text:
The First President
When, at last, the States had all agreed to accept the Constitution as the basis of government, the next thing to do was to elect a President, and so establish themselves as the American Nation at once.
As might be expected, Washington was the man chosen for this important office; and when we recall how generous, how brave, and how wise he had been during the Revolution, we cannot doubt for a moment that he was the very best choice for this new position.
It was decided to make New York City the capital of the United States; and thither Washington in his coach-and-four set forth from his beautiful home in Virginia to take his place as first President of the United States of America. It is said that his journey was one ovation from the time he left Mt. Vernon (his home) until he reached New York City. Crowds of gaily-dressed people, bearing baskets and wreaths of flowers, hailed his appearance at every village, with shouts and songs of joy.
When he reached Trenton—the very place where, a few years before, so heartsick and discouraged he had crossed the Delaware on that wintry Christmas night to attack the drunken Hessians,—at this very place the road was strewn with roses, the young maidens held arches of flowers over him, and the air rang with songs of gratitude and welcome.
In New York City a grand ball was given. Never before had this little community seen so much elegance. Washington had left off his blue "soldier coat," and was now dressed in a handsome suit of black velvet, with white silk stockings, beautiful silver buckles, and satin waistcoat. He was very tall, and straight, and manly looking; and with his elegant dress, and his powdered hair, he must indeed have made a very distinguished appearance.
STATUE OF WASHINGTON. UNITED STATES TREASURY BUILDING, NEW YORK CITY. ON THIS SITE IN FEDERAL HALL, APRIL 30, 1789, GEORGE WASHINGTON TOOK THE OATH AS THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
John Adams, the Vice-president, was there, and so was Hamilton, the Secretary of the Treasury. General Knox, too, with his beautiful wife—the most beautiful woman of her time, so it is said, was there. Jefferson, who had been in France some time, now came back to America to be present at this "Inauguration Ball." He took everybody by surprise by appearing dressed as were the French people at that time—in white broadcloth coat, scarlet waistcoat, and breeches, cocked hat, and white stockings. It was indeed a wonderful ball, and I am sure there were beauty, and elegance, and grace, such as any court in Europe might well have been proud of.
In all the large towns celebrations of all sorts were held. In the city of New York there was a grand procession, such as never before had been seen in America. This procession was headed by a man dressed to look like Columbus, the discoverer of the country. Behind him were long lines of men with axes, who represented the pioneers—that is, the men who first came here from Europe, and felled the trees and cleared the places for roads and cities; then came lines of men dressed to represent the farmers, with plows, and scythes, and reapers; then came carts, fitted up like work-shops to represent the different trades. One cart, which represented a bake-shop, had upon it a huge loaf of bread, ten feet high, on which were printed the names of all the states; the coopers were putting together a barrel with thirteen staves, and binding it with a strong iron band, which they called "The New Constitution;" the butchers were roasting a whole ox, which, when the celebration was over, was to be eaten by the people in the procession.
In the procession there were thirteen boys, each thirteen years old, dressed in white, with ribbons and garlands of green.
On another cart was a printing press; and, as it passed along, the printers printed copies of patriotic verses, and flung them right and left to the people.
Greatest of all, was a big ship—the "Ship of State"—drawn by ten large milk-white horses. O, it was a grand day for New York! The people shouted and hurrahed till they were hoarse; and, at last, when the procession had been everywhere and had been seen by everybody, all went into a great tent, decorated with flags and banners, where the women of the city had prepared a feast for them; then they shouted and hurrahed more, listened to speeches, drank toasts to the "new Government" and to the "new President," and finally went to their different homes, prouder than ever, I've no doubt, of the new "American Nation."
We hear in these days a great deal of fault found over the manner in which our Presidents from time to time choose their aids. It is often said, perhaps unjustly, that they are chosen with very little regard to their fitness for the offices which they are to fill, but rather because they chance to be friends or relations, or to have some other claim upon the president.
Whether this is so or not, Washington certainly set for all his successors a glorious example in this one line.
During his administration as President of the United States, a gentleman, a friend of the President throughout the whole course of the Revolutionary war, applied for a certain office. The gentleman was at all times welcome to Washington's table. He had been, to a certain degree, necessary to the man who had for seven years fought the battles of his country. At all times and in all places Washington regarded his Revolutionary associate with an eye of partiality and confidence.
He was a jovial, pleasant, companion; and in applying for the office, his friends already cheered him in his prospect of success.
The opponent of this gentleman was known to be an enemy of Washington. He dared, however, to stand as a candidate for the office to which the friend and favorite of Washington aspired.
Every one considered the appointment of this man hopeless. No flattering testimonial of merit had he to present to the eye of Washington. He was known to be his political enemy. He was opposed by a favorite of the General; and yet with such fearful odds he dared to stand as a candidate. What was the result? The enemy of Washington was appointed to the office, and his table companion left destitute and rejected.
A mutual friend, who interested himself in the affair, ventured to remonstrate with the President for the injustice of his appointment. "My friend," said he, "I receive with a cordial welcome. He is welcome to my house and welcome to my heart. But, with all his good qualities, he is not a man of business. His opponent is, with all his political hostility to me, a man of business. My private feelings have nothing to do in this case. I am not George Washington, but President of the United States. As George Washington, I would do this man any kindness in my power; but as President of the United States I can do nothing."


text:
«Ска́зки Ба́рда Би́для» () — книга для детей, написанная Дж. К. Роулинг. Входит в цикл «Библиотека Хогвартса». Первое упоминание «Сказок» происходит в седьмой книге о Гарри Поттере «Дары Смерти». Сказки рассказывают о волшебниках, которые жили в Йоркшире.

17 ноября 2007 года было издано семь копий рукописи Роулинг. Шесть были розданы друзьям писательницы, а седьмая копия была выставлена на аукцион «Сотбис» 13 декабря со стартовой ценой 30 000 фунтов стерлингов. Рукопись была выкуплена сайтом Amazon.com за 1,95 миллионов фунтов стерлингов. Деньги, вырученные с продажи рукописи, Роулинг решила передать в благотворительный фонд «Children's Voice». В связи с тем, что на книгу появился большой спрос у поклонников саги о волшебнике Поттере, она была выпущена во многих странах мира с целью благотворительности.

4 декабря 2008 года книга была выпущена одновременно в 25 странах мира на родных языках. В России «Сказки Барда Бидля» были выпущены издательством Росмэн 6 декабря. Книга выглядит как копия «Сказок Барда Бидля» из мира волшебников. Но так как сама книга, оставленная Альбусом Дамблдором Гермионе Грейнджер, была написана древними рунами, то якобы Гермиона переиздала книгу.

Реальная книга

Книга написана Джоан К. Роулинг как прощание с серией романов о Гарри Поттере. Выпущено только 7 экземпляров книги, все они написаны от руки и иллюстрированы самой Роулинг. Все копии переплетены в кожу и украшены серебром и полудрагоценными камнями. Шесть экземпляров Дж. К. Роулинг подарила близким людям: Дэниелу Рэдклиффу, своему первому литературному агенту Кристоферу Литтлу и др. Седьмой экземпляр, «moonstone edition», был выставлен на аукцион Сотбис 13 декабря 2007. Средства от продажи были пожертвованы благотворительной организации The Children's Voice, которая помогает европейским детям. Ожидалось, что книга будет продана за £50,000 (около 100 тыс. долларов). В действительности она была продана за £1,950,000 (около 4 млн долларов). Покупателями стали лондонские арт-дилеры, представлявшие Amazon.com.

В сборник входят пять сказок, придуманных Дж. К. Роулинг:
 Сказка о трёх братьях / The Tale of the Three Brothers
 Фонтан феи Фортуны / The Fountain of Fair Fortune
 Колдун и прыгливый горшок / The Wizard and the Hopping Pot
 Зайчиха Шутиха и её пень-зубоскал / Babbitty Rabbitty and her Cackling Stump
 Мохнатое сердце чародея / The Warlock's Hairy Heart

Став владельцем книги, сайт Amazon.com опубликовал пересказ всех пяти сказок.
Опубликовать текст или фотокопии страниц сайт не имел права.

Сказки барда Бидля упоминаются в книге «Гарри Поттер и Дары Смерти», а текст «Сказки о трёх братьях» даже приводится там же.

Сюжет

Сказка о трёх братьях
Однажды трое братьев путешествовали. В сумерках они дошли до реки, которая была настолько быстра, что её не переплыть, и настолько глубока, что её не перейти вброд. Но братья были волшебниками. Взмахнув волшебными палочками, они провели мост через реку. Дойдя до середины реки, братья увидели Смерть, которая была возмущена тем, что не заполучила новых жертв, но своё возмущение скрыла и восхитилась мастерством братьев и за это предложила им подарки.

Старший брат был жадным. Он попросил самую могущественную на свете волшебную палочку, такую что её хозяин мог бы победить в поединке любого соперника. Смерть отломила ветку растущей неподалёку бузины, сделала из неё волшебную палочку и дала её старшему брату. Средний брат был гордым. Он попросил у Смерти силу воскрешать мёртвых. Смерть подняла камень, валявшийся на берегу, дала его второму брату и сказала, что он может возвращать мёртвых.

Младший брат был умным и скромным. Он сразу поставил под сомнение добрые намерения Смерти и попросил у неё возможность прятаться от Смерти, где бы она его не искала. Смерть была в ярости ибо ей пришлось отрезать кусок мантии-невидимки и отдать её младшему брату. После этого каждый из братьев пошёл своей дорогой. Старший брат забрёл в одну деревню и победил в поединке волшебника, с которым был в конфликте. Затем он зашёл на постоялый двор и стал хвастаться своей волшебной палочкой. В ту же ночь к нему пробрался вор, перерезал ему горло и украл волшебную палочку. Так Смерть получила первого брата.

