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Alastair Cook makes a big statement regarding the upcoming Ashes
1 month ago 12BETIndia Editor
The forthcoming Ashes series will have to contend with a number of problems before it even begins. On the subject, former England captain Alastair Cook has expressed his thoughts. According to him, all of the external commotions is something that no team would want to deal with before to entering a mega-series like the Ashes, which begins in December and should showcase some great cricket.
It should come as no surprise that the Ashes often create high-intensity on-field animosity and the best live cricket. The teams, however, are faced with some bad circumstances even before the event begins this year. Tim Paine made the decision to quit his position as Australia's Test captain recently. His decision occurred in the middle of a sexting incident involving a Tasmanian female co-worker.
The United Kingdom, on the other hand, has been the target of allegations of institutional racism. Cook believes that the lack of a well-established captain is a source of distraction for the squad. He also said that this would have the effect of unseating the team's dynamic.
It is the type of external noise that a team does not want to deal with at any point in time: Alastair Cook
"It is the type of external noise that a team does not need when it is about to go on such a significant series. Speculation has circulated that Paine's absence will help Australia become more powerful. In such circumstances, it is conceivable that his successor… maybe a superior wicketkeeper-batsman, maybe the removal of an established captain is a distraction that will only serve to destabilise the team's dynamic," Cook remarked, as reported by cricket.com.
With the appointment of Pat Cummins as Australia's new Test captain and Steve Smith as his deputy, the squad has a fresh look. After a long absence from the leadership role, the latter is returning to it for the first time in quite some time. He had already been barred from holding any kind of leadership position as a result of the sandpaper incident that occurred in South Africa in 2018.
What Shane Warne said about the same matter related to the Ashes
Smith had earlier predicted that his appointment would not go down well with certain people because there would be a lot of negativity around his appointment. As a result, Shane Warne, Australia's former spinner, has spoken his thoughts on Smith's nomination as vice-captain. A batsman should have been disqualified from consideration for the job, according to him.
"In my view, appointing him as vice-captain exposes Cricket Australia to mockery and criticism," Warne said. "His second opportunity is getting to play for Australia again," Warne said.
Three and a half years after the ball-tampering fiasco in South Africa, former Australia captain Ian Chappell has expressed his disappointment with the selection of Steve Smith as vice-captain of the Test squad.
Further afield, England Ashes' champion Steve Harmison has said that selecting Pat Cummins as Australia's Test captain is a "huge bet" that may backfire during the Ashes series.
Michael Clarke has also lobbied selectors to choose Alex Carey over Josh Inglis, while England director Ashley Giles has said that his players would be supported if they refuse to continue playing if they encounter racist abuse from fans this summer.
Which team will produce the results in the upcoming edition of the Ashes?
Both teams have looked good in the recently concluded T20 World Cup. However, that was a different format altogether. Winning that tournament could be a morale booster for the Aussie side. Despite that, there have been some major changes right at the top.
Pat Cummins is the new skipper of the Australian side. He will be leading the team in these Test matches. It's not been seen often that a bowler (mainly, though he can bat a bit too) becomes the skipper of the team. Keeping that in mind, this will be a challenge that he is willing to undertake.
To add to that, Steve Smith will be his deputy as the vice-captain of the team. Both the players will be expected to lead the team to "Ashes glory". Let's wait and watch what they manage to do in the upcoming series against a really strong English side, once they do make the trip.
Tags: 12BET Cricket, 12BET India Cricket, Cricket Betting, Cricket Betting Tips, Cricket News, Cricket Update
Previous Injured Kieron Pollard has been ruled out of the Pakistan series
Next Ajinkya Rahane evades questions about possible lineup changes for the 2nd Test against New Zealand in Mumbai


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£35 and higher backers have been given instructions on how to access their copy of "Elite: Reclamation, the official Guide." This is a 109 page PDF document with lots of unseen imagery, content and behind the scenes information on the book. I will be making this generally available in a few weeks, and will update when that occurs.
All other pledge rewards have now been honoured with the exclusion of the £75 and upwards tier with the specially signed paperback versions. These are expected to be available by Fantasticon in August.
Elite: Reclamation itself is now available (in ebook form) and in pre-order (in paperback, hardback and audio) to the general public via Fantastic Books Publishing's store. 10% of proceeds of sale from FBP go to my nominated charity, Ashford Dyslexia Centre. You may recall from previous blogs that my eldest son is dyslexic and these folks helped him enormously to be able to access books and so on.
Elite: Reclamation will be made available on Amazon shortly.
So far I've had a few comments back that folks are enjoying the story, but, as far as I'm aware, no one has finished it yet. I wait with baited breath to see what people think. One thing I will be after are some reviews, but I'll post about that in a future update as I will want to focus that attention on Amazon itself. It may not be to everyone' taste, but Amazon is by far the biggest marketplace available and reviews there will be hugely appreciated.
If you're a member of Goodreads, you can chat about Elite: Reclamation here.
Other than that, if you can spread the news of the book's availability that would be much appreciated.
Next up is prep for LaveCon and Fantasticon. LaveCon is not far away now, on the 5th and 6th of July. If you haven't booked to come to this festival of Elite geekery… now's the time! You can get tickets from here.
My travel and hotel are sorted and I'm looking forward to meeting as many of you as possible there!
And now, the main character of your promos is on stage – looks fascinating.


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Fund-raiser set up for much-loved pensioner injured in Kilbirnie 'hit-and-run'
Gino Masini: Fund-raiser set up for Kilbirnie pensioner after crash
By Ross Hanvidge @RHanvidge Chief reporter
Gino Masini was injured in a suspected hit-and-run incident in Kilbirnie on January 10 (Image: GoFundMe)
MORE than £1,000 has been donated to an online fund-raiser set up to help a much-loved Kilbirnie pensioner who was injured in a suspected hit-and-run incident last week.
Gino Masini was taken to hospital for treatment after the serious crash at Bridgend, near to Muirend Street, at around 6.10pm on Tuesday (January 10).
The 72-year-old's condition was described by police as stable but he is said to be still recovering from surgery after suffering a broken hip and pelvis.
Police issued an appeal for information from any witnesses and in an update this week said "enquiries are continuing" to trace the car involved.
A post on social media claimed the elderly man was "hit by a car at Tesco garage when crossing the road" and the vehicle allegedly "decided to drive away".
Sergeant Gordon Stewart said: "We are appealing to the public for information as part of our ongoing enquiry to establish the full circumstances of what happened.
READ MORE: Man, 72, taken to hospital after suspected hit-and-run in Kilbirnie
"If you were in the area at the time then please get in touch. We are keen to speak to any drivers with dash-cam footage that could assist."
Now, a GoFundMe page has been launched to support Gino with his recovery and cover any lost wages for the delivery driver.
Organiser Jacqueline Beggs said: "As Gino is such a big part of the community we've decided it's time we help him.
"With the unbelievable amount of support and kind wishes and people asking about a GoFundMe, we thought it would be a good idea to help him at this difficult time."
More than £1,300 has been donated so far towards the £2,000 goal. You can add a donation here.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 2691 of Tuesday, January 10, 2023.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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House Committee is to Vote on UIGEA Suspension!!
This could be very good news for the online Gambling Industry!! Soon hopefully we will know what will happen.
(Washington, D.C. – June 20, 2008) – On June 24, 2008, the House Committee on Financial Services will mark up legislation, H.R. 5767, that would prohibit the Department of the Treasury and Federal Reserve System from proposing, prescribing or implementing any regulations related to the current ban on Internet gambling, as required by the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA).
"Congress has studied this issue and heard from the financial services community and federal regulators that the current ban on Internet gambling is burdensome and doomed to fail. Now it is time for Congress to change course and find a way to protect the millions of Americans that are continuing to gamble online," said Jeffrey Sandman, spokesperson for the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative.
H.R. 5767 was introduced by Reps. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and Ron Paul (R-Texas) on April 11, 2008. The introduction followed a hearing entitled, "Proposed UIGEA Regulations: Burden without Benefit?" in the House Committee on Financial Service's Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology. Reps. Frank and Paul stated in their press release accompanying the introduction of H.R. 5767, "it was clear at the hearing that the regulations are unworkable for the financial services industry, and this bill would, therefore prohibit their implementation".
Representatives of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Federal Reserve System acknowledged at the hearing the challenges U.S. financial institutions will face in attempting to comply with UIGEA. Testimony was also heard from representatives from the Credit Union National Association, Financial Services Roundtable, American Bankers Association and Wells Fargo & Co., who spoke about the unnecessary burden they would face given the ambiguity of UIGEA and the potential confusion with the chance of multiple interpretations of what may or may not be illegal activities.
Last year, Rep. Frank introduced the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act (H.R. 2046) that would regulate Internet gambling. The bill requires Internet gambling operators licensed by FinCEN to put in place safeguards to protect against underage and compulsive gambling and ensure the integrity of financial transactions at the same time reinforcing the rights of States to control what, if any, level of Internet gambling is permissible within their borders.
A companion piece of legislation to the Frank bill introduced by Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.), the Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act of 2008 (H.R. 5523), would ensure the collection of taxes on regulated Internet gambling activities. According to a tax revenue analysis prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers, taxation of regulated Internet gambling is expected to generate between $8.7 billion to $42.8 billion in federal revenues over its first 10 years.
About Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative
The Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative promotes the freedom of individuals to gamble online with the proper safeguards to protect consumers and ensure the integrity of financial transactions. For more information on the Initiative, please visit www.safeandsecureig.org. The Web site provides a means by which individuals can register support for regulated Internet gambling with their elected representatives.
Make sure you sign up and register and show your support, to get out freedom back to gamble online!!!
Gaming Innovation Group Releases Its First In-house Title: Wild ReelsJesse Eddleman25 October 2018
The newest online slot to hit the scene is Wild Reels, and it's an important release for a number of reasons. Primarily, it's the very first title to be released by GiG Games, which is the in-house development house for the Gaming Innovation Group. Its release is interesting for a number of other reasons as well. Details on the Launch Because this is GiG's first time releasing a game they have actually developed, they're taking a bit of a cautious route.
Play'n Go's House of Doom Slot Slated for June ReleaseJesse Eddleman01 June 2018
Players have been anticipating the House of Doom slot by Play'n Go for quite some time, and it's finally been announced that it will have a release date in just a couple of weeks on June 13, 2018. This is an exciting piece of news because this title is looking like it could be one of their best releases, if not their overall best release, for the entire year. What House of Doom Brings to the Table
Games Warehouse acquired by Blueprint GamingLars03 January 2018
Blueprint Gaming, a part of the Guaselmann Group, has completed the acquisition of longtime partner, Games Warehouse LTD (GW Games) of Derby, England. The omnichannel provider was acquired earlier by Harbour Group's digital media division in 2005. Significantly Boost UK Provider's Game Development


