Sagar Sampark: Revolutionizing Maritime Navigation with Differential Global Navigation Satellite System
In the realm of navigation technology, India has made a significant leap forward with the inauguration of the Sagar Sampark Differential Global Navigation Satellite System (DGNSS). This state-of-the-art technology, unveiled recently, promises to set new standards in maritime navigation and communication, offering a plethora of benefits to the nation and its shipping industry.
Sagar Sampark DGNSS: The Inception
The inauguration of the Sagar Sampark DGNSS is a reflection of India's commitment to technological advancements and maritime safety. This system was unveiled with a vision to enhance navigation accuracy and reliability for India's burgeoning maritime industry. The launch ceremony was a landmark event, attended by key figures from the government and maritime sector, all acknowledging the vital role the system will play in India's maritime future.
Features of Sagar Sampark DGNSS
The Sagar Sampark DGNSS is a high-precision navigation system that provides real-time position information to ships at sea. Using differential correction data, the system can accurately determine a vessel's location to within meters — a significant improvement over conventional satellite navigation systems.
A key feature of the Sagar Sampark DGNSS is its ability to provide continuous and reliable updates, irrespective of weather conditions. This feature is crucial for the safety and efficiency of maritime operations. Furthermore, the system has been designed to seamlessly integrate with existing onboard navigation systems, making it a versatile solution for a wide range of vessels.
Benefits to India and Shipping
The introduction of Sagar Sampark DGNSS brings numerous benefits to India. Firstly, it underscores India's capabilities in satellite technology, reinforcing its position as a leader in the space and technology sector. The system also aligns with the government's vision of self-reliance or 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'.
For the shipping industry, the Sagar Sampark DGNSS is a game-changer. By providing high-precision navigation data, the system significantly enhances maritime safety. It enables ships to navigate with greater accuracy, reducing the risk of collisions and groundings, particularly in India's congested coastal waters.
The system also improves efficiency in the shipping sector. With more accurate navigation data, vessels can optimize their routes, leading to reduced fuel consumption and lower operational costs. This is a significant benefit, given the rising fuel prices and the industry's growing focus on sustainability.
Furthermore, the Sagar Sampark DGNSS can aid in search and rescue operations. By providing precise location data, it can help expedite the search and rescue of distressed vessels, potentially saving lives at sea.
Sagar Sampark DGNSS is a significant technological advancement that propels India to the forefront of maritime navigation. It not only enhances safety and efficiency in the shipping industry but also proves India's commitment to technological innovation and self-reliance. As the Sagar Sampark DGNSS becomes more integrated into the maritime industry, its benefits will become even more clear, marking a new era in India's maritime journey.


With UFC 246 in the books, and Conor “Notorious” McGregor’s comeback a success, the conversation of who he should fight next is in full throttle. One name that is always mentioned as a potential opponent is his rival, Nate Diaz. The two have fought each other twice, each winning one bout. Diaz defeated Notorious by rear-naked choke in the second round of the main event for UFC 196. Then, the two met again in the main event for UFC 202, when Notorious avenged his loss against Diaz by winning a majority decision.
The rivalry between the two and the prospect of a trilogy fight is alive and well, with Diaz live-tweeting during UFC 246. He ended up tweeting something that a journalist asked McGregor about during the UFC 246 post-fight press conference.
The tweet reads: “Weak as f—k.”
It’s unclear if Diaz was referring to Notorious or Cowboy, or the fight in general. But, whatever the case may be, it can be perceived as a shot fired at McGregor.
When asked about it during the post-fight press conference, Notorious responded with a call out:
“Let’s go, Nathan. Let’s go, brother; number three. It’s always here, so we’re right here, Nathan.”
Follow the Heavy on UFC Facebook page for the latest breaking news, rumors and content!
McGregor Has a Lot More Options for a Next Opponent Than Solely Nate Diaz
If you just read or listened to that statement, it would seem that a fight between McGregor and Diaz next would be a foregone conclusion. But, the Irishman has been linked to countless other fighters, and he is not committing to one name.
McGregor is currently a potential opponent for Jorge Masvidal, Kamaru Usman, Nate Diaz, as well as Khabib Nurmagomedov or Tony Ferguson if one of them gets hurt before their UFC 249 bout. And these matches are only the UFC fights that McGregor has recently spoken about.
He is also interested in boxing again, and he has named three potential opponents. Naturally, McGregor is looking for a rematch against Floyd Mayweather. He is also drawn to a bout with Manny Pacquiao, a fight that he revealed to ESPN reporter Ariel Helwani as something currently in the works. Notorious has also expressed that he would like to box his former training partner and rival Paulie Malignaggi.
During McGregor’s UFC 246 post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, McGregor mentioned that he still isn’t where he wants to be in terms of performance. Considering he has fought Diaz twice and the bout is known territory to the Irishman, he may consider a match with Diaz to give himself some more cage time.
However, Diaz has never been an easy outing for Notorious. Diaz finished McGregor in the second round of their first fight, and then fought McGregor to an extremely close majority decision loss in their second match.


Former Creed frontman Scott Stapp revealed in a new WRIF interview that he spoke to Mark Tremonti just a couple of months ago.
He said, “It’s undeniable that Tremonti and I had a special chemistry and writing relationship.”
When asked about the last time they spoke, he said, “Oh man, probably a couple of months ago. Love those guys, always love my brothers in Creed. We’re all busy working on our other projects, and passionate about those projects.”
He also discussed getting clean and sober.
“My wife and my kids were critical in helping me get sober. It got to the point where it was either get sober or lose my wife and kids, man, and that’s about the lowest rock bottom that I could possibly have gotten to. So they were critical.”
Stapp said the rock lifestyle “definitely” contributed to him “going down that wrong path. I just had so much in front of me, and being so naïve, walking into it, I just didn’t know how to handle it, and it got a hold of me.
And around the same time, I had my first onset of depression. And you combine that with self-medicating, with alcohol and whatever else you can find, and it’s a bad scenario, man. And it took me years to really find out what was going on. I had to get to the other side of it. And it’s so nice to be five years on the other side of a wild ride.”


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Whanganui UCOL’s Creative Programmes which include Fashion, Fine Arts and Graphic Design will come out to play during their end of year shows over the next two months.
Whanganui UCOL's Creative Programmes which include Fashion, Fine Arts and Graphic Design will come out to play during their end of year shows over the next two months. It is the final year of the Bachelor of Fashion and the Bachelor of Fine Arts, and Whanganui UCOL is excited to celebrate with them at their end-of-year shows and exhibitions.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts end-of-year exhibition Exit, features work from the final cohort with a range of media including painting, glass, printmaking, sculpture (video) and photography. The exhibition will open on 21 November at 5.30pm and run through until 29 November in the Edith Gallery and C1.09 on the Whanganui UCOL campus. Viewing times are from 10.00am-3.00pm.
The highly anticipated Bachelor of Fashion show, Prelude will be held at the Sarjeant Gallery at 8.00pm on 4 December. Entry to this event is by invitation only.
The Whanganui Regional Museum is currently hosting a student exhibition entitled Back in the Box which showcases an intriguing mix of work in a wide range of media by Whanganui UCOL Art and Design Students. This exhibition will run through to March 2016.
The Certificate in Art and Design (CAD) exhibition titled cirCADian rhythm will open on the 30th November with viewing 1-3 December in Whanganui UCOL's B block, room 1.02. Viewing times are from 10.00am-3.00pm daily.
The third year of the Bachelor of Computer Graphic Design and the Graduate Diploma in Animation programmes will be showing their works in an exhibition titled in the process of becoming. Opening 5.30pm on 27 November, with viewing from 28 November to 3 December, 10.00am-4.00pm in the Atrium at Whanganui UCOL.
To celebrate their diverse backgrounds, the Bachelor of Computer Graphic Design (Honours) and the Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Graphic Design students will be demonstrating their talents in an exhibition titled Accént. Opening 5.30pm, 27 November with viewing from 28 November-3 December from 10.00am-4.00pm in the Atrium at Whanganui UCOL.

domain: artistic


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Benjamin White – 2-Day – Stroke Rehabilitation Intensive Training
Working with stroke patients is deeply meaningful and incredibly rewarding. And you strive to help each client who’s counting on you to facilitate the improvements that can change their lives.
But some patients are so impaired that treatment becomes overwhelming. Others make exceptional gains in clinical settings, only to hit a wall in less controlled environments. As time passes without results, even the most promising patient can feel the sun setting on the person she used to be, growing disengaged and depressed – convinced she can’t progress further with therapy.
If you’re not up to speed on the latest treatment strategies, she might be right.
Learn how to apply innovative techniques that completely define what’s possible for your patients in this intensive, hands-on live webcast! Built on today’s best practices, this recording will show you highly effective tools and strategies that have helped countless survivors leave their limitations behind, even 20 years post-stroke.
Purchase today and finish this one-of-a-kind training knowing that when your next patient tells you how she hopes to return to work or stay active with her grandkids, you’ll be able to confidently guide her toward rapid functional improvements with the best methods available in neurological rehab!
5 reviews for Benjamin White – 2-Day – Stroke Rehabilitation Intensive Training
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domain: medical


9:16 p.m. The Senate adjourned. The Senate convenes at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 9th. At approx. 12:30 p.m,, the Senate will vote on cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S. 610 (vehicle for debt ceiling track/Pay-Go/Medicare fix).
9:07 p.m. Senator Schumer began wrap up:
- ML Schumer filed cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S.1605, National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and filled the amendment tree
- Confirmed by voice vote: Jennifer Clyburn Reed to be Federal Co-chairperson of the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission
- Passed by unanimous consent S. 2293, CREW Act, as amended
- Passed by unanimous consent S. 693, no CORRUPTION act
- Passed by unanimous consent S. 2796, Rural Opioid Abuse Prevention Act
- Passed by unanimous consent S.Res. 476, Designating December 18, 2021 as National Wreaths Across America Day
- Agreed to by unanimous consent: If cloture is invoked on the motion to concur on the House message to accompany S. 610, it be as if invoked at 1:00 a.m. December 9th
8:32 p.m. Senator Sullivan spoke against Biden Administration policies targeting Alaskan indigenous people.
8:22 p.m. Senator Moran paid tribute to departing staffer Grace Miller.
8:21 p.m. By a vote of 52-48, the Senate adopted S.J.Res. 29. Senators Manchin and Tester joined all 50 Republicans and voted in favor.
7:49 p.m. The Senate began a vote on S.J.Res.29, a joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to “COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing; Emergency Temporary Standard”.
7:48 p.m. By a vote of 58-41, the Senate confirmed the Smith nomination.
7:04 p.m. The Senate began a vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #482 Michael D. Smith to be Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service.
6:51 p.m. Senator Murray spoke against the Braun resolution.
6:45 p.m. Senator Murphy spoke on the need for vaccines and against the Braun resolution.
6:01 p.m. Senators Hagerty, Lee, Fischer, Braun, Inhofe, and Lankford spoke on vaccine mandates.
5:56 p.m. Senator Wyden spoke on Medicare.
5:48 p.m. Senators Graham and Hagerty spoke on Medicare.
5:25 p.m. Senators Kennedy, Boozman, Hoeven, and Marshall spoke on Medicare. Senator Kennedy asked unanimous consent to call up and pass S. 3344. Senator Wyden objected.
5:12 p.m. Senator Gillibrand spoke on S. 1520, Military Justice Improvement and Prevention Act. Senator Gillibrand asked unanimous consent that a time to be determined the Senate debate and vote on S. 1520. Senator Graham objected.
5:01 p.m. Senator Capito spoke on the appropriations process.
4:30 p.m. Senator Johnson spoke on vaccine mandates.
4:21 p.m. Senator Van Hollen spoke in support of the nomination of Laurie E. Locascio, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and asked unanimous consent for the Senate to confirm the Locascio nomination. Senator Scott (FL) objected.
4:05 p.m. Senator Scott (FL) spoke about China and asked for unanimous consent that the Senate adopt S. Res 474 (regarding Peng Shuai). Senator Durbin asked Senator Scott (FL) to modify his request to first include a vote on the nomination of Nicholas Burns, of MA, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the People’s Republic of China. Senator Scott (FL) objected and Senator Durbin objected to the original request.
3:51 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke about Build Back Better and for-profit colleges.
3:51 p.m. The vote at 5:15 p.m. has been moved to 6:45. There will now be two roll call votes at 6:45 p.m.
- Confirmation of Michael Smith to be Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service.
- Adoption of S.J. Res. 29, the Department of Labor Covid-19 Vaccination and Testing Rules Resolution of Disapproval.
3:52 p.m. The Senate invoked cloture on the Smith nomination, 60-39.
GOP voting Aye: Blunt, Boozman, Burr, Capito, Cassidy, Collins, Cornyn, Graham, Murkowski, Romney, Tillis, and Wicker.
Senator Sanders did not vote.
3:10 p.m. The Senate is voting on the motion to invoke cloture on Michael Smith to be Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service.
3:09 p.m. The Senate confirmed the nomination of Rachel Rollins by a vote of 50-50 with the Vice President voting in the affirmative.
2:22 p.m. Roll call vote began on confirmation of the Rollins nomination.
1:54 p.m. Senator Cruz spoke against the Rollins nomination and objected to Senator Kaine attempts to confirm other nominations by unanimous consent.
1:39 p.m. Senator Markey spoke about essential workers and vaccines.
1:10 Senator Cotton spoke about China.
1:00 p.m. Senator Merkley paid tribute to a departing staffer.
12:41 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on the pandemic.
12:40 p.m. The Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Rachael Rollins by a vote of 50-50 with the Vice President voting in the affirmative.
11:37 a.m. The Senate is voting on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #585 Rachael S. Rollins to be United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts for the term of four years.
11:31 a.m. Senator Cassidy spoke on opioids.
11:25 a.m. Senator Braun moved to proceed to S.J.Res.29, providing for congressional disapproval regarding COVID-19 vaccine mandates. There will be up to 10 hours of debate.
11:11 a.m. Senator Marshall paid tribute to Senator Dole.
10:59 a.m. Senator Thune spoke on inflation.
10:53 a.m. Senator Murray spoke on gun violence.
10:42 a.m. RL McConnell spoke on Democrats spending and the debt limit.
10:21 a.m. ML Schumer spoke on the NDAA, prescription drug costs, and on the pandemic.
10:00 a.m. The Senate convened.
The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. and following Leader remarks, will be in a period of morning business.
At approximately 11:30 a.m. – one roll call vote:
- Cloture on Executive Calendar #585, Rachael Rollins to be United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts.
At approximately 2:15 p.m. – two roll call votes:
- Confirmation of the Rollins nomination.
- Cloture on Executive Calendar #482, Michael Smith to be Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service.
At approximately 5:15 p.m. – one roll call vote:
- Confirmation of the Smith nomination.
We also anticipate the Senate to consider S.J.Res.29, providing for congressional disapproval regarding COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
Additional roll call votes are expected during Wednesday’s session.
Cloture has been filed on the following:
1. Motion to concur in the House amendment to S.610, vehicle for debt ceiling track/Pay-Go/Medicare fix.
2. Executive Calendar #486 Lucy Koh to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit.
3. Executive Calendar #533 Jennifer Sung to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit.
4. Executive Calendar #576 Samantha Elliott to be United States District Judge for the District of New Hampshire.


$335 Mil Afghan Power Plant Funded by U.S. Ruined Due to Lack of Use
A $335 million Afghan power plant funded by American taxpayers is “severely underutilized” and the intermittent use of the costly facility has resulted in damage and premature failure, according to a federal audit.
It marks the latest of many scandals involving the U.S. government’s multi-billion dollar Afghanistan “reconstruction” effort, which has been rife with waste, fraud and abuse. A chunk of the money has gone to building roads, hospitals, schools and dams. This particular case involves the Tarakhil Power Plant in Kabul, which was supposed to help rebuild the war-torn Islamic republic and make life better for its citizens.
Tarakhil, a diesel-fueled plant constructed outside of Kabul was expected to provide affordable and reliable electricity considered critical to the economic growth and stability of Afghanistan. Instead it contributes a relatively small amount of electricity to the power grid serving Kabul, a federal investigation found. From February 2014 through April 2015, the Tarakhil Power Plant produced a mere 0.34 percent of the total power on the Kabul grid, according to the probe which was conducted by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR).
The multi-million dollar diesel-fueled Kabul power plant “does not seem to have contributed significantly” to the “important goal” of providing affordable and reliable electricity critical to the economic goal and stability of Afghanistan, the inspector general writes in its report. The document refers to the failed project as a “significant expenditure of U.S. taxpayer funds,” which is quite an understatement. “In addition to running far below its full capacity, the plant contributes a relatively small amount of electricity to the power grid serving Kabul,” the SIGAR report says. “From February 2014 through April 2015, the Tarakhil Power Plant produced only 0.34 percent of the total power on the Kabul grid.”
Not surprisingly, the scandal-plagued U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) oversees the Kabul power plant and insists it’s a “vital component” of the electrical grid serving the area despite its documented failures. With a massive budget and little oversight, USAID is charged with providing global economic, development and humanitarian assistance. The Kabul power plant is one of several USAID-run projects in Afghanistan and part of a broader crisis involving the free-flow of U.S. dollars to controversial causes in the country.
Last fall Judicial Watch wrote about a scathing SIGAR report documenting how the Clinton State Department blew $18.5 million to renovate a prison in Afghanistan that remains unfinished and unused years after the U.S.-funded work began. That watchdog probe found that the State Department officer overseeing the multi-million-dollar fleecing was corrupt and actually convicted for accepting bribes from an agency contractor. As a result only half the contracted work got done and it was later determined to be defective by an independent firm. This includes failure to backfill trenches, improper roof flashing, soil settlement issues and the failure to connect six back-up generators to the prison’s power grid.
The U.S. has also dedicated huge sums of money to Afghan programs with a documented history of fraud and corruption. For example, hundreds of millions of American taxpayer dollars were allocated to Afghanistan’s scandal-plagued healthcare system despite multiple warnings of fraud and corruption inside the Afghan Ministry of Public Health. The money was supposed to fund prenatal care for women, hospitals, physicians’ salaries and other medical costs. A few years earlier $475 million in oil—compliments of Uncle Sam—destined for the Afghan National Army vanished.


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Badam Milk Recipe (Indian drink with almond, cardamom, saffron and rosewater) | Indian Food and Spice is a well-stocked Indian market located in Danbury, CT! We specialize in ready to eat frozen food, naan, paratha, rice, lentils, gluten free items, sweets, tea, henna, and much more! Call (203) 730-0076 or visit www.indianfoodandspicedanbury.com for more info!
Nicely frothed with fresh dollops of yogurt, ripe mango, sugar, cardamom powder and heaps of ice cubes, Easy Mango Lassi Recipe is a soothing delight. Indian I Drink I Beverage I Breakfast I Healthy I Mango I Recipe I Best I Easy I Simple I Quick I Perfect I Restaurant Like I For Kids I Vegetarian I

domain: food


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Apple iPad Forum
Square Enix has today announced that it is slashing the prices of many of its biggest gaming franchises on iOS, starting from today and running until January 5th, 2015. This includes the likes of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, as well as Chaos Rings, Chrono Trigger, Secret of Mana, and Tomb Raider I and II and Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light.
Due to their popularity, Square Enix games very rarely go on sale, so this is a great opportunity to pick up a bargain. Here’s a list of some of the goodies on offer.
· FINAL FANTASY® – $8.99 ⇒ $3.99 (for iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and Android devices)
· FINAL FANTASY II – $8.99 ⇒ $3.99 (for iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and Android devices)
· FINAL FANTASY III – $15.99 ⇒ $7.99 (for iPhone, iPod Touch and Android devices)
Following the BBC’s politically charged Panorama show airing a damning documentary about Apple's factories yesterday, MacRumors reports that Apple CEO Tim Cook has said that he is “deeply offended by the suggestion that Apple would break a promise to the workers in our supply chain or mislead our customers in any way.”
The message from Cook was relayed to Apple’s UK staff by Apple’s senior vice president of operations, Jeff Williams.
“Panorama’s report implied that Apple isn’t improving working conditions,” said Cook in the letter. “Let me tell you, nothing could be further from the truth.”
Williams also hinted in the email that Apple had given the BBC relevant facts about its commitment to its workforce worldwide around the world, but that the BBC had chosen not to use them.
We were just telling you that Yahoo has issued an important update to its Search app for iPhone and iPad users, and it seems that it's now Bing's turn to do the same.
Microsoft has issued some fresh updates for its mobile Bing apps for the iPhone and iPad owners. The translate extension that debuted in the iPhone app two months ago has finally been made available on iPads. The feature has been appreciated by iPhone users and most likely the same will happen with iPad users, as well.
Bing’s translate extensions has been made available via the Share sheet in Safari for iPad. You just need to tap the Share button and choose More at right to enable the extensions. Then, you’ll be then able to instantly translate web pages in either the Bing app or the Safari browser to a desired language....
As we're approaching to the year's end, it seems that more and more important app makers are rushing in with their new versions. Such is the case with Yahoo! which has issued a recent update to its Weather app and is now revamping the search application, as well.
The new version of the app come with an improved navigation system focused on the new side panel, being accessible by side-swiping, Yahoo 5.4 for iOS now integrates latest local news headlines and also allows users to comment on stories within the app, a feature that has been long overdue.
Yahoo said the following on its blog:
“Today we’re bringing local news to your fingertips with the Yahoo App. As you move around the country, you’ll be able to see what’s going on in your area.”
iPhone and iPad users can now swipe to the...
Brushstroke by Code Organa developer is one of the best photo-editing apps available on the iTunes Store for iPhone and iPad users. Apple also seems to be well aware of that and that's why it has decided to name it as its App of the Week. This means that throughout next Thursday, you will be able to get it completely fro free (the app was previously priced at $2.99).
Brushstroke transforms your album photos and snaps into beautiful paintings in one touch. Edit, sign, and share your work on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Want your artwork printed? We've teamed up with CanvasPop to provide the best quality canvas prints available. Pick a frame and size, and you’ll have your masterpiece delivered and hanging on your wall in no time.
Available in standalone versions for iPhone and iPad...
Just when you didn't think Tim Cook could be any nicer of a guy than he already is, he finds a way to prove you wrong. Mr. Cook is well known to take great care of Apple employees whenever and however he can. This recent internal holiday memo at Apple just leaked and goes a long way to prove that.
Cook is basically thanking his "team" for doing a fantastic job for Apple in 2014 and also letting them know that Apple is donating $20 Million dollars to AIDS research. You can read the entire memo quoted in the thread below.
We’ve all obviously been very good lately, as the lovely people at Halfbrick have decided to give everyone an early Christmas present by offering all 10 of its iOS games completely free! That's a lot of Barry Steakfries goodness for everyone!
Yep, that includes the likes of Age of Zombies, Monster Dash, Colossatron: Massive World Threat, Fruit Ninja, Jetpack Joyride, Top Farm and Band Stars.
Brand new Halfbrick game Radical Rappelling is also included, although currently only on offer on an early access basis in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK.
Here’s what Halfbrick had to say about their amazing bout of generosity:
“Brave the zombie apocalypse. Make some fruit salad. Ride a T-Rex. Manage a farm. From the cute and cuddly to the downright wacky, our latest sale...
According to a recent report from Recode.net publication, it seems that Apple has raised more than $20 million this holiday season to benefit Product Red, an organization that partners with companies to fight AIDS in Africa.
Recode has managed to get hold of a copy of an email from Apple CEO Tim Cook to employees in which he congratulates them on their charitable work. The email also reveals that the partnership with Product Red totals $100 million in recent years. Here's how the content of the email sounds like:
“I’m thrilled to announce that our total donation for this quarter will be more than $20 million — our biggest ever — bringing the total amount Apple has raised for (PRODUCT) RED to over $100 million. The money we’ve raised is saving lives and bringing hope to people in need....
Pixelmator is a graphic editor that was initially developed for Mac OS X, but it has been recently made available for iPad users, as well. Available for a price of $10 on the iTunes Store, the application has been downloaded by many already and has received a very good rating so far.
So, to keep the great feedback keep coming, Pixelmator has decided to come up with a huge update that adds a plethora of new features, such as the following:
Users can rotate even more precisely with the new Rotate slider in Format > Arrange
A new Opacity slider to adjust brush tip opacity has been added
A new Brush Size slider to adjust the Retouch tool tip size
Remastered brushes altogether to work better with styluses
Image metadata is preserved when using Pixelmator Photo Editing Extension, when...
Facebook is primarily used to check on how your friends are doing and also to share with them your thoughts and pictures. But the world's biggest social network has evolved into something bigger than just that. Besides the traditional social features, many of us use Facebook for catching up with the news and casual gaming.
So to make sure that its users keep doing these things, Facebook has updated its iPad app with a new right-hand column that highlights news and games and other areas of interest relevant to users. At the moment, the feature only appears in landscape mode and it could stay like that, because it won't have room to expand in portrait mode.
Facebook is also introducing a new sidebar module called Trending Articles, which surfaces articles from sources that are relevant to...
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domain: news


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In The Eyes of a Woman
A man was making his way through the desert sand
Where mischievous mirages made sea out of land
The sun was blazing bright with all its might
A virtual sea kissing the golden beach was a spellbinding sight.
He beheld a woman with her face lurking behind the veil
Sparing her eyes every feature it did conceal.
With her sturdy hands, she weeded the garden
But was unable to weed the petty minds of men!
Suddenly, she raised her doe-eyes
The very gaze of them was sufficient to hypnotize.
The fatigue of the weary traveler vanished
The thought of her chores from her mind was banished.
She sat still and he stopped walking
And their eyes did all the talking.
He saw in them a girl, puny and shy
Waving her school-going brothers goodbye
While they gamboled, she swept the floor
But she couldn’t sweep away the adamant fallacies galore!
When her brethren, in comfort slept
Beneath the summer sky she wept.
The girl then grew into a dame
Craving for the luring name and fame
But, instead of a stethoscope
All she got was a shattered hope.
Now he could clearly understand
Her dreams had been buried under the desert sand.
With neither words, nor wail
She expounded a woman’s woeful tale.
From inside the house, there came a call,
“Come, clean up the dining hall.”
She came back to her senses and had to depart
He evanesced with her picture etched in his heart.
Her mesmerizing eyes drove him back to that place
He still remembered that mystic face.
A wish to converse with her arouse
So, he headed towards her somber house.
What he saw was utterly shocking
The eyes were shut which had done all the talking.
The corpse lay outside a room
Her wrinkled hands clutching a web-covered broom
Her cursed life was full of monotony and grief
So, from her menial tasks she finally, got relief.
She had died while removing the cobwebs on the wall
Poor lady! She couldn’t remove the cobwebs of the society at all!
“In the eyes of a woman” depicts the awful state of most women in our society. How far the world has gone and how boldly we say that women are standing side by side to men today, the pity state of women from around the world still doing those menial tasks could never be concealed. Still men are dominating them and this is the reason they lack behind, especially in developing countries where most population is still living in villages and the life of a woman is as worse as it was centuries ago.
Time has come to liberate women and set them free from men dominance, confinement, and oppression. Time has come to empower women such that they stand self sufficient in every part of their life.
This was my second poem at hubpages. I hope you will like it.


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The Africa Film Academy, in partnership with Startimes Nigeria, has expanded the prizes for the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAAs) short film festival.
A special prize of $1000 has been added for the best documentary.
The submission of short films which opened on March 20 will end April 20, 2022. To participate, the entry is open to short films produced or released between 1st January, 2020 and 20th April, 2022 and should be uploaded to www.bit.ly/THESHORTS2022. Also, the short films must not be longer than 40 mins while entries in indigenous language must be subtitled in English language.
‘The Shorts’ will be live and available for the viewing pleasure of Startimes Subscribers on ST Nollywood Plus channel from 25th April, 2022 and also available on StartimesON App.
“The festival will commence on April 25, 2022 and run for a whole month till May 25, 2022. During the festivals, exceptional films that make the cut will compete for prizes,” AMAA’s founder, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe said.
“The first prize will get $3000 and a laptop; the 2nd Prize will receive $2000 and a phone; while the 3rd Prize gets $1000 and a phone. We have added a special prize of $1000 for the best documentary. Already, we have received hundreds of entries from filmmakers, who specialise or have short films,” she added.
Ms Anyiam-Osigwe further shed more light on the film festival saying, “this partnership is big to us because it enables us to grow the short film industry in Nigeria and across Africa. We are happy that StarTimes keyed into this journey with us to give opportunities to young and existing filmmakers.”
On his part, StarTimes CEO, Alex Jian, said the collaboration with AMAA is very crucial and strategic with the growing demand for quality local content by Nigerian and African film practitioners. Jian further noted that StarTimes is glad to strengthen its partnership with AMAA to bring significant impact to the Nigerian and African film industry by ensuring the growth of filmmakers and getting value for their productions.


Sonic Potions and Erica Synths have introduced the LXR-02 Digital Drum Synth, an updated version of Sonic Potions’ renowned DIY kit.
The LXR-02 is described as “a complex standalone drum synthesizer with a powerful integrated sequencer”. It features six voices: three multipurpose drum voices, a dedicated subtractive clap/snare voice, FM percussion voice, and a hi-hat voice.
Each voice is equipped with a variety of modulatable and tweakable parameters, including oscillator, amplitude envelope, frequency modulation, transient generator, filter, and variable waveform assignable LFO. This means it can create classic analog drum sounds, but has the flexibility to go much further.
The sequencer is split into seven tracks—one for each voice, and an additional one to control the open hi-hat of the sixth voice.
Each track can be set to a different length, with a maximum length of 64 steps. This opens up the possibility for creating complex polymetric patterns.
The sequencer also allows for automation recording, with two parameter changes per step. The sequences programmed in all seven tracks can be stored as a Pattern, and up to 64 patterns can be saved as a Song, and furthermore 64 Songs can be hosted by a single Project.
The LXR-02 also features a dedicated ‘Performance Mode’. In this mode, parameters like track muting are easily accessible, without a ‘shift’ function involved. It also provides access to Manual Rolls, which can be simply triggered via the first seven sequencer buttons with adjustable rate, and even recorded into the pattern if the recording mode is active.
Global sample rate reduction provides another way to mometarily “inflict radical sonic destruction to a beat”.
Finally, a ‘Morph’ function allows for morphing between the active and target presets (the latter can be any preset file on the SD card).
- Powerful drum synthesizer with integrated 64 step sequencer
- 6 synth voices: three multipurpose drum voices, a dedicated subtractive clap/snare voice, FM percussion voice, and a hi-hat voice
- 7 sequencer tracks: 1 per voice plus an additional track for open hi-hat
- Per step parameter automation
- Performance mode features manual rolls per voice, global sample rate reduction, and a special Morph feature for morphing between presets
- Comprehensive project structure
- 4 x 1/4″ outputs
- Dedicated headphone output
- MIDI I/O
- Analog Clock I/O
Here are official audio demos of the original LXR Drum Machine:
Pricing and Availability
The Sonic Potions and Erica Synths LXR-02 Digital Drum Synth is available to pre-order via Perfect Circuit and other retailers for about $600.


text:
Expect: Lord of the Rings, positivity, art, The Raven Cycle, quotes, How to Train Your Dragon, writing, poetry, books,YA Books, animals, & photography!
My Art | My Poetry
I talk about animals a lot
:) Also honorary additions, ‘cause other, non tumblr people are involved. Mom Halfie
I’m really just waiting for this to be done so I can break out singing “And Then There Were None.” Oh, Spring Awakening,...
WHOA WHAT IM DONE THAT WAS SO SUDDEN
BUT WHO’S NEXT?
I wish I still had my gif of Bill Hader eating popcorn!
why is my name in italics

domain: literature


text: Published to coincide with exhibitions at Ikon Gallery, Birmingham; Justina M. Barnicke Gallery, Toronto; and Walter Phillips Gallery, Banff; this publication covers the most comprehensive collection to date of work by Ron Terada. His work is fundamentally an acknowledgement of the existence of others, allowing us to dwell on the nature of the art world within wider cultural contexts. The appropriation we see here, of other people’s text, of other people’s design, of other people’s music, is not the result of some slack, dead-end postmodernism, but rather the outcome of a rare sensitivity and openness. His work is about the small differences that we all make, in any situation, simply by being alive. Essays by Cliff Lauson, Anne Low, and Tom McDonough.


Manages the Planning Division’s Environment and Utilities section, which is responsible for overseeing and managing environmental planning projects and all aspects of the County’s Farmland Preservation Program. The Somerset County Farmland Preservation Program, which is funded through the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) and Somerset County Open Space Trust Fund. The position provides administrative and […]
South Jersey consulting firm seeking energetic individual for planning position in our Medford office. Job responsibilities include land use planning and professional testimony for residential and commercial development, master plan reviews and updates, environmental permitting, and coordination with clients. Applicants should have excellent verbal and written communication skills. AICP/PP preferred. EOE.
J Caldwell & Associates, LLC seeks highly motivated individuals to fill entry level and mid level planning positions in our new expanded Newton, NJ office. Specific tasks include: master plans, zoning, affordable housing, land use planning & professional testimony, urban design & redevelopment for private & municipal clients. Ideal candidates will have excellent verbal & written communication skills, experience with public meeting & preparing & presenting reports & proposals using verbal, written & graphic presentation skills. AICP/PP preferred for mid-level position. EEO Employer.
The City of Hoboken is seeking a Transportation Planner to oversee transportation and parking initiatives within Hoboken’s dynamic, multi-modal environment. Hoboken is a one-square mile city of approximately 54,000 people located on the west bank of the Hudson River directly across from Manhattan and New York City. Hoboken has the highest percent of commuters by transit (approximately 60%) of any city in the United States thanks to rich access to transit, including subway (PATH), bus, commuter rail, light rail, ferry, taxi, and the nation’s 14th largest bike share program.
We are seeking a Planner in our New York City office to support projects involving environmental review, land use planning, feasibility studies and transportation planning. The position will primarily entail preparation of environmental impact assessment in compliance with New York City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR), New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements. Additionally, this position will include support to land use planning services, preparation of feasibility studies, real estate assessments, and regulatory “due diligence” investigations.
The Sustainability Institute at the College of New Jersey seeks a creative and motivated person to join our team working on the Sustainable Jersey Certification Program as Manager of Policy and Planning. SI@TCNJ is a fast-paced “think and do” tank that devises and implements solutions to critical sustainability problems. The position will have a significant role implementing the award winning Sustainable Jersey Certification Program.
Candidate must be a capable manager who has a demonstrated track record of success in providing high quality professional planning services to clients. Candidate must be knowledgeable with New Jersey planning and environmental statutes and adept at interacting with clients, providing testimony and presenting planning documents before governing bodies, planning boards and zoning boards.


text:
Bill of the Week: Lawmaking While Driving
Does anybody actually think texting and driving is a good idea?
"...phone. Finally, the Texas Legislature may do something about driving while texting. Well, finally may be the wrong word...."
Information is power. Support the free press, so we can support Austin. Support the Chronicle

domain: politics


text:
H&M to open 3 Seattle stores
08:50 AM PST on Thursday, January 10, 2008
SEATTLE - Swedish-based design-driven clothing retailer Hennes & Mauritz says it plans to open three stores in the Seattle area by this fall.
H&M is known for quality fashion at affordable prices.
The company said it would have a two-level, 19,000-square-foot store in University Village; a 25,000-square-foot, two-floor store in Southcenter; and a 16,000-square-foot store on Pike Street in downtown Seattle.
The company debuted in New York seven years ago, and there are currently 146 H&M stores in the United States, with 1,500 stores in 28 countries.
Original article: King5.com
This is wonderful!!!!

domain: economics


text:
▶ Watch in HD ⇓ Download
A married couple wake up to discover that the sex tape they made the evening before has gone missing, leading to a frantic search for its whereabouts.
- Directors: Jake Kasdan
- Writers: Kate Angelo (screenplay), Jason Segel (screenplay), Nicholas Stoller (screenplay), Kate Angelo (story)
- Stars: Cameron Diaz , Ellie Kemper , Giselle Eisenberg , Harrison Holzer , James Wilcox , Jason Segel , Joe Stapleton , Krisztina Koltai , Nancy Lenehan , Nat Faxon , Randall Park , Rob Corddry , Rob Lowe , Sebastian Hedges Thomas , Timothy Brennen

domain: entertainment


text:
A Mayan elder has insisted that the year 2012 will not bring the end of the world, despite claims that a Mayan calendar shows that time will "run out" on December 21 of that year.
A significant time period for the Mayans does end on the date, and enthusiasts have found a series of astronomical alignments they say coincide in 2012, including one that happens roughly only once every 25,800 years. But, according to a report in the Telegraph, most archaeologists, astronomers and Mayans say the only thing likely to hit Earth is a meteor shower of New Age philosophy, pop astronomy, Internet doomsday rumours and TV specials on the 2012 conspiracy theory.
According to Apolinario Chile Pixtun, a Guatemalan, the doomsday theories spring from Western, not Mayan ideas.
Found at an obscure ruin in southern Mexico during highway construction in the 1960s, the stone tablet almost did not survive. The site was largely paved over and parts of the tablet were looted.
The inscription describes something that is supposed to occur in 2012 involving Bolon Yokte, a mysterious Mayan god associated with both war and creation.
However, erosion and a crack in the stone make the end of the passage almost illegible.
Guillermo Bernal, an archaeologist at Mexico's National Autonomous University, believes the eroded message is: "He will descend from the sky".
But, Bernal also notes that there are other inscriptions at Mayan sites for dates far beyond 2012 - including one that roughly translates into the year 4772.
The Mayan civilization, based in modern day Mexico and Central America, reached its height from 300 AD to 900 AD and had a talent for astronomy.
Its Long Count calendar begins in 3,114 BC, marking time in roughly 394-year periods known as Baktuns.
Thirteen was a significant, sacred number for the Mayas, and the 13th Baktun ends around Dec 21, 2012.
"It's a special anniversary of creation," said David Stuart, a specialist in Mayan epigraphy at the University of Texas at Austin.
"The Maya never said the world is going to end, they never said anything bad would happen necessarily, they're just recording this future anniversary on Monument Six," he added.


text:
Music and Religion in Ghana
Music is traditionally associated with many aspects of African culture and the daily experience of Africans. The same observation can be made about the Ghanaian culture and society. Traditional Ghanaian music shares many of the patterns and characteristics described in module thirteen about African music [See Module Thirteen: Introduction to Module Thirteen: African Music].
This section will address modern music of Ghana – the contemporary popular music commonly known as Highlife. The name ‘Highlife’ was coined in the 1920’s and it refers to the fusion of Ghanaian traditional music and a popular music that developed between the late 19th and the early twentieth century. Highlife was influenced by three external styles in its evolution. There was the influence of the coastal military-fort brass bands, then that of the port music of seamen and fishermen, and finally the influence of local dance orchestra of the Christian elite.
- ‘Adaha’ brass-band highlife
The fife-and-drums and brass bands were first introduced by the Europeans military based at the coastal forts. The first native Ghanaian band was formed in the middle of nineteenth century. This group only played western military marches and dance music, and not any local Ghanaian songs. “Adaha” is considered the earliest form of highlife music performed in the country. It was created by the blend of syncopated march music fused with Caribbean and local Ghanaian music.
- Palm wine music
Palm wine music was developed as a distinctive musical style in Ghana in the 1920s and 1930s. This style owes its name to a local brew often consumed liberally when the music was performed. Professor John Collins explained that the name ‘palm wine’ was derived from the “the low-class dockside palm-wine bars where foreign and local sailors, stevedores and dock-workers congregated to drink the fermented juice of the palm-tree.” (“the early History of West African Highlife Music” Popular Music Vol. 8, No.3, African music (Oct. 1989), pp. 221-230).
- High-life as performed by the Christian elite of the coastal area
A third influence in the development of Highlife Music was the music performed by large dance orchestras established by the black elite. This music was a fusion of European and Latin American ballroom music with an infusion of ragtime. The name was supposedly coined by the poor people who could not make it the concerts and were standing at the door looking at this orchestra calling it ‘highlife’ meaning “high class life.’
- What is the meaning of ‘Highlife’ and how did the genre originate?
- What are the characteristics of the “Adaha” version of Highlife?
- You have read these three descriptions on the Highlife music. Go over these descriptions and use Google to listen to each musical style. What did you notice? Can you notice any difference between the “adaha” and the Palm Wine music? What about the Highlife as performed by the Christian elite, does it sound similar to the other two genres?
High life soul instrument: the Seprewa
As time evolved, Highlife became an umbrella for the different varieties of Ghanaian music. But if modern guitar and other western musical instruments have contributed to the development and the evolution of Highlife, the key instrument that is called the Soul of Highlife would be the SEPREWA. What is the Seprewa and why is it called the soul of Highlife? For more information on this instrument read this excerpt:
The SEPEREWA is the Ghanaian (specifically Akan) version of a harp-like instrument found in many West African cultures.
Seperewa is a harp lute and it belongs to the class of chordophones. (Chordophones are stringed instruments.) They are either played with the hand or with a bow and the sound is produced on them by setting the strings into vibration. There are many varieties of chordophones, ranging from one-stringed fiddle to 8 or more strings. These include varieties of lutes, harps zithers, lyre and musical bows). The Seprewa instrument originated in the Ashanti region between the 17th and 18th centuries. King Osei Tutu, an Asante King was said to have loved the instrument so much that his successor King Opoku Ware caused a replica of it to be made in his memory. The instrument was wrapped in gold leaf, and placed among the paraphernalia of the Golden Stool, which Osei Tutu established as “the soul” of the Asante nation with the help of his counselor, the great priest Okomfo Anokye.
Seperewa which was used to entertain kings and also at palm wine bars, and at funerals, by the early 20th century found its way into the church, Christian weddings and conferences.
Seperewa can be played in different positions. The player can play while sitting down with the instrument resting on his lap, with the neck of the instrument standing upright. He may also play while standing, the instrument I held firmly in the groin to gain enough support, the neck facing perpendicular in the same direction. Strumming and plucking are the two basic techniques applied and these are done by the thumbs and forefingers with some occasional assistance from the middle fingers. The Seprewa player can even dance while he is playing or make some dramatic movements.
The Seperewa has four main parts. These are:
Contemporary evolution of High Life:
Under the influence of contemporary pop genres, highlife developed into different subgenres by the end of the twentieth century. Today in Ghana it is common for people to listen on the radio or in public spaces to a variety of highlife music referred to as hiplife, raglife, and burger highlife. These subgenres are created from the fusion of the original highlife music with other contemporary genre like reggae, hip hop or electronic music.
Influenced by American rap and hip-hop movement, hiplife became a popular genre in Ghana in the 1990s. Hiplife is more than a musical style, it is just like the hip-hop movement in the U.S., a cultural style which embraces an attitude, a form of expression of the youth. The lyrics of hiplife are in Ghanaian languages but use hip-hop and rap poetry style. Hiplife was pioneered by a Ghanaian rapper raised in the U.S. –Reggie Rockstone.
It is a different style or subgenre of highlife. It became popular a short while after hip-life and came about under the influence of imported music like reggae and ragamuffin (a sub-genre of reggae that leans heavily on electronic music). Ghanaian performer Samuel K. Twum-Barima a.k.a Yoggi Doggi is one of the pioneers of the rag life genre. In fact he insists that he was the brain behind the dancehall version of hip-life that he calls rag-life.
“General Marcus and Root I, two of the most influential raglife in this field in those days were doing this style, which was basically the Twi version of reggae but I had to re-style and brand it ‘rag-life’, having noticed its potentials and especially its massive influence on highlife.” (http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/photo.day.php?ID=36609)
- Burger Highlife:
This style was exclusively created in Germany in the 1980s by immigrants from Ghana who lived in the city of Hamburg–hence the name. It is a form of techno-pop style performed in the Akan language which combines three instruments: the highlife guitar, the disco drum- machine, and synthesizers. It is originally a version of highlife from the Ghanaian Diaspora that returned to Ghana and conquered the motherland through the return of some musicians from the Diaspora. One of the pioneers of this genre was George Darko who together with singer Lee Duofu, the key-board player Bob Fiscian, and the bassist BB Dowuona formed the ‘Bus Stop Band’ and released one of the first hits of the subgenre in 1983 with the title “Akoo te Brofo’.
Burger high life artists:
Religion in Ghana
The religious landscape of Ghana included at the independence all the major monotheist religions in addition to a variety of indigenous African religions. The 1960 census showed that 41% of Ghanaians professed to be Christians, 38% followers of indigenous religions, 12% Muslim and 9% of the population had no religious affiliation. Among the 41 percent identified themselves as Christian, 25% were Protestant, 13% Roman Catholic, two percent Pentecostal, and 1% of the Christians were from African Independent Churches.
More than two decades after in 1985 the percentage of Ghanaians who self-identified as Christians rose from 41 to 62% for the population. Within this 62 percent, 25% were protestant (non Pentecostal), 15% Catholic and the Pentecostals rose to 8% while the African independent churches rose from 1% to about 14 %. Muslim population also rose from 12% to 15%. The traditionalist and the non-believers dropped from 38 % and 9% to 21% and 1 % respectively. This drop is associated with an increase in the importance of African Independent Churches and their successful attempt to infuse Christianity with traditional African beliefs and world view.
Ghana is a religiously diverse country that presents an apparent image of a tolerant society. But in actual fact this apparent harmony can sometime be deceiving for every now and then there are inter-religious conflicts that tend to generate open friction among the different religious groups.
- Traditional African religions
The important presence of foreign religions like the Catholic Church (Christianity) and Islam did not prevent the development and the evolution of some traditional African religions. Traditional religions in the Ghanaian society share some common characteristics that are:
- The belief in a supreme being. It is referred to as Nyame by the Akan or Mawu by the Ewe
- Across all Ghanaian ethnic groups, there is no difference between the natural world and the spiritual world. These two worlds are linked by a network of mutual relationship and responsibilities.
- There is a great emphasis on the veneration of the ancestors.
- A great deal of importance is attached to the person of the chief within the state, the family elders within the family lineage, and the priests within the society.
The presence of Christian missionaries on the Ghanaian coast can be traced back to the earlier settlement of the Portuguese in the 15th century C.E. But,the rise of Christianity as the dominant religion in Ghana came from the missionary work led by the Basel Presbyterians and the Wesleyan Methodists in the 19th century.
Missionaries’ top priority was the conversion to Christianity of the local population beginning in the coastal area. In addition to conversion, the missionaries also established schools that served as nurseries of the church where many Africans have been trained. Indeed, prior to independence in 1957, almost all schools (except for Koranic schools) in Ghana were administered and staffed by Christian missions.
As mentioned earlier in the introduction to this section, Christianity is not the only faith in Ghana. There are many other confessions and interfaith relations are not always pleasant. The following section will study the Christian response to the presence of Islam and Muslims in Ghanaian society.
Ghanaian Christians’ responses to the presence of Muslim
Apathy and indifference which is reflected in an almost complete lack of interest and awareness of the Muslim -Christians dialogue on issues of social and political importance in contemporary Ghana. This indifference is demonstrated in the way some Christians perceive Muslims. They hold a very biased view of Muslims and the Islamic faith. For them a Muslim is no more than “a dirty, illiterate watchman from the north or uncouth bunch of strangers living in the dirtiest and filthiest part of the city.” Note that this perception of the Muslim often derives more from ethnic prejudice than religious prejudice. In congregation of this kind, only a handful of seminaries teach Islam as part of a comparative religion course.
The high percentage of Christians in Ghana has an impact on Ghanaian society and culture. Despite the fact that Christians are in majority, they share the country – as the figures show– with other faiths like Islam. The existence of Muslims in a predominately Christian country can generate conflict within society. In spite of the fact that both faiths are monotheistic, Christians are sometimes at loggerheads with Muslims. Their reactions to the existence of Muslims in Ghana can be summarized as follows:
- Apart from the above mentioned complete indifference, other Christians perceive Muslims only as objects of evangelization. This group does not really advocate a dialogue with the Muslim unless this happens through evangelism. There is no need for a dialogue for dialogue sake according to this group for in their reasoning Muslim cannot be regarded as neighbors. The ultimate goal of a dialogue with a Muslim is his conversion to Christianity. Any step or approach to study Islam here is to find its weaknesses and use it against the Muslim.
- There is a third group of Christians who are eager to initiate dialogue and understanding with Muslims. The Christian council of Ghana can be cited as an example here. With its Christian-Muslim department the Council seeks to organize Islamic seminars and other relevant activities for Christians. Although the responses to these seminars are still low, they present compared to the other two groups, better hope for Islam- Christianity dialogue in the country.
- African traditional religions recognize the existence of a Supreme Being or God. How do Akan and Ewe refer to this Supreme being?
- What were Christian’s attitudes about Muslims in Ghana?
- How do Christians in Ghana try to reach out to Muslims?
Although its adherents are numerically inferior compared to Christians (Muslims are about 15% of the population), Islam is one of the oldest religions practiced in Ghana. It originally came to the country from the north (Sahel region) in the 14th century.
To read more about the Mosque visit:
Below you could see the mosque shown on one of the oldest 5 Cedis note.
- Islam in the Ghanaian society today
Islam as practiced in Ghana and elsewhere in West Africa is homogeneous. Although not as divided as Christianity, there are different Islamic groups in Ghana—and throughout the world. That is why if you were to visit Ghana, chances are that you may find three groups of Muslims: the mainline Islam, the Ahmaddiyya group and some recent influences of the Farrakhan movement from the U.S.
a. In general most of the Ghanaian Muslims would claim to be Sunni within the Maliki legal tradition. Other traditions like the Ahmaddiyya movement have also become very vibrant and active in the country since the group has been invited in Ghana in 1921 by a section of the Fante Muslim converts. Today, the Ahmaddiyya membership and leadership is still dominated by the Fanti and Asante to the point where they are referred to as the “Fanti or Asante Islam”. In contrast, the North is known for practicing the mainline or Sunni Islam as shared by many other West African nationals living in the country. Remember when we studied the reactions of the Christian to the presence of Muslim, we talked about the Christian who were completely indifferent to the Muslim, the equivalent on the Islamic side would be the Ahmaddiyya movement. The Ahmaddiyya are known for their anti- Christian and anti-mainline Islam rhetoric in their preaching.
b. Over the past three decades, Islam has experienced considerable development in Ghana and it has also received more attention in the country. This is demonstrated by the rise in the number of Muslim organizations. One of the most notable of these organizations is the Islamic Reformation and Research Centre financed by the Dar al-Ifta from Saudi Arabia. Started in 1971 in Accra, it has produced many students who have been to universities in Arab countries like Kuwait or Saudi Arabia. Other organizations like the Ahmaddiyya movement joined in the effort of this Centre to promote Islam in urban areas and but also in other part of the country through the establishment of schools and other public services. Muslim are also involved in missionary activities. These activities are more intense in the non-coastal regions of the country, especially in the city of Kumasi, the second major city of Ghana.
c. One other group that has had some influence in the country recently is the ‘Nation of Islam’. Invited to Ghana supposedly by the Provisional National Defense Council (PNDC) in the 1990’s, the Nation of Islam held a national convention in the country in 1996 with broadcasting and printed media at their disposal. [See John Azumah http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/interreligious/cd36-01.html ] Despite the emotional outburst evoked by Farrakhan’s speech at the convention, the impact of the Nation of Islam on the Ghanaian public opinion and even its appeal to the Ghanaian Muslims was very limited. [See http://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/09/world/some-surprises-meet-nation-of-islam-visitors-on-ghana-tour.html]
The existence of different Islamic groups is not always a good thing. Quite often differences in opinions and strategies lead these groups to open confrontation among the different groups. This is usually the case between the Ahmaddiyya and the mainline Muslims on one hand and between the traditional Ghanaian Muslims and a group formed by students formerly studied in Arab Muslim world, on the other hand. Some groups consider themselves as the natural and normal custodians of the traditional Islam while others like the Saudi graduates see themselves as practicing the pure Islam.
- What is the general characteristic of Islam in Ghana?
- Which other Islamic groups is identifiable in Ghana?
- Why has Islam gained more attention in Ghana in the recent decades?
- Dialogue with Other Faiths
As a consequence of colonial policy Ghana has been virtually divided into the Muslim North and the Christian South. This division is now perceived to be normal by many Ghanaians. There is a national perception regarding where each religious group traditionally comes from and where they belong. Because of colonization, the south is perceived more Christian than Muslim. The work of various missionary groups over the years has paid off. The North on the other hand is perceived as a Muslim area.
To prevent inter-religious clashes, the colonial administration defined the north as a Muslim area. As a consequence the ‘malams’ were recognized and accepted in the traditional courts. By deciding to rule through the chiefs, they inadvertently imposed Muslim rule in the north as many of these chiefs were Muslim or under Islamic influence. The colonial rule also restricted Christians’ missionaries from operating in the North. This policy reinforced the perception of either region as Christian or Muslim. However, this policy also resulted in the delayed introduction of the western style of education in the northern part of the country. Following the independence, the Ghanaian government lifted this “mission-proof” policy.
Today the situation has changed. Though some ethnic groups like the Wala, Dagomba and the Mamprusi still strongly identify with Islam, many northerners continue to be adherents of indigenous religions. The south used to be seen as Christian but there is an increasing number of Muslims who can also call that area their home. The Ahmaddiyya movement, for example, is one of the most active groups in the south and it is most predominant among the Akan people.
This apparent territorial divide between the north and the south was repealed after the independence, making it easier for the population from both the South and the North to share the same country as Ghanaians. Both Islam and Christianity now exist and coexist in many villages and towns around the country. Christians and Muslims have tried to build peaceful relations, based on tolerance. It is common to see people from the same family adhering to different faiths. During the celebration of Id-el-Fitr or Id-el-Addha, wedding or naming ceremonies, Christians visit their Muslim relatives and friends. Similarly Muslims also would visit relatives and friends on Christmas or other celebrations including the ordination of priests. Gifts and meals are usually shared on these different occasions.
On The Co-operation between Christian and Muslim leaders
Like it happens it many communities, occasional frictions may occur between Muslim and Christians. However these frictions do not prevent Christian and Muslim leaders to come together in moments of crisis in Ghana and call for consensus and compromises on issues of national concerns. This was the case in 1992 for example when tensions arose between the ruling party and the opposition, Muslim, Christians and other religious leaders called upon the political parties to exercise restraint. Similarly in the year 2000, when there was a ban on drumming in the Ga traditional area, leaders from the different monotheist faiths and the traditional religious leaders, issued a call for respect of others’ traditions.
The only problem with these organizations is that of representation. If for the large part they do represent in the negotiations with the government their respective faiths, for many other confrontational evangelists and advocate of polemics, these organizations do not have any legitimate authority to compel them into doing something they are not willing to do or support and accept any decision they don’t agree with. Many among the hardliners feel this way because on one hand they don’t think they are answerable to their leaders and on the other their groups and organizations, whether Christians or Muslims, quite often get financial support from outside.
- For a long time, the North of Ghana has been perceived as Muslim and the Southern part as Christian. How do you explain this divide?
- Was that divide a good policy? Justify your answer.
- How has the independence transformed the religious landscape of the country?
Go on to Activity Four or select from one of the other activities in this module.

domain: sociology


text:
In this Enlargement Paper the Directorate General for Economic and Financial Affairs brings together into a single document the economic chapter of the Regular Report 2002 on progress made towards meeting the accession criteria by each candidate country, as well as a horizontal overview. The European Commission adopted these Reports on 9 October 2002. The introduction explains the underlying methodology that the commission has been following since the publication of the 1997 Opinion, in order to carry out these assessments.
The purpose of this Enlargement Paper is to facilitate the work of those scholars, researchers and analysts of the enlargement process, which are mainly interested in the economic aspects. As such, it represents only a part of the overall progress made by the candidate countries towards meeting the accession criteria.
|ISSN 1608-9022 (online)|

domain: finance


text:
|No independent commissions appointed|
The government had not implemented the key recommendations of its very own Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission(LLRC) yet and was fighting shy of facing the United Nations Human Rights Commission(UNHRC), the UNP said yesterday.
It was the Rajapaksa regime that had asked the UNHRC for time to implement the LLRC recommendations such as the re-establishment of independent public, police, elections, judicial service and bribery and corruption commissions, but over a year after the Commission had released its findings there had been no progress with regard to transparency and accountability, UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella said.
He said that the US House of Representatives while expressing support for reconstruction, resettlement and reconciliation, had asked the Sri Lankan government to build on the establishment of LLRC and its constructive recommendations on issues of paramount importance to the country in a credible, transparent and expeditious manner.
The USHouse of Representatives had also called for greater media freedom and for humanitarian organisations, journalists and international human rights groups to be given greater access to the war affected including rehabilitated ex-LTTE cadres and those detained, Kirialle noted.
He said that the US House of Representatives had also reminded the Rajapaksa regime that it needed to acknowledge the end of the war and go through a process of demilitarisation throughout the country while ensuring meaningful devolution of power.
by Zacki Jabbar

