On January 6, Italians celebrate not only the worldly-renowned Feast of the Epiphany, but also the very typical tradition of the "Befana". As for most holidays here, this represents a perfect occasion to… eat! Especially candies.
Because we know you love discovering new foreign food habits, we would like to share with you a quick and easy recipe to make your own pieces of coal. Yes, we said coal, sweet coal. No worries, we will explain everything.
Please note: the quantity here is more than you will need for one coal candy. However, you can use the leftovers by only adding the colouring to two tablespoons of the mixture.
Put the egg white in a bowl with some lemon juice. Whisk with an electric whisk and while doing so add the powdered sugar bit by bit and finally the alcohol and black food colouring. Whisk again making sure the icing is stiff and dark.
Using a heavy based pot (not non-stick), add the baking sugar and water. The sugar needs to soak up the water, so turn on the heat and swirl the pan to make sure the water spreads evenly. Slowly, a brown caramel will form- the whole process should take around 10-15 minutes. When it is ready, add the black food coloring.
Final step: The Coal Candy!
Gently heat 2 tablespoons of the icing mixture in a bain marie then add this to your syrup mixture. Pour in a loaf tin covered with baking paper. It will rise so make sure the mold is high enough. If you like your candy with more air, leave the tin at this stage to cool at room temperature. If, however, you like it more stiff, use a spoon to quickly stir the mixture in the tin and then leave to set. Once the coal is hard, turn it out on to a chopping board and roughly chop it with a knife to obtain a coal effect.
Cool, you have your handmade sweet coal. Now let me tell you why this is part of the Italian traditions.
It is an ancient Italian tradition dating back to the 13th century, long before the arrival of Santa Claus. The Befana is closely linked to the Epiphany.
Legend tells that the three Wise Men, on their way to meet the new-born Jesus, met an old woman with a broom and offered her to accompany them. As she was busy with housework, she refused in the first place. When she realised it was a huge mistake, she gathered a few presents and candies as a gift for the baby and tried to catch up with the Wise Men, with no success. From then, every year on January 6, the Befana wanders around the world in search of the baby Jesus while distributing gift and candies to well-behaved kids and pieces of coal to mischievous kids. Because she was old, poor and dressed in rags, she is now traditionally represented as a witch riding her magic broom.
So this is the story and it doesn't end nicely for all of the little monsters! In order not to be too harsh on them, it is customary to leave some coal-shaped candies in their socks.
And you, will you experience this Italian tradition with our coal sweets recipe?


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NC State Board of Education Establishes Definition of Chronic Absenteeism
The NC State Board of Education has established a standard definition of chronic absenteeism to be used in public schools across the state. The Board's definition is consistent with guidance shared by the North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation (NCECF) and the national organization Attendance Works to define chronic absence as missing more than 10 percent of enrolled school days in a given year.
The new Board policy, given final approval this month, defines a "student chronic absentee" as a student who "is enrolled in a North Carolina public school for at least 10 school days at any time during the school year, and whose total number of absences – excused or unexcused – is equal to or greater than 10 percent of the total number of days that such student has been enrolled at such school during such school year."
During the discussion, the Board put forward several reasons to pay attention to chronic absence that have been highlighted in the past year by the NC Early Childhood Foundation, including:
Chronic absenteeism is an effective and actionable measure.
It serves as an early warning indicator for principals and other school staff to identify students who are at risk of adverse outcomes due to absences from school and to intervene to reduce or eliminate absences.
Aggregate reports at school and district levels that measure the percentages of students chronically absent from school can help identify schools and districts that would benefit most from additional support and resources.
In September 2017, NCECF released a report outlining the state of chronic absenteeism policies and practices in North Carolina, AttendaNCe Counts. The report included:
Why chronic absence matters for third grade reading and why addressing it is an actionable strategy for improving literacy outcomes
Why it is an effective measure of school quality and student success
Chronic absence rates in North Carolina, including data for each school district, disaggregated by race/ethnicity and gender
The current state-level landscape in North Carolina around nine key "readiness" factors that can set the stage for an active campaign to reduce chronic absence
Recommendations for next steps, including creating a standard definition for chronic absence.
In terms of next steps, the Board has been advised to collect, analyze and use accurate and consistent chronic absence data so that:
Schools are able to identify at-risk students and trends, and
To inform when and how to effectively and efficiently target school and community resources.
Regular school attendance is one of the three pillars of the Campaign for Grade Level Reading initiative, along with school readiness and summer learning. The Pathways to Grade-Level Reading Initiative has chosen regular school attendance as one of three areas of focus for action first in the effort to improve third-grade reading proficiency in the state. The other two areas selected by Pathways are children's social-emotional health and high-quality birth-through-age-eight care and education.
NCECF is the state lead for the local Campaign for Grade Level Reading programs. Pathways to Grade Level Reading is also an initiative of the NC Early Childhood Foundation, in collaboration with the North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc. (Smart Start), NC Child and BEST NC.
NCECF is planning several activities in 2018 to raise awareness about chronic absence and implementing strategies for change, including:
Developing and disseminating case studies on local NC effortsto improve attendance
Creating a community toolkit to be used for Attendance Awareness Month
Releasing Pathways Design Team recommendations on strategies to improve regular attendance

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Dr. Oetker's new pizza is the brainchild of three country marketers
How teams from Canada, the Netherlands and Spain came up with a pie for meat-eaters who want the best of both worlds.