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CRYPTO CRASH: EXPERTEN WIEGEN EIN, WÄHREND LEVERAGE DEN MARKT IN BEIDE WEISE, EINSCHLIESSLICH XRP ., BEWEGT
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Massiver oder technischer Eichenparkett
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Biografia
Laureata in Giurisprudenza, è stata prima funzionaria e poi dirigente presso l'Ufficio Scolastico Regionale della Toscana.

Alle elezioni politiche del 2008 viene eletta deputata della XVI legislatura della Repubblica Italiana nella circoscrizione XII Toscana per il Partito Democratico. Termina il proprio mandato parlamentare nel 2013.

Nell'agosto 2015 è stata nominata, su proposta del ministro Stefania Giannini, Capo del Dipartimento per il sistema educativo di istruzione e di formazione del MIUR; nel marzo 2017 ha ricevuto la conferma nel medesimo ruolo su proposta del Ministro Valeria Fedeli.

Voci correlate
Eletti alla Camera dei deputati nelle elezioni politiche italiane del 2008
Elezioni politiche in Italia del 2008
XVI legislatura della Repubblica Italiana

Collegamenti esterni

Politici del Partito Democratico (Italia)
Deputati della XVI legislatura della Repubblica Italiana

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Phra Ngang Black Visage in Khmer Royal Regalia Ghost / Spirit Amulet -08
Measure Approx. 4 1/2" long x 1 3/4" wide x 1" thick
Materials: hand cast clay painted by a Master Amulet Maker, painted and adorned with Sacred Yants and Ritualistic symbols, suspended in oil inside a custom plastic case.
This Master Level Important Amulet portrays Phra Ngang in a Black Visage; Phra Ngang appears in this color as a Protector against Black Magic, Ill Wishes and Aggressions. The beautiful rendered Gold Armor Cambodian Style also emphasizes his aspect as Guardian, Protector and Warrior Ally of the owner/ patron of this Amulet. Phra Ngang is often attributed as having passionate desires, and his devotees often leave offerings of whiskey, cigars and cigarettes, and photographs of beautiful women, in hopes that Phra Ngang will help attract these things to the petitioner as well.
Handcrafted in Thailand
In popular Thai culture, Phra Ngang is sometimes called the "Ghost King" or "Demon King", and even thought to represent a Powerful Warlock.
Phra Ngang images are historically Mountain Deities, whose devotions originated in Cambodia.
The Buchas or devotional focus of Phra Ngang images date back to the Ayuttaya period in Thailand (1351 to 1767), when Phra Ngang images, shown without battle armor, were referred to as Phra Chai Mongkol or Victory Buddha.
Although not an exact image or reference to The Buddha, they are shaped similarly in posture to The Buddha, wearing a crown with a pointy tip and a gentle smile on His face.
During the destruction of the Ayutthaya Dynasty by the Burmese Army, it is believed by legend that many Phra Ngang images and amulets that were kept and revered as the Mountain Deities were hidden in the bellies of large scale Buddha Statues on Temple grounds. Some of the Buddha Statues were damaged or destroyed in the sacking of Ayutthaya, and in the destruction and pillage, the tall crowns of these Phra Ngangs were also damaged and rendered crooked. During the violence and chaos of the destruction of the cities and Temples, many soldiers suffered and died. Although it appeared that the abandoned Phra Ngang figures red colored eyes were due to tin oxidation (which resembles rust), the enduring folklore and local history claims that the blood red eyes of Phra Ngang were due to the dire amount of blood shed by the deceased soldiers. As the materials for Ayuttaya Period Phra Ngang images and amulets contained very little tin, the legend that the spilt blood of the suffering soldiers was the story that endured in time.
With so many Buddha Statues destroyed and the beloved contents previously hidden in Their stomachs revealed on the war grounds, scattered and covered with blood, it was believed a phenomenal natural event occurred; that the sites attracted "Beings" and Spirits that would reside in the abandoned Phra Ngang images and statues. Over time, the now revealed and transformed statues were collected and gathered by surviving soldiers and local people alike; however, these images were transformed and now occupied by Mountain Spirits, and were unblessed and unconsecrated.
In Phra Ngang devotions, the essence of the amulet's origin as Deities of the Mountains and as Spirits and Demons of Nature is fully realized. Mountain Spirits and Demons alike were believed to evolve from snakes, frogs, lizards, spiders, centipedes, scorpions and creatures of the Mountains that transformed to Higher Spiritual Beings. From that magical transformation, it is believed that some of these Mystical Beings even further evolved higher into Earthly Deities and Magical Forces, and are venerated as such.
In Thailand, Phra Ngangs are believed to help Magicians and Spiritual Practitioners to create positive spells and block black magic. In Cambodia, Phra Ngangs are believed to help their owners become more sexually attractive, block black magic and they are revered as protective spirits that will defend their owners against aggression and ill wishes.


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Bílkova vila je atypická stavba od sochaře a architekta Františka Bílka nacházející se ve městě Chýnov. Od roku 1958 patří mezi kulturní památky.

Popis
Bílkova vila je patrová stavba stojící na obdélném půdorysu. Na jižní straně přízemí a prvního patra se nacházejí dvě dvojice obytných místností. Ve druhé části budovy je rozlehlý a vysoký ateliér sochaře, který je řešen jako anglická schodišťová hala s úzkým ochozem v úrovni prvního patra. Celý objekt je vystavěn z neomítaných cihel a dřeva. Střecha je zde mansardová, podpíraná šikmými dřevěnými podpěrami. Celá fasáda domu je pokryta nápisy, znaky a figurálními reliéfy, z nichž je největší štukový reliéf na jižním průčelí stavby.

Historie

Bilkova vila v Chýnově byla vystavěna roku 1898 sochařem a architektem Františkem Bílkem, který ji poté využíval jako své pracoviště. Byla vystavěna na zahradě statku Bílkových rodičů. Stavba probíhala od dubna do srpna roku 1898. František Bílek svoji vilu nazýval "Chaloupka". Další úpravy stavby probíhaly v letech 1898, 1902, 1905, 1907, 1928, 1929, 1991 a 1994. Ve vile se Bílek často scházel s významnými osobnostmi své doby, mimo jiné s Juliem Zeyerem, Otakarem Březinou, Zdenkou Braunerovou, Karlem Dostálem-Lutinovem nebo Sigismundem Bouškou. Na sklonku života se Bílek roku 1939 do chýnovské vily přestěhoval natrvalo. Po Bílkově smrti roku 1942 vila dlouho chátrala. V roce 1990 ji však prodala vnučka Františka Bílka Galerii hlavního města Prahy. Roku 1994 byl objekt renovován architektem Rudolfem Kristianem. Dnes vila slouží jako místo pro muzeální expozici děl Františka Bílka a nachází se zde památník.

Odkazy

Reference

Literatura

Související články
 František Bílek (sochař, 1872–1941)
 Bílkova vila (Praha)
 Bílkova vila (Tábor)
 Bílkova vila (Ronov nad Doubravou)

Externí odkazy

Vily v Jihočeském kraji
Stavby v Chýnově
Kulturní památky v okrese Tábor


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Q: Как реализовать сравнение / определении схожести изображения Работаю на проектом, столкнулся с задачей где нужно определить является ли изображение 2 копией или фрагментом(искаженным) изображения 1(оригинал) при этом у них может быть не масштабное искажения разрешения или графические искажения водная марка, текст, зеркальность
Возможно ли реализовать данную задачу на сверточной нейронной сети, или это не подходящая задача для неё и это решается сложным по пиксельным сравнением?
Буду рад получить пример или логику решения

A: Лучше копать в сторону SIFT/SURF и их аналогов. Библиотека OpenCV.
https://docs.opencv.org/3.3.0/da/df5/tutorial_py_sift_intro.html
Пример ссылки с реалицией на python, но переписать на C# проблемы быть не должно.
https://opencv-python-tutroals.readthedocs.io/en/latest/py_tutorials/py_feature2d/py_matcher/py_matcher.html

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Updated list of recently viewed Huawei mobiles models in Pakistan and worldwide online (not top or best just recently viewed Huawei mobiles).


