text:
Science Fiction Volume One: The Osiris Child
Set in a time of interplanetary colonization, Sy Lombrok (Kellan Lutz), a former nurse who is now a drifter with a haunted past, forms an unlikely alliance with Kane Sommerville (Daniel MacPherson), a lieutenant who works for off-world military contractor Exor. In a race against time they set out to rescue Kane's young daughter Indi (Teagan Croft) amid an impending global crisis precipitated by Exor. Written by Teaser-Trailer.com
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller,
Justice League Dark is what it sounds like. It's the dark side of justice. A group of supernatural heroes who band together loosely to take on occult threats, supernatural threats - threats that the real Justice League may be powerless against. Written by annonymous
Genre: Animation, Action, Fantasy, Horror, Sci-Fi,
After stopping off at Starbase Yorktown, a remote outpost on the fringes of Federation space, the USS Enterprise, halfway into their five-year mission, is destroyed by an unstoppable wave of unknown aliens. With the crew stranded on an unknown planet and with no apparent means of rescue, they find themselves fighting against a ruthless enemy with a well-earned hatred of the Federation and everything it stands for. Only a rebellious alien warrior can help them reunite and leave the planet to stop this deadly menace from beginning a possible galactic war. Written by Paramount Pictures
Country: USA , Hong Kong , China
Star Wars Episode 2 Attack of the Clones
Ten years after the invasion of Naboo, the Galactic Republic is facing a Separatist movement and the former queen and now Senator Padmé Amidala travels to Coruscant to vote on a project to create an army to help the Jedi to protect the Republic. Upon arrival, she escapes from an attempt to kill her, and Obi-Wan Kenobi and his Padawan Anakin Skywalker are assigned to protect her. They chase the shape-shifter Zam Wessell but she is killed by a poisoned dart before revealing who hired her. The Jedi Council assigns Obi-Wan Kenobi to discover who has tried to kill Amidala and Anakin to protect her in Naboo. Obi-Wan discovers that the dart is from the planet Kamino, and he heads to the remote planet. He finds an army of clones that has been under production for years for the Republic and that the bounty hunter Jango Fett was the matrix for the clones. Meanwhile Anakin and Amidala fall in love with each other, and he has nightmarish visions of his mother. They travel to his home planet, ... Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
In 1999, the Janjira nuclear plant was mysteriously destroyed with most hands lost including supervisor Joe Brody's colleague and wife, Sandra. Years later, Joe's son, Ford, a US Navy ordnance disposal officer, must go to Japan to help his estranged father who obsessively searches for the truth of the incident. In doing so, father and son discover the disaster's secret cause on the wreck's very grounds. This enables them to witness the reawakening of a terrible threat to all of Humanity, which is made all the worse with a second secret revival elsewhere. Against this cataclysm, the only hope for the world may be Godzilla, but the challenge for the King of the Monsters will be great even as Humanity struggles to understand the destructive ally they have. Written by Kenneth Chisholm (kchishol@rogers.com)
Country: USA , Japan
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows
The Turtles continue to live in the shadows and no one knows they were the ones who took down Shredder. And Vernon is the one everyone thinks is the one who took Shredder down. April O'Neill does some snooping and learns a scientist named, Baxter Stockman is working for Shredder. He plans to break him out while he's being transported. April tells the turtles who try to stop it but can't. Stockman tries to teleport Shredder but he some how ends up in another dimension and meets a warlord named Krang who instructs Shredder to assemble a teleportation device he sent to Earth a long time ago. He gives Shredder some mutagen which he uses to transform two criminals who were also in the transport with him, Rock Steady and Bebop into mutants. And they set out to find the device. April saw the transformation while investigating Stockman, She would take the mutagen and she would be chased by Shredder's minions, the Foot Clan. He is saved by a man named Casey Jones who was the one who ... Written by rcs0411@yahoo.com
Country: USA , Hong Kong , China , Canada
This film is set in 2093 and takes place in the same universe as the 'Alien' movies. A group of explorers, including some archaeologists, are on an "undisclosed" mission. They arrive at a moon trillions of miles away from Earth. The team spot what they believe to be signs of civilization. They go to investigate and find more than just signs, they find conclusive evidence. But some of them have an ulterior motive for being there, including the Weyland Corporation. They believe that this is where the human race actually came from. Things soon turn from excitement to survival once inside their discovery. Written by Michael Hallows Eve
Genre: Adventure, Mystery, Sci-Fi,
X Men Days of Future Past
132 min | 151 min (The Rogue Cut)
In the future, the mutants and the humans that help them are slaughtered by powerful robots named Sentinels. Professor Xavier, Wolverine, Magneto, Storm, Kitty Pryde and her friends meet at a monastery in China and Xavier explains that the invincible Sentinels were created using the DNA of Mystique that was captured in 1973 when she tried to assassinate their creator Dr. Bolivar Trask. Xavier tells that their only chance is return to 1973 using Pryde's ability to join Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr to convince Mystique to give up of her intention. . However, only Wolverine can withstand the damages of the time travel. Will he succeed in stopping Mystique and the Sentinel Program and save the mutants and their human friends from annihilation? Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Based off of the comic book. Unbeknownst to other people, there is a private agency code named MiB. This agency is some kind of extra terrestrial surveillance corporation. Then, one of the agency's finest men only going by the name "K" (Tommy Lee Jones) , is recruiting for a new addition to the agency. He has chosen James Edwards (Will Smith) of the N.Y.P.D. Then, one day, a flying saucer crashes into Earth. This was an alien a part of the "Bug" race. He takes the body of a farmer (Vincent D'Onofrio) and heads to New York. He is searching for a super energy source called "The Galaxy". Now, Agents J and K must stop the bug before it can escape with the galaxy. Written by John Wiggins
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Family, Mystery, Sci-Fi,
The next installment in the franchise and the conclusion of the "Star Wars" sequel trilogy as well as the "Skywalker Saga."
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox
75 min | 89 min (director's cut) | 81 min (dvd)
An alteration of the timeline for the superhero, The Flash. The Flash must team with other heroes to restore the timeline while the Earth is ravaged by a war between Aquaman's Atlantis and Wonder Woman's Amazons. Written by Otaku-sempai
Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi,
Sharktopus vs. Whalewolf
When a mad scientist mixes the genes of a killer whale and a wolf, it creates the Whalewolf, and it's up to Sharktopus to stop it.
Star Wars Episode 6 Return of the Jedi
Luke Skywalker battles horrible Jabba the Hut and cruel Darth Vader to save his comrades in the Rebel Alliance and triumph over the Galactic Empire. Han Solo and Princess Leia reaffirm their love and team with Chewbacca, Lando Calrissian, the Ewoks and the androids C-3PO and R2-D2 to aid in the disruption of the Dark Side and the defeat of the evil emperor. Written by Jwelch5742
In 2003, in the Longview State Correctional Facility, the criminal Marcus Wright is on death row, and is convinced by the cancerous Dr. Serena Kogan to donate his body to her research and he accepts. In 2018, after an unsuccessful attack to a Skynet facility, only John Connor survives, but he discovers that Skynet is developing the powerful new model T-800. Out of the blue, Marcus appears naked and with amnesia in the location. Marcus befriends the teenager Kyle Reese and the girl Star who help him to survive the lethal machines and they travel together in a Jeep. Meanwhile the resistance discovers a signal that might turn-off the machines and John offers to test it. When Kyle is captured by a machine and brought to the Skynet headquarters, Marcus decides to help the youngster and heads to Skynet; on the way, he saves Blair Williams who suggests to him that he should meet John Connor first. But Marcus steps on a mine and is submitted to surgery, when a secret about his origins is ... Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Country: USA , Germany , UK , Italy
Huge advancements in scientific technology have enabled a mogul to create an island full of living dinosaurs. John Hammond has invited four individuals, along with his two grandchildren, to join him at Jurassic Park. But will everything go according to plan? A park employee attempts to steal dinosaur embryos, critical security systems are shut down and it now becomes a race for survival with dinosaurs roaming freely over the island. Written by Film_Fan
Genre: Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller,
Swackhammer, owner of the amusement park planet Moron Mountain is desperate get new attractions and he decides that the Looney Tune characters would be perfect. He sends his diminutive underlings to get them to him, whether Bugs Bunny and Co. want to go or not. Well armed for their size, Bugs Bunny is forced to trick them into agreeing to a competition to determine their freedom. Taking advantage of their puny and stubby legged foes, the gang selects basketball for the surest chance of winning. However, the Nerdlucks turn the tables and steal the talents of leading professional basketball stars to become massive basketball bruisers known as the Monstars. In desperation, Bugs Bunny calls on the aid of Micheal Jordan, the Babe Ruth of Basketball, to help them have a chance at winning their freedom. Written by Kenneth Chisholm kchishol@execulink.com
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Sport,
Dragon Ball Kai: Doragon bôru kai