Средний брат вернулся домой и воспользовался воскрешающим камнем. Три раза повернул он камень и увидел, что перед ним стоит девушка, на которой он хотел жениться. Но она была холодна и печальна. В конце концов брат не смог вынести тоски, сошел с ума и повесился, чтобы навсегда остаться со своей любимой. Так Смерть получила среднего брата. Третьего брата Смерть искала очень долго, но он постоянно прятался от неё под мантией-невидимкой. В конце концов он состарился и отдал мантию своему сыну и ушли они со Смертью как былые знакомые.

Колдун и прыгливый горшок
Жил на свете добрый волшебник. Он всегда помогал своим соседям, когда они обращались к нему со своими проблемами, варил зелья и противоядия в своём волшебном котле. Но вскоре он умер и оставил всё своему единственному сыну. Вскоре после смерти отца, молодой волшебник находит волшебный котёл, в котором лежит один тапок и записка «Надеюсь, сын мой, что это тебе никогда не понадобится».

Огорчённый, что ему больше ничего не досталось, кроме старого котла, сын отвернулся от всех соседей. Вскоре к сыну волшебника стали приходить со своими проблемами люди. Сначала пришла бабушка, у внучки которой появились бородавки. Но молодой волшебник прогоняет её. Захлопнув дверь, он слышит странный стук на кухне. У котла, завещанного его отцом, неожиданно отросла нога и он весь покрылся бородавками. Котёл начинает преследовать своего хозяина, и никакие заклинания не помогают от него избавиться. На следующих день к волшебнику приходит мужчина, у которого пропал осёл. Без осла он не может привозить товары в город и его семья останется голодной. Молодой волшебник прогоняет и его, и тут же появляется прыгающий на одной ноге бородавчатый котёл, который издаёт ослинные звуки и голодные стоны.

Постепенно молодой волшебник прогоняет всё больше и больше людей, пришедших к нему за помощью. Так котёл обзаводится слезами, рвотой, собачьим поскуливанием. В конце-концов, волшебник вынужден подчиниться воле отца. Он начинает помогать людям, а у котла пропадают приобретённые напасти. Наконец из котла выпрыгивает тапок, который прекрасно подходит к ноге котла, и он успокаивается.

Волосатое сердце колдуна
Жил да был молодой колдун, который был настолько тверд в своем желании никогда не проявлять подобную «слабость», что он прибегнул к темным искусствам, чтобы никогда в жизни не влюбляться.
Семья колдуна и не подозревала о методах, которые он применил, чтобы обезопасить себя, и потому посмеялись над его попытками избежать влюбленности, полагая, что подходящая девушка заставит его изменить свое мнение. Но в колдуне проснулась гордыня: он полностью стал уверен в своем хитроумии и впечатлен собственной способностью оставаться совершенно равнодушным.
Прошло время, но даже глядя на то, как один за другим женятся и заводят детей его товарищи, колдун остался верен своему решению, радуясь тому, что он счастливым образом избежал бремени чувств, которые, по его мнению, иссушают и опустошают сердца людей. Когда умерли родители колдуна, он не горевал, а напротив, воспринял их смерть как «благодать». Колдун преспокойно обжился в доме умерших родителей и перевез в подвал дома свое «величайшее сокровище». Поверив в то, что другие люди завидуют его «чудесному» полному одиночеству, колдун заблуждался настолько глубоко, что постигший его удар показался ему особенно болезненным. Однажды, он услышал, как двое его слуг сплетничают о нём — один жалеет его, а второй высмеивает его за то, что он не женат. Колдун тут же решил всем на зависть взять в жены красивую, богатую и талантливую из женщин.

По счастливому стечению обстоятельств, на следующий же день колдун встретил красивую, искусную и богатую ведьму. Он преследовал её, словно добычу, заставляя всех своих знакомых поверить в то, что он изменился. Молодая ведьма заинтересована, но вместе с тем чувствует неприязнь к новому знакомому и ощущает его отчужденность. Тем не менее, она принимает приглашение посетить пир в его замке. За столом со всяческими яствами и под песни менестрелей колдун пытается добиться руки колдуньи. В конце концов она бросает ему вызов и заявляет, что поверит его красивым словам только тогда, когда он докажет ей, что у него есть сердце. Улыбаясь, колдун с гордостью ведет девушку в подземелье, где показывает ей волшебный хрустальный ларец, в котором заключено его бьющееся сердце.

Колдунья приходит в ужас при виде сердца, усохшего и покрывшегося волосами за время изгнания из тела. Она умоляет колдуна вернуть его на место. Уверенный в том, что это заставит её полюбить его, колдун рассекает себе грудь волшебной палочкой и помещает свое волосатое сердце внутрь. Ликуя от того, что теперь колдун способен чувствовать любовь, юная колдунья обнимает его. Изуродованное сердце пронзено красотой её кожи и ароматом её волос. Отвыкшее от тела, ослепшее и ставшее жестоким, оно заставляет колдуна напасть на девушку.

Гости на пиру начинают беспокоиться за хозяина. Спустя несколько часов они принимаются обыскивать замок и обнаруживают подземелье. На полу они находят мертвую девушку с рассечённой грудью. Подле неё они видят скрючившегося безумного колдуна, который ласкает и облизывает её блестящее алое сердце и пытается заменить им свое. Но его сердце обладает огромной силой и отказывается покидать его тело. Колдун клянется никогда не быть рабом своего сердца. Он хватает кинжал и вырезает сердце из груди. Всего мгновение он упивается своей победой, держа в каждой окровавленной руке по сердцу, а затем падает замертво на труп девушки.

Фонтан феи Фортуны
Раз в год одному «неудачнику» дается возможность найти дорогу к Фонтану, искупаться в воде и заполучить «феерическую фортуну навсегда.»
Зная, что это может быть единственным шансом изменить свою жизнь, люди (как с магическими способностями, так и без) отправляются в путь от дальних пределов королевства, чтобы попытаться проникнуть в сад. И вот здесь встречаются три колдуньи и делятся историями своих бед. Первая — Аша, больная "хворью, которую ни один целитель не может излечить, " которая надеется, что Фонтан сможет поправить её здоровье.

Вторая — Алтеда, которую обокрал и оскорбил чародей. Она надеется, что Фонтан освободит её от ощущения беспомощности и бедности. Третья колдунья, Амата, была брошена возлюбленным, и надеется, что Фонтан поможет залечить её «горе и желание.» Колдуньи решают, что три головы лучше одной, и они приложат все свои усилия, чтобы дойти до Фонтана вместе. На рассвете в стене появляется трещина, и лианы из сада пробираются через неё и обвиваются вокруг Аши, первой колдуньи. Она хватается за Алтеду, которая держится за Амату. Но Амата зацепилась за доспехи рыцаря, и когда лианы затаскивают Ашу внутрь, все три колдуньи вместе с рыцарем оказываются втянуты за стену.

Поскольку только одному из них будет позволено искупаться в Фонтане, первые две ведьмы расстроены, что Амата по небрежности привлекла ещё одного конкурента. Из-за того, что он лишен магической силы, признает в женщинах колдуний, а также весьма подходит к своему имени «Сэр Незадачливый», рыцарь объявляет о своем намерении отказаться от квеста. Амата тут же распекает его за то, что он хочет отступить, и просит присоединиться к группе.
На пути к Фонтану, пестрая компания встречает три препятствия. Во-первых, они встречают червя, который требует «доказательство твоего страдания». После нескольких бесплодных попыток напасть на него с помощью магии и других средств, слезинка отчаяния Аши, в конце концов, оказывается достаточной для червя, и он позволяет четверке пройти. Далее, они встречают крутой склон, и от них требуют заплатить «плодом твоих трудов». Они много раз пытаются подняться по склону, но проводят несколько часов в бесцельном карабканье.

Наконец, старания Алтеды, из последних сил подбадривающей своих друзей (а именно, пот с её брови) дает им проход через препятствие. В конце концов, они видят реку на своем пути, и от них требуется отдать «сокровище твоего прошлого». Попытки переплыть реку безуспешны, пока Амате не приходит в голову использовать палочку, чтобы удалить воспоминания о возлюбленном, который оставил её, и бросить их в воду. Камни для прохода появляются из воды, и четверка может перейти к фонтану, где им придется решить, кто будет купаться.

Аша падает от изнурения и близка к смерти. Она испытывает такую боль, что не может добраться до Фонтана, и просит своих трех друзей оставить её. Алтеда быстро смешивает мощное зелье, в попытке оживить её, и варево, как ни странно, полностью излечивает её хворь, так что ей нет теперь нужды в водах Фонтана. Излечив Ашу, Алтеда понимает, что у неё есть сила лечить других, а значит — зарабатывать деньги. Ей больше не нужны воды Фонтана, чтобы излечиться от «бессилия и бедности».

Третья колдунья, Амата, понимает, что когда она смыла свое сожаление о возлюбленном, она смогла увидеть его таким, каким он был на самом деле, «жестоким и бесчестным», и ей больше не нужны воды Фонтана. Она поворачивается к Сэру Незадачливому и предлагает ему прыгнуть в Фонтан в качестве награды за его смелость. Рыцарь, удивленный своей удаче, купается в Фонтане и бросается «в своих ржавых доспехах» к ногам Аматы и просит её «руки и сердца.» Каждая колдунья достигает своей мечты об исцелении, злополучный рыцарь узнает о своей храбрости, а Амата, та колдунья, которая верила в него, осознает, что нашла «мужчину, достойного её.» Они жили долго, так никогда и не догадавшись, что воды Фонтана «вовсе не несли на себе никаких чар».