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News Environment
Shop Fairtrade for the Climate
When farmers are paid fairly, they're better equipped to fight climate change.
Katherine Martinko
Katherine Martinko is an expert in sustainable living. She holds a degree in English Literature and History from the University of Toronto.
Updated July 15, 2021 12:50PM EDT
Worker in front of white coffee beans drying in the sun on a fair trade coffee farm, Ethiopia.
Eric Lafforgue/Art in All of Us/Corbis via Getty Images
Most people recognize the Fairtrade logo when they see it on food and clothing products. It has been around for decades and is unmistakable with its green and blue circle divided by an abstract-looking black human shape. It is typically associated with the ethical treatment of farmers and fair prices paid for products. The logo offers reassurance that the grower in a developing country hasn't been taken advantage of.
What fewer people realize, but should start thinking about, is that the Fairtrade logo also stands for fighting climate change. Consider that over 80% of the world's food comes from 500 million small-scale farms that contribute the least to climate change but are most affected by it.
Peg Willingham, executive director of Fairtrade America, the U.S. member organization of Fairtrade International, tells Treehugger the situation is quite dire. "By 2050, up to half of the world's land that's currently used to farm coffee may not be viable. Additionally, climate studies predict that tea, cocoa and cotton will be so severely affected that production in some areas will even disappear."
Because of this, seeking out Fairtrade-certified goods over non-certified items helps to equip those small-scale producers with the tools, knowledge, and skills they need to combat environmental changes, protect crops and continue growing the products we buyers have grown to love and depend on.
Getty Images/Yuriko Nakao
How does it do this? Willingham explains, "Fairtrade's unique pricing model puts more money in the hands of farmers and farming communities, giving them resources to solve environmental challenges and connect them with each other to share best practices in mitigating the climate crisis."
These resources include initiatives such as the Fairtrade Climate Academy, a pilot program that brings together coffee farmers to share skills and experiences that help prepare them for future climate-related challenges. Willingham continues,
"More than 8,500 Kenyan coffee farmers collaborated on this extensive, Fairtrade-led program to make their operations more resilient. For example, farmers learned how to care for their soil and how to grow more drought-resistant crops. The program is designed to be self-sustaining, with farmers who have been trained continuing to educate others about the best farming methods in the changing climate."
Standards for environmental stewardship are embedded within the Fairtrade standards and are designed to meet farmers where they're at, both geographically and financially. For example, the standards ban the use of dangerous pesticides and GMO seeds, protect natural resources, and encourage eco-friendly cultivation. Things like safe storage of chemicals and sustainable water practices are included in the standards, and organic farming is incentivized through an increased premium and minimum price.
"In total, for the Small Producer Organization Standard, 30% of the criteria are related to the environment," Willingham says. "For the Hired Labor Standard (only applicable for large farms producing tea, flowers, oils and fruits and vegetables like bananas), 24% of the criteria are related to the environment." Fairtrade also helps any farmers who want to convert to organic agriculture, which is a complicated process but has long-term benefits for both the environment and the farmers themselves.
This may surprise some people who think of Fairtrade as being a mostly people-centric certification, focused on fighting issues like child labor and poverty reduction. But a biannual shopper study conducted by Globescan revealed that three-quarters of American shoppers do recognize that buying Fairtrade means "standing with the farmers and food producers," which goes hand-in-hand with fighting climate change.
In response to increasing climate concerns, "Fairtrade has increased capacity in climate-focused adaptation and mitigation," Willingham says. "People will always be at the heart of Fairtrade—and in a world where economic justice is inextricably linked to climate justice, we will continue to focus on both."
So, if you want your purchasing decisions to reflect climate action, look for Fairtrade certification the next time you're shopping.
"Fairtrade is the Most Recognized Ethical Label in the World." Fairtrade America.
GOTS Is a Certification That Actually Tackles Textile Greenwashing
West African Cocoa Farmers Earn Just $1 per Day
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Of all of the areas covered by the WAN Summit, cyber security has got to be one of the hottest topics.
This popular and important subject is being led by a niche core of security experts who are showing us the way.
If he wasn't a security guy, then neither am I. But lucky for me and many others who were at our September event in Singapore, we had insight from Velocloud's Brett Waddington, Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP's Justin Lee, and Centurylink's Ricky Chau.
Led by our own Paul Brodsky, the panel dissected how new technology and workplace culture are changing WAN security requirements. I found myself an eager audience member who had a lot to learn.
The panel was quick to note that BYOD and remote workers are changing how enterprises are approaching security, ultimately shifting the security perimeter.
So where has the perimeter gone? According to our speakers, the right question is actually "where is the perimeter going?" As more employees work from remote locations, we find ourselves in transition.
Truly, remote access to cloud service providers has circumvented centralized security architectures and complicated the definition of a security perimeter. Ringing a data center with firewalls isn't effective when users are accessing cloud applications from mobile devices.
Security has morphed from box-based to a rules-based architecture, it seems. This has implications for the entire organization, as IT managers need to know whom should gain remote access to what.
Waddington came armed with advice: make a list, check it twice.
Ultimately, managers must make decisions about how to treat applications going over the public internet. What level of security does an application deserve? Does it need to be inspected? What level does it need?
All this to say: there's more to talk about.
I'm eager to see what our UK panel has to say about it in London later this month.
Ethernet Connects Thomson Reuters and Customers Worldwide: Thomson Reuters determined that moving to an Ethernet WAN would be the best fit. Here's how they did it.
Converting a Piece of Your Network to SD-WAN: What sold Henkel on the switch? SD-WAN's ability to support full mesh capability and application-based routing were big selling points. Read their story.
Erik is a Principal Analyst within TeleGeography's pricing team. As part of the team that tracks the global market for enterprise and wholesale network services, Erik manages TeleGeography's bandwidth pricing research, specializing in European and Middle Eastern markets.


Apprentices Get Behind the Mic | Write to the Point!
Sit down at the table, adjust the microphone, breathe in and out, and read your script.
The first time we went to WNPR we just were on the set of a radio show. Seeing the last-minute preparations was interesting. Everyone came into the studio about three minutes before the show went on the air.
The host, Colin McEnroe, and three others had fun while working. They spoke about binge watching that has become popular.
But on our second visit to the station, we were able to see what it's like to be behind the microphone. The other apprentices and I each recorded a piece of our own work inside a studio.
Opening the heavy, soundproof door, I was anxious and a little nervous when it was my turn to record my work about the strong librarian, Josh Hanagarne.
It's not as easy as it may look. We helped to encourage each other.
Hearing my voice was weird. A lot of us didn't like hearing our voices.
It took me multiple times to get it right. I had to make sure I wasn't talking fast, that my voice was projected and I was speaking with expression.
After Senior Producer Catie Talarski edited our recording, we helped each other choose what music would sound good with it. We selected from a variety of music on the studio computer.
I decided that I wanted a song that was a little upbeat.
Recording was one of my favorite things we did this summer. It was a new and good experience going to WNPR.


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Football • Sports
The Standard allows Carlinhos in Portuguese for This
Standard-suitable for the Brazilian Carlinhos (24) to the end of the next season (2019-2020) out of This CLUB. The Portuguese club have a purchase option, so as to confirm that the Rouches on Monday on its website.
In August 2017, was moved to the attacking midfielder for Portuguese club Estoril to race for an extra 2.5 million euros. Under Ricardo Sa Pinto, then the Former is on the order of a set value, and he contributed to the Standard of the bekerwinst, and in the second place in the play-offs.
This past season, and paste, the Former is not in the plans of Michel Preud'homme and he was often in the stands than it is in the selection process. Since January, played soccer, he uitleenbasis the country resembled Guarani Futebol Clube.
"The club wants to Carlinhos happy with this new challenge," says Monday.
World champion Valverde should be fit for Tour of...
Mathieu van der Poel after unlikely triumph in the...
Dane Tobias Lund Andresen wins E3 Binckbank Classic...
Flipkens and Bonaventure losing the decisive doubles...
Italian Fausto Masnada surprised the favorites in...
There is no size on Jakob Fuglsang: 34-year-old Dane...
The Start of the process against KV Mechelen and...


How can I make sure that my new apartment will be as nice as the model that I am shown?
I have been shown an apartment that looked nothing like the place I moved in to, so I understand your concern. That said, it's completely possible to tour your St. Pete apartment before signing the final lease contract. A reputable company will be willing to let you look at your unit before you sign the lease. You may have to wait until the day of your move in if there are tenants living there up until that point, but if you politely explain that you just want to be sure that it's what you are expecting, they shouldn't have a problem letting you take a look.
When you first tour a complex, you probably won't get to see the actual unit you may move into, but after you are pretty sure of where you want to live, you can ask to be shown the specific unit you will be moving in to.
As you walk through a potential new St. Pete apartment, here are a few things to look for that you may not think of. First, check the water pressure in the showers. If it's not great, you may be able to get a new showerhead installed before you move in. Look for evidence of bugs and rodents. If there are roaches, you may see little brown specs along walls or in cabinets. Don't be afraid to really inspect the unit – bring a flashlight along. Better to find out now than later!
Check how well the doors and windows of your St. Pete apartment are insulated – put your hand along where the doors and windows meet the wall and see if you can feel any outside air coming in. Be sure the windows open properly and have clean screens. Lock the lock and deadbolt to see how study they feel. Check walls and floors for cracks or discoloring, which may mean problems in the structure or water leaks, and possibly even mold.
Check your sockets. I bring my phone charger and plug in my phone in each individual socket. Setting up your lamps and clocks and everything else is not very productive when half your electrical sockets are unusable.
Outside, check out the lighting to and from your parking space. Make sure the area is well-lit. Think about how well prepared the pathway is for rain. Look at your balcony or yard area, if you have one. If you are interested in meeting your neighbors, this would be a good opportunity to knock and say hi. Meeting your neighbors also gives you a chance to ask them what they think of living there. Are they chomping at the bit to move out as soon as their lease is over? Or have they lived there for a few years and plan to stay a while?
Hopefully, these tips will help you to be sure your St. Pete apartment is perfect for you and your needs at this time. Being able to inspect your specific unit will give you so much peace of mind, and it is definitely not an unreasonable request.


