text:
Q: Swift: why do I need optionals anyways? I've read a few articles about it and understand the basic principle and do agree that it could be useful in some cases. However, most of the time I would want my program to crash if I was getting nil somewhere that I shouldn't be -- that's how'd I know there was a problem!
Furthermore I've read that using optionals can lead to shorter code.. How is that possible?? From what I've seen the whole idea behind them is they can either have a value or nil so you have to do additional checking whereas previously that wasn't necessary!
And what's up with needing to use "as" all the time? It just makes everything more verbose and lengthy. For example, compare the following code in Objective-C and Swift

Objective-C:

UIViewController *vc = [self.storyboard instantiateViewControllerWithIdentifier:@"Home"];
AppDelegate *appDelegate = [[UIApplication sharedApplication] delegate];
appDelegate.window.rootViewController = vc;
[UIView transitionWithView:appDelegate.window
                          duration:0.2
                          options:UIViewAnimationOptionTransitionCrossDissolve
                          animations:^{ appDelegate.window.rootViewController = vc; }
                          completion:nil];

Swift:

//have to check if self.storyboard != nil
let viewController:UIViewController = self.storyboard?.instantiateViewControllerWithIdentifier("Home") as UIViewController; //Isn't the view controller returned by instantiateViewControllerWithIdentifier() already of type UIViewController?
let appDelegate:AppDelegate = UIApplication.sharedApplication().delegate as AppDelegate; //Isn't the delegate returned by sharedApplication() already of type AppDelegate?
//have to check if appDelegate.window != nil
appDelegate.window!.rootViewController = viewController as UIViewController; //Why cast viewController as UIViewController if the type has already been explicitly set above?

UIView.transitionWithView(
    appDelegate.window!,
    duration: 0.2,
    options: UIViewAnimationOptions.TransitionCrossDissolve,
    animations:{appDelegate.window!.rootViewController = viewController as UIViewController},
    completion: nil
);

Am I doing something wrong? Or is this really the way that it was intended to be?

A: Optionals
If you know for sure that a variable should never be nil, you can force unwrap an optional using ! or declare as implicitly unwrapped using String!. This will cause a crash when it is nil, exactly like you want.
But, with some variables it is reasonable for them to be nil. For example, a User model whose age variable isn't set because the user didn't supply it.
Explicitly marking them as optional and unwrapping them using if let forces you to think about nullability. In the end, this creates more robust code.
I don't think it leads to shorted code. Where in Objective-C you would use if var != nil you use if let var = var in Swift. Sending a message to nil in Obj-C is a noop, you can get the same behavior in Swift using var?.method(). It's kinda the same in the end.
Casting (as)
A big reason you need casts right now in Swift is because some Objective-C methods return id, which was no problem in Obj-C but causes trouble in Swift. I expect this to diminish as Swift becomes more popular and frameworks are adapted.
Updated code
I quickly looked over your code and it looks you don't need half those casts. This is from the top of my head:
if let viewController = self.storyboard?.instantiateViewControllerWithIdentifier("Home") as? UIViewController {
    if let window = UIApplication.sharedApplication().delegate?.window {
        window.rootViewController = viewController

        UIView.transitionWithView(window, duration: 0.2, options: .TransitionCrossDissolve, animations: {
            window.rootViewController = viewController
        }, completion: nil);
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


This house, located in Cuernavas, Morelos, Mexico, was constructed as a family residence in 2006. When designing it, Architect Augusto Fernandez Mas (K+A Diseño) focused on space and comfort. The nature around the house was also kept in mind as the architecture blends beautifully into the surrounding landscape by the use of materials such as wood, stone and metal that reflect the natural surroundings.
What an inspiration it would be to live in such a rich architectural environment like this one. It's places like this where the magic happens. Not to say my current apartment isn't a good environment to work in, but it just doesn't compare to this house.


I just had a nostalgia fart-attack... OF ALL the titles in the world.... Amazing.
I almost peed myself in glee.
Cannot wait for remastered Moon music.
Never has there be a game announcement more appropriate to react to with "woo hoo" to.
Oh, there's plenty, but few are as good of a complete surprise as this.
"Rey Jimenez (the game's producer) said that the work Capcom put into getting approval from Disney to remaster the game could lead to future remastered releases of other classic Capcom-Disney projects. Those games include classics like Chip n' Dale Rescue Rangers, Darkwing Duck and Aladdin.
All of that will be dictated by how well this game is received though, Jimenez stressed.
What game would be next if Capcom were to do a second remastered release from their Disney days?
"In a purely hypothetical world," Jimenez said, "I think Chip n' Dale would be the next logical one. It makes sense because it's the next in the hierarchy."
Fantastic news. Hopefully they do DuckTales 2 next!
, that's gonna' be sweet.
Honestly, it's looking really pretty and it's going to be an instant buy for me.
What? No goddammit! There's no need for an explanation about why there's a giant moon rat guarding the valuable moon cheese from Uncle Scrooge or a Gizmoduck collect-a-thon slowing things down.
Oh well, I guess it will be what it will be.


text:
Q: Java Application server experiencing filesystem problems We have a Java Application server installed on our client's test server. Within application server, a number of threads access the filesystem in a number of ways (using java.io classes). The application server is started as a service. After a number of hours, sometimes up to a day, the filesystem seems to have become unavailable to these threads. On looking at the folders/directories in question on the filesystem, they are still present, appear to have the correct access permissions and do not appear to have exclusive locks on them. Is this possible? Any suggestions as to clues I should look for? Most likely causes?
The Operating system in question is Windows 2003 (Service Pack 2) with 32 bit processor. Filesystem is NTFS JRE is 1.6
I have already posted this on the serverFault Q&A, but it was suggested I pose the question here instead.

A: Check that your applications closes streams, such as FileInputStream, correctly.


How do you figure out who will be in the four (and only four) groups to develop collaborative artworks — what we call community projects? With 20 workshop participants, I was hoping to get five in each group, and this was a challenge for me to tackle.
On a sheet of A4 paper, I asked everyone to write down at least three types of water data they were interested in on the left side, their skills on the right side, and of course, their name.
I put them all on a wall and we did a mix-and-match of physical data-visualizing for each group. This was highly effective as within 30 minutes we had our four community projects defined.
Speed dating style, June 11, 2017. Photo: Scott Kildall.
They will use stained glass as sculptural material to present hard data measurements of pH, electrical conductivity, and dissolved oxygen along five khlongs (canals) as a group sample. Their piece can be seen from any angle and it will reflect colors up to the ceiling.
Some River Voices team members, June 11, 2017. Photo: Scott Kildall.
This project looks at the t-shirt as an artistic medium. They will be collecting data from the Ladprao community and convert it into data patterns on t-shirts which the community can wear. They're also looking at creating an environmental alphabet.
Group meeting, June 11, 2017. Photo: Nuttapong Tonhirunmas.
This team is also working with the Ladprao community, but in a less direct way. They will be working on a mapping project of the sewer system where runoff drains after heavy storms. The medium they will be researching is thermochromic and photochromic ink on physical panels.
This is a documentary-style data story project, also with the Ladprao community, which is experiencing issues with displacement due to reconstruction of the local canal. The houses along the bank of the canal will be destroyed, which means some of the residents will have to move out of their community. This project will include video and sound documentation along with a physical installation to create a storytelling experience.
Mix n' match, June 11, 2017. Photo: Scott Kildall.
Now that the groups were figured out, participants brainstormed in their smaller teams — five people in each one.
Soon afterwards, everyone began sketching ideas. Let the fun begin!
Notepads in action, June 11, 2017. Photo: Scott Kildall.


text:
There's A New Frontrunner For Worst Version Of Monopoly Ever
Reminder: Watchmen's Dr. Manhattan is a Creep
A little while ago, we wrote a scathing (scathing!) indictment of Monopoly For Millennials, the premier satirical board game for folks who correct people's use of the term "concentration camp" online. We called it the worst version of Monopoly ever made. But since late capitalism is a never-ending race to the bottom, we've been forced to reevaluate that position, because if there's one thing worse than being boringly offensive, it's being offensively boring. Case in point: Monopoly Voice Banking.
Hasbro via WalmartSiri, what's the definition of "so 2017"?
On July 1, Hasbro will launch a version of the game in which all your transactions will be handled by an AI top hat. Press the button and a Siri-like Mr. Monopoly "banking unit" will take your voice commands and do all the transactions for you. Unlike other AI assistants, this one doesn't connect to WiFi to do its job -- which is good news for people who'd rather have a wiretap than an Alexa in their home. And while that means Mr. Monopoly isn't actually all that smart (hey, just like real-life hotel tycoons!), the game does promise that the AI will deliver "faster gameplay." And nothing screams fun family game night like the promise that it'll be over quicker.
And you'll want this to be over as quickly as possible, because this might be the most boring and condescending edition of Monopoly ever made. Building on previous cashless versions, it boasts having the first billionaire boomer banker to not be able to cheat you, except that in the process, it cheats you out of the only novelty (let's not go so far as to call it "fun") that Monopoly provides: gathering piles of money and screwing people over.
You see, the game's slogan is "Control It All," but all the control goes to Mr. Monopoly, who won't allow you to cheat, bribe or make even slightly complicated business deals. He also controls all of the information, so you don't even know how much money you have unless you politely ask the top hat like you're a character in a Dickens novel. So while the robot billionaire absorbs all the joy, you mindlessly drone on, letting a piece of software determine your worth while losing all sense of human connection and ending with the nagging feeling that it was an empty experience.
Actually, we've changed our mind again. This is the best satire of capitalism that Monopoly has given us in a century.
For more, check out How Will The 'Shining' Sequel Handle The Book's WTF Ending? and The Weird Detail In The New 'Shaft' Movie Nobody Noticed.
Follow us on Facebook. It's free.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Nameless Nie: "Boss, so what are we doing today? Godly Rod, take it down."
"Sure thing!" The devotee dug and dug but didn't end up taking out a book. Instead, he took out a stack of yellow talismans to replace it. "Uh, I forgot to bring a pen..."
Spray of Flowers gave him side-eye then handed him an eyeliner pen.
The corners of Ye Wanwan's lips twitched and she coughed. "We'll be doing some precious stone speculation today. All of you just need to follow me around and put on an act; you don't have to take down any notes."
Nameless Nie promised her, "Famous Ye, don't worry. Just leave it to us - we'll make sure that even a fly won't be able to get close to you!"
He then glanced at the others. "All of you know what we have to do today?"
The four of them replied in unison, "Yes."
Nameless Nie: "What's our slogan?"
The four people said: "Boss Famous, as pretty as a flower, pretty pretty pretty pretty, beautiful beautiful beautiful beautiful!"
*Cough cough cough* "I appreciate your kindness, but let's just do without the slogan..."
Ye Wanwan was in the middle of speaking to the five of them when she heard ere footsteps behind her. Eleven and Feng Xuan Yi were walking towards them.
*Swish swish swish* Spray of Flowers, brick-moving foreigner and the devotee immediately stepped in front of Ye Wanwan and entered a state of vigilance; the iceberg man was also kicked to the front by Nameless Nie to be her human shield.
Spray of Flowers: "Who are you?!"
Brick-moving foreigner: "These two people seem very dangerous! Step back, boss!"
Devotee: "Evildoers, where are you coming from?!"
Ye Wanwan nearly broke down. "Calm down, they're my people..."
Spray of Flowers immediately said, "Boss, as the saying goes, 'One may know a person for a long time without understanding his true nature' - I think the guy in red with a ring around his finger seems quite suspicious!"
Ye Wanwan turned to look at Feng Xuan Yi. The uniform for the head captain of the Dark Team was dark red and the head captain was also wearing a Vermilion bird ring.
Ye Wanwan replied helplessly, "This is my disciple. I personally groomed him - don't be paranoid!"
"Miss Wanwan, these people are...?" Eleven sized the five people up suspiciously.
Feng Xuan Yi was also confused and lost.
"They're the... personal bodyguards I hired..." Ye Wanwan really didn't want to admit that she hired these people herself.
When Eleven heard that, he frowned. "Bodyguards?"
He and Feng Xuan Yi flew over with Miss Wanwan to protect her, yet she got some personal bodyguards herself - did she not trust them?
Ye Wanwan knew at one glance what Eleven was thinking, so she explained, "Don't overthink things - you know very well the situation I'm in right now and if I overuse Si Ye Han's people, it'll seem like I'm using powerful connections to intimidate people. It's much more convenient this way and I have some personal matters to see to in a few days' time - it won't be convenient for you guys to come along for that."
Ye Wanwan provided a simple explanation of her situation then introduced them to each other.
Just as she was about to bring them downstairs, Feng Xuan Yi, who hadn't spoken a word, stuttered, "Wan... Wan... Miss Wanwan..."
"What is it?" Ye Wanwan asked.
Feng Xuan Yi: "Ur-urgent... I... I need to... go... to the toilet..."
"Oh, go on then. We'll gather at the lobby later," Ye Wanwan answered.
"Yes..." Feng Xuan Yi rushed towards the toilet in an instant.
Across him, Nameless Nie laughed. "Aiya, boss, I suddenly realized I need to use the toilet too. Please excuse me. Sorry, sorry."
Following that, the devotee fled as well. "I need to go to the toilet too!"
Spray of Flowers chased after them swiftly. "Me too, me too!"
Brick-moving foreigner, "Oh, then I shall go too."


Darrellik seemed pleasant. He spoke to them kindly and answered their questions openly enough. He refused to elaborate on things, like where the city was located. They had been walking around for the better part of an hour and Alex was certain that they had circled back around not far from where they started.
She supposed it was his job to ensure that no one could find them easily, but roaming around in the thick trees was getting tiring. The forest was awakening around them. It was as if the night had absorbed all the sound and silence filled the air. Now with morning just behind the tree line, birds chirped and squirrels scurried along the branches.
The little relief that the night gave from the heat would soon end. The shade of the trees would help, but she could already smell the moisture in the air. Alex did not mind the humidity in fact it invigorated her. The others, however, didn't feel the same and had no problem complaining.
She watched Darrellik as he walked in front of her. His body moved in a way that would have been difficult to explain if she had not seen it for herself. He was agile like a cat, moving swiftly. Yet at the same time, his long steps seemed slow and calculated, like that of a large animal. He rather bobbed his head up and down with each step forward.
He looked like an awkward walking tree trunk; it was a tad funny to watch. She stifled a giggle avoiding any questions or chides from Evangeline about being rude. Finally, they reached a small clearing. It was perfectly round and bare. Nothing grew in the circle, not even grass. Alex shifted her feet and a cloud of dust floated up around her ankles.
"Wait here." Darrellik said and disappeared into the trees before anyone could respond.
After what seemed an eternity, a group of seven guards entered the clearing with Darrellik in the lead. She could tell that it made Ryhan and Evangeline nervous. Even Thad was shiftier than usual, but Alex trusted her intuition and she knew that the elves meant them no harm. When the guards were about three feet from them they stopped and parted, revealing a woman.
She stepped forward and looked at the four of them sternly. The lady elf was nothing like Darrellik. Alex was not sure how old she was, but she could tell that the woman would have been an elder among their people. Her chin length hair fell around her pale face and was almost completely grey with a few streaks of black here and there.
A long stiff green robe made out of moss covered her body. Markings covered the woman's, though they were so faint Alex could not make out what they were. They were almost the same color as her brown skin but the iridescent lines shimmered a bit as the woman moved. It was beautiful and Alex longed to reach out and touch her face.
"I am Alta Abralle. I am the High Mother of the clans of Ferrentri. I understand you have traveled a long way, but I am sorry to inform you that Lillian is not here." Alta said in a thick accent.
"Where is she?" Evangeline responded first.
Alta Abralle smiled warmly and replied, "She is on a hunt with some of the women from the clan of the Trusted Fox. They did not return when they were expected two nights ago."
Alex asked concerned, "Did something happen to them?"
The woman furrowed her thin brows, "I do not know. I do not feel that they are in danger. The item they were seeking is very difficult to find. I think they may have had trouble locating it."
"What was it?" Ryhan asked.
"A rare plant for a birthing ritual. It is custom for the clan who is expecting, to seek it out." She responded then added, "I know you have many questions, but now is not the time. You look exhausted. We will open our city to you and be hospitable, but you must first complete a trust ritual."


Looking to hire a venue in Gravesend or around Kent? We can help you find the perfect venue/location for your next event. Whether you require a wedding venue in Gravesend, a networking venue or something for a corporate or personal event, we will help you source it.
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Kanye West is allegedly going out of control planning his big day. The singer/actor/designer/messiah was expected to have a quiet family wedding (lol, no), but recent reports from various insiders suggest that West's ideas are running to much more extravagant places.
"This will be the event of the year. Think fashion runway, stage show performance. Think Avant-garde. Think nothing like you've ever seen. Kanye's saying 'This is a concept event based on a wedding,'" the insider recently dished.
The source added, "He's sometimes even forgetting to involve Kim in the meetings with the wedding planner. She feels like the whole thing might be spinning out of control. It's just insane. Kanye has basically billed it as breaking the boundaries of what to expect when it comes to a wedding."
Quick Question: What do people expect when it comes to weddings, because my expectations are always that there will be some kind of puff pastry dish as an entree and that someone will get angry at me for knocking out a bridesmaid to catch the bouquet. Anything beyond that is pretty much a slam dunk, Kanye; you don't have to work that hard!
"Now he's working on all these huge surprises for the wedding, but as a result she has virtually no idea what is going to happen at her own wedding. She's been kept in the dark about a lot of the details and that doesn't make her happy," a source told Life & Style magazine.
Snooki may be pregnant again. According to sources (J-WOWW, I bet) she's keeping the baby under wraps (swaddled?) for now so as not to interfere with any upcoming appearances. Congratulations, Snooki!


I don't know what Dad would think about this.
Track to know when Mike Birbiglia is playing near you.
That was the best stand up comedy show, I'd ever seen. He was sick and still delivered an hour and a half show. A great story teller and entertainer; absolutely worth seeing. I already can't wait until he has another tour.
His best standup yet! Absolutely loved it!
Not the best of his I've seen but I'll blame the audience for that one. Let's say everyone was off their game.
Mike did not disappoint. If I could I would give it 6 stars.
Laughed til my sides hurt. Mike always kills.
So amazing to see him live! Even better than I thought it would be, if that's even possible!


Local floor stores in South Bend, Indiana are easy to find with the right tools. Try using FindAnyFloor.com's South Bend flooring store search directory and find you local floor retailers that sell hardwood, laminate, stone, bamboo, cork, rubber, tile, and linoleum. Find all types of hardwood flooring options at your local South Bend flooring store like teak, Brazilian cherry, chestnut, red oak all in prefinished or unfinished hardwood flooring options. If you want a click and lock floating hardwood floor or a colored grout for your new tile floors, your local South Bend floor store will have it all!
Use your South Bend flooring retailers and professionals to get all the answers you need about all types of floors. Get opinions on slip resistant flooring options and the best eco–friendly flooring option for you and your home or business. Buy bamboo, cork, stone, tiles and many others locally and benefit from the hands on experience you will receive.
Click on the flooring options below if you have found the type of floor store you are already looking for. If you haven't decided on the type of flooring you want make sure to visit FindAnyFloor.com for everything flooring related! Browse through our individual flooring options and find you local South Bend, Indiana floor stores near you by clicking on the company logo. Search in surrounding cities like Oak Lawn, Cicero, Oak Park, Berwyn, Skokie and more too!


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Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio Wows!
by Jordan Harry October 18 2018 364 AMORE?
Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio Wins 'Driver's Award' At Carwow 2018 Awards
The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio has been awarded the inaugural 'Driver's Award' at the prestigious carwow awards 2018, an annual celebration of the best new cars held at the Shard, London.
The 'Driver's Award' winner was selected by carwow's team of experts, who placed the Stelvio Quadrifoglio, the most powerful Alfa Romeo SUV ever created for road use, ahead of some tough competition from the likes of the Honda Civic Type R and the Mazda MX-5.
Combining 50:50 weight distribution with all-wheel drive architecture, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio is powered by a 510hp, 2.9-litre Bi-Turbo V6 petrol engine, which allows it to achieve a top speed of 176mph and go from zero to 62mph in just 3.8 seconds.
The carwow judging panel commented "While the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio may not be the first performance SUV, it's easily the most fun – in fact it's more of a laugh to drive than most other pure sports cars and that's why it wins the carwow Driver's Award. It's a true have your cake and eat it car!"
Andrew Tracey, Sales and Marketing Director for Alfa Romeo said: "To be recognised by the carwow awards is a huge achievement for Alfa Romeo and is testimony to the passion and dedication that went into building a beautiful sports SUV with outstanding performance. The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio has just gone on sale in the UK so picking up this converted prize marks an amazing start to its story".
The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio features advanced technology designed to maximise dynamic performance, such as the Alfa Chassis Domain Control system, the AlfaTM D.N.A. Pro selector with Race mode and four wheel drive combined with AlfaTM active torque vectoring.
Innovative safety systems, including Forward Collision Warning, Autonomous Emergency Brake with pedestrian recognition and Lane Departure Warning, come as standard throughout the range and contributed to the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio being awarded a prestigious Five Star Euro NCAP rating.
Look out for our road test of the Stelvio Quadrifoglio in the next few weeks.
Charles LeClerc drives the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio
Blog: Driving A New Car
Record Number Of Dinos Flock To Maranello
New Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio Set To Become The Benchmark


With his unmatched musical fusion of reggaeton, rap, crunk, and hip-hop, Armando Christian Perez know artistically as Pitbull, is one of the most nominated artists at the Billboard Latino Music Awards and is performing this season in Miami at the Hard Rock Live. Don't miss it!
Are you still looking up for great options to celebrate New Year's Eve? Here's a great one! Fontainebleau Miami Beach invites you to ring in 2017 with the new year's hottest musical act Justin Bieber kicks off the night with an electric performance poolside set to include his greatest hits. Buy your tickets right away and Enjoy!
From December 9 to 30.
Miami City Ballet proudly presents George Balanchine's, The Nutcracker, the perfect holiday treat for the entire family. Enjoy this wonderful classic rich and cultural Christmas performance.
From December 11 to 13.
Start the holiday season with family festive favourites to put you in the Holiday Spirit. The Symphony of the Americas presents Holiday Magic.
From December 10 to January 29.
What if you could alter reality at will? Reality is all relative. A mysterious and fascinating realm that disorients your senses and challenges your perceptions. The amazing Cirque Du Soleil presents Kurios this holiday season in Miami at the Hard Rock Stadium.
Direct from Broadway the acclaimed masterpiece Cabaret comes to Miami and it is presented in the Adrienne Arsht Center. Book your tickets and Enjoy one of the Great Musicals of all Time.
From December 27 to January 1.
An American in Paris is the new Tony Award musical about an american soldier and a french girl meeting in Paris and looking for a new beginning after the war. Live this stunning Broadway hit in Miami on its first national tour.
Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Presents Legends.
From January 8 to 19.
Celebrating 146 years Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Presents Legends at the American Airlines Arena from January 8 to 19. Traditional circus to bring the family together.
Heat up your Holidays watch great games of the Miami Heat multiple dates presented at the American Airlines Arena.
Enjoy the Miami Dolphins games vs Ravens, Cardinals, Jets, Bills, Patriots. Visit the website for game schedule, tickets and more information.


The Tablao de Carmen owes its name to the famous flamenco dancer Carmen Amaya, who was born in the gypsy quarter of Somorrostro. Amaya made her debut in 1929 for the King of Spain, Alfonso XIII, in the very same space which is now Tablao de Carmen. Both the location and the venue itself offer special details in addition to the flamenco show. Located within the Poble Espanyol de Montjuïc, one of Barcelona´s most important city parks constructed for the 1929 World Exhibition, the tablao shares its grounds with the Fuente Mágica, el Teatro Griego (Greek Theatre), and the Fundación Miró. This area has the feel of a village, with narrow streets, small shops and restaurants.
The venue itself is divided into three spaces, all of which create a typical Andalusian setting for the performances. The main area is the tablao, which accommodates approximately 150 persons and features multiple levels of seating as well as high ceilings. The decoration and colors in the performance area are inspired by the famous Feria de Abril in Seville. Next is an exact reproduction of a "patio cordobés", with all of the details and ambience of the typical homes of Cordoba in southern Spain. Finally, the Freiduría Tio Pepe serves a variety of seafood and other regional dishes along with the typical drink of any Feria: cold fino (sherry).
The Tablao de Carmen was founded in 1988, and features a mix of established and up and coming performers in the Spanish flamenco scene. Two nightly performances last approximately one hour, covering a variety of flamenco styles while individually focusing on the traditional elements of a flamenco performance: the music, song and dance. Ticket packages include the show with drink, tapas or dinner. Special discounts are available for children age 4 - 13 as well as groups. With a reservation in Tablao de Carmen you can enter the exhibition of "Poble Espanyol" for free from 16:00 (4pm) on the day of the show.


Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in Northern Ireland, with around 3,780 cases every year.
With this in mind The Public Health Agency (PHA) and Cancer Focus Northern Ireland have joined forces to remind outdoor workers to protect their skin from sun damage.
Farmers, gardeners, builders, grounds staff and postal workers are just some of the people at higher risk of sun damage due to the length of time they spend working outdoors.
Dr Miriam McCarthy, Consultant in Public Health at the PHA, explained: "Everyone needs to be aware that the sun can cause permanent damage to your skin and certain groups, such as people who spend a significant amount of time working outdoors, are particularly at risk.
Wear a long-sleeved top, sunglasses and a hat with a brim or flap that protects the ears and neck.
For further information on sun safety when working outdoors see www.careinthesun.org If you are concerned about skin cancer you can also call the Cancer Focus NI free information and support helpline on 0800 783 3339 or email one of the charity's nurses on helpline@cancerfocusni.org.