By Jennifer Horn
It took the help of marketers from three countries for Dr. Oetker to cook up a new pizza that ever-so-gently surfs the plant-based wave.
The new Yes It's Pizza line is the rare result of a mini united nations – spanning teams from Canada, the Netherlands and Spain – coming together to brainstorm and develop a pizza pie that straddles the line between good-for-you and indulgent food, Peter Macdonald, Dr. Oetker Canada's executive head of marketing, tells strategy.
The strategy for the SKU was locally led in Canada, creative was handled by the brand's Dutch marketing heads, and its Spanish constituency came up with the type-heavy packaging. At first glance, the product seems to be geared toward a growing horde of health-conscious shoppers, which make sense given that the plant-based category, especially in frozen foods, is piping hot these days – putting pressure on many packaged goods co.'s to inject natural ingredients into their otherwise processed foods.
But Macdonald is quick to note that the tri-market team's philosophy was to craft a product that doesn't fall into the niche natural foods category. Rather, it wanted to create a mainstream product that doesn't compromise on taste or texture by overcompensating on healthier ingredients. The pizza also isn't aimed at vegetarians, vegans, and the like. Two of the three frozen dishes contain chicken bits and roasted ham. The Yes It's Pizza line, he says, is actually going after "food adventurists" and meat-eaters who want to introduce more vegetables into their diet.
"The problem with going the heart-health route is that pizza is inherently an indulgent food," he says. "So if you push the health component to the point where it satisfies somebody who is truly a health consumer, then you're going to sacrifice some element of pizza. And so the question is, 'Can you be more successful by trying to attract that consumer who is looking for just a little more plant? A little more health?' Something that will have someone say, 'You know, I want a pizza and that one has spinach in it – so even incrementally, it's going to be better for me.'"
While the pizza dish first landed in grocery shelves in February, its supporting campaign was only recently lifted from streets, where Dr. Oetker had extensive OOH coverage, as well as TV, online and in-store advertising. Approximately 70% of the marketing budget was spent on marketing outside of stores, with the other 30% was allocated to activity in store, according to Macdonald.
Shopper marketing materials included tribute ads in flyers – which Macdonald says is "the most important marketing vehicle" in driving results for both supplier and retailer; as costly as it can be to make, "there is no better way to get exposure that close to the consumer's actual point of decision than the flyer." The brand also held in-store demos and sampling at events inside its travelling brand-wrapped "trattoria" truck, giving out 400,000 slices and 35,000 coupons.
"It's important to get the product in people's mouths," he says. "There is sometimes the perception that if you're going plant-based you are sacrificing on taste."
And because the thinking was to focus on the product/taste vs. health claims, Macdonald says the team elected to slot Yes It's Pizza next to Dr. Oetker's 15 other gourmet pizza SKUs, which are listed under the Ristorante, Casa Di Mama, Tradizionale, and Giuseppe Pizzeria brands (giving the company a 32.9% frozen pizza market share in Canada), and have them sit in the general refrigerator section, and not in the natural foods section.
"We did circumvent traditional thinking in terms of putting it in the mainstream section, and so far it appears to have worked for us," he says, adding that it "exceeded expectations to the point where we had a reasonably significant shortage issue for about three weeks where we were simply unable to keep up with demand… When we launched this, we expected that it would probably be a bit of a niche product – maybe more on the popular end of the niche product – but the volume that we have seen is more indicative of a mainstream product."
While it took abnormally long to launch the vegetable-focused pizza (given the distance between the three countries, it took "double" the time it typically takes to develop a new product), Macdonald's response to whether a cross-market collab was worth the delay ("oh gosh, 100% it was") is a sign that there'll be more joint efforts to come.
"Whenever you get more smart people, more brains working on something, you're going to have new ideas and people who challenge your perspective," he says. "Sometimes it results in someone trying to talk you out of a decision and it becomes a heated discussion; but those are the ones that challenge your in-going biases. Having different cultures and approaches opens your eyes and, more often than not, results in a better product… It's something we're starting to do a bit more and it's being held up as an example of how international collaboration can be successful."
Dr. Oeteker, Peter McDonald, Yes It's Pizza
Susan Irving to become Kruger's CMO as Nancy Marcus retires
How CPG showed up at CES
Maple Leaf Foods CEO 'livid' after Iran plane crash
Powerade shows how sport empowers athletes
Dairy Farmers of Canada sit down with Santa Claus
Lotto 6/49 guarantees 'O.M.G.' moments
LCBO hopes to find new friends in 'low' places
Budweiser brings back "Whassup" for Canadian Super Bowl spot
Veritas names GM amid U.S. expansion plans
HelloFresh brings melodrama to its marketing
GoodLife begins the year with a focus on diversity
Subway and Martha Stewart give a lesson in plant-based food
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*** SOLD *** SOLD *** 1957 (boss code 16I) Savage 99F Featherweight (serial # 936071) in 243 Winchester with 22" barrel, the second year of production for the 243 Winchester in the 99F. The barrel is a lightweight "pencil barrel", with good riflings & shiny bore and this fast handling 99 weighs in at only 6 lb 7 oz. This 243 remains in good condition and would make a great "walk all day" hunting rifle for this fall's deer or predator hunt. Look at the pictures to see what I am offering for sale. $50 S&H to most of the lower 48. Eight far west states at $60 S&H. Post office money orders for payment. No warranty stated or implied by the seller. Consignment gun-no return. Lay-a-way is available!