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To The 5 Boroughs (2LP)
To the 5 Boroughs is the sixth studio album by the Beastie Boys. The album was released on June 14, 2004 internationally, and a day later in the United States. The album debuted #1 on the Billboard 200 with 360,000 copies sold in it's first week and is certified Platinum by the RIAA for sales of over 1,000,000 in the U.S. Beastie Boys were a hip hop group from New York City, formed in 1981. For the majority of their career, the group consisted of Michael "Mike D" Diamond (vocals, drums), Adam "MCA" Yauch (vocals, bass) and Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz (vocals, guitar). The Beastie Boys have sold 26 million records in the United States and 50 million records worldwide, making them, according to Billboard, the biggest-selling rap group since the magazine began recording sales data in 1991.
Ch-Check It Out
Right Right Now Now
3 The Hard Way
It Takes Time To Build
Rhyme The Rhyme Well
Hey Fuck You
Oh Word?
That's It That's All
An Open Letter To NYC
The Brouhaha
We Got The


I have a long love of First Person Shooters and much like the MMO genre it has pretty much left me behind. The FPS experience wanted today and how they are programmed are very much not the kind of FPS I enjoy. I cut my teeth on shooters with Rainbow Six multi-player ladder. Rainbow Six was a crazy concept in shooters – bullets hurt! So if you got shot, you died. This made you play a certain way that had a lot of sense to it – be careful, check your corners, rely on teammates. There wasn't even bunny hopping. The cool thing about that time in gaming is that there was no matchmaking so you had to go to a forum to set up your matches, and after both sides would report back the score, and the ladder would move. It was awesome.
From there I did the Battlefield series and spent a LOT of time with Battlefield 2142. The vehicular components and 64 v 64 was just epic and while there were some elements I didn't enjoy (radar, revive) I spent years playing that game in a clan with our own servers. FLOT (Forward Line of Own Troops) is still on my gamer tag in steam. Near the end of my run with BF2142 I discovered Project Reality and that is the perfect FPS experience for my taste. Strategy, building, one shot deaths – no bunny hopping commandos. No squad? good luck living. Medics were limited (dead you are dead) and they could sometimes stop bleeding, but only in limited amounts. The key in this game was that you never wanted to get shot and you played that way. I still consider it the best First Person Shooter experience on the market – as long as you have the patience to learn the ropes. They are working on a standalone product (it is currently a mod) and I have a few posts tagged with them if you want to read more.
I still enjoyed some parts of the Call of Duty series but it was just the solo experience. The stories were okay to play through. The multi-player I just couldn't get into – too twitchy and I was really looking for the thrill and experience of surviving a gunfight. It became far too arcade-y for my preference. Much like my patience for the future MMO that immerses, I am waiting for the day the FPS does as well. They just aren't my style anymore.
I haven't jumped into the new console era yet. My X-Box 360 plays all the new titles just fine and besides, I have a PC for "serious" gaming. Consoles are for "social" gaming on premise – to have a bunch of friends over playing Madden, or other games with 2+ people. Of course that is a great way to play on a console. My kid and his friends are not going near my PC, but their grimy little paws can manhandle an X-Box controller all day without my worry. And have you ever played a FPS on a console? It pales in comparison to PC gaming. I think my principled stance on the new consoles (and much to the failure of the way X-Box One is trending) is the lack of backward compatibility. Surely on a $500 rig based on computer technology they could sort that out. I guarantee I would have bought an X-Box ONE if they could – now I am toying with a PS4. Either way, now I have to have two units hooked up to enjoy my back catalog – something the PC completely avoids. I just don't see the point of upgrading for better graphics when my computer already outperforms both.
The new way I started using my console this year is for exercise. I have a nice 60″ LED in the basement that the X-Box is hooked up to, and my elliptical just happens to be facing that TV (albeit pretty far back). I have a personal commitment to health and do 3 or 4 nights a week (I said commitment – not crazy passion!) in one hour chunks. Diablo 3 has been a blast to play that way and I think Skyrim is next (I bought it but barely played it). The controller is a huge help here as mouse and keyboard would be impossible while on the machine and the multitasking is awesome. The X-Eliptical 360 is a great way for combining gaming and health. Anyone out there get current gen with the X-Box ONE or PS4? Was it worth the pickup?
All the above being said I would be lying if I didn't say I was interested in Destiny, the hot and upcoming shooter from Activision and of course you already know of this. There are some compelling elements – The setting itself looks fantastic and the opportunity for a story play through with MMO elements and persistent character growth is hard to turn down. My main concern when researching the title is the shooter on console experience. I know a ton of people do it and I am sure with practice it is something I can get used to – but that is a big departure from any way I have played FPS's. Go check out some of their media (if you haven't) and the character development assets looks like the meld of an FPS with the single player MMO experience of today. And because it is a meld, and not either/or, that seems really attractive to me.
Are you going to Destiny? And if you are, and on the X-Box 360, want to run with me? Literally (elliptical gaming) and figuratively (saving the universe).
Firstly you get a like just for that title lol.
Ahh Rainbow Six with Roger Wilco for voice ( the 10% of the time it actually worked).
I moved through the FPS games maybe in a similar manner to you, however I couldn't get on with 2142 and the clan gave up after a few months.
I have tried shooters on the console and really can't find my footing, I just prefer the mouse for movement.
I think that's why Planetside 1 worked so well for me, the persistent element.
Like many a MMO the people kept me there =) That clan is still going strong too. I forgot all about Planetside one – LOVED that game for a long time. Never did try PS2 though.