domain: law


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Faylene Grant was a devout Mormon who kept a journal. Just one month after remarrying her husband Doug Grant, Faylene wrote about her own death. “I must have faith in Doug’s vision. He dreams it every night now…that I will get to go to the Celestial Kingdom.” It was Doug who found Faylene drowned in the bathtub. Some believe her death was an accident (she took a lot of pain killers before getting into the tub), others think it was a suicide. But Faylene’s daughter Jenna believes her stepfather, celebrity nutritionist Doug Grant, murdered her mother. Jenna isn’t alone. Prosecutor Juan Martinez believes Doug Grant’s motive for murder was a younger woman. Plus, there’s the fact that Grant didn’t call 911 when he found Faylene unresponsive in the tub.
Prior to remarrying Faylene, Doug fell in love with a 19-year-old receptionist at his office, Hilary Dewitt. Three weeks after Faylene’s death, Doug married Hilary. “I know how people feel about us getting married so quick,” Hilary told 48 Hours. “I don’t care what people perceive about me. I am who I am and that’s my life…” In 2009, Doug Grant was found guilty of manslaughter in the death of Faylene and was sentenced to five years in prison. 48 Hours Hard Evidence on TLC will air its report “Death Prophecy” on February 22 at 9pm.


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18 Diy Shoe Racks To Keep Your Shoes Tidy
You love footwear; so, you got masses of it. Now, you need a very simple, yet durable shoe rack for organizing the lot. Surely, a DIY shoe rack can serve your purpose wonderfully well. Below are given easy steps making you learn how to make a simple, purposeful shoe shelf for the cabinet. 2 examples of shelves are shown how you can create and design a useful and appropriate rack by following the steps. Items that will be needed:
- three already cut boards
- measuring tape
- drill bits
- securing/safety pin
- jig saw
Purchase the three boards mentioned above from any hardware shop. One of them will backup as middle and the remaining two will go on two sides oppositely. Purchase rods in various sizes to place footwear on.
For drilling equal holes on either side of the DIY shoe rack, use measure tape.
Now you have to create those equal holes, so that the rods may be put into.
When the holes have come into existence, deposit your bought rods into them.
The rods may slip from the holes, so use securing or safety pins to protect them.
2nd type of layout: follow the same instructions given in the article, but use the jig saw to cut boards according to your choice. Make three drilled holes in your DIY shoe rack to create three shelf spaces for placing your footwear.
Note: Use jig saw with care to avoid injury.
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domain: design


Men typically dominate high-paying tech jobs, but a new study from the Brookings Institution finds women have better digital skills.
The study from the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution is titled, “Digitalization and the American Workforce.’
It measured men's and women's digital abilities and found that overall women had stronger skills than men do.
The authors of “Digitalization and the American Workforce” are Mark Muro, Sifan Liu, Jacob Whiton and Siddharth Kulkarni.
"Women, with slightly higher aggregate digital scores (48) than men (45), represent about three-quarters of the workforce in many of the largest medium-digital occupational groups, such as healthcare, office administration, and education, the study found. “Conversely, men continue to dominate the highest-level digital occupations, such as computer, engineering and management fields, as well as lower-digital occupations such as transportation, construction, natural resources, and building and grounds occupations."
Digitalization is changing the skills needed to access economic opportunity while creating new race- and gender-based access challenges, the authors found. In keeping with these trends, the overall takeaway here is twofold, as befits a powerful but ambiguous trend.
Digitalization, for one thing, is vastly expanding the potential of the American economy, they note and generating opportunities for many. However, the construction of an inclusive labor market as digitalization proceeds won’t happen by itself. Instead, it will require significant improvements in digital education and training, both to broaden the high-skill talent pipeline and ensure that underrepresented groups can connect to an increasingly digital economy. Also, it is going to be important for workers to get better at being “what we are that computers aren’t,” the authors conclude.


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Category: Children's Books|
The author of the book: Sarah Mlynowski
Format files: PDF, EPUB, TXT, DOCX
The size of the: 412 KB
Edition: Bantam Doubleday Dell
Date of issue: 26 June 2007
Description of the book "Frogs & French Kisses":Rachel has finally come to terms with the outrageously unfair fact that her younger sister, Miri, has inherited magical powers from their mom. But now the whole witchcraft thing is spiraling out of control. Mom is a magicaholic, Miri's on a Save the World kick, and the one teeny tiny love spell that Rachel begged for has gone embarrassingly, horribly wrong. Suddenly, the fate of everything is in Rachel's hands. Her family. The world. Senior prom. "From the Hardcover edition."
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Busch Light Beer Blue White Unisex Ugly Sweater Gift For International Beer Day & Christmas – Katycollection. International Beer Day is a global celebration of beer, taking place in pubs, breweries, and backyards all over the world. It’s a day for beer lovers everywhere to raise a toast to our brewers and bartenders and rejoice in the greatness of beer!
How to Celebrate?
If you brew your own beer, share your brews with friends and family and get their feedback.
Spend your evening at a bar trying out new types of beer.
Take a brewery tour and spend time learning the science behind beer making.
Buy yourself an item associated with your favorite beer.
- Best material: You will love our 3D sweater once you put them on and experience a perfect combination of softness and stretchiness. Each sweater is constructed from a premium woven polyester that is ultra-soft and incredibly comfortable. We use premium ring-spun cotton to achieve a smooth and stable fabric surface for printing. Fabric is durable and resistant to wrinkles, shrinking and mildew.
- Perfect Design: Each sweater is constructed from a premium woven polyester that is ultra-soft and incredibly comfortable. We use premium ring-spun cotton to achieve a smooth and stable fabric surface for printing. Fabric is durable and resistant to wrinkles, shrinking and mildew.
- Customization: We make 3D sweatshirt on demand, so give us your favorite design to create your one-of-a-kind sweatshirt. Creative 3D print is suited for outdoor sports, travel, punk rock dressing, walking, training sports or undershirts. Perfect pair with denim jeans, pants, shorts, coat, hats, sneakers, sandals to complete your style and become nice addition for your wardrobe.
- Gift of Love: A meaningful gift for your friends, family members, wife/husband, bridesmaid/groomsmen, coworkers on birthday, Mother’s day, Father’s Day, wedding, anniversary, Christmas, engagement, Thanksgiving day, Valentine’s day. A wonderful way to honor the memory of a special person or milestone.
- Garment Care: Machine wash or hand wash. Tumble dry on low heat. Avoid direct heat. Do not use bleach.
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Lentils are a type of legume that are a staple ingredient in many diets around the world. They come in a variety of colors, textures, and sizes, with yellow and red lentils being two of the most commonly used. This article will discuss the differences between yellow and red lentils in terms of nutrition, cooking, taste, and uses.
What Are Lentils?
Lentils are a type of legume that are widely used in cooking around the world, particularly in Indian and Middle Eastern cuisines. They are highly nutritious, containing high levels of protein, fiber, and complex carbohydrates. They are also low in fat, making them a popular choice for those looking to maintain a healthy diet.
What Are Yellow and Red Lentils?
Yellow and red lentils are two of the most popular varieties of lentil. Yellow lentils are small, yellow-colored lentils that are often split and have a mild, earthy flavor. Red lentils are larger, orange-colored lentils that are usually sold whole and have a slightly sweet flavor.
Yellow and red lentils have similar nutritional profiles, with both containing high levels of protein, fiber, and complex carbohydrates. However, red lentils contain a higher amount of dietary fiber, while yellow lentils contain more protein.
Yellow and red lentils have very different cooking times. Yellow lentils take longer to cook, typically around 20-30 minutes, while red lentils only take around 10-15 minutes. Red lentils also tend to break down more easily when cooked, making them ideal for soups and stews.
Yellow and red lentils have different flavor profiles. Yellow lentils have a mild, earthy flavor, while red lentils have a slightly sweet flavor. The flavor of both lentils is enhanced by the addition of spices and herbs.
Yellow and red lentils are used in a variety of dishes. Yellow lentils are often used in dishes such as dal and curries, while red lentils are commonly used in soups and stews. They can also be used as a side dish or in salads.
Yellow and red lentils can be found in most supermarkets and health food stores. They are also widely available online.
In conclusion, yellow and red lentils are two of the most popular varieties of lentils. They have similar nutritional profiles, but have different cooking times and flavor profiles. They are both widely available and can be used in a variety of dishes.