From Dyson's cult-buy Supersonic to Cloud Nine's much-loved Airshot, we've tried and tested the best hair dryers on the market focussing on efficiency, quality, design and cost.
Ranging from a wallet-busting £300 to a more purse-friendly £60, there are options to suit every budget. Whether you're in the market for a true investment or a gadget for on the go, now's the time to upgrade your dryer for one of the newest models on the market.
All of the hair dryers tested here feature varying speeds and temperatures, with cooler and slower settings on offer to reduce the risk of damage to delicate hair follicles, which are at their weakest and most prone to overheating after you've had a shower.
Before allowing any heat to touch the hair, it's important to apply an appropriate hair protecting serum, oil or spray, depending on hair type and the style desired. While testing out all dryers, we used Aveda's Brilliant Damage Control (£20.50) from root to tip, which gave protection from UV heat damage and worked across all hair types. After heating and styling hair, a serum should be applied to the tips to decrease the risk of breakage by increasing the hairs moisture within the follicle.
After drying initially at lower temperatures and speeds, the heat can be increased gradually in order to style and create volume. A cold shot, available on most of the hair dryers we tested, is crucial when drying hair in order to seal the hair cuticle and add long-lasting shine.
What are the best attachments for your hair?
Diffusers, which work by concentrating air around a specific area of the hair strand, are great for those with curly hair looking to create non-frizzy styles without permeating the shaft with high temperatures. Best when used at lower temperatures, the attachment is a great choice for those looking for softer styles, such as beachy waves and loose curls. While the results will take longer than a nozzle, the consequent damage is much smaller.
Using a nozzle for sleeker styles enables the dryer's airflow to set the hair's shaft in one direction, creating that all important salon-worthy shine. While more damaging to hair than a diffuser, results take less time and it can therefore be a great option for those looking for sleek styles and a quick turnaround.
This compact, foldable hair dryer from master hair stylist brand GHD features a 1200W motor, detachable nozzle and 1.5-metre cable. We were pleasantly surprised by the power of the ergonomic dryer, which features two heat settings for drying and setting styles.
Ideal for travelling or taking to the gym, the handle and barrel break down, meaning it can be placed into a travel case, slotting into surprisingly small spaces.
While not the best for long-term use, due to its limited heat and speed settings, there's still much to love about the GHD travel kit. Its foldable, streamlined design makes it a great travel companion.
Standing for "good hair day", GHD has been known for its now-iconic hair straightening products since its inception in 2001. Counting its fans as Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna, to name but a few, the global haircare company launched its hair dryers in 2014 with similar success.
Its most recent iteration, the Air, features a 2,100W professional-strength motor and advanced ionic technology to deliver salon-style results on a daily basis. The device is easy to navigate for both left-handed and right-handed users, making it a great option for those with larger households and multiple users.
The handy 3m-long cable also enabled us to style with ease and greater control. While GHD's straightening devices are still its crowning glory, the Air offers a decent, mid-range option for those in search of an easy-to-use dryer that'll be suitable for all members of the family.
Notably one of the most attractive-looking of all the models we tested, the Babyliss 3Q is a great option for those looking for an upgrade to their travel-sized dryer for long-haul trips.
Weighing just 567g, it's the most lightweight of all the full-sized devices included, giving more power and reliability than other travel-friendly options on the market. Alongside two speed settings and a digital motor for ultra-fast drying times, the slim, streamlined nozzle delivers targeted power to specific areas, meaning we were able to achieve perfect curls that really stood the test of time.
Founded in 1999 by Daniel Hersheson, the eponymous haircare line and collection of salons are famous for their envy-inducing blow dries that offer the ideal on-the-go fix for those looking to stay ahead of the curve.
From Topshop on Oxford Street to Selfridges in Birmingham, the blow dry bars are the ultimate way to momentarily refresh your look without taking the plunge. If, like us, you've been fans of the bars since their inception in 2006, you'll be pleased to hear that the take-home hair dryer delivers expert results without the high-end price tag.
We love the aesthetics of this dryer, with its streamlined design and white exterior. Besides having beauty on its side, the device benefits from tried-and-tested tourmaline technology, resulting in soft hair that has great volume and natural bounce.
We found that hair looked healthy for days, meaning it's a great option for those looking to maintain styles in-between washes.
Key specs – Size: 299(H) x 289(W) x 121(D) mm; Weight: 907g; Cable length: 3m; Power: 1875 watts: Speed settings: 2; Colour options: 1; Extra features/ accessories: LCD display, cool shot button. Includes Neuro Blowout primer.
As high-performance dryers go, the Paul Mitchell Neuro Dry is a great, long-lasting option for those in search of a cleaner, more efficient way to dry hair. Featuring the world's first "clean filter" indicator light, the dryer will flash after 30 hours of use, signalling it's time to clean the filter to prolong peak performance and reduce overheating.