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ROGER'S WEB SITE - NARROWBOAT BLOG - SUMMER 2014 Journal
JOURNAL of THE VOYAGE of BASIL the KING, SUMMER 2014.
As many of you know, after we were back at Mercia Marina last Sept and one week before we were to fly back to Phoenix, Barbara suffered a burst appendix and had emergency surgery at the Royal Derby Hospital. She had peritonitis and gangrene and was in hospital for two weeks and was then cared for by District Nurses on the boat before we were able to fly home to Phoenix, one month late. The staff and doctors at the Royal Derby and the District Nurses were all professional, caring, friendly and a credit to the National Health Service. There were no insurance companies to deal with and we only filled out two or three forms during the whole ordeal. The coordination between us, the hospital and the nurses was seamless. The total bill for doctors, 2 weeks in hospital, surgery and nurses was �6,000 ($10,000). Our share: zero.
British Airways cancelled our reservation and re-booked our flight at no charge even though we had non-refundable tickets. They required a note from the hospital confirming Barb's condition, and a further note saying she was fit to fly. I only had to call them once, they put a customer rep on the case who followed up with me. Rare service from an airline in this day and age!
Back on this continent, the medical system has not been so stellar. It took five doctors and six months to diagnose and fix an incisional hernia. One of the doctors was a top surgeon at Mayo who said there was "no hernia and no surgical remedy" for Barb's swollen tum. Our primary care doctor also failed to diagnose it. We went to a gastroenterologist who first noticed the hernia. She also sent Barb for a CT scan which seemed to show another problem, so off we went to Barb's gynecologist who said she was fine, but also finally referred us to Dr. Low, a great surgeon who fixed Barb's hernia with a Da Vinci 'robot' laparascopically. Because there is no centralized medical records system in the US we had to complete copious forms at every doctor visit. No doctor spoke to another except by written report. The hospital sent her home with the wrong catheter bag and on and on... We have a bill for $1,000 for the CT scan which was supposedly pre-approved by our insurance. The hospital bill for 3 nights plus the surgery, etc. is $26,693 (�15,610) and we have yet to receive bills from the surgeon, internist, anesthesiologist and urologist or some of the four other docs we consulted along the way. The bills are difficult to decipher and our share will probably be in excess of $1,000 after insurance. People here have to be so proactive and deal with all this BS at the worst possible time when they need to be calm to recover.
Barb may not be able to do locks this year so we are going to spend more time off the boat than on. We are planning a sixteen day cruise up the Ashby canal (left) and back at the end of July. Our friend Arthur from Maryland will be joining us for the outbound trip.
Our route takes us via the Trent and Mersey canal to Fradley Junction, south on the Coventry canal to Marston Junction and north on the Ashby (left) to the limit of navigation at Snarestone.
For details, see CanalPlan
Stay tuned - we leave on July 13th and I hope to write soon after.
We are here in England after a smooth on-time flight from Phoenix to Heathrow. 2 nights in the Premier Inn, Bath Road - good budget hotel if you need to stay near Heathrow. Our friends Colin & Sue picked us up from there and we had an excellent day out with them. Lunch in the garden of the Adelaide pub, Teddington. The weather was fine and has been since we arrived but is now veering towards 'too hot'. It's 80F and quite humid, thunderstorms expected by Saturday. After lunch we went back to Colin & Sue's baronial hall which nestles in the center of Teddington and comes equipped with a mad dog, Alfie, and two randy tortoises (photo right).
Next day we drove up to our boat and Barb got quite a shock in the galley, where long evil-looking tentacles were oozing out of the stairs under the side hatch. I had left a bag of new potatoes under the stairs and they had sprouted and were (amazingly) still alive and trying to re-create the "day of the Triffids" (photo left). There was also a 9-month old egg in the fridge. Since then there have been several minor disasters like me losing the car keys, a spider the size of a mouse living in the well deck and so on but, on the whole, things are going well. The boat electrics are working fine. The jury is out on the toilet and the plumbing but initial tests are OK, and the engine fired up right away. The roof is covered in mildew so there's a lot of work to do before Basil is cruiseworthy.
Tonight we went to Nadee's, our favourite Indian Restaurant where the food is EVEN BETTER, if you can imagine such a thing. They have a new chef. They were very supportive of me when Barb was in hospital and they greeted us like returning family when we arrived. Barb had Nadee Jingha (tandoori prawns) and I had Chicken Jalfrezi, in the unlikely event that you are interested in our gastronomic ramblings.
JULY 24th (CLICK on any PHOTO to ENLARGE)
We drove down to Northampton in torrential rain to meet Russ and Linda, friends from Phoenix. Visibility on the M1 was down to a few yards at times but everyone was driving carefully and there were no accidents. We took them to see Althorp House, the Spencer estate, and then on to Stoke Bruerne for a late lunch at the Boat Inn (right).
On the marina we reacquainted ourselves with old friends like Helen (left, inside her narrowboat) and made some new ones.We also made friends with several new cats, much to the disgust of our new next door neighbour who is a dog-loving ex-merchant seaman. He worked for Cunard (Yes, I told him I worked f****** hard as well) on the QE2 among other ships and is a welcome change from our previous neighbour because he's a nice fellow and his boat is immaculate, as you would expect of an old salt.
We are now fixing up Basil Boat to get him shipshape ready for departure with our friend from Maryland, Arthur, on July 30th. The weather has been unremittingly sunny and hot, NOT quite the change from Arizona that we are used to.
Even I think it's quite hot here though her ladyship is basking daily. I am a screaming mass of stiff joints, strained muscles , general fatigue and I look like a prune. I'm not used to all this sun and manual labour but I'm sure it's doing me good. The boat is all cleaned up ready for Carolyn and Jane's (my cousins) visit tomorrow. The engine sprang into life first pull and has been purring happily under the rotting deck board. Everything else is working OK too. We are looking forward to our trip up the Ashby and to my brother Mike and sister-in-law Angela's visit beyond that. We just have to have a new loo fitted on Monday and we are good to go.
Barb and Basil Basking
CLICK on any PHOTO to ENLARGE
Pickle, Jules' Cat
Jules and Barb >>
We've been having so much fun (and long days cruising) with Arthur that I have had no time to write this journal. Sadly, we said goodbye to him at Atherstone station and we are now alone again. Arthur was a great guest, he fit right in and loved the slow, lazy canal life and was incredibly appreciative. He was one of the few black people on the canal which is the milieu of predominantly working-class whiteys and we only saw two other Africans the whole trip. There was no overt racism, though, much to my relief.
We picked Arthur up as planned at Derby station, but there was a bit of a snafu there. He waited for us on the platform and we were waiting beyond the ticket barrier, but a friendly station inspector let us in and we found each other. That night we ate at Nadee and Arthur loved the Indian food. We had another at Atherstone later, which was just as good, though different.
Arthur and Barbara at Mercia Marina
Outside the Swan Inn >
(known locally as the Mucky Duck)
Inside the Mucky Duck *
At the helm, come rain, come shine
Overgrown Mooring below Tattenhill Lock
Next day we set off up the Trent and Mersey. Barb tripped in a pothole and turned her ankle at Barton Turn lock and it was very swollen next day so we took her by taxi to a nearby Urgent Care Clinic where they examined it and diagnosed a 'stretched anterior ligament'; i.e. a sprained ankle. It will take about 6 weeks to heal and she has to ice it and elevate it as much as possible. Fortunately, Arthur quickly took to operating the locks and sped us through Fradley to the famous Swan Inn, known locally as the Mucky Duck, where we ate a passable meal on night #2.
On then to the Coventry canal and a long stretch without locks. Arthur learned to steer very quickly. He has a knack for lining up for bridges which many newbies take years to learn. The 'heat wave' abated but we had good weather all the way to the Ashby canal which is a delightfully rural waterway in the heart of England. Although only a muddy ditch in places, it is a pleasure to navigate with its quaint stone bridges and occasional sweeping views over the bucolic countryside. Lambs bleat, cows moo and there is a rumble of combine harvesters as one of the best harvests in years is safely gathered in. At Stoke Golding we turned round and Arthur's cousin Ronald came to visit us with his kids Vanessa and Andrew. They all live in Derby and we promised to keep in touch. We had an excellent but expensive meal in the quaintly named 'Dog and Hedgehog'.
This aggressive swan family blocked Arthur's walk along the towpath and I had to rescue him with the boat pole
A Quiet Reach on the Ashby Canal *
Arthur's first English Roast Dinner
With Ronald, Andrew & Vanessa *
< At the Dog & Hedgehog ^
Basil on the Ashby *
Dinner Aboard Basil
..and in the Herbs and Spice Indian Restaurant in Atherstone >
Sunset of the Day Before the Storm, Moored in the Country Near Atherstone
Now that Arthur has left we are rushing back to the marina, putting in long days so we can be back in time to prepare for Mick (my bro) and Ange's visit on the 14th. However, we have been bested by the remnants of Hurricane Bertha which is visiting from Florida. No longer a hurricane it has nonetheless dumped an inch or so of rain with howling gales overnight and today. So we are holed up in Alrewas, waiting for the weather to clear.
* PHOTOS BY ARTHUR KIYAGA
As Bertha drifted away to the north, I ventured out into the wind and dying light and walked up the Trent for about a mile. I am in love with English rivers, particularly the Trent. The water was silver and gold in the gloaming, tumbling over the weir and whirling in eddies of spun silk, adorned with the whitest swans. Unlike the Thames, whose course has been fully beautified, the Trent still retains a wild look and is capable of terrible floods when unleashed. The Thames is too, as bankside residents found out earlier this year, but somehow the Trent looks slightly dangerous as it flows through untrammeled water meadows and rich pastures on its way to the North Sea at Goole. Unlike in other countries, there are really no truly wild rivers in England. Even Scotland and Wales boast a few. Generations of Angles, Saxons, Vikings, Romans and Dutch have tried to tame the Trent, with varying degrees of success. Here at Alrewas it crosses the Trent and Mersey canal and gives the canal traveler a taste of the freedom of river navigation, deep and swirling with shifting currents, for a short length. Further down at Derwent Mouth, the Trent becomes a wide, full-throated navigable river, capable of carrying small ships and barges but sadly rarely used as such. Many narrowboaters are afraid to venture this far but Basil and I love it. Equipped with VHF radio, life jackets, an anchor and suitable doses of common sense and caution we have together bounded joyfully down the deep water.
Entrance to the River Section at Alrewas Lock
The Navigable Trent at Alrewas
Swan on the Trent
We completed our trek down the Trent & Mersey to home base in Mercia Marina in plenty of time to greet Young Master Michael (my bro) and his lady wife, Angela. They came aboard for a long weekend but we only cruised for a day to Swarkestone and back. We had an unpleasant altercation with a member of the Swarkestone Boat Club who tried to stop us winding (turning) in the entrance to the old line of the Derby canal which is now the Club's moorings. This in spite of the fact that the winding hole predates the Club by about 200 years and is clearly marked as such on the latest Nicholson's Guide. In the interests of safety, I completed the maneuver anyway without touching another boat and he rushed off in high dudgeon, no doubt to report me to someone.
We walked down a poorly maintained footpath to the Trent and had a good lunch in a pub by the river. Next day, Mick drove us to the Peak District and we went for a walk along a little river and viewed old lead mines and ruined houses. We mainly ate out while they were here and we had excellent meals in Nadee, the first night, and the Dragon in Willington on the last. We were sad to see them go, but not too sad as we will see them again next weekend at my niece Alison's wedding and will be staying with them in Woodchurch on the weekend following.
^ Walking in the Peak District >
On August 20th we took a series of trains to Bury St Edmunds to see Liza, a friend that Barb has known for about 40 years - before B and I met. She is as eccentric and wildly lovable as ever and we spent an engaging five hours with her in Bury and at her house in the country. Unfortunately, I was so engaged that I forgot to take any photos. There are some photos below from the rail journey, however, which took us first to Nottingham and on to Peterborough where we changed again to cross the flat fertile plains of the Fens and on to Bury. We took a slightly different route back via Ely and Leicester. On the Ely to Leicester train we met Barry, a conductor who came cruising up the aisle doing a fantastic impersonation of a 1930's Chicago Limited rhyming conductor. I thought I was in an old movie! He had us fooled into thinking he was American but he later lapsed into Italian and various English local accents. He actually lives in Leicester. He was a hoot and delighted to have us as an audience, an antidote to the dour-faced and sleeping passengers that surrounded us. We had a whole table to ourselves and we dined on salmon quiche, Kalamata olives provided by Liza, and Cabernet that we bought in Ely and we managed to turn the little Cross Country train into a reasonable facsimile of the Orient Express. I love railways!
Old and New at Nottingham Station
CLICK on most IMAGES to ENLARGE
Victorian Fireplace in the Snack Bar
Barry the Polyglot Conductor
Bored in Bury
East Coast Main Line at Ely
Degenerate Passenger >
Just coming to the end of a hectic few days which included a wedding, numerous family get-togethers and a trip to France. My niece Alison wed her beau Phil. The wedding was in St. Albans Registry Office and afterwards at a restaurant in Harpenden. Fun was had by all and it was nice being around some YOUNG people who know how to have a good time! Until you've seen a bunch of people sitting on the floor in a sort of seated conga line and rowing to the beat of "Oops Upside Your Head" by the Gap Band you haven't lived. This 'dance' is unique to the UK. Ali and Phil looked radiant, the weather held (it pelted with rain all next day) and they are now on honeymoon in Thailand.
Bride and Maids Selfie
The 'OOPS' Dance >>
On to Kent where we had a lovely few days with Nigel (my bro), Sandra and Josh in Canterbury. The hospitality was second to none and we slept soundly in their very comfortable spare room. Barb caught a bad cold so she missed out on the Moroccan restaurant and the concert by "This is the Kit", a folk rock band, in the Gulbenkian Cafe. We boarded the car ferry at Dover for a trip over the Channel to France where we drove along the coast road towards Boulogne. We stopped at Cap Griz Nez for sweeping views over La Manche and the coast and we had a long lunch in a little French cafe.
Beach Huts in Wissant
Josh, Barb and Nigel at Cap Griz Nez
Nigel & Sandra in the Moroccan Restaurant,
Angela, Barbara, Sandra, Jane, Michael & Josh (back)
Nigel and Roger (front)
<< Kate Stables of This is the Kit
Performing at the Gulbenkian, Canterbury
Fish Market in Whitstable
Now we are with Mick and Ange in Woodchurch.. more news and photos to follow...
We finished off our trip to Kent with a lovely few days, enjoying fine weather in Woodchurch with Mick and Ange (my bro and his wife). They arranged a rowdy lunch in the King's Head, Shadoxhurst followed by a garden party in their back garden in Woodchurch. A large slice of the family attended. My sister Angela and son Jon came from Berkhampsted. Cousin Jane was there, visiting from Australia. Tim, another cousin from Woodchurch attended, as did Richard, my erstwhile playmate and titularly my Uncle though he is a month or two younger than me. His ex-wife Ann was also there.
