The A2 is part of the Northern Key Transport Corridor connecting Belfast to Derry via Coleraine. It is the main road connecting Limavady to Derry and provides links to the Maydown and Campsey industrial zones and to the City of Derry Airport, the key air transport hub in the northwest.
On-line/off-line improvement of the A2 Trunk Road from single carriageway to Dual 2-lane carriageway between the Maydown Roundabout and the City of Derry Airport consisting of approximately 6.3 km of dual carriageway.
3 new at-grade roundabouts referred as Cloghole, Broadbridge, Longfield roundabouts, and one new replacement roundabout referred as the City of Derry Airport Side Road roundabout.
Various structures including a pedestrian underpass, a shared use pedestrian/cyclist footbridge, improvements to an existing bridge and also a new bridge over the river Faughan, and three road bridges over the river Muff.
Road Features including lay-bys, bus bays and turning areas & pedestrian/cycleway facilities.
Accommodation Works for affected landowners.
Application of HAPAS certified High Friction Surfacing on the approach to all Roundabouts and elevated skid resistance by application of high PSV chippings on all side-roads. High PSV chippings were used throughout to eliminate the requirement for joints in the surface course.
The Scheme has been designed for a AADT 33,750.


At the Golden Globes, Oprah expressed gratitude to those who left their mark on the world and shared her advice for those who want to make a difference.
CUPERTINO, Calif. -- Television mogul Oprah Winfrey is teaming up with tech giant Apple for a multi-year content development partnership, the company announced Friday.
In a news release, Apple said Winfrey will focus on creating "original programs that embrace her incomparable ability to connect with audiences around the world."
Apple did not name any specific projects attached to Winfrey's deal, though it said her programming will be included in the company's forthcoming slate of original content.
After her eponymous syndicated talk show ended in 2011, Winfrey turned her focus to OWN, a joint venture between her Harpo Productions and Discovery Inc. She recently extended her contract with OWN through 2025.
An OWN spokeswoman told the Associated Press that Winfrey has an exclusive on-camera deal with OWN but can appear elsewhere on a limited basis.
Winfrey is the latest in a string of traditional broadcast television talent like Shonda Rhimes and Ryan Murphy who have signed deals with streaming companies like Netflix, Amazon Studios and Hulu.


Question: "Is Mormonism properly defined as a cult?"
First, we should clearly define cult. One general definition found in dictionaries defines a cult as "a particular system of religious worship, especially with reference to its rites and ceremonies." According to this wide-ranging definition, any religious group could be labeled as a cult. However, Christians have often defined a cult more narrowly, using a definition such as "a religious group that denies one or more of the fundamentals of biblical truth." A cult holds views that are unorthodox and spurious. It claims to be part of a religion yet denies essential truths of that religion.
When considered in light of this narrower definition, does Mormonism fit the characteristics of a cult? The technical answer is "yes." Some Mormon teachings are unorthodox, and the claims of Joseph Smith are spurious. Mormonism claims to be part of Christianity yet denies some of Christianity's core truths. For example, Mormons reject belief in the Trinity (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 372, Articles of Faith, p. 35); hold to an unbiblical view of the afterlife (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345-354.); and teach that Jesus is a created being (Journal of Discourses, vol. 8, p. 115), that salvation is by faith and works (2 Nephi 25:23, Articles of Faith, p. 92), and that the Book of Mormon is Scripture in addition to the Bible (History of the Church, 4:461).
Despite recent attempts to reposition Mormonism as evangelical Christianity—or to at least make the two seem compatible—the Mormon Church continues to hold to its aberrant teachings. No one can claim to be a Christian yet hold a vastly divergent view of salvation, God, Jesus, and Scripture. A Mormon may claim to follow Christ, but it is a very different "Christ" from what is found in the Bible.
Another question remains. Even if Mormonism can properly be defined as a cult, should it be called a cult? This question addresses not only teaching but association, because the word cult carries a negative connotation. For example, a wide variety of religious cults exist, and some cultists have performed violent acts or led people to make unhealthy, irrational choices. Is it helpful, especially when dealing with Mormons personally, to call Mormonism a "cult"?
It is unwise to use derogatory terms when referring to other religions. Words like cult are generally unhelpful when referring to Mormonism. Even if its teachings can be defined, theologically, as cultic, based on a certain definition, the negative connotation of the word remains. Christians are called to reach Mormons with the true Gospel of Jesus Christ (John 3:16), and the use of the term cult is a distraction. This is not a matter of compromise, but of speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). It is sufficient for Christians to clearly state that Mormon teachings are incompatible with biblical Christianity. These differences are important. Christians should pray for and reach out to Mormons with the message that salvation is a free gift of God, apart from works (Ephesians 2:8–9).


text:
Q: Private GitHub repo with public GitHub pages including download I have a private project on GitHub and want to sent a link to the public gh-pages to some collaborators (who do not necessarily use GitHub).

This website includes a download link where people can access the whole repository (as zipped files) or individual specific raw files.

So for instance the following link works per default on all public repositories:
https://github.com/[user]/[project]/zipball/master

However, it does not work if the underlying repository is private. Is there any way to enable users without direct access to the repository to download the underlying files?

EDIT: I will eventually make the whole repository publicly available, however not at this point.

A: You can't. The repo is private and thus you cannot give them a download link. What you can do is add the zip file yourself to the gh-pages branch and give them a link to that.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
DC, devoney looser, jane austen news, Lydia Bennet, podcast, statue
Plans for Jane Austen in Bronze in Bath
Plans are in the works to honour Jane Austen, perhaps Bath's most famous resident, with a life-size monument.
The Jane Austen Centre hopes to erect a bronze statue of the famous author at a location in the city later this year. The statue will be based on the Jane Austen waxwork which was unveiled at the Centre to global media interest in July 2014, and which was created through work undertaken by forensic artist Melissa Dring.
The sculptor of the bronze statue will be world-renowned Mark Richards, whose previous work not only includes the Austen waxwork but also Winston Churchill, Prince Philip and The Queen.
The exact location of the bronze statue is currently under discussion.
Not only will it be good to honour Austen the author, it will also be good to go a little way to redress the fact that less than 3% of all statues in the UK are of historical, non-royal women.
Paul Crossey, Jane Austen Centre Managing Director
What do you think? Is there an ideal location for a Jane Austen statue in Bath that springs to mind?
Previous post: Regency Tea Room Menu

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Who can use Project Citizen?
Project Citizen is flexible enough to be used in the classroom with a community support program or as an after school program. Anyone can use the program though it is formatted for students in grade 5 and up. Last year, more than 300,000 students and 5,000 teachers around the world used Project Citizen. Not only was Project Citizen used in every U.S. state, but also in Bosnia, Herzegovina, Brazil, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Mongolia, Poland and Russia.
"Project citizen is a great hands-on and student-driven motivator for the end of a school year. The interest is high because the student's ideas and activity 'drive' the program."
"Students are so actively involved in trying to solve the problem"
"Project Citizen has given students the opportunity to see how our government works and has allowed them to use their voices to make changes in our school environment."
Do the students who are in the Project Citizen program have to be school-based?
If you are a STUDENT, share the Project Citizen website with your teacher and invite them to contact Ryan Suskey at rsuskey@oclre.org or 614-485-3506.
If you are a TEACHER, textbooks are available for purchase from the Center for Civic Education. For a sample copy or questions please contact Ryan Suskey; rsuskey@oclre.org or 614-485-3506.
Does the solution my students purpose have to be a public policy solution?


text:
Q: Is it possible to flash out of the way of a spell that occurs almost instantly? I have fairly fast reaction times and am able to flash out of the way of say an Ashe or Jinx ulti if I don't see it early enough to right click my character away.
Some champs have spells that occur almost instantaneously, but within a certain range. For example, Blitzcrank can only grab people within a certain range of him/her/it.
It's sometimes predictable when Blitz is going for the grab, so I was wondering if it was possible to flash out of the way of his grab to escape it?

A: In League of Legends there are 3 major type of spells. Targeted, Self-Cast and Skillshots.
Targeted abilities are locked on the target. If the target moves or flashes away, the ability will still hit the target (Like Annie's Q or Ranged Basic Attacks)
Self Cast or Stance abilities only work on yourself, you cannot target them on a teammate (but it can still benefit teammates, such as Sona's Basic Abilities)
Skillshots are aimable by the caster, but their travel path is constant. If one is coming your way you can flash or just dodge it. Blitzcrank's grab is a skillshot, so you can dodge it.
However, you cannot flash away from the hook once it lands on you, similarly to Darius' E. There is an exception to this - Ezreal's E (a blink/dash) is able to prevent being pulled, while visually making Blitzcrank's arm extend even further (which is so funny)

A: The answer is Yes
You can flash a blitz hook easily. You just have to time it correctly.
You can even dodge an Ezreals Ultimate by flashing (even towards him).
Many players do this. They are in a tight skirmish and they see an opportunity to be agressive or re-engage and flash the skillshot to do so and finish off an opponent.
It's all about timing and reactions.

A: A number of skills can be flashed from to dodge them. Any skill shot can be flashed away from to dodge it with proper timing. Most other skills (targeted ones) cannot be flashed away from, as they will follow you (i.e. Caitlyn ultimate, Malphite seismic shard, etc) but certain skills can with proper timing (i.e. Alistar headbutt, and select others). However there can be good reason for flashing from targeted abilities, as if cait ults you, you can flash behind a team mate and the ult will hit them instead, provided they stand in the path the ult is traveling. Also flashing behind a yasuo wall or braum unbreakable shield will cause any particle from a targeted ability to be destroyed one the wall. However since while flashing, until the animation completes, you are considered to still be in the place you are flashing from, some targeted abilities, skill shots, and even auto attacks can still hit. Examples of this are singed fling being used at the same time the person flashes can cause the person to be flung back even after the flash finishes. Similar interactions exist between ahri's charm, other abilities, and auto attacks.


The University of Warsaw, established in 1816, is Poland's largest and finest university. With over 45,000 students and more than 3500 academic staff members it provides numerous study programmes in areas ranging from natural and exact sciences, humanities to social sciences. The University of Warsaw is research oriented and mobility friendly. It puts great emphasis on the international dimension by cooperating with 800 international partner universities and institutions.
Located in a vibrant metropolis at the heart of Europe the University of Warsaw offers students and staff high quality teaching and research as well as rich cultural life.