Having had problems with overheating in the past, we love the innovation and craftsmanship visible in the Neuro Dry, making it the ultimate choice for those in search of a gadget that will stand the test of time.
After using for three consecutive washes, we found hair had more resilience, shine and even found breakage appeared to have diminished. There is no better device for those who are looking to tame the frizz and create long-lasting sleek styles.
Established in 2009 by hairdresser and entrepreneur Robert Powls (who was the original founder of GHD), Could Nine has been winning countless awards since its inception, with its hair dryers and straighteners becoming cult-beauty buys for those in the know over the last decade.
At almost £100, the Airshot isn't the most budget-friendly option we tested, but don't let its price put you off – we thought there was much to love in this streamlined package.
There's anti-static technology, vitamin-infused ceramic components and an LED temperature indicator, meaning we were able to keep an eye on the temperature to avoid excessive heat damage during styling.
There's even a handy "cold shot" button for setting your style to achieve that lust-worthy salon shine from the comfort of your own home. We think the Airshot is currently the best bang-for-your-buck offer on the market when you consider its reliability, high-end quality and design features.
With its innovative design and advanced technology, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the Panasonic Nanoe fell into the high-end price category. At just under £70, we were impressed by the specification offered.
Using Nanoe technology, the dryer is said to maintain 1000 times more moisture balance than its competitors, meaning that healthy shine is achievable on a daily basis. And while we didn't feel our hair was as moisturised as when using other dryers, such as the Cloud Nine and T3 devices, we were pleasantly surprised by the welcome "healthy" mode of 50 degrees, which we found was sufficient for creating smooth, sleek styles, as opposed to waves and curls, and was evidently healthier for our hair when used on a daily basis.
In addition to the dryer, we were pleasantly surprised with the attachments, including a quick-dry nozzle for mornings when time was precious, and a diffuser, which created a welcome amount of root lift and volume. If you're on the lookout for a new dryer but can't face splurging, the Panasonic has the brains, and the beauty, to match.
Founded in 2003 in Los Angeles, California, T3's ethos ("beauty meets brains") has made it the go-to brand for those in search of great haircare products that look as good as they perform. As the name suggests, T3's hair dryer was one of the most lightweight of all the full-sized devices we tested and managed to dry even the thickest of manes in record-fast time, averaging out at around five minutes with the aid of a blow-dry spray.
The specialised "SoftAire" technology weaves large volumes of air through the dryer, enabling sections of hair to be dried more efficiently. Like most of the dryers included, T3's utilises tourmaline (a naturally found mineral) to cancel static and seal in the hair's natural shine and moisture.
While this hair dryer was not the best in terms of value for money, we were still thoroughly impressed with its weight, coming in at just 675g. And with incredibly fast drying times (matched only by the Dyson), it's a good choice for those who find themselves facing a morning rush on a regular basis and are keen to cut their routine time in half.
By far the most expensive we tested, Dyson's new Supersonic hair dryer now has an almost cult-like following, thanks to its revolutionary technology and pared-back, trademark Dyson design traits.
Coming in at just under £300, the Supersonic was as impressive as its high price point suggests, drying our hair the fastest out of all devices tested and resulting in impressive volume with minimal flyaways.
Born out of four years of testing and 600 prototypes, the Supersonic features a thermistor and microprocessor, which are capable of monitoring the device's heat 20 times a second, meaning an end to damaged, frizzy hair.
What's more, the impressive V9 motor runs at up to 110,000 spins a minute, resulting in a much quieter experience – so much so that we were able to talk at a normal volume while drying and styling. If you have the money to spend, the Supersonic gives unbeatable results in an impressive amount of time.


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Kendra Lust Lust At First Sight Reality Kings
April 4, 2022 by local
Reality Kings is a high-production, hardcore porn website. The website has an 18-year backlog of videos and a diverse cast of performers. What is the site exactly? Why do people keep returning to it? Let's take a look.
Reality Kings' main selling point is its large selection of pornstars. There are many videos featuring hot pornstars in extreme scenes. The site has a huge membership base, and its users enjoy constant updates and new content. The website also features some of the hottest lesbian scenes online.
This site has over 600 scenes, and it is constantly updated. Although the site's majority of content is created by amateurs, there are also big names from the hardcore porn world. Angela White, Abella Danger, and Mia Khalifa are some of the most well-known stars on this site. Other stars include European, Latina and Asian beauties.
This site features hardcore porn videos by various production companies. It also features cumshots and monstercock porn. The website also features a large number of videos from different decades. Some videos can be very graphic and are high-resolution. The website is a great option for fans of hardcore porn.
It has an 18-year backlog of videos
The backlog is incredibly large, with nearly 11,600 scenes. Despite this, Reality Kings continues to add new videos on a daily basis. This backlog can seem overwhelming but it is also very varied. The site features porn stars from all over the globe, including those who are not well-represented in the porn world. As a result, the site's content has never been boring and its backlog is always growing.
There are many performers.
