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Latest News and Updates from VCEDA
by e-Region | Dec 28, 2022 | News Briefs | 0 comments
AMR PEMCO President David Graf, center, accepts a ceremonial check for $447,200 representing a low interest loan to AMR PEMCO from VCEDA for the company's planned expansion. From left are Tazewell County Economic Development Manager Ashley Harris; VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel Jonathan Belcher; Graf; Tazewell County IDA Chairman Kyle Hurt; and Tazewell County Economic Development Director Tim Danielson. They are pictured in front of the new press brake.
AMR PEMCO Expansion Projected to Bring 20 New Jobs to Tazewell County
Twenty new jobs and $575,200 in private investment are projected to be coming to Tazewell County in the next two years as a result of an expansion at AMR PEMCO in Bluefield, Va., made possible in part by an up to $447,200 low-interest loan to the company by the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA). The loan was closed, December 21, 2022.
The funds will be used to finance the purchase of equipment and machinery and to make building renovations, expansions and improvements to increase production space and to improve production efficiencies at the company's manufacturing facility at 1960 Valley Dale Street in Bluefield.
The company currently has 88 full-time employees at the Bluefield, Va. facility, but projects that number will increase to 108 within two years.
"Assisting our existing businesses in VCEDA's e-Region to realize their growth plans is an important component in VCEDA's approach to economic development. By providing support to our manufacturers in the region, like AMR PEMCO, we continue to grow as a region. AMR PEMCO has been a steady employer in the region for more than 60 years."
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about the AMR PEMCO Expansion.
Officers and directors of VCEDA include, from left, (seated) Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA executive director/general counsel; Josh Ball, secretary; Larry Mosley, chairman; Esther Bolling, treasurer; and (back) Tim Stuller, Becky Coleman, Kathy Still, Maggie Asbury, Troy Nichols, Scotty Wampler, Andy Hrovatic, Brian Hess, Barbara Altizer and Carroll Branham. Not pictured is J.P. Richardson, vice chairman; Duane Miller and Rhonda Sluss.
VCEDA Board Hears Update on Year-to-Date Projects, Jobs, Investment
Twenty-six new projects and expansion/retention projects projected to create 621 full-time and 104 part-time jobs and more than $218 million in private investment have been announced in Southwest Virginia's e-Region so far this calendar year, Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority Executive Director/General Counsel Jonathan Belcher told members of the VCEDA boardin mid-November.
He noted project activity continues to be high, with 53 active projects currently being pursued. VCEDA has also completed 24 outreach marketing events across the United States in the current year.
Year to date, Belcher noted, 28 loans and grants for $8,653,404 in new funding, projected to help create 203 full-time and 94 part-time jobs and $4,230,663 in private investment have been approved. An additional 26 loans and grants involving $871,200 in new funding projected to create 88 full-time and 87 part-time jobs and more than $1.77 million in private investment were added to that after the November meeting.
Read more about the VCEDA Update.
Local economic development directors met with VCEDA staff in Lebanon where they were briefed on a new Coalfield Jobs Investment program.
Local Developers Briefed on New VCEDA Coalfield Jobs Investment Project
Local economic development directors learned more about a new Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) jobs investment program during a meeting of local developers at the VCEDA office in Lebanon.
The new program, the Coalfield Jobs Investment Project (CJIP), which was recently created by the VCEDA board, will provide a grant to eligible for-profit businesses located or locating in the VCEDA region which create at least one new full-time job in the region within VCEDA's targeted industry sectors of information technology, manufacturing, energy or creative tourism.
VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel Jonathan Belcher briefed the local developers on the new program, noting it is funded by an appropriation of $250,000 the VCEDA board made from the VCEDA Coalfield Workforce Development and Training Fund. The funds will be utilized as pilot funding for the new program for the remainder of FY2023.
"The goal of the Coalfield Jobs Investment Project is to be pro-active in encouraging the creation and development of new full-time jobs in the coalfield region in diversifying industry sectors. Earlier this year, VCEDA worked with Virginia Tech to refine the industry sectors which were deemed to be the best targets for growth and diversification in the region and this new project builds upon that work by providing a way to support those jobs. An additional goal of the project is to support the creation of new telework or remote work positions in the region."
Read more about the CJIP Program.
Russell County IDA Executive Director Ernie McFaddin, left, accepts a ceremonial check for $350,000 from VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel Jonathan Belcher to be used for additional site development on the IDA's "Russell Place" property.
$350,000 Loan to Russell County IDA Will Be Used For 'Russell Place' Property Site Development
An up to $350,000 loan from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) to the Russell County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) to be used for additional site development needs at the IDA's Russell Place property was closed recently.
The funds will be used to finance site development, building demolition, building construction, building improvements and other improvements in the continued development of the IDA's Russell Place property located at 122 Haber Drive in Lebanon.
With the assistance of a $900,000 loan from VCEDA last year, the IDA purchased and partially renovated the "Russell Place," a vacant industrial building and its approximately 12 acres. As part of the renovations, demolition work on some older sections of the building which were in poor condition were started.
"With the need for additional industrial buildings in the region, the IDA has decided it would best to plan how to further develop the Russell Place property. These funds will help the IDA make additional improvements to prepare the property for future development and will add to the property's marketability to prospective job-creating tenants."
Read more about the Russell Place Property Site Development.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, center, celebrated a ribbon cutting marking Coronado Coal's Buchanan Mine expansion with local and company officials in mid-December. From left are Tazewell County officials; Youngkin; VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel Jonathan Belcher; and Virginia Senator Travis Hackworth.
VCEDA Attends Coronado Coal Expansion Ribbon Cutting
VCEDA was pleased to be in attendance in mid-December at Coronado Coal's Buchanan Mine for the celebration and ribbon cutting of Coronado's planned $169 million expansion.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick and Deputy Secretary Chelsea Jenkins were in attendance to take part in the celebration and a ribbon cutting held underground at the mine. Also in attendance were Congressman Morgan Griffith, Virginia Sen. Travis Hackworth, Delegate Israel O'Quinn, county officials from both Buchanan and Tazewell counties, representatives of Virginia Energy and Invest SWVA.
Company officials, including COO Jeff Bitzer and CEO Jerry Spindler spoke about the project and the opportunity the company has to continue to grow the Buchanan Mine, the largest producer of metallurgical coal in the state. An additional 181 jobs are projected to be added as a result of the expansion which puts the mine in a position to be able to double its extraction capacity.
VCEDA was pleased to host a meeting with the secretary of commerce and trade, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Coronado officials and the Metallurgical Coal Producers Association at its offices in May.
Breaks Interstate Park Superintendent Austin Bradley, right, accepts a ceremonial check for $80,000 from VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel Jonathan Belcher. The funds wil be used for improvements at the park.
$80,000 Grant Will Fund Improvements at Breaks Park
An $80,000 grant from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) to be used for improvements at the Breaks Interstate Park was closed recently.
The grant will be used to develop infrastructure and improvements at the park, specifically to replace the roof and gutters at the park's Visitor Center. The project will consist of replacing existing shingles with metal panels, replacing any wood that is rotten and installing new gutters on the building.
"VCEDA is pleased to be able to continue to support Breaks Interstate Park projects as the park is an important economic driver for the area. The park's Visitor Center is a critical facility for the park as it is used not only as an information station, but also as its museum and as a retail space selling outdoor gear."
Read more about the Breaks Interstate Park Grant.
VCEDA Attends Economic Summit and Forum on International Trade
VCEDA Marketing Ambassador Diane Thomas represented VCEDA at the Virginia Chamber of Commerce 13th Economic Summit and Forum on International Trade which was held in Richmond, Va., December 2. The conference focus was on "ensuring Virginia competes to win in the national and global economy." VCEDA is a long-time member of the state chamber of commerce.
The ribbon was cut celebrating the announcement that Blackstone Data Services, LLC, will locate in the Bluestone Business and Technology Park shell building, bringing with it five new jobs and private investment of $18 million. Representatives from the company, Tazewell County, the Tazewell County IDA and VCEDA, along with Ninth District Congressman Morgan Griffith and Virginia Sen. Travis Hackworth, were on hand for the announcement. Behind them are two of the data pods utilized in the mining of cryptocurrency.
Blackstone Data Services, LLC to Locate Data Center in Bluestone Park in Tazewell County
Five new jobs and a projected private capital investment of $18 million will be coming to Tazewell County as Blackstone Data Services, LLC, opens its doors at the Bluestone Business and Technology Park shell building.
In addition to Blackstone Data Services Founder and CEO Seth White, Ninth District Congressman Morgan Griffith, Virginia Senator Travis Hackworth, a host of Tazewell County officials, federal officials and the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) were in attendance.
Blackstone is a data center hosting services and cryptocurrency mining business. The new company will provide data center hosting; server and node maintenance; cryptocurrency mining container asset manufacturing to benefit a three-state area.
"Today, we welcome Blackstone Data Services, LLC, as a Bluestone tenant. We congratulate the Tazewell County Industrial Development Authority for its hard work in bringing the project to the Bluestone. In support of the project, the VCEDA Board approved a request from the Tazewell County IDA to consent to the lease of the building to Blackstone Data Services, as well as a performance-based incentive payback on the IDA's loan from VCEDA based upon the company achieving its jobs and investment targets. Data centers have been one of VCEDA's business targets for the region for nearly two decades and we have been promoting the region as the e-Region for 15 years. Blackstone Data Services becomes the fourth data center to locate in the e-Region and VCEDA assisted in some way on all four."
Read more about the Blackstone Data Services, LLC project.
The Virginia CFX Authority Board met recently in Lebanon with several guests in attendance. From left, (front) are John Schoolcraft; J.H. Rivers, vice chairman; Virginia Sen. Travis Hackworth; Jay Rife, chairman; Jonathan Belcher, Virginia CFX Authority executive director; and (back) Laura Blevins, representing Sen. Tim Kaine; Scott Mullins; Peggy Kiser; Melanie Salyer; James Keen; Keith Viers; Philip Cook; and Cody Mumpower, representing Congressman Morgan Griffith.
Virginia CFX Authority Board Hears Project Updates
A letter asking Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin to consider including $500,000 annually in the state budget for the Virginia Coalfields Expressway (CFX) Authority to help advance the Coalfields Expressway in Virginia has been sent to the governor by Virginia CFX Authority Executive Director Jonathan Belcher.
Belcher told authority members at the December 9 authority board meeting in Lebanon that the letter was sent to the governor in mid-October and in it, he had stressed the need for the roadway.
"I am of the opinion that the Coalfields Expressway may offer the only real solution to the economic plight of many areas of the coalfields. Without this necessary infrastructure, these areas will continue to struggle economically and that is not even mentioning the tremendous health care and educational opportunities and other benefits the road will provide."
Read more about the Virginia CFX Authority Meeting.
VCEDA Attends PLMA Trade Show with VEDP
VCEDA attended the PLMA Annual Private Label Trade Show in Chicago, Ill., as part of the state team with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership November 13-15, 2022. The show had nearly 1,400 exhibitors and 2,300 booths filled with suppliers and high quality store brand products from around the world. The team met with various companies while at the show.
VEDP Tours Southwest Virginia's e-Region
VCEDA hosted a group Virginia Economic Development Partnership staff members on a tour of Southwest Virginia's e-Region Oct. 25-27, 2022. The group visited Breaks Interstate Park, toured some businesses and available buildings and sites and heard presentations on higher education and workforce training opportunities from the Workforce Development Board, UVA Wise and Mountain Empire and Southwest Virginia community colleges. The group also visited the VCEDA office, toured UVA Wise, The Sitel Group-Intuit and Tempur+Sealy and visited the Dickenson County Technology Park and Red Onion sites in Dickenson County, Project Intersection in Norton and the Crooked Road Tech Center in Scott County.
Joshua and Heather Wright are working toward an early 2023 opening for Wright Way Repair, LLC, in Clinchco. Wright Way Repair, LLC is a recent recipient of a VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Grant.
Wright Way Repair, LLC Approved for Seed Capital Grant
High quality, experienced automotive service at an economical price will soon be available in the Clinchco area as Wright Way Repair, LLC prepares to open in early 2023, according to Heather Wright, who co-owns the new business with her husband, Joshua.
Wright Way Repair, LLC was a recent recipient of a $10,000 Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) Seed Capital Matching Grant.
A building at 141 Road Branch in Clinchco has been purchased and will be renovated to house the new business and offer storage space for rent as well.
"Wright Way Repair, LLC will offer automotive repair services in Dickenson County, primarily serving residents in Clinchco, Haysi and Clintwood and those traveling through the area, according to their business plan. The new business projects three full-time employees within five years."
Read more about Wright Way Repair, LLC.
Ethics Hair Care, LLC Owner Kim Ross noted her new business in Tazewell County will provide specialized care for clientele with wavy, curly hair. The new salon, which is a recent recipient of a VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Grant, is also focused on providing and developing its own formulations of chemical-free natural hair care products.
Seed Capital Grant Approved for Ethics Hair Care, LLC
In addition to providing specialized care for clientele with wavy, curly hair, Ethics Hair Care, LLC owner Kim Ross said her new salon opening soon in Bluefield is focused on providing and developing its own formulations of chemical-free natural hair care products.
Ethics Hair Care, LLC was a recent recipient of a $9,303.90 Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) Seed Capital Matching Grant, the amount requested in the application to VCEDA.
"Ethics Hair Care is focused on offering unique services and in the future, manufacturing of its own product lines. The new business projects six full-time employees within five years."
Read more about Ethics Hair Care, LLC.
Jasmine Adams opened Elite Motion Dance Company, Inc., in Lebanon with a goal of expanding opportunities for area students to learn to dance. Elite Motion Dance Company, Inc., was a recent recipient of a VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Grant.
Elite Motion Dance Company, Inc. Approved for Seed Capital Grant
Expanding opportunities for students from six months and older to learn to dance or to dance competitively is the goal of Elite Motion Dance Company, Inc., in Lebanon, according to owner Jasmine Adams.
Elite Motion Dance Company, Inc., was a recent recipient of a $10,000 Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) Seed Capital Matching Grant.
"Elite Motion Dance Company, Inc., provides many opportunities for Southwest Virginia families to explore the field of dance and fitness, while at the same time creating jobs. The new business projects three full-time employees and five part-time employees within five years."
Read more about Elite Motion Dance Company, Inc.
The Happy Goat LLC was a recent recipient of a seed capital matching grant from VCEDA. Owners Vince and Lucie D'Amato, left, are pictured with their son, Joe, right and Antonio Villa, second from right. The new deli and hiking gear shop will open later this year.
Seed Capital Grant Approved for The Happy Goat LLC
In 2021, Vincent and Lucie D'Amato decided it was time to leave Virginia Beach where they had lived for more than 30 years to move to Tazewell County to the farm where Lucie grew up. The decision to open a small business followed based on the idea of supporting the county in which they now live full time. They decided to purchase and renovate a circa 1889 building on Main Street to open their new business, a deli and hiking gear shop, The Happy Goat LLC.
The Happy Goat LLC, which will open later this year, was a recent recipient of a $10,000 Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) Seed Capital Matching Grant.
"The Happy Goat will offer another dining option as well as a place to purchase hiking gear in Tazewell that will appeal to both tourists and locals. In so doing, it will create new jobs in the community which is what the VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Grant program strives to do. The new business projects two full-time employees and five part-time employees within five years."
Read more about The Happy Goat LLC
Renee Adair opened Adair Behavioral Services, LLC in North Tazewell to provide a safe and nurturing therapy environment for children with Autism, developmental delays and other special needs. Adair Behavioral Services, LLC was a recent recipient of a VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Grant.
Adair Behavioral Services, LLC Approved for Seed Capital Grant
Providing a safe and nurturing environment for children with Autism, developmental delays and other special needs is what Adair Behavioral Services, LLC focuses on as its therapists work with families whose children need the specialized care the North Tazewell clinic offers.
Adair Behavioral Services, LLC was a recent recipient of a $10,000 Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) Seed Capital Matching Grant.
"Adair Behavioral Services, LLC is providing specialized services which not only help the families and the children they serve, but which also create jobs at the same time. The new business, which projected eight full-time employees and three part-time employees within five years has already exceeded its total employment goals in part-time employment with nine currently hired and is well on its way to achieving its five-year projection, with five full-time employees now employed."
Read more about Adair Behavioral Services, LLC
Tina Shipley opened Grain Bin Market, LLC, earlier this year. The business is located in an old grain bin shipped in from Kentucky and put together on site. Grain Bin Market, LLC was a recent recipient of a VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Grant. Shipley, second from left, is pictured with her sons, Dalton and Ethan; and husband, Eddie.
Seed Capital Grant Approved for Grain Bin Market, LLC
When the Grain Bin Market, LLC opened earlier this year in Scott County, Va., Tina Shipley, owner, wanted the new business to have a certain look to make it unique. As the pieces to a grain bin were shipped in from Kentucky and put together, she achieved just that.
The 3290 Wadlow Gap Road location offers home décor items.
Grain Bin Market, LLC was a recent recipient of a $10,000 Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) Seed Capital Matching Grant.
"The Grain Bin Market, LLC had a unique twist to opening a store and market to attract both locals and tourists in its decision to reconstruct an old grain bin on site and use it as the store location. The new business projects two full-time employees and five part-time employees within five years."
Read more about Grain Bin Market, LLC.