Once you've selected the coverage you want, you then get to choose how we edit your film. Check our two – documentary and cinematic edit styles – to see which one will suit you.
Documentation Edit – a documentary style wedding video, also known as a journalistic, gives you a play-by play of the entire wedding. It is typically shown in chronological order. This is the traditional approach for wedding videos, so it can capture all of the special moments of the day. The end result, depending on the length of the ceremony and speeches, can be from 45 minutes to 120 minutes in length. We will include all the usable footage we have captured.
Cinematic Edit – is an artistic way of displaying your wedding without missing any of the important moments. It focuses on telling the story of your wedding in creative way. This style of edit is more complex and non-linear edit, meaning the footage will not be in chronological order. The end result can be from 10 to 20 minutes.


Australia is one of the world's most urbanized countries, with its low-density population largely concentrated in coastal cities. According to the World Bank, Australia has a GDP of US$ 1,520 billion in 2013 (growing annually at 3.4%), which works out at US$ 67,000 per capita. Inflation is 1.8% in terms of the consumer price index (CPI) and 1.6% in terms of the GDP deflator.


Ever since the advent of advertising, the most creative minds have strived to create designs that would appeal to the collective. Art is judged on its universality and so is good design in advertising. The goal, after all, is to convey the message to as many people as possible. Here are 5 examples of renowned vintage print design which have been printed through the traditional method of litho printing. You could also look at some modern and creative print ads for your inspiration.
This famous print from 1917 was created by J.M.Flagg and based on a British poster from three years earlier. He used a modified version of his own face and the pose of a veteran, Walter Botts. Although print ads of the era were usually copy-heavy, this ad needed to strike a chord with the population and convince them to join the war effort. Creating the iconography for Uncle Sam did just that and brought a massive deluge of support for the war effort.
The colour palette used was, in an effort to be nationalistic, kept to three primary bold colors – the colors of the American national flag – red, white and blue. The stark and simple colourful designs were designed to create immediate strong emotional responses. The typography is bold but plain. It was made for mass distribution and the design suited that perfectly. You might also like this awesome collection of vintage typography.
This ad from the 1920s shows the slow shift towards an increased focus on imagery. Percival S.Hill created the slogan "It's toasted" after a visit to the factory where he noticed the aroma of the tobacco wafting through the halls.
The economy in the volume of copy allowed for more space for the imagery – a large colourful picture of the product and the user – someone the reader will seek to emulate. The slogan is left in bold type and pulls the eye in. The advert would have initially been printed onto paper and plastered around the country, with prints also appearing across a range of publications.
In this ad from the 1940s, we start seeing the shift towards a complete focus on imagery. There is great use of color with the stark yellow background drawing you in. A single, iconic image – one that has symbolised feminine empowerment for decades – along with a strong, clear slogan in bold, simple type. This ad was designed to be mass produced, in order to increase the involvement of women in the war effort at home.
Perhaps the most iconic character constructed purely to sell a product, the Marlboro Man was the invention of Leo Burnett, in 1954. Marlboro was considered a feminine cigarette at the time and everything about this ad was meant to suggest masculinity. From the boldness of the font proclaiming the brand to the aggressiveness of the copy. The 1950s also saw a shift towards more of a balance between copy and imagery. Copy was forced to the bottom of the page and limited to a few choice lines, while the imagery hit you in the face with the singularity of its vision – a ragged cowboy smoking a Marlboro.
A watershed moment in ad making. With a tiny budget, Helmut Krone and Julian Koening at the Doyle Dane Bernbach (DDB) agency created one of the most iconic ads of the 60s. When all the other cars were boasting about how big and spacious they were, they decided to go the other way, even reflecting this in the ad. The already small car is made to look even smaller with perspective and a two word slogan perfectly reflecting their pitch.
Automobile ads of the time tended to focus on bombarding the reader with information, but this ad chose to convey a feeling instead, appealing to the heart rather than the mind. This was included in magazines and printed on paper for bus stop ads.
These ads are prized for their effectiveness, and they achieve this through good design. In our age of being constantly bombarded by ads, it truly takes special talent to make one stand out.
Article written by Jonny Rowntree, a freelance writer based in Northern England, currently working with litho printing partner, Elanders UK. In the past, Jonny has worked with The Next Web, Creative Bloq and Branding Magazine.
Jonny Rowntree – who has written 1 posts on Artatm – Creative Art Magazine.


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Hollywood actor Dante Basco directs debut film "The Fabulous Filipino Brothers"
Eldan Sambatyon
Credits to Dante Basco.
Watch out for "The Fabulous Filipino Brothers", the film that marks the directorial debut of Filipino-American Hollywood actor and poet Dante Basco.
Dante Basco is known as the first Fil-Am to make it in Hollywood and a pioneer in Asian American cinema with a career that spans over two and a half decades.
Dante is best remembered for playing the role of Rufio, leader of the Lost Boys, in the 1991 Steven Spielberg film "Hook" with the late Robin Williams. He also played the role of Prince Zuko in the 2010 film "Avatar: The Last Airbender" by M. Night Shyamalan.
Dante Basco announced earlier this week his wrapping up of filming and going into post-production for his feature film about the adventures of four brothers.
Starring himself and his brothers Darion, Dionysio, and Derek, the dark romantic comedy weaves together four stories narrated by their sister, Arianna.
The Basco brothers also starred in "The Debut", the first Filipino-American feature film to be released in theaters nationwide in 2002.
Dante revealed on social media that in The Fabulous Filipino Brothers" they were playing characters named after their dad and his brothers – David, Duke, Danny Boy, and Dayo.
Two generations of Basco brothers star and are depicted in the film "The Fabulous Filipino Brothers". Credits to Dante Basco.
The screenplay was written by Dante Basco and his brothers Darion and Dionysio and is set amidst the brothers' hometown of Pittsburg, California, a working-class suburb of Oakland.
The film synopsis: "The story follows the brothers and their shenanigans. One of them ventures off to a cockfight for reciprocity while one flies to old Manila where an old flame is rekindled. Another brother delves into the hidden sensuality of Filipino cuisine, while the last brother, struggles to heal deep wounds and finds love in an unexpected package. All this, leading to a shotgun wedding in the backyard of the family house."
Dante and the crew of The Fabulous Filipino Brothers also filmed scenes in Manila with Filipino-French actress Solenn Heussaff.
Filipinos and Fil-Ams have shown much interest in Dante Basco's film and are looking forward to support the Filipino-starred, directed, and produced movie when it comes out.
Dante Basco is currently on a book signing tour of his newly released book memoir, "From Rufio to Zuko".
Dante Basco and Solenn Heussaff film some scenes in Manila. Credits to Dante Basco.
Dante Basco had earlier this year announced his intent to work on developing a Philippine youth culture webcomics into a feature film.
The Hollywood Asian American icon was also a featured world-class Pinoy at the Toycon Philippines.
Fil-Ams have been showcasing their heritage in film, among them, Fil-Am animator Bobby Rubio's Filipino-themed short film "Float" which was released by Disney Pixar this week.
Filmmaker Diane Paragas' musical drama film "Yellow Rose" starring Eva Noblezada and Lea Salonga is currently making the rounds of festivals, receiving awards and nominations.
SEND congratulations and well wishes in the comments below to Dante Basco for showcasing his Filipino heritage in his debut film!
Eldan is an experienced online content writer who finds fulfillment in sharing the good side of the news to Filipinos.