Reality Kings has a diverse cast of performers, including a number of women of color. This reality porn site does not place women of color in stereotypical or fetishizing roles, unlike many others. The series' ratings have increased 23% in the most recent season compared to the previous season. It also showcases an array of lesbian scenes that were shot with a male gaze.
While the show started out with relatively unknown porn performers from Florida, the site has since expanded and added major names to its cast. The diverse cast of performers on Reality Kings is a reflection of the site's growing audience. The site features a mix of sexy scenes, including group sex, gonzo scenes, and Dom/sub play. Although some scenes may not be suitable for adults, they are still a great resource for anyone who loves porn for adults.
It has high production values
Reality Kings is a top-rated porn site that features a strong cast and high production value. This porn site is regularly updated and features a diverse roster of new and experienced performers. Many scenes have a reality-themed focus, and were produced by well-known directors. The content is also diverse, with everything from street pickups to car blow-ups to cheating husbands.
Over the years, Reality Kings' logo has seen many changes. In addition to a crown, the logo usually consists of the name itself. Sometimes, the logo is just the name on top of a crown. This logo makes it easy to recognize as Reality Kings. It is also worth mentioning that the network company merged with Mindgeek in April 2014, which has resulted in newer and better-quality models.
It offers a premium membership program
If you're looking for a quality adult network, you might want to check out Reality Kings. You can sign up for a monthly subscription and cancel anytime. This network has nearly 40 titles. There are four methods to contact Reality Kings support, and you can cancel at any time.
Wives in Pantyhose is the oldest site on Reality Kings. This site has been around for many years and is filled with sexy women in pantsuits. These videos are old and the most recent ones date back to 2005. The highest resolution you can watch on the site is 480p.
Dava Foxx Reality Kings
Katy Jayne Reality Kings


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Thanks for elastic waist bands.
Pregnancy often results in motherhood. This is about the ninth month of pregnancy and the things that make it bearable. Thank you to everyone who is a mother, is in the process of becoming a mother, or loves or supports a mother.
***Transitions may be very different from one another. Some are very obvious from the outside. Others create only a subtle external change, but are equally as powerful. Still others don't change anything on the surface, but internally everything is different.
Yet, they are all transitions. A change has happened. They are all powerful in their own ways. They all result in something being transformed on the other side. So why, in this life, do we so often acknowledge and celebrate the transitions we can see, when the ones we cannot see are just as powerful and life-changing?


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Staggering Stories Podcast #411: Slasher Sylvester
by Staggering Stories Podcast
Sun, 22 Jan 2023 09:00
Summary: Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins, Fake Keith and the Real Keith Dunn review the 2020 Sylvester McCoy film 'The Owners' and the 2022 Discworld film 'The Amazing Maurice', find some general news, and a variety of other stuff, specifically: 00:00 – Intro and theme tune. 01:33 — Welcome! 02:32- News: 02:38 — Wednesday: More […]
Staggering Stories Podcast #410: Great Balls of Crystal
Summary: Adam J Purcell, Fake Keith, Jean Riddler, the Real Keith Dunn and Steven Clare discuss the Doctor Who Christmas and New Year specials, play a game, come up with our Predictions, Hopes and Dreams, and Fears for 2023, see how wrong we were about our Predictions for 2022, find some general news, and a […]
Staggering Stories Podcast #409: Festive Muppetry
Sun, 25 Dec 2022 09:00
Summary: Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins, Fake Keith, Jean Riddler, the Real Keith Dunn and Steven Clare review Doctor Who: Blood on Santa's Claw (Big Finish) and the 1992 film The Muppet Christmas Carol, find some general news, play a game, pull some crackers and a variety of other stuff, specifically: 00:00 – Intro and […]
Staggering Stories Podcast #408: Bacon and Kroll Sandwich
Summary: Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins, Fake Keith, Jean Riddler, the Real Keith Dunn and Steven Clare review Doctor Who: The Power of Kroll and the 2022 Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, find some general news, and a variety of other stuff, specifically: 00:00 – Intro and theme tune. 01:08 — Welcome! 04:40- News: […]
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Sun, 27 Nov 2022 09:00
Summary: Adam J Purcell, Fake Keith, Jean Riddler and the Real Keith Dunn review Big Finish's The Paternoster Gang: Heritage 2 and the 2022 film Enola Holmes 2, play a Doctor Who game, find some general news, and a variety of other stuff, specifically: 00:00 – Intro and theme tune. 01:11 — Welcome! 01:52- News: […]
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Summary: Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins and Keith Dunn sit down, regenerated, in front of 2022 Doctor Who story 'The Power of the Doctor', and spout our usual nonsense! The Master is splitting his time, Dan gets it in the face and the Doctor is seeing some old faces. But enough of their problems, please […]
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Doctor Who: Royal Oak, Chapter Nine
By Hrolf Douglasson
"Yon… thing… canna move, Doctor," whispered Tam as he hurried to the Time Lord's side. "So if there's another place we have tae gae tae… who's in there doin' all th' work?"
"Probably more Slabs," ruminated the Doctor, rubbing his chin. "But they're not up to delicate work – or not without direction, at any rate." He turned and looked back at the forlorn remnants of the Dalek. "Pitiful, isn't it?" he murmured. "Just sitting there, unable to move, unable to stop us… unless…"
He suddenly ran back to the alien creature's side. "You're not planning on calling for help now, are you?" he asked accusingly. His head darted around like a cormorant looking for prey. Then he reached into the battered casing and dug around amid the slime and machinery. "I'll just disconnect this…" he jerked something loose in the depths of the Dalek, bringing a squawk of protest from the creature. "And I think I'll take that as well." He withdrew his hand and looked almost happily at the slime and muck that covered it. "Now: that should've stopped you communicating with your little friends, shouldn't it?" He turned back to Tam. "This ought to have disconnected the Slabs upstairs, too. I just hope none of your friends have suffered in the meantime."
"They'll be fine," said Tam uncertainly. "Let's get this finished, eh?"
The Doctor nodded approvingly. "Good man." He jerked his head towards yet another doorway.
Tam had no idea what he had been expecting to find: vague thoughts of hospital-like surroundings seemed appropriate, with clean walls and lots of pipes and tubes and… stuff. Instead, he faced a partly-dismembered human corpse, just tossed on the floor without care, with a handful of grubby buckets and what looked like seed-trays clustered around it. They appeared to hold slices of flesh taken from the body – until Tam looked closer, and noticed that some of them appeared to have vestigial tentacles similar to those on the creature they had just left. Against one wall on a single ancient table were a handful of plastic containers with chemicals in them; lengths of plastic tube ran from some of these containers into some of the buckets holding what looked like more advanced specimens. A Slab stood motionless with a scalpel in its hand. The Doctor noted that last detail with satisfaction.
"Right then," he said as he surveyed the scene. "We appear to have arrived at an early stage," he went on, as much to himself as to Tam. "These are… well, they're not really anything yet: just human DNA grafted onto Dalek – or maybe the other way round? Hard to tell; they're very undeveloped. And they certainly don't pose any threat to us… yet we have to dispose of them."
"How's that then, when you wouldna' let me jus' kill that other thing?"
"Even the Dalek eventually accepted it had no purpose," answered the Doctor grimly. "It was developed enough to acknowledge its own free will; these things haven't grown enough to even have much of a brain of their own yet. So the same rule doesn't apply; besides, if these samples are left to grow and develop unhindered, they'll just take up where their parent through there left off – and then it won't just be the Orkney Islands that are in trouble. Do you want to have the death of your entire species on your hands, Tam?"
The farmer looked reluctantly into one of the buckets. "It moved!" he gasped as he jerked backwards suddenly. "It waved one of its… limbs…"
"That seals it, then," replied the Doctor. "They have to be destroyed. Embryonic movement suggests embryonic brains after all; embryonic brains grow into big, real brains – and there's not enough human tissue in there to let me even hope that those brains will be human. We're looking at the next generation of Daleks, and these ones won't be so crippled as the one in the other room."
Tam reached into his boilersuit and pulled out a cheap lighter. "I reckon there's enough chemical in here to start a fire," he said uncertainly. "Don't go tellin' me these things would be immune to bein' burned…"
The Doctor shook his head. "Fire is good," he said curtly. "Fire is good."
Royal Oak: Chapter Ten - The Finale!


There are 4,300 fewer health care and social services workers employed in Saskatchewan compared to one year earlier, while health care facilities have been growing increasingly crowded, dirty and backlogged.
The continued cuts to jobs in the health care and social services sector, including another 500 jobs lost last month, were revealed Friday in the Labour Force Survey from Statistics Canada. The update shows Saskatchewan's natural resources and hard-working people are delivering very strong employment results, but the government is going in the wrong direction when it comes to health care.
Wotherspoon pointed to expenditures like $3,500 per day Japanese senseis, $17 million each and every year on the Kaizen Promotion Offices, and nearly $40 million for an American Lean consultant as this government's backwards and dangerous priorities in health care.
Wotherspoon also said the job losses affect social services, responsible for properly protecting the province's most vulnerable children. The NDP and the province's Advocate for Children and Youth have repeatedly called on the government to reduce the caseload for social services workers.
"It just does make sense to cut health care and social services jobs when our population is growing," said Wotherspoon.
Off-reserve First Nations employment is down by 1,300 jobs. 1,800 off-reserve First Nations people have just dropped out of the labour force, no longer looking for work.
Sectors that lost jobs since last year: health care and social services (-4,300 jobs); information, culture and recreation (-3,200 jobs); transportation and warehousing (-1,500 jobs); utilities (-400 jobs); manufacturing (-200 jobs); and educational services (-100 jobs).


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Urgent Action Needed: Prominent Islamic Scholar Set to Die
Mehdi Hasan, Brunei and His Problem with Islamic Law
Dangers of Desensitization to Sin
Lady Fatima and Her Role as a Mother
Raising Our Kids in a Nurturing Environment
Our Blind Spots
Call to Action: The Case of Marzieh Hashemi
Martyrdom is Our Honor!
Recharging Ourselves After the Season of Mourning
The Spiritual Sickness of Showing Off, or Ri'ya
An Ethical Life
Muharram
Raising Faith
Refinement of the Soul
Youth: Life's Manifest Spring
Home/News/Opinion/Is Every Revolution Legitimate?
Is Every Revolution Legitimate?
