memorandum-power-sector-carbon-pollution-standards, the President directed EPA to propose GHG emissions standards for existing power plants by no later than June 1, 2014, and to adopt them in final form by June 1, 2015. Among the many elements of the President’s plan are measures to speed permitting of renewable energy projects, to increase energy efficiency standards for appliances and federal buildings, and to develop an interagency strategy to reduce methane emissions. The President also pledges that the U.S. will play a more vigorous global leadership role on climate change issues.
While I was at the Colloquium, the U.S. Supreme Court finished its October 2012 Term. On Monday June 24 the Court announced that it will hear challenges to the D.C. Circuit’s decision striking down EPA’s interstate air pollution rule (see August 26, 2012 blog post). The Supreme Court’s decision to review this case is a most welcome development because the D.C. Circuit’s decision (EPA v. EME Homer City Generation, 696 F.3d 7) featured extraordinary judicial activism to ensure that no state had to do too much to control interstate air pollution. The case will be argued and decided during the Court’s next term that starts in October 2013.
On June 25 the Court decided an important regulatory takings case. In Koontz v. St. Johns River Water Management District the Court extended its Nollan/Dolan regulatory exactions doctrine to decisions to deny a permit to develop wetlands and to regulatory exactions that involve a payment of money rather than a dedication of real property. The decision was 5-4 with the Court’s four liberals dissenting. The dissenters agreed that permit denials could be subject to Nollan/Dolan review, but disagreed that exactions involving the payment of money should be subjected to such review. Writing for the majority, Justice Alito emphasized that the Court’s decision did not call into question the constitutionality of property taxes. He downplayed the impact of the decision by noting that many states, such as California, already apply the Nollan/Dolan “rough proportionality” requirement to impact fees exacted when developers seek variances.
Koontz was decided just as I was making the final corrections to the second pass page proofs for the new 7th edition of my casebook Environmental Regulation: Law, Science and Policy. My publisher allowed me to include a new paragraph discussing the decision in the book, which will be in bookstores next month in time for fall semester 2013 classes.

domain: news


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It’s been seven years since Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have been the top two mentions in Fifa’s Best Player Of The Year Awards and they have been sharing the Ballon d’Or trophy among themselves since 2008, with Kaka being the last player other than Ronaldo and Messi to lift the coveted trophy.
This year too, Cristiano Ronaldo is considered to be the hot favorite for his fifth Ballon d’Or, which would level him with his arch-rival for most number of such trophies. However, the Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi will unveil another chapter of the saga as both players will go head-to-head in the eighth edition of Globe Soccer Awards, for the Best Player of the Year trophy.
Interestingly, while Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi has been a closely-fought battle, in the Globe Soccer Awards’ history, the Portuguese leads with a tally of 3-1.
The Globe Soccer Awards acknowledge the best club director of the year as well as the best agent, together with various other excellences in the football fraternity. The ceremony is organized by European Association of Player’s Agents (EFAA) and European Club Association (ECA).
While the ceremony will also give out accolades for the best coach, best club, best player and more, the Globe Soccer Awards have successfully filled the gap between the panorama of football awards, such as Fifa awards, Golden Shoe and Ballon d’Or to mark a season of commitment and excellence at the highest possible level.
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi, who will emerge victorious?
While the Ballon d’Or award is awarded considering the importance of on-field efforts in every department, Globe Soccer Awards acknowledges individual efforts of the players. Since Cristiano Ronaldo scored 42 goals in 46 appearances last season for Real Madrid while also becoming the first player to score 100 European and Champions League goals, Messi’s tally of 54 goals in 52 appearances, despite being better than his arch-rival, still feel inferior to Ronaldo’s.
Other nominees of the Globe Soccer Award include Neymar, Paulo Dybala, Gianluigi Buffon, Kylian Mbappe and Sergio Ramos.
On the other hand, Real Madrid is almost certain to lift the best team of the year award as they recorded the first ever European double in the history of football after lifting both the La Liga and UEFA Champions League trophies. Monaco, the Ligue 1 winners, and Manchester United are the other two nominees.
Due to Real Madrid’s successful run last season, Zinedine Zidane leads the list of best coach of the year-contenders, along with Antonio Conte, Massimiliano Allegri, and Jose Mourinho.
As for the Best Agent Award, Jorge Mendes, Alessandro Lucci, and Mino Raiola are nominated for the decoration which is scheduled for 28th December, 2017.]
Everything said and done, from what we have seen in the 2017/18 season, the Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi storyline will witness some interesting twists and turns next year as Real Madrid’s talisman has failed to perform in the ongoing La Liga campaign, having scored just twice in nine appearances.


Early February Boat Business
|Main Shaft Zinc Anode....With Proper Clearance on
the Line Cutter and Cutless Bearing
While we've been anxious to get Ghost Rider out of her slip for a sea trial, Rick wanted to wait until the diver could get back to the boat and not only clean the bottom, but take photos of the zinc anode positions on both prop shafts. That finally occurred on 06-Feb and everything below the waterline looked good. We got a good tide later that afternoon, so we sortied out into the river and headed downstream on a lovely winter day in southwest Florida – sunny skies, moderate southeasterly breeze, with air temps in the low 80’s.
We had a bit of a struggle backing out of our tight corner slip this time….it took Rick a few minutes to figure out the right combo of thrusting to port with a back-and-forth throttle in the breeze that was pinning us to the dock. But we finally got out of there without kissing the dock or dinging the two boats beside and behind us.
|When We Started the Sea Trial This Was the Position of the Stuffing Box's
Pusher / Follower Collar....With Inadequate Water Flow.
|Eventually We Had to Back Off the Follower By a 2x Factor, Pumped It
Back & Forth, Then Reset to Its Original Position.
But within the first 30 minutes of the sortie the main shaft’s stuffing box was already above 100F in water temperatures that hovered around 72F….even at a low 1200 RPM. Not catastrophic by any stretch, but the drip rate was insufficient and that mark was certainly above Rick’s preferred target of ambient plus 20-25 degrees. So once again Chelle manned the helm and Rick went to work in the engine room making a series of stuffing box adjustments. It took another 30 minutes before he got it figured out, but eventually we got to the point where the main stuffing box was holding steady at just under 92F – even at wide open throttle. We (finally!) were able to declare victory on that item.
We did not have a lot of time to play with the wing engine’s shaft, but a short run revealed too-warm temps and insufficient water flow….we’ll schedule another sea trial where Rick can focus on and play with that one, but after some more dockside adjustments. Wing engine stuffing boxes tend to be temperamental, even without alignment issues, so that one is not a big surprise.
|The Final Result Was a Reasonable Drip Rate and
a Very Good Temp Reading Even at WOT.
All other systems were tactical on this sea trial sortie…basically it was a good day.
Upon return to Legacy Harbour Marina we decided to dock up stern-in to our corner slip vs. bow-in. This was mainly to position Ghost Rider so we could launch the dinghy into water vs. onto the concrete dock, as we wanted to be in position to perform some sea trials on the tender’s outboard engine -- we have not run it since we left Palm Beach in late October. Rather surprisingly the docking went quite smoothly, with zero drama. That made it a very good day.
|Ghost Rider Sterned In to Give Us Room to Float the Dinghy
Which is Limited to a Starboard Side Launch
After we got Ghost Rider tucked in, plugged in and cleaned up, Rick pinged James over at Yacht Tech via SMS to let him know the results; typical of James he immediately called back to Q&A about the details of the anode inspection and sea trial results, and make some recommendations for the wing engine. Classy guy.
The next day we turned our attention back to the water heater. Craig from VIP Marine came to the boat in the early afternoon as previously scheduled. We managed to extract the big anode pipe from its near-permanent thread sealant, and replaced it with the new magnesium anode. Rick also asked Craig to test the unit’s pressure relief valve while he was there as we had concerns with its discharge valve – it did not drain very well, nor did it appear to be fully closing once the lever was released. Turns out it was pretty much shot.
|Located Underneath the Master Stateroom Bunk, the Water Heater With
the Old Anode Removed (On Top) and the New Anode Installed
A faulty pressure relief valve on a water heater can be dangerous – water heaters actually make pretty good bombs when that valve fails to meter temperature and relieve pressure. (When your bunk is located right on top of the thing it makes you ponder such matters.) We found a replacement valve at a nearby hardware store and swapped it out.
Next up: we've still got a few weeks to tend to some home-based administrative and social obligations while we also work through the remaining minor and preventative maintenance items for the boat, and continue to provision for the upcoming journey.
|It Hasn't Been All Boat Maintenance...We Thumbed a Ride on Dan &
Cher's Gorgeous New Grady-White Last Weekend
|Captain Dan at the Helm of His New "Baby Grady" Heading to Brunch in Charlotte Harbor
|Another Shot of Ghost Rider Moored Stern-in at Her Slip at Legacy Harbour in Fort Myers