text:
Sunrise over Wings, or, "All Hail TCM!"
Last night thanks to TCM I had a silent double feature of F. W. Murnau's Sunrise and Wings, starring Clara Bow -- both of them pictures I'd never had the chance to see before, although I've had a repro of the Wings lobby card hanging on my wall for years. The two films are wildly dissimilar, yet both are remarkable.
Sunrise is easily the most visually striking picture I've seen in a long, long time. It makes me want to grab modern filmmakers by the shoulders and force them into a chair, like Malcolm McDowell in A Clockwork Orange, and say to them "See?! See?! This is how you frame a shot!! This is how you tell a story!"
With Murnau at the helm, it's hard to believe that this is an American movie. In most ways, it's as Germanic as they come. The visual style of Sunrise reminds me profoundly of the woodcut novels of Lynd Ward (which is why I've used an image from one of them above, instead of a poster or still from the movie). Every single shot is composed to the nth degree: one of my favorite scenes comes early in the picture, and it's nothing but two people in a rowboat on the water, but the image is laden with menace as the husband, shoulders hunched, looms over his cowering wife in the stern.
Unfortunately, the story is slim, and it's drawn out over an interminable runtime of an hour and forty minutes. Already by 1927, audiences were demanding more in the way of content than what this delivers, which explains why it failed at the box office. It's too bad. From the evidence of Sunrise, Murnau and Hollywood could have been a great combination. But this is a lesson that filmmakers still don't seem to have learned: pay more attention to the scenario, please!
The same can be said of Wings, though that's about the only thing the two pictures have in common. Yes, Wings is also remarkably filmed, and filled with striking imagery, but even though much of it is set (and shot on location) in Europe, there's nothing European about its brand of visual style: it's about as all-American as a movie can get.
The battle scenes, both in the air and on the ground, are state-of-the-art, and are still as good as anything that's been done since. Compare them with the work in Jean-Pierre Jeunet's A Very Long Engagement (which is a wonderful film, by the way -- I like it at least as well as Amelie), it's every bit as powerful.
As a piece of propaganda, Wings is as fervent as they come, but again the scenario is too simplistic: the age old "girl loves boy, boy loves some other girl, other girl loves other boy" thing. This probably wasn't as tired in 1927 as is today. It doesn't help that the male leads are not very charismatic -- about the only thing they have going for them, imho, is that they obviously did a lot of their own flying.
Beyond the battle scenes, the film's one special effect is Clara Bow. Before Wings, I knew her only from still photographs and reputation. So, once again I got to discover why things are as they are, why Clara Bow was called the "It" girl.
Miss Bow proves that Norma Desmond was right.
She doesn't just light up the screen, she throws herself at it, and it doesn't matter that she gives us a big, big scenery-chewing performance, because there's a genuineness about her: when her eyes cloud with tears, it's not glycerin. Like the performance Brigette Helm gives in Metropolis, this is grand opera, larger than life but pure and focused. In an early scene shot from underneath the Shooting Star, a blazing hot-rod being rebuilt by one of the male leads, she gets down on our level and works the camera for all she's worth, kicking her legs violently in the background as if she was trying to swim under the vehicle and join us. This is the girl next door? How could Charles Rogers possibly be interested in the out-of-town gal when he's got Clara Bow in the seat beside him? The other girl is a wet rag by comparison.
When Ms. Bow dons the uniform and joins the boys overseas, her image is almost overpoweringly iconic, yet she still chases after the same dippy guy. I guess that's part of what makes her All-American: like Horton the Elephant, she is faithful, one hundred percent!
What a nifty double feature, filling in two gaps in my experience at one blow. Thanks, TCM!
Labels: movies
FlickChick February 7, 2011 at 6:19 PM
Well done! So glad you found Clara Bow. She was an amazing star! I am grateful to TCM for giving us access to these wonderful films.
Cnwl February 7, 2011 at 8:51 PM
You say, "Pay more attention to the SCENARIO ... "; modern day Hollywood says, "No one cares about story anymore." How many times to how many persons have I said, "The big studios are employing readers to insure the 'blockbuster' scripts have a major villainous moment by Page X, an explosion by Page Y, a big hero/villain dust-up by Page Z, and if not ... time for rewrites," and NO ONE has expressed any outrage (and I ain't making it up -- I got it straight from a friend who works as a Hollywood scriptwriter). Even the sceptics grasp onto the few bright moments in otherwise dreck-filled "tentpole" movies, totally ignoring the whole swaths of inane, empty storytelling surrounding those moments. I remember nodding emphatically at Nick Lowe's review of IRON MAN, especially when he said (summarizing), "What a surprise the climax involves the hero doffing his headgear as he fights for his life against a dark-mirror reflection of himself." EXACTLY -- it's not just predictable, it's predictable on multiple levels.
"Pay more attention to the SCENARIO ... "? You're whistling in the wind, I fear; since we're rapidly reaching the point where practically no one remembers what good stories ARE, anymore.
The Human Whirlwind
A Humane Noir
Working Out Warhol
Original Masters, or, Spanning the Dead
So Much Hot Air
La Chaine
The Word of the Day: Pianosaurus!
Weekend Wonderland
"Stalking" the Wild Asparagus
Life is a Cabaret, old chum. . .
All Those Years Ago
All the Pretty Young Things
Opening Out
Notes from Another World
The most accurate Movie Line in History: "I Don't ...
Here at the End of Time
A Day at Home, or The Delayed Post
A Day of Solutions
Queen Greer
Nuttin, Honey
Plain as de Haviland
Grief Expands Exponentially in the Universe
The House that Was
The Second Auction
A Boy and His Horsey


text:
Harvard Pilgrim, Tufts plan to merge
By Katie LannanState House News Service
Consolidation of 2 of state's largest insurers needs multiple approvals.
BOSTON — Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Tufts Health Plan, two of the state's largest health insurers, on Wednesday announced plans to merge into a new, combined organization that they said would serve nearly 2.4 million members in Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.
The new organization has not yet been named, and company officials have not said where it will be based — Harvard Pilgrim is headquartered in Wellesley and Tufts in Watertown. The deal is subject to various state and federal approvals, and the two companies will remain independent during the approval process.
The deal amounts to a significant consolidation in the state's health care insurance market, with the two joining forces and creating a single, larger rival to the state's biggest insurer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. Policyholders and consumers will be on the lookout for how it affects them, and the agreement also will be vetted by government regulators.
In a joint statement, Tufts and Harvard Pilgrim said the combined organization "will be even more effective, better able to keep high-quality health care accessible and affordable, while at the same time investing in programs and initiatives that enhance quality."
Tufts Health Plan President and CEO Tom Crosswell will serve as CEO of the new organization, and Michael Carson, currently the president and CEO of Harvard Pilgrim, will serve as president. Both organizations will be equally represented on a board of directors led by Joyce Murphy, who is now chairwoman of the Harvard Pilgrim board.
"Our communities and consumers today face four major hurdles in health care: affordability, access, quality of health and a fragmented health care experience across various stakeholders and health systems," Croswell said in a statement. "Through our shared vision, we believe we can tackle these issues and bring more value to the communities we serve."
The state's top three commercial payers — Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Harvard Pilgrim and Tufts — account for nearly 62% of the private health insurance market membership, according to a Center for Health Information and Analysis report that used September 2018 data.
Blue Cross Blue Shield is by far the largest by membership, according to the report, with 1.6 million members in Massachusetts to Harvard Pilgrim's roughly 500,000 and Tufts' roughly 360,000.
Meggie Quackenbush, a spokeswoman for Attorney General Maura Healey, said Healey's office has been in touch with both insurers and "will review the proposed transaction as more information becomes available."
Although the state's Health Policy Commission has analyzed other major health care mergers, such as the transaction that recently created the new Beth Israel Lahey Health, it does not have the authority to review a merger between two health plans.
Spokesman Matthew Kitsos said the commission looks forward to learning more about the deal, which "could have a significant impact on the Massachusetts health care market."
Last year, Harvard Pilgrim had been exploring a merger with Partners HealthCare, the largest health system in the state.
The Tufts-Harvard Pilgrim deal was approved unanimously by both organizations' boards, the companies said.
Gov. Charlie Baker spent 10 years as Harvard Pilgrim CEO before stepping down for his 2010 gubernatorial bid.
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text:
<?php
namespace o80\i18n;

class JsonProvider implements Provider {

    private $path = '.';

    private $loadedLang = null;

    function __construct() {}

    /**
     * @param string $path The path of the directory containing the dictionaries files
     */
    public function setLangsPath($path) {
        $this->path = $path;
    }

    /**
     * Load the best dictionary looking at the prefered languages given in parameter.
     *
     * @param array $langs Ordered list of accepted languages, prefered ones are first
     * @return array|null The dictionary or null if not found
     * @throws CantLoadDictionaryException Thrown when there is no files in the directories path
     */
    public function load($langs) {
        // List file names
        $files = $this->listLangFiles();
        $this->loadedLang = null;

        if (empty($files)) {
            throw new CantLoadDictionaryException(CantLoadDictionaryException::NO_DICTIONARY_FILES);
        }

        foreach ($langs as $lang) {
            $loaded = $this->loadMatchingFile($files, $lang);
            $dict = $loaded['dict'];
            $loadedLang = $loaded['lang'];
            if ($dict !== null) {
                $this->loadedLang = $loadedLang;
                return $dict;
            }
        }

        return null;
    }

    /**
     * List the files from the {@code path} directory and sort them by filename size desc.
     *
     * @return array Array of files found
     */
    public function listLangFiles() {
        $files = array_diff(scandir($this->path), array('..', '.'));
        uasort($files, function ($a, $b) {
            return strlen($a) < strlen($b);
        });
        $files = array_filter($files, function($file) {
            return substr($file, -5) === '.json';
        });
        return $files;
    }

    /**
     * Parse a JSON file from the {@code path} directry.
     *
     * @param string $filename The name of the file
     * @return array The dictionary
     */
    private function loadFile($filename) {
        return json_decode(file_get_contents($this->path . '/' . $filename), true);
    }

    /**
     * Load the best dictionary looking at the language code given in parameter.
     *
     * @param array $files The array of dictionary file names
     * @param string $lang The language code
     * @return array|null The dictionary found for the given language code, or null if there is no match.
     */
    private function loadMatchingFile($files, $lang) {
        // Check all file names
        foreach ($files as $file) {
            // Extract locale from filename
            $fileLocale = substr($file, 0, strlen($file) - 5);

            if (\Locale::filterMatches($lang, $fileLocale)) { // Check if filename matches $lang
                return array('dict' => $this->loadFile($file), 'lang' => $fileLocale);
            }
        }

        return null;
    }

    /**
     * This method gives the code of loaded lang. It must be called AFTER the "load" method.
     *
     * @return string The code of the loaded lang.
     */
    public function getLoadedLang() {
        return $this->loadedLang;
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


That's right. Everyone's favourite photo-sharing app has had a complete makeover, and people are not sure what to think at all.
In place of the old logo is now a thoroughly modern rainbow-themed icon, and when you click in, the interface is decidedly simpler with a monochrome feel.
They've also added unified logos for subsidiary apps like Boomerang, Hyperlapse and Layout, and we're pretty sure we spotted some new snazzy filters in there too.
However, as we are learning quickly, the internet doesn't respond well to change, and what do people do when they are unhappy with Instagram?
Why, head over to Twitter to give out of course.
Really dig the new Instagram update!
I actually really like the new Instagram update. It looks clean.