Jerrmein Abu Shahba
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After the successful revolutions to overthrow the Tunisian and Egyptian rulers, a ripple effect has been observed across the region, as people in multiple countries have been inspired to raise their voice against their oppressive governments. Even with their sectarian or social differences, people have united together to get rid of the corrupt regimes such as that of Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, and Libya. Each group of people has determined a 'day of anger' to finally raise their voices and call for reform after observing silence due to fear from the authorities and other factors.
In the midst of this wave of revolutions, it is quite surprising and ironic to find that even a group of people in Iran have decided to protest against their government and call for reform. Actually, it was not more than two years ago when this same group, known as the "Green Movement", strongly protested against the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and claimed unfair elections. This same group, which failed, decided in the midst of this streak of revolutions to ride the wave and call out for what they believe to be "reform" in a country that is designed to be an Islamic Republic.
This situation prompts us to pose the following question: Is every revolution legitimate, and is every protest really a call for positive reform? It seems that the trend nowadays is that everyone wants change, and whether it is from bad to good or vice versa may not always be realized. How do we know which group of people are justified in their revolts? In order for us to answer this question, we must be able to first identify the truth (Haqq), and thereby determine where falsehood lies. We are to be reminded of the words of wisdom of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) where he advises us, "Determine where the truth is, and then you will know who belongs to it." But how do we successfully pinpoint Haqq when both truth and falsehood has become vague and mixed with each other in so many ways?
Everyone claims to want reform, but what exactly is reform, and is it relative from one person to the other? Ultimately, one must analyze the items in which change is being sought and the direction in which this change is headed. If the protest for reform is for the sake of promoting Islamic ideals and principles, such as establishing justice and equity, protecting the rights of fellow citizens, and implementing the laws of the Islamic Shari'ah, then surely it is a righteous cause that deserves self-sacrifice and relentless struggle. Ultimately, our position will be determined by whether or not the arguments presented are in line with prescriptions of the Holy Qur'an and the Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon them), as these two are undoubtedly our tools of measurement.
However, if the protest is for the sake of promoting social liberalism and acting upon our personal desires under the pretext of "liberty" and "freedom", then that type of reform is questionable! For example, it is not positive reform to minimize segregation among men and women, or to loosen up the Islamic dress-code, or to promote irreligious views. These are all invalid reasons to rise against a government that was founded on the basis of implementing Islamic law and spirit. There is no government which is perfect and flawless, and there is always room for more improvement. However, the existence of a well-defined system with the role of Wilayat al-Faqih (Guardianship of the Jurist) implemented by the late Imam Khomeini which provides security that the political leaders and regime do not deviate from core Islamic teachings gives us a sense of trust in this government which is unique in its safety-blanket approach.
It is true that the absolute meanings of "liberty" and "freedom" have positive connotations which every human being would like to exercise as his right. However, we must keep in mind that as Muslims, our way of life is essentially Islam with all the teachings, principles, and laws that came with the final message to mankind. In simple words, Islam means to submit and surrender to the absolute sovereignty of Allah, which contradicts with the idea of human liberty to do as one pleases. Although God has given us the free will to act in this life as we want and choose our own paths, we must remember that it is a test for us, and the next life is the time of accounting for our deeds. In essence, we are not "free" to act as we so desire; rather, our lives revolve around His commands.
Hence for a Muslim, the true meaning of "freedom" is not to act upon any desire that comes to mind. Rather, in the perspective of a submissive servant to Allah, true freedom is to open one's heart in an intimate relationship with one's Creator, where one may freely exercise one's love to Him through worship and obedience. One of the best forms of freedom that a servant can enjoy is to reflect upon His glory, pronounce His praise, and think of ways to please Him and sacrifice for the sake of the One Beloved. Once the servant tastes this spiritual type of freedom and happiness with his Lord, he has achieved the highest level of bliss that is more enjoyable than the physical Paradise! This type of freedom has been enjoyed and appreciated by our Infallible Imams (peace be upon them all), who represent the model of perfection to mankind.
As Imam Sajjad (peace be upon him) describes a moment of intimacy between a servant and his Creator: "There are no drops which are dearer to Allah than two kinds – drops of blood shed in Allah's cause and the tears dropped in the darkness of night for which a servant does not want anything except the pleasure of Allah."
arab awakening democracy Islamic protests revolutions security spring
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Jerrmein Abu Shahba, originally from Egypt and guided by the grace of Allah (swt) to the truth path of AhlulBayt (as), obtained masters in Chemistry and is a Clinical Research Scientist by profession. She contributes as a writer for different Islamic magazines including AIM, Muslims4peace, The Muslim Vibe, and Stand with Dignity. Jerrmein volunteers as an editor for the al-Islam.org website and translates Islamic literature to propagate the teachings of AhlulBayt (as) and serve in any capacity possible.
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People conveniently ignore a girl in distress or an accident victim on the road, but would enthusiastically march with candles in hand for a cause. Why?
processingcreativity.com - A short story to put forward my point about people's response to accidents.
dilkisunao.blogspot.in - Coward Me Coward You Cowards We All.
dilkisunao.blogspot.in - Give me power for not to count my wounds but to heal.
versatileblogger.com - Is the society two-faced or are there two aspects of the society?
wherelifestarts.wordpress.com - Candle Marches - The most hypocritical thing in society.