text:
Nominations are closing soon for the Australian Association of Constitutional Law’s (AACL) Saunders Prize, which will be awarded to the author of an article or note on a subject of constitutional law published in an Australian legal journal in 2016.
The prize is named in honour of Laureate Professor Emeritus Cheryl Saunders AO in recognition of her exceptional work in constitutional law and her leadership in the creation of the AACL.
Cheryl is the founding Director of the Centre for Comparative Constitutional Studies at the University of Melbourne, and has been a longstanding Editor of our Public Law Review journal.
The winner of the Saunders Prize in 2017 will be awarded $500, and nominations close on 14 May 2017. More information is available from the AACL website.
The co-winners of the inaugural Saunders Prize in 2016 were Selena Bateman and Brendan Lim. Selena won the prize for her article “Constitutional Dimensions of State Executive Power: An Analysis of the Power to Contract and Spend” published in the Public Law Review at the end of 2015. The article looked closely at the High Court’s reasoning in Williams v Commonwealth, arguing that from a doctrinal perspective the decision has a significant impact on State executive power.
This article, as well as every one of our journal articles, is available for individual purchase by emailing [email protected] or contacting us on 1300 304 195 (Australian customers) or +61 2 8587 7980 (international customers) during business hours (Mon-Fri, 8am-6pm AEST).


Electro-optic modulators transform electronic signals into the optical domain and are critical components in modern telecommunication networks, RF photonics, and emerging applications in quantum photonics, neuromorphic photonics, and beam steering. All these applications require integrated and voltage-efficient modulator solutions with compact form factors that are seamlessly integrable with silicon photonics platforms and feature near-CMOS material processing synergies. However, existing integrated modulators are challenged to meet these requirements. Conversely, emerging electro-optic materials heterogeneously and monolithically integrated with Si photonics open up a new avenue for device engineering. Indium tin oxide (ITO) is one such compelling material for heterogeneous integration in Si exhibiting formidable electro-optic effect characterized by unity-order index change at telecommunication frequencies. Here we overcome these limitations and demonstrate a monolithically integrated ITO electro-optic modulator based on a Mach Zehnder interferometer featuring a high-performance half-wave voltage and active device length product of VπL = 0.52 V mm. We show that the unity-strong index change enables a 30 μm-short π-phase shifter operating ITO in the index-dominated region away from the epsilon-near-zero point for reduced losses. This device experimentally confirms electrical phase shifting in ITO enabling its use in applications such as compact phase shifters, nonlinear activation functions in photonic neural networks, and phased array applications for LiDAR.


19th November 2013
Plans to transform the former Sugar Beet Plant at Allscott, Telford into a mixed development featuring new homes, a primary school and sports facilities will be on show at a public exhibition on Monday 25th November.
Northern Trust Company Ltd, which is working with the landowner to regenerate the site, will be hosting the exhibition event between 5:00pm and 7:30pm at Allscott Sports & Social Club, Shawbirch Road, TF6 5EZ.
Northern Trust has been working with the local community to develop the plans since October 2012, and the results of a previous consultation event held in November last year showed 91% support for the regeneration of the site with the provision of open space and new homes highly favoured.
A spokesperson for Northern Trust commented “We have spent a lot of time working with the local community and key stakeholders on formulating these plans and ensuring the proposals deliver a scheme which fits into the existing community and improves the infrastructure and services for the area.
We feel our plans for the site have improved as a result of our community consultation and look forward to showcasing the illustrative plans at the exhibition.”
It is expected that a planning application will be submitted to Telford & Wrekin Council before the end of the year.
- End –
Notes to Editors:
Press Enquiries; Lexington Communications: Kevin Whitmore on 0161 711 3293 or email@example.com.
26th February 2021
15th February 2021
10th February 2021


text: During a recent interview, Katherine Webb went on record to publically thank Brent Musburger for her recent rise-to-fame. Since last month’s BCS National Championship game where Webb was "discovered" by Musburger and the ABC production team, the former Miss Alabama has appeared on several national TV interviews, racked up more than 250,000 followers on Twitter, and now can add ‘posed in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition’ to her list. Not bad for one month’s work considering that this small town girl’s most notable appearance before the BCS National Game was probably an autograph signing at a Birmingham Perkins. For your viewing pleasure, we have posted some of Webb's shots from the SI shoot below. You're welcome.


text:
Sony Interactive Entertainment has officially confirmed a PS VR2 major drawback that might not be changed even after launch.
It was recently confirmed by SIE that the PS VR2, the next-generation virtual reality headset, has a rather major drawback that comes together when it launches. According to the gaming company, it will now be backward compatible with the original PS VR games, which is quite sad news for enthusiasts of VR gaming.
The PS VR2 headset is going make some significant advancements though and will introduce new controllers and other features. This is particularly the reason for its difficulty to become compatible with the classic VR games. This was explained by PlayStatoin’s Hideaki Nishino at the latest episode of the Official PlayStation Podcast.
Fans that already have the original PS VR headset and a collection of games will be hugely disappointed as they could not play their collection. It seems SIE is really going to leave behind the old VR headset and move forward to the new one they are releasing in the near future.