Angela & Michael with Ella at Home
Angela, Barbara and Ann at the King's Head
Pilgrim House, Woodchurch
Richard, Roger, Barb, Tim, Ann, Jon,
Ange (Sis) L-R Back.
Jane (Cousin from Australia), Ange.
King's Head Group
Mick, Rog, Jane, Richard, Jon
Ange (Mick's wife), Barb, Ann and
Ange (Sis)
After a few days back in the Marina we set off again, this time by car to the West Country. A three hour drive found us in Somerset, where we visited Julia Pemberton, a friend from our days in Norwich many years ago. We met her second husband Brian, a big bluff hunk of Yorkshire charm, for the first time. They live in a delightful house in Fitzhead with their two cats Cleo and Timmy. We stayed in the Fitzhead Inn just up the road from them, a fine old hostelry with a friendly welcoming manager, Sharene, and her partner Steve. The food (right) was excellent and we had a great meal with Julia and Brian there the first night. Barbara had slow-roasted pork with crackling on a bed of crushed new potatoes, a dish so yummy that she had it again when next we ate there.
Next day, Julia and Brian took us to the West Somerset steam railway where we caught a 50's-era steam train to Watchet on the north coast. The carriage was exactly like the ones on which I used to travel to school in Canterbury, but I resisted the urge to fuse the lights or fire rockets at passing chicken farms as we used to do then. Maybe I have matured some.
It was great to see Julia again and we slipped right back to our earlier friendship with seamless ease. She and Brian told us fascinating stories of their life in France where they owned a small farm and a big farmhouse for several years.
The Fitzhead Inn
Old Tithe Barn at Fitzhead
Dog and Cat Out Walking Together >>
West Somerset Railway Guard
Timmy, Julia and Brian's Cat
Steam Train to Watchet
This Siamese Lady Knows Her Place
Watchet Harbour
Next day we spent exploring part of the Dorset and Devon South Coast. We went back to Lyme Regis where we spent time 34 years ago in a very strange hotel full of ex-Majors and Colonels and their imperious wives. The hotel and the clientele were long gone and the town was full of day trippers and festival-goers attending a 'Guitars-on-the-Beach' Festival. Totally out of context in this old fishing port, or so it seemed to us geezers. We had a nice enough time wandering through town and out on to the sea wall known as the Cobb, site of a memorable scene in "The French Lieutenants Woman". The harbor was buzzing with trip boats and all manner of other craft.
Along the coast a few miles to Sidmouth in Devon, which was much quieter. Many imposing hotels line the seafront and we were quite enamored of the town which has some lovely views and walks. We resolved to return if possible. Our day ended with music in the park played by the Southampton Concert Wind Band.
Lyme Harbour
On our last and final day away we drove for about an hour into the heart of Devon to see an old Canterbury Technical High School friend who I had not seen since 1968 or thereabouts. Our memories differed about our last meeting, and much else! Peter and Jane live in a splendid old farmhouse in the middle of nowhere where they tend sheep and geese and make gallons of cider. After school, Peter went to art school and I to BBC Engineering so we split into artistic and scientific paths, more or less. He taught in several schools and retired from Plymouth University. He was already an accomplished painter when I knew him but later turned more to sculpture. I like to think I helped him along when we chiseled primitive art into the White Cliffs of Dover in our youth. Probably not. Jane is also a teacher. We had years to catch up with and we spent a pleasant half day sitting in the sunshine and talking. Jane grew up in Kenya where her Dad was a colonial administrator so she had quite a different upbringing than Peter or I. Barb is still suffering from her sprained ankle so we did not go for any walks though the scenery looked most enticing. Peter and Jane showed us the old cider press which was used for years, and now replaced by a modern wine press. They have two large orchards full of apples and Jane has made a hobby of rescuing old varieties of apple. It was wonderful to get to know Jane and catch up with Peter after all these years and we resolved to not leave it so long until we meet again!
Rascal, Peter & Jane's Cat
<< The New Cider Press
Old Tractor, still in use
Early Copy of Constable's 'The Hay Wain'
which Peter did while in school
The Original is in the National Gallery
Trainspotting (see below)
Bust of Jane by one of Peter's Students
Sculpture by Peter >>
Now we are having a few days R&R in the Marina before we set off to Vienna to stay with Barb's nephew Rick. Barb is resting her ankle and I am doing odd jobs on the boat, going for walks along the canal, doing some train and boat spotting and sampling the odd glass of "Old Rosie" rough cider in the Green Man. Wot a Life! The marvelous Indian summer continues unabated. The TV is full of the wrenching news that Scotland may secede from the United Kingdom after 300 years of fractious friendship. The referendum is on Sept 18th. If I were a Scot, given the embarrassing rash of simpering Anglophile Public schoolboys that manage British politics today, I would definitely be in the Yes (get out of the UK) camp.
Excuse the mixture of English and American spelling as usual, just trying to please all of the people all of the time! And also (for general readers), sorry for all the focus on family and friends.
This will of necessity be a skeletal journal entry as we are busy packing up and winterizing Basil for our departure from Mercia on Oct 2nd. There is plenty to write about but a full account will have to wait until we are home and settled in Phoenix. I took 428 photos but fear not - only a few will be here. The weather here continues in full Indian summer mode - warm with plenty of sun. The cool nights are drawing in and leaves are falling, a sure sign it's time to go home.
On Sept 15th we went to London by train. We stayed near King's Cross station for one night which gave us a free afternoon and most of the next day to ferret around. We wandered around Soho and then found ourselves at a pro-UK demonstration in Trafalgar Square. There were thousands there, waving flags and listening to pro-Union speeches by the likes of historian Dan Snow, comedian and marathoner Eddie Izzard and Bob Geldof, the singer-songwriter and political activist. As we now know, Scottish nationalists did not win the vote to secede and the world's oldest union of countries survives, more or less.
Demonstrator in Trafalgar Square
Dan Snow Pleads for the Union
(except Ticket)
The Set for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the
Statue of Amy Winehouse in Camden Market >>
We ate in a very pleasant Italian restaurant in Soho, had a pint in a classic London pub in the theatre district and then went to see a play about an Aspergers sufferer who is a genius at maths. The National Theatre production "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time" is a strange amalgam of special effects, eccentric but lovable characters, and whizzo maths acted brilliantly on a giant box set inscribed with a grid. At first I was disappointed with the simplicity of the language but then I realized that was the point. The lead actor, Luke Treadaway, played one of the most exhausting roles I have ever seen. Not only did he recite thousands of words but had to leap about athletically, and act emotionally non-stop for almost 2 hours.
Next day, we went to Camden Town to view the statue of Amy Winehouse which was unveiled a day or two before. We walked through the markets there and along the Regent's Canal to London zoo before we went by tube to Heathrow to catch an evening flight to Vienna. We arrived at about 10:15 and caught a train to town and a short taxi ride to Rick's stellar modern apartment high above Sterngasse. He received us gracefully as ever and we collapsed gratefully into bed.
Thus began ten days of whirlwind activity. Vienna is a sparkling city with more than its fair share of stunning architecture. We visited numerous baroque and Gothic churches and mingled with the enormous crowds outside the cathedral in Stefanplatz. One evening we went to a chamber music concert in the Mozarthaus room where Mozart played. The room was exactly as he would have known it and the music delightful. Another highlight was the Kunsthistorisches (left and below), a huge rambling art museum housing works looted (er, 'collected') by the Habsburg Empire over their 800 years of dominance in Central Europe. It is surely one of the best art museums in the world. We spent hours there in the Greek, Roman and Spanish sections and only scratched the surface. The building is a fine work of art in its own right.
Rick's Sterngasse Apartment
Stefanplatz by Night
Tourist Trap >>
Musicians Take a Bow at the Mozarthaus
Vienna is extremely expensive and the affluent denizens are not particularly friendly. Barb had a jocular run in with the ferris wheel operator at the Prater (fairground) after he refused to let us wait for an empty gondola (it was not busy and he did eventually). Barb told him to be happy but he said "I cannot be happy when you give me different reasons why you want to wait and I have to deal with hundreds of people from different countries every day." The Viennese share the Germanic penchant for precision and order and hate it when things are not 'done right', i.e. their way. The wheel was a forerunner of the London Eye and other big city wheels, smaller but impressive since it was built in the mid 1800s. It featured in The Third Man film.
In contrast the restaurant staff were unfailingly friendly and attentive and we had two great meals and several smaller but tasty ones in between plus a couple of visits to Rick's local Wurst stand. The food tends towards starch and meat, but can be delicious nonetheless. The local Zweigert red wine was very good and inexpensive, an eye-opener for me because I thought Austria only produced remarkable white wines.
Outdoor Cafe
Restaurant in the Vienna Woods
We had two trips on the Danube, a mighty river bested only by the Mississippi in my experience. One was a short trip upstream, through a lock and on to the Danube canal which runs through the center of town. Rick arranged a longer one for the three of us. We went by train to Melk and explored the town and grand baroque Benedictine Abbey on a hill high above the town. From there we boarded a boat and traveled 36Km through the beautiful Wachau valley to Krems. On the way we passed pretty villages with tall churches, the ruins of old castles, a monastery and numerous vineyards spilling down the slopes towards the river. The boats of the Blue Danube company are comfortable, friendly and have reasonably priced restaurants aboard. From Krems we returned on the last train to Vienna.
Melk Abbey Church
View of the Danube from Melk Abbey
Rick also arranged a 4 day trip by train to the ancient capital of the Czech Republic, Prague. The 4 1/2 hour train ride took us over the plains of Austria (I never knew parts of Austria are flat, I assumed it was all mountains and streams) and on through the Czech pine forests - scenery evocative of "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy". I expected armed guards to board the train at any moment as I drifted into a spy movie revery. The trains are clean, comfortable, electric, fast and sport features long lost to British trains such as compartments and dining cars. The dining car food was simple but fresh and good value. There is not much evidence of communist rule, save some forbidding tower blocks and dingy factories.
Prague is a blast. Just as overrun with tourists as Vienna but a generation younger and less affluent. The architecture is similar but is even more over the top. Crazy baroque spires and huge castles abound. We gawped at the astronomical clock on the Old Town Hall, built in 1410 and rebuilt several times thereafter. The latest was in 1945 after the departing Nazis shelled it to hell. On the hour a parade of clockwork Apostles and a chiming skeleton entertain the crowds. We rose by lift and stairs to the top of the clock tower and were rewarded by great views of the city around us. In the square below we joined our second demonstration in two weeks, this time against war in Ukraine. There were musicians, singers and dancers and much banner and flag waving.
Dining Car
Prague Beer Hall
The Lennon Wall - a Symbol of Freedom
During the Soviet Era
We spent almost a whole day in Prague castle, a huge area of palaces, quaint streets and an impressive church, St. Vitus Cathedral. The Old Royal Palace is the grandest of the buildings and in a nearby building we saw a helmet and chain mail tunic worn (supposedly) by King Wenceslas in 930 AD. He is now Saint Wenceslas, the patron saint of Bohemia, and in the square named for him the 1989 Velvet Revolution demonstrations led to the fall of communism in Czechoslovakia.
We also toured the synagogues of the old Jewish quarter. Of five synagogues in the old ghetto only one is still in use. The unused synagogues and the old Jewish graveyard are now memorials to the thousands of Jews who died in the Nazi death camps and in previous pogroms. Huge walls in one synagogue are inscribed with thousands of names of Jews who died in the 1940s. Jewish history here is a sad saga of centuries of death and prejudice which continues today.
Staromestske Square at Night
Some of the Thousands of Czech Jews who
were Murdered in the Holocaust
The Old Jewish Cemetery
More uplifting was a baroque organ concert in the Church of St. Salvator. The musicians: the organist, a viola player and a soprano were largely hidden from view in the organ loft while we listened to them playing Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart, Handel, etc., from the pews below. A very strange experience but featuring some beautiful pieces such as a Gregorian Choral piece sung by the soprano, her head just visible high behind us looking over the balustrade.
Back by train again to Vienna for a last day of sightseeing. We walked the length of the Naschmarkt. An impressive array of stalls selling a wide variety of immaculate fruits, vegetables, meat, clothing and trinkets interspersed with coffee shops and cafes offering every type of cuisine. We ate lunch in a little Lebanese place before going to explore the wonders of the Karlskirche down the road. This enormous baroque church has a huge altar surmounted by choirs of angels illuminated by celestial light spilling through an artfully tinted window above. The dome is adorned with colourful painted figures which we were able to see close up by rising up to them in an elevator. A further climb up six flights of stairs and we popped out of the top of the dome to see a panorama of Vienna below. I thought I'd seen enough churches but this was like seeing the crown jewels after a succession of jewelers shops.
The Naschmarkt
Karlskirche
Murals in the Dome of Karlskirche
For our final evening, Rick took us to a splendid Hansel and Gretel style cafe in the Vienna woods where we ate a delicious supper of pork schnitzel (Rick and I) and lamb for Barb, washed down with Zweigert. Rick has been an excellent host and organizer for the whole experience and we said a sad goodbye to him that night in his apartment. He is a knowledgeable and sociable traveling companion and we are tentatively planning to go to the Galapagos with him next year. Next morning he was off to work before we got up. We flew back to London, rented a car at Heathrow and drove to Nadee's where we had a final Indian meal before getting back to the boat about 10:30 p.m.
This will be my last journal entry for this year as we are going home on Oct 3rd. I will try and add some more Viennese and Czech photos when we get back to Phoenix.
Home again - and here are a few more photos of Austria and Prague:
The Anker Clock (showing 21:04)
in the Hoher Markt, Vienna
Durnstein ^ Push-tow on the Danube (below)
The Abbey Church at Melk
Monument to Franz Kafka, Prague >
Melk Monastery from the Danube
All Photos Copyright Roger Carter 2014
The Charles Bridge, Prague
(except Melk, below and Kafka, right)
Wood Panel in St. Vitus Cathedral
Melk Panorama
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text:
Il lago Nicaragua, Mar dulce, o Cocibolca (dal nahuatl [azteco] Cōātlpolcan, "luogo del grande serpente") è un lago situato nella nazione omonima; con 8 264 km² è il maggiore del Paese, secondo per superficie al solo Titicaca nell'intera America Latina.