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Why Grand Canyon Education Stock Dropped Today
Loknath Das Education November 8, 2019
Shares of Grand Canyon Education (NASDAQ:LOPE) fell sharply on Thursday following the release of the company's third-quarter results and subsequent conference call. As of 1:50 p.m. EST, the stock was down 8%.
Grand Canyon Education's revenue rose 24% year over year to $193.3 million, driven primarily by its acquisition of healthcare education services company Orbis Education in January.
The company's profits also increased at a solid clip. Grand Canyon's non-GAAP (adjusted) operating income climbed 19% to $65.9 million, while its adjusted net income came in at $59.9 million, or $1.24 per share. That was above Wall Street's estimates for adjusted EPS of $1.15.
However, investors appear to be focusing more on news that Grand Canyon University (GCU), for which Grand Canyon Education provides support services, will continue to be treated as a for-profit entity for purposes of its participation in federal financial aid programs by the U.S. Department of Education. As a result, Grand Canyon University will be subject to regulations that require it to meet stricter standards for financial aid and graduate employment.
Grand Canyon Education Chairman and CEO Brian Mueller said during a conference call with analysts that he hasn't yet had time to review the Education Department's reasoning for treating GCU as a for-profit entity but that the university would likely challenge the decision. Mueller also said that the stricter for-profit regulations would likely have little impact on the university's operations.
Investors, however, appear to be somewhat concerned with the Education Department's ruling, and some are choosing to sell their shares of Grand Canyon Education today.
["source=fool"]
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This basket is designed to fit the Brompton front luggage carrier frame which in turn fits on to the luggage carrying block on the front of the Brompton. As such, it fits exactly like other bags on the front of the Brompton and can easily be removed from the bike like any other Brompton luggage.
Two straps are enough to attach the basket to the frame. The basket also rests on the lip at the bottom of the bracket. When you pick it up by the frame handle, the basket comes along with it.
The basket is 400 mm wide and 300 mm tall, which makes it a good fit on the frame. The length is approximately 250 mm, that being the distance it projects forwards from the frame.
The above sizes are correct for the majority of Bromptons, but the S-type Brompton has a slightly shorter frame height of 26 cm. If you have one of these, please let me know and I'll make the basket the correct size for your bike. If you are at all unsure, measure the frame anyway.
I do not supply the frames, which are a standard Brompton part and can be bought from your Brompton dealer.
We can also supply suitable tyres for the Brompton, click here.
To see more baskets, follow the links below.


The British call it "Sunshine Saturday": the first Saturday of the New Year is the day on which TUI in the UK books the most holidays for the whole year. Business in Germany is also very strongly concentrated on Saturdays in January. The German people's love of travel also seems to be unrestrained in 2018. On Saturday, 13th January, TUI expects the booking peak of the year in Germany. According to internal calculations, more than 30,000 Germans will book their holidays through TUI on this single day. On 13th January, TUI expects 1.2 million holiday-seekers to either look for information online or ask for advice from a TUI travel agency.
According to a recent survey by the world's largest tourism group, the month of January – and once again every Saturday – is now the highest-selling month in Europe of all. On 6th January alone, around 30,000 TUI customers in the UK signed up for this year's holiday. Almost one million visitors were registered in the travel agencies and on the websites of the British TUI brands, TUI and First Choice, on "sunny Saturday". That's an absolute record. TUI has more than 20 million customers worldwide.
Nevertheless, there are some small differences: in the Scandinavian countries it is not Saturday, but especially Sunday that sees particularly high turnover, as the people there usually book their holidays online. In Belgium, it's even Monday. While in most countries the beginning of the month is especially popular when booking holidays, the Dutch and Austrians take a little more time. There you will find most bookings on the last Saturday of the month.
Psychologically, this booking behaviour immediately following the holiday break is easy to explain. The Christmas cosiness is over, the work routine is just around the corner, while the sky usually tends to be a shade of grey. That is the time the winter blues are likely to strike. To combat it, the best thing to do is to turn your thoughts to warmer things – the sun and the beach – and book a summer holiday. Many families also take advantage of the holidays to make their travel plans for the whole year. Favoured by the British, in particular, are all-inclusive holidays. A trend that the Brexit decision and the associated devaluation of the British Pound has further intensified. Price-conscious Britons thus avoid uncertainties resulting from increasing additional costs in Euro or Dollar countries.
Smartphone and tablet play an increasingly important role in the planning of travel and its booking. In countries like Norway and Sweden this is already completely normal. Their holiday bookings are made mainly online (78%). In Germany, however, the travel agency with its advice and service continues to be the preferred booking channel. The proportion of online bookings, however, is steadily increasing. In the past fiscal year 2017, the figure was 18 percent.
Where should the holiday be taken this year? In 2018 TUI organizers will focus in particularly on Spain, Greece and Turkey. The Canary Islands, Crete, Rhodes and Antalya rank among the favourites. With the long-haul destinations, on the other hand, it may well be a bit more exotic. On the list of top long-haul destinations in 2018 are destinations such as Vietnam and Cuba, but also city destinations such as New York.