domain: entertainment


Arianespace announces competition for free nanosatellite launch
Earth observation, deep space exploration big winners in new ESA budget
European Space Agency member states on Thursday committed nearly 12.5 billion euros ($13.8 billion) to fund ESA programs over the next three years, promising money to grow Europe’s fleet of satellites studying Earth’s changing climate, contribute to NASA-led lunar exploration efforts, and continue ESA’s participation in the International Space Station until 2030.
Launch providers announce rideshare missions large and small
SpaceX and Arianespace recently announced plans to launch rideshare missions to sun-synchronous and geostationary orbit, dedicating big rocket capacity for small satellites as the U.S.-based launch broker Spaceflight committed to using a new Indian microsatellite launcher set to debut later this year.


text:
CUSTOMS DUTY CONCESSIONS
Government weighing sops for Apple, says DIPP Secretary Ramesh Abhishek
“They are asking for certain exemptions, which the government is considering. But there are 90 manufacturers who are already manufacturing here," he said.
Is GST on right track? Challenges portend a long, laborious journey
Big businesses have started to avoid purchases from unregistered vendors,...
Govt mulls 60% duty hike on sugar
Already, 5 lakh tonnes of sugar have been contracted at zero duty, the official said.
Unscrupulous traders using South Korea route to bypass import duty, claim sources
The government has initiated investigation into alleged complaints of misuse of the CEA by certain gold traders. Last week it issued a circular.
India to import 25 tonnes gold from South Korea, avoiding duty-industry officials
India, the world's second biggest gold consumer after China, imposes a 10 percent import duty on gold, but this does not apply to countries with which it has signed Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), like South Korea.
Looking for gold investment this Diwali? Here are 2 ways to buy gold digitally
Currently, there are two options to buy gold digitally: 'Digital Gold', offered by Paytm and, 'GoldRush' by the Stock Holding Corporation of India.
Water bus stuck at customs for lack of clarity on duty: Nitin Gadkari
That is the question for which this 'water bus' is stuck at the customs due to the lack of clarity on the issue, Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said in Lok Sabha today.
Gold may be kept out of future trade pacts
The initial surge was being attributed to purchases before the GST that was unrolled on July 1, but further spike in August has come as a surprise.
GST: Central Board of Excise and Customs to soon notify new procedural framework
A detailed directive would be issued soon for the field, explaining the rate schedule of the Integrated GST, which will be levied on imports.
GST narrows ambit of duty credit scrip use by exporters
Earlier, manufacturing exporters who import raw material for the export purpose were allowed to utilise these scrips for payment of Customs, excise duty and service tax.
Gold sales halve this year during Navratri, Dussehra on fear of taxman’s scrutiny
Gold traders are concerned that gold sales would be lacklustre even in Dhanteras.
No entity can be allowed to avoid anti-dumping duty: Supreme Court
Supreme Court noted that due to the policies pursued by China, the global steel industry, including that in India, has been affected.
Move over rosé! Unique orange-hued wine is what you need to try
No, it is not a mimosa, neither does the colour come from orange.
Air India CMD Rajiv Bansal urges employees to be physically fit
Ever since, Bansal took over he has initiatED steps to improve the carrier's on-time performance and the crew has been told that there will be zero tolerance for delays.
Government halves import duty on some steel grades
CRGO are electrical steel grades used for stampings and cores of electrical transformers and other electrical appliances.


text:
Stephen Alter is the author of eighteen books of fiction and non-fiction. He was born in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, India and much of his writing focuses on the Himalayan region, where he continues to live and work.
Becoming a Mountain: Himalayan Journeys in Search of the Sacred and the Sublime (Aleph/Arcade, 2015) is his most recent work of non-fiction. In The Jungles of the Night: A Novel about Jim Corbett (Aleph, 2016) is his latest work of fiction. The Secret Sanctuary (Puffin, 2015) is his most recent book for younger readers.
He has written extensively on natural history, folklore and mountain culture, particularly in his travel memoir Sacred Waters: A Pilgrimage to the Many Sources of the Ganga, which describes a journey on foot along the pilgrim trails of the Uttarakhand Char DhamYatra.
Among the honors he has received are fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Fulbright Program, the East West Centre in Hawaii, and the Banff Centre for Mountain Culture. In 2015 he received the Kekoo Naoroji Award for Himalayan Literature, awarded by the Himalayan Club. Stephen Alter is founding director the Mussoorie Writers’ Mountain Festival, which has brought more than 150 authors, mountaineers, artists and musicians to Mussoorie since 2006.
Forty Years Ago ...
40 years ago, in October 1976, Khushwant Singh, the legendary editor of the Illustrated Weekly of India accepted my first short story, “Fascination.” It was published with illustrations by Mario Miranda. In October 2016, I was delighted to attend the 5th Khushwant Singh Literary Festival in Kasauli.


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Designed for use in mobile applications, OutBack FX-M Series Mobile & Marine inverter/chargers provide pure sine wave AC power output combined with intelligent battery charging. They produce virtually distortion-free, true sine wave AC power for better performance from onboard electronics like sensitive home theater equipment, computers, microwaves, medical and scientific instrumentation, etc. with minimal RF interference.
A complete power conversion solution, FX inverter/chargers incorporate a DC to AC inverter, a battery charger, and an AC transfer switch.
These inverter/chargers are ideal for use in either grid-interactive, or stand-alone/off-grid, as well as back-up applications.
Outback's FX Mobile inverter/chargers are available in both sealed case (FX-M) and vented case (VFX-M) versions.
The sealed inverter models are designed for mobile applications in dusty or moist environments and can survive casual exposure to the elements - although a protected location is still recommended.
Vented inverter models are designed for installation in enclosed or interior locations – mainly for RV or other mobile use, such as emergency vehicles and construction or marine installations - where they should be protected from water spray, fumes, or condensation.
The vented OutBack M-Series has the same proven technology and conformal-coated circuit boards as the sealed version, but has a vented chassis.
Vented models incorporate the familiar internal cooling fan found in traditional inverter/chargers. Typically, the rated output wattage of vented models is higher than the sealed models. This is due to the greater cooling capabilities of the vented models.
The fully screened “bug-proof” openings keep the power conversion components cool in hot environments, even when operated at high power for extended periods of time.
In land-based mobile and marine connections, pass-through shore power (or utility grid) is used as the primary power source. The inverter has a single AC input. However, it has two sets of AC source settings. With an external transfer switch, the inverter can be used on more than one AC source. It is common to use shore (utility grid) power and a generator.
When the shore power is removed, the inverter takes over to run loads from the batteries. The fast (16 msec) 30 amp AC internal transfer relay, with neutral/ground switching, seamlessly alternates between inverting and accepting AC power sources without dropping loads.
Industry leading surge power starts heavy loads, such as air conditioning, without the need to run your generator.
Power factor corrected battery charging gets the most out of shore power and lessens generator run-time while maximizing the lifespan of your batteries.
Networked communications provide modular expandability – your inverter system can grow with your power consumption needs. You can add more inverters in parallel, series, or three-phase power configurations as the need for more power arises – all controllable from a single remote control panel.
The tough die-cast aluminum chassis physically protects the internal components while the air intake includes an easily cleaned filter which seals out debris and insects.
The standard DC wiring cover (shown) protects the DC terminals, battery cables, and cooling air intake from damage.
FX inverter/chargers come with no external controls. They can operate normally without an external control or interface. Basic modes and settings are pre-programmed at the factory. A user-supplied on/off toggle switch will allow the inverter/charger to run automatically utilizing the factory settings.
However, one of the available external OutBack MATE remote control panels can be used to monitor, control, adjust default settings when necessary, or troubleshoot the inverter/charger. See Accessory Products, below.
VFX-M vented inverter/charger features –
• Internal electronic components are cooled by fan-forced outside air
• Stainless steel screen to protect air intake and internal fan
• UL 94V0 fine-mesh plastic vent grills to protect the air exhaust; keeps out dirt and bugs
• Air inlet comes with removable, washable foam filter insert to trap small particles
• Vented VFX models provide higher output power when inverting or battery charging compared to the comparable sealed FX inverters
• FX and VFX mobile inverter/chargers use a “three-stage” battery charging process with Bulk, Absorption, and Float stages to perform quick recharging while prolonging battery life. The inverter’s factory default settings are intended for three-stage charging of lead-acid batteries which have the option to perform a periodic manual Equalization maintenance via one of the available remote controls. Adjusting the charger for other battery types requires use of a remote control
• Optional remote battery temperature sensor (OUT-RTS) will allow adjustment of the charger's output voltage to prevent batteries from being under- or over-charged; see Accessory Products
• Conformal coated circuit boards resist corrosion in humid conditions
• Simple design consisting of three circuit boards which makes field servicing the unit easy no matter where you are
• Die-cast metal construction allows mounting in any position, even upside down
• Very quiet operation allows mounting in noise sensitive areas - even under a bunk
• Rigorous factory testing of each unit assures flawless performance
• UL 458, ANSI/UL 458, Ed:3, and CSA C22.2 certified
• 2-year warranty with option to 5 years