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DIR EN GREY's New Mini-Album THE UNRAVELING Released Today
3 April, 2013 by Chriss Leave a comment
Japan's best progressive metallers, DIR EN GREY are releasing their new mini-album, THE UNRAVELING simultaneously in Japan and Europe today on OKAMI Records. The album contains seven tracks in the digital version, and better yet, there will be a physical edition released across Europe in the very near future which will contain four more tracks.
Just two months after the release of their last single, RINKAKU, this album continues to flex the bands' muscles style wise. With a heavy, complex sound this mini-album is a good continuation from their last full album DUM SPIRO SPERO and strong follow up to the surprisingly gentle RINKAKU. Lead track, Unraveling is especially impressive with some brilliant guitar leads and a deceptively simple melody.
There is a perfect balance with this album between frantic heaviness and more solemn, slower tracks. The second track, KARMA, is super hardcore with a drum rhythm like a bulldozer and deep, speedy guitar. In contrast, other songs are more gentle and have cleaner vocals, or a mixture of both within one track. There is also a mixture of styles, alternating drum-heavy, bass-heavy and guitar-lead tracks, which prevents the standard metal procedure of one song running into the next. At one point, there is even a strange dive into some very mellow accoustic guitar (Unknown.Dispair.Lost), but it soon tumbles down very quickly into some glorious dark and sticky metal once more.
Constant changes in tempo and style make this album. Another shining features is the grand finale, a re-recording of the 2004 single THE FINAL. Unlike their re-recording of Kiri to Mayu on their last single, this re-recording is not a complete re-working but rather the band seem to have gone to some lengths to recreate the style of the original recording. As THE FINAL is one of the greatest tracks in DIR EN GREY's discography, it's amazing to hear it given this new lease of life.
After their year of silence in 2012, DIR EN GREY seem to be making a very impressive comeback, bursting back onto the scene with a cascade of great music.
The physical CD release promises to bring a further four tracks of awesome, and don't forget that DIR EN GREY will also be touring Europe in June with a UK appearance at DOWNLOAD Festival.
Title: The Unraveling
1. Unraveling (4.42)
2. KARMA (3.43)
3. KASUMI (4.08)
4. KARASU (5.36)
5. Bottom of the death valley (6.25)
6. Unknown.Dispair.Lost (4.47)
7. THE FINAL (4.15)
Release Date: 3rd April, 2013
Available from: iTunes, CD Coming Soon
Filed under News, Reviews Tagged with Die, DIR EN GREY, Download Festival, J-metal, J-rock, Japanese music, Kaoru, Kyo, metal, New music, progressive metal, Shinya, The Final, THE UNRAVELING
New Single From DIR EN GREY: RINKAKU, Released Today!
1 February, 2013 by Chriss 1 Comment
DIR EN GREY have been very quiet since the release of their album DUM SPIRO SPERO in 2011. And we've been missing them and their huge tours, fantastic live shows and top quality metal. Well they're finally back in Europe with a new single, RINKAKU (Japan release: 19.12.2012). The new single contains three tracks; the lead track, RINKAKU, a re-recording of Kiri to Mayu (a track originally from their 1997 album MISSA) and a remix of RINKAKU by Akira Yamaoka.
With a discography spanning decades, and a penchance for changing their style in big ways, every new release from this band is a new experience, and it's not always good. With this in mind, we curiously hit play and listened hard with bated breath.
We're glad you're back, DIR EN GREY, because this single is awesome.
The lead track, RINKAKU, is disarmingly calm at the opening, with an ethereal quality. Things quickly escalate, though; complex guitar, relentless bass and incredibly intricate drumming all feature alongside vocals which sound almost inhumane. Creepy and extreme, the vocal line of this track soars high into the upper reaches of your hearing. And weirdly, it sounds incredible. Known for experimenting with his style often, vocalist Kyo really brings this track into something special. His experiments haven't always gone well in the past, but this track is just irresistible.
The second track is equally exciting. With all of that calm creepiness going on in the lead track, this single needed something to bring it back down into the deep and dirty depths again. Kiri to Mayu brings it down so hard, you won't know what hit you. We can hardly remember the original of this track from 1997, but it certainly sounded only a little bit like this new, big, brutal, raging version. The vocals take an alarming dive into incomprehensible screaming, thrashing and tearing through the whole track. This is thrash metal at its best, and this must sound truly awesome live.
Finally, the Eternal Slumber Mix of RINKAKU returns restless calm. Probably the least attention grabbing of the three, this track was mixed by Akira Yamaoka, famed for his work on music from the Silent Hill game series. Many of the elements from the original track remain, but there is more creepiness and less thundery guitar. After the truly outstanding quality of the remixes from DUM SIRO SPERO, this doesn't really compare. However, we'll settle for the other two tracks making this single more than worth it.
It only took three songs and we're already itching for much more, and maybe even another European tour…
Title: RINKAKU
01. RINKAKU (5:41)
02. Kiri to Mayu (3:53)
03. RINKAKU [Eternal Slumber Mix] (5:24)
European Release Date: 1 February 2013
Available From: iTunes, Amazon MP3 and Spotify.
Filed under News, Reviews Tagged with Akira Yamaoka, Die, DIR EN GREY, european release, 輪郭, J-rock, Japanese metal, Japanese rock, Kaoru, Kiri to Mayu, Kyo, metal, RINKAKU, Shinya, Silent Hill, Toshiya, Tue Madsen, visual kei


text:
* [Getting Started](GettingStarted.md)
* [Architecture](Architecture.md)
* Administration
  - [Cluster Setup](ClusterSetup.md)
  - [Kubernetes deployment](Kubernetes.md)
  - [Dashboard](Dashboard.md)
  - [Admin tools and APIs](AdminTools.md)
* Features
  - [Authentication](Authentication.md)
  - [Authorization](Authorization.md)
  - [Geo-Replication](GeoReplication.md)
  - [WebSocket API](WebSocket.md)
  - [Apache Storm adaptor](PulsarStorm.md)
  - [Spark Streaming Pulsar Receiver](PulsarSpark.md)
  - [Python client library](Python.md)
  - [Modular Load Manager](ModularLoadManager.md)
  - [Simulation Tools](Simulation.md)
* Internal Docs
  - [Binary protocol specification](BinaryProtocol.md)
* Other Languages
  - [Japanese](locale/ja/Documentation.md)


text:
Q: Why did the blonde try and steal a police car?
A: She saw "911" on the back and thought it was a Porsche.
Latest Blonde Jokes
Blonde's Medical Exam
A pretty young blonde visiting her new doctor for the first time found herself alone in a small waiting room. She began undressing nervously, preparing herself for the upcoming examination. Just as she draped the last of her garments over the back of a chair, a light rap sounded on the door and a young doctor strode in.
Coming to an abrupt halt, the doctor looked his nude patient up and down carefully and with considerable appreciation.
"Miss Smith," he said finally, "it seems quite obvious to me that until today you have never undergone an eye examination."
Blonde in an Elevator
A tall blonde and a tall brunette are stading in an elevator. A short bald man with lots of dandruff walks in, then gets off at the next floor. The brunette says, "Boy he could use some head and shoulders."
The blonde says, "Hm. How do you give shoulders?"
The silver haired lady confronted her doctor with a complaint of pains all over her body.
"Be more precise," he said. "So I can help you, try pointing to some of the places that hurt.
The silver-haired doll put her finger on her arm and said, "Ouch!" then her finger to her hip and said, "Ouch!" and then to her rib cage and said, "Ouch!" again.
The doctor stopped her and asked, "Were you a blonde before your hair grayed"?
"Why yes!" she said excitedly, "But how did you know?"
The Doc answered, "Your finger's broken."
On your lap
A ventriloquist is sitting onstage at a comedy club. He and his dummy are spurting out really crude blonde jokes, when a blonde lady sitting in the audience stands up.
"I'm so sick of you people who think blondes are stupid. It's because of you that I have had to work harder to prove myself at work and in the community. There are just as many dumb people with red or brown hair. There are just as many smart people with blonde hair."
"Gosh, Miss, I'm terribly sorry. I was just telling jokes, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."
"Shut up! I'm not talking to you. I'm talking to that little jerk on your lap!"
Blonde in a Snowstorm
A blonde got lost in her car in a snowstorm. She remembered what her dad had once told her. "If you ever get stuck in a snowstorm, wait for a snow plow and follow it." Pretty soon a snow plow came by, and she started to follow it. She followed the plow for about 45 minutes.
Finally, the driver of the truck got out and asked her what she was doing. She explained that her dad had told her if she ever got stuck in the snow, to follow a plow. The driver nodded and said, "Well, I'm done with the parking lot here at Wal-Mart, now you can follow me over to K-Mart."


OK, a response, finally. I know I'm horribly late, but I've had a whole lot on my mind for the past few weeks with the imminent house moving thing and all that lot.
Basically, my friends list for me is nothing to do with who I consider my friends. There are people on it who I odn't much like, and people not on it who I do like. It's only about people whose entries I want to appear on my friends page. And for a while I've been finding that you're mostly writing in your journal about things that don't interest me. I don't have a problem with that, but I don't want to read them.
I would still like to consider you a friend, and don't have any hard feelings or anything.


