Sheikh Saud Bin Abdulaziz Al Mualla presents the trophy to Seyyed Mohammad Amin Tabatabaei as other dignitaries look on.
Gulf Today, Staff Reporter
Iranian Grandmaster Seyyed Mohammad Amin Tabatabaei emerged winner at the Sharjah Masters International Chess Championship 2021.
The fourth edition of the Sharjah Masters International Chess Championship was being held under the patronage of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.
In one of the most exciting final of the game, four grandmasters including Ukraine’s Pavel Eljanov, Amin Tabatabaei, UAE’s Grandmaster Salem Abdulrahman Mohamed Saleh and Parham Magsoodloo tied for first place, each finishing with identical 6.5/9 points apiece.
Amin Tabatabaei drew his last round game against Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Yakubboev.
By the virtue of a better tiebreak, Amin Tabatabaei took the top spot following the closely contested nine round of the prestigious championship.
In 2017, Salem finished in a tie for first place in the 1st Sharjah Masters International Chess Championship with Chinese Grandmaster Wang Hao.
Five Grandmasters shared 5th to 9th places with identical six points apiece — Mikheil Mchedlishvili, Rinat Jumabayev, SL Narayanan, Nodirbek Yakubboev, and Abhijeet Gupta.
Narayanan, who enjoyed a fair amount of success in online chess tournaments during the coronavirus pandemic, was the best finisher among Indians at seventh place.
The ninth and the final round was opened by Marwan Bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority, Shurooq, in the presence of Omar Noman Al Ali, tournament director, Raja’i Noman Al Soussi, CEO of Sharjah Cultural and Chess club and Saud Al Marzouki, Saud Al Marzouqi, Chairman of the National Teams Committee at UAE Chess Federation.
The closing ceremony of the tournament was held after the end of the final round, which was graced by Sheikh Saud Bin Abdulaziz Al Mualla, President of Arab Chess Federation
Chairman of the Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club, Khaled Issa Al Midfa, Assistant Secretary General of the General Sports Authority, Engineer Sami Al Safirini, Deputy President of the Arab Chess Federation, and number of members of the board of directors of the Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club.
Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE President also attended and addressed the gathering virtually.
Meanwhile, the Challengers tournament was held on the sideline of the main competition.
In Group A, Ukraine’s women International Master Svetlana Moskalets took the top spot.
Jamaican Duane Rowe finished second while Palestine’s Raji Sayel took third spot and Syria’s Abdul Kader Rayes came fourth.
In Group B, Daniel Fernandez emerged on top.
Egypt’s Ramez Sameir came second while India’s Vishal Chaudhary finished third.
Indian Grandmaster Erigaisi hailed the organizing committee of Sharjah Masters International Chess Champioship.
“Had a great time playing in Sharjah, UAE. Thank you @shj_masters for organizing such a wonderful event. I hope to participate in the upcoming editions,” Erigaisi tweeted.
Erigaisi earned the title of Grandmaster at the age of 14 years, 11 months, 13 days.
41 Grandmasters, two women Grandmasters, 13 International Masters and two FIDE Masters took part in the fourth edition of the Sharjah Master International Championship, which carried a prize purse of $60,000.
Fast Contracting Company, National Paints and Centro Sharjah Hotel are the sponsors of the fourth edition of the Sharjah Masters International Chess Championship.
The Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club was established in 1979 and joined the UAE Chess League in June 1981 with the objective of spreading the game across the Sharjah emirate.
UAE Grandmaster Salem Abdul Rahman Saleh and Qatari Grandmaster Zhu Chen were crowned men’s and women’s champions respectively at the ‘Peace for Beirut’ Chess Championship held at the Sharjah Chess and Cultural Club.
The fourth edition of the Sharjah Masters International Chess Championship is being held under the patronage of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.
The third round of the Sharjah Masters International Chess Championship produced some interesting results. Top 60 players representing 30 countries are taking part in the championship which carries a prize purse of $60,000.
The championship will be held under the patronage of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and will take place at the premises of Sharjah Cultural & Chess Club.
Gamers8, the biggest esports and gaming festival worldwide, is returning this summer even bigger and better – with a world record prize pool in excess of $30million, more than double last year’s grand prize total.
'You are the much needed hope for all the women in sports. I'm super proud of you for all your achievements in your journey. You're an inspiration for many, keep going strong,' tweets Shoaib Malik.
The hard-hitting Belarusian collapsed to the court in tears after winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 against Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in a high-quality 2hr 28min arm-wrestle on Rod Laver Arena.


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W.Va. to see increased supply of Moderna vaccines
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- West Virginia will soon see a larger allotment of Moderna vaccinations coming into the state, according to U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin.
An additional 1,500 doses are expected to be allocated to the state next week. According to a news release, this is the second consecutive increase for West Virginia -- with the state receiving a 3,700-dose increase this week.
“This afternoon I was notified West Virginia will see a 1,500 dose increase in our weekly Moderna vaccine allocation. West Virginia continues to lead the nation in effective and safe COVID-19 vaccination distribution and I am pleased that these efforts are being rewarded with an increase in these vital doses. As vaccine production increases, I will continue to work with the Biden Administration to quickly procure more doses so every West Virginian who wants a vaccine can get one,” Senator Manchin said in a news release.
Copyright 2021 WSAZ. All rights reserved.


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Asserting that measures to date have done little to stop the spread of the coronavirus in Cobb County, Chairman Mike Boyce said he intends to declare a state of emergency Tuesday.
"We've done our best to try and have informal enforcement of these social distancing (measures)," Boyce said at a special-called meeting Tuesday morning. "And as we saw this weekend, it's simply not working ... everybody went out to the parks."
Following in the steps of cities like Atlanta, Smyrna and Kennesaw, the county's declaration could shutter nonessential businesses and order county residents to shelter in place. Boyce said it would not include curfew, as Kennesaw's does.
A copy of a draft declaration prepared by county staff was not immediately available for review.
Although Boyce, as county chairman, can make the decision unilaterally, he asked commissioners to email him their feedback after a special-called meeting Tuesday morning.
At the meeting, a public health official and infectious disease expert warned that county hospitals would soon be overwhelmed with cases without more extreme efforts to encourage social distancing, the only way to slow the spread of a virus for which no vaccine or antiviral drug currently exists.
Return for updates.

domain: news


A man is currently in critical condition after being shot at least once in the upper body in Catonsville Tuesday.
Baltimore County Police were dispatched to a wooded area near Geipe Road and North Rolling Road just before 4 p.m. for a shooting report after the victim's friend heard gunshots. The 23-year-old male victim was taken to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Multiple suspects were seen running from the area and are still on the loose, police said.
Police believe this was a targeted incident.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 410-307-2020 or a Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7LOCKUP.
— BACO Public Safety (@BACOPoliceFire) September 28, 2016
#BCoPD investigating shooting in wooded area off Geipe Rd/N Rolling Rd. Targeted adult male critical. Suspects outstanding. ^jzp
— BACO Public Safety (@BACOPoliceFire) September 27, 2016


Council to vote on airport October 9
Blaine City Council will vote October 9 on the fate of the city’s municipal airport, deciding whether to sell the 42 acres of industrial-zoned property for development or expand the airport to accommodate larger aircraft.
In a meeting Monday, council members voted unanimously to put the airport on the agenda for their next meeting, citing the rhetoric provided by proponents on both sides of the issue.
“I’m ready to put this thing to bed,” said council member Ken Ely, who put forth the motion, and was seconded by council members Bruce Wolf and Charlie Hawkins.
Council member John Liebert asked if there was any way to extend the decision process.
Blaine mayor Mike Myers reminded Liebert that a decision would need to be made in time for the city to apply for federal grant funding before the upcoming mid-October deadline, should the expansion be approved. The master plan would automatically be approved if the council votes in favor of the expansion.
The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, October 9 at the Blaine city chambers.


text:
US weapons megacorp Raytheon is chuffed to announce that it and allied firms have landed a $28m deal from the Pentagon to provide an early-warning system for defence against cyber attacks on military networks. The programme in question is referred to by the Defence Information Systems Agency (DISA) as "Network Operations …
I can see why they didn't call is "NOSA"
Also: Now you know why government projects cost so much more than non-government ones: The custom unpronounceable BUT PC acronyms come at a premium.
FOSS to the rescue
I'm just guessing that they haven't heard of Snort.
US Defence Department buys Intrusion Detection System.
Gosh, that's leading edge of them.......
Maybe tripwire too. OR get get the really important servers off the net and therefore the only way in is via being in the building.
- +Comment Trips to Mars may be OFF: The SUN has changed in a way we've NEVER SEEN
- Vid Google opens Inbox – email for those too stupid to use email
- Pic Forget the $2499 5K iMac – today we reveal Apple's most expensive computer to date
- RUMPY PUMPY: Bone says humans BONED Neanderthals 50,000 years B.C.
- Is your home or office internet gateway one of '1.2 MILLION' wide open to hijacking?


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In today’s world we have become so dependent on the power of medical science, that prayer and faith has taken a back seat for most people.
But, this story is a remarkable one, because doctors are puzzling over this man’s suspected malignant brain tumor suddenly disappeared without surgery.
Paul Wood from Lodi, California first met his doctor some months ago when he began headaches and experiencing trouble walking without assistance.
He then was sent to a neurosurgeon at UC San Francisco, where the doctors suspected that he had a brain bleed – but scans then revealed he had signs of a brain tumor.
Wood did not accept the diagnosis, but instead turned to his faith and community.
He attends Gravity Church, and received a lot of support and prayers from his fellow church goers and local acquaintances.
On the day before his surgery, doctors were astonished to find that the suspected tumor had vanished.
“We do tests and we have medical technology and we try to come up with some conclusion. We’re like detectives – [but] sometimes things happen that we can’t explain,” Dr. Richard Yee said.
Now that the surgery has been cancelled, Wood says that “it’s a miracle and that is the way God planned it.”
This is nothing but divine intervention and it is the healing hand of God that is the reason behind the disappearance of the tumor. Praise God!