text: 3 x 180g. coloured LP. We’ve always said, “Life is like a box of records. You never know what you’re gonna get.” to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the motion picture Forrest Gump, we’re proud to announce the first ever North American vinyl pressing of the soundtrack. All 32-tracks have been placed across three records to ensure maximum audio-fidelity, in addition to vinyl mastering and lacquers by Kevin Gray, and plating at RTI. The album will be available on 180 Gram “All American” Red, White and Blue vinyl LPs, pressed at United Record Pressing in the USA. First pressings will be hand- numbered and limited. The 32-song soundtrack from the film was originally released on July 6, 1994. The soundtrack includes songs from Elvis Presley, Fleetwood Mac, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Aretha Franklin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Three Dog Night, the Byrds, the Doors, the Mamas & the Papas, the Doobie Brothers, Simon & Garfunkel, Bob Seger, and Buffalo Springfield, among others. Music producer Joel Sill reflected on compiling the soundtrack: “We wanted to have very recognizable material that would pinpoint time periods, yet we didn’t want to interfere with what was happening cinematically the two-disc album has a variety of music from the 1950s1980s performed by American artists. According to Sill, this was due to Zemeckis’ request, “All the material in there is American. Bob (Zemeckis) felt strongly about it. He felt that Forrest wouldn’t buy anything but American, ” Forrest Gump: The Soundtrack is one of the most successful movie soundtrack albums of all times. The album – like the film – instantly captured the heart of America, going into the top 10 of Billboard’s Pop Album chart and shipping over 1 million units in it’s first few weeks of release. This timeless double album of American Classics has since been certified DIAMOND – selling over 6 million copies.