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Saturday Ride Report--Malnourishment Gets Me
Well, we gathered behind Starbucks, 12 of us when at 7:50 I rode to the front of the coffee house and saw no other cyclists. Isaac rode by a couple of minutes later and said there was, "A Veloscience group with a map" so it seemed that bunch had their own plans so we shoved off, riding toward the front of Starbucks. But wait, there was Lori N who had helped set up this ride so we pulled in and everyone was there to ride Isaac's ride. Too many to mention here but in total about 31 of us headed out old 161.
The pace was I guess "Moderate+" and we lost a couple of people on the ride in to Johnstown where we managed to avoid several large trucks before....
.....turning onto Concord and heading east. We eventually got on to Sportsman Club, then Dutch Lane and at last, the turn left onto #657 with the Reynolds Road climbs beyond. Sensing an embarrassing performance, I just hung back and rode in the vicinity of Crazy George, Jeff S and Corvair. Arriving in Utica I immediately.....
....marched into the gas station to grab a Payday and a Monster. Looking around outside, initially it appeared I was the only one with such an unhealthy combination. Above, Ron Buddell appears to have just been punched in the arm as Isaac, with black head cover looks on.
Then I noticed Lori N was quaffing a Red Bull and Andrew Clayton had a Rootbeer so I was in good company. Exiting the market, I had asked Marty what the linger factor was, to which he replied "low". I took that to mean no real urgency but gosh was I wrong. Now, to set the record straight....
...I was raised in a family of 21 children so at meal time, I learned to eat rapidly. I also can not describe my eating habit as savoring each bite. Far from it. Instead I wolf down every bite. I don't walk around and tell my fellow cyclists, "Oh you must try this. It goes especially well with a '75 Chateau Lafite." I stand, rarely talk and focus on cramming each bite down as fast as possible. Suddenly, Marty calls out "Two minutes to go." and with still half a Payday to go, my spirits sank, secure in the knowledge my appetite would not be fully sated. I walked to the trash can and dumped half a Monster and nearly half a Payday. I just need to start carrying Gels or something (or maybe arriving at the food stop sooner?) to allow for these lightning breaks. Oh well, with stomach growling, we shoved off.
The meat of the route was before us. I got in with the lead group as we powered up Blacksnake, made a right on to Stout, hit the climb hard, coasted to Martinsburg, got on to Hunt, then Graceland Lane and eventually Loches (pronounced "Locks" I am told). Here I drifted back and soon rode past Jon Morgan and a couple of others as they fixed a flat. Arriving in St Louisville, we waited for the flat fixers before proceeding to, ugh, the St. Joseph climb. Our group had fallen to maybe 10 with some having departed the official route earlier or just dropped off the pace. After the climb, we climbed up and then down Chatham, hit Dry Creek, Louden, right on Raccoon Valley and entered Alexanria. Here I dropped from the group, obviously my strength waning from lack of nourishment to wait for Jeff S and Corvair, gathered Gary, Kenda Janet and Paul and headed out with a good group, finishing with the 72 miles and stayed dry. Fun day.
OK, we have a route and organizer, Isaac. 8:00am from in front of the New Albany Starbucks. Here is the link to the route and print your own map: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/8118078
Thursday New Albany Ride Report-The Chick Magnet
Steve Oxley in the foreground with Paul Stock behind, Mark Lemmon back right and Pete Ashmore barely making it in. However, the story does not start here. We have to go back in time, back, back, back....to 4:00pm when I received a call from Steve. He was thinking about attending his first NA ride but wanted to know if it was still plagued by squirrely bike handlers, etc.. I assured him that was the B group, they're crazy but in the A group it is safe and sound. Still on the fence, I added one more incentive, telling him that usually the ride is populated by a few attractive women and since he is single.....
....no sooner had Steve arrived, opened up the back gate and taken a seat, some of the ladies of Thursday gathered around. Amazing. Dirty Dan standing next to Steve, probably to conduct the interview process.
Then Steve pulls out his smart phone and begins pulling people in to show images of his new grandson. Rick Miller even had time to take a look.
Kim Owens on the left, Benton in white behind. The crowd was beginning to gather around Rick's van for the pre-ride announcements that included a route change, cutting our distance from 55 to 50 miles.
Franz holds a cycling shoe up at the back of this group.
Kristie Nation unfortunately not handing out pre-ride treats. I like the balance I have found on Facebook between Lori N's prolific healthy meal images and Kristie's prolific unhealthy dessert images. My mind hits the "like" on Lori's posts, my stomach hits the "like" on Kristie's.
A smiling Doug McConaha. Still enjoying the benefit of losing 15 pounds and spending a lot of time at the front of the A group putting in healthy pulls.
I began counting as we closed in around Rick and arrived at 68 cyclists with quite a few new faces. A road closure required a modification to the route, cutting it from 55 to 50 miles and so soon we shoved off, 24-26 in the A group as we paused.....
....at the Central College/#62 intersection, which is also the point at which I took the first image that begins this report. Eventually, our group got across and after a series of turns, began a long, long run north on Miller-Paul. With light winds out of the NE, I was able to settle in to the left of an assortment of cyclists including Ron Budzig, Pete A, Paul Stock, Tym Tyler, etc.. Ken Buddell put in a particularly long, hard pull that had me on the rivet but fortunately the next person up slackened the pace a bit and I survived.
We continued north on Longshore before finally breaking the trend and heading east on Hartford Rd. A intersection stop at N. County Line allowed me to look around and see we had lost 9-10 people so our group was down to 13-14 people. Then I heard someone say, "Uh-oh" and turning to the front saw an attack was initiated. Dang, I could respond only weakly which means I was done. Ahead by about 50 yards I saw Ron B and Pete A also spit out the back but I could not bridge to them and so, spent the next 30 miles riding around the hinterlands solo. That sucks. At the drop point, our average was 24.1 mph so pretty speedy but my average dropped precipitously thereafter. I took the B cut-off, made a wrong turn and ended with 47 miles.
Meantime, up ahead, the group got whittled down by a few more bodies but those who finished in the front did so with a 22.75 avg over the full 50 miles.
Here is the route for tonight's New Albany ride. Additional details can be found here but note currently the site says the map is for May 21 but it is for tonight's ride:http://www.thecyclingclub.org/club-rides/thursday-evening-ride/
Still have not seen some of the regulars. I did see Kyle Wingler out on his bike so maybe he is preparing for an appearance. Todd Lee says he is watching for the right route and then he will show up and I think this is a route that would appeal to the Grand Poobah of central Ohio cycling.
Tuesday Canal Route
While the forecast casts doubt on tonight's ride, nonetheless, here is Ric's plan: https://www.facebook.com/groups/53811046325/permalink/10152741086961326/
Saturday COP Ride Report--Canal Winchester & The Donald
Pretty good turnout for Tim Faigley's, 84 mile ride deep, deep into Hocking Hills, including Donald Trump errrrr.....
....Mark Clingan. Or is this The Donald. They were separated at birth and I think only now, I have stumbled across Mark's long, lost brother. Look at the two images again, the blond hair, comb over, facial expressions, they are brothers of another mother or brothers of the same mother.
Larry P gave me an update on Mitch Tallan, He faces a long road to recovery, beginning with 9-10 weeks in a wheelchair while undergoing physical therapy. Behind Larry is Brad Blair who is riding well this year and the guy in the white jersey, Ryan, behind Brad. We rolled out with Larry, Steve Oxley, Dirty Dan, Ryan, Mark V, David Smith and me getting away from the rest of the group. We rode.....
....33 miles to the Sunaco station on #33, where I was ready for a break but not the others. They made a quick bathroom break and rolled out. I thought I should spread my personality around others, rather than selfishly allow Dirty and Steve to enjoy it to themselves so....
....they took off, headed for the Opossum Hollow climb. I think that climb may have factored into my decision a little. I waited and waited and then....
.....The Donald rolled in with Brad, Mark V (who had dropped back at some point), Andrew C and Crazy George. The Donald never met a gas station/market at which he would not stop so naturally he disappeared for a long time and then reappeared with an arm load of snacks. Many thousands of calories later, he was ready to go and we headed out, bound for Laurelville where now we stopped for subs at Subway. Many thanks to Mark V for evenly dividing his Subway coupons among us.
We left L-ville and 5 miles later entered Tarlton. No one asked The Donald if he wanted to stop because that is a given. Instead we asked if he needed to stop and he gave us the ok to continue. Eventually we rode into Stoutsville and although I could see his mouth quivering with desire for food, he agreed to continue with us and so, we finished with 84 miles and around 4000' of climbing. Big thanks to Tim F who continues to create these rides accompanied by top-notch maps.
The Results from the Eye Team's Investigative Pursuit for Truth
Sooooo, statements were made that at first glance, seemed kind of suspicious to me. In Corvair's first post she said her brake locked up on a hill. Naturally, having never applied a brake while going up hill, I was suspicious. Then Corvair added that she "almost ran into the Rossi tandem", which if you are applying the brakes, how do you almost run into another bike? Corvair's statements produced many replies and at some point, someone called me and said they and no one else heard anything from her so they would have no reason to stop. Soooo, the investigators rolled out in search of the truth.
First up, interview the Rossi tandem with David Smith simply an uninterested onlooker. The Rossi's said Corvair was mistaken. She did not almost run into them, they almost ran into her when she suddenly swerved to the side. OK, fine simply a mistake with wording so no big deal yet, again, why would someone apply brakes going uphill? I also talked to the person who was leading the pack at the time, Kevin Hollingshead who never saw a bottle of cologne he would not bathe in. Kevin is known to set a pretty strong pace at the beginning of rides before fading to the C group. He said he was riding hard at the time so could Covair have simply failed to keep pace???? The Rossi's said the incident occurred at about 1 mile from the start so who, other than Grand Poobah, drops at mile 1 so that could not be the issue. Then I drove to Canal Winchester to interview....
....the owner, manager, Ric Noland, sole proprietor of Cyclists Connection, the shop which performed adjustment to Corvair's bike prior to the ride and more importantly, the person who first happened upon Corvair after she left the B group....hmmmmm....how could Ric be riding alone at that point if the pace had not been high so was it a mechanical that felled Corvair or Kevin, aka Pepe Lapew, riding too hard too early? Ric's response to my many questions was "No comment"......
I gave Ric another chance and threatened to drag him into the restroom for the water torture test but still, his loyalty to a customer being so great he would neither confirm nor deny any of my assertions or reply to any questions. What a standup guy. The investigative team thus ran into a dead end. We must give Corvair the benefit of the doubt that indeed, some how, the brakes locked going up a hill and for that reason and only that reason, she dropped out of the group and failing to shout of a problem, the group continued on. All are innocent of charges. Carry on people.
Cloudy, 55 degrees, winds out of the Artic, I drove through some rain, I decided not to ride. But hey, others were there to ride including making his first Appearance, Danny Alarcon. Just think, a year ago he was riding by himself, trying to get back in shape and now he is dominating the Cat 4 races and catting up to Cat 3 now.
Wow, looky there, Paul Stock comes out too wearing a very retro Savage Hill jacket. I still have one of the jerseys, worn proudly when I finished 9th in a 10 person Cat 5 race through the Hocking Hills. Ahhhh, those weren't the days.
Pete C rolls in and we all had to grab our sunglasses on this cloudy evening suddenly lit up by the glow off his arms and legs.
Rick, in addition to the sign-in duties, frequently can be found performing quick adjustments. Above working on Group Killer's bike but maybe Rick made a mistake and Shannon's brakes locked on him later?
Kyle, arms folded and Danny, appearing to be very cold.
Rick called us together as Marty, listens along with Jeff S, another Jeff behind him, Lori, etc...
Checking back on Danny, he does not appear to be getting any warmer. Wear another layer next time but hope next time it is like this is in October.
How about that? Kristie announced she would have cupcakes at the end but I emailed her and said I would not be at the end so could she bring one at the beginning, and she did!
Check that out! I swear, I only ate the icing.
The A's rolled out and then the B's, check out that jersey on tonight's 54 mile route. The A group had the aforementioned Pete, Danny, Marty, Paul, Shannon, Lori and Will Gleason, Travis, Jeremy, Michael L, Ken Buddell, around 14-15. The ride into Alexandria was predictably fast with everyone hanging on but the Jones Road took out a few, including Paul and later on Stone Quarry, Marty, Will and Ken got away before some regrouping allowed 6 to finish together at the end with an average just under 22. Well, the evidence has been gathered, conclusions made and all will be presented in the Tuesday Canal investigation, later today.
The Eye Team, Investigative Arm of Cycling Blog, In Action
The Tuesday Canal Winchester ride was the topic of a Facebook posting that stirred up a hornet's nest of replies. However, an anonymous source called me today and cast some doubt upon the authenticity of the original story. As only this blog has the resources, time and understanding spouse, I have turned loose the investigative arm of the blog to look into the matter. Even now, my agents have spread through the cycling community to interview and gather evidence. The truth will be pursued no matter where it goes, no matter how high up the food chain, no matter how uninterested you are. More to come......much more...... but also......
....can the truth be handled?
Thursday New Albany Route
THE Thursday New Albany route and it is a good one. Clouds and cool temps may curb turn out and me without cool weather clothing, what to do, what to do. For more information, click through to this virus free link:http://www.thecyclingclub.org/club-rides/thursday-evening-ride/
Tuesday Canal Winchester Route
Ric Noland has created a fun and fast route for this evening's Canal ride. Check out the A route here: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/7954022 and the B route here: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/7954073 and the C route will be something a little shorter, of course.
Saturday Ride
I'm a bit late getting this out but we gathered in the parking lot behind Veloscience at 8:30am as planned. Sixteen of us including Geoff in the foreground, Buzz and Miles in the midground and Isaac in the background. What we did not know is our group was comprised of some who came out for the Cycling Club ride and some for our ride. Gus Cook came through, gathered Buzz, Geoff and Miles and headed to Utica while the rest of us headed to St Louisville and beyond.
Twelve of us left the parking lot, including the beaming Kenda Janet, following a rolling route to St. Lo where we.....
....paused to refuel, coasted to the ball field so a few could use the available "Porta Potty" and then kept going under cloudy skies and the threat of rain. We eventually skirted north of Granville rather than stopping there and continued on to Alexandria. From there, Isaac, a very strong Eva and me got away from the group and were closing on New Albany as the skies darkened. We had to stop at the #310/161 light and I uttered the words that should never be spoken, "It looks like we are going to make it in before the rain." Crossing 310, it began to sprinkle and as we neared Kitzmiller, I could see it was already raining hard there. Sure enough, the two met (we and rain) and we received a good soaking only about 2 miles from the finish. Oh well, ended with 70 miles. I skipped the Rockmill Brewery ride, as did many (I was told only 30-40 participated and most of those on the short route) assuming I'd be participating in another good soaking. Late Sunday, grappling with guilt over not riding that day, contacted the only 2 reliably available short notice cyclists I know, Jeff S and Flyin Tuna....
....and we rode Meredith's 67 mile route, starting in St. Louisville on a very hilly course that contained several roads I had not previously visited. Very good route other than the right turn to Osborn should be passed and just continue to Briarcliff Road. Above we coast toward Perryton, an idyllic country scene. Reaching Bladensburg we checked radar and ugh, too many dark splotches we decided to forego the route and head west on Bell Church. Soon we rode through a heavy downpour that fortunately did not lost too long, just long enough for yet another good soaking. Actually, how I felt after the rain did not differ much from how I felt prior to it, considering the humidity levels and associated perspiration soaked clothing. Actually again, I felt cleansed and enjoyed the remaining miles to the parking lot. Check out Meredith's route here, it's a good one:http://ridewithgps.com/routes/7892530
A cool evening and I don't think we reached the forecast high of 70 as clouds moved in. I searched my house for arm warmers for quite awhile before remembering they are in AZ, DUH! John signs in as the early turnout was very light. I figured with the New York Gran Fondo and a Saturday race, maybe a lot of people would stay home.
Dirty Dan arrived, surprising since Dan called me and told me he was coming. That's a sure sign that he will not be there. He claims he is doing home improvement projects so I approached the van for evidence and sure enough, the inside has a thick coating of mulch, dirt, manure, cow dung, nasty stuff. I made a mental note to offer Dan the use of my Shop-Vac.
They arrived in fits and starts while someone noticed kits having the colors red/black/white were prevalent. I scanned the parking lot and noticed a group several aisles over so....
....oh, so this is where the fit and fast hang out. Doug McConaha on the left. During the ride, he was at the front and with all his lost weight, he looked like Hendra from behind with kind of the same pedaling motion. Wonder if he can or wants to remain at the lower weight. He says he is drinking a lot of beer.
The Cooks arrive with Gus gaining strength every day. Jillian in the middle.
Ron Budzig on the right who pulled me around for 24 miles later in the day.
As usual, the broad expanse of the parking lot disguises the quantity but once I pleaded with them to gather around, they came and came, over 60. There must be a lot of new people because the high turnout is without quite a few of the regulars from past years. But wait, There, partially hidden from view on the right is Jr Muscle Dude. I think his first time out. I made a few comments and sent out the A group and off we went but as usual...
....while the start location is great, getting out of the place is a pain. I urged someone to just fling their bodies into traffic so we could go but no takers. Fifteen of us finally made it out to 161, a left on Kitzmiller, a brief pause at the crossing of #62, east on Central College and multiple turns later, a long race to the north via Green Cook. Throughout, it seemed like Pete C and Luke R were taking the strongest/longest pulls during which I struggled. We made a right on Robins and a left on County Line, reached Edwards before another long stretch on Clover Valley.
I made a strategic error. I found myself in the 3rd position, directly behind Pete C, pulled inexorably forward but with the red sirens blaring in my skull warning the outcome was not going to be good. Sure enough, Pete took over and by the time he rotated out of line, I was left gasping and quickly overtaken by Doug M and 9 surviving members who quickly and efficiently, left me in the dust. I tuned onto Foundation and there was Ron so we formed up and took turns pulling through the next few turns, now following the B route. Of course, there is still motivation to ride hard and not be overtaken by the B group. Nothing wrong with being overtaken by the B group other than when I am overtaken, I have to endure a mix of taunts, catcalls, mocks, jibes, jeers, insults and just generally tormented for a moment or two by those who take too much pleasure (too numerous to mention here). At the top of Jersey Mill, there was Ken Buddell and better yet, Ken was willing to modify his pace to keep us in the mix! What a guy, a team player.
We rolled back to the parking lot (ahead of the B group) and arrived with a 21.2 avg and 44 miles Anyway, soon thereafter, like really soon,.....
Five of the 15 who began the A ride arrived, they called themselves the "Fab Five", Jon M, Luke R, Marty, Pete C and Shawn Aker, finishing with a 22.2 avg and 48 miles.
Should be another good evening for a bike ride and Rick has come up with a good route. Rick, by the way, will not be there but someone super competent will, to sign you in, take your money and offer good advice. For more information, click here and remember, print your own map:http://www.thecyclingclub.org/club-rides/thursday-evening-ride/
A Hiking Blog Suggestion
I belong to a Grand Canyon Facebook group and on there recently, a woman described how her boyfriend abandoned her while hiking the Hayduke Trail across UT & AZ, while also taking their tent, water, maps, etc... What a piece of work and a couple of days later, the guy became lost, somehow became drunk and what followed was a $10,000 invoice for a rescue while she continued on the trail. Exciting stuff to be sure and today she is closing on the 700 mile trek. Anyway, while following the events, someone recommended this blog in which another woman is doing the same hike and it is very interesting reading with great images. Kind of reminds me of Cheryl Strand's story "Wild" but this woman, Katherine Cook, is much more accomplished and experienced.
This link takes you to day 9 of the epic journey but you can backtrack to day 1 from there: https://hayduketrail.wordpress.com/2015/03/31/
The Ric Noland train continues to chug along with another fine A, B & C route, which you can find here:
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/7851895
The sun sets at 8:37 so choose your route carefully. Ouch, strong winds out of the west.
Saturday Ride Report
An idyllic scene in front of Starbucks as we await the arrival of everyone. It is easy to get used to this warm weather but you gotta remember the average high is only 70 so we may have an adjustment in store one of these days. Given our winter we deserve this.
Surprisingly large turnout with plenty of new faces for "Marty's Ride", including Lisa Antolino who is nearing full recovery after a hip replacement. Not unusual to see a smile on her face while in the background, something catches the attention of Mike and Steve.
Ken B on the left, Eleanor Sedluk and unknown woman who was stretching but I was slow to catch so it just looks like she is preparing to sit on the sidewalk. I never said I was a professional photographer. A surprisingly large turnout of 28-29 cyclists.
Ron Budzing on the left checks weather radar. A line of showers is moving in from the west but dissipating as it approaches. We departed under cloudy skies and they remained that way for much of our circuitous journey to Granville.
We were a little late departing, about 8:38, while someone noted it was like trying to herd a group of cats. We started on old 161 but soon got off that and headed north and east at the aforementioned promised moderate pace. We reached Stone Quarry and there Ken, Dave Chesrown and Marty but in a good effort and soon Ron and others did too.
We regrouped at the bottom of SQ. Ken looks to the northwest, anxious to put in another attack on Liberty Church no doubt.
Mike in the foreground, Kim Owens to his left, Chad behind her and there in the back is none other than Flyin Tuna. FT had a senior moment, thinking the ride started at 9 rather than 8:30 so she caught us on the road. Another of our group who did not make it trumped Cindy's moment. He left the house without his bike so returned, then noticed he left the house without his shoes. Ouch. He never did catch up to us.
I was getting hungry when at around mile 45 we reached Granville after some good climbs. Marty kept us on a tight leech and I barely had time to cram a "Payday" in my mouth when I was called to head out. We took a direct route back, finishing with 62 miles and an 18.1 avg. Fun time for sure.
The venerable TOSRV is this weekend but since some would like an alternative for Saturday, Marty came up with a route out of the New Albany Starbucks (meet in front of it not in the parking lot behind) that starts at 8:30am. This is a middle of the road B pace overall, with some regroupings and some hard riding at times on hills. No maps at the start so print or download your own. Should be a good turnout with Marty, Flyin Tuna, Meredith, Kim Owen and others at the start. Some of us may depart the route at some point to add a few more miles. The route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/7799611
One week ago, it was cold, cloudy, windy, not fun. Tonight, it was 86, sunny, a little humid and fun. So hot was it that folks were crowded into the shade thrown off by a few pine trees at the edge of the parking lot.
Luke Russell was part of a small group who rode a tough route in Hocking Hills on Sunday. Prior to the ride, someone put out there an offer for free lunch for anyone who could best Hendra Palisades KOM time up Keifel Road. At 2:58, it would be a challenge but Luke was up for it and the KOM crown now rests on his humble head at 2:50.
Something in this image is not like the others. Jeremy, in red, squeezes in with members of the HH team.
As usual, Rick's van provided some shade too and lots of people gathered there. It did not appear the turnout was that large but I began counting and wow, about 60. Must be an optical illusion caused by the expansive area of the parking lot that makes the numbers seem smaller than they are.
I am redoubling my efforts to include images of the regular Joes and Jimmys who make up the majority of our group (no offense intended if you are in this image and do not think of yourself as a regular Joe or Jimmy. I just have not gotten around to making you a star yet).
Shannon Kurek, (black kit with green accents) who I am giving the nickname "Group Killer" for good reason and based on several years of deserving activities. His friend Mark Lemmon to Shannon's right and with whom I spent much quality time later on the ride. Katherin Graham on the right, Marty on the left. Marty has a good route planned for Saturday and info on that coming soon.
Pete H took a couple of minutes to remind everyone of the "Ride2Recovery Honor Ride" coming in a couple of weeks. You can find more information and register by clicking here: https://ride2recovery.com/honorRide.php
Rick made a couple of remarks and sent the A group out. Having participated in no really intense ride since last year, I was happy to make it out of the parking lot with a rather small group that included Philippe, Marty, Lori N, Luke, Group Killer, Mark L, Ken Buddell, Jason Wilson, Goeric D...only about 12 of us. Where is Jon M, Terri G, Pete C. Craig Rice, etc... We eventually got on to Jug, riding two by two and then the pace quickened and the line stretched to single file. Sticking my head out for a billionth of a second I observed Group Killer doing what he was made to do, hammering at the front on a flat stretch.
You never really appreciate how long is Jug until you are clawing to stay on the back for its entirety but I did hang on. OK, in the interest of full disclosure, someone dropped out in front of me and I did not try to close the gap as 310 was rapidly approaching so regrouped at the stop. Turning left and then the quick right we returned to rocket pace on Jug. Lori N, dropped out creating a gap I could not close as Shannon and Marty swarmed around me to rejoin. Mark Lemmon came up and I jumped on his wheel and the two of us reached Alexandria with a 23.2 avg, made the right turn, left on Raccoon and we maintained visual contact with the forward gang until they vanished at the Hardscrabble turn. That is a long, not steep but debilitating climb before reaching Northridge where we turned right and then quickly on to...groan...Stone Quarry.
Reaching the dead end, a right put us on Louden and then stayed straight on to Dry Creek and then eventually a right onto New Burg. My legs had felt good and I took some good pulls through there so looked at the clock, the remaining miles, the route profile and abandoned an idea to stay on the A route but did modify, with Mark L's acceptance. Reaching the middle school, we stayed on Burg and rode past the Denison U entrance and the nasty "Campus Twist". I thought we had a chance of catching the group as they descended Thornwood. Ken Buddell came by us and confirmed our worst fears, the A group was already ahead of us and we missed then coming off the hill. Damn. So, Mark and I ham and egged it the rest of the way, ending with 44 miles and a 20.8 avg. The lead A group finished with a 23.2 avg and that is smoking, considering the climbs on the route.
What a fun route that Rick has planned for us tonight that includes the Campus Twist climb through Denison University. 48/43/36 mile routes can all be viewed here:http://www.thecyclingclub.org/club-rides/thursday-evening-ride/ and remember, print your own maps if able.
Here is one of those Top 10 lists that claims what are the top 10 Cycling Cities: http://www.travelchannel.com/interests/outdoors-and-adventure/articles/top-10-cycling-cities-in-us
After a good ride Saturday, I headed to Mt Giliad and Splatterpark for the "Big Game" on Sunday, spending quality time with my son as we and around 1000 others ran through the woods shooting at each other with paintball guns. There was some time spent in the container field too and that is a lot of fun. I have too many welts to count, I think more from people "bonus balling" me. That's when after acknowledging you have been hit, you raise your gun and trot away toward the reinsertion point and some deviant takes that opportunity to shoot you again. Bastards.
Monday I got in a quick ride with Muscle Dude Jr, Flyin Tuna and Mark C. John Day (Muscle jr) just got back from riding in the "3 State. 3 Mountain" tour with Steve O. Brave man, wearing his OSU jersey on a route which included part of Alabama. Then Tuesday, I rode to New Albany to hook up with "The Cycling Club" group ride. In addition to Jeff on the left, Ron in the middle left in rode Gus Cook. Gus suffered a serious injury while skiing and had his knee rebuilt, including a hamstring graft. Just now, after 8 weeks of recovery, he is on the cusp of returning to his usual form.
Dang, she is back with more snacks. Kristie brings out what tasted very good and unhealthy but she claimed was a healthy snack. Rick, on the left, cramming 2nds and then 3rds into his mouth.
I think the official gathering place now is in the shadow of a large pine but watch out for cars coming around the corner.
There was a good turnout of around 29-30, including a couple of the H&H guys, Ron Budzig, Gus & Peggy, Marty, Kristie, Jeff, Rick, Ron, John and Anthony Sada, Crazy George, Larry, Axel, etc... Good ride to Alexandria where I cut out to head home and continue to sling mulch around until the 14 yards is finally distributed.
Tuesday New Albany Ride
The ride leader was a little tardy in getting this out but here it is for the 6:00pm start to the COP Canal Winchester ride: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/7767452
Sunday Racing
Not a bunch of locals racing Sunday but those that did, did very well including Ken Buddell from Thursday NA ride coming in 2nd in the Cat 4 race and...
Kayla Starr coming in third in the ladies' 1/2/3 race....
Chris Grisvard coming in 2nd in the Master's 55+ and....
How about Meredith coming in 7th in the ladies' Cat 3/4 and 1st among that powerful Lady Gnar Shredders team.
Marty's Saturday Ride
One of the first good days of the new cycling season brought out a surprisingly large number of cyclists, most of whom were from central Ohio's cycling elite with one notable exception (me) but I was invited for my documentarian skill set and camera.
Even cyclists who were not cycling, Eleanor Sedluk in pink, came out to say hello to Peggy Cook and Meredith.
By the time we were ready to roll, there were 28-30 of us, including Eva on the right with Doug Mcconaha, Philippe and Pete C in the middle. The ride was promoted as a moderate paced one and I know, like me you probably roll your eyes whenever someone tries to manage that type of ride but if anyone can, Marty is the man.
We cruised out old 161 at the moderate pace but still dropped a couple of people and so waited at the 310 intersection before making a left and then a right on Jersey Mill, rolling into Alexandria then a left on Mounts, a right on Lobbdell and then.....
....turned around at the bottom of the hill where the bridge was out. With such a large group, we decided a 10% fall rate navigating the planks was an unacceptable loss rate so turned around. Marty used the old ride leader excuse, "Well it was open last time I rode it."
We eventually worked around the road closure and ended up on Louden, heading north. Cookie Lady Kristie was talking about how open was the day, free to ride all day and when we prepared to turn right on Dry Creek she, Meredith, Doug, Jeff S and others went straight. Some of them were racing on Sunday so did not want to burn all their matches today. Riding on Dry Creek toward 661, Marty dropped back to let us know the thoroughbreds were going to hit Chatham hard. Yep, they did. I clung on for half of it and then watched Pete C spank everyone else who chose to participate. At the top, Luke Russell, riding a cross bike and others wait to regroup. Luke is having a good racing season competing in the Cat 1/2/3 even though his work schedule limits him to about 150 miles a week,
We headed toward St Louisville where at mile 30, we paused to rest and refuel. Above the French Climbing Machine on the left, Jon Hastings, Jon Morgan, Pete C and others. Note how Philippe, is using his bike as a chair.
Practice this at home before exposing yourself to possible embarrassment at the parking lot. It is harder to do then it looks. I am certain my fat ass would roll right off the back of the tire. Philippe is riding strong this year.
As we prepared to depart, Marty gave us instructions on where to regroup and then led us out of St Louisville eventually getting on a very neat road, Berger Hollow, then a right on Martinsburg Rd and a circuitous route back to New Albany, finishing with 71 miles and about 3500' of climbing. Fun day with good people.
Saturday is a COP Roving Ride starting in Gahanna and stretching way east to Flint Ridge Park. Start time is 8:00am and begins at Gahanna Lincoln High School with 87 and 58 mile routes for A and B speed cyclists. Frank Seebode is the ride leader and asks that you print your own map or down load it to your device but he will have a few map copies at the start. Frank will stop a few times to regroup for those that drop behind him and asks that the A cyclists do the same once in awhile.
Meet in the parking lot at the corner of Hamilton and Havens Corner Rd.
87 mile route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/6322118
58 mile cutoff route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/6870117 Some modest climbs.
And then there is this invite from Marty Sedluk. I like the start time and likely this is what I will do, not that anyone is the least bit interested:
Some people have not been able to get out much this spring due to weather, others have been getting some miles in. Either way, let's get out for a moderate pace ride and enjoy the nice weather tomorrow. We will meet up at 9am, it will warm up and we will work on keeping the group together and keep the pace reasonable.
We will make a stop in St. Louisville and if people would like, another stop in Granville on our way back. The route is 66 miles and we can cut out some distance for those who want a shorter route.
Pass it around
And also there is this from Mark Clingan:
Logan Conference Center start. 70ish mi. Some hills but nothing extreme. Food stops at Grandma Faye's by Old Man's Cave and in Laurelville.
Highlight Wildcat Hollow, Goose Creek, Pretty Run, Tar Hollow, and Thompson Ridge. Easy to moderate pace. All welcome to join. No maps. We will stay together.
Directions to start:
Take 33 east toward Logan.
Exit SR 180 and turn left. Logan Conference Center approximately 2.5 miles on the Left.
And lastly, Ron Burris is hosting a ride out of Lancaster:
Ohio University Lancaster Theatre1570 Granville Pike, Lancaster, Ohio 43130at 10:00am, going 30-40 miles.


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The First Epistle to the Corinthians (Epworth Commentaries)
Written by Nigel Watson Reviewed By A.C. Perriman
In his introduction Nigel Watson sets out his broad understanding of 1 Corinthians as a sustained attempt on Paul's part to correct a series of Corinthian misconceptions of the gospel. These various distortions can be attributed, he believes, partly to the assimilation of the gospel to Hellenism, and partly to a natural human tendency to play down its more challenging aspects. It is chiefly in this latter respect that the letter is thought to have a message for successive generations. Such a schematization of the letter's contents is valuable and probably, necessary in a commentary of this nature, not least because it encourages the student to look for the significance of the whole. The drawback with it is that one is left with the impression that the letter is addressed in the abstract to a set of conceptual and doctrinal issues rather than concretely to a church. To my mind the commentary would have had greater relevance to the modern reader if at this point not just the beliefs of the Corinthians had been delineated but also something of the cultural and personal circumstances in which they arose. Also, virtually no consideration is given to literary-critical or stylistic issues in the introduction.
The commentary itself is rather conventional in its verse-by-verse approach, but clear and well laid out. Most of the chapters are afforded brief introductions and certain topics are developed through extended notes. Watson's professed exegetical method—to establish first his own interpretation of the passage and only then to turn to the commentaries—is effective. He is not afraid to make reference to the wider scholarly context—this appears to be one of the main differences between the Epworth series and the Tyndale commentaries—but not to the extent of obscuring the consistency of the individual perspective. Gordon Fee's recent New International Commentary on 1 Corinthians appears to have been particularly congenial to Watson's exegetical judgment. Inevitably, however, this approach also works as a limiting factor, filtering out some important critical concerns. Noticeably absent from the commentary, for example, is any overt assessment of the history-of-religions context for our understanding of either Paul's or the Corinthians' ideas; and, again, apart from a few comments on chapter 13, it is difficult to gain any sense of the letter as a literary object.
Whether these omissions count as deficiencies depends, of course, on what one expects this sort of commentary to offer. The intention behind this book has clearly been to guide the general student through Paul's letter, to clarify what appears in the text, not to initiate him or her into the mysteries of the wider academic debate. In this respect Watson must be judged to have produced a very readable and useful commentary, in effect a digest of current evangelical opinion. It is doubtful, however, whether it meets the broader objective, expounded in the general introduction by the series editor, Ivor H. Jones, and echoed on the back cover, of suggesting 'ways in which Scripture can help towards the living of a Christian life today … in ecumenical, multiracial, and multifaith situations'. The occasional quotation from writers such as Iris Murdoch and G.K. Chesterton gives the commentary little more than a superficial air of literary savoir faire, and it has to be said that any special relevance it has to the bewildering pluralistic context in which churches in the West now find themselves remains largely implicit. It would have been interesting to have found a rather more informed and persuasive presentation of the relevance of Paul's letter to a church still torn apart by rivalry and distrust and beset on all sides by sexual immorality and a resurgence of pagan spirituality.
A.C. Perriman


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Review: Don's Party (Chippen Street Theatre)
Venue: Chippen Street Theatre (Chippendale NSW), Dec 6 – 15, 2018
Playwright: David Williamson
Director: Travis McMahon
Cast: Dominic Di Paolo, Lachlan Donnelly, Amber Dyball, Ben Hunter, Ramy Moussa. Andrew Murdoch, Katerina Papasoulis, Evan Piefke, Helen Shoobert, Rachel Slee, Kristen Zinghini
Images by Ethan Hatton-Warham
The setting is a house party in 1969 suburbia, where men are arse holes, and women are bewilderingly whiny. David Williamson's Don's Party, now approaching half a century old, offers a bleak look at how a modern Australia might have been imagined. The play wrestles with ideas of a progressive future, as characterised by a new social permissiveness; Don asks all his guests to bring along a pornographic object, as icebreaker or more truthfully, to disrupt the banality of his home life with Kath and their children.
The sexual revolution had begun, and down under, it appears we were deeply confused. All the women had apparently become bitches, and they are referred to in the play as such, on more than ten occasions. Wives and girlfriends were starting to have minds of their own, no doubt as a result of advancements in birth control, and according to Williamson, all of civilisation were basically going to hell in a handbasket.
As the old world disappears, what happens in Don's Party reveals a paralysing fear of what is to come. There is little question that this attitude still prevails. It was feminism's second wave then, and we are now in the throes of its fourth. The disquiet that accompanies the promise of equality is palpable, and Williamson's pessimistic vision, borne out of the anxiety of a patriarchy under threat, can now be seen as pitifully limp.
Travis McMahon's direction presents a straightforward rendition, allowing us to detect that sense of panic inherent in mid-century masculinity. The ensemble consists of actors with varying abilities, and although not particularly inventive with what they bring, each manages to locate moments of theatricality in the writing, that insist on our attention. The production lacks intellectual rigour, but it is clear that much effort has been put into manufacturing a satisfactory naturalism for their performance.
When women grow strong, our relationships have to be put through a process of reshape. Friends and family, love and sex, all face interrogation, as we learn to shift away from traditions that plainly no longer work. In Don's Party, men are fearful and women are frustrated. They cling on to the past, unable to come to terms with the tides that push for a brighter future, a mighty force that will not tolerate the status quo.
www.chippenstreet.com
Don's Party 2018 Chippen Street Theatre
2018, chippen street theatre, comedy, play, redfern acting studio, review, sydney, theatre
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You are here: Home › chain of custody › forensic imaging › What is Forensic Hard Drive Imaging?
What is Forensic Hard Drive Imaging?
When a computer is identified as possibly containing electronic evidence, it is imperative to follow a strict set of procedures to ensure a proper (i.e. admissible) extraction of any evidence that may exist on the subject computer. The first thing to remember is the "golden rule of electronic evidence" – never, in any way, modify the original media if at all possible. Thus, before any data analysis occurs, it usually makes sense to create an exact, bit stream copy of the original storage media that exists on the subject computer. A forensic image, is sometimes referred to as a mirror image or ghost image. Mirror imaging or ghost imaging does not always generate a true forensic image. The same is true for cloning a hard drive. A forensic image may include a single or multiple hard drives, floppy disk(s), CD(s), Zip drive(s) or DVD(s), plus many other types of storage media that now exist. Imaging the subject media by making a bit-for-bit copy of all sectors on the media is a well-established process that is commonly performed on the hard drive level, hence often referred to as hard drive imaging, bit stream imaging or forensic imaging.
The creation of a true forensic hard drive image is a highly detailed process. If you do not have it performed by a trained professional, you may severely compromise your chances of obtaining admissible evidence as a result of your discovery efforts. Also, to avoid accusations of evidence tampering or spoliation, it is a recommended best practice that imaging be performed by an objective third party. Suggested protocols for hard drive imaging can be found within guidelines standardized by institutions and organizations like the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
As you hire a computer forensics expert, know that he or she can choose among a large number of software and hardware to obtain a forensic image. What is important is that you qualify the expert's experience and that you ensure a rigid process by asking the right questions. A good start is to always make sure that the integrity of all evidence is maintained, chain of custody is established, and all relevant hash values are documented.
Once imaging is completed, any good tool should generate a digital fingerprint of the acquired media, otherwise known as a hash. A hash generation process involves examining all of the 0's and 1's that exist across the sectors examined. Altering a single 0 to a 1 will cause the resulting hash value to be different. Both the original and copy of the evidence are analyzed to generate a source and target hash. Assuming they both match, we can be confident of the authenticity of the copied hard drive or other media.
[The MD5 algorithm] takes as input a message of arbitrary length and produces as output a 128-bit "fingerprint" or "message digest" of the input . . . The MD5 algorithm is intended for digital signature applications, where a large file must be "compressed" in a secure manner before being encrypted with a private (secret) key under a public-key cryptosystem such as RSA.
Mathematical jargon aside, the above statement simply says that the MD5 is an excellent method of verifying the integrity of data. An MD5 value obtained from the image of the hard drive should match the value of the original hard drive. Even the smallest modification on a hard drive, for example, adding a comma to a MS Word document, would vastly change the resulting MD5 hash value.
While it may seem plausible to utilize internal IT personnel to render an image of a suspect hard drive, keep in mind the possible consequences. Hiring third-party computer forensics experts will ensure safe handling of evidence. A qualified expert will follow industry standards to avoid spoliation and will help to refute the charge of sabotage by an internal staff member who may know the key individual(s) connected to the case. A third-party expert will also establish a chain of custody that guarantees another layer of protection to the evidence.


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BUSY LIZZIE
Royal Navy's £3bn warship HMS Queen Elizabeth sets sail from Portsmouth to US for fighter jet drills
Joe Duggan
Updated: 30 Aug 2019, 16:40
THE Royal Navy's largest ever warship set sail today for the US, where British fighter jets will take off from its flight deck for the first time.
The 800-strong crew of the £3billion HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier will work with the US navy test British F35B Lightning jets during the visit to the US east coast.
HMS Queen Elizabeth sets sail to the US from Portsmouth todayCredit: Paul Jacobs/pictureexclusive.com
The crew of the UK's biggest warship will launch British fighter jets from the deck for the first timeCredit: Paul Jacobs/pictureexclusive.com
Big Lizzie left the UK today ahead of testing for its of British F35B Lightning jets
Wellwishers lined the dockside to see off the warship, which will be involved in realistic war-fighting scenarios to ready the crew for operational deployment.
The carrier group will deploy with nine helicopters including the Merlin anti-submarine warfare aircraft, Merlin lift helicopter and the Wildcat attack helicopter during the drills.
"Big Lizzie's" first fully operational deployment is planned for 2021.
The voyage to the US comes weeks after HMS Queen Elizabeth suffered a flood after an internal high pressure water pipe burst in July.
Captain James Blackmore, Commander Air Group, said that up to seven British jets would take part in next month's exercises along with up to four US jets.
He said: "We know we can safely fly the aircraft to and from the aircraft carrier, now it's about making sure we can be mission effective.
"It's huge, it's the next step to regaining our carrier strike capability."
Commodore Mike Utley, commander of the UK maritime strike group, said: "This is a hugely exciting point in the carrier strike programme.
"It's a massive enterprise of thousands of people that will deploy on this next deployment who will take the next step from being able to operate Lightning aircraft from this ship and put that all together with the broader capability set."
In February, HMS Queen Elizabeth's commanders said the warship didn't have enough crew.
The very first Commander of the new £3bn carrier found the ship to be 70 sailors light when she first went to sea.
HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH IN NUMBERS
Top speed - 25 knots up
Length - 920ft
Weight - 65,000 tonnes
Food on board - 45 days worth
Pipes - more than one millon inside the ship
Flight deck size - 230ft by 920ft - the equivalent of three football pitches
Man power - 28 million hours spent designing and building the carrier
Parts - 17 million
The revelation raised worries over plans to send HMS Queen Elizabeth on her first deployment to the Pacific in a show of force to China in 2021.
Commanding Officer Captain Nick Cooke Priest took charge of the fearsome carrier late last year, but resigned from the Navy in July when he was removed from the ship's command.
The vessel now has a crew of almost 800 as it set sail for the US today.
Captain Steve Moorhouse, the carrier's commanding officer, said: "From the captain down to the youngest sailor, it's about getting the people ready to do what they would ultimately do should we be called upon to do so."
All of the aircraft will be exercised using the carrier's 900ft flightdeck at the same time as the F35B jets.
The ship will also undergo warm weather sea trials to ensure it is ready for a deployment to the Mediterranean, Gulf and Pacific next year.
Its first operational deployment in 2021 will include the embarkation of both UK and US marines with support provided by a second destroyer, frigate and nuclear submarine.
Wellwishers packed the dockside at Portsmouth to say goodbye as the ship set sailCredit: Solent News
HMS Queen Elizabeth's complement of almost 800 crew will undergo warfighting scenarios before operational deployment in 2021Credit: PA:Press Association
Drone flier says he 'could have been Taliban' after landing on HMS Queen Elizabeth Britain's biggest warship


Had a lot of fun working on this film with director Orlando Cubitt where music is front and central to the story telling. The main theme is a clarinet piece that appears several times throughout the film culminating in a musical duel at the end of the film. The usual composing process was turned upside down as this piece of music had to be finished before the film started shooting so the actors could learn their parts.
On general UK release from 15th September 2017 Based on a true story. A gripping, western-style thriller, shot guerrilla style in Pakistan, the film is based on the remarkable true story of a mother and two daughters who survived a siege on their rural home, picking up guns to fight off a militia of 200 bandits.
Really proud to see today that the film I spent many days and hours scoring over several years is being submitted as the UK's foreign language film to the Oscars.
Played two songs with Francesca Bemonte live on John Kennedy's show on XFM last night. John was a great host and was fun to play stripped back versions of Lying on the Moon and Walk with You from her debut album Anima.
The show at the Macbeth was the best yet with everyone in the whole venue getting on the floor for one of the drops. Fun was had by all and the bar manager declared the show a gift from god whilst wildy distributing free sambuca.
Had my first opportunity recently use Bitwig which is a relatively new alternative DAW to Ableton Live that's around a year old. I plunged in at the deep end and program an hour and a half show for Francesca Belmonte's first band show in Bucharest, Romania. The show was a success and Bitwig played it's part reliably and I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to transition from Ableton. Particularly liked the big faders and the ability to edit clips non destructively.
Did a project with Peek Films for Comic Relief called The School of Youtube recently and it seems to be taking over the youtube and google homepage today. Had fun using the Cinematic Strings library for this and the Brass came from Cinebrass.
Had some good news today. The short film, working title "Dive" has been selected to be shown at the London film festival. Writing the score was a great creative challenge as I created software instruments specially for the film, first by recording a hammered dulcimer and then by reworking the sounds into completely new soundscapes. More on this to come.
Got to write a piece of music for a film by tech fashion company Studio XO of Lady Gaga fame. You will also have come across them if you ever watch @bbcclick where they were on talking about their cinema audience emotion sensors recently.
A few of the ingredients going into the music for Orlando Cubitts upcoming short film, working/production title - Dive. Starts shooting next week.
A personal take on the opening to one of my favourite films. A little homage to Buster Keaton's The General.


A painter from Hunan province, arrested in a nationwide pre-Olympic roundup of Falun Gong adherents, died the day before the opening ceremonies from injuries incurred in custody. Detained in March, an emaciated Mr. Hu Heping (胡和平) from Yueyang city died August 7, 2008 according to recent reports received by The Falun Dafa Information Center. He was 55 years old.
As Olympic sailing competitions continue in Qingdao, a retired professor and his wife face imminent sentencing in nearby Jinan for practicing Falun Gong and printing underground leaflets. Official documents obtained by the Falun Dafa Information Center (FDIC) corroborate the detention of the elderly couple, who remain at risk of severe abuse in custody.
The Falun Dafa Information Center has received information that Chinese Communist Party (CCP) authorities have moved genuine Falun Gong adherents out of Beijing-area prisons and labor camps, replacing them with individuals who claim to have renounced Falun Gong. The Center believes the move is meant to mislead foreign media, mirroring similar tactics used in the past.
Based on recent Chinese Communist Party tactics, the Falun Dafa Information Center expressed concern today that the Party may attempt to stage an incident, perhaps even one involving violence, and then label the actors as Falun Gong practitioners. The Center urged media workers in Beijing to question and thoroughly investigate any Chinese Communist Party (CCP) characterizations of Falun Gong, especially in light of these concerns.
The Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG) presents a guide to labor camps and detention facilities just a stone's throw from Olympic venues.
With one month to go before the Olympic Games' opening ceremony, Chinese security agencies continue to arrest Falun Gong adherents throughout China in large numbers. In Beijing alone, hundreds have been arrested and dozens sentenced to labor camps without trial.
1. China's Olympic Committee President was found liable for torture 2. To prepare for the Olympics, Chinese security ordered a "strike hard" against Falun Gong. 3. Falun Gong practitioners are being killed in custody faster and more frequently than before. 4. Thousands of Falun Gong practitioners around China have been arrested "in preparation" for the games. 5. Falun Gong practitioners are officially excluded from the Games because of religious belief, in clear violation of the Olympic Charter. 6. Falun Gong has never taken a position on an Olympic boycott. 7. A "clean up" of districts hosting Olympic venues has included the arrest of local residents who practice Falun Gong. 8. Despite ostensibly freer regulations for foreign journalists, Falun Gong remains taboo. 9. Hundreds of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners will experience the Olympics from inside labor camps, where they are often tortured. 10. Most Chinese are unaware of any of the above because independent information about Falun Gong remains blocked inside China.
The Falun Dafa Information Center is alarmed at a series of reports indicating adherents in China are being killed in custody within days, or even hours, of being detained by authorities. The Center expressed today that the escalating maltreatment is a direct result of efforts to "stamp out" Falun Gong prior to the summer Olympics.
Chinese security agencies have been conducting large-scale arrests of Falun Gong adherents throughout China in recent months as authorities step up efforts to "stamp out" the practice in advance of the Olympic Games, in August, the Falun Dafa Information Center reported today.


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Home / Books by Region / Edinburgh and Lothians / Black Friday
The Transformation of Scotland, 1707
by Peter Aitchison
Previously published as Children of the Sea, Black Friday tells of Scotland's equivalent to the 'Perfect Storm' and its tragic aftermath.
'Aitchison produces a vivid picture of a disaster waiting to happen' Daily Mail
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SKU: 9781912476237 Categories: Birlinn/Polygon, Edinburgh and Lothians
'Aitchison produces a vivid picture of a disaster waiting to happen' – Daily Mail
'a gripping read' – The Scotsman
Black Friday is the astonishing true story of a coastal community that lost 189 men in a single afternoon. Britain's worst fishing disaster decimated the coastal community of Eyemouth, yet is an almost forgotten part of the past. This is the story of that storm, told through the accounts of fishermen at sea caught up in the maelstrom, of their families waiting anxiously for news, and of its historical context. At its heart is a gripping narrative of survival and high adventure when Eyemouth was the centre of a massive smuggling ring.
Peter Aitchison does more than simply spin a good yarn: as a direct descendant, his account of how these fishermen plied their trade, led their lives and met their fate in the 1880s is an insightful and compelling read.
Peter Aitchison worked as a news journalist with the BBC for twenty years. He currently works for Glasgow University. He has written a number of books, including The Lowland Clearances: Scotland's Silent Revolution and The Noblest Work of God.
Stock status: Reprinting, Summer 2022
Categories: Birlinn/Polygon , Edinburgh and Lothians


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Nova Haleshchyna (, ) is an urban-type settlement in Kremenchuk Raion of Poltava Oblast in Ukraine. It is located on the left bank of the Rydka, a left tributary of the Psel in the drainage basin of the Dnieper. Nova Haleshchyna hosts the administration of Nova Haleshchyna settlement hromada, one of the hromadas of Ukraine. Population:

Until 18 July 2020, Nova Haleshchyna belonged to Kozelshchyna Raion. The raion was abolished in July 2020 as part of the administrative reform of Ukraine, which reduced the number of raions of Poltava Oblast to four. The area of Kozelshchyna Raion was merged into Kremenchuk Raion.

Economy

Transportation
Haleshchyna railway station is located in Nova Haleshchyna. It is on the railway connecting Poltava and Kremenchuk. there is infrequent passenger traffic.

The settlement has access to the Highway M22 connecting Poltava with Oleksandriia via Kremenchuk.

References

Urban-type settlements in Kremenchuk Raion

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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HOME & GARDEN: A machine for every situation | Home And Garden
Need a tiller, auger, bucket, jack hammer, stump grinder, trencher or sweeper? A compact track loader may be the perfect resource.
Bryan and Courtney Montague of Frontier Equipment in Mt. Vernon said their Bobcat MT52 provides the versatility and accessibility that makes it the ideal machine for anybody to use on home and garden projects.
"You don't have to be an equipment expert to use the machine, which is really nice because I know there's a lot of ladies out there that might be scared to learn how to use a machine," Courtney said.
She used the machine herself on multiple occasions to haul freshly cut logs and other projects around her home.
The front of the MT52 compact track loader is interchangeable with various implements to accommodate any outdoor project. Courtney said that changing the attachments on the machine is quick and easy for any homeowner to do.
"It's part of the machine that I want people to really know about," Bryan said. "People can see a skid or excavator and most homeowners know what they are, but this is something that almost every homeowner can use."
Bryan said his family used the machine a month ago to take a fence out. The Montagues also used the machine to clear out snow from the driveway and in front of their business with the angle broom attachment. Bryan said the machine also helps around the shop with pallet work.
Courtney said the machine being maneuverable in small areas and the options for multiple attachments to handle a wide variety of projects at once makes the machine ideal for tasks around the property. The multiple attachments also makes it easier for the homeowner since it requires renting out less machinery.
"This is one of those things that not a lot of people know about, but anybody can use it," Bryan said.
The current attachments available for the MT52 are a tiller, angle broom, auger, bucket, pallet forks, jack hammer, stump grinder and a trencher.
Courtney said customers who rented out the machine had a great experience and enjoyed its size, which made it less intimidating compared to full-sized excavators or bigger machinery.
"It's not intimidating. You get into an excavator, and the machinery in it will be intimidating for an average homeowner," Bryan said. "But this is a small and simple machine, and you can easily maneuver it on any project."
The Montagues also said the MT52 can help a homeowner save money.
"It's small, it's easy to use, it's easy to put on attachments and it's great for any project," Courtney said. "That machine is something everybody can use."
Tags: Garden, Home, machine, situation
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