In February of 2009, Toei Animation announced that as an honor to 20 years of Dragon Ball Z, they will begin the production of a renewed DragonBall Z, named Dragon Ball Kai. This new anime chronicles the plot of DBZ and consists of parts from the original anime which are edited to a better quality and with new voices. Toei Animation also confirmed that the plot of DBK will be closer to manga style. Written by dreamian
Marvels Cloak and Dagger
Two androids are tasked with raising human children on a mysterious virgin planet. As the burgeoning colony of humans threatens to be torn apart by religious differences, the androids learn that controlling the beliefs of humans is a treacherous and difficult task.
After stealing a mysterious orb in the far reaches of outer space, Peter Quill from Earth, is now the main target of a manhunt led by the villain known as Ronan the Accuser. To help fight Ronan and his team and save the galaxy from his power, Quill creates a team of space heroes known as the Guardians of the Galaxy to save the world. Written by James Hake
In the Marvel Comics universe, mutants, people with genetically endowed superpowers, are a persecuted by a hateful and fearful populous. One shelter from this is Professor Xavier's Academy for Gifted Children. But the school has a secret function as a training centre for mutants to control their abilities so they can function in regular society. It also serves as a secret headquarters of a superhero team, called the X-Men formed both to be a positive example of mutants and as an opposing force against those mutants who seek to force the world to kneel to their perceived superiority. This series recounts their adventures as they struggle to make the world accept them, while battling villains like Magneto, Apocalypse and the genocidal robots known as the Sentinels. Written by Kenneth Chisholm kchishol@execulink.com
Genre: Animation, Action, Family, Sci-Fi, Thriller,
The Spectacular Spider-Man
Orphaned schoolboy Peter Parker lost even his uncle, leaving him with old, semi-helpless aunt May. Trough a messed-up experiment with spider DNA, he acquires super-powers. But he only uses them when masked in a flashy costume as Spider-man, a mysterious dashing hero who defeats all crooks. As Peter, his life is far humbler, moonlighting as photographer for the Bugle. Written by KGF Vissers
Set in a world where humans and super heroes co-exist, a homicide detective, who had his own powers taken from him, investigates crimes involving superhumans along with his partner.
Monsters vs. Aliens
When a meteorite from outer space hits a young California woman named Susan Murphy and turns her into a giant monster, she is taken to a secret government compound where she meets a ragtag group of monsters also rounded up over the years. As a last resort, under the guidance of General W.R. Monger, on a desperate order from The President, the motley crew of Monsters is called into action to combat the aliens and save the world from imminent destruction! Written by Anthony Pereyra {hypersonic91@yahoo.com}
In a parallel present where the latest must-have gadget for any busy family is a 'Synth' - a highly-developed robotic servant that's so similar to a real human it's transforming the way we live.
Country: UK | Sweden | USA
45 min (15 episodes) | 25 min (679 episodes)
The adventures of a Time Lord—a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor—who explores the universe in his TARDIS, a sentient time-travelling space ship. Its exterior appears as a blue British police box, which was a common sight in Britain in 1963 when the series first aired. Along with a succession of companions, the Doctor faces a variety of foes while working to save civilisations, help ordinary people, and right wrongs. The show has received recognition as one of Britain's finest television programmes, winning the 2006 British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series and five consecutive awards at the National Television Awards during Russell T Davies's tenure as Executive Producer. In 2011, Matt Smith became the first Doctor to be nominated for a BAFTA Television Award for Best Actor. In 2013, the Peabody Awards honoured Doctor Who with an Institutional Peabody "for evolving with technology and the times like nothing else in the known television universe." The programme is listed in Guinness World Records as the longest-running science fiction television show in the world and as the "most successful" science fiction series of all time—based on its over-all broadcast ratings, DVD and book sales, and iTunes traffic. During its original run, it was recognised for its imaginative stories, creative low-budget special effects, and pioneering use of electronic music.
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Family, Sci-Fi,
Flint Lockwood thinks he's a genius. But none of the things he invented are things that make sense or are useful. However, he has the support of his mother but when she dies, he's left alone with his father who thinks he should give it up. When the community that he lives in is in an economic crisis because their primary source of income, a sardine cannery, was shut down, Flint decides to try his latest invention, a machine that can turn water into food. But something goes wrong and the machine ends up in the atmosphere. Later it starts raining food. The shifty mayor tries to use this as a way to help their community, but when Flint senses something wrong with the machine, the mayor convinces him to ignore it. However, as Flint predicts, chaos ensues. Written by rcs0411@yahoo.com
Sonic and his friends Tails, Knuckles, Amy and Sticks live in and around a Village. This vast landscape is filled with jungles, mountains, undersea civilizations, cloud cities and all kinds of other environments.
Country: USA | France
Star Trek: Short Treks
A series of stand-alone short stories expanding Star Trek: Discovery and the Star Trek franchise.
Genre: Short, Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi,
Created and written by Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij (The East), the latest Netflix original delves into the inexplicable reappearance of Prairie Johnson (Marling). Having gone missing seven years ago, the previously blind Johnson returns home, now in her 20s and with her sight restored. While many believe she is miracle, others worry that she could be dangerous.
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Sci-Fi,
Star-Lord, the brash adventurer who, sets out to save the universe from its greatest threats, joins forces with a quartet of disparate misfits - fan-favorite Rocket Raccoon, a tree-like humanoid named Groot, the enigmatic, expert fighter Gamora and the rough-edged warrior Drax the Destroyer. Written by marvel Television
Transformers: Rescue Bots
The Rescue Bots are Transformers that work with a family of heroes to rescue humans from disasters. These non-violent Transformer stories are aimed at preschool viewers.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Participatory Health – the new Woodstock
By Jane Sarasohn-Kahn on 9 September 2009 in Health Economics, Health engagement, medical home, Mobile health
While Congressfolk and political pundits await the President's speech tonight about why and how to reform the health system, patients on-the-street and in-their-homes are getting on with their daily lives dealing with chronic diseases. In the U.S., 75% of health care costs annually go to 'manage' chronic conditions. That's about $1.7 billion of the $2.2 billion spent on health care in 2007.
Not waiting for a government agency or health plan to provide a recipe for self-care, a cadre of highly engaged health citizens have taken care into their hands and minds. "Participatory health," David Lester of Theranos told me, "is the new Woodstock."
Participatory Health: Online and Mobile Tools Help Chronically Ill Manage Their Care is my latest issue brief written for the California HealthCare Foundation. The paper outlines the challenge of chronic care in America — the costs, the prevalence, the lack of aligned incentives — and explains how the enabling communications technologies, already being used by the masses, have begun to lay the foundation for patients to manage care at home and on-the-go, 24×7.
"Clinical settings can contribute to both environmental and individual behavior change," Wiliam Novelli, former CEO of the AARP, said. "But people do not live in clinical settings. They live in supermarkets, convenience stores, schools, playgrounds, restaurants, offices and factories."
That's why participatory health can crack the difficult code of chronic disease. Look at the Care Model chart, developed by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation project on chronic disease.
While patients spends mere minutes within the confines of the clinician's exam room and in the so-called health system, people live, breathe, eat, work, and move in their own real worlds 24×7. Participatory health means mashing up lifestyles and numbers and clinical advice in a continuous stream that is personalized for the individual patient, and largely controlled by her with the input of clinical experts, coaches, personal physicians — trusted partners in customized care.
Participation in health is enabled today through peoples' use of the Internet (enhanced through broadband connections) and mobile communications platforms (namely mobile phones). Health applications available at the iTunes store are among the fastest-growing categories available to iPhone users. Among many participatory health pioneers I feature in the report, you'll learn about the developer Brett Shamosh whose Wellapps start-up was inspired by his own self-management of Crohn's Disease. His apps are now available on iTunes.
Health Populi's Hot Points: For participatory health to really take off in the mainstream, payment and incentives must align between providers, patients and other stakeholders. Incentives for many health citizens will include a fiscal and/or other-valued 'nudge' which keeps people on the participative health journey. Read in my report, for example, about Sensei's approach to nudging on-the-go, involving customized couponing via phone for everything from fast food to jeans.
Participatory health is already here for uber-engaged patients and providers. Read about a long-distance truck driver, David Jesse, who with the help of a Microsoft HealthVault enabled PHR and The Cleveland Clinic, brought his blood pressure down to 120/82 as he drove the highways and byways of the U.S.
The long journey of managing chronic care can be made less arduous and more successful through participatory health care and the array of tools emerging to support people in managing their own care. Here's health reform that starts at home.


text:
caveman (n.)
also cave-man, "prehistoric human dwelling in a natural cave," 1865, from cave (n.) + man (n.). Related: Cave-woman (1904).
Entries linking to caveman
cave (n.)
"a hollow place in the earth, a natural cavity of considerable size and extending more or less horizontally," early 13c., from Old French cave "a cave, vault, cellar" (12c.), from Latin cavea "hollow" (place), noun use of neuter plural of adjective cavus "hollow," from PIE root *keue- "to swell," also "vault, hole." Replaced Old English eorðscrafu.
man (n.)
"a featherless plantigrade biped mammal of the genus Homo" [Century Dictionary], Old English man, mann "human being, person (male or female); brave man, hero;" also "servant, vassal, adult male considered as under the control of another person," from Proto-Germanic *mann- (source also of Old Saxon, Swedish, Dutch, Old High German man, Old Frisian mon, German Mann, Old Norse maðr, Danish mand, Gothic manna "man"), from PIE root *man- (1) "man." For the plural, see men.
Sometimes connected to root *men- (1) "to think," which would make the ground sense of man "one who has intelligence," but not all linguists accept this. Liberman, for instance, writes, "Most probably man 'human being' is a secularized divine name" from Mannus [Tacitus, "Germania," chap. 2], "believed to be the progenitor of the human race."
Specific sense of "adult male of the human race" (distinguished from a woman or boy) is by late Old English (c. 1000); Old English used wer and wif to distinguish the sexes, but wer began to disappear late 13c. and was replaced by man. Universal sense of the word remains in mankind and manslaughter. Similarly, Latin had homo "human being" and vir "adult male human being," but they merged in Vulgar Latin, with homo extended to both senses. A like evolution took place in Slavic languages, and in some of them the word has narrowed to mean "husband." PIE had two other "man" roots: *uiHro "freeman" (source of Sanskrit vira-, Lithuanian vyras, Latin vir, Old Irish fer, Gothic wair; see *wi-ro-) and *hner "man," a title more of honor than *uiHro (source of Sanskrit nar-, Armenian ayr, Welsh ner, Greek anēr; see *ner- (2)).
Man also was in Old English as an indefinite pronoun, "one, people, they." It was used generically for "the human race, mankind" by c. 1200. As a word of familiar address, originally often implying impatience, c.1400; hence probably its use as an interjection of surprise or emphasis, since Middle English but especially popular from early 20c.
As "a woman's lover," by mid-14c. As "adult male possessing manly qualities in an eminent degree," from 14c. Man's man, one whose qualities are appreciated by other men, is by 1873. Colloquial use of the Man for "the boss" is by 1918. To be man or mouse "be brave or be timid" is from 1540s. Meaning "piece with which a game (especially chess) is played" is from c. 1400.
Man-about-town "man of the leisure class who frequents clubs, theaters, and other social resorts" is from 1734. Man of the world is from mid-14c. as "secular man, layman;" by early 15c. as "man experienced in the ways of the world, one able to take things in stride." To do something as one man "unanimously" is from late 14c.
So I am as he that seythe, 'Come hyddr John, my man.' [1473]
MANTRAP, a woman's commodity. [Grose, "Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue," London, 1785]
At the kinges court, my brother, Ech man for himself. [Chaucer, "Knight's Tale," c. 1386]
Share caveman
https://www.etymonline.com/word/caveman
Etymology of caveman by etymonline
Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of caveman. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved $(datetime), from https://www.etymonline.com/word/caveman
Harper Douglas, "Etymology of caveman," Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed $(datetime), https://www.etymonline.com/word/caveman.
Harper, Douglas. "Etymology of caveman." Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/caveman. Accessed $(datetimeMla).
D. Harper. "Etymology of caveman." Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/caveman (accessed $(datetime)).
Definitions of caveman
someone who lives in a cave;
Synonyms: cave man / cave dweller / troglodyte
Dictionary entries near caveman
cave-bear
cave-dweller
cavernous
cavil


Suzuki Access 125 vs Honda Activa 125: Honda Activa 125 Standard is the more fuel efficient one with a claimed mileage of while the claimed figure for Suzuki Access 125 Drum is . Suzuki Access 125 is priced at Rs 55977 (On road, Delhi) while Honda Activa 125 is the costlier one priced at Rs 60240 (On road, Delhi). Access 125 is available in 9 colour options while Activa 125 has 6 colours to choose from.
Q. Is the Body metallic?
Q. What are the exchange offers on TVS Jupiter?


text:
Food information regulations
The Food Information Regulations and EU Food Information for Consumer Regulations (EU FIC)
The Food Labelling Regulations 1996 have been replaced by the EU Food Information Regulation 1169/2001 (FIR). This legislation came into force on 13 December 2011.
The main requirements are detailed in the Food Information Regulations 2014 and this includes an annex covering general and more specific changes to nutrition labelling which are covered in the Food Information for Consumer Regulations (FIC).
These new regulations apply to all food businesses supplying food to the public and caterers, including retail premises, manufacturers, restaurants, delicatessens, bakeries, sandwich bars, supermarkets, caterers, take-aways, buffets, and home caterers. There are some exemptions for example private individuals providing food for events such as church, village or school fetes where there is no food business element.
Compliance dates
1 January 2014 – For the rules on the composition and labelling of minced meat
13 December 2014 – For the general labelling rules, and if provided, a nutrition declaration must use the format set out in the EU FIC from this date
13 December 2016 – For the rules on the mandatory nutrition declaration needed for most pre-packaged foods
Much of what is detailed in the current Food Labelling Regulations 1996 remains unchanged. There is no change in the fundamental principles of providing safe food which is honestly described and not misleading. In addition foods cannot be labelled to state they will prevent, treat or cure a human disease. The following information must be required in English on prepacked food labelling:
A true name or description of the food
The ingredients it contains, in descending weight order
How it should be handled, stored, cooked or prepared
Who manufactured, packed or imported it
Origin information if its absence would mislead
Allergenic ingredients identified on the label
Specific information declaring whether the food is irradiated or contains genetically modified material or aspartame, high caffeine, sweeteners, packaging gases etc
Net quantity in grams, kilograms, litres etc
Alcoholic strength where there is more than 1.2% alcohol by volume
Main changes
Businesses will need to provide information if any of the foods/ingredients detailed in the EU Regulations and indicated below are used in the preparation of food they supply. This information can be provided on labels, shelf-edge, menus or verbally if requested by the customer.
The 14 ingredients or products thereof causing allergies or intolerances are:
Cereals containing gluten (wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt, kamut), Crustaceans, Molluscs, Eggs, Fish, Peanuts, Soybeans, milk (including lactose), Nuts, Celery, Mustard, Sesame Seeds, Lupin and Sulphur Dioxide and Sulphites (at concentrations of more than 10mg/kg)
If the food is non-pre-packed such as in a restaurant or café then the information about allergens can be supplied on the menu, on chalk boards, tickets or provided verbally by an appropriate member of staff as well as in other formats made available to the consumer. It must be clear and conspicuous, not hidden away, easily visible, and legible. If the information is to be provided verbally by a member of staff then it is necessary to make it clear that the information can be obtained by asking a member of staff by means of a notice, menu, ticket or label that can easily be seen by customers.
Allergen information must be specific to the food, complete and accurate. This also applies to foods prepacked for direct sale such as from deli counters or sandwich bars.
Refusal to give information, inaccurate or incomplete information about allergenic ingredients used in foods sold non-prepacked or pre-packed for direct sale would be a breach of the EU Food Information for Consumers Regulations.
Irradiated foods
Foods that are treated with ionising radiation must be labelled with the words 'irradiated' or 'treated with ionising radiation' as stated in Directive 1999/2/EC. Where an irradiated product is used as an ingredient in another product, the same words must accompany its designation in the list of ingredients.
Food additives (and enzymes) which are used as processing aids do not generally have to be listed as ingredients.
The name of a food
The name of the food is not required under the European legislation but may be required by UK provisions. Where there is a name laid down by law this must be used. If not, a customary name may be used. If there is no customary name, or it is not used, a descriptive name must be used. The name of a food may consist of a name, a description, or both.
Additional changes affecting pre-packed food
Allergen labelling for pre-packed food
Allergens listed in the EU Food Information for Consumers Regulations 1169/2011 must be declared in the ingredients list on prepacked food and emphasised through a different font, style etc. If it is not obvious from the name of the ingredient, there needs to be a clear reference to the name of the allergen next to it. E.g. stock (from fish)', couscous (wheat)', 'tahini (sesame)', casein (milk), and tofu (soya)
Allergen ingredients must not be repeated elsewhere on the labelling, however sign posting to the allergen information within the ingredients list is allowed. For example, the use of 'Contains': followed by a list of allergens will no longer be permitted. Voluntary statements highlighting the risk of cross contamination with allergens may still be used.
Example of a label indicating ingredients and allergens:
Ingredients: Figs (35%), barley, flakes, toasted and malted oat flakes (oat flakes, barley malt extract), toasted and malted wheat flakes (wheat, barley malt extract), nuts (8%) (brazil nuts, whole hazelnuts) oat flakes, wheat flakes, sunflower seeds (2%)
! allergy advice
Please see ingredients for allergens.
May contain other nuts and milk
Nutritional labelling
From 13 December 2016 all prepacked food must be labelled with nutrition information which must be in a set prescribed format (commonly referred to as "back of pack" or "traffic light "nutrition labelling). This comprises energy values (in kilojoules (Kj) and kilocalories (kcal)) plus the amounts (in grams (g)) of fat, saturates, carbohydrate, sugars, protein and salt.
Previously nutritional information was only required where a claim was made such as 'low in fat'.
Even if you already provide this information you may need to amend your labelling as the legislation requires this information to be provided in a prescribed order and the salt content is now required rather than sodium.
There are some exceptions and specific requirements and these are detailed in the Annex of The Food Information Regulations 2014.
Food Information Regulations 2014
Field of vision requirements
A minimum font size has been set for all mandatory information; the height of the letter 'x' in the chosen font must not be less than 1.2mm.
The field of vision requirements no longer include durability. Only the name of the food, net quantity and alcoholic volume need to be able to be read by the consumer from a single view point.
Distance selling requirements
All mandatory information must be provided both before the purchase is concluded (except for durability date) and at delivery and at no additional cost. So if a Food Business Operator (FBO) is making the information available through a telephone helpline then this number must be a free-phone line.
Commercial selling
Formerly food supplied between some businesses was exempt from labelling requirements. However, now everyone in the supply chain must ensure mandatory information is available on the food labelling or on documents such as invoices so that those further down the supply chain can meet their obligations.
Food information must be given in English, however, it can also be provided in other languages.
Name of the food
Where there is a name laid down by law this must be used. If not a customary name may be used. If there is no customary name, or it is not used, a descriptive name must be used. The name of a food may consist of a name, a description or both. In the case of some foods, there are compulsory product names that must be used for foods meeting certain composition criteria.
The name of food has always needed to include a reference to the physical condition or treatment the food has undergone such as 'powered', 'dried', 'smoked', 'concentrated' etc. This has now been extended to include an indication if the food has been defrosted.
The word 'formed' must be used when meat or fish products have been made from different pieces of meat and yet have the appearance of a whole piece of meat.
Name of the business
The FBO whose name appears on the labelling is the business responsible for the information on the label. This must be a FBO in the EU or, where the food is imported into the EU, the importer into the EU.
Some of the origin labelling provisions have yet to be agreed. These will be subject to the Commission report.
The origin or place of provenance of a food must be given if it misleads consumers by its absence.
County of origin labelling has now been extended to the meat of pigs, sheep, goats and poultry. Beef, fish, honey, olive oil, fresh fruit and vegetables already require this.
The date of first freezing is required on meat and fishery products.
European compositional standards and additional labelling requirements are required for prepacked minced meat. If you are selling only in the UK different rules apply and a 'national' mark must be used. This was a requirement from 1 January 2014.
Animal/vegetable fats and oils
The source of any animal or vegetable oil or fat ingredient must be provided and displayed in the ingredients list e.g., palm oil, beef fat. If hydrogenated fats are used a full description must be used such as 'fully or partly hydrogenated.'
As a Food Business Operator you need to know how the legislation will affect your business and you need to start making plans now so that you comply in time.
Detailed food labelling legislation information can be found on the European Commission website.
Further guidance
Guide to creating a front of pack nutrition label for pre-packed products sold through retail outlets
Allergy and Tolerance: guidance to businesses


One of the most captivating features of the resort is its position on Long Beach, one of Vietnam's most stunning white-sand beaches, enjoying glorious sunset views. It is an easy 15-minute drive from Phu Quoc International Airport, and only 20 minutes from the cultural attractions of Duong Dong town.
Resort guests are offered exclusive access to a secluded stretch of Long Beach, the perfect location to swim in shimmering waters, soak up the sun, and experience ocean sunsets. In each of the elegant rooms, suites, and villas, the deep bathtubs, walk-in rain showers, floor-to-ceiling windows and spacious balconies ensure a luxurious and inviting space for the ultimate escape in comfort and relaxation.
When it comes to dining, InterContinental® Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort offers a tempting array of contemporary and stylish experiences, including the highest bar in Phu Quoc, INK 360, boasting breathtaking panoramic ocean and mountain views. Created by award-winning Australian designer Ashley Sutton, the bar is the perfect venue for a welcome toast or celebratory drinks, where guests can sip on a signature cocktail while watching a magnificent sunset and nibbling on tapas-style seafood, caviar and oysters.
Additional dining venues include Lava, a fine-dining seafood and specialty imported meats restaurant using the freshest produce cooked on charcoal grills and lava stone enhanced with a selection of locally produced aromatic peppers such as black, white, red and Tay Giang. Sora & Umi serves authentic Japanese and Vietnamese cuisine with the focus on the restaurant's numerous live cooking stations, including robatayaki, teppanyaki and sushi. By the pool, Ombra serves home-made Italian cuisine and gelato alongside fresh juices and healthy bites. Beachfront restaurant Sea Shack serves comfort food, tapas, barbecue and grilled dishes such as the signature lobster roll, while beers and ciders are served in the Library area stocked with books about food, cocktails, Vietnamese culture, art, interior design and travel. Mercado is the place for coffee, tea and pastries, as well as themed picnic baskets including Traditional Vietnamese Delicacies, Mediterranean and Healthy.
Guests are able to indulge in serene spa treatments at the award winning HARNN Heritage Spa, designed by Vietnamese architect Vo Trong Nghia, and inspired by traditional Asian medicine and naturopathy. In addition to full-body wellness and relaxation treatments, the resort offers holistic and adventurous activities including Yoga, Pilates, and water sports, as well as bespoke cultural experiences including local produce tours to the island's renowned pepper and pearl farms, hiking in nature, and night markets.
InterContinental® Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort is now accepting reservations for stays from 28 June, 2018. For more information or reservations, please visit www.phuquoc.intercontinental.com, or contact the resort by email reservations.icpq@ihg.com or phone +84 283 978 8888.
For reservations, please call +84 283 978 8888 or email reservations.icpq@ihg.com.


Sociall | Decentralised Social Network | Security. Privacy. Community.
Social networking. But not as you know it.
Security. Privacy. Community. Join the Sociall revolution.
We're creating the world's best decentralised social network, so you can learn more, do more, connect and share without interruption. Powerful, secure, private – with Sociall, you're in control.
We're harnessing the power of decentralised technology to deliver a seamless social network safe from snooping by search engines. Usernames provide anonymity if you want it – or the opportunity to reflect your brand if you don't. Once a profile or post is deleted, it's deleted for good – not suspended, not hidden, not archived. Deleted. With Sociall, your data is within your control.
Got an opinion? Share it. Raising funds for charity? Promote it. Exploring a new topic? Discover it. Our chronological feed delivers news and posts as they break. You set your interests to view content that matters. We're creating a secure space for discussion, dialogue and debate. Join us.
Our native currency, SCL, makes it simple to buy, sell and transact on Sociall. Traded on many popular cryptocurrency exchanges, SCL eliminates the transaction fees, currency conversions and payment processing delays of traditional payments. Easy access, highly secure, anonymous and internationally accepted – who doesn't want that?
We've designed a self-governing network, where our community works together to keep Sociall safe and spam-free.
Buy, sell or promote your products – with our peer-to-peer decentralised Marketplace (coming soon), Sociall is a secure incubator for entrepreneurship, commerce and trade.
Raise funds for charity, generate start-up investment for your project or promote a personal cause – Sociall's upcoming crowdfunding release will enable donations in SCL to help you achieve the missions you're passionate about.
We're developing a user-friendly publishing platform to give your ideas a voice. Whether you're passionate about cryptocurrency, emerging tech, fitness and health, social causes or even your pets or Star Wars obsession, we've got you covered. You publish it, we share it, our community talks about it. Get creative!
Sociall aids discoverability so you can learn more, explore more and do more. View ALL posts on Sociall, filter by who you're FOLLOWING, or curate by your selected interests in DISCOVER. You control your feed – and all posts appear as they happen, not based on algorithms. No surveillance, just social sharing.
Future releases will include private groups, events, mobile apps for iOS and Android, a fully integrated self-serve ad platform (powered by SCL) and end-to-end encrypted instant messaging.
Check out our Roadmap for release dates.
We don't curate your feed based on your activity. We reject advertising that interrupts your experience.
We're Sociall. And we're ready for you.


For those people on top of all the happenings in Kevlar's life, I've been busy removing 15 years of possessions from my home so we can sell it in the next month, along with the purchase, upgrade and consolidation into a 42Ft. travel trailer. It's quite an undertaking, so a few things have had to be put lower on the priority list to complete the rest. I am finishing up a technical review of an Oracle Cloud book from Apress and signed on to write a Women in Technology book.
I'm happiest when I'm busy, but this is a bit too much for anyone, needless to say. I'm going to add a short blog while I have a minute on what is going on this week. I'm representing Delphix and just finished speaking at Techwell's StarEast Software Testing conference in Orlando. This session was incredibly well attended, with great interaction from those there, (I love questions and comments, what can I say?) I met with lay requested audience for my "Genius Bar" meeting and was able to update my slides to compliment the audience, which was a majority of testers looking to embrace DevOps into their business.
I will then get on a plane in a few hours for Las Vegas for the Interop ITX conference. Thanks to the referral from Karen Lopez, I'm going to speak on data and DevOps at this event, (if my plane will stop with the delays, already…. :)) I'm looking forward to getting back to Las Vegas, (wasn't I just there last week for Collaborate??) and hopefully get to see Karen Lopez and maybe even Gwen Shapira for a minute or two!
Keep an eye on this space- lots of great stuff in the next couple weeks with Great Lakes Oracle Conference, (GLOC) Data Summit and SQL Saturday Dallas!
Copyright © DBA Kevlar [StarEast, InteropITX and GDPR], All Right Reserved. 2018.


A teenager suffered head injuries after being hit by a car while on a night out.
The incident happened on Westgate, near the junction with Bank Street, at around 2.04am on Sunday.
A 19-year-old man was injured after being struck by the vehicle.
Police closed for road for two and a half hours while they carried out their enquires.
Insp Mark Chamberlain, of Wakefield Central Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT), said: "Fortunately the man suffered only minor injuries.
"We spoke with the driver and found he was not to blame.


text:
Q: cfqueryparam date greater than or equal to I am using Oracle and I have a select query where I want to select from the Inventory table with Year greater than or equal to year 2000.
Select * from Inventory
where
manufac_date >=  <cfqueryparam value="01/01/2000" cfsqltype="CF_SQL_DATE">

I am getting only those values with year greater than 2000, but not those from year 2000.
Any comments or suggestions please?

A: Maybe Oracle is different. But as long as it recognizes cf_sql_date, and not just cf_sql_timestamp, I see no reason it should not work. Are you positive :

*

*the table contains records for that period

*those records are not being excluded by some other condition

*that you are actually using >= and not just >

A: You should either make your cfqueryparam value a date object
manufacDateFilter = createDate(2000, 1 , 1);

in the query then you have
where
manufac_date >= <cfqueryparam value="#manufacDateFilter#" cfsqltype="CF_SQL_DATE">

or use Oracle's to_date function like so (not tested, but should work)
manufac_date >= to_date(<cfqueryparam cfsqltype="cf_sql_varchar" value="01/01/2000">,'mm/dd/yyyy')

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


MLTCC Junior Summer Championships is taking place the week of August 13,2018, with Finals Weekend on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th August kindly sponsored by The Grand Hotel!
This is a fabulous annual event for all MLTCC Juniors. Our objective this year is to maintain the same format as last year and increase the number of juniors of every age and every level taking part and to make it a fun event for all.
To enable this, within every age group we will be running 2-3 different graded events. Your junior will be entered in a group that is appropriate to their level, whether that is beginner or competitive. There will be prizes within all the different events. We will also be running daily fun activities which will culminate on finals weekend with a bbq for juniors and parents.
You can enter by returning the attached entry form with fee enclosed to the office or office mailbox (in an envelope). Entry forms are also available in the club. Juniors can enter a maximum of three events across both singles and doubles. Check the rules and regulations before entering.
Closing date for entry is Sunday 30th July but if you are going on holidays soon, please enter before you go so that we have an idea of numbers. Please note that Players must be available the full week of tournament. Due to volume of matches, we are unable to accommodate schedule changes.
We encourage all our Juniors to enter and to make this our biggest and best Championships yet!


text:
Tag Archives: Chair Man
Alex Pearl ~ Author Interview
Posted on October 14, 2020 by Nina Soden
Today I had the pleasure of interviewing Alex Pearl, author of The Chair Man and Sleeping with the Blackbirds!
Alex's first novel 'Sleeping with the Blackbirds', a darkly humorous urban fantasy, written for children and young adults, was initially published by PenPress in 2011. It has since become a Kindle bestseller in the US. In 2014, his fictionalised account of the first British serviceman to be executed for cowardice during the First World War was published by Mardibooks in its anthology, 'The Clock Struck War'. A selection of his blog posts is also available in paperback under the title 'Random Ramblings of a Short-sighted Blogger.' In 2019, his psychological thriller, 'The Chair Man' that is set in London in 2005 following the terrorist attack on its public transport system, was published as an ebook by Fizgig Press. The paperback followed in 2020.
Alex lives in NW London with his wife and two children who are far smarter than their old man.
He is quite possibly the only human being on this planet to have been inadvertently locked in a record shop on Christmas Eve.
Let's start by finding out a little bit about you…
What is your name and do you write under a pen name? My name is Alex Pearl, and I was very tempted to write under the pen name Bertram Bolzwinick, which was the name of my grandfather who died before I was born. He was from Russia or Poland; I'm not sure which. Sadly, when he arrived on these shores he changed his name by deed poll to Bertram Davis, which doesn't have the same cachet. However, having toyed with the idea, I finally decide to stick with my own name simply because everyone I'm linked to online knows me as Alex Pearl.
Where do you call home? I live in NW London and I have always lived in London. The area I live in is known as Hampstead Garden Suburb, which was set up in 1906 as part of the garden suburb movement. And we are very close to a large heathland known as Hampstead Heath.
Obviously, we know you are an author, but some writers have other jobs as well. Do you have another occupation? Do you believe you're any good at it? Do you like what you do? I have retired from work now. I used to be an advertising copywriter, so writing has been something I did professionally for around 35 years.
What is your family like? It's getting quieter as both our children have now flown the nest. My wife, unfortunately, became a tetraplegic seven years ago when she was very suddenly diagnosed with a spinal tumor, which was impossible to remove. So she now relies on a power chair, but it doesn't stop her from working and driving a car. She does a lot of work for organizations that assist those with physical and mental disabilities.
If it doesn't bother you, can you let us know what your childhood home looked like? I was born in Wanstead, east London, which used to be Winston Churchill's constituency. and I was brought up in an area called Ilford. Ilford is a large sprawling suburban conurbation on the eastern outskirts of Greater London. Its most attractive feature is a well-tended park, Valentines Park
Do you have any hobbies, other than writing? What do you enjoy doing? I used to paint large abstract compositions on glass, but I haven't done that for years. Other than writing, I spend time reading, gardening, cooking and all the household chores. Naturally, my wife can't do too much in terms of physical work from her wheelchair.
What is your greatest dream? Ooh. I suppose that would be winning some ludicrous literary prize. The Pulitzer perhaps or the Booker. I think I'd settle for the Booker. That would be pretty cool. And I could make a nonchalant acceptance speech to the effect that I had come to the conclusion that the judges had clearly lost their minds or their glasses, or both as they had clearly made some kind of mistake as there were so many more deserving winners in the room.
What kind of person do you wish you could be? What is stopping you? I wish I could play the piano very well. I just think it would be a wonderful gift to have. My son learnt as a child and got up to Grade 8 very quickly while he was at primary school. He's very good at math, which clearly helps. There is definitely a correlation between music and math. I am terrible at math and I know instinctively that I would never make the grade as a pianist. so I have never tried.
Not to pry too much, but do you remember your first love? Yes. Her name was Helen Lewis. She was the first girl that ever made me go weak at the knees. We were both five years of age at the time. And I don't think I ever had the courage to say a single word to her.
What is the most terrible thing that ever happened to you? Getting locked in a record shop on Christmas Eve. Thankfully, I didn't forego turkey and Christmas pudding as my father was able to contact the police. This was long before mobile phones had been invented. And within a couple of hours, I was freed from my temporary prison. It was, however, a fairly frightening experience. and one I wouldn't recommend.
What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing? There have been several people. Going back to my school days, I had a very unusual and inspiring English teacher by the name of Clive Lawton. He was very charismatic and had an affinity with kids to the extent that he really was on our wavelength. He'd do the most extraordinary things and turn everything on its head. On one occasion he announced that instead of him marking our essays he was going to ask us to mark his, and then handed out old essays he'd written in the past. He'd often tell us that the syllabus was boring and that we were going to ignore it and have a serious discussion about something fairly contentious like advertising and the blatant use of sexual imagery. The point of his lessons was to make us think and to convey to us the power of words. And by teaching in this wholly unconventional and radical manner, he not only gained the attention of every single child in that classroom. He also instilled a love of words and ideas. And as a result, every child in my class passed their O level exams, and nobody received anything less than a B grade. Later on, when I started working as an advertising copywriter, my Creative Director, a man by the name of Ken Mullen was also influential. Ken was and still is a brilliant writer. He had two degrees in English Literature from Oxford University and is the only English advertising copywriter to have had his work quoted in the Oxford Book of Modern quotations. These included two headlines he had penned for The Times newspaper when he was working for Leo Burnett – 'Our sages know their onions.' And 'No pomp. Just circumstance.' He encouraged his entire creative department to immerse themselves in literature, cinema and the arts in general. But perhaps, more importantly, he wore his learning lightly and was incredibly funny and approachable. He was, in short, the best boss you could ever hope for.
What was your dream growing up? Did you achieve that dream? If so, in what ways was it not what you expected? If you never achieved the dream, why not? I'm not sure that I ever really had a dream when I was growing up. Not one that I can readily remember at any rate. I never really knew what I wanted to do when I left school. I was never particularly studious and I wasn't heading for university. But I wasn't bad at art, so at the very last minute I applied to go to art college, and it was here that I became interested in creative advertising and teamed up with a good friend at college. And together we pestered a lot of people in the business with a portfolio of our ideas, and eventually, someone relented and gave us a job. So in answer to your original question, I guess I achieved my goal, which was a kind of dream I suppose.
Who is your role model? I think my father was a pretty good role model. He was an incredibly good father and grandfather. And was very community-minded. There was nothing he wouldn't do to help someone else; even a complete stranger. He was an incredibly generous, warm-hearted man and I miss him.
What is your greatest fear? Death. Woody Allen was once asked if he liked the idea of becoming immortal through his writing and he replied that he'd prefer to become immortal through not dying. I'm with him on that one.
Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hard-covers or audio-books? Call me old fashioned, but I'm afraid books, either hardbacks or paperbacks win hands down. There's nothing quite like having a book in your hands.
Have you ever read a book more than once? And if so what was it? Yes. It was the first book I ever read as a child. 'Stig of the Dump' by Clive King. I reread it recently out of interest – just to see if I still thought it was a terrific children's book. And happily, I can report that it is every bit as good as I thought it was as a young child. It's charmingly written, rather clever, and very touching.
What is your opinion of novellas? I see no massive difference really between a short story, novella, and full-length novel. They all have to be compelling. Obviously, with the shorter form, the writing has to be more economical and concise. But that in itself is an art form, and many believe that mastering the short story is more skillful than the full-blown novel. I'm not sure that I necessarily agree with that. I think it's difficult to generalize. In Japan, of course, there is a very great tradition for writing short stories and there are authors who write nothing more. But at the end of the day, a good story that is well written is a good story, whether it's in long or short form.
Have you ever read a book just based on its cover? Ooh, that's a good question. As someone who studied graphic design, I'm sure there should be a book cover that I was drawn to, but interestingly, there isn't one I can think of. In fact, so many really good books seem to have such anodyne and forgettable covers, which is a shame.
What is your favorite film based on a book? There are two films that immediately spring to mind that succeed in capturing the essence of a book. And that's something that's really hard to do with the medium of film, because you simply don't have the same enormous scope of a book and you can't appeal to the imagination; and, of course, you have to leave a huge amount out. The first film that for me comes close is 'To kill a Mockingbird' the film adaptation of the book by Harper Lee that stars Gregory Peck in the lead part of Atticus Finch. It's faithful to the book and does a near-perfect job of recreating its characters. And the other film is 'Schindler's List', the Spielberg film adaptation of Thomas Keneally's book that was originally titled 'Schindler's Ark', which is arguably a better title. Again, the film is a pretty faithful adaptation of the book, but is also filmed in a highly realistic way by using hand-held cameras and adopting a reportage style of shooting that is very matter of fact and a million miles away from Hollywood. Both films did well at the Oscars, winning among other things 'Best Adapted Screenplay.'
What is your favorite book genre at the moment? I don't really have one. But I tend to read literary, historical, and thrillers.