È un bacino lacustre che ospita una specie di pescecane, lo squalo leuca (Carcharhinus leucas), nonché il pesce sega.

Il fiume San Juan è il suo solo emissario, che sfocia dopo circa 190 km nel mar dei Caraibi, mentre l'unico immissario è il rio Tipitapa, che lo collega al lago di Managua.
Lungo la sua sponda si trovano la città di Granada e il vulcano Mombacho.

Il lago contiene più di quattrocento tra isole e isolette, tra cui le due maggiori sono Ometepe e Zapatera. Nella prima sono presenti due vulcani: il Concepción, ancora attivo, e il Maderas, che invece appare spento da diversi secoli. Da segnalare infine la presenza dell'arcipelago delle Solentiname.

Il bacino è interamente compreso nel territorio del Nicaragua, tuttavia la sua sponda meridionale si trova vicinissima al confine con la Costa Rica; in pratica, la separazione è costituita da una sottile lingua di terra.

Note

Altri progetti

Collegamenti esterni

Nicaragua


Description: Guaranteed to be authentic and from before 1963. Flambeau is a wonderfully rich chypre perfume with a wood base to die for! This is a concentrated perfume, probably an extrait. It is unused and in excellent condition.


Here is some code that works. For each, use gunzip (e.g. guncip cabot3Jan16.tar.gz), then tar -xvf (e.g. tar -xvf cabot3Jan16.tar).
CABot 3 from October 23rd, 2017, tarred and gzipped. This runs on Chris' spinnaker 48 chip board with Spinnaker and Nest. It does the full range of tasks (explores and go before all four shapes) pretty well. It gets around 85% in Nest and (a not well tested) 65% in spinnaker. The components and partial testing are in the subdirectories, cogmap, parser, plan, stateMachine, timer and vision.
CABot 3 from September 29, 2017, tarred and gzipped. This runs on Chris' spinnaker 48 chip board with Spinnaker and Nest. It does the full range of tasks (explores and go before all four shapes) pretty well. It gets around 85% in Nest and (a not well tested) 65% in spinnaker.
CABot 3 from November 25, 2016, tarred and gzipped. This runs on Chris' spinnaker 48 chip board with Spinnaker and nest. It does the full range of tasks (explores and go before all four shapes) pretty well.
CABot 3 April 24th tarred and gzipped. This runs on Chris' spinnaker 48 chip board with SpyNNaker. It does the full range of tasks (explores and go before all four shapes) pretty well.
CABot 3 April 21st tarred and gzipped. This runs on Chris' spinnaker 48 chip board with SpyNNaker. It does the full range of tasks (explores and go before all four shapes), but gets it wrong a lot.
CABot March 2nd tarred and gzipped. This runs on Chris' spinnaker 48 chip board with SpyNNaker. It can go to the pyramid, stalactite and door. Vision now uses 6x6off too, and detectors for vEdges and sEdges.
CABot Feb 25 tarred and gzipped. This runs on Chris' spinnaker 48 chip board with SpyNNaker. It can go to the pyramid.
CABot Jan 16 tarred and gzipped. This runs on Chris' spinnaker 4 chip board. It's got some stuff for CABot3, but most is commented out. It's to be used to test modified plan code to move to pyramid.