text:
Vilnius Gediminas Technical University
4.1 out of 5 (47 ratings / 42 reviews) Vilnius, Lithuania
Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU) is a leading higher education institution situated inVilnius the capital of Lithuania.Established in 1956 VGTU is one of the biggest research universities in Lithuania with a focus on technologies and engineering and strong emphasis on university-business cooperation.
VGTU is ranked 41st in the Emerging Europe and Central Asia region according to the "QS World University Rankings".
VGTU is the best Baltic university in the subject area of Civil Engineering and Building Construction.
VGTU has 10 faculties, 13 research institutes, 3 research centres, 23 research laboratories.
Bachelor Air Traffic Control (Integrated studies)
Bachelor Aircraft Piloting (Integrated Studies)
B.Eng. Automotive Engineering
B.Eng. Building Energetics
B.Eng. Computer Engineering
Bachelor Digital Manufacturing
Bachelor Economics Engineering
Bachelor Engineering Informatics
B.B.A. Financial Engineering
B.Eng. Information Systems Engineering
Bachelor Mechatronics and Robotics
B.B.A. Business Management
Bachelor Architecture (Integrated Studies)
Bachelor Creative Industries
The start of the present-day Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU) is deemed to be September 1, 1956, when Vilnius Evening Division of the Evening Faculty of Kaunas Polytechnic Institute (KPI) was established. A specialist in chemistry Assoc. Prof. Jeronimas Kudaba (1909-1992) was appointed the Dean of this division.
The university's mission is to develop a publicly responsible, creative, competitive individual who is receptive to science, the latest technologies and cultural values; to promote scientific progress, social and economic well-being; to create value that ensures the development of both Lithuania and the region in the global context.
The university's vision is to be a prestigious Lithuanian institution of higher education, the scientific and studies level of which conform to the best European technical universities' level. The university is attractive for both Lithuanian and foreign students, is able to respond to the environmental challenges and has a great social importance to the national progress.
Vilnius Gediminas Technical University's research has always been focused on the European Research Area. In order to achieve the best result in research, University shifts towards multidisciplinarity in science. Now, the main research areas integrate electronics, IT, transport and social sciences. VGTU is ready to participate in national and international projects and to collaborate with business sector, it fosters national and international collaboration and helps to establish ties between research institutions and the business sector.
The University is involved in several international technology networks and organizations, thus, it enhances its standing as a state of the art research institution.
Why would anyone need career counseling? It is usually useful when facing questions related to the choices in life, when one wants to find out what are the best work/salary opportunities, how to represent yourself to the employer, so he could see the best in you, etc. During the consultations with career specialist students will be able to analyze their career issues, to create an individual career plan, to prospect vision and develop a strategy that would lead to a successful career. We could also devote the time during the session to finding what are your strenghts and weaknesses, your values - so you could get to know yourself better and be ready to choose your career more wisely.
VGTU encourages every student not only to seeking the knowledge, but also developing unique talents. Dynamic university life is an attribute of open and creative community. Every September the University announces the start of the study year with an annual festival "Gediminas days". Student parade in Vilnius streets, concerts, entertainment and experimentation spaces – this way VGTU presents itself and welcomes all the students, staff, alumni and university fellows.
VGTU international students dormitory is situated in the university campus, it takes about 7-10 min walk to the building of administration of the university and faculties of Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Business Management and Fundamental Sciences. Faculties of Architecture, Electronics, Mechanics and Transport Engineering are located in the city; A.Gustaitis Aviation Institute is located near the International Airport.
For accommodation in the dormitory you have to pay in bank during the first three days of your arrival.
Usually it is a block, which consists of two double rooms, a hall, WC, shower and a kitchen. There are few blocks that contain one double room, WC, shower and a kitchen.
VGTU Virtual library (VGTU VL)
It is an integral searching system allowing access to search for Vilnius Gediminas Technical University Library resources, subscribed databases, open access electronic resources, LST standards, other Lithuanian universities libraries resources, Lithuanian Academic Electronic Library (eLABa).
All international students are supposed to have medical insurance valid in Lithuania during the study period.
For EU citizens
Students from EU countries are required to have European insurance card or form E111.
For NON EU citizens
Students from outside EU are requered to have medical insurance from their country for staying period, or purchase a special insurance for foreigners staying in Lithuania.
VGTU prepares students for success in both their professional and personal lives. The University offers a wide range of activities to ensure a vibrant student experience. These activity groups include sports clubs and tourism club. The arts also thrive in this setting with extracurricular options such as chorus, theater, and dance. New members are welcomed into the groups each fall, supporting their essential role in the dynamic University community.
Currently, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University has more than 70 clubs and societies.
The most significant clubs at VGTU:
Gediminas club
Choir "Gabija"
Dance group "Vingis"
VGTU Tourist Club
Sports and Tourism Club "Inžinerija" ("Engineering")
Theatre studio "Palėpė" ("Attic")
Photo club "Fotyvas"
Open Innovation Forum "I, the idea "
"Business Forum "Doing Business in..."
Erasmus Student Network
Professional faculty
Nafiseh Soleymani rated 5 out of 5 stars
Business Management department has a cooperative and professional faculty. Specially Dr.Viktorija Skvarciany who gave her precious time to me for my study and research. Thanks a lot to Dr. Jelena Stankevičienė dean of Business management for her management and quality.
It was amazing. Lot's of new people and experiences. New type of educational system and improving English skills. New places, new traditions and many more. I really liked to spend time at different events and traveling too. Professors were clever and give us lot's of new information. All the people were kind and smiling.
Srudy experience
Generally level of my study experience can be summed up as intermediate. I would want lecturers to be more motivated and excited with students while working. Also, when giving some tasks, mostly there weren't shown clear ways or methods how they can be solved. In my opinion, some information and study methods were a bit oldish. Also, priniting to many papers (tasks, course...
Get More Information About Lithuania
1 PhDs


text:
Are the Invictus Games the most inspiring sports event of the year?
Snack Media > Blogs > Are the Invictus Games the most inspiring sports event of the year?
Snack Social Summary-Twitter releases popular articles feature and the Invictus Games begin in Toronto
Top ways to measure the value of online written content
Posted by Jodie Cormack on 21st September 2017 in Blogs
The Invictus Games was first launched in London. Ever since the 2014 competition, the event has grown year on year. Countries, competitors and supporters travel from all around the world to represent their nation. The first Games saw 400 competitors from 13 countries battle over four days in front of thousands of fans at the London Olympic Park.
Saturday the 23rd September sees the third Games opening ceremony in Toronto, Canada. Here we will see athletes compete over eight days of fierce competition, bringing together more than 550 competitors from 17 nations. Ukraine and Romania will be making their debut at the Invictus Games and will be hoping to have an instant impact on the medal standings.
Not all military personnel are physically injured, some came back from serving with invisible wounds. Adaptive sporting action will take place in the form of archery, athletics, indoor rowing, powerlifting, road cycling, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis and wheelchair rugby and golf.
What makes the Invictus Games so inspiring is its ability to save lives. Through the use of adaptive sports, it is giving the men and women who proudly represented their countries in the military a purpose and a mission once again. Not only does playing sport encourage you to push yourself ones again, it is helping to transform the physical and mental health for many of the injured personnel.
Once leaving the military, many feel that they have lost their sense of belonging. The Games allows participants to join a sports team and represent their countries once again with their brothers and sisters in arms. Therefore, participating in the event has the potential to have a significant effect on the service men and women's road to recovery. Making the Invictus Games a type of therapy for these individuals. No matter if you served or not, you can't help but be inspired by what you are about to witnesses in the fields, track, pool and courts.
In the UK the coverage will be shown on the BBC. Once again the organisation has gained the rights to present the footage from Toronto. A hour-long highlights program will be screened daily on the BBC giving you an update on the day's action. Back-stage clips and extra footage will also be shown on the WeAreInvictus social media channels.
In an event where participants deserve the full force of the crowds support, little is being done to get the message out there. The question is how do we build collaboration from the media to produce more awareness on the athlete and their stories rather than the Foundation. Throughout the lead-up to the Toronto Games coverage as hardly made headlines around the world, leading to their being a shortage of tickets sold to some events.
One of the biggest and best tools to spread the word around the Toronto Games will be social media. Whether this is fans photos, live streams or even photos with competitors. The more content that is produced and spread will only gain awareness to the events and results.
The Invictus Games will attract people from all around the world to watch in the crowd. Whether they are serving or retired military, the public, celebrities, government officials or Royal Family members it's important that at the foremost all of the attention of the spectators is on the military veterans and serving members who are showing sheer courage, camaraderie and focus in the hope of winning a medal for their countries.
About Jodie Cormack
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Nike's powerful movements showing equality and passion throughout the world of sport
Snack Insight: The rise and success of Football League World
Snack Social Summary-A huge week for Instagram, sponsored emojis on Twitter, and #PigGate
Snack Summary: EA Sports uses social media to select its Team of the Year