Soldiers about to strangle a captive (probably Prince Osman II).
Coats of arms. Author's dedication to Prince William of Prussia.
Ottoman prince, heir to the throne.
Edward, Prince of Wales (later Edward VII of England) leaves the port of Piraeus, 1875.
George I of Greece visits Edward, Prince of Wales (later Edward VII of England) on board HMS "Serapis" at the port of Piraeus, 1875.
Edward, Prince of Wales (later Edward VII of England) is photographed with the King and Queen of Greece during his visit to Athens in 1875.
State breakfast given by Edward, Prince of Wales (later Edward VII of England) on board HMS "Serapis" to the King and Queen of Greece, 1875.
Edward, Prince of Wales (later Edward VII of England) leaving Athens, 1875. In the background, Kapnikarea church and Ermou street.
The state barge bringing George I and his suite to HMS "Serapis", to visit Edward, Prince of Wales (later Edward VII of England), who came to Greece in 1875.
Edward, Prince of Wales (later Edward VII of England) watches the illumination of the Acropolis of Athens, 1877.
Alexandra Princess of Wales and Olga of Greece promenading at the Royal Gardens (today National Garden), March 1877. In the background, the temple of Olympian Zeus.
Alexandra Princess of Wales promenading in the Royal Gardens (today National Garden), during her visit to Athens in 1877. In the background, from left to right, the temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian's Arch and the Acropolis.
Alexandra Princess of Wales promenading in the Royal Gardens (today National Garden), during her visit to Athens in 1877. In the background, the Acropolis.
HMS "Osborne"'s barge bearing Alexandra Princes of Wales to Aegina island.
HMS "Osborne"', bearing Alexandra Princess of Wales arrives at the port of Piraeus.
Olga Queen of Greece and Alexandra Princess of Wales watch a theatre play on board HMS "Osborne".
1. Banquet given to the King and Queen of Greece by Alexandra Princess of Wales on board HMS "Osborne". 2. Departure of the king and queen and illumination of the ship.
Evening amusement on board the royal yacht "Osborne", during the visit of Alexandra Princess of Wales to Athens.