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Castles hold a certain sense of allure for many people. Whether you’re wanting to live out a fairytale fantasy, have a fascination with the history, art and culture found within their walls, or want to explore some of the most innovative architectural structures in the world, a castle visit is sure to be a highlight on any holiday. From Japanese fortresses to geometric castles shrouded in mystery, discover our favourite castles below.
- On a rugged hill in Bavaria, lies “the castle of the fairytale king”. Commissioned by King Ludwig II of Bavaria, Neushwanstein Castle (German for ‘New Swanstone Castle) was to be a retreat from the political turbulence. Unfortuneately King Ludwig II never saw the completion of the castle. In 1886, after his death, Neushwanstein Castle opened to the paying public. The castle remains one of the most popular and spectacular castles in all of Europe, and even the world.
- Built into the mouth of a large cavern, halfway up a 123m cliff lies one of Europe’s most dramatic castles - Predjama Castle. It’s almost impossible to tell when the castle ends and the cavern begins, adding to the appeal of this remarkable site. When it was constructed in the 13th century, Predjama Castle was considered virtually impenetrable. In fact, there is a story of a thieving baron called Erazem Lueger who started a war with the Habsburgs. He managed to elude the Emperor’s forces by hiding out in the castle. For an entire year and one day, he snuck out of the castle through a secret tunnel to replenished his food and drink supply from a nearby town. Eventually he was sold out by his servant. The castle has been reconstructed many times over the years but retains its Renaissance-style.
- Shaped like the bow of a ship and perched on a rocky hill, is one of the most recognizable castles in Spain - Alcázar of Segovia. The stone castle was built in the 12th century as a fortress. Since then, the castle has served as a royal palace, a state prison and even a military academy. If you feel a certain sense of affinity with the castle or recognize it, but are unsure why; Alcázar of Segovia was one of the inspirations for the castle in Walt Disney’s Cinderella.
- On the crags of Castle Rock, lies the iconic Edinburgh Castle. Archaeologists believe that people occupied the castle’s site dating back to the Iron Age, but its royal ties can only be traced back to the 12th century when King David I built the St. Margaret’s Chapel in honour of his mother. Those interested in Scotland’s royal history, can see the remnants of the gilded initials “MAH”, for Mary Queen of Scots and her second husband Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley above the palace door. Today, guests flock to the castle to explore the various buildings and ancient artefacts displayed throughout.
- Experience one of the finest examples of French Renaissance architecture at Château de Chambord. Boasting an impressive 440 rooms, 282 fireplaces, 84 staircases, and a decorative moat, the chateau is an exceptional site to explore. King François I was inspired by Leonardo da Vinci and insisted that elements of the castle, such as the double helix staircase, should draw on the works of the Italian polymath. His intention had been to use the grand chateau as a weekend hunting retreat. However, in the end, the chateau was to ostentatious for his liking and he only spent a few weeks in residence there during his reign.
- The Pena National Palace is eccentric and colourful, and showcases the flair of 19th century Romanticism in Portugal. Blending Middle Eastern and European Baroque styles, the palace was once the summer home of the Portuguese royal family. The interchanging vibrant hues decorating the façade and various architecture styles that make up the Pena Palace offer insight into the Portuguese Monarchy, who reigned until the Revolution of 1910. Today, the palace is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Although Europe is better known for its castles, Japan’s Himeji Caste is one of the most spectacular castles in the country and the world. There are few medieval castles still intact in Japan, and Himeji Castle is a prime example of its time. Considered a National Treasure in Japan, the UNESCO Heritage Site was built above the Inland Seas. Its elegant white façade earned the nickname “White Heron Castle” for its resemblance of a bird taking flight. Today, visitors can explore this outstanding complex and its cherry blossom garden.
- Found at the end of the Street of the Knights, is the stunning 14th century Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes. This phenomenal structure is set on the site of a 7th century Byzantine fortress and one of the few examples of Gothic architecture in Greece. During the 19th century, the palace experienced devastating destruction to its interior because of an explosion. An Italian reconstruction was completed in the 1940’s to repair the interior damage.
- The city of Hillerød is home to the largest, and arguably the most beautiful castle in Scandinavia. The Frederiksborg Palace stands on three islets of Lake Slotsso (Castle Lake). Built as a symbol of King Christian IV’s power as ruler of Denmark and Norway, the Renaissance castle became the official royal residence for more than 100 years before its original structure was destroyed in a fire in 1859. Only the Chapel and the Audience Chamber survived the flames. A nationwide lottery and collection were held to raise funds to rebuild the palace, and in 1878 the palace became the Museum of National History in Denmark showcasing an impressive collection of portraits, historical paintings, and the castle interior.
- Castel del Monte is shrouded in mystery. Its construction was ordered by Emperor Frederik II in 1240 in a remote area of Southern Italy; an area that offered no means of protection. Soon after it was built, the emperor abandoned the castle, leaving many questions surrounding his intentions for its construction. Celebrated as a masterpiece of medieval architecture, the fortress features an octagonal base and tower at each corner and eight trapezoidal rooms within. There has been speculation around whether the geometric layout might hold religious significance, specifically to the Holy Grail. The UNESCO World Heritage site has become one of southern Italy’s most visited landmarks.
- Bran Castle in Romania, also known as Dracula’s Castle, is one of the most famous castles in the world. The medieval fortress was built atop the mountain pass between Transylvania and Wallachia between 1377 and 1388. Bram Stoker was inspired by the castle which served as the home of the fictional bloodthirsty Count Dracula. Even before Stoker brought the castle to the attention of the public through his novel, it was surrounded by lore and mystery. When Transylvania became a part of Romania, the city’s government offered the castle to the reigning Queen Maria of Romania as a memento of appreciation for her efforts in unifying the two areas. The castle served as a royal residence until 1993, after which it was reopened as a museum.
- Located on a cliff 250 metres above the river Echaz, The Castle of Lichtenstein is one of Europe’s best examples of outstanding medieval architecture. Come for the castle and stay for the views. No matter the weather, the castle holds a certain allure. Cloudy days give the appearance the castle is floating above the clouds, while clear days offer complete views of the intricate and grandiose details of the castle. Although the castle is privately owned by a prestigious German family, visitors are welcome.
- With colourful tales of lustful sultans, ambitious courtiers, captivating concubines and scheming eunuchs, the Topkapi Palace sounds like a George R.R. Martin plot. But in its heyday, between the 15th and 19th, the court of the Ottoman empire was an exciting place to be. For 400 years, the Topkapi Palace was the epicenter of this great empire, and as such hold incredible historical, architectural and artistic value. Visitors can experience the palace's opulent pavilions, jewel-filled Treasury, courtyards and gardens, and the Harem.
- Although Cardiff and its surroundings are home to an abundance of castles, Cardiff Castle is the hands down favourite for most who visit the region. Built on foundations that date from the year 50AD, and later reconstructed in the 1800’s, the castle remains in an almost perfect condition. The castle was built for the 3rd Marquis of Bute who was reportedly the world’s richest man at the time (and had the extravagant taste to match). The castle features on of the most elaborate ceilings, Arab Room Ceiling, along with over 2000 years of history.
- Initially the residence of the princes of Bohemia, and later the Royal Palace, Prague Castle has been an important symbol for more than a thousand years. The castle is one of the largest and oldest castles in the world with its construction beginning as early as the 9th century. Prague Castle is listed alongside the rest of the historic centre of Prague as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and spans a massive 750,000 square feet. With several churches, palaces, towers, halls, and other buildings within Prague Castle, the area feels like its own mini medieval metropolis; a city within a city. There are several vantage points around the castle grounds where you can get the best view of the city, especially at sunset.
For more personalised information tips and advice, or to book this incredible holiday contact your local TravelManagers’ personal travel manager here.

domain: history


This could prove interesting. Or not.
Earlier, I posted the gist of what came out of the interviews following the morning skate. I wanted to get the information out there quickly, so I didn’t wait until I could do the usual transcribing for quotes that generally precedes much of what I put up here. I’m not backing away from anything written earlier, but now — after reading through the comments — I can see how a few changes might have framed the conversation differently.
Anyway, here’s some additional context for the news of the day:
What Todd McLellan had to say about Kent Huskins’ performance so far: “We feel Kent Huskins can be a very good player, but he also has missed a lot of hockey. It’s going to take him a lot of time to get back into it. I think he can be in better shape than he is right now, quite frankly and we’re working on that.”
What Kent Huskins had to say about his play and his minus-7, something I brought up with him before hearing from McLellan: “It’s a learning curve, I think. I’m just trying to pick up as much as I can. I’m trying not to get frustrated and keep plugging away, working at it on a daily basis.
“It’s definitely not an ideal number and it’s kind of disappointing. Definitely not what you want. There’s nothing to do but learn from all the mistakes and get my game back to where it needs to be.”
On the flip side, what McLellan had to say about Douglas Murray: “Dougie Murray has had as good a training camp as anybody has had here. We talked about opening up the leadership and he’s been very good in that area. He’s worked extremely hard, he’s been very efficient in games. He’s managed the locker room well, he takes care of young players.”
What McLellan had to say about Jason Demers: “I believe that Jason Demers has begun to separate himself. Does that mean that he’s a shoo-in for one of those defensemen spots? No, but he’s played extremely well from Day One of camp right on through. I’ll leave it at that.
What McLellan had to say about Benn Ferriero: “We haven’t come off and sat down and said, ‘Geeze, it’s time to send Benny to Worcester.’ That isn’t the case. We’ve come off and said ‘Boys, he’s earned the right to stay another day.’ When it’s all said and done and we start playing, he could be the guy.
“He’s had the ability to play on the first line or the fourth line. He has a knack for the puck and it seems to follow him. He’s been very attentive for anything we’ve tried to incorporate or work on. He’s not the one that’s messing it up. He seems to get things done. And coaches like that.”
*****Got an email from someone pointing out that today’s print edition story on Manny Malhotra (see link at right) could have pointed out that the first NHL player of East Indian descent also played for the Sharks. That would, of course, be Robin Bawa, who had five goals and zero assists in 42 games back in 1992-93.


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Absolutely stunning rendition of Joni Mitchell's 'A Case Of You', beautiful vocals.
Well Done James Blake! Fully deserved. A voice with acres of complexity. There's something so beautifully restrained about it.
great 'stripped down' cover of the beautiful joni mitchell classic & an intriguing drama played out on the screen...
Covers that sound better than the original as revealed by shuffle .. #2 A Case of You ..
I could drink a case of you, and I'd still be on my feet. #wit