text:
Oct 3, 2010 Ruth (book of)
A Family Tragedy: Famine and Death
1:1 During the time of the judges there was a famine in the land of Judah. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah went to live as a resident foreigner in the region of Moab, along with his wife and two sons. 1:2 (Now the man's name was Elimelech, his wife was Naomi, and his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were of the clan of Ephrath from Bethlehem in Judah.) They entered the region of Moab and settled there. 1:3 Sometime later Naomi's husband Elimelech died, so she and her two sons were left alone. 1:4 So her sons married Moabite women. (One was named Orpah and the other Ruth.) And they continued to live there about ten years. 1:5 Then Naomi's two sons, Mahlon and Kilion, also died. So the woman was left all alone – bereaved of her two children as well as her husband! 1:6 So she decided to return home from the region of Moab, accompanied by her daughters-in-law, because while she was living in Moab she had heard that the LORD had shown concern for his people, reversing the famine by providing abundant crops.
Ruth Returns with Naomi
1:7 Now as she and her two daughters-in-law began to leave the place where she had been living to return to the land of Judah, 1:8 Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Listen to me! Each of you should return to your mother's home! May the LORD show you the same kind of devotion that you have shown to your deceased husbands and to me! 1:9 May the LORD enable each of you to find security in the home of a new husband!" Then she kissed them goodbye and they wept loudly. 1:10 But they said to her, "No! We will return with you to your people."
1:11 But Naomi replied, "Go back home, my daughters! There is no reason for you to return to Judah with me! I am no longer capable of giving birth to sons who might become your husbands! 1:12 Go back home, my daughters! For I am too old to get married again. Even if I thought that there was hope that I could get married tonight and conceive sons, 1:13 surely you would not want to wait until they were old enough to marry! Surely you would not remain unmarried all that time! No, my daughters, you must not return with me. For my intense suffering is too much for you to bear. For the LORD is afflicting me!"
1:14 Again they wept loudly. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung tightly to her. 1:15 So Naomi said, "Look, your sister-in-law is returning to her people and to her god. Follow your sister-in-law back home!" 1:16 But Ruth replied,
"Stop urging me to abandon you!
For wherever you go, I will go.
Wherever you live, I will live.
Your people will become my people,
and your God will become my God.
1:17 Wherever you die, I will die – and there I will be buried.
May the LORD punish me severely if I do not keep my promise!
Only death will be able to separate me from you!"
1:18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped trying to dissuade her. 1:19 So the two of them journeyed together until they arrived in Bethlehem.
Naomi and Ruth Arrive in Bethlehem
When they entered Bethlehem, the whole village was excited about their arrival. The women of the village said, "Can this be Naomi?" 1:20 But she replied to them, "Don't call me 'Naomi'! Call me 'Mara' because the Sovereign One has treated me very harshly. 1:21 I left here full, but the LORD has caused me to return empty-handed. Why do you call me 'Naomi,' seeing that the LORD has opposed me, and the Sovereign One has caused me to suffer?" 1:22 So Naomi returned, accompanied by her Moabite daughter-in-law Ruth, who came back with her from the region of Moab. (Now they arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.)
Ruth Works in the Field of Boaz
2:1 Now Naomi had a relative on her husband's side of the family named Boaz. He was a wealthy, prominent man from the clan of Elimelech. 2:2 One day Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, "Let me go to the fields so I can gather grain behind whoever permits me to do so." Naomi replied, "You may go, my daughter." 2:3 So Ruth went and gathered grain in the fields behind the harvesters. Now she just happened to end up in the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech.
Boaz and Ruth Meet
2:4 Now at that very moment, Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, "May the LORD be with you!" They replied, "May the LORD bless you!" 2:5 Boaz asked his servant in charge of the harvesters, "To whom does this young woman belong?" 2:6 The servant in charge of the harvesters replied, "She's the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the region of Moab. 2:7 She asked, 'May I follow the harvesters and gather grain among the bundles?' Since she arrived she has been working hard from this morning until now – except for sitting in the resting hut a short time."
2:8 So Boaz said to Ruth, "Listen carefully, my dear! Do not leave to gather grain in another field. You need not go beyond the limits of this field. You may go along beside my female workers. 2:9 Take note of the field where the men are harvesting and follow behind with the female workers. I will tell the men to leave you alone. When you are thirsty, you may go to the water jars and drink some of the water the servants draw."
2:10 Ruth knelt before him with her forehead to the ground and said to him, "Why are you so kind and so attentive to me, even though I am a foreigner?" 2:11 Boaz replied to her, "I have been given a full report of all that you have done for your mother-in-law following the death of your husband – how you left your father and your mother, as well as your homeland, and came to live among people you did not know previously. 2:12 May the LORD reward your efforts! May your acts of kindness be repaid fully by the LORD God of Israel, from whom you have sought protection!" 2:13 She said, "You really are being kind to me, sir, for you have reassured and encouraged me, your servant, even though I am not one of your servants!"
2:14 Later during the mealtime Boaz said to her, "Come here and have some food! Dip your bread in the vinegar!" So she sat down beside the harvesters. Then he handed her some roasted grain. She ate until she was full and saved the rest. 2:15 When she got up to gather grain, Boaz told his male servants, "Let her gather grain even among the bundles! Don't chase her off! 2:16 Make sure you pull out ears of grain for her and drop them so she can gather them up. Don't tell her not to!" 2:17 So she gathered grain in the field until evening. When she threshed what she had gathered, it came to about thirty pounds of barley!
Ruth Returns to Naomi
2:18 She carried it back to town, and her mother-in-law saw how much grain she had gathered. Then Ruth gave her the roasted grain she had saved from mealtime. 2:19 Her mother-in-law asked her, "Where did you gather grain today? Where did you work? May the one who took notice of you be rewarded!" So Ruth told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked. She said, "The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz." 2:20 Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, "May he be rewarded by the LORD because he has shown loyalty to the living on behalf of the dead!" Then Naomi said to her, "This man is a close relative of ours; he is our guardian." 2:21 Ruth the Moabite replied, "He even told me, 'You may go along beside my servants until they have finished gathering all my harvest!'" 2:22 Naomi then said to her daughter-in-law Ruth, "It is good, my daughter, that you should go out to work with his female servants. That way you will not be harmed, which could happen in another field." 2:23 So Ruth worked beside Boaz's female servants, gathering grain until the end of the barley harvest as well as the wheat harvest. After that she stayed home with her mother-in-law.
Naomi Instructs Ruth
3:1 At that time, Naomi, her mother-in-law, said to her, "My daughter, I must find a home for you so you will be secure. 3:2 Now Boaz, with whose female servants you worked, is our close relative. Look, tonight he is winnowing barley at the threshing floor. 3:3 So bathe yourself, rub on some perfumed oil, and get dressed up. Then go down to the threshing floor. But don't let the man know you're there until he finishes his meal. 3:4 When he gets ready to go to sleep, take careful notice of the place where he lies down. Then go, uncover his legs, and lie down beside him. He will tell you what you should do." 3:5 Ruth replied to Naomi, "I will do everything you have told me to do."
Ruth Visits Boaz
3:6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law had instructed her to do. 3:7 When Boaz had finished his meal and was feeling satisfied, he lay down to sleep at the far end of the grain heap. Then Ruth crept up quietly, uncovered his legs, and lay down beside him. 3:8 In the middle of the night he was startled and turned over. Now he saw a woman lying beside him! 3:9 He said, "Who are you?" She replied, "I am Ruth, your servant. Marry your servant, for you are a guardian of the family interests." 3:10 He said, "May you be rewarded by the LORD, my dear! This act of devotion is greater than what you did before. For you have not sought to marry one of the young men, whether rich or poor. 3:11 Now, my dear, don't worry! I intend to do for you everything you propose, for everyone in the village knows that you are a worthy woman. 3:12 Now yes, it is true that I am a guardian, but there is another guardian who is a closer relative than I am. 3:13 Remain here tonight. Then in the morning, if he agrees to marry you, fine, let him do so. But if he does not want to do so, I promise, as surely as the LORD lives, to marry you. Sleep here until morning." 3:14 So she slept beside him until morning. She woke up while it was still dark. Boaz thought, "No one must know that a woman visited the threshing floor." 3:15 Then he said, "Hold out the shawl you are wearing and grip it tightly." As she held it tightly, he measured out about sixty pounds of barley into the shawl and put it on her shoulders. Then he went into town, 3:16 and she returned to her mother-in-law.
When Ruth returned to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, "How did things turn out for you, my daughter?" Ruth told her about all the man had done for her. 3:17 She said, "He gave me these sixty pounds of barley, for he said to me, 'Do not go to your mother-in-law empty-handed.'" 3:18 Then Naomi said, "Stay put, my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out. For the man will not rest until he has taken care of the matter today."
Boaz Settles the Matter
4:1 Now Boaz went up to the village gate and sat there. Then along came the guardian whom Boaz had mentioned to Ruth! Boaz said, "Come here and sit down, 'John Doe'!" So he came and sat down. 4:2 Boaz chose ten of the village leaders and said, "Sit down here!" So they sat down. 4:3 Then Boaz said to the guardian, "Naomi, who has returned from the region of Moab, is selling the portion of land that belongs to our relative Elimelech. 4:4 So I am legally informing you: Acquire it before those sitting here and before the leaders of my people! If you want to exercise your right to redeem it, then do so. But if not, then tell me so I will know. For you possess the first option to redeem it; I am next in line after you." He replied, "I will redeem it." 4:5 Then Boaz said, "When you acquire the field from Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the wife of our deceased relative, in order to preserve his family name by raising up a descendant who will inherit his property." 4:6 The guardian said, "Then I am unable to redeem it, for I would ruin my own inheritance in that case. You may exercise my redemption option, for I am unable to redeem it." 4:7 (Now this used to be the customary way to finalize a transaction involving redemption in Israel: A man would remove his sandal and give it to the other party. This was a legally binding act in Israel.) 4:8 So the guardian said to Boaz, "You may acquire it," and he removed his sandal. 4:9 Then Boaz said to the leaders and all the people, "You are witnesses today that I have acquired from Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech, Kilion, and Mahlon. 4:10 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, the wife of Mahlon, as my wife to raise up a descendant who will inherit his property so the name of the deceased might not disappear from among his relatives and from his village. You are witnesses today." 4:11 All the people who were at the gate and the elders replied, "We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is entering your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built up the house of Israel! May you prosper in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem. 4:12 May your family become like the family of Perez – whom Tamar bore to Judah – through the descendants the LORD gives you by this young woman."
A Grandson is Born to Naomi
4:13 So Boaz married Ruth and had sexual relations with her. The LORD enabled her to conceive and she gave birth to a son. 4:14 The village women said to Naomi, "May the LORD be praised because he has not left you without a guardian today! May he become famous in Israel! 4:15 He will encourage you and provide for you when you are old, for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, has given him birth. She is better to you than seven sons!" 4:16 Naomi took the child and placed him on her lap; she became his caregiver. 4:17 The neighbor women named him, saying, "A son has been born to Naomi." They named him Obed. Now he became the father of Jesse – David's father!
Epilogue: Obed in the Genealogy of David
4:18 These are the descendants of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron, 4:19 Hezron was the father of Ram, Ram was the father of Amminadab, 4:20 Amminadab was the father of Nachshon, Nachshon was the father of Salmah, 4:21 Salmon was the father of Boaz, Boaz was the father of Obed, 4:22 Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David.


With September, October, and half of November in the rear view, the 2019 OHL Priority Selection has come well into focus. TheScout.ca has worked hard to gather views of the 2003 age group, beginning back in July with the USA Select 15 Development Camp. From there, major events such as the Toronto Titans Prospect Tournament, the Wendy Dufton Memorial Tournament, the Dale Parker Memorial Tournament, and the Battle of the Border Showcase, along with regular-season league play, has given our staff plenty of views to where we can confidently present these Initial 2019 Draft Rankings.
The Don Mills Flyers have been the story of the season thus far as they amazingly remain unbeaten through two major tournaments and their regular-season games. And when you are that dominant of a team there is a reason for it. Their incredible talent reflects in our rankings with the top four players all coming from the Flyers with exceptional status candidate Shane Wright leading the way. He is followed by his sniping linemate Brennan Othmann and two of their defensive teammates in Brandt Clarke and Roman Schmidt.
One aspect that is sure to be noticed is how many Americans are in our Top 50 and honourable mentions. A lack of overall depth in Ontario has opened the door a large group of high-end American players to jump in. Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 16U dynamo Colby Saganiuk is our top ranked player skating south of the border and he is joined in the top 10 by Dylan Duke and Sasha Pastujov who are both members of the Compuware 16U team. That Compuware squad features mostly 2003-born players and is an absolute juggernaut. Should they combine their 15U squad, they would be the biggest threat to Don Mills at the upcoming Whitby Silver Stick.
Over in Ottawa, two high-end pivots, Connor Lockhart and Mason McTavish go back-to-back at #7 and #8 respectively. Maddox Callens, who is playing his second minor midget season with the Brantford 99ers rounds out the top 10.
The goaltending side of things as been a difficult one to judge this season. We liked what we saw most out of Thomas Heaney of the New Jersey Rockets 16U squad and he takes our top spot. After that it is wide open with a number of goalies still too close to truly be ranked with confidence. It becomes a battle of who impressed and caught our attention the most in our viewings and the likes of Ben Bonisteel (Southern Tier), Josh Rosenzweig (Toronto Red Wings) and Kyle Metson (Sun County) have done just that.
With that, TheScout.ca is proud to announce our Initial 2019 OHL Draft Ranking, featuring a Top 50 skater ranking with over 100 honourable mentions that have proven to be worthy talents as top players to watch and will surely challenge this Top 50 group as the year develops. Also included is a Top 10 goalie ranking with 50+ more honourable mentions listed.
Subscribe to view all of our Premium Content and follow the link to view the complete Initial 2019 OHL Draft Ranking.