Зайчиха Шутиха и её пень-зубоскал
Давным-давно в далёкой стране, жадный «глупый король» решает, что хочет оставить всю магию себе одному. Но у него две проблемы: надо, во-первых, переловить всех живущих волшебников и волшебниц и, во-вторых, научиться магии самому. Возглавив «Бригаду Охотников за Ведьмами», усиленную сворой свирепых чёрных псов, Король в то же время объявляет, что ищет «инструктора магии». Вместо того чтобы откликнуться на его зов, волшебники и волшебницы благоразумно прячутся, зато «хитрый шарлатан» без всяких магических способностей обманом получает эту должность, показав несколько простых фокусов.

Став главным волшебником и личным инструктором Короля, шарлатан требует золото для магических ингредиентов, рубины для наложения заклятий и серебряные кубки для зелий. Спрятав полученное у себя дома, он возвращается во дворец, не зная, что Шутиха, старая прачка Короля, его заметила. Она наблюдает, как он отрезает у дерева ветки, которые потом предъявляет Королю как волшебные палочки. Будучи хитёр, шарлатан говорит королю, что его волшебная палочка заработает лишь тогда, когда «Ваше Величество будет этого достоин».

Ежедневно Король и шарлатан практикуют свою «магию», но однажды утром они слышат смех и видят Шутиху, выглядывающую из окна своего коттеджа и хохочущую так, что едва может устоять на ногах. Обиженный Король приходит в ярость и требует, чтобы они завтра же продемонстрировали настоящую магию перед его подданными. Шарлатан пытается отговориться тем, что он должен отправиться в дальнее путешествие, но недоверчивый Король угрожает отправить за ним Бригаду. Доведя себя до бешенства, Король издаёт приказ, чтобы, если кто-нибудь засмеётся над ним, шарлатана обезглавили. Так наш глупый, жадный, не умеющий колдовать Король демонстрирует одновременно свою гордыню и вызывающую жалость неуверенность.

Ища, на кого излить свою злобу, хитрый шарлатан направляет свои стопы прямо к дому Шутихи. Заглянув в окно, он видит «маленькую старую леди» сидящей за столом и чистящей волшебную палочку, в то время как бельё «само себя стирает» в тазу. Поняв, что она — настоящая колдунья, одновременно источник и решение его проблем, шарлатан требует помощи, иначе он сдаст её Бригаде.

Сохранив невозмутимость, Шутиха улыбается и соглашается «сделать всё, что в её силах», чтобы помочь. Шарлатан велит ей спрятаться в кустах и совершать чудеса вместо Короля. Шутиха соглашается, но хочет знать, что будет, если Король попытается проделать что-то невозможное. Шарлатан, как всегда убеждённый в своём уме и глупости окружающих, высмеивает её страхи, заверяя Шутиху, что её магия намного превосходит всё, что «воображение этого дурака» может измыслить.

На следующее утро придворные собираются посмотреть на магию Короля. Со сцены Король и шарлатан совершают первое чудо: заставляют женскую шляпку исчезнуть. Собравшиеся смотрят с интересом и изумлением, не зная, что это сделала Шутиха, спрятавшаяся в кустах. Следующим номером Король, направив ветку на своего коня, поднимает его высоко в воздух. Пока Король ищет ещё лучшую идею для третьего чуда, к нему подходит Капитан Бригады, неся мёртвое тело одного из Королевских псов (отравившегося ядовитым грибом). Он умоляет Короля вернуть пса «обратно к жизни», но когда Король направляет ветку на пса, ничего не происходит. Шутиха в своём убежище улыбается, даже не пытаясь колдовать, ибо знает, что «никакая магия не может воскресить мёртвого». Толпа начинает смеяться, подозревая, что первые два чуда были просто фокусами. Придя в ярость, Король требует, чтобы ему сказали, почему колдовство не удалось. Хитрый и лживый шарлатан показывает на прячущуюся Шутиху и кричит, что «мерзкая ведьма» препятствует колдовству. Шутиха бежит из кустов, и когда Охотники за Ведьмами посылают за ней псов, она исчезает, оставляя псов «лаять и рыться» у корней старого дерева. В отчаянии шарлатан кричит, что ведьма превратилась «в дикое яблоневое дерево». Боясь, что Шутиха превратится снова в женщину и разоблачит его, шарлатан требует срубить яблоню, потому что так «поступают со злыми ведьмами».

Дерево рубят, в то время как толпа, ликуя, возвращается к дворцу, раздаётся «громкое хихиканье», на этот раз из пня. Шутиха, с присущим этой колдунье умом, кричит, что волшебниц и волшебников нельзя убить, «разрубив пополам», и в доказательство своих слов предлагает разрубить «на две части» Королевского инструктора. В этот момент шарлатан просит пощады и во всём признаётся. Его заточают в подземелье, но Шутиха должна ещё разобраться со своим глупым королём. Её голос, по-прежнему доносящийся из пня, объявляет, что его действия наложили проклятие на королевство и отныне, всякий раз как Король причинит вред волшебнице или волшебнику, он почувствует боль такую острую, что захочет «умереть от неё». В отчаянии Король падает на колени и обещает защищать всех волшебников и волшебниц на своих землях, позволяя им колдовать безнаказанно. Пень доволен, но ему этого недостаточно: захихикав снова, он требует поставить на него статую Шутихи, чтобы напоминать Королю об его «собственной глупости». «Пристыженный Король» обещает нанять скульптора, чтобы тот изваял статую из золота, и возвращается к дворцу со своими придворными. Тут наконец «отважная старая зайчиха» с волшебной палочкой в зубах выпрыгивает из отверстия в пне и покидает королевство. Золотая статуя остаётся на пне навсегда, а за волшебницами и волшебниками больше никогда не охотятся.

Роль в книге «Гарри Поттер и Дары Смерти»

Альбус Дамблдор завещает Гермионе Грейнджер сборник сказок Барда Бидля. Трое друзей получают вещи, завещанные Дамблдором из рук министра магии, Руфуса Скримджера, через месяц после смерти директора Хогвартса. В течение этого месяца Министерство магии недоумевало, почему Дамблдор завещал Гарри Поттеру, Рону Уизли и Гермионе эти странные вещи, и изучало их на предмет секретов. Так ничего и не найдя, Министерство было вынуждено отдать вещи в руки их законных владельцев.

Тем же вечером, собравшись в комнате, троица обсуждает предметы, завещанные Дамблдором. Гарри и Гермиона ничего раньше не слышали о сборнике сказок (так как родители Гермионы — маглы, а Гарри потерял родителей ещё в младенчестве), однако Рон рассказывает, что это обычный сборник сказок, который волшебники читают своим маленьким детям. По словам Рона, считается, что все старые волшебные сказки сочинил Бидль.

В середине повествования Гермиона обнаруживает над сказкой о трёх братьях странную руну, которую она не знает, и показывает её Гарри. Последний говорит, что он видел этот знак на медальоне Ксенофилиуса Лавгуда и что Виктор Крам сказал ему, что это символ Геллерта Грин-де-Вальда. Точно такой же символ они видели на могиле Игнотуса Певерелла в Годриковой Впадине. Тот же символ Альбус Дамблдор поместил в конце своего письма Грин-де-Вальду.

Поскольку о двух предметах ничего не известно, а свидетельства о третьем спорные, большинство волшебников считает «Сказку о трёх братьях» всего лишь детской сказкой. Лишь немногие (и в их числе Ксенофилиус Лавгуд) верят, что Дары Смерти действительно существуют. Своей эмблемой эти волшебники избрали знак, который был на одежде Лавгуда, в письме Дамблдора, перед «Сказкой о трёх братьях» и т. д. Дальнейшая сюжетная линия строится на Дарах Смерти и крестражах.

Издания

Примечания

Литература

Книги о Гарри Поттере
Вымышленные книги
Литературные сборники 2008 года
Литературные сказки
Сборники легенд и сказок

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Moving past mid year we're called to review and come into alignment with our heart's deepest calling. As we're drawn to what we truly love the source of this calling is Grace.
How do I speak about Grace? I think of it as an undefinable essence, an abiding Presence and Mystery awakening us to deeper truth. How does Grace move? How does it reveal itself? How can we learn to recognize Grace?
Grace flows as everything. It abides in every movement and non-movement, both in confusion and clarity. In Kashmir Shaivism, even concealment of our essential nature is full of grace. As everything has potential to point back to the truth of our essential nature anything can be a messenger. The non-dual practices sensitize you to recognize it. Pranayama, Bodysensing, and iRest support you in evolving from the belief of separation to your inherent wholeness and interconnection with all of life.
Approaching life from a sense of separation creates struggle and misunderstanding. You think you have to control life or make it happen a certain way. When life doesn't conform to your agenda Grace may feel like the surge of a rushing waterfall, fierce and powerful. As you struggle wanting life to be other than it is Grace brings you to the edge of experience. At that precipice one step opens you into the unknown. By abiding here, a deeper truth may be revealed.
At other times you may engage in an effortless flow. Without an agenda you meet life as it is, with a sense of openness and curiosity. In the vast simplicity of the moment Grace shines forth as spontaneous and creative expression. Have you ever had a moment where you've somehow gotten out of your own way and a clear response emerged? It is the embodiment or pure expression of life through you. Yet it is also impersonal and you may have no idea where it's coming from. Here you engage life with a perfect response born right from the moment itself.
The recognition of Grace is a matter of learning to listen to the call of life. Through inquiry you recognize the need to stop, question, and feel into a particular belief, emotion, or action. Whether fierce or gentle, Grace aligns us with life; not my will but they will be done. The heart's calling is now both personal as our unique expression in the world, and impersonal as the harmonious flow of life itself.
Awakening is a matter of life or the immensity of the Absolute becoming aware of itself through you. Lean into life. A moment may come when you are so undefended that all effort ceases. No practice or teaching is needed here. There is nothing to be done. Abiding as openness Grace may reveal your essential nature.
Stephanie Lopez, LISW-S, is the Director of Operations, Senior iRest® Trainer and Retreat Leader for the iRest Institute. Stephanie's offerings are informed by over two decades of immersion in the nondual teachings of yoga. As a psychotherapist & meditation teacher she bridges eastern wisdom with western psychology to support healing and transformation. Stephanie's compassionate presence, depth of knowledge, and ease of being create a welcoming space for insightful learning. She leads retreats and trainings internationally with a focus on living an authentic and awakened life. Learn more at www.irest.us.
in the Inner Wisdom Library.


What is it like to stay at the #1 rated Cedarbrook Lodge? A few years ago, I saw a review on TripAdvisor about how wonderful this new SeaTac airport hotel was. I read more reviews. And more. Because I couldn't find a single negative comment about Cedarbrook Lodge, I tucked it into my brain for future reference.
Forward a few years, and I am in Seattle visiting family. I nearly always stay in my family members' homes when visiting, but we had an early flight out at the end of the trip, and I knew it would be easier to make our flight if I was closer to the airport. Dusted off that tip about Cedarbrook Lodge that I'd tucked away and went online to make reservations. Not only was it easy, but very reasonably priced, too. My son, my husband and I enjoyed our stay plus the beautiful breakfast buffet they offer (did I say complimentary?) and many other amenities not commonly offered elsewhere.
Flash forward to now. I just traveled to Seattle with my mother for a weekend. We stayed at a family member's home nearly an hour away from the airport, and had a wonderful stay. But we had a super early flight leaving from SeaTac International on our last day, and there was no way that was going to work for my elderly mother from so far away. Back to Cedarbrook! This time, I thought I should share with all of my readers. Because, after all, that's what I started a travel blog for!
Why stay at Cedarbrook Lodge?
It's about 2 miles from the airport, nestled in a residential neighborhood, with a small lake and tree-lined wetlands. You can't really hear the airplanes flying overhead from your room, so unless you happen to look out the window and see a plane, you'd never know how close you are to the airport. But for flying in and out of SeaTac, you couldn't find a better place to stay than Cedarbrook Lodge. I already mentioned it's the top-rated SeaTac hotel, too. Now I'll tell you why.
And that's not all. A lot of attention has been paid to the little details: comfortable nooks where you can sit, stunning art on the walls, free samples of face scrub near the spa, complimentary ear plugs for use in the fitness room, rustic and woodsy decorations throughout the hotel, plus lots of wood accents.
I love that Cedarbrook looks and feels luxurious but is also very practical at the same time. Like having plenty of outlets in the rooms so you can plug in all your devices. Or umbrellas at the doors leading outside so you don't have to get wet when walking in the rain. And bathrobes hanging in your closet, a full-length mirror so you can check out your outfit, and a magnified make-up mirror in the bathroom. Of course, you'll also find a blow dryer, room safe, toiletries, and all kinds of guidebooks for your perusal.
Because it's an airport hotel, of course they have an airport shuttle. And it's complimentary. We didn't have any problems catching the shuttle for our early flight, even though we had to be at the airport before 6:00 am. It was a plus to have heat lamps to make it cozy outside!
It's good to know that if you have to leave early in the morning, before the breakfast buffet is served, Cedarbrook provides drinks and pastries for those who need to grab their breakfast on the run!
But wait, I'm not done!
I haven't yet shared with you the things that are really unique to Cedarbrook Lodge. Lots of hotels have breakfast buffets, but not like Cedarbrook's. They serve a veritable feast of delicious breakfast foods, plus smoked salmon. It's such a perfect addition for the Northwest.
Every wing of Cedarbrook has a living room. This is another reason why staying here feels like being at home. In the living room is a huge comfy couch, bookshelves, large screen TV, refrigerator and freezer stocked with complimentary snacks (like yogurt, string cheese, and Hagen Daz ice cream cups), a hot and cold water dispenser, a microwave, and a countertop with jars of finger foods (like chocolate mint malt balls — yum!). If you have your own food, there's room to store it, labeled with your name, in the refrigerator. Guests stop here, grab a bite to eat, watch the TV or just relax and visit.
Cedarbrook's fitness room is the largest and nicest hotel fitness room I've ever seen. There were free weights and lots of fitness machines — I'm pretty sure there's something for everyone. Heck — this fitness room is nicer than my regular workout gym at home!
Look at those trees out the window. Again, you would never know this was so close to the airport. The beds are very comfortable, and there's a large assortment of different pillows to choose from. The desk provides plenty of space for working (or organizing your things) and there are plenty of outlets for charging. The bedroom and bathroom are generously sized, and they must be soundproofed because I could hardly hear airplanes at all. I never could hear anyone from the rooms surrounding me. Bedside lamps make it easy to turn off the lights as you are climbing into bed. Did I mention how clean and nice everything looked?
If you just want a great getaway location, Cedarbrook is a perfect choice for that, too. With the first-class restaurant, Copperleaf, and the beautiful Spa at Cedarbrook, you could be feeling very pampered. You can dine in front of a large stone fireplace, curl up in the living room with a blanket and a good book, or reserve a facial or massage at the spa. You can stroll around the property on the trails, or take a dip in the outdoor jacuzzi pool.
Even though I didn't have the opportunity to use all of Cedarbrook Lodge's resources, I noticed they have several rooms of various sizes for special events, meetings, conferences, and even weddings. Many of these rooms have cozy gas fireplaces.
If you need a place to park your car while jetting off, you can stay at Cedarbrook Lodge and then leave your car for only $15 per additional night after you're gone. That's much cheaper than parking at the airport and a lot more convenient, too.
Cedarbrook Lodge is dog-friendly, and they have special packages that pamper your dog. See how you can create "Puppy Paradise" for your favorite pup!
There's a Valentine's Day special coming up at the Copperleaf Restaurant you just might want to take advantage of!
Disclosure: While I chose to stay at Cedarbrook because of its superiority to other airport hotels, I was offered a media discount on my most recent stay.
If you're in the Puget Sound area, or if you're going to be traveling to or from the SeaTac airport, be sure to save this blog post for future reference. You'll be so glad you did. And check out this article on my Five Seattle Favorites!
Oh I promise you'll love it there!
Wow that is totally not what one expects from a lodging near an airport. it looks amazing and so peaceful; The rooms look great and I love the living room.
The livingroom concept is rather unique and really adds to the experience of feeling at home!


text:
How the use of Cautions can persuade innocent suspects to admit guilt, and affect those suspects for life
Posted on 17 November 2021 by Rebecca Helm
By David Wacks (CRB Problems Ltd).
'Better education and fair funding could help minimise miscarriages of justice even without major changes to the law'
These comments relate specifically to the law and procedures in England and Wales rather than in Northern Ireland or Scotland.
Cautions, a type of Out of Court Disposal, are criminal sanctions which can be issued by the Police, rather than the Courts. They are particularly useful in dealing with low level crime speedily and much more cheaply than charging a suspect and taking them to court. They will mostly affect people less adversely than if found guilty at Court and avoid adverse publicity, which attending court can result in.
However, Cautions are criticised by some as too lenient, and not as effective in deterring crime as bringing criminal charges. On the other hand a tick box approach to "resolving" crime by out of court disposals can result in suspects being persuaded to admit guilt, thinking that it is just "a slap on the wrist," and in order to get out of the Police station. For this reason, Cautions, while useful, can contribute to innocent people admitting guilt. This is important, since although a caution is not a criminal conviction, it can have significant adverse consequences on a suspect's life through showing on both standard and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks (for some more discussion of the potential adverse impacts of accepting a caution, see here).
There are a variety of Out of Court Disposals each with differing legal consequences but in this article consider only Police Cautions.
Protections for Defendants: Informed Consent, Duty Solicitors and Appropriate Adults.
There are a number of safeguards in place to stop innocent defendants accepting cautions and to ensure suspects are appropriately informed. Every Caution must be signed by the suspect, who must admit guilt to receive it and avoid prosecution. In 2013, the High Court declared that in order to be valid, the Caution itself must clearly set out the long-term consequences of accepting it and as a result all the Police Forces in England and Wales updated the warnings as to the consequences of signing.
Arrested suspects should also be offered the benefits of a free legally aided duty solicitor who can attend at the police interview and subsequently advise the suspect as to whether or not to sign any Caution offered or refuse it and possibly be charged.
Quite separately, suspects under the age of 18 must have an Appropriate Adult with them to advise the suspect and countersign the Caution Form. This adult can be a parent or solicitor or another independent person. An appropriate adult may similarly be needed for other vulnerable suspects, for example a suspect who is blind, illiterate, does not read English or has some mental health problem.
However, despite these safeguards there remains a significant risk that innocent suspects will accept Cautions both due to a lack of understanding and due to incentives making accepting a Caution a logical thing to do even when innocent.
Pressure to Accept a Caution
Even after amendments to the warnings given on Cautions they are still difficult to understand in full. Most people arrested for the first time are terrified at the potential consequences if they are proceeded against and just desperate to get out of the Police Station (which they may only be able to do if they are willing to 'admit' guilt and accept a Caution). Individuals are advised they can get a duty solicitor but despite this being legally aided and free of charge, a significant minority still refuse this, often telling us subsequently that they did not realise it was free.
If they do ask for a duty solicitor, suspects often ask how long it would take to get the solicitor and especially for those arrested at night they are often given to understand it could take a few hours and many then agree to be interviewed by themselves.
After an interview the Police may advise that "because it is a first offence," that they will not charge them and that if they sign a Caution it would just be a "slap on the wrists." The individual frequently agrees to do so and is often so stressed and desperate to get out that they don't read the warnings properly but just sign where pointed to! The regularity of the reference to a "slap on the wrist," was emphasised when a Latvian client who when asked by us what was said to him to persuade him to sign the Caution, said he was told it was just a "hit on the hand," obviously translating the phrase but remembering that translation.
Even where a duty solicitor is called, many do not understand all the long-term consequences of signing a Caution. This area of law falls between the criminal law and civil law and trainee lawyers are rarely if at all told of these complications and are often just anxious to save the client from being arrested. Many may be unaware of the option of downgrading an offer of a caution to a Community Resolution which has much fewer consequences, and the Police themselves do not consistently offer this option.
The warnings even on updated Caution forms are very legalistic and difficult to understand in full by most suspects. This is even more true for those for whom English is not their original language or those who may be dyslexic, illiterate or suffering from a mental health issue. There have been improvements to Police training but it is by no means perfect and more use needs to be made of health professionals to assess the suspects' state of mind and mental capacity before proceeding to an interview let alone asking them to sign a Caution.
Police Decision-Making
In some cases, Police may deliberately or recklessly mislead suspects, but probably more often mistakes can be caused by a lack of training and guidance or a lack of time. For example, in one case I know of, a 15 year old pushed her mother away when she tried to take the cigarettes they found her with, shortly after the grandmother's death from lung cancer. The father called the police just to scare her but was then called as the Appropriate Adult even though he was not independent. Generally a bit of common sense should have persuaded the Police that a Caution was disproportionate even if guilty and by applying the Public Interest Test they could have downgraded their approach, but the child ended up admitting guilt and being cautioned. This kind of situation is not unusual. In a leading High Court Judgement on the use of Cautions, the Judge, in setting aside a Caution for assault, acknowledged that the Police were not being malicious in offering a Caution. They had a lot of calls on their time, especially on a busy weekend meaning that balanced judgments could not always be made. However, the judge also acknowledged that such mistakes should be rectified.
When we are helping clients who have received cautions, we always seek to emphasise that the client is not seeking to punish officers for any mistakes, but just to rectify any mistakes that have been made and that even where a Caution is deleted, the Police still have other options to protect vulnerable people.
One other practical area for mistakes is charging with an incorrect offence. Often solicitors don't wait to explain the Caution warnings to the client and the Police should therefore provide a copy of the draft to explain to the client and also to make clear exactly what the Caution will be for eg ABH rather than Common Law Assault (Battery).
The mistaken use of ABH for minor assaults is the biggest mass mistake in the use of Cautions. Legally, it can be argued that ABH can be used even for minor assaults but for the last 25 years the CPS have issued periodic guidance that ABH should only be used for more serious injuries. In fact, up until the filtering rules came into force 6 years ago the effect of wrongful use was minimal. However, now, under filtering, a Caution for common assault will be filtered after 6 years but a Caution for ABH only when you reach 100. In addition, even spent and filtered Cautions can affect you as they still prejudice you getting a visa to travel even for a holiday, let alone on business- unless the caution can be deleted.
Other Pressures to Accept Cautions
Sometimes and with the best legal advice a client is so terrified of being charged that they agree to sign a Caution even after the Solicitor has advised them that there was definitely no crime! For example, one client was desperate to avoid publicity and the risks of going to court but contacted us years later when she found that she could not get work because of this caution for (allegedly) having an offensive weapon with intent to cause harm. My client was returning home on the motorway with one of her friends both still dressed up after a fancy-dress party. The motorway was bumper to bumper in all 3 lanes and with them in the middle lane. In the inner lane was a lorry driver who noticed their outfits, rolled down his window, pointed 2 fingers at my client and shouted "bang , bang!" My client pulled out her bright plastic water pistol pointed it at him and shouted the same back. She ended up being arrested at gunpoint and taken to the police station where she felt so frightened she signed the Caution just to get home! It can be appreciated that there was pressure to get a result and thankfully we were able to get this Caution removed, but the client should never have been given a Caution. Only a few years ago, President Obama's security picked up a mechanical clock a schoolboy had made and sent as a present. The boy was arrested as a precaution, but as soon as the President heard he arranged for all potential charges to be dropped and for the boy and his family to see him in the Whitehouse to encourage his enterprise. This shows the ability of those in authority to turn what could be embarrassments into positive PR, something that could help the Police increase trust.
There will always be pressure on the Police to dispose of matters promptly and at times when they are rushed off their feet. Likewise, duty solicitors have many calls on their time especially with the low rates for duty solicitor work, but there does need to be a balance between protecting the public and not risking destroying an innocent person's career. Some better education for both police and solicitors and fair funding for both could help minimise miscarriages of justice even without major changes to the law.
David Wacks practised as a solicitor in practices dealing with both civil and criminal work before retiring from private practice 9 years ago and establishing CRB Problems Ltd ( crbproblems.co.uk) to deal with such matters. © 2021.
For more information on our data and research on incentivized admissions: https://evidencebasedjustice.exeter.ac.uk/current-research-data/incentivized-admission/

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Published: Sunday, 18 January 2015 10:00 | Hits: 1888
All the news for Sunday 18 January 2015
Malaysia 5 Ukraine 1
MALAYSIA struggled in the early stages but went on to beat Ukraine 5-1 in the World League Second Round when the forward-line failed miserably and the blushes were saved by penalty corners at the Sengkang Stadium in Singapore.
There was no understanding in the scoring semi-circle in the first three quarters, and if they continue to turn easy matches into troubling ones, misery awaits them in the knock-out stages.
"Yes it was a slow start and I attribute it to the newly laid pitch. But when my players got used to in late in the match, the match was won on a comfortable score and what matters most is the three points in the opening match.
"Penalty corners, even though few (five) saved the day, and now we are looking forward to better matches in this tournament," said Malaysian coach Tai Beng Hai.
Tournament top seed Malaysia started in a chaotic manner as Ukraine defended with numbers in the first quarter of the match.
However, in the 13th minute, a Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin's shot at goal went sailing into the goalmouth but just to make sure, Faizal Saari connected it in for the lead.
The second quarter was much better as Malaysia found their first penalty corner of the match in the 19th minute, and Razie Rahim's drive hit a defenders' leg and a penalty stroke was awarded.
Razie stepped up to the spot, and flicked in for a 2-0 lead.
The celebrations ended in the 24th minute when a freak deflection from Vitali Kalinchuk sent the ball crashing to the top of the net beating a surprised looking Malaysian goalkeeper S. Kumar.
The score was a narrow 2-1 even though Malaysia are ranked 13th while Ukraine 24th in the world.
Malaysia's second penalty corner by Faizal hit the post, but the third penalty corner in the 36th minute saw Razie's drive stopped by the goalkeeper Laroslav Hordey but Izwan Firdaus was at hand to slam in the rebound for 3-1.
Izwan again scored off a penalty corner rebound goal in the 53rd minute to bring the score to a 4-1, while Haziq Shamsul scored in the 57th minute to make it a respectable win.
Meanwhile in Group B, World No 14 Japan whipped Bangladesh 5-1 but coach Kang Keon Wook felt the scoreline did not do justice to the match.
"We did not expect such a big scoreline and I feel that we were quite lucky as Bangladesh are fast closing the gap with us. We do not have the best players in Singapore as after the Asian Games many of our seasoned campaigners picked up injuries playing in the local league and I had to make many changes and inject some fresh faces.
"Even then, we hope to play in the final and qualify for the World League Semi-finals," said Kang.
WORLD LEAGUE ROUND TWO SINGAPORE -- JAN 17-25
Malaysia 1 1 0 0 5 1 3
Oman 1 1 0 0 3 2 3
Singapore 1 0 0 1 2 3 0
Ukraine 1 0 0 1 1 5 0
Poland 1 1 0 0 6 0 3
Japan 1 1 0 0 5 1 3
B'ladesh 1 0 0 1 1 5 0
Mexico 1 0 0 1 0 6 0
Group A: Malaysia 5 Ukraine 1, Oman 3 Singapore 2;
Group B: Japan 5 Bangladesh 1, Poland 6 Mexico 0.
FIXTURES (Malaysian time):
Jan 18: Group B: Bangladesh v Mexico (3pm), Poland v Japan (5.30pm).
Jan 19: Group A: Ukraine v Singapore (3pm), Oman v Malaysia
(5.30pm).
Jan 20: Group A: Ukraine v Oman (5.30pm), Malaysia v Singapore
(8pm); Group B: Japan v Mexico (9am), Bangladesh v Poland (3pm).
Jan 21: REST DAY
Jan 22: Quarter-finals
Jan 23: Fifth-Eighth
Jan 24: Semi-finals
Jan 25: Final and placing matches.
Jugjet's World of Field Hockey
Malaysia forced to slog for a 5-1 win against Ukraine in World League
Faizal Saari (number 10) scoring the first goal for Malaysia against Ukraine in the World Hockey League Round Two in Singapore. Malaysia won 5-1. -Bernama
SINGAPORE: Top seeds Malaysia made heavy weather of minnows Ukraine in the World Hockey League Round Two tournament.
The 5-1 scoreline may look flattering but world No. 13 Malaysia actually slogged against the world No. 24 Ukraine in a Group A match at the Sengkang Hockey Stadium.
Izwan Firdaus Ahmad Tajuddin (36th, 53rd) scored a brace while Faizal Saari (13th), Mohd Razie Abdul Rahim (19th) and Mohd Haziq Samsul (57th) netted a goal each. Vitalii Kalinchuk (34th) scored for Ukraine.
Malaysia got off to a shaky start and lost possession easily to their opponents, who barely play in international tournaments.
Ukraine showed far better fighting spirit compared to the Malaysians.
Malaysia, despite hiring Australian consultant Neil Hawgood to help them put up a strong challenge in the tournament, struggled to penetrate the Ukraine defence.
Forward Aetem Ozerskyi came close to giving Ukraine the lead in the eighth minute but his powerful reverse stick attempt was well saved by goalkeeper S. Kumar.
It was just the wake-up call Malaysia needed and they duly took the lead in the 13th minute. Midfielder Tengku Ahmad Tajudin Tengku Abdul Jalil's hit from the top D was well connected by forward Faizal.
The goal inspired the Malaysian team to double the score in the 19th minute. Malaysia were awarded a penalty stroke by umpire Ali Shahbaz when Ukraine's Ruslan Pashkovskyi used his body to stop skipper Mohd Razie Abdul Rahim's penalty corner drag. Mohd Razie converted.
Ukraine fought back and reduced the deficit in the 24th minute. Oleksandar Diachenko hit from the top D was deflected into goal by Kalinchuk, giving goalkeeper S. Kumar no chance.
Malaysia increased the lead off their third penalty corner in the 36th minute. Mohd Razie's low flick bounced off goalkeeper's Iaroslav Hordey pads before forward Izwan Firdaus dashed to push the ball into goal to make it 3-1.
Izwan Firdaus was on target again for his second – and the team's fourth – goal in the 53rd minute off yet another penalty corner set-piece.
Mohd Haziq Samsul completed the rout with a field goal in the 57th minute.
National coach Tai Beng Hai was disappointed with their performance.
"We struggled in the early part of the match as the players easily lost possession. We also found it hard to penetrate the Ukraine defence in the first 10 minutes," said Beng Hai.
"It could be because this is our first match. Once we got the opening goal, the players began to settle down and we were able to win 5-1. What's important is the three points. We have a day's rest before we face Oman.
"We need to watch the video of the match against Ukraine to make sure we don't repeat the mistakes."
Red hot Poland thrashed Mexico in World Hockey League opener
SINGAPORE: The weather wasn't the only thing that was hot at the Sengkang Hockey Stadium.
Poland were just as hot – turning on the heat to trounce Mexico 6-0 in their World Hockey League Group B opening match.
Tomasz Gorny (27th, 41st) and Piotr Kozlowski (30th, 35th) scored a brace each while Krystain Makowski (9th) and Adrian Krokosz (26th) netted one apiece for Poland.
World No. 18 Poland are seeded third in the tournament – after world No. 13 Malaysia and world No. 14 Japan.
Mexico, a last-minute replacement for Fiji, could have lost by a bigger margin if not for some fine saves by goalkeeper Moises Vargas.
Poland team manager Tomasz Cichy was pleased as punch with their performance under the searing heat.
"It's always good to start a tournament with a big win. Our mission is to win the tournament and that means we have to win every match," said Cichy.
"Our next match is against Japan ... we have a score to settle with them. We lost to them twice in the Champion Challenge I (in Kuantan last year).
"Japan are a solid team but we are confident of getting the better of them this time as we are well prepared."
In Kuantan, Poland lost 3-2 to Japan in a group match and again by the same margin in the seventh-placing playoff.
Japan also got off to a flying start in the other Group B match, outplaying Bangladesh 5-1 in the morning.
Shunya Miyazaki (second minute, 31st), Takuro Sasaki (11th), Kenta Tanaka (18th) and Hirotaka Zendana (22nd) scored for Japan.
Bangladesh, coached by Malaysia's K. Gobinathan, replied through a Chayan Mamunur-Rahman field goal in the 44th minute.
Japan coach Kang Keon-wook acknowledged that the match against Poland "is crucial as it will decide who will top the group standings".
"Overall, Poland are a good team and they showed that against Mexico. They also have good penalty corner drag flickers.
"It will be a tight match but I hope my players can rise to the occasion against the bigger built Poland players," said the South Korean coach, who brought in six new players for this tournament.
Ireland 2-1 Spain (women)
Ireland played Spain in the first of their three test series in Valencia this afternoon. The Irish girls started the game brightly Anna O Flanagan winning a PC but Frazer drag flick was well saved. O Flanagan herself had a strike which tested the Spanish keeper and Duke went close to giving Ireland the lead but the game remained scoreless. Spain finished the quarter with a couple of strikes and a PC of their own but McFerran saved well.
The 2nd quarter remained scoreless with Irish Captain Frazer taking knock but was able to return for the 2nd half.
Emma Gray came on in goal for the second half and was quickly called into action making quality save first from open play and then from a Spanish PC. Ireland took the lead after great work down the right from Katie Mullan and her UCD team mate Nicola Evans, on her 25th birthday, deflection left the Spanish keeper with no chance. Gray made another top save from Spain's 2nd PC in the quarter to keep a clean sheet and Ireland a 1-0 at the end of the 3rd quarter.
Spain equalised Bonastre with the finish to level the game with 13 minutes to go. Ireland took the lead, with 6 minutes left on the clock, when a Sargent strike from a PC was finished cooly by Chloe Watkins at the far post. Good Irish defence for the final 5m saw the game out and a win for Ireland by 2-1.
After the game Irish Coach Darren Smith said ' We are happy with the win but there will need to be some improvements heading into tomorrow. Our passing was too static, we over carried the ball and struggled to retain possession. Spain are a quality team so it will be an extremely competitive series and great preparation for World League 2"
IRELAND 2 (Chloe Watkins, Nicola Evans)
SPAIN 1 (Bonastre)
Sunday 3.30 (Irish time) Ireland v Spain
Tuesday 09.30 (Irish time) Ireland v Spain
IRELAND: Emma Gray (GK), Stella Davis (GK), Ayeisha McFerran (GK), Cliodhna Sargent, Emma Smyth, Chloe Brown, Nicola Evans, Shirley McCay, Megan Frazer (Capt), Naomi Carroll, Chloe Watkins, Lizzie Colvin, Nicola Daly, Katie Mullan, Anna O Flanagan, Gillian Pinder, Deirdre Duke, Kate Dillon, Yvonne O Byrne, Emily Beatty
Did not play: Gillian Pinder , Emily Beatty, Stella Davis
Not available: Hannah Matthews & Ali Meeke
Dominant Surbiton remain on track
Surbiton remain dominant in the Hockey 5s Championship Women's Division One, recording another two wins at Nottingham Trent University on Saturday to remain unbeaten at the top of the table.
A 4-1 win over Brooklands Poynton was followed up with a 9-1 drubbing of Olton and West Warwickshire, with Harriet Tibble claiming four of their goals on the day.
Second spot – and just three points behind – are Leicester who also enjoyed two wins on Saturday. Rachel Mack scored six times in their 9-0 win over Horsham, and had also scored one in their 5-3 win over Buckingham earlier in the day to keep the pressure on Surbiton.
Third spot are Bristol Firebrands, who also secured two wins on Saturday – firstly winning 5-1 over Wakefield and then scraping past Brooklands Poynton 2-1.
Wakefield bounced back from their loss to Firebrands with a surprise 4-2 win over Buckingham in the day's penultimate game.
Finally, bottom of the table – although still not relegated – are Ipswich who lost 4-7 to Olton and 3-1 to Horsham on Saturday.
Wimbledon chasing down Loughborough in Hockey 5s
Wimbledon smashed home 20 goals in the Hockey 5s Championship Men's Division One at the University of West England in Bristol on Saturday, closing the gap on leaders Loughborough Students.
Just one point now separates Wimbledon and Loughborough – and the two are set to meet on Sunday in what could prove a crucial game for both side's promotion hopes.
Loughborough dropped their first points of the campaign when drawing 6-6 with Brooklands Manchester University, although they avoided being knocked off the top of the table with a 7-4 win over Old Loughtonians later in the day, with Ed Horler scoring five on the day.
Meanwhile, Wimbledon beat Harleston Magpies 8-4 and Bournville 12-2 on Saturday to turn up the pressure on Loughborough.
Brooklands lie third and could also go top on Sunday, having beaten Harleston Magpies 8-2 in their other Saturday match, with Peter Flanagan ending the day as top-scorer with six goals.
In other action Cannock moved up to fourth thanks to a 4-3 win over Bournville and a 10-1 win over Doncaster, while Southgate beat Old Loughtonians 7-3 and only narrowly lost 6-5 to Doncaster.
Sticking up for hockey in Mumbai
HIl franchise Mumbai Dabang draft in many city players and also plan to work towards putting the metropolis back on sport's map in the country
Rutvick Mehta
With the the previous Mumbai franchise finishing last and second last in the two seasons, Dabang Mumbai have their work cut out ahead of the upcoming Hockey India League. Photo Salman Ansari
With the the previous Mumbai franchise finishing last and second last in the two seasons, Dabang Mumbai have their work cut out ahead of the upcoming Hockey India League Salman Ansari dna
"Mumbai hockey has lost its charm" is the oft-repeated line among the sports enthusiasts in the city.
Make no mistake, they say that for a reason. For, they've seen it all. From the highs of producing a legend like Dhanraj Pillay, having a strong presence in the Indian team in the 1990s and the early 2000s, to having only one over the past few years in Yuvraj Walmiki, hockey in Mumbai has come a full circle.
From Pillay to Cornelius D'Costa, Gavin Ferreira to Rahul Singh, Darryl D'Souza to Anil Aldrin, Edgar brothers to Viren Rasquinha, the city of dreams has produced some champions players over the past few decades. Cut to the present, and one can count on their fingertips the number of players knocking on the national doors.
Rasquinha, former India captain and Olympian, paints the picture aptly.
"When I was growing up," he recalls, "I remember 30-40 boys playing hockey in a gully, wearing chappals and carrying a stick. I didn't have shin pads that time. I used to hate hockey because the ball used to hit my shin and it was so painful. But it was great fun at the same time. I don't see kids playing hockey in the gullies anymore".
That's what hurts hockey lovers most — not the lack of presence at the top-most level, but the lack of interest right at the bottom.
For many years, hockey in Mumbai was in the wilderness. Players were left in the lurch with the split in the federation. Mumbai Hockey Association (MHA) remained with the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and not the recognised Hockey India (HI) for around four years till 2011. It denied Mumbai players an opportunity to play for the country, having a serious trickle-down effect.
Kids had no one to look up to, parents didn't encourage their children to take up the sport. "There's no scope in it anymore", they said. They had a point.
It's precisely this perception that Dabang Mumbai, the newly-formed Mumbai franchise of the Hockey India League (HIL), want to change. For two years, Mumbai had a presence in the HIL, but with very little to show. The Mumbai Magicians, owned by the Dabur Group then, failed to qualify for the semifinals in the two seasons. Moreover, they had just one player from Mumbai in the first season (Anup Walmiki), and none in the second.
FOCUS ON LOCAL FLAVOUR
With change of owners and management, came the winds of change. For starters, they roped in ex-Mumbai players — Aldrin and Edgar Mascarenhas — to constitute their coaching staff. Rasquinha became the face of the franchise as the strategic advisor and mentor. More importantly, they emphasised on giving the franchise a local flavour in terms of players. It was a conscious decision, one that Rasquinha was adamant about before coming on board.
"We always talk about giving Mumbai players an opportunity, and when a major tournament like this comes around, we don't do that. When I was put in charge, I said we are going to give Mumbai players an opportunity — both in the coaching and player side," says Rasquinha.
And they did just that.
"Anup Walmiki, Rajat Sharma, Tyron Pereira, Amit Gowda, Adrian D'Souza are core Mumbai boys. Vikram Pillay and Vikas Pillay also come to Mumbai very often from Pune. We also have Chinglensana Singh and Nilakanta Sharma who are from Manipur but are based in Mumbai. So we tried to give a Mumbai flavour to the team," he adds.
What's more, the team has allowed some promising young Mumbai players who are not part of the team to train with the players and rub shoulders with the best.
"We are giving around seven talented Mumbai boys a chance to train with the team everyday. We're giving boys who can match up to this level a chance to train with the best. We're going to have a few coaching clinics for mass kids closer to the tournament," Rasquinha says.
THE GERMAN WAY
Their head coach, Germany's Valentin Altenburg who is also in-charge of the German Under-21 team, explains why it was important for him as a coach, and as a franchise overall, to pick as many local players as possible.
"I come from a club where they put all their effort in the youth. The best coaches don't go to the adults, they go to the youth. So our club has players who come in as little kids and spend their entire career there, because the club puts all the efforts in building them technically and culturally. What I understand is that those players give everything for their club, because it is their club, their project, their life experience," he says.
Once that happens, the cycle can kickstart again from the bottom. Anup, the youngest of the Walmiki brothers, grew up watching Pillay and his brother Yuvraj play hockey. He hopes the same happens with young kids who will watch him play for Mumbai.
"There's a big difference when you play for your city," the 19-year-old says. "My batchmates will come and watch me and will try and be a part of the team next season. Kids will believe that if they work hard, even they can be a part of this. I've grown up seeing Dhanraj sir and Yuvraj play. Someone will watch me too".
EXTRA PUSH FOR PLAYERS
Goalkeeper Adrian D'souza, who has more than 100 international caps and yet is making his HIL debut this season, says getting more local players in the fray in Dabang Mumbai is a great way to start the process of reviving hockey in the city.
"This is the first time that there are so many local players in the Mumbai HIL team. So if you have try and get Mumbai hockey back to where it was, this is a great way to start. It was missing in the last two seasons," says D'souza, who was analysing the HIL as a commentator last year.
The 30-year-old believes the high of playing in one's home ground cannot be matched.
"It does give that extra push. I've been born and brought up playing on this (MHA) pitch. I'm still playing here. I've seen the turf and stadium changing. I've seen many things happen. So there is nothing like playing in your own turf," he says.
TARGET COACHES TOO
Not just players, Rasquinha & Co. also want to target school and club coaches.
"Valentine in my opinion is one of the top coaches in the world at the moment. So we want all Mumbai coaches to come and see the kind of training sessions, so they implement it in their schools, clubs. That's why we say coaches, kids are free to come any time and see our training. We want to make it as open as possible," he says.
The final cog in the wheel is the management. The current MHA administration, Rasquinha believes, has been far more pro-active than the previous ones.
"We have to show to players in schools that there is hope," Vernon Lobo, MHA managing committee member, says. "Earlier, there was nothing to look forward to. But now there is. I'm glad the franchise has taken so many Mumbai players. Now it is up to the players to grab the chance".
However, Rasquinha warns against expecting too much from a single entity.
"HIL and Dabang Mumbai is one of the many things that are required to be done. This happens only for two months. You need the school tournaments, the Bombay Gold Cup, Guru Tegh Bahadur Gold Cup and the leagues properly organised. You need to have top quality hockey happening throughout the year. You need to have kids playing regularly. It's got to be a sustained programme.
"If everyone — management, coaches, players, fans — does their job well, the possibility of sustaining this and brining Mumbai hockey up is far, far better. I want to see kids playing hockey in the gullies again," he says.
It all comes back to that, isn't it?
LOCAL FLAVOUR, ANYONE?
Below is the list of number of Mumbai players in the Mumbai franchise since the inception of HIL
Season Number Player/s
1 (Mumbai Magicians) 1 Anup Walmiki
2 (Mumbai Magicians) 0
3 (Dabang Mumbai) 7 Anup Walmiki, Rajat Sharma, Tyron Pereira, Amit Gowda, Adrian D'Souza, Vikram Pillay and Vikas Pillay
FAN CALLING
Another important aspect that the Dabang Mumbai want to improve upon from the last two seasons is attracting fans. The fan turnaround in the last two years was meagre, and the new franchise hopes to build a fan base in the city like Mumbai Indians have done with their "MI Paltan" concept. "We're already done a lot of activation," says Rasquinha. "We have personally reached out to every club registered under MHA — around 60 — making individual phone calls asking them to come for the matches. We'll be reaching out to all school teams too. We're much more present on the social media also this time. So hopefully, all this combined will get the crowds".
Taking centre stage - the rise of the volunteer
From teenagers to octogenarians, ball girls to drivers – there is a place for everyone on hockey's largest team.
(Photo: FIH)
One phenomena which has really taken major hockey events by storm in the past few years has been the rise of the volunteer. It was at the London 2012 Olympics when we first saw the status of volunteers change from a dedicated, but largely anonymous workforce, to a body of people who are now at the heart of any successful major sports event.
But volunteering in its many guises has been around since sports clubs began and, when the Queen's New Year honours list in Great Britain was revealed at the start of this year, one recipient epitomised the spirit of volunteering that is so much at the core of hockey across the globe.
Jim Barrow is the president of Wilmslow Hockey Club in England, and, for most of his 83-year life, he has been volunteering his services in different roles within the sport, from founding the Parish Youth Fellowship mixed team in 1947 to spearheading the funding and building of an astroturf pitch at the current site of Wilmslow Hockey Club just over a decade ago. In his time, Jim has been a team captain, treasurer, chairperson and president of the club he has been part of for nearly 70 years.
For his 60 years of voluntary work at both the club and as a county and regional umpire, Jim was awarded the British Empire medal and will be travelling to Buckingham Palace to receive the honour from Queen Elizabeth.
Talking about his years as a volunteer, Jim says: "I have just thoroughly enjoyed my association with the game in all its variations. When I am presenting prizes at junior tournaments, I always start by congratulating the players on choosing hockey. Speaking from experience, I tell them they will meet some very nice people and make friendships that will endure a lifetime, something that still happens to me today."
Volunteers such as Jim are one of the cornerstones of a successful event. This was perhaps best demonstrated at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, when the event itself was almost upstaged by the humour, dedication and sheer energy of the thousands of volunteers who willingly gave their time. Venue manager for the press centre at the Olympic Hockey Pitch at the time was FIH's Richard Stainthorpe. He had this to say about the value of volunteers who assist at FIH events.
"Quite simply, our events wouldn't be possible without the tireless work of volunteers who sacrifice their precious time, all for the love of the game. They are always enthusiastic and their importance in the running of our events cannot be overstated."
And Hayley Roach, who worked with hockey volunteers in 2014 at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, added: "As a recruiter of volunteers in Glasgow, the challenge was tougher as we required less volunteers than we did in London, but we had so many people who wanted to get involved. Glasgow benefited from the massive success of London."
"Volunteer qualities included dedication and commitment - both financial and personal. Volunteers for both events were selected from all over the world. They have a massive role to play in delivering big events. Its not only about volunteering for their role at the event, but its about learning and development, training, meeting people from different backgrounds, skills development both personal and professional."
In The Hague at the 2014 Hockey World Cup, the volunteers were out in force. And they certainly came from all backgrounds. Jelle Spree was in charge of the volunteer programme for the KNHB, the Dutch Hockey Federation. He says: "We used 1,183 volunteers at the World Cup. These ranged in age from 16 years-old to nearly 80." They also came from a range of backgrounds, with a varied skill-set.
Jelle explained that a team from KNHB had visited London during the 2012 Olympics and witnessed the volunteers there in action. "To be honest with you, London set the bar very high. We saw how kind all the volunteers were and that is something we impressed upon our people."
The process of recruitment began two years prior to the World Cup, and 1,400 people from the 20 hockey clubs near the Hague applied. Once selected, the volunteers attended workshops and meetings and a network of communication was built up.
"For the volunteers, the network is one of the benefits," said Jelle. "We introduced volunteers to some of our partnership organisations if we felt there was a good fit. This had the potential of leading to other opportunities. But really, the biggest benefit was being part of something unique."
Looking to future events, Jelle said one of the biggest things he had learnt from the World Cup experience was the importance of personally getting to know everyone. "It is no good seeing a photo or an application form. You must get to know everyone and learn what their capabilities are."
HI inducts Dadra & Nagar Haveli as new associate member
NEW DELHI: Continuing its mission to take hockey to all parts of the country, Hockey India on Saturday announced its affiliation of Dadra & Nagar Haveli Hockey Association as its 24th. This association will help Dadra & Nagar Haveli Hockey Association to identify and nurture young and budding hockey players in this region.
Being a sports-mad territory, Dadra & Nagar Haveli has a good fan following of hockey and the sports is being played in many schools and colleges at all age-levels. Under the leadership of president Jagdish B Sarma, the Dadra & Nagar Haveli Hockey Association has been working on popularize hockey at all parts of the territory and build-up teams of all age-levels. With this induction the Hockey India, Dadra & Nagar Haveli Hockey Association will now emphasize more on the infrastructure, team build-up and coaching sessions.
Speaking on the new associate member, Hockey India secretary general Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad said, "On behalf of Hockey India, I whole-heartedly welcome Dadra & Nagar Haveli Hockey Association in the Hockey India family. Working together with Dadra & Nagar Haveli Hockey Association will provide more opportunities in this region and Hockey India will help the Association at all areas. Our sole objective is to take the sport at the next level in this territory."
Hockey India currently has 22 permanent members, 27 associate members, 9 academy members and 2 hockey member.


text:
{% macro trigger_menu(is_freerun) -%}

                     Activate

                     Deactivate

{%- endmacro %}

{% macro job_menu() -%}

                     Skip

                     Reprocess

{%- endmacro %}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Protect your small business with Public and Products Liability Insurance tailored to your needs.
Public and Products Liability Insurance for small businesses covers unexpected expenses resulting from an incident connected to your business that leads to injury, death or damage to property. While Public Liability and Products Liability often work together to protect your business, they offer different covers.
Public Liability protects you against incidents that occur due to your business performing its day-to-day activities. For example, if a customer slips in a puddle at a supermarket, the supermarket will need Public Liability Insurance to be covered financially if the customer decides to sue.
Products Liability covers you for incidents that occur as a result of your business' products, often after they've been purchased or handed over. For example, if a customer at a supermarket purchased a faulty product that made them sick or injured them, they could make a claim against the supermarket for causing them damage.
Public and Products Liability Insurance is included in all Vero Small to Medium Business Insurance packages. Learn more about what's included by viewing the product page relevant to your business, or by speaking to your insurance broker.
Learn more about Vero's Public Liability Insurance policies by viewing the policy documents.


Corrugated envelopes are designed to provide heavy-duty protection for photographs, prints and documents during distribution.
The strong and durable envelopes prevent the contents from bending or creasing to ensure they arrive at their destination in perfect condition.
Envelopes are manufactured as a one-piece die-cut pack which has two pre-glued side seams leaving a slot at the top to insert the product. The envelope can be sealed by the use of double sided tape or tear tape.
Made from a lightweight corrugated board grade, the envelopes are cost effective for distribution yet still provide the necessary strength.
All envelopes can be high quality printed to include handling instructions or marketing communication messages.
Corrugated envelopes are quick and easy to fill and seal, saving cost and time. For consumers they are easy to open and then dispose of and are 100% recyclable.


We're in search of vocalists, guitarists and keyboardists. Musicians are highly valued members of our Farmer's Markets. We feel that the music you make adds a vibrant and lively heartbeat to the day. We typically book 1 musical individual or group per market.
This is a strictly volunteer opportunity. All tips earned are entirely yours to keep. All of our markets are outdoor events. We provide a tent for shelter and a source of power; however you will need to provide your own gear.
We appreciate a wide variety of musical expression; however The McAllen Farmers' Market is held in a public space outside the McAllen Public Library and therefore please note that performances are confined to limits on extreme volume and lyrical content.


text:
Trayvon's mom: Clarify stand your ground laws
LAURIE KELLMAN
WASHINGTON - Sybrina Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin, is telling a Senate panel Tuesday that states must clarify their "stand your ground" self-defense laws.
The laws, adopted in some form by at least 22 states, generally cancel a person's duty to retreat in the face of a serious physical threat. But the 2012 shooting of Fulton's unarmed son, Trayvon Martin, 17, and the acquittal of George Zimmerman this year provided evidence that "stand your ground" laws can be confusing and applied inconsistently, she said.
"By being unclear in when and how it is applied, stand your ground in its current form is far to open to abuse," Fulton said in prepared testimony for the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The Democratic-led Senate was holding the hearing even though no congressional action is expected on the state policies. Even in the states, Martin's killing, Zimmerman's politically charged acquittal on manslaughter charges and encouragement from the Obama administration seem unlikely to spur changes in "stand your ground" laws. Most states with such laws are conservative and lean toward policies that defend gun owners' rights.
In the shadow of the 2014 midterm elections, Illinois Democrat Dick Durbin called two panels of witnesses to the hearing room Tuesday to air the issue. Also testifying were Rep. Louie Gohmert, a Texas Republican and a staunch supporter of stand-your-ground laws, and Lucia Holman McBath.
McBath is the mother of Jordan Russell Davis, the 17-year old killed nearly a year ago when Michael David Dunn, 46, allegedly opened fire on a Dodge Durango with four teenagers inside after complaining of their loud music and saying he saw a gun. Authorities never found a gun in the vehicle, the Florida Times-Union reported.
"That man was empowered by the 'stand your ground' statute," McBath said in prepared testimony. "I am here to tell you there was no ground to stand. There was no threat. No one was trying to invade his home, his vehicle, nor threatened him or his family." Dunn's trial has been delayed until next year, according to the newspaper.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 22 states have laws that allow that "there is no duty to retreat (from) an attacker in any place in which one is lawfully present." The states are Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and West Virginia, according to the NCSL.
At least nine of those state laws include language stating one may "stand his or her ground": Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and South Carolina, according to the NCSL.
Gun rights groups such as the National Rifle Association say "stand your ground" laws are about self-defense.
"Self-defense is not a concept, it's a fundamental human right," said Chris W. Cox, executive director of the NRA's Institute for Legislative Action.


If you've got graphics that need editing and no access to a graphic designer, you'll be stuck with Paint to do the job. Paint is excellent for screenshots, the very basics, and drawing boxes around things, but if you need to do anything more complicated it's going to look amateur at best.
Now, if you've got Photoshop, even basic knowledge will make it work, but for a one-off project, paying a monthly subscription fee seems like a waste of money that could be better spent elsewhere.
As with many of our Friday Freebies, PicMonkey is freemium though enough of its tools are free that you can make a real go at photo-editing.
Now we've got the pitch out of the way, you probably want to know how to get cracking with PicMonkey.
How do I use PicMonkey?
As with all basic photo editors, PicMonkey resizes, crops, adds texts, and does basic 'transformations' like rotating, red-eye removal, and blemish retouching. More advanced features include filters, overlays, and weight loss.
Any features marked with the crown belong to Royale, the paid option, but there's enough there to get you fairly long into the process, and without needing too much tech savvy or photo-editing knowledge.
If those features weren't enough, PicMonkey's next stand-out is its blog where their team write about all things graphics, design, and photography. It's a great read if you'd like to learn more about photo composition and design in general. So two thumbs up from us there, PicMonkey.
We made this image in Paint. Sorry, PicMonkey.
The image above is the PicMonkey menu bar, which pretty quickly lays out your options: Edit, Touch Up, Design, or Collage. Each is pretty self-explanatory.
In Edit, you'll upload the photo you want to edit and be presented with a nice-looking dashboard, with your editing options to the left, including tools like Crop, Exposure, and Colours. Most of the features work on a slider and are pretty intuitive, though some adjustments need some fiddling.
In Touch Up, most of the features are paid for, and include fairly typical touching up options like Spray Tan and Blemish Fix. We're not quite sure why a brand might need all these features but for fashion photographers or designers who need to quickly retouch their photos, it's a quick and easy option.
That said, the Touch Up features are nearly all Royale and the Royale trial involves entering credit card details, so make sure you cancel your payment before the end of your trial if you're only using it as a once-off.
Design gives you the basic social media sizing options so you can design or create a photo from scratch. If you're not sure what you're doing or are a newbie to graphic design, Design will probably be a fun feature.
Last but not least is the very self-explanatory Collage option, where you can upload multiple photos and create a collage.
The interface is drag and drop, and you use your mouse to adjust size, move images around, and upload or delete photos. It's super simple and an easy way to make photos to share on social media.
Want professionally produced photos or graphics?
Get in touch and our design team can create infographics, infozines, and any images you can dream of. For interesting tools and tips on all things content marketing follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
It's worth it, we promise!