text:
When Pokemon Red & Green launched in Japan in 1996 (and Red & Blue in the US in 1998), they were instant successes. The unique combination of solid RPG gameplay, and the 'Gotta catch 'em all' collection & training mechanic was found to be a highly addicting combination that has sold many millions of copies over the years. Pokemon X & Y is the start of the sixth generation of Pokemon games, and the first version for the Nintendo 3DS. The original Game Boy hosted the first two generations, the Game Boy Advance the third, and the Nintendo DS the fourth and fifth. X & Y are a large step forward for the series, while at the same time keeping true to what made the series so popular in the first place.
For those not familiar with the series' gameplay, Pokemon at first glance appears to be a rather simple RPG with an overhead view, and turn based battles. You, as a trainer, are being encouraged by your mom to explore the world and gather new Pokemon along the way. As you meet Pokemon in the wild (usually in tall grass), you can try to catch them inside of a little ball, called a Pokeball. Once caught, you can being them out of their ball at any time to battle for you, or also play with them, depending on the game. They level up as they gain experience, and learn new moves through leveling or via a TM or HM. Many Pokemon also evolve to a higher form when various conditions are met, like gaining levels, using items, and many more. This constant catch, train, learn, evolve (and breed!) cycle can go on as long as they player would like to keep playing. Your end goal is usually to become the best trainer in the region by defeating all of the gym leaders and the Elite Four, along with other goals like completing your Pokedex, which is a list of all Pokemon in the region or world.
Often in the history of Pokemon, Game Freak has been accused of being too conservative in between each game generation. For example, there was very little 3D rendering of the game world until generation five, despite gen four being on the same capable hardware. And now, after all these years, X & Y finally has 3D animated battles. The home console games have had 3D rendered battles since the original Stadium on the Nintendo 64, so having this on a main series portable game has been a long time coming, and it's finally here. Not only that, but you can battle in stereoscopic 3D as well, if you can tolerate the massive frame rate drop when doing so.
Despite being the most technologically advanced Pokemon game, this is also a game that in many ways is a return to the series' roots. While you do get a new starter like in every other new generation, you also get a second starter from the original Red & Blue: a choice of the classic Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle. Not only that, but the original legendary bird trio, and even the iconic legendary Mewtwo makes an appearance here. In my mind, this game is not only targeting long time fans or newcomers to the series, but it's trying to reach the older lapsed fans as well. I personally know of several who haven't touched a Pokemon game in ten or more years who grabbed this one, or even bought a 3DS for it. I can easily be included in that statistic (though I already had a 3DS).
I played a fair amount of Pokemon Red/Yellow as well as Crystal, both for Game Boy and Game Boy Color. But I never did complete them, and took a long, long break from all things Pokemon. So, when my nine year old daughter picked up Pokemon X with her birthday money (my wife let her do this without my upfront knowledge), I decided that since the cat was out of the bag, that I would grab a copy of Y for myself, and turn this into an opportunity for father/daughter bonding. Well, as you can imagine, the two other kids all wanted copies for themselves, and by January, we had four copies in our house (Wife/Mom was the only one who abstained). It didn't help that some of the kids' friends have the game, as do other adult friends and family members.
Given this unique situation, I got to see first hand not only a few differences in my children in how they approached the game, but also how they reacted to it, in both expressing their personalities, and it's potentially addictive qualities. My oldest, who got the game first, didn't really pick it up heavily until her brother and sister got into it; she was content watching Dad play for a long time before she really started playing, even though she had it first. She still plays occasionally, and she did beat the game, but she is definitely not the collecting type; she found a few that she liked, and stuck with them.
My other daughter is quite the opposite, and vigorously tries to collect them all (like Dad does). She also gets really excited about helping others get to the end, and she loves to battle (despite not having the best winning streak). My youngest is my son, who is somewhere in the middle. He really likes it a lot, but he is younger, so he doesn't get all of the nuances as well. He should beat it soon, and I think Poke fever should die down in our house soon after that.
So, what have I learned seeing this at work in my home? Well, a few things. Firstly, it is an extremely addicting game. Everyone in my house (except for my youngest, maybe) has put over one hundred hours into this game. There is always something more to do, or some new Pokemon to train. My kids also like to play with their Pokemon, which is a feature where you can tickle, pet, and feed your Pokemon, just like you might do with a pet. And, with the Internet features built in, it can be very social as well.
Another thing I have learned is that children are introduced to occult concepts through this game. Now, I am not going to say that all Pokemon games are bad for everyone, or that all parents should ban their children from playing this game, but be aware that if you are not equipped to deal with this, like I believe that I am, it might be best to stay away.
There are a few things in this area to be aware of. First, is that the trainers bring in other creatures to fight for them. Some may view this as analogous to summoning in the occult realm. Another aspect is dualism, or the idea of light vs. dark, with neither being inherently better or worse than another. For example, there is a complex rock/paper/scissors system with eighteen different types of creatures and attacks, with different strengths and weaknesses of each. Certain types, like psychic, ghost, dark, and dragon, are not considered by nature any better or worse than fire, water, bug, normal, or the new fairy type. This is unfortunately an occult concept.
There is also the concept of evolution, though to be honest, I feel that this issue is somewhat overblown in some circles. Yes, many Christians do not believe in 'molecules to man' evolution, and I count myself among them. But changes within a species, or complex adaptation, is observed in nature, and many of these changes are more like this, or more simply growing up into adulthood, and then are called 'evolution' to make them more dramatic. In this instance, I don't think it's a huge deal, but it's something to be aware of, and I understand why some may disagree with me.
So, with such a large explanation above, why did this game get such a good moral score? Well, the thing is, for an older gamer who is more mature, this series of games really is harmless. So, for parents of young children, caution should be exercised. But the game does have some reasonably positive moral content as well.
For example, people are encouraged to live life to the fullest, and to help others. There is also a strong emphasis placed on the value of friendships. One particularly touching example is when an old man, whose wife had recently passed, asks you to borrow a Pokemon to keep him company for his remaining years. Upon his passing, he leaves you a note thanking you for allowing him that blessing. Another aspect of the story talks about what lengths people can go for the love of another (in this case Pokemon), and how hurting others for the selfish desire of keeping oneself and his friend together is never worth the cost. Other plot lines are not always this deep, but the important take away here is that there are some good things here to go with the bad.
And, as for the game itself, well, it is a lot of fun. As previously alluded to, this is a great re/starting point for the series, and the gameplay is as solid as ever. The overhead world map, the turn based RPG battles, the collection aspect – these all work as gameplay mechanics as well as they ever have. And there is no doubt that this game is extremely polished, and a lot of thought was put into it. My only complaint, other than some patches that were required to avoid game breaking bugs, is the low frame rate for battles when stereoscopic 3D is used. But if you turn that off via the slider (or use a 2DS), that is not an issue at all.
There are also some new gameplay mechanics, like the new fairy type, as well as new sky trainer battles, where only your flying Pokemon can participate. There are also a ton of very impressive Internet features, including not only online battling and trading, but plenty of opportunities to do so against both your friends and random people online. You can also use game chat with your friends, which is basically an embedded VOIP (Voice Over IP) system built into the game. I was pretty impressed with what social features are included, though I can't really say which of these features is new since I have not played Pokemon Black or White.
I could easily double the size of this already long review by diving into each of the aspects of Pokemon X & Y, from it's apparently simple but deceptively complex battle system, to the farming, breeding, training, and many more systems and features that I have undoubtedly skipped. But when it really comes down to it, if you are looking for a strategy and gameplay driven RPG experience, this game can definitely deliver. If you play RPGs mostly for the story, then you might be disappointed. If you plan on getting this game for young kids, proceed with caution. If the cat's already out of the bag in your home, you could do far worse. But think long and hard before being the parent, grandparent, etc. who introduces a family of young children to Pokemon. While it's not all bad, there is definitely enough here to give responsible Christian parents pause in considering how they will deal with the candy-coated occult-like influences contained within.

domain: hobby


text:
Publication Date: April 19, 2016
ARC copy from author and Waterbrook Multnomah
“It is a thing to think long about, the consequences of one act that follow many down the paths they take to escape it, driving them like the lashes of a gauntlet.”
-From a story of an Indian warrior
A Flight of Arrows continues the Pathfinder series, an epic tale that encompasses stolen children, imprudent love choices, and friendship and faith so deep it knows no bounds. With two sons on opposite sides fighting the ongoing, ever closer battles of the Revolution along the Mohawk Valley in New York, the Oneida Indian named Stone Thrower has much on his mind as spring leads into the summer of 1777.
Prior to departing for the war one son, Two Hawks, tries but fails to adjust to living among the white men at Schenectady in order to further his relationship with Anna Catherine Aubrey. Soon he finds himself scouting for the rebels in order to find his missing brother, William. Stone Thrower and Reginald Aubrey share a vow to try and find the missing son who is fighting for the enemy. As they join the hunt after Two Hawks sights William, the story intensifies along with the fighting. Bonds of family and friendship unlike any they could have imagined are forged and tested.
As the men make their way to the battlefront, Anna Catherine and the women in her life, Lydia McClaren, her mentor and friend who has loved Reginald for years, and Good Voice, Two Hawks’ mother and Stone Thrower’s wife, are left to continue their daily lives and care for those remaining behind. Their stories of acceptance, faith, and love are heartening as they learn to really care for each other in new ways as their lives become further enmeshed.
Throughout the novel, the characters undergo a transformational experience in their life that changes them forever. The theme in this novel stands strong as one in which God orchestrates all things to work for the good of those who love him, even in difficult times when we least expect it. The events that led to the ending of this story touched me as the reader in a very deep and profound way. Redemption and grace shine through the pages of author Lori Benton’s story. A truly inspirational read!
Lori Benton: http://loribenton.blogspot.com/
Lori on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLoriBenton#
This ARC copy was received from Lori Benton and Walter Multnomah in exchange for an honest review. The above thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.