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Colombian rider Egan Bernal has all but secured his first Tour de France title after a fourth-place finish in stage 20 on Saturday. Bernal crossed the line with 2018 winner Geraint Thomas and will wrap it up on Sunday.
Egan Bernal will ride the ceremonial race into Paris on Sunday as a champion after safely negotiating a shortened penultimate stage to wrap up his maiden Tour de France victory on Saturday.
The Colombian will become the first rider from South America to claim the title and merely needs to make sure he crosses the line down the Champs Elysees on Sunday, with tradition dictating that the yellow jersey holder is not attacked on the final stage.
"It'll need some time to sink in and for me to realise what's happening," Bernal said. "Tomorrow in Paris will be something. It must be amazing in Colombia."
Saturday's rain-hit stage from Albertville to fellow Alpine ski resort Val Thorens was reduced by 71 kilometres to just 59km because of landslides and severe weather warnings. It was won by Italy's Vincenzo Nibali, a champion in 2014, with Bernal finishing fourth on the climb.
Defending champion Geraint Thomas will finish second overall. The British rider is 1 minute 11 seconds adrift of Bernal, having helped his team-mate to overall victory in the penultimate stage. The Team Ineos riders held hands as they crossed the line.
Bernal's win has been built on consistent performances in the mountains. Like many cyclists from his country, he's an excellent climber and thrived in high altitude. As such, it was fitting that he delivered his final strike in the Iseran mountain pass.
mp (AP, AFP)


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Keg Creek Brewing identity
Keg Creek Brewing is a microbrewery located in Glenwood, Iowa. With a strong history in home-brewing, the guys at Keg Creek pride themselves on an open and comfortable environment that enhances craft beer education, enjoyment, and experimentation. If there’s anything they love more than craft beer, it’s talking about craft beer. They built their business on the idea of welcoming free thought and conversation and have stuck true to that concept since opening their doors back in 2011.
Every one of their beers has its own romantic story, and, of course, Keg Creek has its own rich story as well. Legend has it that during the mid-1800s when a bootlegging tradesman was warned of an impending patrol, he rolled five barrels of contraband liquor into the creek. The creek was then known as “Five Barrel Creek,” which was later shortened to “Keg Creek.” That story became the brewery’s namesake when they opened business on the shores of the creek.
With great success selling their beer and accompanying stories, Keg Creek Brewing is expanding, and they came to Oxide looking for help creating an updated identity and packaging. For the logo, we built several concepts which illustrated the event the creek was named for. We don’t typically design logos with such literal representations of the client’s name, but we really wanted to build something that reiterated their great narrative. Additional concepts included typographic stylings similar to what could have been found stamped onto the kegs floating down that creek over a hundred years ago.
The final logo uses a simple two-color palette which allows the identity to easily and cost-effectively apply to anything from packaging to apparel. The dark navy was selected for both the water of the creek and the night sky under which the barrels were transported. The aged off-white color helps reiterate the brewery’s and creek’s long and rich history.
We love taglines, and, luckily, Keg Creek already had a great one! As part of the identity, we built them a custom logotype designed to look like typography applied to the lid of a vintage barrel.
You can already find Keg Creek brews on tap at a variety of locations around the Omaha area and many places in Iowa, and bottles will soon arrive on store shelves. Or, if you’re up for a fair pour and a fine conversation about craft beer, head on over to Glenwood and visit with the guys. They’d love to meet you.

domain: artistic


text:
How to choose a therapist when sad or anxious in pregnancy or after deliverySep 21, 2023
The hardest part of #adulting for me is being a parent. I have often told my closest friends that it would be my hardest won accomplishment. Each stage of parenting requires support, and the very beginning of this journey is no different. If you are struggling or having difficulty coping get some qualified help.
Five Quick tips on choosing a therapist during pregnancy and after delivery/postpartum.
💡 Making sure that they are certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Interpersonal Therapy or both.
💡Look for a Maverick who keeps up to date with practice changes and goes to conferences.
💡Make sure that they are state licensed and belong to a professional organization.
💡 Look for PMH-C or specific training in perinatal mood disorders.
💡 Look for a therapist with similar interests. Exercise, Music, etc.
💡 After meeting the therapist do you think that they are adaptable and intuitive? Much like Lydia Moore Allen LCSW, MCAP, QS, CPI
#healthevoices #healthevoices2023 #nurse #nursesonlinkedin #nurses #nursepractitioner

domain: medical


text:
|History and lists|
|Much, much more ...|
Prose is the most typical form of written language, applying ordinary grammatical structure and natural flow of speech rather than rhythmic structure (as in traditional poetry). While there are critical debates on the construction of prose, its simplicity and loosely defined structure has led to its adoption for the majority of spoken dialogue, factual discourse as well as topical and fictional writing. It is commonly used, for example, in literature, newspapers, magazines, encyclopedias, broadcasting, film, history, philosophy, law and many other forms of communication.
Prose is the ordinary form of spoken and written language whose unit is the sentence, rather than the line as it is in poetry. The term applies to all expressions in language that do not have a regular rhythmic pattern. Novels, essays, short stories, and works of criticism are examples of prose. Other examples include: comedy, drama, fable, fiction, folk tale, hagiography, legend, literature, myth, narrative, saga, science fiction, story, theme, tragedy. Prose is considered one of the two major literary structures, with the other being verse.(Citation needed) Prose lacks the more formal metrical structure of verse that is almost always found in traditional poetry. Poems often involve a meter and/or rhyme scheme. Prose, instead, comprises full, grammatical sentences, which then constitute paragraphs and overlook aesthetic appeal. Some works of prose do contain traces of metrical structure or versification and a conscious blend of the two literature formats is known as prose poetry. Similarly, any work of verse with fewer rules and restrictions is known as free verse. Verse is considered to be more systematic or formulaic, whereas prose is the most reflective of ordinary (often conversational) speech. On this point Samuel Taylor Coleridge requested, jokingly, that novice poets should "remember my homely definitions of prose and poetry; that is, prose,— words in their best order; poetry,— the best words in their best order." In Molière's play Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, Monsieur Jourdain asked for something to be written in neither verse nor prose. A philosophy master replied that "there is no other way to express oneself than with prose or verse," for the simple reason being that "everything that is not prose is verse, and everything that is not verse is prose."
- ↑ "Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1913)". University of Chicago reconstruction.. http://machaut.uchicago.edu/websters. Retrieved 2010-01-31.
- ↑ "Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme". English translation accessible via Project Gutenberg. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2992/2992-h/2992-h.htm. Retrieved 2010-01-31.
|This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia. (view article). (view authors).|

domain: literature


text:
Format : CBR/CBZ
Language : English
Description : Mars Attacks Art Gallery #1
This special ad-free art gallery issue presents an out-of-this-world array of hand-drawn Mars Attacks card art curated by IDW Limited. The rare art in this book comes from a wide array of TOPPS, IDW and sketch card all-star talent done in the grand tradition of Mars Attacks trading cards!
Size : 54.5 MB
Download Link :


text:
Throughout our travels, there were three plants I saw in nearly every garden, public or private. Amsonia tabernaemontana, blue dogbane or blue star as it is known in my garden, is the first. Actually, I may grow Amsonia hubrichtii, but right now, I don’t have access to my garden to look at the leaf shape. I know I’m bad, but I never paid attention before. Both are native wildflowers, and both grow beautifully in full sun. Mine has finished flowering, but the foliage is still lovely. I plan to divide it next year.
The second is Baptisia. I saw several different varieities, but the most beautiful was again in the Lurie Garden, although the Chicago Botanic Garden had some beautiful examples too. I grow three different Baptisias in my garden, but they are young and take awhile to establish. I hope that someday they will be similar to the one below.
Number three was the giant hosta. Here, I can’t give you a particular variety, because it seemed like every hosta was a giant (unless it was a miniature variety). Somewhat related to the giant panda in their scope and size, this monsters of the shade garden were in a word, unbelievable. On Mr. McGregor’s Daughter’s blog, you can see a photo of Annaliese next to a massive hosta in the Chicago Botanic Garden. I took a macro image of one I saw. In my garden, hostas are grown in dappled to full shade, and never get that large. I was amazed.
There are many others like alliums and violas, but these are the ones I saw in every garden. One of the greatest joys of visiting Chicago was to see plants growing under such different conditions. I also saw two flowers I’d only seen in magazines, lupines and snapdragons, Antirrhinum majus. I was familiar with Lupines because of Miss Rumphius. In fact, in the botanic garden, some teenagers were talking about the book. They couldn’t remember the name, and I suggested it. If you’ve wondered whether all that reading to your child mattered, it did. As for snapdragons, I’d only read about them in my Regency novels and such. I saw them in magazines, but nothing prepared me for how beautiful they were in person. These are not the snapdragons sold way too early in the season by the box stores, and my photo doesn’t do these justice. You’ll have to take my word for it.
Whoops! That’s now five different plants. I never could stop myself at only three.
Kylee from Our Little Acre says
I loved this post, with you focusing on just a few of the thousands (or was it millions?) of plants and flowers we saw that weekend.
Fabulous photos, as usual. With the sun shining brightly, it was rather difficult sometimes, but you show these beauties off…well…beautifully!
Cindy, MCOK says
Chicago was such fun and as usual, I learned so much from hanging out with other gardeners. It’s always entertaining to hear how much we have in common with each other, even when we live in vastly different climates! We all suffer out of zone plant envy, it seems. I really REALLY want that Prairie Smoke Geum. Think I could fool them into thinking they’re in Chicago and not on a hot and humid corner of Katy? (Don’t answer that just yet … let me hold on to my dreams a bit longer.)
Cindy, MCOK´s last blog post..Through The Garden Gate: Monday, June 8th
I like your choices, Dee, especially the amsonia and the baptisia. I think this was the first time I had really seen baptisia in full bloom, and I was so taken by it that I searched the local nurseries until I found one to plant here. I hadn’t thought about the hostas being a signature plant, but maybe that’s because I’m so used to them. I even have a giant one of my own–that’s not bragging, just sheer dumb luck:) The geum “Prairie Smoke” was another plant I saw several places that I would love to add to my garden.
Rose´s last blog post..Spring Fling Finale
Thanks Rose. I loved meeting you in Chicago. I want the Geum too.~~Dee
I’ve never bothered with snapdragons, but I love the big blue hostas, which slugs really don’t bother. Even though hostas are a common, dependable plant around here too, I still appreciate them.
Those prairie plants won’t grow for me though.
Eliz, I love those too. It seems that the ribbed hostas have less trouble with slugs than their more tender cousins.~~Dee
Beautiful! I look forward to seeing which will grow here. Surely the snapdragons.
CurtissAnn´s last blog post..The Winner Is…
Curtiss Ann, it will be interesting to see how your new garden grows, my dear.~~Dee
Esther Mongtgomery says
Dee, this is all so clear and interesting and has given me a boost and a really cheerful start to the day. Reading about the Spring Fling and seeing the photos on the various blogs has sent me into a downward spiral of thinking how small and insignificant my garden is (even if I do love it) and how knowledgeable everyone else is (even though I have no special inclination to be knowledgeable, so why does that bother me? Daft!)
Anyway, I suddenly feel all chuffed because I am growing Lupins from seed (they are about six inches high at present – but they’ll get there!); I have a packet of Antirrhinium Seeds (I didn’t know it had three ‘I’s!) ready to sow in a few weeks time – and my sage is flowering happily (though not as dramatically as in the river of Chigago) at the front of my house.
Your post has reminded me (what I already know but had stupidly forgotten) that what is ordinary in one place is exotic somewhere else – and that just because it is ‘ordinary’ doesn’t make it any the less lovely.
P.S. Not only have I never seen a giant hosta, I’ve only ever seen one at all that isn’t riddled with slug holes or cut into ribbons by them (the slugs) – and that hosta is in a garden where there are more slug pellets than plants, so I don’t follow that route! Giant hostas must be really impressive.
Esther Mongtgomery´s last blog post..LOW-TECH PERFECTION
Esther, don’t ever feel less than. I go somewhere else, and I don’t know all of the plants. In the Chicago Botanic Garden, everything was labeled, and in the Lurie garden we had a guide. Thank you for coming by and for leaving such a nice comments. As to the slugs, I don’t have too much trouble with them. When I do, I use Sluggo or an off brand of it, which is just iron, and won’t hurt anything except the nasty slugs.~~Dee
Jenny B says
Your pics of Baptisia are beautiful as well as the Hosta–amazing how large they get–I had no idea! Thanks for sharing your wonderful experiences at Spring Fling. I know all who were able to go have come away with a new enthusiasm and appreciation for their gardens.
Jenny B´s last blog post..Summer Comes
Thanks Jenny. I so appreciate your visit and kind words. You’ll have to come visit Buffalo next year.~~Dee
Lisa at Greenbow says
I can’t grow the snapdragons either Dee. They soon get burned up. I just drooled over all the alliums though. I would love to have them in the garden.
Lisa, I knew it couldn’t just be me. 🙂 ~~Dee
Ramble on Rose says
Isn’t Amsonia great? I love how geometric the flowers are. And you are right that hostas are everywhere here in Illinois. Did you see those orange snapdragons at CBG? Incredible!
Ramble on Rose´s last blog post..GBMD Final Fling Thoughts
Hi Rose, yes they are. Too me, they look like little stars. No, I missed the orange snapdragons, darn it!~~Dee
Hmm, I never thought about why I don’t see giant hostas down here but I suppose it could be the shade factor as you suggest. In fact, it was odd to me to see those hostas growing in so much sunlight! Those baptisias really were pretty, weren’t they? Great photos.
Jean´s last blog post..Loving It – Chicago Botanic Garden
Thanks, Jean. Barb, Mr. McGregor’s Daughter, told me that the hostas in the sun suffer during summer. I just don’t know.~~Dee
I seem to be noticing Amsonia hubrichtii everywhere recently. Maybe that’s because I really want some, but I can’t find a plant. They have it planted at TLC, but they don’t have it in stock.
And I agree, there are loads of hostas up North!
Jeanne, you can have some of mine. I’ll divide it later in the fall. 🙂 ~~Dee
Sounds like you had a great time! Love that blue-violet baptista shot from Lurie. The pictures on several blogs of the sage river in that garden have entranced me.
VW´s last blog post..Annual Indulgence vs. Perennial Investment
We had such a wonderful time. Hope you can come next year in Buffalo.~~Dee
Jan (ThanksFor2Day) says
Hi Dee, thanks for reminding me that I have forgotten to get amsonia & baptisia to add to one of my gardens; I earlier had planned to do this but have just forgotten! Your photos show them off wonderfully!
Jan (ThanksFor2Day)´s last blog post..Wednesday Words
Hey Jan, glad to help.~~Dee
Nice post, Dee. If I were in the right zone, I’d grow all of these plus the prairie smoke, except perhaps the amsonia; I’m just not wild about pale blue. But for me the alliums were the plant I always noticed and coveted.
Pam/Digging´s last blog post..On Cloud Nine in Lurie Garden
Thanks, Pam. It was a very different climate zone than Austin, wasn’t it? You can grow alliums can’t you?~~Dee
I am so thinking of a river of salvia and a river of rudbeckia even though we didn’t see that plant blooming in a river pattern. I treasure the many moments of ‘connection’ and thank you for sharing breakfast with you and your beloved. Missed meeting ‘the boy’ but the girls are lovely. To be continued….
Layanee´s last blog post..Now Open at Our New Location
Layanee, it was a pleasure meeting you in person. Thanks for having breakfast with us and thanks for your kind words.~~Dee
Hi Dee, I also admired the snapdragon family at the CBG. I have never seen them look like that either, or hostas. I think we are too dry here for those, but we do have giant Baptisias, not that beautiful cultivar though. We have A. hubrichtii also, but it isn’t as happy as the ones in the Lurie. We are on the search for the geums too. So many great ideas from those gardens. Your photos and narrative hit the nail on the head, my friend.
Frances´s last blog post..People Of Spring Fling Chicago
Hey Frances, when you find the geums, let me know where. 🙂 ~~Dee
Carol, May Dreams Gardens says
You picked some great plants to showcase. I have the Amsonia and the Baptisia, but don’t have enough shade for a gigantic hosta. Someday, though, I will!
Carol, May Dreams Gardens´s last blog post..Reforming My "One Of" Ways, Again
Me neither Carol. Thanks.~~Dee
Delighted you had such a memorable time, Dee. Chicago will never be the same!
joey´s last blog post..SIMPLE PLEASURES (ANNIVERSARY BRUNCH) ~ CHIVE BLOSSOM OMELET / ORANGE SCONES with BERRIES & CREAM
Joey, I’m not sure much of Chicago knew we were there, but I know the bloggers will never be the same.~~Dee
Dee, The hostas were gorgeous~~I must admit to a bit of hosta envy!
They add texture and color so beautifully to a shady spot. Luckily we can grow the amsonias and the baptisias or I would be feeling sorry for myself. Your photos are lovely, btw, Gail
Gail´s last blog post..Chicago~~A River Runs Through It
Thanks, Gail. I was a bit envious too.~~Dee
Dee, thank you so much! I’ve been trying to think of the name of that book! A friend told me about it years ago and now that I have grandchildren I wanted to get it for them! Thank you, thank you!
Sheila´s last blog post..A Perfect Match
Sheila, I love that book! Wonderful. I also read some other favs to my children. Glad I could help.~~Dee
I have to get some Amsonia. How did I not know about this genus before?! I always think of hostas as a neutral background for more interesting plants but a monster-sized one is always stunning!
Diane´s last blog post..June: Made in the shade
Hi Diana, I only have it because I bought mine from the Butterfly Lady. She carries lots of wildflowers and other native plants.~~Dee
Kathy from Cold Climate Gardening says
I’m surprised you don’t have snapdragons. I know they are a perennial further south, and are a popular annual around here. Is it too hot for them in the summer?
Kathy from Cold Climate Gardening´s last blog post..Birdbath Bed Gets Annuals
Yes, way too hot. We only have the small puny ones.~~Dee
Mr. McGregor's Daughter says
I really didn’t notice that Hostas were in every garden because they are in every garden around here. I wish you could have seen the massive Hosta growing in full sun in Trudi Temple’s garden. That’s what really good soil will do for you around here. It would probably still fry to a crisp in full sun in OK, even in grown in pure compost.
Mr. McGregor’s Daughter´s last blog post..But Wait, There’s More! The Chicago Botanic Garden Part II
Yes, darlin’ Barb, it so would.~~Dee
I really liked the baptisia also, Dee. Tempting! Snapdragons are a common winter bloomer here and if they get some shade will often ‘over-summer’ to bloom again the next year.
Leslie´s last blog post..Compensation
Hey Leslie, in Oklahoma, we only see the little ones in various colors. They come out in early spring, but can’t survive our hot summers. Glad you have them.~~Dee

domain: hobby


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As part of their Classical Futures Europe-supported projects at the Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg in January singer Louise Alder and trombonist Peter Moore produced some short films with the Elbphilharmonie’s teams for use on social media and to reach new audiences.
Louise Alder focussed on her role as a professional opera singer, shining a light on her every day routine at the Oper Frankfurt, her career path and steps to becoming a professional musician. Both films also highlight more details on the then upcoming performance in Hamburg, Louise’s arrival at the Laeiszhalle, insights into the Mozart programme curated by Robin Ticciati and footage of her singing on stage during the concert.
Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg’s film with Peter Moore features footage of the trombonist’s project with the team of the „Zukunftsmusik“ (music of tomorrow) programme, leading a workshop with local trombone students on practicing and sight reading some big band repertoire.
Louise Alder – Becoming a professional opera singer
Louise Alder – Preparing for the performance
Peter Moore – Inspiring young musicians
Discover more about the Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg and performances supported by Classical Futures Europe.


DailyKOS posts an alarming bit of iconography.
Copyright © 2003 by Philocrites | Posted 13 October 2003 at 3:42 PM
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Now, that is our mistake; and so we find ourselves in big debt or just in trouble and not comprehending when all this happened without us being aware of it!
What should you know about credit cards?
What should you know as a customer -
Before getting a credit card make sure you know what the terms and conditions are; having a card implies some responsibility and commitment for paying on time. Find out the variety of card types there are out there and try to find someone to qualify you for a decent credit line that you can make use off and the interest rate is, - known as APR - something you are comfortable with, just in case you have to carry a balance from one month to another.
Be familiar with certain terms that the merchant uses
- Authorization - that means that the merchant is issuing a "hold" on the amount of your purchase before they will charge the credit card.
- Visa and Master Card will have that amount "on hold" for a period up to 7 days, - if the purchase doesn't take place and the amount doesn't get through as a purchase, that is being release and available to you.
- Discovery has a longer period of time for holding the dollar amount, which is 30 days.
Do not jump to conclusion and tell the merchant that you have already been charged, that is not how it works. You might show the transaction on your credit card/debit card, - however, an authorization is out of the merchant's hands and
- ONLY when they say - they charged you and give you a confirmation number for the purchase, that is the time they will have the money released to their bank account from the card processor.
What should you know as a merchant -
If you have not been notified already, here is some info I found very helpful.
In order to comply with the credit card issuers' request, we will like to comply and keep our spending to a minimum;
The new terminology is: "Avoiding Unnecessary Additional Fees" - we will follow procedures as we are instructed; what is expected of a merchant:
* 1. to have the card authorized prior to charging it, and charge the sale on the same card - otherwise we are charged with "Misuse of Authorization" fee by Visa.
* 2. to charge the card and do it within the allotted time frame - otherwise if the authorization was not obtained prior to the charges occurrence, Visa calls this a "Zero Floor Limit" fee and that (the fee) is passed on to us, the merchants.
If anyone learns at least one thing off this article, I think is worth your time reading it!

domain: finance


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A German former beauty queen sued her married financier ex-lover in Manhattan court last year, claiming he promised her an ostrich farm — and all she ended up with was a lousy STD.
Now the ex, Autonomy Capital CEO Robert Charles Gibbins, is firing back in Manhattan Supreme Court papers, saying that onetime Miss Germany International Aline Marie Massel tried to shake him down for money to have an abortion.
Gibbins claims Massel told him she was pregnant in July 2016, two years into their affair.
But his “offers to provide child support were transformed by Massel into an auction in which she held the fetus hostage — if the price was right, she would abort,” say the court papers, filed in response to Massel’s $15 million emotional-distress suit against him.
Massel demanded $4.2 million to terminate the pregnancy, according to Gibbins.
“Aline Massel is a con artist who, over the course of a two-year relationship with Gibbins, repeatedly made materially false statements intended to induce Gibbins to give her large sums of money,” he says in the filing.
Massel, 31, and Gibbins, who is in his 40s, met at the Manhattan restaurant Le Bilboquet in June 2014 and then carried on a whirlwind romance, rendezvousing in Germany, Brazil and New York.
He claims to have paid Massel $30,000 when she faked her first pregnancy in 2014 during the beginning of their relationship, and another $55,000 for a second phony pregnancy.
He acknowledges Massel was actually pregnant in 2016, but does not admit paternity.
Massel has said she did abort the baby in 2016, but only after Gibbins told her “he would not be there for her in any respect if she chose to keep the baby.”
The alleged extortion came after Gibbins gave his girlfriend $100,000 in 2015 so that she could “have a nice summer, play polo and spend some time in Italy,” and another $100,000 a year later to “build a new life,” he claims.
In her original suit Massel paints herself as the victim, saying her lover insisted on having sex without a condom and gave her HPV. Meanwhile, he never delivered on vows to buy them a large estate in Canada and an ostrich farm in Uganda, she says.
But Gibbins counters that a British judge has already dismissed the STD claims as not credible because Massel never submitted medical tests proving the allegation.
Now he’s asking a US judge to toss Massel’s New York case.
In the British suit, Gibbins received a restraining order against his ex-mistress after she confronted him at a London hotel where he was attending a memorial service with his family and shouted that he had “impregnated” her.
Massel’s lawyer, Edward Hayes, said his client turned down a $2 million offer to have an abortion in 2016. He added that her claim was dismissed in the UK only because she wasn’t represented by a lawyer at the time.


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Argument: Corp election spending limited by transparency laws
Jon Witold Baran. "Stamped Toward Democracy." Washington Post. January 25, 2010: "Perhaps all of this corporate spending will be secret? Wrong again. The Supreme Court upheld the laws that require any corporate or union spender to file reports with the Federal Election Commission within 24 hours of spending the first dime."


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The whole world, these female artistes are the top 10 richest based on their net worth!
All your favourite artistes are here!!
Some aren’t though…
Here’s a look at the top 10 richest female artistes in the world! From active singers like Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez to singers who are no longer in the game like Barbara Streisand.
Rihanna – $600 Million
Madonna – $570 Million
Celine Dion – $450 Million
Beyonce Knowles – $400 million
Barbra Streisand – $400 Million
Jennifer Lopez – $400 Million
Mariah Carey – $300 Million
Lady Gaga – $300 Million
Britney Spears – $215 Million
Looks like all the music is in making pop music!!
If you have a story you want to share with Kuulpeeps and the world, please send us an email to [email protected]


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Thursday, May 28, 2020; Episode No. 720: Karen Kataline fills in for Keith. Please join us live via affiliate FM/AM stations, satellite, or streaming live each and every weeknight beginning at 9 pm Eastern, or on-demand at your convenience. You can also access the show via various podcast platforms (iHeartRadio, iTunes, TuneIn, and Spreaker) or on our website, www.keithhansonshow.com.
AUDIO / DOWNLOAD

domain: entertainment


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Is juice a good source of energy? Or is it actually making you tired?
Fruit is healthy, right?
From a big picture point of view, yes, fruit is generally healthy. However, if you’ve noticed you experience fatigue after drinking juice you’re not alone.
Reading: why does orange juice make me sleepy
In fact, if you take a closer look, you may find out that nature’s healthy treat could secretly be making you tired.
Whether fruit is healthy or contributes to fatigue strongly depends on your individual circumstances. Have you heard the adage: “One man’s food is another man’s poison.”? This holds true for all food. Especially fruit.
Why your morning orange juice makes you tired
Fruit contains natural sugars and fibers. These are classified as carbohydrates and your body uses them for energy. While both sugars and fibers are carbohydrates, they behave very differently within your body.
Fiber cannot be digested by your body. This is because you lack the digestive enzymes to break it down.
There are two different types of dietary fiber:
- Soluble fiber
- Dissolves in water
- Insoluble fiber
- Does not dissolve in water
Fruit contains insoluble fiber. Insoluble fiber passes through your digest tract unchanged, adds bulk to your stool and helps to alleviate constipation.
However, when you blend or juice a fruit, you break up the fiber. And with lower a fiber content, fruit juices and smoothies have a more dramatic – and negative!- effect on your blood sugar.
The link between carbohydrates and fatigue
As I mentioned, fruit contains two carbohydrates: fiber and sugar.
But the sugars found in fruit are better than the sugars found in refined food products, right?
Not necessarily. The sugar in fruit is better for you only when it is accompanied by fiber.
When fiber and sugar are eaten together, the fiber works to keep your blood sugar balanced. (2) But if you juice your fruit or blend it up in a smoothie, you’re destroying the fiber. And without the fiber, the fruit’s sugar has the same effect on your blood sugar as soda.
To figure out how much sugar is in a food, you look at the net carbohydrates. Net carbs is the total amount of carbs less the fiber.
Take a look at the nutritional information for 1 medium orange:
Read more: how to make potato juice for skin lightening
Notice the carbohydrate total for the orange is 11 grams. This includes 9g of sugar and 2.3 grams of fiber. Therefore, the net carbohydrates for the orange is 8.7 grams (11g – 2.3g = 8.7g).
The orange’s fiber keeps your blood sugar from spiking. When you remove the fiber (like in orange juice), you’re making a sugary drink that’s not too far off from a can of cola.
Compare this with one glass of raw, freshly squeezed orange juice. (source) One cup of orange juice has 26 grams of sugar in it and only 0.5 grams of fiber. Therefore, the net carbohydrates in a glass of orange juice are 25.5 grams (26g – 0.5g = 25.5g).
That’s more than six teaspoons of sugar!
Juice vs Pop
To better put this in perspective, a can of your favourite pop will have around 30 grams of sugar in it (with no fiber). A can of pop has almost the same amount of sugar as a glass of “healthy” orange juice.
I’ve written a great deal about how eating a lot of carbohydrates can cause fatigue. Basically, different carbohydrates can affect everyone differently. If you eat a carb your body doesn’t tolerate, your blood sugar levels will rapidly rise and your body will release insulin to lower the levels. If your body releases too much insulin your blood sugar will drop. This is a tremendous stress to your body and it will then release cortisol. You probably know cortisol as the stress hormone. To combat stress, cortisol pulls sugar out of your cells and puts it back into your blood. This raises your blood sugar. And (hopefully) alleviates those uncomfortable low blood sugar symptoms.
Your blood sugar goes down but cortisol brings it back up. What’s the big deal?
If this was a one-time deal, it wouldn’t be an issue. That’s a small stress that your body can handle. The real problem occurs when this happens daily. Maybe even three (or more) times a day. Each time you eat a carbohydrate that your body doesn’t tolerate, it has to release cortisol to help re-balance your blood sugar.
By altering your blood sugar levels, that ‘healthy’ morning smoothie or glass of juice could quietly be causing your fatigue. That’s why some people complain orange juice makes them tired!
If you’re trying to overcome fatigue, I recommend you hold off on juicing, juice cleanses, and daily smoothie consumption. The high sugar content found in fruit juice and smoothies will likely only compound your energy issues. Opt for eating whole fruits – but only in moderation.
This is because even whole fruit could be causing your fatigue!
Glucose, fructose, and fatigue
I’ve already covered how glucose affects your energy levels. But there’s another form of sugar that may be even worse. This form of sugar is known as fructose. You’ve probably seen it on ingredient lists as “high fructose corn syrup” or “glucose-fructose“.
High fructose corn syrup is a cheap way to sweeten food. It’s often used to make bland, unappetizing foods palatable. Cover anything in enough sugar and it’s bound to taste good.
However, fructose behaves very differently than glucose. Glucose increases your blood sugar, but fructose does not. (3) However, before you jump on the fructose bandwagon, know that it could very well be an insidious cause of your fatigue.
How fructose causes fatigue
Unless you’re on a ketogenic diet, your body uses glucose for energy. No glucose, no energy. Your body cannot run on fructose for energy and it can’t convert fructose into glucose (energy).
When you consume fructose, it is first absorbed into circulation in your small intestine. From there, it heads straight to your liver. While glucose can be metabolized anywhere, fructose can only be metabolized within the liver. (4)
What does your liver do with fructose?
Read more: How to make tea cookies from scratch
Since it cannot use fructose as energy, the only option is to put it into storage. And the storage of fructose is done via body fat. Fatty liver disease can develop when you consume too much fructose. With excess fructose, your liver is forced to store it as fat. This fat storage pattern is how fructose causes fatigue.
Fat, fatigue, and fructose
High-fructose corn syrup now represents nearly 50% of the sweeteners used in the United States. (5, 6) And you know now that fructose contributes to the addition of fat on your body. In fact, fructose has even been linked to the obesity epidemic in developed nations. (7)
When you have excess body fat, you’re at increased risk for developing diabetes. (8)
Your fat cells release hormones and inflammatory markers that cause insulin resistance. The more weight you gain, the stronger the effect these hormones and inflammatory markers have on your health.
As well, the cells in the pancreas that control blood glucose are impaired. The combination of these two health issues in obese people can lead to both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
As I mentioned, insulin and cortisol work together to control blood sugar. When insulin levels are unbalanced, cortisol levels almost always become unbalanced. Your body typically needs more cortisol when it struggles to balance its blood sugar (like in diabetes). Over time, this high demand for cortisol results in hypocortisolism (also known as adrenal fatigue).
It’s a long process, but this is how fructose causes fatigue. Fatigue doesn’t occur immediately after consuming fructose. Instead, the fatigue developed by fructose occurs over a long period of time.
My recommendation: if you’re working to overcome fatigue, avoid anything that contains fructose. This includes:
- refined fructose (like high-fructose corn syrup or glucose-fructose)
- fruit that contains fructose.
Foods with fructose
Fructose is a naturally occurring sweetener in fruits. The following fruits are known to have high levels of fructose (eat in moderation):
The following vegetables contain high levels of fructose (eat in moderation):
- Sugar snap peas
The following refined foods contain high levels of fructose (avoid completely):
- Sweetened/ flavored yogurt
- Salad dressings
- Granola bars
- Breakfast cereals
- Sports drinks
To overcome fatigue, achieving a healthy weight and balanced blood sugar are absolutely essential. Fruit, juice cleanses, and smoothies can seem like quick wins to improve your energy. In reality, they often do more harm than good.
Be sure to steer clear of all refined foods high in fructose (and glucose for that matter). As a general rule of thumb, do your best to limit or avoid tropical fruit. These fruits often contain the highest glucose and fructose content. Instead, opt for berries.
Blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, and huckleberries contain lower amounts of glucose/fructose. They’ll help keep your blood sugar stable and won’t contribute to body fat.
If you’re going to take away one thing from this post, I want it to be that if you want to overcome fatigue, so-called “healthy” juice, juice cleanses, and/or smoothies may actually be making you tired. Do your best to avoid them.
Learn more than your doctor about which foods cause fatigue!

domain: food


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Understanding Erection Physiology
An erection is triggered by a complex interplay between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system, with local sensory stimulation of the genital area and/ or central psychogenic stimulation resulting from visual, tactile, auditory, olfactory, and/or imaginative input (Sadeghi-Nejad 2007; Kolodny 2011). The endothelial cells that line the blood vessels of the penis produce vasoactive factors that dilate blood vessels, one of the most important being nitric oxide.
Nitric oxide, by initiating production of another chemical messenger called cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), triggers a biochemical cascade leading to expansion (vasodilatation) of penile blood vessels and allows for increased blood flow into the corpus cavernosum, the two columns of spongy tissue that run along the top length of the penis (Kolodny 2011; Heidelbaugh 2010; AUA 2012; Sadeghi-Nejad 2007). As the corpus cavernosum fills with blood it stretches, compressing the primary site where blood exits the penis, called the subtunical venules. This compression causes resistance to blood flow out of the penis, producing and maintaining an erection (Sadeghi-Nejad 2007; Kolodny 2011; NIH 1992; Heidelbaugh 2010).


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Greek Orthodox Clergy Syndesmos "St. John Chrysostom" Diocese of Pittsburgh, 1983. Second Edition. Paperback. Facing pages have the same page number, up to 42. A staplebound softcover booklet in very good condition. Edges of cover lightly tanned. Former owner's private library stamps inside covers and on last page. Otherwise clean and tight. Item #166047
Greek and English text on facing pages.

domain: library


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As we get older, sleep can become a challenge—especially for those who go through the menopause transition.
In addition to other fun changes like mood swings and temperature regulation issues, the menopausal period can mess with our ability to sleep through the night. As integrative medicine doctor Aviva Romm, M.D. previously explained to mbg, the "earthquake-level hormonal changes" that happen during this phase of life affect estrogen and progesterone, which are both essential for achieving deep sleep. And since the body sleeps best when slightly cool, the added heat of this transition doesn't help matters.
That's why Romm recommends that everyone in their 50s and above doubles down on good sleep hygiene habits: Turn off electronics early, minimize stress where you can, and keep to a consistent sleep schedule. She's also seen sleep supplements be helpful for people navigating this tricky time of life. One non-hormonal option to look into is sleep support+.


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House Advances Bill to Repeal Tax Reporting Provision in Healthcare Reform
Last Friday, the House Ways and Means Committee advanced a bill to repeal the tax reporting provision that was included in last year’s healthcare reform legislation. The Senate had already voted to repeal the 1099 provision requiring businesses to report on purchases of goods and services totaling more than $600.
President Obama said he supports the repeal.
Under current law, 1099’s must be filed for expenses paid to unincorporated entity, but the new requirement would require that expenses like phone and Internet services be filed starting next year.
According to Jimi Grande, senior vice president of federal and political affairs at NAMIC (the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies), “This requirement provides no benefit to the businesses that have to file the paperwork or the taxpayers. Instead, it will be a massive drain on time and resources that would be better spent elsewhere.”
The bill was introduced by Rep. Dan Lungren (R – CA), and has 272 co-sponsors. It has since been sent to the House floor for debate and a vote.


Redundancy Management of Onboard Equipment: An Arbitration Approach Based on Configuration Supervisors
Ageev, A.M., Bukov, V.N., and Shurman, V.A. Redundancy Management of Onboard Equipment: An Arbitration Approach Based on Configuration Supervisors
Abstract. This paper considers the operational reconfiguration of an onboard equipment complex with redundant heterogeneous and non-universal components for achieving fault tolerance and other operational and technical characteristics. An approach to building a redundancy management system (RMS) is formulated as a conceptual solution. This approach uses configuration supervisors according to the number of previously developed competitive configurations of the complex. Each supervisor can be self-sufficient to execute the following functions: monitor the readiness and functional efficiency indicators of the components included in the corresponding configuration; participate in arbitration for the right to implement the corresponding configuration in current conditions; initiate and control the operation of the corresponding configuration. A three-stage algorithm of the RMS is proposed. It contains a sequence of paired arbitrations of computers and configurations. An illustrative example explains RMS operation in different modes of the complex under detectable and undetectable failures of equipment components and computers allocated for redundancy management. The proposed approach unifies and rationalizes the information and logical structure of redundancy management tools, thereby simplifying the creation of an efficient RMS with flexibility, a wide coverage of equipment and configurations, and a significant reduction of bottlenecks in the redundant complex.
Keywords: onboard equipment complex, redundant resource, reconfiguration, redundancy management, configuration supervisor, paired arbitration.
Cite this paper
Ageev, A.M., Bukov, V.N., and Shurman, V.A., Redundancy Management of Onboard Equipment: An Arbitration Approach Based on Configuration Supervisors. Control Sciences 2
, 19–28 (2022). http://doi.org/10.25728/cs.2022.2.3


Just heard that Sarawak Workers Party has been given the green light by the Registrar of Societies…to do whatever it is the members, leaders and supporters plan to do.
What does it mean for politics in the State?
What does it mean for Sarawak Barisan Nasional and for the loose coalition of opposition parties in Pakatan? Will this party play spoiler to BN or dash the aspirations of the opposition?
And how does this play out for former YB Larry Sng, and his replacement in Pelagus, current YB George Lagong?
So many questions…which will surely be answered as we head closer towards another election.


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What I've done -- I stitched the collar and facing into place by hand. I also finished some edges by hand. I purchased snap tape and used that along the overlap -- hand stitched on the top overlap and machine stitched on the underneath since it won't show. I hand stitched a couple snaps on the underneath so it fastens to the shoulder. I hemmed the jacket and the sleeves by machine. At some point, I'll need to redo the hem as the overlap ended up a little longer than the underneath, but I'm not worrying about that at this moment in time.
What I have left to do -- I need to stitch a snap to the overlap shoulder to hold it in place better. I also need to stitch a modesty panel on the collar. Somehow the collar ended up too short and I don't feel like re-doing it at this moment in time, so I'm just going to fix the issue with a modesty panel, stitched on one side, likely snapped on the other. I may also stitch a snap or hook to the underneath overlap to hold it to the side seam.
EDIT My Imperial Officer is as done as its gonna be for the moment. So - Imperial Officer DONE
As for Ohayocon...
I think I've figured out my costumes. I still feel like I'm taking too many and may leave one at home, but I don't know. There are only so many hours in the day after all, and really what's the point of wearing a costume for only a couple hours before I have to change for a competition or a photoshoot? Part of me is tempted to leave Time Traveler behind, just based on the volume the dress takes up...but its one of my favorites and its so pretty. And much more likely to garner a response than the Airship Stewardess. One decision I did make was to wear Lady of the Ottoman Empire on Sunday -- its persona heavy and comfortable, so just what I need for that day.
Okay, now for what I need to do.
1. I still haven't finished my Harley Quinn mask so I really need to do that. I would really like to have the Victorian style mask and not just the one I wear with the comic Harley Quinn.
2. A task for my beau - replacing bands on a pair of gloves.
3. I'd like to add some cream lace to my Airship Stewardess, at least at the polonaise cuffs and probably on the pettidress as well. This will likely be my handsewing task for next week while at work.
4. My black petticoat needs a waistband. I've been wearing it and just safety pinning it closed but that habit has torn it in a couple places so I really should add a waistband.
In other news, I still haven't started my sewing for me! I am quite sad about this. Hopefully I can get some of this done or at least started while finishing my last minute Ohayocon preparations. After all, its almost February, when I'm supposed to start commissions again! Maybe I can do a commission, sew something for me, do a commission, sew something for me...Might be the only way to keep everyone happy.
Today I would like to
1. Finish my Imperial Officer (kinda have to since its for tomorrow!)
2. Finish my HQ mask for Ohayocon. Need to wrap the handle with ribbon and attach it to the mask, so hopefully it shouldn't take long.
3. Cut out my Kermit pajama pants.
I think that's reasonable. EDIT All that got done was finishing my Imperial Officer. Seamstress fail.
Miss Leah J Wilde
PS Just had a brilliant idea for Lady of the Ottoman Empire! I'm going to pin my sundial pin (birthday gift from my grandma) to it as decoration. It has definite steamy vibe to it, its silver so it matches and most importantly it's sparkly! Must remember to pack this!

domain: design


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This is the Club MX Motosport Giveaway Bike Replica.
I have had a little error where when I first select the bike it doesn’t
load the plastic graphics but select a different paint then reselect it and you should be good.
This is an earlier version of this replica, possible updates in the future
See The Real Bike Below


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Minerals Technologies Inc (NYSE:MTX) has been assigned a consensus broker rating score of 2.00 (Buy) from the two brokers that provide coverage for the company, Zacks Investment Research reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company.
Brokerages have set a 1-year consensus target price of $77.00 for the company and are predicting that the company will post $1.12 earnings per share for the current quarter, according to Zacks. Zacks has also assigned Minerals Technologies an industry rank of 178 out of 265 based on the ratings given to related companies.
A number of analysts recently issued reports on the company. Zacks Investment Research cut Minerals Technologies from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Thursday. KeyCorp reissued a “hold” rating on shares of Minerals Technologies in a research report on Monday, November 6th. Finally, ValuEngine raised Minerals Technologies from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 4th.
Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Citadel Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Minerals Technologies by 96.8% in the fourth quarter. Citadel Advisors LLC now owns 135,673 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $9,341,000 after buying an additional 66,742 shares during the last quarter. American International Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Minerals Technologies by 0.8% in the fourth quarter. American International Group Inc. now owns 96,128 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $6,618,000 after buying an additional 757 shares during the last quarter. Virtu Financial LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Minerals Technologies in the fourth quarter worth about $650,000. Royce & Associates LP lifted its position in shares of Minerals Technologies by 12.1% in the fourth quarter. Royce & Associates LP now owns 1,263,881 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $87,018,000 after buying an additional 136,595 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BlackRock Inc. lifted its position in shares of Minerals Technologies by 0.5% in the fourth quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 3,683,524 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $253,611,000 after buying an additional 17,944 shares during the last quarter. 95.62% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
Minerals Technologies (NYSE MTX) opened at $67.50 on Friday. Minerals Technologies has a twelve month low of $62.55 and a twelve month high of $80.50. The company has a current ratio of 2.75, a quick ratio of 2.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75. The firm has a market capitalization of $2,320.00, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.34 and a beta of 2.29.
Minerals Technologies (NYSE:MTX) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The basic materials company reported $1.10 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.09 by $0.01. Minerals Technologies had a return on equity of 13.89% and a net margin of 11.64%. The business had revenue of $432.10 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $411.95 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.08 earnings per share. Minerals Technologies’s revenue for the quarter was up 7.7% compared to the same quarter last year. analysts expect that Minerals Technologies will post 4.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 8th. Investors of record on Friday, February 16th will be given a dividend of $0.05 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 15th. This represents a $0.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.30%. Minerals Technologies’s payout ratio is 3.66%.
Minerals Technologies Company Profile
Minerals Technologies Inc is a resource- and technology-based company that develops, produces and markets a range of specialty mineral, mineral-based and synthetic mineral products and related systems and services around the world. It operates through four segments. The Specialty Minerals segment produces and sells the synthetic mineral product precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC), mines mineral ores, and processes and sells natural mineral products, primarily limestone and talc.
For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com
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Katie Couric saw it all while working on TODAY — and we mean she saw it all.
During an appearance on Thursday’s episode of “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” Couric was asked about her favorite unplanned moment during her tenure with TODAY.
“I had a lot of them. I did the show for 15 years. Well, one time a woman exposed herself when she was out on the plaza,” she said.
“I was on a remote location. The rest of the anchors, she was behind them, so they didn’t see anything. So, basically, you saw me in the box going ...” she continued, while making a stunned expression.
Couric also singled out the time she had a surprise guest while interviewing first lady Barbara Bush at the White House in 1992.
“And suddenly her husband, President George Herbert Walker Bush, walked in with their dog and I had to do an impromptu 19-minute interview that I hadn’t prepared for,” she said.
“I bet those 19 minutes lasted forever,” Clarkson said.
“I was so pitted out,” Couric joked, referencing how much she was sweating at the time. “It was so stressful and I kept thinking, ‘I’m going to run out of questions. I’m going to start asking him, “What’s your favorite food here at the White House?”’ But it all worked out.”
Couric, who remained with TODAY until 2006, pointed out the interview happened early on in her stint on the show, but everything worked out for the best.
“I can’t believe that he decided to walk in in the middle of our interview, but he did and it was great,” she said. “And that was when I had first started on the TODAY show, so that was a big moment for me.”


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Jessica Spence’s Inspiring Art Pays Respect to Black Hair and Womanhood by Tiffanee E. Thompson
Jessica Spence’s Artwork and Upcoming Exhibition at Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education in the Bronx Opening Sept 19, 2019
RESPECT | Group exhibition with Timothy Okamura, Jessica Spence, and Nichole Washington
Show Duration: September 19th through November 15, 2019
Opening reception: Thursday, September 19th, 5:30 – 8:00 PM
Collage Workshop: Saturday, September 21st, 3:30pm
All events are free and open to the public
Casita Maria Gallery at 928 Simpson Street 6th floor
Bronx, New York, 10459
Jessica Spence, the New York based Jamaican-American artist, has created a series of images that accurately depicts Black women’s relationship with their hair, Black culture and Black identity. Spence has visually documented the diversity amongst Black women and girls through the symbol that represents their crown and glory, hair.
Jessica Spence, photographed in her studio in the Bronx
Opening on Thursday, September 19th , Spence will be a part of a new group gallery show entitled, RESPECT: Exploration of Black & Afro-Latinx Female Identity, at the Casita Maria Gallery in the Casita Maria Center For Arts & Education in the Bronx. The exhibit and related public programs comprise the fall season of “CelebrARTE,” Casita Maria’s arts and culture event series celebrating the South Bronx community and the art it has inspired. Spence contributes six pieces to the show, including four new works.
Spence’s creative process pulls from her own personal experience and the desire to include models specifically from her community in the Bronx. This series on Black hair and Black culture, currently focuses on women and girls through portrait-like images highlighting their hair styles, energy and creativity.
Jessica Spence’s studio
The imagery of a Black women’s hair, in any state, has often been met with strong opinions, assumptions, critiques and, quite frankly, controversy. The acceptance of Black women and girl’s hair has triggered much debate on professionally, appropriateness, conformity, and levels of Blackness and this topic is ingrained in the subconscious of the Black community from childhood. Spence speaks on this stigma by saying, “Why can’t we [Black women and girls] be comfortable doing whatever we want with our hair without being faced with criticism or unfair attention and judgement?”
Spence’s upcoming exhibition at the Casita Maria Gallery is an artistic statement of these concerns with womanhood, specifically Black womanhood. The complexities of Black hair are deeply rooted for Black women and girls based on both trauma and tradition. Spence tells us that, “As I think about my own experiences with my hair and cultural identity, I wanted to create artwork that showed Black women and girls in a positive light. I choose to create abstract art in the sense that I wanted to not focus on the facial features but to show Black women as everyday people full of beauty and versatility – not some monolith of what others think of us.”
Roller Set, 2019
Largely created using acrylic on canvas, Spence shows us snapshots of ourselves or someone we know with the supreme detail of laid edges, a perfectly dried twist out, the shiny curl flip after a released roller-set or the perfectly paired barrette-to-bobo color combination for the first day of school. Each piece in the series evokes the intimate parts of womanhood, childhood and blackness that deserves to be maintained, celebrated and normalized.
Braids and Barrettes, 2018
Spence’s work has been on display at galleries and events throughout NYC for the past few years. In between exhibitions, her work is constantly being ‘liked’ and ‘shared’ digitally through her growing Instagram account and as a participating artist in Snapchat’s impressive 2019 virtual art gallery titled For Us, By Us: Art Through the Eyes of Black Millennials in celebration of Black History Month. Spence tells us that, “Social media gives me the opportunity to expose my work and message to thousands of people who cannot see my work in person. These platforms are also a great way to reach the younger generation or students who are not exposed to diverse artists in school.”
Jessica Spence expresses that, “After the public sees my work, I hope that they see the subjects in my paintings as individuals who are going about their daily lives, just like them. I want people to understand that just because they are the same race does not mean they are monolith, which all ties back into the theme of the show ‘RESPECT’ and understanding that all people deserve it regardless of how they look.”
Photos Courtesy of the Artist


New York City Parks Hit on Weed Spraying
NEW YORK, N.Y. When Connie Lesold stepped out of her car on Brooklyn's Eastern Parkway, she got a nauseating whiff of weed killer.
"I knew they had sprayed," Lesold, 67, said. "You can smell it."
Lesold and other environmental activists want the Parks Department to stop using herbicides on the city's 29,000 acres of parkland.
They fear the herbicides cause cancer, and they want the Parks Department to pull weeds the old-fashioned way -- by hand -- or use organic treatments.
Mitchel Cohen, head of the No Spray Coalition, said Lesold's experience is not uncommon.
"We have gotten hundreds of calls from people who have become sick," Cohen said.
The Parks Department has no plans to stop using the herbicide RoundUp, said spokesman Liam Kavanagh.
"You have to use it cautiously and judiciously," he said, adding that signs are posted after spraying. "Our staff is trained in the use of [herbicides]."
St. Louis-based chemical company Monsanto, which makes RoundUp, defends the product, which works by starving certain amino acids that occur in plants.
"It has a long history of safe use," said Dr. Daniel Goldstein, a Monsanto spokesman. "It has been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency and the World Health Organization."
Dr. Maida Galvez, a pediatrician at the Mount Sinai Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit said that the herbicide hasn't been shown to be harmful, but said more research is needed.
"What we are lacking is long-term studies examining low-level exposures, and their health effects, especially in children," said Galvez, who recommended using non-chemical alternatives.
To see more of the Daily News, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.NYDailyNews.com.
Source: Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News


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Table of Contents
- Definition and Purpose of HOA Community Rules
- Maintenance and Upkeep of Common Areas
- Preserving Property Values
- Ensuring a Peaceful Living Environment
- Conflict Resolution and Mediation
- Collective Decision-Making Power
- Enhanced Community Safety and Security Measures
- Access to Amenities and Services
Homeowners associations (HOAs) are prevalent in many residential communities, particularly those with shared amenities or common areas. These associations establish and enforce community and property care rules to ensure harmonious living among homeowners. Sometimes, they get a bad rap, but there are numerous advantages to living in a neighborhood with an HOA. In this article, we will look at the numerous ways homeowners benefit from HOA community rules.
Definition and Purpose of HOA Community Rules
HOA community rules refer to a set of regulations established by the association to govern the behavior, appearance, and maintenance of properties within the community. These rules are twofold: to maintain an aesthetically pleasing environment and promote a peaceful living environment for all residents. Typically, HOA community rules are established by the HOA board, which is comprised of residents and board members. Residents can attend monthly HOA board meetings and give their input on HOA policies and rules.
Maintenance and Upkeep of Common Areas
One significant benefit that homeowners gain from HOA community rules is knowing they will have well-maintained common areas such as parks, swimming pools, clubhouses, or recreational facilities like gyms. Through regular inspections and other coordinated efforts, HOAs ensure that these shared spaces remain clean, functional, and aesthetically appealing, which is great news for you if you frequently have guests over and, of course, it benefits your property managers in case other potential homeowners are interested in touring the neighborhood. The HOA collects homeowner dues from all homeowners, which are then used to fund regular maintenance and upkeep of the shared spaces. This enhances the overall quality of life for homeowners who can enjoy these amenities without having to bear the burden of their upkeep individually.
Preserving Property Values
By setting standards for home appearance, landscaping, or exterior modifications, HOA community rules play a vital role in preserving property values within a neighborhood. These regulations prevent any single homeowner from neglecting their property’s maintenance or making unsightly modifications that could negatively impact neighboring homes’ value. As a result, all homeowners benefit from maintaining high property values collectively. Without an HOA, you run the risk of having a neighbor who decided to subdivide a lot and build two homes for the price of one- driving down the property value for your home and the rest of the homes in the neighborhood. Architectural guidelines set by an HOA throughout the neighborhood will maintain a neat appearance and cohesive look amongst all of the homes on your street. That being said, in most cases, HOAs still allow some level of creative freedom and expression for homeowners so that you won’t be entirely constrained to a singular set of rules given to you. You can still express yourself within reason, so your home won’t look entirely the same as everyone else’s. Through personal touches to your property such as modern outdoor furniture, you can add a touch of color and personality to your home to make it stand out amongst the others.
Ensuring a Peaceful Living Environment
Another advantage offered by HOA community rules is the promotion of a peaceful living environment through various policies addressing noise restrictions, parking regulations, and pet policies. By establishing guidelines on acceptable behavior within the community premises, such as designated quiet hours or specific parking spaces, these rules foster mutual respect among neighbors and minimize any potential conflicts that might arise without an HOA committee. Homeowners can enjoy a peaceful living environment due to these regulations and rest assured, knowing that their neighbors respect and follow the rules.
Conflict Resolution and Mediation
HOAs also play a vital role in conflict resolution between homeowners through established procedures or mediation services. These mechanisms provide an organized system for addressing disputes or disagreements that may arise among community members. By offering impartial mediation, HOAs facilitate communication and help find mutually agreeable solutions, thus preventing conflicts from escalating. Homeowners benefit from this structured approach as it promotes understanding, cooperation, and a sense of community within the neighborhood.
Collective Decision-Making Power
One of the unique advantages of HOA community rules is the collective decision-making power they offer to homeowners. Through participation in regular meetings and voting processes, homeowners can influence policies that directly impact their living situation. This democratic engagement enables residents to shape the future direction of their community and advocate for changes that align with their preferences and needs. Whether you’re hoping to be involved in a big way or more of a figure in the background, living in a community with an HOA allows you to pick and choose the way you are involved. If you want to take more of a leading role in the decision-making process of your HOA, you can run for a position, whereas if you’d prefer to take more of a backseat role, that’s fine, too. You will be good to go as long as you stay on top of your membership dues and attend all of the required meetings.
Enhanced Community Safety and Security Measures
Safety concerns are paramount for any homeowner when choosing where they want their family members live and invest their money. HOAs address this concern by implementing various safety measures such as gated entries, security patrols, or surveillance systems. These measures create a secure living environment for homeowners and their families, reducing the risk of criminal activities within the community. Especially in this day and age of working from home, safety is of the highest priority among many Americans minds, so living in a neighborhood with one is of great help to many. If you have children who like to play freely in the neighborhood, they can do so without any concern because you know you can count on your neighbors to take care of them.
Access to Amenities and Services
HOAs provide homeowners access to amenities such as gyms, clubhouses, or security services that may not be affordable for individual homeowners. These shared resources enhance the overall quality of life within the community by providing opportunities for recreation, camaraderie, social interaction, and enhanced safety measures. Homeowners can enjoy these amenities without incurring exorbitant costs individually.
In conclusion, HOA community rules offer numerous benefits to homeowners. They ensure the maintenance of common areas while preserving property values collectively. Additionally, these rules promote a peaceful living environment through various policies addressing noise restrictions, parking regulations, and pet policies—facilitating conflict resolution when necessary.
The collective decision-making power provided by HOA community rules allows homeowners to actively participate in shaping their communities’ future direction while gaining access to shared amenities and services at an affordable cost. Overall, well-established HOA community rules significantly contribute to creating a harmonious, aesthetically pleasing, and peaceful living environment for homeowners. It fosters a sense of community and collective responsibility among residents, ultimately enhancing these neighborhoods’ overall quality of life.