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Pokemon Generation 2: All that Glitters is Gold (and Silver)
November 9, 2019 Vincent Mahoney	Leave a comment
We're roughly a week out from the release of the 8th generation of Pokémon games, Sword and Shield. The Pokémon series as a whole is roughly 23 years old now, spanning across 31 main entries before the 8th generation titles come out for Nintendo Switch. So before the new blood of Pokémon arrives with a bevy of new monsters to catch, train, and exploit for personal profit, we at Game Industry News think it would be a great time to celebrate the history of this series with the first true sequels of the Pokémon franchise: Pokémon Gold and Silver.
Check out the entire Pokémon Celebration series of articles that have run so far.
October 14, 2000 in North America, or was an incredible day for Pokémon fans. Rumors had been circling the Internet for months, with color images featuring, "Pikablu" showing up all over the place. Even the official Pokémon anime featured a Pokémon no one knew how to capture- Togepi, part of Misty's team and capable of using Metronome to create Explosions with comedic timing. Gold and Silver's release showed fans everywhere that the original 151 weren't all there were- and that the world of one of the world's newest gaming sweethearts is larger than we could have imagined.
Pokémon Gold and Silver were sequels in the truest sense of the words: You retread old ground as in the first generation's games. You wake up, select your starter Pokémon, meet your rival who breaks into Professor Elm's lab and steals whatever starter has type advantage against the one you chose, and then you're off to the races. Over the course of the game you'll defeat gym leaders, clean up the remnants of Team Rocket, and encounter a suspiciously red colored Gyarados that's shiny. Gold and Silver added a bunch of new ideas to the Pokémon series, not the least of which was a new full color palette thanks to the Gameboy Color!
Lots of new Pokémon games came out in the wake of Gold and Silver: A third version, Crystal, featured the first female protagonist in the series released around a year after the first generation 2 games. Meanwhile, the Pokémon Trading Card Game came out on the Gameboy, Pokémon Puzzle Challenge released on the Nintendo 64 as a Pokémon-skinned Tetris Attack (also known as Panel de Pon), as well as Pokémon Stadium 2, which allowed players to view their newly collected monsters in full 3D glory (it was glorious back then, anyway). Pokémon was nearing the peak of its multimedia popularity, and the success of Gold and Silver kept the Pokémon train rolling with a plethora of advancements in comparison to the previous generation's games.
Pokémon Gold and Silver debuted two new types of Pokémon: Steel and Dark types. The prevalence of Psychic types didn't escape the notice of developer Gamefreak, which is likely they they introduced one type that resists Psychic type attacks, and another that can't be affected by Psychic type moves at all. Additionally, each Pokémon can now also hold one item, allowing players to incorporate more into their strategies whether it be having your Pokémon hold an item that lets them self-cure status effects, items that boost damage of specific moves, items that raise your accuracy, evasion, or even critical hit ratio, and more.
Not only were many new strategies created by the addition of new types and the ability to hold items, but 100 new Pokémon and many new moves were added as well! The total number of Pokémon a player could catch rose to 251, and players discovered new cuties like Marill (whom we thought was called Pikablu, back in the days of "Push a truck to get Mew"), new powerhouses like Tyranitar, and… whatever Wobbuffet is. Using an assortment of old favorites and new creatures, players would battle through the eight gym leaders of Johto, defeat the Elite Four, as well as the Johto League Champion, only to discover that after becoming the Champion of the Johto Pokémon League, there was more to discover.
The entire region of the first Pokémon game, Kanto, is present and accounted for in Gold and Silver (with some minor alterations). You can battle through the Kanto gym leaders to obtain their eight badges, challenge a second Pokémon League, and then venture to Mt. Silver to battle Red, the protagonist of the first Pokémon game. With Red's team being quite beefy (his Pikachu was level 81, for example), this served as a fitting final challenge to a game absolutely jam-packed with content.
Publishers: Nintendo
Developers: GameFreak
Platforms: GameBoy Color, Nintendo 3DS, Virtual Console (3DS)
Events: Pokemon Sword and Shield Release Week 2019
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Dear Mrs Bird: a story of friendship, courage and love
by AJ Pearce
AJ Pearce shares the inspiration for her Sunday Times bestselling novel Dear Mrs Bird.
AJ Pearce's Sunday Times bestseller Dear Mrs Bird is a funny, charming and moving story of friendship set in London during the Second World War. As bombs fall over London, Emmy dreams of contributing to the war effort by becoming a Lady War Correspondent. Instead, she finds herself working as a typist for Henrietta Bird, agony aunt at Women's Friend magazine. Mrs Bird is very particular about the letters she will answer, but Emmy just can't bear the thought of all the desperate women out there waiting for an answer that will never come . . .
Dear Mrs Bird was selected as a Richard and Judy Book Club pick, and has also been optioned for TV by production company 42. Here, AJ shares how the female friendships in her life inspired the friendship between Emmy and Bunty in the book, and why she couldn't imagine the novel without heroine Emmeline Lake's mother.
I just couldn't imagine Dear Mrs Bird without the heroine Emmeline Lake's mother, both on and off the page.
Knowing about her mum – and her grandmother – was central to writing the book. It's the same for all the main characters. Understanding their families really well, even though most of them don't appear in the book helps me define why the characters are who they are.
When the novel begins, Emmy's mother and grandmother are still the biggest influence in her life. She is twenty two and dreams of becoming a war journalist, reporting the truth and making a difference. When she finds herself at Woman's Friend working for agony aunt Henrietta Bird who refuses to help women with problems seen merely as an 'Unpleasantness', Emmy feels she can't just stand by and watch. Completely unqualified, she decides to write back to the readers herself.
It's a brave move and as Emmy doesn't take it lightly, it was important for me to know exactly why she feels so strongly and is willing to risk her career in trying to help strangers. So I spent a lot of time thinking about where she came from – her upbringing and particularly her mum. It didn't take long to decide that her father's side of the family would bring a traditional stability. Dr Lake is a decent, intelligent man who was clever enough to marry Emmy's mum - the radical one in the partnership. As I developed the characters, although none of this features overtly in the book, I knew Emmy's grandma had been a notable suffragette (there's a clue in Em's name) and Mrs Lake had joined her in the movement as a teenager. Emmy has been brought up to expect fairness for everyone – and to get on and sort things out for herself if something needs to be done.
It's a question I find fascinating: what would it be like if a major influence in your life – your mum or grandma – had been a suffragette? How would that impact Emmy's outlook as a young woman in 1941?
It's not an overriding theme in the book but something that is at the back of my mind as I write. Her mother's inspiration runs deep in Emmy's character. Emmy believes that anything is possible if you just keep trying, that women (actually, everyone) should be listened to, and most of all, that you should never give up on your friends.
As her father says with some pride, 'Emmy . . . you are following in a long line of formidable women.' And as her mother says, 'Once this silly business (the war) is all sorted, you . . . and all your friends will be able to get on and achieve whatever you want. Or else we're wasting our time fighting That Madman in the first place."
(I really love the Lakes – the chapter in which Emmy goes home for the weekend is one of my favourite parts of the book.)
Emmy is lucky. Her mother is with her as she battles through, sometimes actually in the novel, and always in terms of inspiration. Emmy's story, and Dear Mrs Bird could not have been written without her.
Dear Mrs Bird
Buy the bookAmazonBlackwell'sBook DepositoryBookshop.orgWaterstonesWH SmithWorderyFoyles Read extract
An irresistibly funny, charming and moving debut from a sensational talent and one of the best-loved and most talked about books of the year, Dear Mrs Bird is a debut Sunday Times Bestseller and Richard & Judy Book Club pick out now in paperback.
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Toonah purchased item Relinquished Azerite Chestpiece.
Toonah obtained Raiment of the Blighted Tribe.
Annerito obtained Sinister Gladiator's Plate Headcover.
Annerito earned the feat of strength Duelist: Battle for Azeroth Season 2.
Annerito earned the achievement Duelist for 10 points.
Sublol obtained Azerokk's Resonating Heart.
Toonahzx obtained Sinister Gladiator's Leather Legguards.
Jvillain obtained Sinister Gladiator's Mageblade.
Giorog obtained Sinister Gladiator's Band.
Toonahxo earned the feat of strength Rival: Battle for Azeroth Season 2.
Timexo obtained Sinister Gladiator's Band.
Timexo obtained Sinister Gladiator's Medallion.
Toonahxo obtained Sinister Gladiator's Maledict.
Wombocombó obtained Sinister Gladiator's Chain Leggings.
Wombocombó obtained Sinister Gladiator's Greatcloak.
Timexo obtained Sinister Gladiator's Leather Footguards.
Timexo obtained Sinister Gladiator's Emblem.
Timexo obtained Sinister Gladiator's Badge.
Wombocombó obtained Sinister Gladiator's Chain Helm.
Wombocombó obtained Sinister Gladiator's Chain Footguards.
Timexo obtained Sinister Gladiator's Leather Shoulderguards.
Wombocombó obtained Sinister Gladiator's Runeaxe.
Wombocombó obtained Sinister Gladiator's Chain Handguards.


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Pressing Issues
Greg Mitchell on media, politics, film, music, TV, comedy and more. "Not here, not here the darkness, in this twittering world." -- T.S. Eliot
Click Here for Excerpts (and Reviews) for New Book
Thursday Updates on Gaza-Israel Tragedy
8:30 p.m. ET The NYT continues to trumpet Israel claims that Hamas might have fired missiles that caused school massacre. But Israel spokesmen continue to also come up with fallback explanations for why they fired on school. NYT dutifully floats another in latest revision of their story--Israel now says "errant shells" may have come from a clash with Hamas nearby. McClatchey, in surprise, follows same line, giving equal weight to evidence and logic that Israel "can't rule out" Hamas attack. Seems pretty transparent--to most. Such as Richard Engel from NBC who tweets: "IDF suggests Hamas rocket/rockets hit school. it would mean five inaccurate rockets all hit a small location in rapid succession. likely?"
Engel also points out: "UNRWA says it formally conveyed its location to Israeli forces 12 times, including at 10:56AM tdy....UNRWA chief tells us agency was not given any warning before strikes on school."
4:15 p.m. ET Reporter from The Guardian with first on-the-scene analysis of who fired at school. He concludes clearly: Israel (see NYT eagerly accepting Israel's claim that it might be Hamas).
Although missiles belonging to Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups in Gaza do sometimes fall short, there was no visible evidence of debris from broken Palestinian rockets in the school. The injuries and the number of fatalities were consistent with a powerful explosion that sent shrapnel tearing through the air, in some cases causing traumatic amputations.
The surrounding neighbourhood bore evidence of multiple Israeli attacks, including smoke from numerous artillery rounds and air strikes. One building was entirely engulfed by flames.
Earlier, updated from the top: Israel's ambassador to U.S. Ron Derner says at Christan convention in USA that his country should get the Nobel Peace Prize for the "unimaginable restraint" it has shown in waging latest war.
It would be laughable if it wasn't so tragic: IDF spokesman just claimed that, yes, they warned UN folks to get out of school in target period (which UN folks deny)--and says rocket fire coming from area--then suggests school hit by misfired Hamas rockets. What a coincidence. Of course, could be true. In any case, Israel's claim has gotten NYT to shift from IDing Israel to saying source of attack unknown. Some others in U.S. following suit though most abroad note Israel's claim but still name them, for now, as guilty party.
Via @RichardEngel, Israel defends school bombing: "Idf in the midst of combat w/ Hamas terrorists in Beit Hanoun using civilian infrastructure and int symbols as human shield....Israeli army suggests hamas rocket hit UN school: 'several rockets fired by Hamas from within Gaza strip landed in the Beit Hanoun area.'" But spokesman at school says at least five shells hit school grounds--unlikely to be five "misfires."
Al Jazeera reports 15 to 30 killed, 100 to 200 injured, today in UN school designated as "safe haven" and with no warning from Israelis. Update here. Photo from hospital, left, via ITV reporter Dan Rivers. UN says Israel given full info on school and knew it was used as shelter and with no military activity there. AP story. Awaiting NYT defense (see below). Dan Rivers: "I will never forget the utter shock on these kids faces - they thought they were safe in a UN school."
@RichardEngel of NBC just tweeted: "Ambulances under attack again tdy. Was in one that came under fire in shejaia market." And: "UN school attacked in north gaza.. 13 at least killed. Bloody desks. Blood on ground. Terrified children." And then: "Israeli ch 2: the government holding a special meeting to discuss the expansion of the operation and increasing the financial support." Remember: much of money comes from USA.
Sadly relevant again: Bruce Cockburn classic, "If I Had a Rocket Launcher." Great cartoon on "two-state solution" by Pulitzer winner Mike Luckovich. Jon Snow: Child in Gaza asks, "Am I going to die, daddy?"
William Booth of Wash Post at the UN school tweets: "At Beit Hanoun UNRWA school after Israeli shells: a scene of flight & panic: blood, bandages and sheep running through the halls."
Finally a straight-out defense of Israel slaughter of kids and other civilians--in a NYT news story. No punches pulled in top story today. Reads like what we used to call a "make-up" story after pushback. Should have run as an op-ed.
One reason I've written about atomic bombings for over 30 years--killing kids rarely considered war crime. Up to 50,000 children died in Hiroshima and Nagasaki and then U.S. suppressed much of evidence for decades.
Good to see Robert Mackey joining in with blog coverage at NYT. His post last night covers Israeli attacks on journalists (while they've been welcomed in Gaza), including the now-famous on-air assault; and the state media there refusing to run add listing the names of Palestinian kids killed. One of the banned ads here.
Jeremy Scahill calls coverage of this war worst ever, with no TV push back on Israeli leaders and failure to hit constant "war crimes" and massacres.
Powerful little post and photo by NBC's @AymanM from Gaza--survivor of bomb that took 8 members of his famly.
Posted by Greg Mitchell at 12:30:00 PM
is author of a dozen books (click on covers at right), ;He was the longtime editor of Editor & Publisher. Email: gregmitch34@gmail.com Twitter: @GregMitch
Meanwhile, Mainstream America can't figure out why our hard earned money via taxes are given out to places like Israel and Egypt.
War crimes against children? Jailing of journalists in Egypt.
Washington DC, Wake up.
There is not one Senator that opposes anything Israel does?
Hold on! Israel held back on ground operation, waiting to see if Hamas rockets would stop. Even after ground operation started, Israel went with the cease fire and Hamas ignored it. Even now Israel is supportive of cease fire proposals but Hamas won't let up. This only happened because Hamas are firing rockets at Israeli civilians and refuse to let up, knowing full well where it would lead. How come all the complaint at Israel yet not a word about how Hamas could easily have avoided all of it.
Would you be happier if Hamas rockets were more effective and Israel less well organised about protecting its people so that the death toll was more balanced? Do you need to see images of dead Israeli babies to even things up?
The only reason so many deaths in Gaza is that Hamas need them to happen, knowing how the Western and arab media will react. They want to put pressure on Israel to agree to a 10 truce (hudna) and opening up of borders so they can build up an arsenal without interference. Want to guess what happens after 10 years?
Cynical perhaps, but I've come to believe the turmoil in the Middle East is a complete a US foreign policy success. Our government is paying other countries for outcomes it finds acceptable. Weapons sales are up, so it can't be bad for those who fund our representatives.
And let's not kid ourselves, it is Israel that needs so many deaths if they are to keep control of the land and water they occupy.
And a cease fire proposal that both jailers of Gaza agree is a good deal for their prisoners? Really?
It's not simply about an advanced military defending itself against crude rockets. What shocks the conscience is an advanced military that doesn't seem to pause a moment at killing people protesting or kids throwing stones.
Death penalty for everything does not define a great nation or a humane people.
Award-Winning 'Campaign of the Century''
"Upton Sinclair's Race for Governor of California--and the Birth of Media Politics": Amazingly influential and wild 1934 race with great relevance for today. Recently picked in the Wall St. Journal as one of the five greatest books on an election ever.. Click on cover to order..
New book (July 2020)--Click Cover Below to Order!
On the 1947 MGM epic that was twisted by the Truman White House and military into pro-nuclear propaganda. Already hailed by leading writers and Publishers Weekly. Click cover above for more or to order..
Recent Bestseller
It's a thrilling history of escape tunnels--under the Berlin Wall--and JFK's attempt to suppress NBC and CBS films about them at the height of the Cold War.. Hailed by The New York Times Book Review, Bill Moyers, and Frederick Forsyth, among others, and feaured by NPR"s Scott Simon. Movie in a works. "A fascinating and complex picture of the interplay between politics and media in the Cold War era." -- Washington Post.
New Edition of Our Beethoven Book!
G.M.'s book w/ Kerry Candaele, a tie-in to our new acclaimed film. E-book and print.
"Atomic Cover-up": Shocking suppression of U.S. film
How U.S. buried for decades the key footage from Hiroshima shot by the U.S. military. Click on cover above for my popular book and e-book.
My Book on the Bomb with Robert Jay Lifton
Acclaimed book on nuclear culture, and political and psychological fallout in the USA. Written with Robert Jay Lifton. Click on cover to read more or order.
New Edition of "Tricky Dick and The Pink Lady"
The notorious Nixon-Douglas race in 1950, a New York Times Notable Book, now in new print and e-book versions.
New Edition of my book on Bush, and Media, Failures on Iraq
Preface by Bruce Springsteen. "Read this book--twice." -- Bill Moyers
"Vonnegut and Me" E-book
Conversations and close encounters with the novelist. Click cover for more. $2.99.
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Probes campaign 2012 and the aftermath--plus 500 clickable links to key stories and videos! Just $2.99. Click on image above to read more or order.
E-Book on 2008 Election--and Lessons for 2012
Read about or order acclaimed book and e-book by clicking the cover.
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The Toledo Bridgepointe Inn & Suites welcomes you to	our hotel that it located close to downtown Toledo and also conveniently located close to Perrysburg, Ohio. Equipped with a spacious meeting room and located close to many area business venues. The Toledo Bridgepointe Inn & Suites is a great place for a family getaway as we are closely located to many area attractions. We are also close to Toledo's new Hollywood Casino and downtown Toledo's nightlife.
Be the first to add a review to the Bridgepointe Inn & Suites.


text:
$_QE.prototype.ConfirmationPrompt = function(parent_button, no_response, yes_response) {
    this.__init__floating_rows();

    this._no_response  = no_response;
    this._yes_response = yes_response;

    this.set_foreground_color(QE.COLOR_GRAY_DARK, 0.80);
    this.set_dimensions(512, 80);

    //this._event_function = this.open.bind(this);
    this.parent_button   = parent_button;
};

Object.assign(
    $_QE.prototype.ConfirmationPrompt.prototype,
    $_QE.prototype.WallFloating.prototype,
    {
        _close_prompt: function(response) {
            this.set_to_invisible();
            if (response) {
                this._yes_response();
            } else {
                this._no_response();
            }
        },

        open: function() {
            if (this.flag_is_off(EFLAG_IS_CREATED)) {
                this._create();
            } else {
                this.set_to_visible();
            }
        },

        create: function() {
            this.create_wall_mesh(FEATURE_MATERIAL_COLOR_TRANSPARENT);

            this.add_title_bar(null, ASSET_ICON_WARNING, false, true, true);
            this.title_bar.icon.set_foreground_color(QE.COLOR_RED);

            // Testing area.
            this._test0 = this.add_text_row({
                ARG_TEXT            : 'Are you sure?',
                ARG_COLOR_FOREGROUND: QE.COLOR_RGB_YELLOW,
                ARG_FONT            : QE.FONT_ARIAL_20_BOLD,
                ARG_ALIGNMENT_TEXT  : TEXT_ALIGNMENT_CENTER
            });

            this._buttons = this.add_buttons_row(QE.FONT_ARIAL_20_BOLD, [
                {text: 'No!' , color: QE.COLOR_RGB_GREEN_LIGHT, event: this._close_prompt.bind(this, false)},
                {text: 'Yes!', color: QE.COLOR_RGB_RED        , event: this._close_prompt.bind(this, true)}
            ]);
        },

        _create: function() {
            this.parent_button.add_attachment(this, true, true);
            this.set_offset_depth(50);
        },
    }
);

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Моонзу́ндский архипела́г (от немецкого названия пролива Муху-Вяйн — Moonsund; ) — группа островов в восточной части Балтийского моря, принадлежащих Эстонии.

География
Общая площадь — около 4 тысяч км². В состав архипелага входят четыре крупных острова:
 Сааремаа (Эзель): пл. 2673 км²
 Хийумаа (Даго): пл. 989 км²
 Муху (Моон): пл. 204 км²
 Вормси (Вормс): пл. 93 км²
Также архипелаг насчитывает около 500 мелких островов. От материка отделяется проливом Вяйнамери, который состоит из проливов Суур-Вяйн между материком и Муху и Воози-Вяйн между материком и Вормси. Максимальная высота — 68 м (холм Торнимяги на острове Хийумаа).

Климат умеренный морской, мягкий. Средняя температура января составляет −4 °C, июля — +17 °C. Осадков 550 мм в год. Большое количество озёр. Острова малоплодородны, так как сложены главным образом известняками и морскими отложениями антропогена. Почвы щебнистые и песчаные. Растительность представлена лугами и бедными сосновыми лесами, по берегам встречаются заросли тростника.

На островах имеются заповедники Вийдумяэ и Вильсанди. Крупнейшие города — Курессааре (о. Сааремаа, население — 14 тысяч человек) и Кярдла (о. Хийумаа, 4 тысячи человек).

История архипелага
В VIII веке на острове появляются викинги.

После немецкого завоевания, архипелаг с 1228 года попадает под власть Эзель-Викского епископства. В XIII веке на острове Эзель (Сааремаа) была построена орденская крепость Аренсбург. С 1559 года острова переходят под власть Дании. В результате датско-шведской войны контроль за островами переходит к Швеции.

В результате Северной войны архипелаг переходит под власть России. В 1781 году императрица Екатерина II выселила с островов на Украину (в Старошведское) местных шведов, после чего они стали заселяться материковыми эстонцами.
 Первая мировая война
Операция «Альбион» (осень 1917)

 Вторая мировая война

В начале войны архипелаг занимал гарнизон Балтийского флота СССР. 3-я стрелковая бригада Северо-Западного фронта численностью 15 тыс. человек и части береговой обороны Балтийского района. После оставления советскими войсками Прибалтики острова архипелага стали передовым опорным пунктом флота и авиации. Здесь имелись средства береговой обороны и аэродромы, с которых советская авиация наносила бомбардировочные удары по Берлину и другим административным и промышленным центрам Германии. До 4 сентября 1941 года было произведено девять групповых вылетов.

Борьба за острова началась 7 сентября. Здесь были скованы две немецкие дивизии и часть авиации. Острова были оставлены 19 октября, после того, как исчерпались все возможности их обороны. Более 500 человек эвакуировались на полуостров Ханко, некоторые в Латвию в партизаны.

См. также
 Моонзунд (Вяйнамери)

Примечания

Острова Балтийского моря

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Laurie Dhue, host, Special Edition, MSNBC, Secaucus, N.J., joins FOX News Channel, New York, as news update anchor and host, weekend specials.
Eddie Andelman, talk-show host, WEEI(AM) Boston, joins WLVI-TV Boston as sportscaster, Boston's WB in the Morning.
Carmen Ainsworth, morning news anchor, WFAA-TV Dallas, joins WDAF-TV Kansas City, Mo., as anchor.
Shauna Parsons, morning anchor, KSTU-TV Salt Lake City, joins KPTV(TV) Portland, Ore., as anchor.
Barbara Maushard, news director, KHBS-TV Fort Smith, Ark., joins WISN(TV) Milwaukee as news director.
Janine D'Adamo, weeknight meteorologist, KTBS-TV Shreveport, La., joins KTVT-TV Dallas as weekday morning and noon meteorologist.
Steve Jefferson, reporter WJTV-TV Jackson, Miss., joins KGW-TV Portland, Ore., as reporter.
Sheree Paolello, reporter, WKEF-TV Dayton, Ohio, joins WCNC-TV Charlotte, N.C., as reporter.
Heather Warner, news anchor, WDTV(TV) Weston (Bridgeport area), W.Va., joins WGAL-TV Lancaster, Pa., as general-assignment reporter.
Geoffrey Lewis, managing editor, TheStreet.com, New York, named editor-in-chief, Column WrapCNBC.com, Fort Lee, N.J.


text:
Hidden Painting Under da Vinci Masterpiece Revealed with New Imaging
By Rafi Letzter - Staff Writer 2019-08-15T12:08:36Z
(Image: © The National Gallery, London)
Researchers have uncovered new details of a hidden image buried within Leonardo da Vinci's painting "The Virgin of the Rocks."
Back in 2005, imaging revealed the painting — which shows the virgin Mary, baby Jesus and baby Saint John the Baptist — nearly had a different composition, according to The National Gallery in London, which is hosting the artwork. Researchers detected tracings of a covered-over underpainting, which put Mary's eye in a different place, among other differences from the final product.
Now, higher-quality imaging has revealed that underpainting in more detail, the gallery announced. Unseen early brush strokes show that the artist originally positioned Mary on the left side of the image, facing baby Jesus and an angel on the right. Da Vinci's original composition was significantly rotated compared with the painting he eventually produced, new images reveal.
It's unclear why da Vinci decided to cover up and redo his original composition, the gallery noted in its statement. But this was his second version of this scene, painted after selling the first (now in the Louvre in Paris) to a private client during a dispute with the church for which it was intended. His covered-up composition represented a significant departure from the first painting, while the final version (which he did sell to the church) is much closer.
Related: 5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Leonardo da Vinci
"This second version is no mere reproduction, however," the gallery said in a statement. "Along with significant adjustments to the figures, he also uses this version to explore new kinds of lighting effects based on his own research into optics and the physiology of human vision."
To reveal the underpaint, the researchers combined three techniques: The first was infrared reflectography, which revealed the presence of an underpainting in 2005. That technique uses infrared light to see brushstrokes covered by so many overlayers of paint they are invisible in the visible spectrum, but not the infrared.
The second was X-ray fluorescence (XRF) scanning, a technique that, according to the University of Missouri, researchers use to identify individual elements that sparkle when bombarded with X-ray light. The early drawings, according to the gallery, were made with a substance containing zinc that was visible to XRF.
The third technique was hyperspectral imaging, which, according to The Journal of Biomedical Optics, detects the electromagnetic energy coming off its subject across spectra in order to reveal details not detectable in any single spectrum.
The gallery said that more details may yet be revealed, as data processing from the images is ongoing. The images of the underpainting, along with the painting itself, will appear at an exhibition at the gallery Nov. 9 to Jan. 12, 2020, according to the museum.
Leonardo Da Vinci's 10 Best Ideas
Flying Machines? 5 Da Vinci Designs That Were Ahead of Their Time
In Photos: Leonardo Da Vinci's 'Mona Lisa'


Efacec has consolidated its involvement in the urban transportation business in the European market by participating in extension of the LUAS Light Rail System, located in Dublin, Republic of Ireland. The solutions and services by the Portuguese company for this new metro line represented an investment by TII (Transport Infrastructure Ireland) in the amount of 27 million euros.
Since 2008 Efacec has been providing solutions and services for the Dublin light rail on a continuous basis, focusing on the operation, effectiveness and optimization of the LUAS network, cooperating with TII since the initial phase of this project.
Over the last 3 years, the Portuguese company delivered the new state-of-the-art systems required to operate the LUAS cross-city extension, including traction substations, the new in-house developed AEGIS signalling system and all telecommunications and telecontrol infrastructure.
In addition to this project in Dublin, Efacec had been involved in the construction of several other transportation systems, namely Oporto (Portugal), Odense (Denmark) and Bergen (Norway) Light Rail systems. The company has been strongly focused on the European market and has been selected to collaborate with the most demanding costumers. The European market represents now half of Efacec's Transports Business Unity turnover.
Efacec is a Portuguese company with a strong international presence that produces products for Power Transmission and Fistribution (transformers, service, high and medium voltage switchgear and automation gear), works in integrated systems (EPC – Engineering, Procurement and Contracting) for the Energy, Environmental, Industry and Railway sectors and develops energy charging solutions for Electrical Mobility.


Since i run the first Dharma Beta, i started using new skins that are available in the addon repository. I discovered new features like the tv show logo and clear art.
Now i tried to find out which skin supports which feature.
But this was very difficult, because this information are hidden in many, many loooooong threads and i though this must be collected at a central point, the xbmc-wiki.
I created this page which need to get completed http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=Com...n_features.
So please help out and add the skins with its supported features.
Of course columns with other useful features can be added.
If features still have problems, are only partly supported or other things, put a note on it.
Shade has CD ART and Weather Conditions Fanart.
Also, Custom script and program buttons on Home Screen.
Seen several posts on TV Show Banner vs Poster support.
i split the feature 'extra Fanart' into Movies, TV Shows and Music. Please add that too.
The features of this Table should be of the stable Skin Version in the Addon Repository, now the svn. Or what do you think?
Good work on this. Something like this has been needed for a long time. I would also like to see what type of television images are supported (banner, poster, wide).
Green 'yes' should be repo version. Things available in svn or through a mod should be yellow with the text explaining (and with a link in the case of mod).
that's a great list, keep it up.
Regarding Aeon: There are several versions/mods with several options, though not sure it they should be all mentioned.
Example: Aeon MQ supports custom sub-menus, but Aeon65 don't, and so on..
I added Aeon65 and Aeon MQ 2. Please fill the features.
Is there a working Mainversion of Aeon or shall that one be removed from the table?
I though about adding that tv show thumbs and season thumbs hosted on http://www.xbmcstuff.com.
The reason I'm here is to see which skins provide a PATH by pressing i.
I prefer the look of shade to transparency, but shade does not have a file path when you press i. Also, the comment field in the track info window does not have up and down arrows, so if the text is more than three lines, it is just truncated.
It would be good to have a lot more columns, Im sure there are dozens of other features which could be added. Unfortunately HTML code is not my thing, so it would have to be someone else who adds the columns.
Definitely something that would be usefull.
Maybe add Banner for TV Show?
Newbies could probably understand the implications of these features if they had a YouTube Video or a JING screenshot video explaining what the features are.
ASrock Ion 330HT - XBMCFreak 10.1 Lucid LiveCD. Everything works but System sounds over HDMI.
EDIT: Added Cirrus Extended to the List.
butchabay Wrote: EDIT: Added Cirrus Extended to the List.
igotdvds Wrote: Can you add Simplicity?


There's a lot of speculation nowadays – much of it rather gloomy – on how automation and AI will change the way people work.
It isn't new. In fact it's a process that has been ongoing since the start of the Industrial Revolution. The thing that is new is the dizzying pace of those changes. The world of work has transformed more in the past five years than in the previous 50. And that pace can only increase as technology constantly re-invents itself.
But while robots look set to eliminate the need for human involvement in a whole array of jobs, from banking to bus driving, it isn't all one-way traffic. On the contrary, a recent report from McKinsey predicts a global talent shortage of around 85 million qualified workers by 2020. And a lot of that shortage will be in the business we work in.
Let's zero in our industry and pick out some trends that will affect employers, recruitment consultants like us and workers like you. More importantly, what you can do to profit from those trends.
Whether they're new start-ups or long established, organisations have been going digital for most of the century so far and the process of change has gone a long way now, from the cutting edge to the mainstream. Leaders and managers now need to be totally comfortable with technology, unfazed by innovation, eager to adopt and contribute to it.
Companies need to compete, attract and keep the cream of an increasingly selective workforce, by offering them stimulus, challenges, a virtually endless supply of education and re-training so they can re-adapt to new developments, as well as considerations such as wellness and work-life balance. Important though it is, it's not just about the money any more.
As an interesting sidenote, issues of gender and diversity are becoming an ever more pressing topic that organisations now have to deal with seriously, as gaps and inequalities can no longer be ignored. This is a moral and social issue, of course, but also a pragmatic one, as employers search for new ways to plug that imminent talent crisis.
Like many others, the basic functions and processes of our industry are now almost fully digital. The days when consultants operated a chain of retail outlets with a presence on every High Street are gone. However, ours is also an industry where human interaction remains essential and, as things stand, we don't see any likelihood of that being replaced any time soon. Humans will always be humans and will always need, appreciate and be motivated by fellow human contact.
We see our challenge as achieving the perfect balance between human and robo-consulting. We need to use the best of AI to focus on attaining ever finer, more selective matches between the right people and the right jobs or contracts. We need to move constantly toward relating to job seekers as our customers, not numbers. And we need to maintain the emphasis on emotional intelligence that was always our priority, even before the tech revolution started, by developing real relationships built on trust with the people we work with.
This is the part you'll naturally be most interested in, so there's a short and a long answer.
The short answer is that recent developments have led to excellent opportunities at the moment, especially in the financial services industry, for big data specialists, business analysts and infrastructure engineers. Demand for big data specialists looks likely to continue well into the foreseeable future. Also, the unending evolution of Google algorithms has sparked more demand for mobile specialists, web developers and user experience specialists.
In the longer term, disruption, fragmentation and specialisation are fast becoming the watchwords. The blunt and honest truth is that those skills you learnt a few years ago, which might have been expected to last a career lifetime, may not now be enough to land you the best work. So we strongly suggest that you take a cool look at your skill set and if it seems even a little behind the times, please do all you can to update it.
Do some research and get some online tuition – there's a lot available. Best of all, try to hone your qualifications around currently breaking specialisations like Amazon Web Services, MS Azure, Cloud and IoT. As well as the qualifications, try to get some track record. And above all, be ready to make a few more CHANGES in the years ahead.


Are you continuing to better yourself? Are you learning and growing or stuck in your growth?
One of the best ways to have continuous improvement and growth is to pick-up a book and sit down (turn off your phone and other digital gadgets!) and just read. Soak it up. Ponder. Read.
Today, in this brief video I share what's on my nightstand book pile and some highlights from the book. It's Unique: Telling Your Story in the Age of Brands and Social Media by Phil Cooke.
So here's YOUR chance to practice being "social" with social media. Let's see how many of you actually are serious about getting better.
QUESTION FOR YOU: What book have you read recently, going through now or is on your list? And what's one thing you are learning from it? Drop the book title in a comment below and let's see what everyone is reading these days.


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don@astrodonimaging.com
Published Images
Astro Videos
NGC 6946 Fireworks Galaxy
VIS/IR Comparison
Constellation: Cepheus
Ra: 20h 24m 52s
Dec: +60d 9m 14s
Distance: 10 million light years
Image Size: 36' x 36'
North: Upper left
NGC 6946 is a mag. 8.9 face-on spiral galaxy located in the constellation of Cygnus about 10 million light years away. It is known as the "Fireworks Galaxy" (Arp 29) and is reddened due to its location near the galactic plane and the considerable amount of intervening dust. Nine supernova have been observed in NGC 6946. This galaxy is characterized by rapid star formation. It is now known as a "nuclear starburst galaxy" with new star formation due to an interaction between a hydrogen molecular cloud and the barred structure of the core. There is significant star formation in the spiral arms, which also host many bright pink HII emissions that glow in hydrogen-alpha light. A primary objective of this image was to highlight the HII regions in the spiral arms.
For comparison, we present an animated GIF image is presented that overlays this visible image made with RGB filters with the infrared image taken with the Spitzer Space Telescope. There is a good correspondence between these pink HII regions, as well as the darker dust lanes, and the Spitzer infrared data.
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/images/2078-sig08-008-The-Fireworks-Galaxy-NGC-6946 –
We also present the comparison as a mouseover to provide more time to examine the detail. Place the mouse over the image to see the Spitzer IR data.
Exposure: 23 hrs Total: 9 hrs Luminance; 13 hrs RGB
Telescope: RCOS 16
Mount: Software Bisque Paramount ME
Oag: Astrodon MonsterMOAG
Acquisition: CCD AutoPilot4
Calibration: CCDStack2
Observatory Site: Sierra-Remote Observatories, Shaver Lake, CA
Camera: Apogee U16M
Filters: Astrodon Gen 2 LRGB
Guider: SBIG ST-402
Camera Operation: MaximDL4.62
Processing: Photoshop CS5 Extended
Image Date: 07/04/2010 - 07/15/2010
Website by GammaFX, Inc.


I have been an advocate for Tai Chi (taiji quan) for at least as long as I've been a Physical Therapist, and have previously written about the benefits Tai Chi can bring to physical therapists and physical therapy. In this series, I aim to share some of the ways I've been able to apply the principles and practice of Tai Chi to my therapy skills, an in doing so enhance my patients' care.
What is 'Weight Shift' and Why is it Important?
In basic terms, weight shift is our ability to move our center of mass (CoM) – our 'weight' – around our body in order to maintain – or disrupt – our balance. Think of your CoM like a pendulum or a plumb-bob; when you stand with perfect balance, your CoM sits right in the middle of your base of support (ie: the area around your feet). Once you start moving, your 'pendulum' moves as well, generally in the direction you are moving. We do this all the time – in fact, if we couldn't move our CoM, we couldn't move at all.
An easy way to understand weight shift is to attempt to stand on one leg. To do this, you have to move your CoM – or 'swing your pendulum' – over your supporting leg so you can lift the other leg off the ground. If you don't, you won't be able to lift your leg, or if you do, you body will want to fall over to that side. You can try this for yourself to see how it feels (just make sure you do it by a table or counter top so you've got something to grab onto if you need it!).
Being able to weight shift not only facilitates movement, it can help prevent unwanted or undesirable movement, for example, falling. Falling is a major contributor to injury and death amongst many populations: in the US, falling is considered to be leading cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries. Physical therapists spend a great deal of time trying to both prevent falls in patients, and help patients recover from falls. Teaching patients to understand both how their CoM affects their balance, and how to shift their weight appropriately for safe movement, is critical to achieving functional movement and stability. However, in many patients the ability to weight shift is impaired either because of disease (eg: neuropathy, arthritis, vertigo) and injury (eg: stroke, spinal and nerve injuries), and regaining the ability to control weight shift can be very difficult.
How Can Tai Chi Help?
Weight shift is one of a number of fundamental skills Tai Chi training can improve or enhance. Almost every movement in any form from start to finish involves a gradual, controlled transfer of weight in coronal, sagittal, and transverse planes of movement. In order to perform the forms correctly, Tai Chi practitioners control the displacement of their CoM in all planes through slow, precise movements. In most instances, the CoM remains ideally located within the practitioner's base of support, making it easy to maintain balance. This is evident even when the practitioner is performing 'unbalanced' movements, such as standing on one leg.
One main difference between mao xing and regular walking is the way weight shift is controlled. In regular walking, the CoM is displaced forward of the body, and the body's reaction is to shift weight to one leg while stepping through with the other. Keeping the CoM displaced forwards and alternately repeating the sequence facilitates movement while preventing a fall forwards. In effect, walking is a repeatedly controlled fall. (Note: again, this is an overly simple description of walking, however is biomechanically accurate) Mao xing on the other hand, keeps the CoM positioned ideally within a person's base of support at all times, even when one leg is not supported on the ground. Consider this in terms of a person who has an impaired ability to weight shift, such as someone who has a dense hemiplegia following a stroke. Which method of walking would you consider safest to have them perform?
Recently I was able to apply the principles of mao xing to improve the mobility of two patients who had difficultly with weight shift: a middle-aged male with a dense left hemiplegia following a stroke, and an elderly female with the inability to maintain knee extension following an injury to her femoral nerve. Neither patient was able to support weight on their affected side and both were consequently such a high risk of falling they could only mobilize in a wheelchair. Therapy included exercises to encourage weight shift and improve the ability to bear weight over the affected side, however in both instances progress was slow and their was little retention between therapy sessions.
Using the principles of mao xing, I had both patients practice stepping into a lunge stance with their affected side, then returning to a neutral standing position. Patients practiced the gradual loading and unloading of the affected side, first supported and then with standby assistance as their skill improved. In both cases, within the completion of 2 sets of 10 repetitions there was an observed improvement in the patient's understanding and ability to shift weight to the affected side, and in maintaining standing balance. With successive therapy sessions and in conjunction with other exercises, both patients advanced their ability to weight shift to the point where they were able to stand and mobilize with an appropriate aid. The male with the hemiplegia was ultimately able to mobilize with a cane independently. The female with the femoral nerve injury has so far progressed to be able to mobilize with a standard frame under supervision.
This is, at best, observational evidence of a specific application of Tai Chi principles to physical therapy, and weight shift is only one aspect of maintaining balance. However, it does support the increasing body of evidence-based research advocating Tai Chi as a means of improving balance and mobility, and in my opinion, is worth further investigation as an adjunct to physical therapy.
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The October Forecast
Sidewalk and landscaping work continues downtown
Seymour Street to close to thru traffic Monday evening for waterline work
North end steel sheets to be removed starting next week
As September slipped into October and Middlebury marked a second week of open roads and downtown parking, construction continued its orderly progress toward what will likely be an early winter shutdown: VTrans expects construction to wrap up about Thanksgiving.
That would be in sharp contrast to the past two years, when work continued right through the winter months.
For Waters and Landshapes, working around our mid-week rain, it was another week of pouring sidewalks and landscaping our rebuilt downtown.
Waters has now poured sidewalk on the Town Green side of the upper stretch of Merchants Row and, as shown in the photo below taken Thursday morning, on Main Street between the front entrance to St. Stephen's and the crosswalk to the Post Office.
As the week draws to a close, Landshapes expects to complete the bump-out on the crosswalk at the midpoint of Merchants Row, shown under construction Thursday afternoon in the next photo below.
In the background of the photo, you can see Carrara working with Waters to pour a section of one of two sidewalks that will connect Merchants Row and Main Street through Triangle Park.
Earlier this week, Landshapes begin placing historic ashlar blocks salvaged from the rail corridor in Triangle Park to create a perimeter for the maple trees (to be planted this Fall) and to provide seating areas in the park.
In the photo below, you can see how the perimeter of Triangle Park is taking shape.
From the granite curbing, a five-foot-wide sidewalk will extend toward the line of lamp posts, ashlar blocks, and maple trees. Next week, assuming our weather holds, Waters should be able to complete the sidewalk in this stretch and along Main Street.
Also on tap for next week, Landshapes expects to begin rebuilding the St. Stephen's memorial garden situated arounds its honey locust tree and then begin working outward toward the middle of the park. Kubricky will begin installing our historic fountain, which is being repainted and will sit about 30 feet in from the intersection of Main and Merchants, roughly where it was in the past.
Next week Kubricky expects to continue forming and pouring the concrete cap walls that create a finished top to the u-walls on the north end of the project. This week Kubricky poured the first 90 feet of the cap wall on either side of the rail line. The photo below shows the south side poured and covered, the north side awaiting concrete, which took place Thursday afternoon.
The passenger train traveling southbound into the rail tunnel in the photo is a collection of individually owned private rail cars whose members, part of a national organization called AAPRCO, or the American Association of Private Rail Car Owners, tour Vermont each Fall.
Rounding out next week's forecast, Kubricky expects to begin grading Printer's Alley in preparation for pouring the sidewalk connecting Main Street to the Marble Works and building the new Lazarus Park.
Seymour Street To Close Monday Evening for Waterline Work
Monday evening at 6 PM ECI will close Seymour Street to thru traffic for about four hours in order to install a new waterline for The Depot, the privately owned building that sits next to County Tire and that was once the town's rail station.
If you're interested in the history of Middlebury's rail station, you might enjoy reading this section of the Sheldon Museum's digital presentation of Glenn Andres's A Walking History of Middlebury.
Finally, ECI expects to begin pulling those steel sheets whose fate many have asked about on the north end of the downtown rail corridor. As we saw (and heard) early this year, the sound and vibration produced by the vibrating hammer used to install and remove those sheets are very noticeable so thank you in advance for your patience with this necessary clean-up work on the north end of the project.
Hours of construction continue to be 7 AM – 5 PM Monday-Friday.
In a final note, I'm looking forward to the reopening of a remodeled Vermont Book Shop on Main Street in the near future. Becky and her team have served the community well this year, shifting their business to an online-order/Stone Mill-pickup model to keep all of us avid readers in books.


P046-SQUAREDAWAY by Deena Rutter. This pattern is deceptively easy! Great for beginners as well as experienced sewists. Also very versatile, can be used with a full line, with scraps, or all solids.
Final size as shown - approx. 56" x 60".


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Falling behind early, USA defense shuts down Ukraine 95-71 at FIBA World Cup
By Globalite Magazine September 4, 2014
When the Ukraine took a 3-2 lead, it looked like the usual slow start for USA.
Then Ukraine led 7-2, 13-8, 19-14, 21-17, and 24-20.
Was this going to be the biggest upset in basketball history?
No, because the US locked in defensively. They started hitting shots. It was tied 25-25.
Then suddenly it was 44-32 and the US was on its way to consecutive win number 59. It's now 5-0, and heading for a match-up with Mexico in Barcelona.
"I think we played really hard defensively," US coach Mike Krzyewski said after the game. "The defense has been good throughout. It shows a willingness on their part to play hard and play together."
"I thought we got off to a slow start offensively," he added. "Today is a crazy day for us. We already had the pool won, we checked out of the hotel, we're flying out of here tonight. We played three games in a row. It was a little bit unusual for us. But we managed to take away their shooting."
For Coach K, it was also a duel against one on his best friends, Ukraine coach Mike Fratello, who he's known for 40 years.
After the game, Coach K praised Fratello for fielding a disciplined, organized team, led by Slava Kravtov with 15 points and Eugene Jeter with 13.
(words and images copyright Christopher Johnson Globalite Media, all rights reserved)
"They're very well coached. They get good shots, and they play as one. They've had a fabulous run in this tournament."
The US is also very well coached. Stephen Curry, who had 14 points, said their defense kept them in the game while there offense sputtered. "We try to get better every game. I think we accomplished that, but we can still get better."
James Harden notched 17 for the US.
Anthony Davis added 12.
DeMarcus Cousins continued his rapid improvement, scoring 11 and clogging up the middle.
Kyrie Irving had 11 but went down hard on his tailbone late in the game.
"We think he'll be fine," said Coach K. "We don't anticipate a serious injury there." Kenneth Faried continued his "manimal" play with 10 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks.
Klay Thompson had 5 boards and 4 assists.
Posted in Basketball, FIBA World Cup 2014, Sports, Steph Curry


Archives|Paid Notice: Deaths BADEAU, ARTHUR C.
Paid Notice: Deaths BADEAU, ARTHUR C.
BADEAU-Arthur C., 83, of Bradenton, Fl, died August 11. A retired Compliance Director of Kidder Peabody, he leaves his wife Marjorie, sons David, Paul, Douglas and Charles, and two grandchildren. Services were held Tuesday.


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Is a Yacht Philippe Starck's 'Revolutionary' Apple Project? [RUMOR]
By Alex Fitzpatrick 2012-04-14 14:17:33 UTC
World-famous French designer Philippe Starck told a French radio station on Friday that he's working on a "revolutionary" secret Apple project that will surface in eight months. The designer said that he couldn't reveal more details because of Apple's "religious cult of secrecy."
Apple flatly denied Starck's involvement with any of its upcoming products while rumors about the project flew wild. Some speculated Starck could be involved with an Apple TV, others suggested that he's working on a new Parisian Apple Store.
The answer, it appears, seems to be out to sea: Jobs commissioned Starck to design a "sleek and minimalist" yacht with 40-foot-long glass walls. The pair met in Cupertino, California on a monthly basis to talk about the ship, according to Jobs' official biography.
However, neither Apple nor the alleged maker of the yacht, Netherlands-based Feadship, are commenting on the plans. They do, however, match Jobs' penchant for simple yet beautiful design and engineering.
French newspaper Le Figaro reported that Starck is planning on staying in touch with Jobs' widow Laurene, possibly to finish work on the ship. However, the designer hasn't confirmed that the yacht is the "revolutionary" project to which he was referring on the radio broadcast.
Do you think the ship is the "revolutionary" product, or does Starck have something else up his sleeve?
Image courtesy of iStockphoto, Bluberries
Topics: Apple, Dev & Design, Steve Jobs, Tech


Informatics Outsourcing offers best solutions for organizations in computational chemistry. We can draw up catalogs that are mineable with your chemical structures and all data can easily be stored into one or several databanks.
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Selecting the target lists for screening.
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Informatics Outsourcing's internal development tools such as Text Mining and Compound Library Maker will be completely utilized for the project as and when they are required along with the other industry standard molecular modeling and cheminformatics products.
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We have well trained software professionals and statisticians to carry out complicated tasks in the field of Computational Chemistry. Feel free to CONTACT US for more information.


"My husband & I wanted some time alone as we started this new year. So we found this hotel deal in Greenwich, which tered is not far from us...."
"We stayed at the Travelodge Greenwich High Road due to attending a concert at the London Stadium. It is located right next door to the DLR s..."
"The room was pretty small but the staff was really nice and helpful..."
"Our room was not serviced during our stay...."
"Convenient for the DLR and overground rail, and just a short (10 minutes, fairly brisk pace) to the main sights of Greenwich, this is a fair..."
Our London Greenwich High Road hotel is surrounded by must-see attractions like the Cutty Sark and beautiful Greenwich Park. A stone's throw from Greenwich Station and the DLR, it's also ideal for exploring the city centre. Business travellers visiting the Greenwich Centre Business Park can walk there in minutes.
Whatever your plans, you'll definitely want to squeeze in a walk up to the Royal Observatory for an incredible panoramic view. All rooms feature a comfy king size bed with four plump pillows and a cosy duvet. Our on-site restaurant and bar serves breakfast and tasty evening meals. Early/Late Check-In/Out Service – if you're looking to make the most of your day we can offer an Early Check-In service from 12:00noon and a Late Check-Out Service until 2pm so you have more time to relax - cost is £10 per service, per room, subject to availability - bookable direct by telephoning the hotel. We are a pet friendly hotel and allow up to 2 domestic pets, per stay. This is at an additional charge of £20 per pet, per stay. Please contact LateRooms to arrange this to be added to your booking and for further details on charges and terms and conditions. Please note that Guide dogs, Hearing dogs, and other animals, to aid disability, are exempt from charge.
29/01/2016 to 31/12/2020 - Chargeable offsite parking, £27.50 per 24 hours, 30 mins free WiFi every 24 hours, £3 for 24 hour access, Special requests cannot be guaranteed, please email the address provided to check availability The price shown is based on the occupancy and dates you have searched for. Prices and availability are subject to change based on the arrival date, number of nights and occupancy searched for. All prices are inclusive of all local taxes.
My husband & I wanted some time alone as we started this new year.
We stayed at the Travelodge Greenwich High Road due to attending a concert at the London Stadium.


There are numerous Palm Beach 6-Piece Living Room Furniture Set in Cinnamon, Janice Royal Fabric reviews, which you can discover widely available on the Internet. It is one of the indications to its brilliant high quality. As the proverb affirms, a picture is worth lots of words. We would like to promote you to experience it oneself right now.
Buying Furniture Made Easy With Simple TricksThis short article was written exclusively for you, but it really was written for the professional shopper too. It provides expert consultancy created for buying furniture you won't find somewhere else. Whether decorating a home or hotel, these guidelines will assist you in buying every one of the pieces you require without blowing your budget.If you discover some furniture that you like, ask if your furniture store offers price matching. This can be a wonderful way to help you save money while allowing you to remain faithful in your local furniture store. This can make your business in your town which helps grow local businesses.Consider your pet situation when shopping for furniture. A house without free-roaming pets that is going to stay this way is safer for a lot more furniture. If you absolutely have uncaged pets or think you could possibly down the road, be far more picky in doing what pieces of furniture you acquire.When you find yourself having new furniture delivered to your residence, ensure that you give it a look before you sign the receipt of delivery. If you sign the form then notice something is wrong with the furniture once it is incorporated in the house, you might have trouble having the company to fix or replace it.When it comes to a couch, go for one who has removable cushions. These cushions might be flipped all through the year so that deterioration is at a minimum. In the event you can't flip your cushions then expect to need to get a new couch every couple of years since the wear is likely to accumulate rather quickly.Take a look at Goodwill stores for used furniture. You might be amazed at the quality of furniture that you'll find at Goodwill. They typically don't accept furniture with any sort of tears or stains, so the overall quality is rather good. Along with the charges are much less than you'll see buying new.When buying bedroom accessories for your children, look into wrought iron bunk beds. This type of bed will withstand the demands that kids place on them. Additionally, if your kid marks on the bedroom accessories, you can simply spray paint it to make it look brand-new for just one or two dollars.Be aware of return guarantee prior to buying furniture. A lot of things can occur once you have that furniture home. It might not match at all. There might be some type of issue that occurred during transport. The sizing may be all off. Prior to getting to this point, know what options you have. It'll cut down on the worries.Pick the best fabric for that location and make use of of your respective furniture. If a bit of furniture will probably face heavy use and traffic, usually do not purchase a costly or delicate fabric, because you will change it out earlier than you want. Save these pieces at a lower price used rooms which are for guests or show.Given that your financial budget can remain intact you can actually find the furniture you require. This means you won't need to bother about shopping anymore, it is possible to instead take pleasure in the trip to the shop. Start using these tips when you progress to ensure you make progress with your decorating project today.


John Mallozzi, the city's former Democratic Party chief, was arrested Wednesday on charges of absentee ballot fraud in the 2015 municipal election. He allegedly forged ballots for relatives, Spanish-speaking residents and Albanian-Americans new to the election system, according to the State's Attorney's Office.
Mallozzi was charged with 14 counts each of filing false statements and second-degree forgery. He turned himself in to Stamford police on the charges, both Class D felonies punishable by up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $5,000 per count.
Slap on the wrist coming.
I wish this would make national headlines from the conservative media, but everything in CT is always ignored.
So true. d*ck is the only one who gives head lines.


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Home/World/China's billionaires see biggest gains ever, adding more than $1.5 trillion to their fortunes
China's billionaires see biggest gains ever, adding more than $1.5 trillion to their fortunes
Jack Ma, Alibaba Group
Jean Chung | Bloomberg | Getty Images
A spate of IPOs and robust tech growth helped China's billionaires add $1.5 trillion to their wealth, bringing the total worth of China's billionaires to $4 trillion, according to a new report, which described the increase as the country's fastest growth ever.
China minted 257 billionaires over the past year — averaging five new billionaires a week — bringing the total to 878, according to the Hurun Rich List 2020, which tracks wealth in China. That total would exceed the 788 billionaires in the U.S., as measured by Wealth-X. (Wealth-X and others, however, use different methodologies for China and put China's billionaire count lower than that of the U.S.)
"The world has never seen this much wealth created in just one year," said Rupert Hoogewerf, Hurun Report chairman and chief researcher. "China's entrepreneurs have done much better than expected. Despite Covid-19, they have risen to record levels."
China's soaring stock markets, a flood of initial public offerings and surging growth in the tech sector have all helped to fuel the country's latest wealth boom. Jack Ma, the co-founder and former executive chairman of Alibaba, topped China's billionaire ranking for the third year in a row, with $59 billion. He saw his fortune increase 45%, due mainly to the upcoming IPO of fintech giant Ant Group.
"The Hurun China Rich List recorded more wealth created this year than the previous five years combined, suggesting that the structure of the economy has evolved, moving away from traditional sectors like manufacturing and real estate, towards the new economy," Hoogewerf said.
Just as in the U.S., China's first two months of the outbreak saw massive wealth destruction, followed by a V-shaped recovery for stock markets and then a massive digital boom, according to Hurun.
Ranking second on the billionaire's list is Pony Ma, founder, chairman and CEO of tech conglomerate Tencent. His wealth increased 50% to $57.4 billion, driven by Tencent's strong gaming business and growth in Wechat. Ranking third was Zhong Shanshan, chairman of YST, which makes bottled water.
Other big wealth winners over the past year included China's "food delivery king" Wang Xing of Meituan- Dianping, who quadrupled his wealth to $25 billion, after winning market share from Alibaba. China's "express delivery king" Wang Wei of SF Express more than doubled his wealth to $35.3 billion, the report said.
Zhou Qunfei of Lens, the touchscreen maker, saw her fortune more than triple to $17 billion, making her one of the three richest self-made women in the world.
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd Business business news China Entrepreneurship Technology Tencent Holdings Ltd Wealth
MongoDB rolls out pick 'n' mix multi-cloud DBaaS, hopes to win over footdraggers by playing well with AWS, Google and Microsoft
Mom sues New York City hospital after she fell on sidewalk while in labor with twins
Guinea vs Gambia: AFCON preview
Arsenal transfer news LIVE Fiorentina 'open to selling' Vlahovic, Leno's exit
Gabriel Martinelli outshines Alexandre Lacazette as Arsenal gamble fails
MacKenzie Scott gives away another $2.7 billion to charity
Alun Wyn Jones to join Lions in South Africa 18 days after shoulder dislocation
Piers Morgan playfully compares co-host Susanna Reid to Birds of a Feather's Dorien Green
Top 15 biggest spenders this century as Chelsea and Man City lead the way


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Imperfect Pair: 1968 Sunbeam Imps
Jamie Palmer
Reader Andrew P. writes: Hey, I have found two Sunbeam Imps for $950; one was fully restored at one point and had won awards according to the owner. They also come with boxes of new parts and visually have great patina. Maybe potential for a sleeper build or an easy restoration? The two cars are located in Saco, Maine and are being sold here on craigslist for $950 for the pair.
What Andrew had no way of knowing was that the very first car I fell in love with was a Hillman Imp (same car, different branding in the UK). Dark blue, with Cosmic Mk. 2 wheels, located in Brandon, Suffolk, UK with the registration "62YOO" (if any of our UK fans can find it, I'd buy it in a heartbeat). Which really has me pining for these two, especially when I found out that the white one was a former show winner (ouch!) and they come with a lot of spare parts and manuals (double ouch!). If we weren't in the middle of moving…
There's certainly some oxidation here, and as Rootes was never known for it's rustproofing to begin with, there may be some challenges in the metal. However, where else are you going to find a rear-engined, all-alumimum engine construction, high-revving car that can run rings around a lot of more glamorous machinery when suitably tuned and slightly modified? The license plate dates from 1987-1999, but I can't quite make out the sticker in the lower right corner, I think it's either 87 or 97. At least one of the Imp Club newsletters that comes with the car dates from 1998, so I'm hoping for 1997.
The seller characterizes them both as parts cars, but I can't look at this interior and not hope that someone saves the white car. I would think the upholstered seats alone would cost the asking price to replace. I'm guessing the two ribbons in the passenger side footwell and dash plaques would tell a good story.
And here's the jewel of an engine. Most Imps have 875 cc overhead cam engines, while some have a 998 cc version. All, however, are derived from a Coventry Climax engine that has seen a lot of racing and sports car use, although the Imp version does differ somewhat from the Lotus version. I hope this one is not seized, as parts on this side of the ocean are a little difficult to source. Both the blue and white cars still have their engines intact. I wish I could bring these home, but I can't–so will you buy these little cars and give them a home?
British Projects Hillman Sunbeam
I'm counting on our British fans to find "62Y00" for me :-) It was in 1974/75 that I "knew" the car. Passed it every day on the way too/from school…
VictorMatthew-Brown
Sorry, I just checked and that reg hasn't been taxed for at least 10 years, can't be good news!
Thanks for trying, Victor. It was a gorgeous Imp…I hope it still exists somewhere other than in my memories :-)
Good pair if fishing lures.
sir mike
I'm sorry but if one of these was a restored show winner what kind of person does this??
The only times I've seen something like this is when the owner dies and whomever inherits the car doesn't appreciate it.
Rancho Bella
they handle well but worth next to nothing
Don Foote
Won awards for what? My brother once got a trophy at a car show wedding for "most illegal"
bcavileer
All the work put into that resto… lost. Must have been some kind of real personal loss to have a decent car end up in that deplorable state. Alas, there's a million stories in the naked city…
I just hope the cars I brought back over the years and sold don't end up this way. Would really make my life's work seem pretty insignificant. Jeez… Hope that there is enough left to make 1 good one out of this pile of pine needles… or pine shadows as they are know round here.
Fretting over the fate of these cars is akin to lamenting the demise of the Pinto or Vega. Cheap crap.
Andrew P.
We'll now we know Jamie's favorite car is a Hillman Imp. To bad your moving, but I emailed the buyer 5 hours after it was posted and already had two people going to look at them.
Thanks, Andrew. Actually, it's my favorite reasonably priced car I don't already own…I'm lucky enough to have my two dream cars now… :-)
What are your two dream cars?
I'm waiting until I post a "What's in Jamie's Barn" post (shortly, have to take some pictures during our move) and I promise to answer that :-)
Sep 25, 2016 at 8:53am
I bought them, they're in Florida now. The white Imp was running and moving weeks after getting her home. She's now undergoing a nut & bolt restoration
It's good to know they went to a good home. Please keep us updated!
Will do, it was a 1997 tag sticker Jamie
The white Imp is a 1964 B411 mk1 de luxe, not 1968.
Maine is to cold in January for this Florida boy
After driving her around the neighborhood a few days and all the systems checked out good, lights, cooling, fuel, charging ect. It's was now time to get her prom ready.
Sep 25, 2016 at 1:43pm
Terrific, Mike! I'm glad they went to a good home!!!
'Boomer'...
Jan 9, 2017 at 3:50am
Mike,..I just found this site and it's a few months since your posted purchase.Any chance of an up-date along with photo's of the work in progress?