1. Set up informational interviews. The most valuable part of an internship is the network it creates for you. If you want to get a job in Hollywood after graduation, you're going to need connections that can help you get there. Set up meetings with executives and assistants across the company, and learn as much as you can from them. Then, be sure to stay in touch after the internship has ended.
2. Stay busy. It's true, many internships are boring, either because your supervisor is too busy to give you assignments or because there's simply not much work that the team needs your help with. But spending the entire day on Facebook isn't an option – if other employees see your computer screen, they'll assume you aren't a very reliable intern. So, if you run out of tasks, ask your supervisor if there's anything you can help with. It will serve as a reminder that you need things to do, and she'll be glad you took the initiative to ask. If your supervisor doesn't need anything, see if there's a way you can create some work for yourself. Think of assignments that might help the team in some way – compiling competitive reports, talent lists, newsletters, etc. – and see if there are any processes you can implement or research you can do that will make the department better. Aside from avoiding boredom, you'll score major bonus points for making everyone's lives easier!
3. Read everything. One benefit of internships is that you have access to lots of proprietary information that you wouldn't be able to learn otherwise. So, when you're given scripts or documents to organize (or shred!), try to read them all to learn more about the business and stay up to date with what your team is working on. Obviously, don't go digging around in filing cabinets without permission, but if you take the time to read everything you're given, you'll come out of your internship a lot more informed. Plus, reading takes up a lot of time and can help mitigate boredom!
It's a bummer that many internships don't turn out to be as great as they sounded in the interview. Sometimes supervisors won't be able to give you their full attention. Sometimes the work will be too easy. But it's crucial that you're always learning during your internship, so if you find yourself getting bored, figure out something you want to know more about and try out these tips!
Should you bring up your personal needs in a job interview?
Extenuating circumstances are different for each person. They can be a one time thing, like the two-week long family vacation your mom planned months ago, or something with a long-term impact, like the fact that you observe the Sabbath, are at the beginning of a pregnancy, or have a medical condition that requires you to take more time off than the average employee. What these issues always have in common is that they can cause a great level of stress -- you want the job, but you have this other major life thing that you can't sacrifice either, and it's easy to worry yourself into a tizzy trying to figure out when to be forthcoming.
We recommend waiting to share extenuating circumstances until you have an offer on the table, unless the topic comes up naturally. Sure, the potential employer might be blindsided for a second, but they legally can't rescind an offer for things like religious practices or disabilities if there are reasonable accommodations that can be made that allow you to do the job. But if you mention your needs in an interview, you run the risk of losing the offer, and it's nearly impossible to prove discrimination occurred. So withhold this information until you are offered the position, but carefully prepare the statement you make to your future boss to start things off on the right foot.
For something like a vacation, it's as simple as saying, "Thanks for the offer! I'm curious about the company's vacation policy -- my family is going to Europe for two weeks next month to celebrate my mom's birthday, and it's been planned forever. Would it be possible to take that time off?" Sometimes, the answer will be "Sure thing!" In other instances, you might have to cancel or take the time off unpaid. In that case, it's your call if the trip or the money is more important.
It's possible, if you got the job through a referral, that your potential employer already knows this information and is comfortable with it. Sometimes they'll even bring it up in the interview. But more often, it's brand new information and may throw them for a loop. Monitor their reactions -- if they express understanding with their surprise, great! Remember to be ten times better at your job than the other employees, and you'll succeed in the role. But if they start howling through the phone about how you're incredibly shady and can't believe you trapped them like this, decline the offer. At that point, you're signing yourself up for constant abuse, and that's never worth it. Aren't you glad you know? Your sucky medical condition may have saved you from working for an insufferable maniac!
1) a busy Friday, where you're rushing to get everything done before the end of the day so you don't have to work over the weekend, or 2) a relaxed Friday, where you're able to get your work done quickly, skip out of the office on the early side, and start your weekend. Friday is also the day most people choose for vacation days, and some lucky people have half-days during the summer, or even year-round. Considering these facts, let's talk about what types of emails are appropriate to send on a Friday and what types are downright annoying.
If someone is in the office on a Friday, assume they are going to spend a chunk of it wrapping up their work for the week and focusing on meeting end-of-week deadlines. When it comes to email, internal communications and memos about specific projects orMonday meetings are fair game at this time. But when unanticipated requests come in on aFriday afternoon, interfering with plans to get through the final items on the to-do list that week, the recipient is, understandably, going to be irritated.
Friday is not a good day to start new business. You should never send requests for informational interviews or email introductions, pitch new projects, or ask for any type of favor so late in the week. Often, you might feel tempted to send these types of emails at the end of the week, since you've spent four days working on more time-sensitive projects, and Friday is the only day you've had time to come up for air. But think about the person on the other end of the line -- they might be feeling the same way.
No, someone isn't going to completely write you off for sending an email on a Friday, but they might subconsciously lower their opinion of you -- or mark your email to be read later, only for it to get buried in the stream of Deadline alerts that pile up over the weekend. If the only day you have time for outreach is a Friday, simply type up your email, save it in the drafts folder, and send it out on Monday or Tuesday, when it will actually be read with sympathetic eyes. You'll still feel like you've accomplished something, and, even though they may not realize it, you'll have done the other person a favor.
You've never met before, but you've talked briefly via email or phone. You know a little bit about each other because you've googled him, and he's seen your profile. Now you have to make a good impression in person, and if you do, you can live happily ever after...in your dream job.
Dating and interviewing require a lot of the same skills, so if you've ever swiped right and grabbed a drink with a potential mate, you have some interview experience to rely on. If you follow some of the same key rules of dating when you meet a prospective employer, you'll be well on your way to nabbing the job.
Be enthusiastic, not creepy. Much like a potential mate who wants to find someone that shares his or her passions, employers want to hire someone who's passionate about the company. Make sure you highlight the aspects of your experience that showcase your interest in and ability to do the job. Touch on some of the main points you learned in yourpre-interview research. But don't be creepy by getting too personal. If you googled your interviewer and found out she just vacationed in Thailand, don't ask her about her trip if she doesn't bring it up. Would you ever let a Tinder match know you'd stalked him/her? Probably not.
Get the interviewer talking. Great dates are centered on great conversations. And a great conversationalist knows that listening, rather than talking, endears you to a potential love interest. People love talking about themselves. But how do you make that happen in an interview without putting your interviewer on the spot? The trick is to pivot away from a call and response style of questioning and settle into a conversation. If you learn the obvious interview questions and craft answers that cover all your bases with an early question -- for example, your response to "Tell me about yourself" includes why you're interested in the company, your long term goals, and your biggest strengths -- you'll force your interviewer to think on her feet and develop a more conversational tone. As a result, the interviewer will find herself more relaxed and able to talk to you -- which bodes well for getting called back in.
Know what you're looking for. Have you ever met someone for a drink, and five minutes in, realized you have no interest in spending the rest of the night -- much less the rest of your life -- with that person? That can happen at a job interview too. Sometimes the company or position isn't what you'd hoped it would be. That's okay. There's no rule that says you have to be gung-ho about every position you apply for -- and it's certainly better to figure out that it's not the right fit during the interview than to get the job and hate it. If this happens, finish out the interview politely, and don't fake excitement. If you answer the interviewer's questions professionally and honestly, but without any of that spark referred to in tip #1, they should get the picture, and you can move on without damaging a professional relationship. Think of it as mutual ghosting. But if you do get a call back for a follow up interview, thank the hiring manager for her time, and let her know you don't think the company or the position is the right fit -- don't just vanish into thin air.
Maintain faith in the process. It's hard to find that person who's perfect for you, and it's also hard to find the right job. You may have excellent interview skills but have never been able make it past 2nd place. There are many reasons this can happen, so don't let it get you down. As long as you've worked on the things you can control -- having a great resume and cover letter, building your network, and interviewing and following up masterfully -- the right job will come along when it's time. You just have to keep at it until you find a position that fits, and when you do, it'll have been worth it.


Peanut butter. Bananas. Two classic flavors that really go well together.
Get ready to taste something so good, you just might eat the entire batch yourself.
The coconut flavor in the recipe comes from Earth Balance Coconut Spread (making this the second recipe made with that I've been meaning to share!). It gives just a very subtle coconut flavor. Not overpowering, and not something that stands out significantly in the cookie. It's just enough.
1. I'm out of peanut butter. boo.
3. I don't need to spend money on baking supplies to make more cookies or buy some GF ones already made.
I more back to school in about 2 weeks for training, so it's a short summer this year. That means I need to get packing and buying all the stuff I need to go back to school! Lots of money being spent.. which means I need to stop wasting my money on food and clothing like I have been doing. Oops!
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a cookie sheet with baking spray or line with foil or parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, mix coconut spread, peanut butter, and sugar until smooth. This will take about 2 minutes in a high speed mixer.
3. Add mashed banana, vanilla, and molasses and mix until combined.
4. In a small bowl, mix flours, cornstarch, salt, and baking powder. Add to wet ingredients and mix until just combined.
5. Scoop 1 T. size balls on to cookie sheet. Using a fork, press down on top of the cookies in opposite directions to form a crisscross shape. Sprinkle with more evaporated cane juice and bake for approximately 12-15 minutes, until the bottoms are a dark golden brown.