Tuesday SOL: How do you make time for what is most important?
How can it be one month since I've posted?
How to describe this November?
waiting for a preschool doctor to appear on the scene!
It is very important to me to be a teacher-writer. I have an on-going school journal, where daily I take notes, giving me rich ideas and suggestions for this blog. Truly, my writing issues are not for lack of ideas. This blog has been coming out on the losing end of my juggle of time. All the daily must-do's. Unlike my daily journaling, for this blog I need to make time to play with language, to find the right words, to polish and consider.
It is a priority that I have not been meeting - which makes me sad.
I reflected about this over the long weekend - Maureen, how can you not do what you like to do best?
Trying to share, at least - once a week.
Today, I am back again!
If something has to give, let it be something that I care less about.
How do you make time for what is most important?
Me, I'm going to put pen to paper and figure it out.
This is a poetic attempt to describe this work at the beginning of the school year.
do I know what to say in the moment?
do I hold a mirror to the effect of her actions?
do I help him to see from the student's perspective?
do I discern what is the most essential thing to notice, to give feedback on?
do I encourage her to see the power of her innate tools of voice, emotion, timing, and even physical presence?
do I decide if this is important enough to mention?
do I see the right and the possible in the midst of missteps?
do I move him from simply being alongside a child to fostering the child's ability to play with peers, learn new routines, explore new things?
do I help her see that she can be with more than one child?
do I help him to react with a developmental lens rather than moral authority?
do I give feedback in the moment, while keeping the classroom moving right along?
do I encourage them not to give up, but to see the process and growth of their own learning?
do I say just the right thing?
Tuesday SOL: What did you just call me?
In these first few weeks of the school year, one of my ESL students has added so many new English words to his repertoire. He sits very quietly, observing and listening, not visibly participating in our songs, fingerplays, and stories. Later, as he falls asleep at nap, I hear him whisper and repeat, quietly to himself, playing with the English words, the unfamiliar tongue. He is very dear. I'm amazed at how quickly language can be acquired when you are three years old.
I knew I would hook him with Audrey Woods' The Napping House. I've shared this book with children for so many years that it is a well-worn act for me...a book I can recite from memory. He stared intently at every page, as I recounted the granny, the child, the dog, the cat, the mouse, the flea. Repetition, repetition, repetition. Such a funny tale, really! I watched him watch me with the book, and I wondered - is he following this story? His classmates would spontaneously call out, as if on cue, "where everyone was sleeping!," at the end of every page, but he stayed mute, staring. He stayed quiet as the rest of us laughed together at the conclusion - the broken bed, and everyone playing outside in the sunshine. Then I closed the book and dismissed the children to their lunches.
He sidled over to me and said, "Ok, Granny!"
He thinks the word for an old, gray-haired lady is granny! He learned this from The Napping House.
You tell me, are we really the same?
What opportunities for language are we missing?
Preschooler A pushes Preschooler B off of the playground balance beam and jumps on it in his place. Preschooler B is on the ground crying and I rush over to help these two problem-solve. Thankfully, I observed the incident, because neither child can explain. Preschooler B gesticulates at Preschooler A, with one word "push!" and Preschooler A just frowns at me with furrowed brow, crossing his arms defiantly, when I insist he talk with us.
I persevere - "Let's check in with Preschooler B. Are you okay? Where do you hurt?"
Preschooler B is standing sullenly at my side, holding his elbow.
Me, to Preschooler A, "You want to use the balance beam, but Preschooler B is on it. Let's do this again, this time, you say 'May I use it now?' and Preschooler B will say, "I am on it. You can be next."
Preschooler A, assessing that this isn't going precisely his way, says, "NO!" and throws himself down on the ground, and begins muttering. He is clearly very frustrated. I do not understand what he is saying.
you work things out together.
It is hard to do this when language skills are delayed.
It seems to me that I am increasingly seeing (hearing!) language delays in preschoolers.
Dad's important job requires him to have his phone on 24 hours a day, and thus he takes a work call while having breakfast with his baby and preschooler, basically doing a charade about what and how to eat while fielding questions from a client - he shakes his head "no" when the preschooler tries to put more cereal in her bowl, he opens a yogurt container, he shakes the baby's bottle, he takes off their bibs, wipes their faces, gets the baby out of the high chair, helps the preschooler down from her chair, all the while saying "Yes, I can check that out. That's on the agenda for ..."
A city sidewalk. Mom is in the lead, with a preschooler and an elementary child walking behind her. The children have on backpacks and are walking slowly, without purpose, trudging really. Mom is talking with someone near and dear, she is very worked up, "Oh, yeah! That's what she said, but that's not what she does!" Her pace is hurried, and she turns to look at the children behind her and glares, while beckoning them to pick up their pace. They are clearly late for wherever they are headed.
Mom walks in to the classroom with her preschooler right behind her, and goes through the morning drop off ritual mechanically, automatically - Mom puts the child's lunch box in the lunch bin, hangs her back pack on the hook, puts the child's water bottle at the water bottle station. All the while, the child is transfixed by a game on Mom's phone. Mom bends down and gives her a kiss on the cheek and, saying, "time for me to have my phone back!" and the child bursts into tears. Mom takes the phone and hands the crying child to the teacher, with a cheery "Have a great day!," and Mom is out the door.
Playground, after school, adults on their phones, many children running around and playing, some adults chatting with one another, and a few solitary preschoolers sitting on benches with parents' phones in hands.
Riding on metro trains, grocery shopping, sitting at restaurants, everywhere I go, when I see adults and children together, one of the two is focused on the phone, not their companion.
I am now watching vigilantly for interactions that contradict this.
I don't know if I am on a rant or a mission, but I am truly sadden by the missed opportunities for language. I see - hear - the effects in the classroom - children who do not meet your eyes, give monosyllabic answers or even grunts, who do not have any idea how to converse with others.
Let's talk, talk, talk with children!
Good luck with her naps!
Be on alert - he will elope.
Let's learn how to line up.
What are the quiet signals?
Shall we build with blocks?
He doesn't eat well, very picky.
She has so much to say!
Do you remember his older brother?
So good to know their birthdays.
Oh, she's getting ready to cry.
Oops, I think he's had an accident.
"We can pretend it's a beach."
"A dog and a firefighter and some food."
Tuesday SOL: Why write today?
I know there's stuff to share.
to high school and beyond.
we have built a school.
Because every school year needs closure.