domain: sociology


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PETALING JAYA: The transportation of vegetables from areas under the enhanced movement control order such as Cameron Highlands to other parts of the country is allowed.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said the Cabinet agreed that agricultural workers such as farmers can continue tending to their produce and transporting them even if they are in areas subject to movement restrictions.
“The Cabinet has decided that these are essential services, and that vegetables and crops must be transported immediately to supply the whole of Malaysia.
“According to our guidelines, essential services should not be stopped at all, and we reaffirm that agricultural activities must be allowed, even in areas under the enhanced MCO.
“The supply of vegetables is essential, and if the lorries and trucks are not allowed in, or if workers cannot enter their farms, then we will face problems,” he said at a press conference yesterday.
There was initial confusion over the matter as reports emerged that prices of vegetables from Cameron Highlands were expected to increase by 30% to 40% after several areas there were placed under the EMCO.
It was reported that the price increase was anticipated because of an immediate stop to production, with 12,000 foreign and local workers unable to leave their homes to get to work.
However, Dr Wee said that Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee had since spoken up on behalf of the farmers, while Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin will ensure that enforcement officials are fully informed of the matter.
“In the past, the general principle was that you have to stop all activities in EMCO areas. But with the lockdown now, we need to make sure there is an adequate supply of vegetables.
“We know that Cameron Highlands supplies a lot of vegetables, not just to Malaysia, but to Singapore as well.
“Hence, if these crops cannot be transported out, we will face a shortage in supply,” he said.
Kiandee had also said the confusion surrounding the movement of agricultural workers in EMCO localities has been resolved.
“The issues concerning the movement of agricultural workers in Cameron Highlands – at the farm, packaging and logistics stages – due to the EMCO, have been settled.
“The Cabinet has agreed to allow the agricultural sector and its supply chain to continue operating,” he said in a tweet.
In Balik Pulau, Deputy Agriculture and Food Industries Minister II Datuk Che Abdullah Mat Nawi said his ministry, through the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama), has been taking various actions to address the cause of possible price hikes.
“The ministry is well aware of the matter, and Fama is taking action to resolve the problem. We have received information about the price hike.
“With the country placed under lockdown, it is undeniable there will be problems in some areas and issues will arise.
“Our officers are stationed at various places and we will ensure that any problems along the whole chain, from the producers to the end-users, will be looked into and resolved from time to time,” he
said at a press conference after a working visit in Teluk Kumbar yesterday.

domain: agronomy


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Dutch politician acquitted of hate speech charges
Right-wing lawmaker Geert Wilders, who has been standing trial for inciting hatred and discrimination against Muslims, has been acquitted of all charges by a Dutch court.
According to Associated Press reports, the court ruled that Wilders’ public statements may be offensive to many Muslims, but have never breached the bounds of legitimate political debate.Judge Marcel van Oosten stated on Tuesday that the controversial speeches, which resulted in Wilders being brought to court, should be viewed in a broader political context of debate over immigration policy. He said the politician’s comments could not be directly linked to discrimination against Dutch Muslims.Wilders has called for a ban on Muslim immigration, the Koran and the building of mosques in the Netherlands. He also claims that Islam is intrinsically violent.As the verdict was announced, Wilders’ supporters applauded. He smiled as he left the courtroom.Paul Nuttall, a UK Independence Party MEP, believes it was a victory for free speech.“We fought two wars in the last century in Europe for free speech,” he said. “Free speech is something that we should be happy about, it is something we should protect. And the acquittal of Geert Wilders is a victory for free speech and it is a victory for common sense.”He believes political correctness is a massive problem across Europe.“Think about it – where is the liberal outrage with respect to Geert Wilders’ trial?” he asked. “If you turned it on its head, and it was a Muslim politician criticizing Christianity who was put on trial, there would be outrage from the liberal establishment right across Europe.”
Philip Claeys, a member of the European Parliament, believes that everyone should have the right to speak freely and openly on problems like mass immigration and multiculturalism, as well as problems with Islam.“I think it’s not prohibited to offend people,” he said. “In any debate, people can be offended. That is not always nice, but it is a byproduct of any debate, of freedom of speech and democracy.”


Mahesh Bhatt Shouts ‘SHUT UP’ At Emraan Hashmi’s New Heroine
Mahesh Bhatt recently lost his cool at an event and yelled at Amyra Dastur who is the female lead in his upcoming sci-fi thriller Mr X also starring Emraan Hashmi. Check out this video to know more!
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Watch the video below:
Video Courtesy Lehren TV


As the relatively young compact carrier segment continues to heat up, Suzuki wants everyone to know that no one does “compact” like they do. And as the newest entry to the segment, their Suzuki Ertiga looks set to prove it.
Compared to Suzuki’s previous Ertiga, the new 2019 model carries a more muscular demeanor. Its flat nose and high hood contribute a lot to its seemingly wider stance, and its large foglamps and wide wraparound headlights give it more presence on the road. Besides the new face and attractive Volvo-esque tail lights at the rear, the rest of the Ertiga’s styling plays it rather safe. But as we’ll soon find out, the best bits of the new Suzuki Ertiga lie inside.
Loads of room
The Suzuki Ertiga immediately makes its intentions known once you open the doors and step inside. Things aren’t too shabby for the driver and passenger up front. The top-of-the-line GLX variant featured here comes with height-adjustable seats for the driver side, and is the only variant in the Ertiga line to have it. The GLX variant also gets some additional niceties up front, including a leather covered steering wheel with audio controls, an information display screen between the speedometer and tachometer, wooden trim across the dash, and a large 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
The beige interior combined with large greenhouse openings gives the Ertiga an impression of generous amounts of space. It’s not just all smoke and mirrors however, as the Ertiga genuinely provides ample amounts of legroom for both second and third row passengers. The second row seats both recline and slide, allowing owners the opportunity to find the right distance for occupants on both rows to be comfortable, even on long drives. The second row splits 60:40, while the third row seats split 50:50 and folds down flat. Even with the third row seats upright, there’s an impressive 153 liters of cargo space to play with, with a high enough clearance to fit tall cargo.
Fold the third row seats down, and the available space opens up to 550 liters. Fold the second and third row seats down, and you’ll get a cavernous 803 liters of available space, besting most of its rivals in the segment.
Suzuki’s decision to make the Ertiga’s passengers top priority becomes even more apparent once it gets going. The Ertiga does a great job of keeping its ride comfortable even through uneven or rough terrain, and does it all in relative silence as well. Its four-cylinder, 1.5-liter engine produces 103 hp and 138 Nm of torque and is mated to a standard four-speed automatic transmission. It’s ample enough to carry a full complement of passengers confidently through the highway or through more mountainous roads, and does an even better job at low speeds through start-stop city traffic.
Thankfully, the increase in displacement over the previous generation doesn’t have any drawbacks in fuel consumption, as the Ertiga returned an impressive 12 km/L on mixed highway and city conditions. We would’ve loved to see an all-disc setup for its brakes, though the drum brakes do an adequate job of stopping it easily, thanks to its relatively light curb weight of only 1,135 kilos.
As with all Suzuki products, the Ertiga GLX returns excellent value for money for its P978,000 price tag, with features like push-button start/stop, dual SRS airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, a giant-sized infotainment system, and a rearview camera all coming in as standard. With its affordable price tag coupled with a great feature set, Suzuki’s excellent build quality, and its sheer propensity in ferrying seven passengers comfortably, the Ertiga makes perfect sense for anyone looking to add a dash of practicality to their garage.
Text and photos by Chris Van Hoven


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|Amazon Price||New from||Used from|
In Chaucer's London, betrayal, murder, and intrigue swirl around the existence of a prophetic book that foretells the deaths of England's kings
London, 1385. Surrounded by ruthless courtiers—including his powerful uncle, John of Gaunt, and Gaunt's artful mistress, Katherine Swynford—England's young king, Richard II, is in mortal peril. Songs are heard across London—catchy verses said to originate from an ancient book that prophesies the ends of England's kings—and among the book's predictions is Richard's assassination. Only a few powerful men know that the cryptic lines derive from a "burnable book," a seditious work that threatens the stability of the realm. To find the manuscript, wily bureaucrat Geoffrey Chaucer turns to fellow poet John Gower, a professional trader in information with connections high and low.
Gower discovers that the book and incriminating evidence about its author have fallen into the unwitting hands of innocents, who will be drawn into a conspiracy that reaches from the king's court to London's slums and stews—and potentially implicates Gower's own son. As the intrigue deepens, it becomes clear that John Gower, a man with secrets of his own, may hold the key to saving the king, and England itself.
Medieval scholar Bruce Holsinger draws on his vast knowledge of the period to add colorful, authentic detail—on everything from poetry and bookbinding to court intrigues and brothels—to this highly entertaining and brilliantly constructed literary mystery that brings medieval England gloriously to life.
I enjoyed reading this book. Its salacious intrigue made it difficult to stop reading and the old world slang was fun learn. I look forward to the next book.Published 1 month ago by Gilbert Chavez
Richly imagined characters, lively writing and an intricate, spellbinding plot make this a pleasure to read. Read morePublished 1 month ago by barista
Fantastic. A great debut. Vivid characters, excellent mystery and plot, fantastic depiction of medieval London. You can practically smell the city. Excellent book.Published 2 months ago by Lynn
The author does a fabulous job bringing time and place alive using descriptive language and strong narrative. Read morePublished 2 months ago by Barbara Ferrara
I thoroughly enjoyed "A Burnable Book". All the characters were fascinating, but 14th century London was the main character for me, and Bruce Holsinger made it come alive. Read morePublished 2 months ago by L. Bos
I loved this book. Holsinger writes about a very remote time in history with such rigor, such aplomb, and such vision that to be honest with you, it makes me a little jealous. Read morePublished 2 months ago by Constance Goodwin
While the thriller about a treasonable book is satisfying and propulsive, the real pleasure in this book is the heart-breaking stories of two sisters, of a sister and her brother,... Read morePublished 2 months ago by Richard Godden
Hillary Mantel fans, ahoy! Richly textured, witty, gossipy in the best way possible, seeped in historical detail. Read morePublished 2 months ago by true_modern
Loved the historical specificity, though I expected that from an established academic historian! Great humor throughout. Read morePublished 2 months ago by Jen


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Waterville Valley’s outdoor club, WVAIA, is once again hosting Sunday afternoon croquet matches beginning July 2 and continuing through Labor Day.
The first game of the day starts at 3 p.m. Usually two games are played and ends at about 5 p.m.
The croquet court is located just up the hill from the old ice cream parlor between the tennis courts and the golf course.
WVAIA welcomes all regular players back and urges those who haven’t played recently to come and renew your pleasure in the game. You’re even welcome to join in even if you’ve never played before. It’s a fun and sociable time to learn the game. No specific skill or talent is required. Rules are explained as you play. If you wish, bring a beverage of your choice and a snack to share. No prior sign-up is required.
Participation is free; but, please be a good sport and support WVAIA by becoming a member!

domain: sports