text:
[replacement settlement] The caricature drawings of Prophet Muhammad were first published in the Danish Jutland Post and then in the Norwegian Christian newspaper Magazinet in February this year. As a result, the embassies in Syria and Iran and other property belonging to the two Nordic countries were regularly attacked.
After four months of diplomacy and reconciliation, a financial settlement is quietly taking place after the Muhammad uprising. Perhaps more surprisingly, there is also demand for compensation from the rebels.
Immediately after the attack on the Norwegian embassy in Damascus on February 4, Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced that compensation claims would be made against Syria.
Now Ny Tid can bring further details about the Norwegian claim for compensation to the public: According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), the Norwegian claim against Syria is exactly NOK 8.794.835. The claim against Iran after the rampage of the Norwegian embassy in Tehran is far more modest 69.100 kroner.
However, the slightly over 8,8 million Norway has claimed in damages fade against claims for damages Norway has met in the caricature case.
In Egypt, the political party Young Egypt (Misr El-Fatah) has sued Norway, Denmark and France for a total of just over NOK XNUMX billion.
- It is completely unacceptable that a case is brought against Norway due to the cartoons, all the time there is freedom of the press. . .
To continue reading, create a new free reader account with your email,
or logg inn if you have done it before. (click on forgotten password if you have not received it by email already).
Select if necessary Subscription (69kr)


OnePlus 5 review
My Desktop as a rechargeable Battery which I cannot get a Logitech replacement battery for.
I have plugged a USB mouse from my Laptop into the USB socket in the middle of the Desktop Tower and it works fine for scrolling but if I try to use Microsoft Word I have to leave the original wires connected to the old mouse connection box as otherwisee I cannot use the Logitech Keyboard to write in word.Comoing out of the back of the Desktop Tower are 2 wires which are connected to the Desktop Mouse holder.The one on the left is a USB connected into a purple 6 pin pin and the one on the right is a green round connection with about 6 pins in which I do not know what it is for.If I disconnect either I cannot use the keyboard.If I leave them connected but not plugged into the mains everything works okay.
My question is how can I use the USB mouse and type into Word Docs and be able to remove these 2 connections which do not appear to be doing anything.
"The one on the left is a USB connected into a purple 6 pin pin and the one on the right is a green round connection with about 6 pins in which I do not know what it is for."
One is for the mouse, the other for the keyboard. They go into the wireless transmitter/receiver for both units - it's not just for the mouse.
"I cannot get a Logitech replacement battery for"
What battery is it - I can't believe it's so non-standard you can't get a replacement. What are the type numbers on the battery?
I have managed to buy a propriety AA rechargeable battery which appears to work.
I find it works fine for connecting the purple lead which is for the Keyboard and the Green lead seems to support the Mouse.My only worry is that the previous Mouse Pocket had a rechargeable battery connection and I may find that I have to manually charge the unit say once a week.
I have a Logitech wireless mouse/keyboard. I use standard high capacity batteries (the same as I use in other things all round the house.)
I find the mouse batteries (2 off 2300mAh AA size) last four to six weeks - the keyboard (2 off 900mAh AAA size) 10 to 12 weeks (I'd say my mouse gets higher than average usage).
Yours may be different as they are a different model. The higher the mAh (milli-Amp hour) the longer they will last.
I use an external charger, as mine doesn't have the charger built-in.
Hope that all helps.
The Mouse That you put in the Mouse Docking Station will charge a normal Rechargeable NiMa battery fitted in the mouse
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Costa Rica Entertainment – At age 18, Ana Gutiérrez asked for a loan to buy her first knitting machine. Fashion always inspired her, but almost three decades ago the study of that career was not common in the country, so she turned to business management.
Leaving the fashion aside (temporarily), she trained in business administration and studied to become a chef at the Le Cordon Bleu cooking school.
Her strength and eagerness to achieve what she had always dreamed of in the field of fashion, motivated her, after her 30 years, to enroll in a jewelry course. The passion for design that inspired her in her youth was awaken again.
“As a hobby I went into jewelry design classes and started making pieces for myself; A cousin saw me and asked me to design something. From that moment more buyers began to emerge and everything became a business, “said Ana.
At 46, Ana has spent a decade dedicated to what she started as a hobby, and today is her source of income. In addition to the design of jewelry for ladies – inspired by the Costa Rican nature – it has its line of purses and clothing.
Currently, the woman who started doing inventory at her father’s banana farm has three stores: one in Lindora, one in Juan Santamaria Airport and one in Las Vegas, United States.Her designs are exhibited at the premises. Some of the pieces are one of a kind and garments are sold only on request.
How did you manage to keep your company for 10 years? Gutiérrez gives all merit to the effort, innovation and loyalty of its clients.
“I believe that one of the formulas to stay in the Costa Rican market is to innovate. The market is small and saturates fast, people get tired, they get bored, they like the new, the original. Keeping up has also been possible thanks to my clients; I have had the great happiness of having very loyal customers who have bought my products during the 10 years. I have had support, that is very important, without it a brand does not survive, ” said the businesswoman.
When Gutierrez talks about innovation, she also refers to the design of jewelry and smart clothing, which she created with Intel last May.
In addition to the delicacy of her jewels worked with gold, silver, semiprecious stones and leather, and the fine finishes of her purses and garments, Ana’s figure excels in the panorama of tico design thanks to the presence abroad.
Ana stated that the presence abroad is thanks to a contact of a friend who helped her crossover to the United States market.
“It has been two years since the brand has positioned itself. The market in Las Vegas is a little slow, taking into account that the population there is floating, buyers are not maintained, they are nomads. However, this opportunity abroad allows the brand to be known abroad. There are many people who after buying in Las Vegas enter the website of Ana Gutierrez and buy, ” she said.
Ana says that “one door opens the other”. After receiving a prize in 2007 for the best accessory designer at Miami Fashion Week, the opportunities began to arrive.
The success that this Costa Rican has achieved has been reflected even on the red carpet.”In 2009, the pieces (jewelry) of Ana Gutiérrez were in the gift bags for the Oscar nominees.
Many years ago Ana stopped using that knitting machine that changed her future, but she never let go of the desire to achieve “the dream” by working hard.
By Brenda Sotelo


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The boss of pizza delivery giant Domino's should "pay his staff a little more", the U.K.'s immigration minister said.» Read More
CNBC's Simon Hobbs reports on all the market moving events in Europe today, including France's final estimate of Q3 GDP.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said on Friday he did not rule out tapping the European Central Bank's bond-buying
CNBC's Kelly Evans reports on all the market moving events from Europe, as stocks lose ground and hope fades there will be additional monetary easing in Japan and a "fiscal cliff" deal reached in the U.S.
Italy's borrowing costs rose slightly at the first auction for long-term debt to be settled in 2013 as thin trading and worries over the U.S. budget weighed on peripheral bonds.
For Ian Barlow, Britain's tax authority has gone from being fearsome to being really rather nice.
Elections, the economy and a looming debt crisis in the U.S. and Europe dominated headlines in 2012. What will take center stage in 2013? Washington Post's Ezra Klein and Yahoo! Finance's Mike Santoli make their predictions on what's ahead for Washington, Wall Street and around the world.
British Prime Minister David Cameron's attempts to win back powers from the European Union could damage the 27-nation bloc and its single market, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said in an interview published on Thursday.
Moscow is going to approve a ban on American couples from adopting Russian children, with Don Jensen, Center for Transatlantic Relations at Johns Hopkins University; and James Pethokoukis, American Enterprise Institute, discusses the state of Europe's fiscal woes.
The worst of the euro zone sovereign debt crisis is over, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said in an interview to be published on Friday.
CNBC's Simon Hobbs reports on all the market moving events in Europe today.
CNBC's Kelly Evans reports on what's moving global markets, as the Nikkei 225 moves up 0.91% today, and the Japanese yen weakens.
The European Central Bank will steadfastly enforce conditions attached to sovereign bond purchases under its program to help euro zone states cut borrowing costs, ECB Governing Council member Luc Coene said.
Big companies in Britain now pay less tax than they did 12 years ago despite a big jump in profitability. Tax campaigners say the trend is the clearest signal yet that tax avoidance has blossomed under a more business-friendly strategy at the UK tax authority Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.
European regulations are stifling innovation within the telecom industry and preventing its growth, Ben Verwaayen, CEO of Paris-based telecom equipment maker Alcatel-Lucent has told CNBC.
Shareholders in Spain's nationalized lender Bankia face high losses after the country's bank rescue fund disclosed on Wednesday the bank has a negative valuation of 4.2 billion euros.
David Marshall, Senior Analyst, Asia-Pacific Financials, CreditSights says that Europe's outlook remains sanguine with hopes pinned on more refinancing, but the environment for bank profitability is shrouded in doubts.
Song Seng Wun, Regional Economist, CIMB Research flags political risks from Europe in 2013. He says China's policies are on a much more stable footing and its economy has troughed.
The Bank of England that Mark Carney will inherit in July is uncertain of its next steps, and the U.K.'s economic outlook does not appear to be getting any better.
Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi says he will run for Italian PM if the party asks him to, and that he has been sentenced to four years in prison due to tax fraud, reports CNBC's Michelle Caruso-Cabrera.
CNBC's Louisa Bojesen reports on all the market moving events from Europe, including light volume ahead of the holiday.
Bitcoin fans learnt that one of the virtual currency's exchanges will enforce customer verification checks from Thursday.
Google is challanging Apple's iPhone with MotoX, the FT reports.
The recent move by the Swiss government to allow banks to sidestep secrecy laws won't prevent them from depositing money in the country.
Jose Vinals, director of the Monetary and Capital Markets department at the IMF, stresses that while Europe has started to recover, more needs to be done on fiscal policy and banking regulations.
Morten E. Astrup, founding partner at Storm Capital Management, explains that the Norwegian high-yield market is outperforming its U.S. counterpart and should continue to do so for another couple years.
Marcus Ashworth, head of fixed income at Espirito Santo Investment Bank, says that while Italy's Prime Minister Letta is in a strong position, there will be "constant scares" as the economy remains a real problem.


BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Pitcher Josh Martin became the third Samford player to be taken in the top 10 rounds of the Major League Baseball Draft when the Cleveland Indians selected him in the 10th round Tuesday afternoon.
Martin joins Brandon Miller, who was taken by the Washington Nationals in the fourth round and Lex Rutledge, selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the sixth round, as the first three top-10 round picks in the history of Samford baseball.
Martin ended the 2012 season tied for the national lead in wins with a 12-2 record. Martin led Samford in strikeouts with 95, and he posted a 3.35 earned run average in 110 innings or work.
Martin was named the Most Outstanding Player for the 2012 Southern Conference Tournament. Martin earned the win in Samford's first-round, 7-0 win over Western Carolina. He also started the Bulldogs' championship game win over Georgia Southern.
For his career, Martin, a native of Enterprise, Ala., is Samford's all-time leader in wins with 24. This marks the second-straight season Martin has been drafted. He was taken by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 25th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft.
In addition to the three top-10 round picks by current Samford players, Bulldog signee Zachary Lovvorn from Oxford High School in Oxford, Ala., was taken in the sixth round by the Kansas City Royals.


WHEELCHAIR COMMODE 263-24
--- DISCONTINUED. (Verified 02/93) RETAINED IN DATABASE FOR REFERENCE. --- Commode wheelchair, two 24 inch rear wheels with handrims and two 5 inch front casters. Removable back, footrests and full length arms. Folding, when commode pan removed. Padded solid back and cutout seat. Solid seat and open end seat available. Bed pan holder, padded armrests, and handrim projections available. Seat height 23 inches, width 15 1/2 inches. Overall width 23 3/8 inches. Custom dimensions available.
This product record was updated on February 3, 2004.


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A Love, Simon spin-off television series is being developed for Disney’s new streaming service, Disney+.
The series will be set within the Love, Simon world and will be based around the book Leah on the Offbeat, by Becky Albertalli – the sequel to Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, the book on which Love, Simon was based.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Elizabeth Berger and Isaac Aptaker will be the showrunners, ushering in a new cast. Love, Simon director, Greg Berlanti will not be involved.
Released in 2018, the GLAAD Award winning Love, Simon was originally released by 20th Century Fox, but is now part of the Disney portfolio.
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13 Track CD with 12 page booklet with cover picture by Poul Dohle
Includes unlimited streaming of Ninielle
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
ships out within 3 days
Mo and Helmut W. Pesch met in 2015 at a Faelend Concert in Minden and started to talk about the beauty of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Elvish Languages. Helmut offered Mo his advice concerning the Sindarin words of the Faelend songs. Soon she sent him the words for Lind em-mor and he helped her with the grammar and the pronounciation. Mo offered Helmut: „If you ever decide to write a song in Sindarin, i’m going to write the music for you.“ Two hours later he sent her his beautiful lyrics for „Gúren bêd enni“, which describe Nienors premonition about her fatal connection to her brother Túrin. Helmut had this song in mind for a long time. Mo called her brother Frank and sang a melody to it. Both decided to produce Helmut’s song. At that time Helmut didn’t even know that the title song of the album is also about the Tear-Maiden Níniel (Nienor) as well.
released December 10, 2016
Music: Monika and Frank Stienen, Ben Paderna
Lyrics: Helmut W. Pesch
Arranged by Monika and Frank Stienen
Engineered by Frank Stienen
Produced by tonmischungen.de
Gúren bêd enni (Sindarin): „My heart tells me“


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Dahlias are a popular garden flower that can be grown outdoors and indoors. They come in many different colors, shapes, and sizes, and they’re a great addition to any outdoor flower bed. If you want to grow dahlias outdoors but aren’t sure how to take care of them, follow these steps!
Dahlias can be grown outdoors in many parts of the world. Choosing a sunny location that gets 8 hours or more of direct sunlight will allow your dahlias to bloom at their best. If you have any taller plants growing in your garden, it’s best to plant shorter dahlias near them so that they do not get shaded out by taller plants. To grow your dahlias, you can either buy bulbs from a garden center or start from seeds. They need well-drained soil in order to thrive. Plant them about 3 inches deep with plenty of room for air circulation around each bulb.
There are several things that you should know about caring for dahlias, and they all have to do with their outdoor habitat. Read on to find out about how to take basal cuttings, deadhead them, and how to protect them from slugs and deer. Once you understand these tips, you’ll be able to grow your dahlias outside without a hitch.
Taking basal cuttings
Taking basal cuttings of Dahlias is an easy process that can result in five to ten plants from one tuber. Dahlias are a wonderful late summer blooming plant and are easily propagated by stem cuttings. Taking stem cuttings is easy, and the tuber should be brought out of winter storage in late January or early February. Remove the old leaves and stems and pot them up quickly.
In order to propagate dahlias, you should take tubers or cuttings from the annual DSC sale held at Golden Gate Park. If you purchase a tuber, simply take the cuttings from the bulb and transfer them to a larger temporary container, such as a 4-inch pot or milk carton cut sideways. Dahlia tubers should be grown until they are twelve to eighteen inches tall. Only one shoot should sprout from each tuber.
During winter, dahlias can be hardened off by placing the cuttings in a humid, warm place for a couple of weeks before planting them outdoors. If you’re growing dahlias in pots, be sure to pinch back the tips after a few weeks to promote new growth. During this time, keep potting on the cuttings and keep them protected from slugs.
To take basal cuttings for Dahlias, you must find a flat surface in which to place your potting bench. Ideally, the area should have a potting bench with a dedicated light source. Fluorescent shop lights are an excellent source of light for dahlias. They are inexpensive and worth installing in your growing area. If you do not have a dedicated growing area, it may be worth purchasing dry tubers and overwintering them indoors.
After you take basal cuttings, you can plant them in a moist potting mix or terracotta pot. Once the roots start to appear, transplant the cuttings to a permanent location outdoors. You may wish to use heating pads to speed up the rooting process. You can also use rooting hormones to speed the process. The stronger the plant is, the easier it will be to root it.
Deadheading Dahlias is a great way to encourage new blooms and prolong the beauty of your flowers. Dahlias do not produce seeds, so deadheading conserves energy for new flowers. Also, deadheading dahlias helps preserve the overall look of your garden. Deadheaded dahlias make great cut flowers. For best results, harvest blooms when they are almost open or fully opened. You can also add floral preserves to your flowers to stimulate flower opening and keep the water fresh. You can also use coffee grounds as fertilizer.
Deadheading Dahlias outdoors is a relatively simple process. Identify spent flowers and remove them. The flowers grow in groups of three, with the main center bud typically blooming first. Deadheading keeps new blooms appearing and protects flowers from fading during dry periods. It also keeps the overall appearance of your flower garden in perfect condition. Here are some steps to follow for deadheading Dahlias outdoors
To start a new Dahlia, plant the tuber three to four inches deep in a trench. Planting dahlias outdoors should have plenty of direct sunlight. Dig a hole about a foot deep. Add about one inch of soil. After that, plant the tuber and wait for it to sprout. Repeat this process until the new tuber emerges. It will take about fourteen to twenty days for it to grow.
Another important tip for deadheading Dahlias is to check the flowers regularly. Dead flowers can be difficult to distinguish from fresh flower buds, so be sure to look for any signs of shriveling petals or pollen. If you notice pollen on the blooms, dead flowering is due to pollen on the flower itself. You can also cut back the stem after deadheading to encourage new blooms.
You can also harvest dahlia seeds from the flower heads when they reach full maturity. Simply cut off the spent flowers, clean them, and dry them indoors for four to six weeks. The seeds will then be ready to plant the following spring. You should be able to reap the reward for your hard work in the spring. If you wish to preserve the blooms, make sure you harvest the seed heads in early spring and store them in plastic bags or plastic containers.
Protecting plants from slugs
Protecting Dahlias outdoors from slugs is a good idea. Slugs, which can be common garden pests, will generally avoid plants with thick, waxy leaves. Slugs also dislike scents from larkspur, roses, and some herbs. Lavender, for example, has an unpleasant odor and will turn off slugs. Rosemary is a particularly effective repellent, and it also has a strong fragrance.
Slugs and snails prefer damp places to hide, and dahlias are no exception. Slugs and snails usually hide underneath rocks, low decks, or other ground cover. They then come out at night to feed. To keep them out, remove their food sources by hand, or use commercial pesticide. Remember to read the directions on the bottle! For best results, combine these measures with good garden hygiene.
Another effective method is to use eggshells, or similar materials. Eggshells can provide protection against slugs, but make sure you place them on a dry and sharp surface. Using eggshells is an excellent way to discourage slugs without harming the plants. Another option is to cover the plant with sand or gravel. Seaweed provides a natural barrier and is effective for many years.
If you don’t want to use beer, you can also create your own barrier around your Dahlias by twisting thin copper wire around the base of your plants. The copper wire will act as a natural barrier and discourage slugs from entering. You can also place yoghurt pots or jars containing beer to discourage them. Other methods include slug pellets, but make sure you follow the instructions carefully.
Aside from sheep’s wool, you can also use a variety of scents to deter slugs. The smell of grapefruit and beer, for example, deters slugs because they cannot move across it. You can also use scents such as lavender or coffee. These smells will discourage slugs from coming near your Dahlias, making them less likely to harm them.
Protecting plants from deer
If you are concerned about deer eating your dahlias, you’re not alone. The New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station reports that dahlias are “occasionally severely damaged by deer.” Although deer are not primarily attracted to dahlias, their high jumping ability means they can leap six feet or more to reach a flowering plant. Fortunately, there are several effective methods of protecting your dahlias from deer.
While dahlias are not completely deer resistant, some regions do not suffer as much from deer damage as other areas. For example, dahlias are not as susceptible to deer damage as roses and tulips are, which are highly prized by deer. If you live in a place where deer are a concern, try planting dahlias in areas with lower deer populations. In those regions, dahlias can survive, but they are likely to suffer from food competition with roses and other plants. For example, Texas has an estimated 4 million deer in every square mile, while Mississippi and Pennsylvania have fewer than one hundred.
One way to keep deer away from your dahlias is to cover them with sage. Sage has a pungent odor that deer do not like, so sage is an effective way to discourage deer from visiting your garden. Additionally, sage repellents are effective when applied early in the season, when the plant hasn’t been eaten yet. Alternatively, you can use horticultural fabric to cover your vulnerable plants, or use netting to cover portions of a larger garden.
If you’re concerned about deer eating your dahlias, you’ll need to protect them against Verticillium wilt, which results in soft stems. The rootstock should be planted in soil that drains well. You’ll also have to be cautious about Verticillium wilt, which is caused by fungi in the soil. If you’re planting your dahlias outdoors, try to plant them in a deer-free zone. Deer may not even touch the dahlias if they’re not hungry. However, if you have a deer problem, you can always relocate your dahlias to a deer-free area.
Besides deer, other pests that can wreak havoc on your dahlias include snails and slugs. These pests can easily be controlled by hand or with a product called Bacillus thuringiensis. This pesticide kills the larvae when ingested. Earwigs are a useful pest as they consume other plant pests. To catch these insects, roll up a piece of newspaper and leave it overnight. When you see signs of infestation, you can discard the newspaper trap.