text:
Posted March 2, 2019 by BusAndTrainUser4 Comments on A few days in scenic Scotland 2	Bus journeys
A few days in scenic Scotland 2
Day 3 Friday 1st March 2019 Mull of Kintyre
When planning trips it's not often I'll schedule a long journey out and back by exactly the same route and mode of travel in one day. It's always much more interesting to devise a circuit taking in different routes and scenery, villages, towns or cities along the way.
Today's been an exception with an early start for the four hour citylink journey at 0625 from Glasgow to Campbeltown allowing four and a half hours there before a slightly longer return journey taking four hours and fourteen minutes back from Campbeltown to Glasgow at 1500 by exactly the same route in reverse. Both these journeys only run on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (at least at this time of the year).
The reason's simple. Citylink service 926 is a real stunner of a route, with something of interest to see at every twist and turn (and there are plenty) along the A82/A83 as these roads include some of Scotland's finest scenery passing impressive mountains, lochs and forests.
The 133 mile route is shown on the Google map below which shows by car it would take around three hours. The 926 heads out of Glasgow northwestwards towards Dumbarton continuing northwards alongside Loch Lomond to Arrochar then west to Inveraray and southwestwards through Achadunan and Furnace to Lochgilphead continuing southwards alongside Loch Fyne to Tarbert then south on the west side of Kintyre via Clachan and Tayinloan before reaching Campbeltown on the east side of Kintyre.
Each section of route offers up amazing views. Between Arrochar and Inveraray there's a steady mountainous climb along Glen Croe sandwiched between Ben Donich and Ben Arthur before reaching the wonderfully named settlement called 'Rest and be thankful'.
There's mile after mile of beautiful lochside travelling and at the (almost) halfway point a short pause in the timetable allows a chance to stretch legs, buy a coffee and savour the delightful small town of Inveraray.
Although only six boarded the 0625 in Glasgow's Buchanan Street coach station we picked four more up through Hillhead and Anniesland including walkers and fishermen who spent much of the journey discussing their ailments including the problems of an ingrown toenail (too much detail for an early Friday morning for me). Around eight more passengers joined for some of the way during the journey but the return trip at 1500 from Campbeltown was much busier with around forty passengers using the coach including a maximum of thirty on board at any one time. Around half travelled all the way through to Glasgow with six boarding in Lochgilphead.
The route is dual-branded for both citylink and West Coast Motors from the time when there was competition between the two operators. Now citylink take the commercial risk while West Coast Motors receive a contracted mileage rate. As well as taking passengers travelling a long distance, the route is effectively the local bus option between many of the settlements and Scotland's concessionary pass provides free travel throughout. There are four journeys every day in each direction as well as the two extras on Fridays to Sundays I travelled on. Argyll & Bute Council don't provide any funding for the route.
Citylink fares give fair value. My return was £31.10 and there's a great offer of £49 for a three day rover ticket across the citylink network, which if I'd been a bit smarter I'd have bought as it would also have included my journey from Fort William to Kyle of Lochalsh (at £25.10) and I'd have had another day's travel effectively free.
West Coast Motors is a very smart operator. Despite the time of year and road conditions all their buses and coaches I saw were impressively clean – outside and inside. They're one of Scotland's top family owned independent operators having started in Campbeltown in the early 1920s.
I was intrigued to see their original depot and HQ site while in Campbeltown – a very understated affair, apparently originally a distillery and not what you'd expect from the investment the Company's making in new vehicle's sporting an updated smart livery for running local routes radiating from and around Campbeltown.
Recent expansion has seen West Coast Motors acquire Perryman's in the eastern belt as well as taking over some of First Bus's former routes in border territory which together with their operations in conjunction with citylink makes for an amazingly large geographic area of coverage from Carlisle and Berwick-upon-Tweed to Oban and the western tip of Mull and down to the southern tip of Kintyre, not forgetting the Glasgow sightseeing operation.
It was to the southern tip of Kintyre – the Mull – I headed on route 444 to savour the 'mist rolling in from the sea' as Paul, Linda and the band famously implanted in our minds in that impossible-to-shake-off refrain. More so, that the nearest village served by bus to the Mull of Kintyre is called Southend – a more contrasting atmosphere to the more famous Essex coastal resort you could not find.
I can't do justice to the wonderful scenery along the route south nor the peaceful atmosphere on arrival. It must be one of Britain's best, if not the best, remotest bus terminus. Well worth the five hour trip from Glasgow to reach.
The purpose of this transport themed blog isn't to dwell too much on architecture and general tourism but I thoroughly enjoyed wandering around Campbeltown spotting interesting buildings as well as the memorial garden for Linda McCartney which is laid out very respectfully making for a fitting and poignant tribute.
Day 4 Saturday 2nd March 2019 Bute and Ayrshire
I'd originally planned a full day enjoying the Isle of Bute. Arriving at Wemyss Bay, undoubtedly Scotland's most attractive station, for the ferry over to Rothesay there was an ominous message on the wipe board in CalMac's ticket office.
I couldn't help notice how 'HIGHLY' had not only been underlined but promoted to block capitals. I decided to plough on but keep options open for a Plan B.
Connections between ScotRail's hourly trains from Glasgow to Wemyss Bay and CalMac's ferry to Rothesay on Bute are amazingly conveniently timed and you get to enjoy the gorgeous walkway down from the station area to the embarkation area. At this time of year there wasn't much of a queue but you can imagine the crowds on busy summer days in the heyday of travel filling the curved walkway.
Our ferry was late leaving due to an unscheduled fill up from oil tankers alongside but we got underway around fifteen minutes late and were soon across the sea to Bute with an impressive thirty-five minute crossing time.
West Coast Motors have been Bute's bus operator for some years since Stagecoach withdrew from the island. They've got a small depot in Port Banatyne not far along the coastline north of Rothesay. I took the 90/490 route to take a look as we drove by, changing drivers outside before continuing to the terminus by the marina.
The bus then heads south through Rothesay again continuing pretty much all along the coastline to Kilchattan Bay at the southern end of the island. What a lovely terminus this is. Desolate in winter but gorgeous in summer.
I was impressed to find an open and well stocked Visitor Information Centre in Rothesay and to find Argyll & Bute Council's useful timetable book giving details of the 90/490 as well as two town routes and other infrequent bus routes on the island. The helpful VIC staff had stocks of the Council's 2016/17 bus map under the counter and admitting it was out of date in detail kindly gave me a copy acknowledging it usefully provides a prospective of the island for visitors. Why oh why can't such maps be kept up to date. OK, I know; it's lack of finance.
After admiring the bus shelter in Rothesay's Guildford Square opposite the ferry terminal I popped back to the ferry office to get an update on the 'Amber Alert'. Not unnaturally the staff couldn't give any assurances one way or the other but as the lunchtime clouds were darkening and the breeze getting distinctly breezier I decided to abort the original plan for more afternoon Bute exploration and avoid the risk of being stranded overnight on the island with just three OS maps, a tangerine, a chunky Kitkat and bottle of water in my bag. I hopped on the ferry just mooring and made it safely back to the mainland.
Twitter comes into its own at times like this and I'm grateful to 'tartonterrior' Kenny for reminding me about Stagecoach's route 585 which starts at Greenock and ruffled McGill's feathers for a while as it takes a coastal route through Wemyss Bay, Largs and Adrossan, to Irvine before continuing to Ayr. Just the job as the rain began lashing it down outside Wemyss Bay station.
I was pleased to see McGill's trial Connect&Go local route up to Upper Skelmorlie (as well as Inverkip) is still connecting and going albeit now being funded by SPT and sticking with the original Dial-A-Ride concept rather than new fangled apps!
My 585 arrived over ten minutes late but I'd managed to crack the real time updates on Stagecoach's app (using over 5% phone battery power in so doing) and was reassured it was on its way. It turned out to be a busy bus and I managed to clear enough condensation from the windows to enjoy the coastal views for most of the way, but when we diverted into West Kilbride I did wonder if we'd ever get back on to the coastal road again such was the tortuous route taken around the houses. We changed drivers at Ardrossan and arrived in Irvine still over ten minutes late.
As I'd enjoyed a ride on Stagecoach's X77 between Ayr and Glasgow a year or so ago I decided to bail out from the 585 at Irvine and head over to Kilmarnock to try out the companion X76 from there to Glasgow. Stagecoach's route 11 also links Ardrossan with Irvine but via Kilwinning (the 585 takes a more direct route) then continues to Kilmarnock. It runs every ten minutes seven days a week.
It's busy. Very busy, even with 67 plate double deckers to the latest Stagecoach corporate specification and a rather understated localised route branding.
And my final bus ride today was on the aforementioned X76 on the hugely impressive Plaxton Panorama double deck buses/coaches Stagecoach introduced last year.
They really are head turners and must tempt motorists seeing them glide along the M77 to give the 15 minute frequency, forty minute travel time route a try.
The interiors are equally impressive and I particularly like the traditional cloth seat moquette rather than the craze for leather-like material which I never find so comfortable. The usual usb points and Wi-fi are included and the whole journey experience was superb. Stagecoach really can deliver impressive vehicle investment around the country such as these fine vehicles.
It'll be time to start heading south tomorrow but I'm taking the slow route.
Bus journeys, Train journeys
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4 thoughts on "A few days in scenic Scotland 2" Leave a comment ›
Graeme Varley says:
Another fascinating read! It's unlikely you would have been completely stranded on Bute. The Infrequent West Coast scenic route 479 to Dunoon provides an alternative escape route. Whilst this uses a ferry at Rhubodach this is in sheltered waters and rarely disrupted. There is then the 'challenge' of the ferry service from Dunoon ( or Hunters Quay used by McColl's Dunoon to Glasgow bus) but this is less prone to weather disruption. As it transpires the Rothesay ferry kept gong until 17.40 with the last 2 sailings to Gourock as Wemyss Bay was storm bound. However your decision to 'change course' provided an interesting insight to some of the Stagecoach operations.
Thanks Graeme, great to hear from you. My original Plan A had been to take the 479 at 1419 Rothesay to Dunoon via the Rhubodach ferry and I was being ultra cautious to chicken out, but another factor was the rain coming down making a continued stay on Bute less inviting and a good excuse to return and finish off riding around Bute in the summer!
Sorry – McGill's Dunoon to Glasgow bus!
Don Benn says:
Very envious Roger. Really enjoyed reading about parts of Scotland I will probably never go to now.
Leave a Reply to Graeme VarleyCancel Reply
BusAndTrainUser – journeys around britain by bus and train A few days in scenic Scotland 2


text:
Select other UConn Huskies Alleyne, Nahiem Calcaterra, Joey Clingan, Donovan Diarra, Hassan Hasson, Yarin Hawkins, Jordan Hendry, Emmett Hurley, Andrew Jackson Jr., Andre Johnson Jr., Andre Johnson, Samson Karaban, Alex Newton, Tristen Roumoglou, Apostolos Sanogo, Adama Springs, Richie UConn Huskies
Andre Johnson Jr.
Team: UConn Huskies Height: 6-4 Born: --
Class-Eligibility: Fr-Fr Weight: 160 Hometown: Bristol, CT
22-23 UConn 7 0 1.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 .000 .000 -
Career 7 0 1.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 .000 .000 -
22-23 UConn 7 0 8 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career 7 0 8 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11/7 Stoneh W 85-54 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11/11 BU W 86-57 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11/18 UNCW W 86-50 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11/20 DelSt W 95-60 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11/24 @Oregon W 83-59 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12/10 LIU W 114-61 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1/22 Butler W 86-56 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0


text:
Barzoo Dam or Shirvan Dam is located 40 km north of Shirvan city in North Khorasan.

Barzoo Dam also known as Shirvan Dam is a construction structure in Shirvan in Iran. This dam is located in North Khorasan province , in the northeast of the country and is 600 km east of Tehran, the capital of Iran. Shirvan Dam is located at an altitude of 1413 meters above sea level.  This dam was built in 1994 with the aim of making Shirvan and its suburbs irrigated. In 2002, in order to store water caused by seasonal floods and to provide part of drinking water and agriculture, the land was put into construction operation. Therefore, this dam was built on Qalchaq river. Its storage capacity is 92 million cubic meters with a stable safety level of 8.5 million cubic meters and is the fourth dam in North Khorasan province.

Shirvan city, as the second most populous city of North Khorasan, supplies its required water through this dam. The city has 14 water storage sources. In some cases, due to climatic reasons, the volume of the river water and water storage of the dam decreases and causes water shortage or drought, which in this case the problem of drinking water is always provided by the existing underground storage capacity. In some seasonal conditions, river water and dam reserves increase with water, which causes floods and muddy water. Due to this situation, the governor of Shirvan stated in a speech:

According to the weather forecast of the region, droughts are on the rise, which will definitely cause concerns and problems.

That is why the protection of water resources is a public duty today, and we must have proper planning so that we do not face a water shortage crisis.

The land around this dam is mostly hilly, but on the east side of it, is mountainous, therefore the dam is in a valley. Near the dam, a very small population of people live there, so its land distribution is one person per square kilometer. The smallest community in the area belongs to a man named Nazar Mohammad, who lives 13 km north of the dam. The areas around the dam are mainly grasslands and pastures.

Climate
The climatic conditions in this region are cold and dry.  average temperature of the year is 13 degrees Celsius. The warmest month is July with an average temperature of 28 degrees Celsius and the coldest month of the year is January with minus 6 degrees Celsius. The average annual rainfall is 446 mm, and the wettest month is March with 101 mm of rainfall. The driest month is September, with 3 mm of rainfall.

References

Hydroelectric power stations in Iran
Dams in North Khorasan Province
Arch dams
Reservoirs in Iran

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia