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There is a cancer in the federal criminal-justice system. It gets little attention from Congress, the executive branch, the media, or the public. And it is spreading fast.
Its importance to people caught up in the system, and to the judges who administer it, dwarfs that of the federal death penalty, the exclusionary rule, Miranda, date rape, gun control, and the other issues that generate headlines and heat.
The problem is federal criminal sentencing: its roots are the destruction of judicial discretion by the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 and the mandatory minimum sentences passed by Congress since then in response to public pressure to get tough on drug abuse and crime.
The system of "guideline" sentencing ushered in by the 1984 act is "a dismal failure," as Judge Jose Cabranes of the U.S. District Court in New Haven, Conn., asserted in a speech at the University of Chicago Law School last week.
He cited "a near consensus among those who know most about the complex and difficult business of sentencing-trial judges, probation officers, defense attorneys, and many front-line prosecutors-that there is something profoundly wrong with this guidelines system and that substantial reform or abolition is the answer."
The 1984 act grew out of complaints that trial judges had such unbridled discretion that similar defendants got widely disparate sentences based on the predilections of the judge.
Congress created the seven-member U.S. Sentencing Commission to set binding guidelines based on a calibrated scale of defendants "offense levels" and criminal histories, and abolished parole.
With narrowly defined exceptions, judges were obliged to sentence every defendant within a range set by the guidelines, by choosing one of the 258 boxes in the Sentencing Commission’s grid.
It seemed like a good idea at the time, to many Democrats and Republicans alike. But four years of experience under the commission’s fat code book, compounded (and often overridden) by Congress draconian mandatory minimums, have been disastrous:
• The average prison term served by convicted defendants has more than doubled since 1984, from 13 months to 30 months, with the average for drug offenders rising from 27 months to 67 months.
• The federal prison population has soared, from 24,000 in 1980 to about 65,000. The billions being spent for new cells can’t keep pace with overcrowding.
• Hundreds of first-time couriers and other bit players in drug deals, once considered candidates for possible probation, are now being locked up for five, 10, even 20 years.
• Well over half of all federal prisoners are black or Hispanic, and these racial minorities are serving longer sentences on average than whites who committed similar crimes.
• The courts have been deluged by criminal trials and appeals, in large part because harsh penalties have increased defendants’ incentives to go to trial rather than plead guilty.
• The new sentencing process is so complex and hypertechnical that it takes judges roughly 25 percent more time than before.
• Many judges have little or no time left to try or supervise civil cases and are demoralized at being reduced to rubber-stamping manifestly unjust sentences.
What are the benefits for which we have paid such high costs?
One might have hoped that violent crime would be down. No such luck: The Federal Bureau of Investigation reported an 11-percent increase in 1990. (The 1991 data are not yet available.)
One might have hoped that the cocaine supply would be dwindling. No such luck: It was more plentiful and cheaper last year than in 1990.
One might have hoped that hard-core drug abuse would be declining. No such luck: The number of Americans using cocaine at least weekly rose 29 percent in 1991.
One might have hoped that by now the big drug kingpins would be rotting in prison. No such luck: Kingpins rarely get caught. And most of those receiving 10-year sentences are easily replaced midlevel dealers and small-fry couriers.
Perversely, many dealers, who know enough to strike deals with prosecutors, get shorter sentences than do bit players with no information to trade.
One might have hoped, at least, for real progress toward the 1984 act’s central goal of squeezing discretion out of the process and cutting down on sentencing disparities.
No such luck: The guidelines, and even more obviously the mandatory minimums, have simply shifted judges’ discretion to prosecutors. The latter can now fix a defendant’s sentence with some precision, and no public scrutiny, by choosing which charges (if any) to bring and whether to cite aggravating details in the sentencing proceeding.
This hardly represents progress: While judges are supposed to use their discretion to achieve just, balanced results, prosecutors understandably have different priorities, such as pleasing their bosses and pressuring defendants to become informants. Many are young lawyers with little experience.
Although there is little evidence that the guidelines have dramatically reduced sentencing disparities, the mandatory minimum laws clearly have increased racial disparities.
One reason is that Congress has set the same minimums for selling small quantities of crack cocaine (the drug of choice in black inner cities) as for selling 100 times as much powdered cocaine (preferred by white suburbanites). For example. 50 grams (two ounces) of crack brings the same 10-year minimum as 5 kilograms (11 pounds) of powdered cocaine.
(A similar Minnesota law was struck down by the state supreme court last month as racially discriminatory.)
The new system is, in short, a disaster. Why. then, has it drawn so little attention?
Judge Cabranes suggested some answers: Sentencing issues hold little interest for the press because they are so technical, with "no public personalities to demonize" and "no occasions for sound bites." Judges tend to shun public disputes, especially when their complaints can be trivialized as whining about loss of power. Many judges have "despaired of any possibility of legislative relief in the near future."
One might also ask how reforms adopted with such bipartisan enthusiasm could go so far wrong.
One reason is that, while the crucial safety valve of judicial discretion has been plugged, the system has been skewed toward undue severity by politicians pandering to public demands for punishment.
By piling on excessive mandatory minimum sentences for a growing list of crimes (as distinguished from the broad outer limits traditionally set by criminal statutes). Congress and the president have prompted the Sentencing Commission to adopt similarly draconian guidelines for other crimes, in pursuit of proportionality.
A second reason is that efforts to deflect criticism of the new system’s most obvious problems have only created worse ones.
For example, consider the Justice Department’s response to the concern that sentencing discretion was merely being shifted from judges to prosecutors. It instructed its prosecutors to charge all defendants (except those with information to sell) with "the most serious readily provable offense or offenses." If heeded, this directive marginally reduces the disparity problem by substantially aggravating the severity problem.
More fundamentally, the whole effort to replace judicial discretion with depersonalized, pseudoscientific formulas was misconceived. The way to achieve just results in infinitely variegated individual cases is to entrust the job to judges who have wisdom and humanity, not to bureaucrats in Washington who don’t know the facts and never even see the defendants.
This is not to advocate a complete return to the pre-1984 regime of unchecked discretion for trial judges. The sentencing-disparities problem was real: There were hanging judges who locked up minor offenders and softhearted judges who coddled dangerous criminals. (Few, if any, in the latter category have been appointed since 1980.)
But this problem could be dealt with simply by preserving the 1984 act’s best innovation- appellate review of sentences-while using advisory standards developed by an expert commission or by the courts for guidance.
The main point, as Professor Albert Alschuler of the University of Chicago Law School said in a recent law review article, is that "some things are worse than sentencing disparity, and we have found them."


text: 1) "the tablet market could still go bust." is not prediction. It's simply a statement of what could happen... 2) You quoted: "which has made the once-promising netbook market nearly obsolete." Netbooks were the rage not long ago...proof that even though a product seems promising, it could still fade from usage. 3) How fast a product categories grows says nothing about its longevity. Growth rate is not the same as penetration. Tablets of all types are still rare..and attitudes could change.

domain: economics


Every so often, something in the Chronicle requires a second reading, not because of it’s world-shattering insights, but because it’s so ridiculous, you can’t believe it’s true.
To discourage public urination, the city has sprayed popular walls in town (dare we dub them “watering holes?”) with a chemical that throws the urine back onto the legs of the offender. Yes, in a sort of stick-the-tongue-out chastisement of people peeing where they shouldn’t, walls will now spit back. Does an audio recording of “NAH-na-NAH-na-NAH-NAH” play when the return volley commences? Seems like it should.
Yes, public urination is quite the visual and olfactory nuisance, not to mention the fact that such flagrantly deposited liquid has been found to erode the bases of various lamp poles around our city.
But imagine: You’re some poor guy drunk or simply unable to find a bathroom, unburdening yourself against a convenient wall, and it splashes vindictively right back at ya! So now, you’re not only drunk, exhausted, and homeless, you’re soaking wet as well, and smelling wretched. Of course, only men are inconvenienced by this new punishment because women’s ability to project is limited.
Anyway. You get the point.
San Francisco is striking back, hoping, I suppose to teach the miscreants a lesson. The problem? Public bathrooms are scarce, so where should they pee?
But that’s another column.
Then it occurred to me there might be ways we, as a civic body, could combat other inconveniences foisted upon us by the thoughtless, resource-less, or just plain tasteless; ways we could publicly yet anonymously, correct the social evils of others. San Francisco could become a leader in the field of civic correction. Strike a new path, score one for the home team in the area of public chastisement, and in the process have ourselves a sweeter, cleaner, and more attractive city. I propose the following:
1. The we-don’t-want-it-you-can-have-it antilittering campaign. I was taught early it was bad to throw candy wrappers on the ground. Being called a litterbug was like being accused of willfully stepping on the family dog. Consequently, I’ve always had to restrain myself from screaming, “Litterbug!” whenever someone tosses empty drink cups or lit cigarette butts onto sidewalks. Often I’ve wanted to add, “Didn’t your mother raise you better?” but usually (usually, I say) I’ve remained silent and picked up behind them. What if the junk tossed on the ground came right back at the people who tossed it? Some jerk tosses an inconvenient sandwich wrapper, it touches the ground, and — whoops! — there it goes, flying right back up into the slob’s well-fed face. Whether San Francisco would do this with another ingenious spray paint, or some more mechanical device embedded in the concrete itself, I don’t know. I’ll leave that to cleverer minds.
And of course, the city would have to put out more actual trash receptacles, so the offender would have somewhere to put the returned projectile.
2. The let’s-all-acquire-better-taste-in-public effort. Someone leaves for work in the morning having mixed stripes with polka dots, wearing mismatched socks, with pants too tight or skirt too short, unbrushed hair, and he or she walks by a reflective window. Immediately, a loud “Tsk-tsk-tsk!” broadcasts from that window. The problem is noted across a digital display on the window, so the offender would know to rush home and correct the faux pas. Yes, we’d have to establish standards for tasteful dress, but I’ll volunteer. Come to me. I’ll tell you how people should look. No problem.
3. The initiative to stop the invasive use of electronics. It may take more police on the streets, public transportation, and inside theaters, or it may require an ingenious sort of new robot, but the idea is that whenever someone offends with too-loud music on a listening device, or starts texting on a smart phone when watching a live play, or worse yet, when deciding to hold private conversations loudly in public, the offender’s device is summarily snatched and pulverized! Or tossed into the nearest large body of water. Patti Lupone recently stopped her Broadway show midspeech to confiscate a cell phone from a texter’s hands, and Benedict Cumberbatch has asked London audiences not to snap cell photos of him as he performed his demanding Hamlet live onstage.
I’m with them.
But broaden the punishment to all who live by their devices and impose it on us.
There are more ways I’d police our world, and I’ll share my ideas willingly, just write and ask me.
But for now, a warning: Watch where you pee in this city unless you want an odiferous and sopping surprise.


Microwave cavity perturbation technique: Part III: Applications
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The resonant cavity perturbation method as described in the preceding two parts of this series is applied to study the electrodynamical properties of different materials in the microwave and millimeter wave spectral range. We briefly discuss the relevant uncertainties which are asociated with the different measurement techniques and we find that employing the amplitude technique it is possible to measure both the width and frequency to nearly the same precision. We then demonstrate the broad range of applicability of this technique by showing results obtained on several different materials, ranging from an insulator to a superconductor. The performance limitations of this technique are discussed in detail.
Keywordsmillimeter wave measurement experimental error permittivity conductivity surface impedance thermal expansion
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Montgomery County Council FY-15 Budget Updates
The Montgomery County Council met on Thursday, May 15 to deliberate on the FY-15 Montgomery County Operating Budget and the FY 2015-20 Capital Improvements Program. The council came to an unanimous tentative agreement on the Operating Budget for FY-15 and the FY2015-20 CIP.
Some of the key actions to took place that are important for White Flint include:
- The approval of the FY 15 Montgomery County Operating Budget of $4.99 billion, which will include funding for the Urban Park Elements.
- The unanimous tentative agreement on the approval of $4.45 billion of spending in the FY 2015-20 Capital Improvements Program (CIP). This includes the Montrose Parkway East and Chapman Avenue Extension.
- The approval of “$75,000 to support the White Flint Advisory Committee (streetscaping guidelines, maintenance and promotional activities).”
- The approval of funding for the Planning Department to complete work on the White Flint II Master Plans.
The final action and deliberation on the budget will take place this morning, Thursday, May 22nd at 9:30 am. Stay tuned for more information on the final approval of the budget.
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Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, is all set to welcome Bharat’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.
This is the fifth visit of Prime Minister Modi to Nepal after taking over the top post in 2014 and the first after his re-election in 2019.
To receive and welcome Modi in Lumbini, his Nepal counterpart Sher Bahadur Deuba has already reached Bhairahawa, a city nearby Lumbini on Sunday evening. Deuba will inaugurate the second international airport in Bhairahawa on Monday and will accompany Modi in Lumbini throughout the day.
As per the itinerary obtained by IANS, the Bharatiya Prime Minister will arrive at Lumbini from Kushinagar by an IAF helicopter at 10.40 a.m. Then he will go to Maya Devi Temple and attend a special prayer. He will also be lighting a lamp in front of the Ashokan Pillar and watering the Bodhi tree, gifted by him, during his 2014 visit.
Later, he will perform Bhoomi Poojan and lay the foundation stone of the India International Centre for Buddhist Culture and Heritage, being built at the initiative of the International Buddhist Confederation, New Delhi.
“I look forward to offering prayers at the Mayadevi Temple on the auspicious occasion of Buddha Jayanti,” Modi said in his pre-departure statement issued on Sunday. “I am honored to follow in the footsteps of millions of Indians to pay reverence at the sacred site of Lord Buddha’s birth.”
“I also look forward to meeting Prime Minister Deuba again after our productive discussions during his visit to India last month. We will continue to build on our shared understanding to expand cooperation in multiple areas, including in hydropower, development, and connectivity,” he said.
A meeting between the two PMs is also scheduled to undertake a comprehensive review of recent agreements.
Some MoUs on cooperation in cultural and educational sectors are expected to be exchanged between the two countries after the bilateral meeting, according to the officials.
Deuba will host a lunch in the honor of the visiting Bharatiya leader and his delegation.
Modi will also attend the 2566th Buddha Jayanti Celebration and address a large gathering of people from Nepal and Bharat, including Buddhist scholars and monks.
The visit is aimed at promoting further the close, comprehensive, and multi-dimensional bilateral ties founded on the age-old connection of history, culture, tradition, and religion. According to a media briefing, the visit is expected to strengthen people-to-people connections and promote bilateral tourism.
In 2014, Modi visited Nepal twice – in August for a bilateral visit and in November for the SAARC Summit.
He also paid a state visit to Nepal from May 11-12, 2018, and a two-day visit for the BIMSTEC summit in 2018 on August 30-31 the same year.
In his previous visits to Nepal as Prime Minister, he has visited places of religious significance that bind together the people of Bharat and Nepal like Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Janaki Mata Temple in Janakpur Dham, and Muktinath Temple in Mustang.
Our ties with Nepal are unparalleled, said Modi, adding the civilizational and people-to-people contacts between Bharat and Nepal form the enduring edifice of our close relationship.
“My visit is intended to celebrate and further deepen these time-honored linkages that have been fostered through centuries and recorded in our long history of inter-mingling,” he said in his pre-departure statement.
(The story has been published via a syndicated feed with a modified headline and minor edits to conform to the HinduPost style guide)

domain: news


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LICENSED PURE SWEAT SKILLS COACH AND CEO OF ELEV8HOOPS
David Mason is a Pure Sweat Basketball skills coach in Tulsa, Ok. David Mason started his basketball career at Jenks Public Schools. In his senior year, he assisted his 6A nationally ranked (#1 in the State) team to a 27-1 record and finished as a state runner-up. He then went on to play college basketball at Oral Roberts University. While there, he set a single-game ORU assist record for that season. No one has surpassed that record since he graduated.
After his playing days came to an end, he stayed on staff at Oral Roberts as a Graduate Assistant Coach while seeking his MBA degree. One of his duties as a Graduate Assistant Coach included helping the team with skill development for the marquee players. Through this process, Mason found his love for developing players. For the next four years, he went on to become a full-time skills trainer. To date, Mason has trained 45+ Division One players, 9 Professional Players, 3 NBA G-League players, and 2,000+ 2nd-12th graders.
Mason has two main passions in life; basketball and helping others succeed. To him, there is no better way to fulfill those callings than through skill development. That is the reason why he created Elev8Hoops.
Contact David Mason
My goal is to put each player I work with in the best position possible for them to achieve their dreams.

domain: sports


text:
Back To List
Could My Aunt be Diabetic?
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
My great aunt has been complaining that she's tired all the time and that her mouth is always dry. She often appears dizzy in the morning, before she has breakfast. But after breakfast, her dizziness seems to go away. Should I be concerned about her possibly having diabetes?
definitely sound like some of the early signs of diabetes. According
to Heart and Stroke Foundation, women with diabetes are at high risk
for developing heart and blood vessel disease. Smoking, high
cholesterol, and being overweight add to this risk. It’s important to
do whatever you can to eliminate these additional risk factors
including a visit to your family doctor just to make sure.
is not the end of the world. It’s controllable. Yes, what you eat is
definitely an issue, but if you exercise on a regular basis, it really
brings your blood sugar down tremendously. Exercise definitely helps.
As well, here are a few 'good eating' tips for people with diabetes:
- Always take your pills with meals. People forget…
- Never skip breakfast or any meal, for that matter. Your blood sugar can dip and you could faint.
have protein – (cheese, eggs, peanut butter, meat or fish) at every
meal. This will help keep your blood sugar levels even.
- Avoid juice, which goes right into your blood stream and can raise your blood sugar. Have the actual fruit instead.
- Milk and tomatoes also are quick to turn into sugar once they reach your blood stream, so have these in moderation.
- Carry glucose candy in your purse in case of low blood sugar episodes
- Consult with a dietician. It’s a big help!
These are just a few measures you can take to help keep your aunt healthy while continuing to live a normal life with diabetes.

domain: medical


A Comparison of Artificial Viscosity Sensors for the Discontinuous Galerkin Method
Type of Degreethesis
MetadataShow full item record
The following work focuses on the development of an explicit Runge-Kutta, discontinuous Galerkin finite element method for the nonlinear, hyperbolic Euler equations. The discontinuous Galerkin method is a control-volume formulation, such as in the finite-volume method, but achieves high-order accuracy through the use of high-order polynomial approximations to the computed solution in each discretized element. Contrary to the Navier-Stokes equations, in which viscosity is present, the Euler equations do not contain any natural dissipation terms. Numerical methods of second-order or higher are susceptible to oscillations when discontinuities, such as shocks or large gradient features form in the solution. The lack of a natural dissipation mechanism requires the use of a stabilizing method to ensure physical solutions can be obtained. In order to preserve real physical solutions, the addition of an artificial viscosity was applied in the elements where discontinuities or large/sharp gradients of the flow variables occurred. The addition of artificial viscosity was accomplished through the use of a sensor that detected where oscillations in the approximated solution occur due to the Gibbs-phenomenon. The present work incorporates two different artificial viscosity sensors. The first sensor is based on the work by Klockner, Warburton, and Hesthaven which looks at the modal decay rate of the higher-order solution modes. The second sensor was based on the work presented by Zingan, Guermond, and Popov which uses the entropy production residual to determine where artificial viscosity should be applied. In comparing the two artificial viscosity sensors, several benchmark problems were modeled: the 2-D isentropic vortex, the 2-D Kelvin-Helmholtz shear layer instability, the 1-D Sod's shock tube, the 1-D Planar Shu-Osher problem, and the 2-D shock-vortex interaction. The results include error analysis, computational cost, robustness, and user-parameters.


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'Digital desert' of history warning
Digital technology could turn the 21st century into a new dark age lost to history, a leading internet pioneer has warned.
As operating systems and software get upgraded, documents and images stored using older technology are becoming increasingly inaccessible, said Dr Vinton "Vint" Cerf, vice president of Google.
In centuries to come, future historians looking back on the current era could be confronted by a digital desert comparable with the dark ages - the post-Roman period in Western Europe about which relatively little is known because of the scarcity of written records.
Google vice president Dr Vinton Cerf has warned that old-tech historical archives could be lost forever
Dr Cerf, who also has the title of chief internet evangelist at Google, said: " If we're thinking 1,000 years, 3,000 years ahead in the future, we have to ask ourselves, how do we preserve all the bits that we need in order to correctly interpret the digital objects we create?
"We are nonchalantly throwing all of our data into what could become an information black hole without realising it.
"The 22nd century and future centuries after that will wonder about us but they'll have great difficulty knowing much because so much of what we've left behind may be bits that are uninterpretable."
He urged people to think about printing out their treasured photos and not rely on storing them as memory files.
"In our zeal to get excited about digitising we digitise photographs thinking it's going to make them last longer, and we might turn out to be wrong," he said. " I would say if there are photos you are really concerned about create a physical instance of them. Print them out."
Dr Cerf was speaking at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in the Silicon Valley capital, San Jose, California.
To illustrate his point he referred to an "amazing book" by American Pulitzer prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, Team Of Rivals: The Political Genius Of Abraham Lincoln.
Her material was obtained by scouring libraries for copies of written correspondence between Lincoln and the people around him.
Dr Cerf said: "Let us imagine that there's a 22nd-century Doris Kearns Goodwin and she decides to write about the beginning of the 21st century and seeks to reproduce the conversations of the time. She discovers that there's an awful lot of digital content that either has evaporated because nobody saved it, or its around but it's not interpretable because it was created by software that's 100 years old."
The problem also had serious implications for the storage of legal documents that needed to be kept for long periods of time, he said.
"We're going to have to build into our thinking the concept of preservation writ large," Dr Cerf added.
One possible solution was what he called "digital vellum", a concept now being explored by computer scientists at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.
This involved taking a digital "snapshot" at the time an item is stored of all the processes needed to reproduce it at a later date, including the software and operating system.
The snapshot could then be used to reproduce the game, picture file or spread sheet, on a "modern" computer, perhaps centuries from now.
"Some people make the argument that the important stuff will be copied and put into new media and so why should we worry," said Dr Cerf. "But ... historians will tell you that sometimes documents and transactions images and so on may turn out to have an importance which is not understood for hundreds of years. So failure to preserve them will cause us to lose our perspective."
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EU high-level conference on climate change
EU Member States will participate in a meeting hosted by Connie Hedegaard, Commissioner for Climate Action and Norwegian Environment Minister Baard Vegar Solhjell, along with other states in favour of pushing forward negotiations on a 2015 deal within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
2 July, 2013 - 23:00 - 3 July, 2013 - 23:00
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GROW has many partners around the world. Learn more about whom we're working with.


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Salman Khan to launch Bigg Boss 5
Salman Khan is back in Mumbai from Dublin, where he participated in the shooting of Yash Raj Films Ek Tha Tiger along with Katrina Kaif. After undergoing a nerve surgery in the US last month, he went straight to Ireland.
Tomorrow he will attend the launch of the fifth season of reality show Big Boss along with Sanjay Dutt at Mehboob studio. He is likely to travel to Karjat by weekend where the Bigg Boss 5 house is set up.
After coming to know the intense pain one undergoes because of Trigeminal Neuralgia, everybody is in awe of Salman wondering how he was able to tolerate such pain and still act in films with such busy schedules.

domain: celebrity


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FORMER Rangers star Thomas Buffel has sent a poignant joint Valentine's message to his new love and the wife he lost to cancer last year.
The midfielder, 36, now captains Belgian club KRC Genk.
His wife Stephanie, 39, lost a three-year battle with cancer last January.
Buffel met current partner Annabel Vandebroek at the school attended by his twin sons Fausto and Maceo.
The Belgium international posted a picture of himself and Annabel on Instagram.
He wrote in English: "Two times Valentine today, for an angel high in the sky and an angel down to earth.
"Honour the past, embrace the future. #alwaysinour heart #always two angels by my side, Stephanie and @vandenbroekannabel."
Buffel's message attracted thousands of likes and dozens of messages wishing he and Annabel a happy future.
He revealed late last year: "The woman I have got to know is someone who supports me.
"I can ask her advice and share problems I don't have answers to.
"For example, when it comes to dealing with my children. And it feels great."
Buffel helped Gers win the 2005 SPL title and Scottish Cup.
A £2.3million buy from Dutch club Feyenoord that January, he scored 16 goals in 83 games before leaving for hometown club Cercle Brugge in 2008.


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Glittering Popsicle Stick Christmas Trees - These popsicle stick Christmas trees are SO EASY to make and they're so beautiful! The kids loved decorating them! Such an awesome dollar store Christmas craft idea!
Christmas Present Tag Idea! These adorable Reindeer gift tags are simple to make. All you need is half a peanut shell, a tag, and a black and red marker. Just glue the peanut shell to the paper, let it sit, and then draw on Rudolph.
10 centros de mesa DIY para decorar tu mesa esta Navidad
DIY Christmas tree decoration Made with a paper cone and yarn. Dip the yarn in Elmer's glue and while it's wet wrap it around the cone. Let it dry completely and then remove it from the cone. Then decorate!

domain: artistic


text:
Watch highlights from the West of England Rugby League Festival hosted by Swindon St George at Swindon Rugby Club on Sunday.
Watch highlights from the rugby league match between Swindon St George U12 and West Oxfordshire Levellers U12.
Watch highlights from Swindon St George versus RAF Brize Norton which took place on Wednesday night.
Kirk Collins admits he is “gutted” after stepping down as Swindon St George head coach but accepts that “real life has to come first”.
Head coach Kirk Collins vows not to get too carried away after his Swindon St George side returned to winning ways with a convincing 60-12 victory over Devon Sharks in the SCL West Division on Saturday.
Head coach Kirk Collins says he is proud of his Swindon St George players despite falling to a 54-22 home defeat to Torfaen Tigers in the Southern Conference West Division on Saturday.
View our picture gallery from Swindon St George Rugby League’s defeat against Torfaen Tigers in the Southern Conference West Division.
Watch highlights from Swindon St George Rugby League’s defeat against Torfaen Tigers in the Southern Conference West Division.
Swindon St George head coach Kirk Collins is readying his players for what he believes will be a tough physical test as they return to SCL West Division action against Torfaen Tigers on Saturday
Head coach Kirk Collins expects his Swindon St George side to be in for a stern test when they travel to Devon Sharks on Saturday in the Southern Conference League West Division.


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Bitcoin is a digital currency that's sent from user to user without the need for an intermediary. This crypto currency may not be regulated by an administrator, but it's a common payment method in casinos because it's easy to deposit and withdraw funds. Online casinos that accept bitcoins include 7 Spins, Bovada, Spartan, and Jumbabet.
Bahrain is a tiny but wealthy country in the Arabian peninsula, and among the most important exporters of oil in the world. Despite its small size it is a commercial hub. Due to the impact of religion on politics and everyday life, all gambling is illegal, and mobile casinos are not a popular pastime.


AUSTRALIAN Paper is conducting a feasibility study for a major recycling facility at Maryvale Mill pending the closure of Amcor Fairfield, which is presently the only local source for premium de-inked recycled pulp.
In a Latrobe City Council meeting on Monday night, councillors heard a presentation from Australian Paper’s senior marketing manager sustainability Craig Dunn who said the study was expected to be completed in September.
“The waste paper either goes overseas or to landfills; we anticipate 50 per cent of paper will come from Melbourne (as well as) other states to produce premium high-grade paper,” Mr Dunn said in his presentation, adding about 20 ongoing jobs could be created if the facility went ahead.
According to the company, a recycling plant at Maryvale would more than triple its output of recycled content office and printing papers, and would be a “significant investment in the Latrobe Valley and Australian jobs”.
Council also committed to using recycled paper from Australian Paper to support the local ecologically-sustainable pulp and paper industry, support the purchase of recycled paper and support the Maryvale Mill expansion proposal.
Councillor Graeme Middlemiss said the proposal was a “no brainer” and welcomed the company’s proposal to bring its plant into the shire to create jobs.
In voicing his support, Cr Darrell White welcomed the “important project” which had the potential to come into the municipality.
“The shire needs to send a signal to Australian Paper we welcome this; we hope it becomes a reality and comes to fruition,” Cr White said.
In the council’s officers report, it was stated the purchase of 100 per cent recycled Reflex paper would cost an additional $650 per year, or an additional 11 cents per ream.
“This is a reasonable offset given the prospective gains in jobs and reduction in impact on the environment,” Mayor Ed Vermeulen told The Express.


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Crash probed along I81
A one vehicle crash was probed along Interstate 81 in Delano Township, Schuylkill County.
State police at Frackville said Marcus Bliss, 38, of Coal Township, Northumberland County, was driving a 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer northbound about 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 24, when the passenger side rear tire deflated. Bliss lost control of the vehicle which went onto the berm and down a rock embankment, flipping over once and coming to rest on its tires.
Bliss was not injured with damages severe to the vehicle.


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Handprint Or Footprint Large Heart Necklace, One Print And One Name
Made for you to love forever, the stunning Handprint or Footprint Large Heart Necklace features the true Handprint or Footprint of your loved one. Created from beautiful sterling silver, the front of the necklace is imprinted with a hand or footprint and a name and the reverse of the necklace is engraved with a personal message of your choice. You can either supply us with prints that you may already have, or request a free Magic Printing Kit when you order. This necklace is from our Premium Imprint Range which means that the prints are imprinted into the silver rather than engraved onto the surface. This design comes with a lifetime no-fade guarantee ensuring that your piece will last a lifetime if looked after. Your finished piece of Jewellery will come beautifully presented in a Hand on Heart Jewellery Box and delivered to your door.
Material: Sterling Silver
Charm Size: Approx W20mm x H22mm
Chain: 16-18" Adjustable belcher chain
Packaging: Luxury Hand on Heart Gift Box and a copy of the original prints used to create your design
When you complete your order, we'll ask you how you would like to supply us with the prints. If you don't have the prints, we can provide a FREE print kit if selected with your order. The kit is very simple and involves wiping a special wipe over the selected area and pressing onto the paper included in the pack. There’s no ink, putty or mess involved and the whole process takes just seconds.
Once you have taken the prints, or if you already have a copy of the prints, simply take a photo and upload them using our Magic Print Uploader - A link will be sent to you after you order.
If you're a returning customer we will ask you to provide us with the previous order number so that we can use the prints on file.
I honestly can't recommend this company highly enough. The detail in the print is amazing, I love having Noah's footprint so close to my heart. Thank you so much <3
You are so very welcome, thank you so much for taking the time to leave such wonderful feedback <3 Kind Regards, Team HoH x
Very easy experience from start to finish. Communication was brilliant throughout & I am so pleased with my beautiful necklace. I have received lots of compliments when wearing it & wouldn’t hesitate to make another purchase in future.
Here at Hand on Heart, we pride ourselves on providing our customers with the very best customer service and so it really is great to hear how delighted you are with our service and your special keepsake. Kind Regards, Team HoH x
I had previously purchased a pendant 6 years ago when I had my first son. Hand on Heart was my first choice when I had my second baby. I have to say although still absolutely lovely, I have noticed some changes from when I made my first purchase. Such as the metal pendant used on the previous pendant was slightly thicker, and also the hook was thicker, making it feel more secure on the necklace. The print also seems deeper in the first purchase I made is definitely a change and thickness in the material used. I do however prefer the engraving on my newer pendant, as unfortunately the engraving on my first has virtually disappeared. X
Thank you so much for your repeat custom and for taking the time to write to us with your feedback. Over the last year we have significantly changed our creation processes to allow us to create imprinted jewellery to the very highest standard while still making each piece completely individual and unique. This has involved altering the way in which we impress the prints and text into the front of the pendants to ensure that they are as detailed, clear and hard-wearing as possible, however, this does mean that new pendants do not match older ones in terms of shape or layout and we are sorry this was not made more clear at the time of ordering. Kind Regards, Team HoH x
Haven't used them yet but looked beautiful

domain: design


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Truck accidents are hazardous because of a commercial vehicle’s size and weight. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, you know firsthand how difficult and overwhelming these situations can be. To help you understand what legal options may be available, we’ll look at the most common types of truck accident cases. Keep reading to learn more.
One of the most common causes of truck accidents is driver fatigue. Trucking companies often put too much pressure on their drivers, leading them to drive long hours without adequate rest. This increases the risk of an accident due to errors in judgment or lack of alertness while operating the vehicle.
Drunk driving is one of the top causes of truck accidents, as truck drivers are often on long and arduous overnight trips. With long drives and little rest, truckers can easily be at risk of getting behind the wheel after having too much to drink. This irresponsible behavior can severely affect truckers, passengers, and pedestrians.
Truck accident attorneys are often called upon to help those affected by this reckless decision. Being proactive and seeking legal advice from an experienced truck accident attorney following an accident is essential for anyone involved in a truck accident where drunk driving may have played a role.
A rollover accident occurs when a truck overturns onto its side or roof due to excessive speed, improper loading, or hazardous road conditions like ice and snow. Rollovers are often caused by sharp turns taken too quickly by distracted, tired drivers or impaired by drugs or alcohol. Potholes that are ignored by road maintenance crews could cause sudden jolts that can easily send an unsuspecting driver off course significantly if they were already speeding along at high speeds.
Malfunctioning equipment can be a primary contributor to truck rollovers. Whether from external or internal sources, defective items such as poorly maintained brakes and tires with inadequate tread depth that cause skidding or lack of control when taking sharp turns can lead to an unfortunate event.
Jackknife accidents occur when something causes the trailer portion of a semi-truck to slide out sideways at an angle until it meets the cab portion of the truck. These types of accidents tend to happen when a driver takes a turn too quickly, brakes suddenly, or drives over slick roads.
If you have been involved in a jackknife accident, it is paramount that you seek legal advice from professionals who are experts at dealing with such cases. Experienced truck accident attorneys can guide and protect your rights throughout the process.
As we’ve seen today, many factors contribute to truck accidents yearly, from driver fatigue and jackknife incidents to drunk driving, poor road conditions, and defective equipment. If you’ve been involved in one, you must seek legal counsel from experienced truck accident attorneys who specialize in handling these cases. With their help, you may secure compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages related to your accident. It pays off financially and emotionally in the long run, so don’t wait; contact truck accident attorneys today.

domain: law


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COVID-19 Relief in Seattle Will Be Funded by Soda Tax Revenues
By Karena Yan
By Karena Yan
Seattle will use its soda tax revenues to provide $800 supermarket vouchers to families in need
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan announced that the city will distribute $800 supermarket vouchers to over 6,000 families. These vouchers serve as relief during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has displaced thousands of people from their jobs, shut down businesses, and closed school and childcare facilities. Seattle was America’s first major city to be hit by the virus and has been ahead of the rest of the country in trying slow its spread.
In total, Seattle will spend $5 million on the vouchers and provide them to the 6,250 families already enrolled in city-subsidized food-assistance programs. The vouchers can be used at any Safeway in Washington state to buy food and household goods, excluding tobacco, alcohol, lottery tickets, and fuel.
The funding for these vouchers comes from the revenues of Seattle’s sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) tax, which has been in effect since January 2018 and raises about $23 million annually. SSB taxes aim to reduce the consumption of sugary beverages, and their revenues allow cities to invest in the health and well-being of their communities. Previously, the tax in Seattle has been used to fund programs like Fresh Bucks to Go, which delivers fresh fruits and vegetables to families participating in Seattle’s subsidized preschool programs, and the Parent-Child Home Program, which provides literacy education to two- and three-year-old children from low-income families. To learn more about where soda tax revenues go, see here.
Seattle has also suspended water and electric service shutoffs and allocated $1.5 million in grants to small businesses. Additionally, the city plans to delay commercial evictions of small business and nonprofit organizations.
Many other states are also organizing services amid the COVID-19 crisis. For example, several cities are providing free meals to children under the age of 18, including San Francisco, Chicago, and Boston. The Trump administration has also announced expanded Medicare telehealth coverage, which will allow recipients to access healthcare services online without having to travel to a hospital or clinic.
To learn more about COVID-19, please see below:

domain: sociology


Four hundred public housing tenants are expecting to enjoy energy cost savings of up to $350 per year thanks to the Department of Housing’s first solar panel installation program.
Under the $1 million pilot program, 1Kw solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are being installed on the roofs of selected Department properties whose energy consumption will be analysed by the Public Utilities Office.
“The Public Utilities Office approached the Department and asked to manage the project,” Steve Parry, General Manager Service Delivery, said.
“Agreeing to do so was an easy decision as there are tangible benefits for tenants and for the Department.”
Mr Parry said tenants taking part in the trial will benefit almost as soon as the panels go on their roof.
“The Public Utilities Office was keen for us to test whether PV panels are an effective way of assisting clients,” he said.
“Power prices have risen noticeably over the last three years, while panel prices have reduced dramatically, so the timing is right.”
The properties - which were randomly selected, but are representative of metropolitan public housing - have three or more bedrooms and tenants who are generally bigger users of electricity.
Solargain PV Pty Ltd was named as the successful applicant to deliver the rollout which commenced in late March.
About 60 of the properties are home to people with disabilities who often require specialised equipment and use more power during daylight hours.
Tenants involved in the scheme are expected to save between $250 and $350 per year on their electricity bills, while excess electricity will be fed back into the WA grid. The actual amount is dependent upon the properties’ roof aspect to the sun and whether the tenants are at home consuming power during the day.
“All tenants involved in the program will sign up to the Renewable Energy Buyback Scheme, but as the systems are relatively small it’s unlikely large quantities of excess power will be exported back into the grid,” Mr Parry said.
“We expect the reduced energy costs will be welcomed by tenants on low to moderate incomes. The success of the program will determine whether it is expanded in metropolitan and regional areas.”
Mr Parry said that the pilot has been an excellent ‘silo breaking’ multi-team project.
“It’s been a fantastic example of the Department working closely with other agencies in delivering good essential outcomes to tenants,” he said.
“Our work with the Public Utilities Office has been based on trust and a joint commitment to get the job done.”


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Favorite bass player? Only one allowed
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01-04-2010, 05:42 AM
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Re: Favorite bass player? Only one allowed
On just pure Bass playing skills, seeing played live...gotta go with Victor Wooten.
Woulda like to have seen Jaco play tho...
My babies -
Big Yamaha - Baby Roland - Lil Rodgers
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domain: hobby


|Wireless Carrier||Unlocked for All Carriers|
|Included Components||Adapter, Screen Protector|
|Battery Description||2000 mAh|
|Cellular Technology||LTE, HSPA, GSM|
|Other camera features||8 MP with 5 MP front|
|SIM card slot count||Dual SIM|
|Memory Storage Capacity||16 GB|
|Connectivity Technology||Wi-Fi, USB|
- RCA, the American brand with a legacy of 100 years, has been to make the smartphone valuable and accessible to all.
- Dual SIM unlocked for the freedom to choose your preferred GSM carrier. Compatible with T-Mobile, AT&T and others. (***Not compatible with Cricket Wireless or with CDMA Networks like Verizon, Sprint, and Boost Mobile***) SIM cards not included.
- 5.0” IPS Display featuring a 18: 9 Aspect ratio with FREE protective case and attached screen protector.
- Newest Android 10 with 16GB Internal memory, and an optional MircoSD card with up to 128 GB capacity.
- Featured with face unlock, 8 MP autofocus camera with LED Flash with a 5 MP selfie camera.
- 4G LTE/VoLTE: (2/4/5/12/17/66), 3G: (850/1900). No long term contracts required; International version, available in Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Jamaica, Venezuela, Argentina, and other 190 countries and regions.
- 2000 mAh battery (up to 2 days) for standby and backup. Browse, stream music, watch video, and play games at blazing speed. Can be used with Wi-Fi Network only, WiFi mobile hotspot, GPS for navigation and location services.
There are no reviews yet.


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Lotus Renault GP team Principal Eric Boullier confirmed that 2007 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen management has newly contacted with the team talks about next season. But fresh rumor that Räikkönen comeback to F1 would most likely with Williams F1.
“What about him?” Boullier replied when asked about Räikkönen by the official F1 website. “I have explained how we want to go about our driver line-up for next season. But yes, there has been contact – look at this call (holds up mobile phone) – this was from his manager.”
Lotus Renault GP still not confirmed 2012 full line-up. Russian rookie Vitaly Petrov and the improving Robert Kubica are still under deal with Renault.
“The situation with Robert is easy,” Boullier continued. “We have a moral obligation to make sure that we give him a chance. To make a decision in October or November would not change anything in this team, as the driver market is closed. I am waiting for him to tell me how he feels and I need a commitment from him.
“We also need to make a plan if it (his recovery) is not going as planned, as I don’t want the team to be blamed. It was him who got me in trouble this year and now, if he can’t come back, he has to tell us about it. He has to tell us, but we also must not be stupid. We need a plan.”
All material and photos are copyrighted material and owned by their respective owners. Use or depiction of images or trademarks throughout this website is for illustrative and editorial purposes only.Images come courtesy of; ferrari.com, mclaren.com, forceindiaf1.com, redbull.com, mercedesgp.com, renaultf1.com, toyota, bmw-sauber, williamsf1, lotus, virgin, Daylife.com, getty Images/LAT and AP Photos.


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FAO Kenya and Kisumu county has initiated programmes to promote poultry keeping among smallholder farmers in the region.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation seeks to bolster agricultural production as a strategy to ensure food security and promote alternative income streams for Kisumu residents.
Poultry is undoubtedly one of the fastest growing segments of the agricultural sector with a significant number of farmers in the lakeside region venturing into improved chicken farming.
FAO has disbursed grants in form of day-old chicks valued at Sh11 million to poultry farmers through the Urban Food Systems project targeting rural-urban communities in the county.
The ambitious project benefitted 100 farmers from Kisumu East, Kisumu Central, Nyando and Kisumu West subcounties.
They were issued with 10,000 day-old chicks to promote poultry as a viable intervention toward improving livelihoods.
County executive for Agriculture Gilchrist Okuom commended FAO for the generous gesture that has positively impacted the people.
He called on the farmers to take care of the birds to realise profits from both the eggs and meat from the improved Kienyeji breeds.
The beneficiaries also underwent a three-day training to equip them with technical skills to venture into the poultry business.
The training focused on poultry housing, brooder establishment, feeds, feeding, poultry disease control and management, waste management, entrepreneurship and business skills.
In addition, FAO handed more bags of chicken feeds and an assortment of poultry farming equipment to beneficiaries during a function presided over by the FAO Agribusiness coordinator David Makongo.
The farmers received 100 units of 50kg bags of layers and growers mash for birds meant for eggs and meat enhancement respectively.
In addition, they were issued with equipment like chicken feeding trays, drinkers, feeders, syringes, droppers, disinfectants, gloves, dewormers, multi-vitamin, plywood sheets and automated drinkers and pipes.
“I appeal to farmers to take care of the farm inputs and equipment and put them into good use to achieve the desired goals and turn around your livelihoods through poultry business,” Makongo said.
At the same time, he stressed that the donations would also be instrumental in the establishment of centres of excellence for the poultry Farmer Business Schools project in the county.
The establishment of FBS, Makongo said, will go a long way in enabling farmers to learn best practices in poultry farming.
The FBS is an initiative mooted by FAO in April to facilitate the Training of Trainers who are expected to train other farmers across the county.
ToTs were to train on best farming practice methods that oscillate around poultry, aquaculture and green leafy vegetable value chains.
FAO deputy country representative, Hamisi William said the FBS project was developed to empower farmers on how to make their ventures more profitable while responding to the market demand.
“The school enables farmers to improve their knowledge, change their attitude and enhance their skills needed for farm commercialisation,” William said.

domain: agronomy


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Since HaLong Bay became the wonder of the world and listed in UNESCO natural sight in 1994. CatBa Seapearl Adventure this site to help and promote this wonderful place to people and travelers around the world.
We provides information about Halong Bay and how to visit this area includes photos gallery of some of 3000 islands and islets dotted around Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba Island.
A visit to Catba is a must. We provide ourselves in excellent service, friendly staff, clean facilities and competitive pricing. Our traditional wooden Vietnamese boat decorated in a sophisticated Asian flare, the lounge surrounded with windows which provide a wonderful view while seating indoors with spectacular view on the upper deck.
The tours and cruises include discovering Catba islands like boat through LanHa Bay, kayaking, swimming, diving, jumping at VanBoi area and visiting at Monkey island, trekking at Catba National Park to admire the whole beautiful picture of Catba Town and admire a beautiful part of HaLong Bay as well.
Our hotel decoration promises unbeatable service combined with unparalleled accommodations, friendly staff, you’ll surely have a wonderful trip with Catba Seapearl Adventure!
We hope you feel happy when spending your time in visiting our website. We also hope our information is interesting and useful though and it might help you to built up or plan a trip or side trip to visit Halong bay & Cat Ba Island in Vietnam

domain: geography


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I used the PRE-COLORED Mrs Luvvy Owl from Digital Delights by Louby Loo. I think it's great that you can use these adorable images even if you don't want to color. All of Wendy's digis can be purchased pre-colored or in black and white.
I added some frills using Crinkle ribbon from My Craft Spot, a half doily that I spritzed with Tattered Angels and gathered a bit, an adhesive pearl and a stick pin from my stash.
I also added pearls around the card and on the sentiment
(from K Andrew Designs Sew Much Fun set)


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Thank you for visiting the Newman Galleries website.
Should you have any questions regarding any of the artwork on our website, or any other art related inquiries, please feel free to contact us directly:
We can also be reached by mail:
1625 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: 215-563-1779 | Fax: 215-563-1614
Visit us on Facebook! Newman Galleries
Tuesday through Saturday, 10am- 4pm, as well as by appointment!
We are a family owned and operated Art Gallery in our fifth generation of dealing in the fine arts in the Philadelphia area.
The primary contacts are:
Walter Andrews Newman, III & Terrence C. Newman
- Thank you


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With reports emerging that Mrs May has agreed a deal with the EU even before her own cabinet has approved it, it is up to the Brexiteers in Parliament to take action to halt her. Her Leave-supporting backbenchers have had opportunities to oust the duplicitous May before, but have not acted. Now they must.
It is worth remembering just how much she is trying to betray. On June 23, 2016, the people of the United Kingdom voted to leave the EU in the greatest display of peaceful democracy the nation has ever seen. After 43 years of membership of the EEC/EC/EU, in which time it morphed from a trading arrangement to an all-invasive proto-superstate, 17.4million people voted to reclaim our sovereignty and independence.
Despite howls of rage from Remainers after the vote, many senior political figures accepted the referendum result and went on record to say that to try to overturn the result would be treacherous. These included Theresa May, who campaigned to remain in the EU, but ended up as Prime Minister in the political bloodletting afterwards. For nearly two years, Mrs May has promised that ‘Brexit means Brexit’, ‘no deal is better than a bad deal’ and that anything less than the whole nation leaving the Single Market and Customs Union is a betrayal of democracy.
Many believed from the beginning that May was neither a woman to be trusted nor a woman of her word. This was demonstrated in the spring of 2017 when she called a snap general election, despite promising numerous times that she wouldn’t do so, ‘because stability was more important to the nation’. ‘Strong and stable’ was her catchphrase, but her disastrous election campaign left her leadership decidedly weak and wobbly.
Her Chequers Plan destroyed any last vestiges of credibility. It was a plan which was unworkable and universally loathed, by Brexiteers, Remainers and the EU. Her idea of adhering to a common rulebook meant in essence that the UK would continue to obey the regulations of the EU Commission and decisions of the EU Court of Justice, in the position of a vassal state. The idea that the UK would make any meaningful contribution to the rulebook was laughable. In addition, her cumbersome and unworkable plan for a customs partnership was immediately rejected by the EU. It is astounding that she kept on banging the Chequers drum for so long.
This was not the Brexit that the people voted for, where we would take back control of our sovereignty, borders, laws, trade, fishing grounds, agriculture and money, and keep control of our military.
It would be almost impossible to conceive that she could come up with a worse plan, but that seems to be what has happened. She has chucked Chequers, but sold us out with a proposal that strikes a dagger blow at the heart of our democracy.
In a negotiation, the idea is to go for the best deal. When the EU proposed a backstop of a border in the Irish Sea, with Northern Ireland in the Customs Union, anyone with an ounce of sense would have said ‘On your bike, Barnier!’ Theresa May instead said ‘OK, Monsieur Barnier; how about the whole of the UK stays in the Customs Union? And you can keep Northern Ireland in the Single Market too.’ This is not a negotiation, it is a giveaway. Far from her protestations that she leads the ‘Conservative and Unionist Party’, she is not just considering, but proposing, the first step in breaking up the Union.
In an almost divinely fortuitous twist of fate, however, the mathematics of the current Parliament (thanks to her own ill-judged general election) left her short of a majority, and dependent on a confidence and supply arrangement with Northern Ireland’s DUP to prop up her government. The DUP are now threatening to end this agreement, and potentially bring down her government. Yet it will not be they who have broken the agreement, but Theresa May in accepting even the possibility of a regulatory border down the middle of the Irish Sea. If the DUP decide they will not back Mrs May in Parliament any longer, they have every right to do so, for she has betrayed them and the nation.
The difference in rhetoric on Brexit between the two parties is stark. Mrs May no longer talks of ‘no deal being better than a bad deal’. In her party conference speech she demanded that her restive MPs should back her plan or there might not be any Brexit at all. She stated: ‘If we all go off in different directions in pursuit of our own visions of the perfect Brexit – we risk ending up with no Brexit at all,’ speaking to representatives of the British people as though they were naughty schoolchildren.
The DUP in contrast have made it clear that their ‘blood-red line’ is that the Union must remain intact and have strongly reiterated that no deal is better than a bad deal. May’s new plan, which splits up the Union, keeps the UK locked inside the Customs Union, prevents us from making trade deals of our own, keeps the UK in vassalage as a rule-taker, and requires us to pay £39,000,000,000 for the ‘privilege’, is a very bad deal.
With her own Brexiteer backbenchers seemingly paralysed, it may well be that the DUP saves Brexit.


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A survey shows around 80 percent of evacuees, who fled their homes in the Noto region following the New Year's Day earthquake in central Japan, are hoping to return to their home communities.
It also finds many evacuees think securing housing is the most important factor to reconstruct local communities.
NHK surveyed 258 quake survivors and evacuees from February through March jointly with a research group headed by Professor Sekiya Naoya of the University of Tokyo.
Currently, nearly 4,000 people are taking shelter away from the Noto region where they lived before the earthquake.
The survey asked why they decided to leave their home communities or considered leaving with multiple answers allowed. Thirty percent of respondents said it was because tap water remained unavailable, while 25 percent said they thought it was impossible to live there for the time being and 21 percent said they were without electricity.
The survey shows many of them had to leave the region as damaged infrastructure made their lives harsh.
The evacuees were also asked where they want to live in the future after infrastructure is restored.
Eighty-one percent said they want to live where they lived or in the same municipality before the disaster, 7 percent said they cannot think about it yet.
Four percent said they wouldn't hesitate to live in a different municipality in Ishikawa Prefecture, followed by 3 percent who said living outside the prefecture could be an option.
Asked about the most important factors in the reconstruction of their home communities, 64 percent said securing housing, 42 percent said measures to address the depopulation problem, and 38 percent said more medical institutions and facilities for elderly.
Thirty-three percent said maintaining local communities is most important and 31 percent mentioned measures to prevent disasters.
A man in his 70s who experienced the quake in Anamizu Town said that he had applied for a permit to live in temporary housing, but even if he gets it he can stay there only for two years. The man said that building a house himself is financially difficult as he is too old.
Another man in his 70s in Wajima City said that the government should come up with measures that will encourage people to return, otherwise local communities could be further depopulated.


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Rakhi Sawant made Bigg Boss 14 a lot more entertaining than usual with her presence. Being the only challenger to have made it to the finale, Rakhi Sawant walked away with a sum of Rs. 14 lakhs. She had intended to pay off her mother’s medical bills with the amount. During the season, she was informed that her mother will be undergoing surgery, however, she did not know the severity of it.
In a recent Instagram post, Rakhi Sawant has informed that her mother is undergoing cancer treatment. She posted a picture of her mother post a chemo session and wrote, “Please pray for mom , she is undergoing cancer treatment.????????????” Her mother had informed her that her husband Ritesh paid off her current medical bills during the phone call. Rakhi, during the show had spoken about separating from her husband, who refuses to reveal his identity.
Take a look at Rakhi Sawant’s post.
After she posted her mother’s picture, the netizens sent across their best wishes.
Catch us for latest Bollywood News, New Bollywood Movies update, Box office collection, New Movies Release , Bollywood News Hindi, Entertainment News, Bollywood News Today & upcoming movies 2020 and stay updated with latest hindi movies only on Bollywood Hungama.


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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s second-largest city, is planning to acquire Bitcoin using 1% of the city’s treasury reserves. This is ccording to Eduardo Paes, the mayor. If Eduardo goes through with what he claims. Then, Rio will be the first Brazilian city to buy cryptocurrency as a store of value.
In addition to purchasing Bitcoin with the city’s reserves, the mayor mentioned potential tax benefits for paying with Bitcoin. He recommended granting a 10% discount on taxes, such as the urban building or land tax, to individuals who pay with Bitcoin (IPTU).
In Brazil, municipalities collect IPTU, a federal and urban property tax. It’s based on the property’s estimated sale price.
Before Eduardo Paes, Luiz Goularte, a Brazilian politician, introduced a measure in November 2021.
The measure allowed public and private sector workers to be paid in bitcoin, with workers being able to select between bitcoin and fiat cash as a percentage of their wage. According to the bill, the proposed motion must be approved by the employer.
The city of Rio de Janeiro is affected.
The 52-year-old member of Brazil’s Social Democratic Party presented his intentions to the Mayor of Miami, Francis Suarez, at Rio Innovation Week.
The move could assist the city by attracting foreign crypto investors and, in particular, businesses involved in the Bitcoin ecosystem. He also discussed forming a working group to talk about the city’s crypto regulations.
Crypto products and NFTs are unregulated and can be highly risky. There may be no regulatory recourse for any loss from such transactions. Crypto is not a legal tender and is subject to market risks. Readers are advised to seek expert advice and read offer document(s) along with related important literature on the subject carefully before making any kind of investment whatsoever. Crypto market predictions are speculative and any investment made shall be at the sole cost and risk of the readers.

domain: finance


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Guido Daniele – handimals
Hands: good for catching, touching, gripping, pinching and shaking, and now, if you are one particularly gifted Italian artist, your favourite tenants at the zoo- introducing handimals.
In 2000 Daniele, who lives in Soverato, made an incredible advertising campaign for US mobile company AT&T. So popular is Daniele’s art, many self published tutorials have appeared online so you can have a go yourself.
You can see Daniele’s full incredible exhibition by clicking here.


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Friday is the Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot for Nov. Election
Friday is the deadline to request an absentee ballot for the Nov. 3 election.
Any registered voter in Kentucky who is concerned about being exposed to the coronavirus can request an absentee ballot under an agreement reached by Secretary of State Michael Adams and Governor Andy Beshear.
Ballot requests can be made online at GoVoteKY.com.
Unlike in the June primary, voters will not be allowed to cancel their absentee ballot and vote in-person. Warren County Clerk Lynette Yates says offices like hers were inundated with requests in the primary election.
“It was showing you had already requested a ballot so it wasn't going to allow you to vote in person," Yates told WKU Public Radio. "We were having to go in, physically cancel those ballots, so that person could check in to vote. It was causing chaos in all the clerk’s offices.”
For the general election, if voters request an absentee ballot, that’s how they must vote. Ballots must be returned by mail or dropped off at a designated location, most often at county clerk’s offices.
The U.S. Postal Service has recommended that voters who wish to send their absentee ballot via mail do so at least a week before the election. All absentee ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by county clerks by Nov. 6 in order for them to count.
Kentucky’s chief election officer is predicting 72 percent of registered voters will turn out for next month’s election. By contrast, 29 percent of Kentucky’s electorate cast ballots in the June primary. All Kentuckians were encouraged to vote absentee in the primary due to a shortage of poll workers and voting locations.
Three out of four voters did cast absentee ballots, but in a virtual address this week to the Bowling Green Noon Rotary Club, Secretary of State Michael Adams said that can’t be replicated for the general election.
“We cannot handle three-quarters of the vote being absentee in a 72 percent turnout model," Adams stated. "It would crash our system. We’re not designed for that.”
Adams said Kentucky’s election system is built around in-person voting and the state doesn’t have the infrastructure in place to handle an unlimited number of absentee ballots.
Absentee balloting is being reserved in the general election for those concerned about contracting COVID-19.
Adams said as of Thursday, about 625,000 Kentuckians had requested absentee ballots. That's about 17.5% of registered voters in the Bluegrass State.
Kentuckians will be making their choices for president and a hotly contested U.S. Senate race as well as congressional and state legislative races.

domain: politics


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Jose Alfonso, MD et al. presents an interesting article in this month'sJournal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. Visual quality after diffractive intraocular lens implantation in eyes with previous myopic laser in situ keratomileusis describes the author's results of implanting a multifocal IOL in 80 eyes of 46 patients who developed cataracts years after undergoing LASIK. They reported excellent results and concluded that the multifocal IOL provided "good visual acuity at distance and near."
I have been implanting multi-focal IOLs in LASIK patients who develop cataracts for years. I also find the results to be excellent. These patients are able to both read and drive without the need for glasses or contact lenses. I do caution these patients that there is a good chance that their LASIk will need to be fine tuned following the cataract surgery. I generally will preform a LASIK enhancement 1 month after the cataract surgery, once the refraction is stable.
I have actually preformed LASIK on both my parents 8 years ago. They both went on to develop cataracts. I was able to preform cataract surgery and implant a ReStor IOL in my mom last year. She had a LASIK enhancement 1 month later. My dad underwent his cataract surgery with ReStor implantation last month, He does not need an enhancement.
I am please to report that both my parents are able to both read and drive without the need for glasses. Their vision is now 20/25 at both distance and near. Needless to say, their friends are jealous, and they are both still talking to me!!

domain: literature


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LUSAIL, Qatar -- If Lionel Messi is to finally lift the World Cup, he is doing it the hard way. Genius can take you only so far, especially if your team is as flawed as Messi's Argentina, but the fairy-tale story can still have the perfect ending.
It might even happen with the ultimate payoff line of Cristiano Ronaldo being on the other side with Portugal (should they emerge from the side of the bracket that includes France, England and Morocco) when it does. But let's put the brakes on the fantasy, for now.
After 80 minutes of the quarterfinal against the Netherlands at Lusail Stadium, everyone watching could have been forgiven for getting carried away with the Messi narrative -- that Qatar 2022 would end with the 35-year-old getting his hands on the one major trophy he has yet to win.
Messi had produced his best performance of this World Cup -- and it was magical -- to put Lionel Scaloni's team 2-0 ahead and seemingly cruising into a semifinal against Croatia on Tuesday. The Paris Saint-Germain forward had created Nahuel Molina's first-half opening goal with a pass of sublime quality before doubling Argentina's lead from the penalty spot on 73 minutes.
The closing stages should have been on cruise control, but Wout Weghorst scored twice -- an 83rd-minute header and then by finishing off one of the best and cleverest free kicks you are likely to see, 11 minutes into stoppage time, to draw the Dutch level. And that wasn't in the script. Messi's story really shouldn't have been turned into a nightmare by a giant centre-forward who was signed by Burnley to keep them in the Premier League last season. A task he failed to manage, scoring just twice in 20 games.
Craig Burley can't believe the Netherlands pulled off such an audacious free kick in the quarter final of a World Cup.
But just as one of football's most glittering careers looked set to be denied its dream ending by a journeyman striker for a poor Dutch team, the sporting gods switched back onto Messi and Argentina's side as the Copa America champions held their nerve to win a penalty shootout, with Messi scoring the first in a 4-3 win.
It ended a bad-tempered game, with 11 Argentina bookings, two mass confrontations between both sets of players and some provocative, goading celebrations at the end by Argentina in front of their beaten opponents. But there is so much emotion and desperation in this Argentina team, maybe in Messi, so the ugly scenes in victory might just be understandable.
And when the dust settles, perhaps this World Cup needed an Argentina win, despite the negativity at the end. After all, football at the highest level should be about moments of fantasy, of images that last a lifetime, and Messi delivered one of those with the stunning reverse pass to Molina.
Prior to Messi's game-changing contribution, the Dutch were threatening to suffocate this encounter with their passive, risk-averse football. Coach Louis van Gaal has bristled at criticism of his tactical approach from the Dutch media -- one reporter told the Netherlands coach that watching his team was like "grinding teeth" -- but it had taken them to the brink of a semifinal clash with Croatia (who earlier ousted Brazil on penalties in an equally memorable match), so van Gaal cannot be criticised for attempting to get the most from his limited squad.
The World Cup quarterfinal isn't the first time Wout Weghorst has pulled his clever free-kick trick.
But just imagine a World Cup semifinal between the Netherlands and Croatia on Tuesday, with Messi watching from afar and Argentina and their incredible supporters back home, still waiting to end their 36-year wait for a third World Cup triumph. That is not what this World Cup needs. It needs the Messi factor and his ongoing pursuit of the achievement that would give him equal status with Diego Maradona in Argentine hearts.
It needs Argentina's thousands of fans to fill stadiums with their colour and noise, it needs a South American giant to chase a first World Cup since Brazil in 2002, and it doesn't need the Netherlands playing football out of an outdated manual, as Messi said after the game of "long balls to tall players."
Shaka Hislop says it's "beyond him" how the referee allowed Leandro Paredes to stay on the field after he kicked the ball at the Netherlands' dugout.
But no matter what Argentina do from this point on, Messi has at least given us perhaps the defining on-field image of Qatar 2022 with his pass to Molina. Messi's legs no longer move as quickly as his brilliant mind. You can see it at times when he shuffles away from an opponent with a swerve or feint, rather than the burst of pace he once possessed at his absolute peak.
But Messi knows his limitations and he has changed his game to overcome them. A few years ago, as he entered shooting range of goal, he would put his foot on the gas and go for it, but on this occasion, he knew that he couldn't get through a packed Dutch defence on his own. So he left midfielder Frenkie de Jong in his wake by running across the edge of the penalty area before spotting full-back Molina out of the corner of his eye and instantly released the defender with a reverse pass into the penalty area. Virgil van Dijk attempted to foul Molina just as he shot at goal, but the Liverpool defender couldn't put the Argentina off his stride.
Brb watching this pass from Messi for the rest of the day 😍🎯 pic.twitter.com/5EM4CBwktN— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 9, 2022
Messi erupted in joy with his teammates. He cannot escape the shadow of Maradona, who won the World Cup almost single-handedly in 1986. But Messi's pass was similar to that of his great predecessor against Brazil at the 1990 tournament, when Maradona held off a pack of defenders before playing a pinpoint pass for Claudio Caniggia, who scored to win the game. Check it out and compare the two visionary passes.
But while Messi's brilliance was on display with that pass, so were his determination and tenacity as Argentina toiled in extra-time and when he showed nerves of steel to take the first penalty in the shootout.
Messi might no longer be what he was, but he showed against the Dutch that he can do everything to drag Argentina to glory -- the good, the tough and the ugly. Whether it is with silk or steel, Messi is keeping his and Argentina's hopes alive. And the World Cup is so much better for it.


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Shelby has her hands full managing her new agency where she hopes to put her mind-reading skills to good use. Her first case to track down money stolen from a bank leads her into the lingerie business where nothing is as it appears.
She also finds plenty to keep her busy with the police department and Detective Harris. But all that pales in comparison to what she must do to help Uncle Joey, the local mob boss. He knows her secret and is determined to make her use it for his own purposes. When her husband, Chris, receives threatening notes, and his former client, Hodges, turns up dead, it is up to Shelby to determine what is going on and who is behind it all. It seems the past has a way of catching up with her. Soon, Shelby must use all her wits to stay alive, and her only option? Lie or Die.
©2012 Colleen Helme (P)2014 Colleen Helme
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"Shelby's Becoming a Detective"
I received this book for free from Audiobook Jukebox in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
My Initial Reaction...
I continue to enjoy Shelby's adventures! Lie or Die was a bit more active detective work on Shelby's part than the others and I loved seeing her solve her cases!
Wendy Tremont King IS Shelby for me at this point. Her voice just matches the personality perfectly. Otherwise, she's an okay narrator. I'm not blown away by her male voices - they lack a bit of masculinity as female narrators often do, but they are not bad at all. There we no accents to trip her up like in the last book, so this was a more solid read for me.
Shelby is THE reason to read this series. In Lie or Die I got more of the spunky, honest-to-a-fault, suburban housewife turned detective. I particularly love Shelby's inner dialogue when she's thinking about what she'd LIKE to do to someone and the ways she talked herself out or into doing those things. She's up against a PI in Lie or Die and he keeps following her around - making himself a nuisance - and I laughed my ass off seeing Shelby interact with him and deal with him. She's got quite the personality.
My favorite thing about the characters in Lie or Die was the personal development on the part of Chris - Shelby's husband - and, as a consequence, their marriage. He's been struggling, as I imagine any husband would, with Shelby's ability to read his mind. But what has bothered me in the previous books were the things Shelby would hear... Chris didn't see her as the strong woman she is. But in Lie or Die I think he's finally getting it. Sure, he's still super protective of her, but he's also letting her be super protective of him. They're much more of a team, even if Shelby still has to hide things from him (I LOVE the way she rationalizes when to lie to him BTW. It felt very familiar). The result is my loving their relationship that much more!
So with Lie or Die Shelby's finally opened her own private consulting business! We've seen this coming since book 1 and I felt really giddy when I realized it was finally happening. Shelby's case is to find the missing money from the bank robbery we learned about in Fast Money and Lie or Die took on a stronger detective feel than the previous books for this reason. Shelby's having to actively find and put together clues - and she's good at it! I have to say, I worried that this would make me like the series less since I am NOT your procedural girl. But Lie or Die never felt procedural - probably because of Shelby's personality and the mix of family life.
Of course, there's always more going on in Shelby's world than just one case. As usual, she's also working with the police. This time Dimples has called her in to help with an FBI (or was it CIA? IDK, all the same to me...) case and it definitely upped the stakes. I love seeing Shelby working with the police, since this is where we get to see some truly great moments where her abilities do good for people, rather than corporations or the mob.
Speaking of Uncle Joey - he's landed in it again too - and what do you know, this time the problem's are pulling in Chris! The case he's working on involves Uncle Joey and as a result, he's facing threats and real danger. I loved this twist because now more than ever Chris is learning to work with Shelby, rather than fighting her powers.
All-in-all Lie or Die was another great installment in the Shelby Nichols Adventures and I can't wait to see what messes Shelby lands in next time!
"Loving this serious!"
This is the third in the serious and I am still enjoying the overlapping plots, the characters and the humor. It's a very good read or listen. Get it!
"I am a true fan!"
Shelby is growing into her abilities and sometimes she can actually keep her mouth shut. She is no longer the pawn of Uncle Joey. In this book Chris's life is threaten and Shelby and Uncle Joey work together. She has developed a sense of crime procedures. It adds to the enjoyment of the story and I no longer have to pull out my hair over her stupid things.e
I won't analyze the story. There is enough stuff out there. For me, I am anxious to what will happen in the life of Dimples.
Loving the series so far. Characters continue to grow, story is fun, well paced, interesting.
"Collen Helme does it again."
It was hard to put it down once I got started.
Helme's first 2 books were a good read, but I think Lie or Die is were she really found her stride. I found myself getting more and more suck into Shelby's world. It was hard to put it down once I got started.
"Getting better and better"
Shelby is getting the hang of it. Her adoring husband Chris is getting the hang of it. I like the way all the regular characters are developing. They have all been fun listens!
"I love this author!"
It was great, one of my favorites!
Wendy has become Shelby by now for me, I wasn't sure what I thought of this narrator at first but now I can see no other person narrating
It made me laugh, as all of the Shelby Nichols adventures do!
From the very first Shelby Nichols book I listened to I was hooked. They just keep getting better and better. As soon as I think I have found my favorite one, I listen to another and it becomes my favorite. I highly recommend these novels!
"Lie or Die is Fabulous!"
I read Lie or Die before I listened to it and I loved it both times. It's hard for me to say which I enjoyed more, but it was fun to go on walks and workout while listening to the book! I can't walk my dogs and read, but I can certainly walk and listen! Wendy does a great job narrating, so that makes it very easy to listen to.
I honestly didn't know how Shelby would get out of the mess Uncle Joey got her into. This is a fun, funny read and I loved listening to it! I love all the characters in this story. I love reading books that take me away from my real life and let me forget about all my worries. I definitely got lost in the world of Shelby Nichols!
I really like Shelby. I think Wendy has that character's voice down pat. :)
Yes, even though that wasn't possible!
This is an awesome series whether you listen to it, or read it! I love these books!!!!!
"This is a "Can't Stop Listening" mystery adventure"
This is the 3rd book in the Shelby Nichols Adventures. There are 6 books in the series now, and they do not have to be read in order, but I do suggest doing so for maximum continuity. If you jump in a few books further on, you are just going to want to start at the beginning anyway, so you might as well start there to begin with.
As I have been listening to the fabulous narrations of Wendy Tremont King, a very interesting phenomenon has occurred: Now when I read a new book by Colleen Helme the voice I hear in my head as I'm reading is Wendy's! If Colleen does a TV series or a movie, will Wendy star in it? Otherwise, I'm going to have one of those "That's not Shelby!" moments.
Wendy's narration of this mystery adventure novel with our heroine and psychic soccer mom Shelby Nichols is flawless as ever. Wendy has a unique and very high quality flair of dropping her voice an octave or so for male renditions. She goes beyond that though by her intonation, her inflection, and her affect. Yes, affect. You can clearly tell Shelby's husband Chris from Mob Boss Uncle Joey from Ramos the hit-man and for that matter from Detective Andrew "Dimples" Harris. That is part of what makes this audio book so engaging and so believable. Wendy is equally as attentive to the female characters. She nails it.
I maintain that as the series progresses, it gets better, the writing gets better, the characters get better, and so forth. But listening to Lie or Die again, I was struck by how well written it is. Everything is in there. Shelby and what happens to her is so believable that it is incredibly absorbing and addicting.
Some of what I really enjoyed the most about this particular adventure was the twists and turns that the plot takes. How recognizable some of the characters are. Like Private Eye Rob Felt, and how annoying he is! I found myself saying, "I know that guy!"
Poor Shelby throughout the complications of this book finds herself numerous times having to lie. It's a real Hobbs choice; she can lie or she might die if she doesn't! This causes a lot of angst for Shelby, who is basically a good and honest person. But sometimes she just has no choice. Hence the title of this adventure.
There is a lot of closure in this book. There is a lot of getting to know people better. Is Joey really that bad of a guy? Could a Mob Boss be other than that bad of a guy? Will Ramos learn her secret? What if he does? And what of her old nemesis, Kate? Can Chris win his case without getting beat up or killed? There is so much going on in this book, it literally keeps you on the edge of your seat for a non-stop thrill ride. This adventure has several main plots and sub plots interweaving and co-mingling throughout it that really add to the listening enjoyment.
I said closure, and one of the things that I like the most about this third Shelby adventure is that I came to find it almost natural that Shelby can read minds. I also liked the interactions and the developing relationships between the characters, there is such realism there and I really found that I could relate to them. Lie or Die has a lot of relationship evolution and resolution in it.
I listened to this book during a time of stress and angst in my own life, and I really was impressed by how much I could relate to what happened to the characters in Lie or Die. I believe that the interplay between the author and the narrator must be as finely tuned as a full symphony orchestra to really work, and I found this book incredibly satisfying. Oh My! Does it work!
I would recommend this book without hesitation or reservation of any kind for any readers that crave adventure and mystery in a very enjoyable edge-of-your-seat-cannot-put-it-down ride.
"Mystery, suspense, and great characters!"
Lie or Die: A Shelby Nichols Adventure Book 3 is another fantastic adventure with Shelby, Chris, Uncle Joey (not really her uncle), Ramos, and detective Dimples (not his real name).
I adore the characters in this series. They are full of personality and spunk. Each character is continuing to develop and even when they get themselves into unbelievable situations they make it seem plausible. I would have a hard time picking a favorite character because I enjoy them all.
Shelby is finally embracing her mind reading abilities and using them to make a difference in the world. She has decided to open her own “consulting” agency. Her husband, Chris, has justified concerns about this new venture.
It isn’t long before Shelby finds herself having to jungle new business responsibilities with Uncle Joey’s and the local police department need for her “special” skills, carpool days, and trying to decide what to cook for dinner.
This is a great series to read or listen to. Wendy Tremont King does a fantastic job with narration. The audiobook quality is very good and she brings the characters to life by given each one a unique voice. She is very easy to listen to and is a great compliment to Colleen Helme’s great writing.
If you love mystery, suspense, and great characters that make you laugh then this is a series you don’t want to miss. Start with book 1, Carrots. You don’t want to miss out on the story of how Shelby received her “gift”.
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THE HAPPINESS PROJECT MURAL AND THEMED PROGRAMMING TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS Post
The Innovator Fellowship Program Unites Community Members and Organizations to Ignite Happiness and Well being in Sheboygan and Beyond
The Happiness Project launches this summer as a collection of inspired offerings centered on raising awareness for mental health issues facing today’s youth. The Happiness Project is anchored by a large-scale mural in downtown Sheboygan artfully designed to elicit positive emotions and wonder. A collaboration of community members, partners, organizations, and businesses, The Happiness Project is led by local high school student Madeline (Maddie) Green as part of The Innovator Fellowship Program. The mural was completed on June 1 and launches a series of corresponding programming and offerings at Above & Beyond Children’s Museum (ABCM) and throughout Sheboygan County.
“Happiness is a lifestyle, a community and the inner foundation of all human kind. The contagious effect of a simple smile is the drive of The Happiness Project,” said Green. “Together as a community, we can help individuals find the beauty, light and happiness within themselves and our city.”
The Innovator Fellowship Program, a collaboration between North High School and Jake’s Café Creative Community, inspired Green to begin brainstorming, researching and collaborating with local community members and organizations including Mental Health America of Sheboygan, Above & Beyond Children’s Museum, The Sheboygan Area School District, and local artist Jessica Rassel.
“Public art is known to be beneficial in countless ways acting as a community anchor and a placemaker that creates a sense of belonging and can improve public health by eliciting wonder and beauty,” said Jackie Erdman, Executive Director of Above & Beyond Children’s Museum. “This awe-inspiring mural is sure to instill happiness and positive emotions in passersby of all ages."
Located on the expansive north wall of Above & Beyond Children’s Museum, the mural promotes the joy of love and companionship such as that found in the world's largest beloved mammals – the whale. The idea behind the imagery of these majestic creatures is to challenge youth to think bigger, deeper and wider in their pursuit of making the world a better happier place.
The project continues beyond the walls of the museum with the crafting of The Happiness Project- themed Buddy Benches to be placed at various Sheboygan Area School District Schools and throughout the city. The ABCM Children’s Garden, the outdoor space adjacent to the mural, will host corresponding wellness programming including yoga, meditation, tai chi, health, and nourishment.
Financial support for this project was provided by The Efroymson Family, Dave & Sandy Sachse, The Terry Kohler Family Foundation, Activate8 - a lean non-profit organization striving to make Sheboygan an even better place to live - and various other donors, some of whom remained anonymous totaling $62,000. Materials and equipment for the mural were donated by Manager Brent Dekker of Sherwin Williams Paint Store located in Sheboygan. Time lapse video footage was donated by Jessica and Lauren Schmitt of Double Vision Films of Sheboygan. Future contributions to The Happiness Project can be made to support future initiatives. Visit www.abkids.org or by calling (920) 458-4263, or mailed to Above & Beyond Children’s Museum, Attn: The Happiness Project, 902 N. 8th Street, Sheboygan, WI 53081.


3D printing technologies are constantly reaching new, niche areas where there’s a need for custom-built objects. Now, Maciej Szczepański, a fifth-year student of veterinary medicine at the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences in Polland, has successfully brought modern technology to the animal world with an incredible mission in mind.
With the use of a Zortrax Inventure, he designs and builds 3D printed prostheses for injured dogs, offering them a new lease on life.
While exploring the field of animal orthopedics and learning about the methods of helping injured animals, Maciej noticed that the usage of animal prostheses in Poland is not as equally promoted as, for example, in the United States. At this point, his idea to help animals has been brought to life.
“I wanted to create prostheses that would improve the quality of life of an animal that will be using it,” says Maciej, who kicked his project off by helping two dogs – Sonia and Leto – the victims of traffic accidents. Maciej starts the work on an artificial limb and uses alginate, a naturally occurring anionic polymer typically obtained from brown seaweed, to make an impression of the dog’s stump. The imprint is then filled with special ceramic plaster.
Next, the future vet 3D scans the obtained cast of a residual limb so that the 3D designer can prepare a digital 3D model. Having a 3D printer allows the student to test various levels of infill and evaluate the printed part’s durability.
Maciej uses screws to assemble the three components of the prosthesis together and puts a layer of cloth inside the 3D printed socket to increase the dog’s comfort. Now, the object is ready to be worn by the dog. “Thanks to 3D printing, I was able to create the tailored prostheses that suited the pet’s special needs,” the student says.
An interesting fact is that Leto only took a mere 15 minutes to get used to its new prosthesis, accepted it, and started to move in it almost like a healthy dog. The whole process of obtaining the ready prosthesis and passing it on to the animal in need takes no more than three days.
Maciej sees 3D printing as a tool that allows him to create highly customized items with minimized costs incurred along the process. He wants to expand his activity of delivering artificial limbs to injured dogs and is in the process of establishing a start-up company that will provide long-lasting support to animals with orthopedic problems.