What books have made it onto your wish list recently? And why? 'Beneath a Scarlet Sky' by Mark Sullivan is a book I've just bought because it has received a torrent of rave reviews and it sounds like a great read. My cousin also recommended it and he has impeccable taste, so it must be pretty special. It's also based on a true story set in Italy during the war.
What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format? I've just finished reading 'The Last Lemming' by my old friend Chris Chalmers who, like me, also used to be an advertising copywriter. That's how we met. Chris is a very talented writer. This is his fifth book; they've all been magnificent. 'The Last Lemming' is an engaging yarn that combines mystery, humour and a dash of romance to great effect. In Mr. Chalmers' inimitable style, we are introduced to the lives of two disparate central characters: in the form of TV naturalist, Prof Leo Saunders and Claire Webster, a young Personal Trainer with aspirations to become an investigative journalist. There are two distinct threads to the narrative: one set in the mid-1980s and the other in the present-day narrated by our amateur female journalist. The plot involves Saunders admitting on Youtube just before dying that his one claim to fame – the discovery of the Potley Hill lemming – was in fact a hoax and that a certain advertising luminary had 'blood on his hands.' While the stunt is eventually written off as nothing more than unreliable ramblings of a sick man, Webster decides to investigate and use her findings for her dissertation on her journalism course. This entertaining and deftly plotted tale involves a cast of colourful characters including some of the furry variety. It's a skilfully woven yarn with some lovely descriptive passages that establish time and place. And in the best tradition, there are, of course, dead bodies
If you could invite any four (4) celebrities (alive or dead) to your dinner party, who would you invite and why? Ooh blimey. Well, I once had the pleasure of sitting next to the novelist, Beryl Bainbridge at an advertising awards dinner and I found her both delightful and fascinating, and I love her books, so I wouldn't mind inviting her. I reckon Stephen Fry would be good value. And I've always admired and really liked Archbishop Desmund Tutu. And to add the cherry to the icing I'd invite Mr. Barak Obama, one of America's most articulate Presidents. I think that would be one hell of a dinner party. In fact, I don't suppose I'd ger around to eating very much in such esteemed company.
Let's shift somewhat and talk about your latest story.
What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 or fewer words, what would you say? The title of my latest book is 'The Chair Man', which is a thriller. Here's a 20-word summation: Having survived a terrorist attack, Michael is now a wheelchair user seeking retribution online – but will become a sitting target.
Is the above book part of a series? That is a distinct possibility. Several people have said that they would love to read a sequel. And though the book has a natural conclusion, there is certainly another story that can be woven from the book's remnants; and it's something I'm working on. But I say this a lot to people, the plotting of a book is something I find particularly challenging and difficult. And I can't start writing a book without having the synopsis mapped out. It can and will evolve as I write it, but without this road map, I will just get hopelessly lost.
How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book(s)? That's a very good question and I'm pleased you asked me that because I'm fortunate to have a very good friend named John Mac who is a brilliant advertising photographer and director. And he kindly photographed and designed the covers to both my books. In fact, for 'Sleeping with the Blackbirds' he shot a stunningly beautiful trailer, too. You can watch it here. We were both particularly pleased with the cover for 'The Chair Man'. Back in 1998, John had been commissioned by the film director Guy Ritchie to produce the film poster for his film 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels'. And for my cover, John has used a similar approach by creating a very strong silhouette against a stark white background with quite distressed typography. It is very distinctive and feels absolutely right for the book.
Did you listen to any particular songs while writing your book(s)? No. I generally can't work that effectively with music on. I need silence. Music is just too distracting. It was the same when I worked at an advertising agency. We needed our own quiet space to think. That said, there are several music references in 'The Chair Man' The title pages to part one and part two are the titles of songs by Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Costello from 2005. And one of the characters in the book loves the classical piano playing of Glenn Gould – particularly bach's Golberg Variations.
How did you come up with the title for your book(s)? 'Sleeping with the Blackbirds' as a title came to me fairly early on, and I just liked it from the outset. It has a certain ring to it that sounds lyrical. 'The Chair Man' is the moniker that the terrorists use to describe the book's protagonist Michael Hollinghurst, so I thought it would make a good title – particularly against a graphic book cover.
Do you have a book trailer? If so, where can we watch it? I have a book trailer for my first book 'Sleeping with the Blackbirds', which was shot by my good friend John Mac and edited, dubbed, graded and animated by Hogarth Worldwide. You can watch it on Youtube here.
In your latest novel, who is the lead character, and can you tell us a little about him/her? Michael Hollinghurst is the lead character. He's a very successful corporate lawyer. His marriage to his wife is beginning to fall apart and eventually does when Michael becomes the victim of a terrorist attack that leaves him in a wheelchair. His two kids who are in their mid to late 20s choose to live with him, and you get a sense that he is a good father who cares deeply for his two children. And they likewise are very close to him. Following a lengthy stay in rehab following his ordeal, Michael suffers from feelings of guilt having survived the blast when everyone else in his carriage didn't. He finds it difficult to come to terms with his predicament and his anger is channeled into a plan for retribution.
What are your character's greatest strengths? His greatest strengths are his warmth and compassion, not to mention his intelligence and his generosity.
And what are his/her greatest weaknesses? His greatest weakness is his complete and utter inability to forgive and forget. When he makes a decision he is like a dog with a bone. He simply won't let go of it.
What are some of his/her favorite foods? He likes fish and is partial to wine, particularly Spanish Rioja.
What's a positive quality that your character is unaware that he or she has? Despite his anger and bitterness towards the perpetrators of the terrorist attack, he is fairly stoical and pretty brave about his own position. Part of him feels pangs of guilt for surviving, and these feelings drive him to feel a moral obligation to act on behalf of those who were killed. So he is brave, stoical and determined. Positive traits that he almost certainly doesn't recognize in himself.
Will readers like or dislike this character, and why? Readers have mixed feelings about Michael. Some like him and admire his close relationship with his kids. They also seem to sympathize with his obsessive need for retribution. Other readers aren't so sympathetic. They see him as a rich white arrogant man who is prepared to put his family's lives at risk just to seek revenge. They see him as a reckless individual who hasn't tried to even think through the ramifications of his actions. And some also think that the devious way in which he gets his neighbor's autistic son to help him hack into an East London mosque is really manipulative and morally wrong.
What first gave you the idea for your latest book? The germ of the idea sprang from my wife's predicament. She became ill seven years ago with a spinal tumor and ended up in a wheelchair. She is, however a very strong and resilient individual and doesn't let her predicament stop her doing what she wants, within reason. So naturally, I know a fair bit about spinal injuries and wheelchairs, and I thought it would be a good idea to develop a character that had survived a terror attack and ends up in a wheelchair. But like my wife, I didn't want my protagonist to roll over and lead a quiet life. I wanted him to go a bit crazy and actively go after other terrorists by using his wits and, of course, the internet.
Let's talk now about your writing process.
What is your writing style like? Are you a pantster or a plotter? As far as style is concerned, I think I'm a bit of a chameleon. As an advertising copywriter, I'm used to adopting different tones of voice to address different audiences. I think it's the same when it comes to writing books. My first book for children, young adults and parents was deliberately written in an old-fashioned, whimsical style redolent of authors like Clive King and Roald Dhal. When it came to writing 'The Chair Man' though, I adopted a crisp modern unfussy style of writing that felt right for the subject matter. When it comes to my approach to writing, I'm most certainly a plotter. I need a road map to see where I'm going. The story can evolve as I write it, but I have to have very clear directions and know where the thing is heading. So before writing the first chapter, I have to have a fairly detailed synopsis typed out; and the ending is absolutely crucial. And I'm very pleased that the endings to both of my books are I think unexpected and satisfying full stops.
Have you come across any specific challenges in writing or publishing? What would you do differently the next time? Proofreading assistance is something I will certainly invest in next time around. No matter how many times you go through your manuscript, there will always be errors you miss. And it isn't just indie authors that have this problem. I see typos in mainstream publications by the big publishing houses that a whole team of editors and proofreaders have missed.
Are you a self-published/Indie author or did you publish through a traditional publishing company? I'm an indie author. I publish through Amazon (print on demand and ebooks) and Smashwords for all the other e-platforms.
If you're a self-published/Indie author what made you go that route instead of the traditional publishing route? I tried approaching literary agents through the traditional channels but haven't yet received anything other than polite rejection letters several months after my submissions. So the next best thing is to self-publish.
What's the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing? "Read, read, read everything – trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You'll absorb it. Then write. If it is good, you'll find out. If it's not, throw it out the window." William Faulkner
What advice would you give someone who wants to start writing? Formulate a story in your head; write it down as a synopsis; once you are happy with it, start writing your book; enjoy the journey.
Where can your readers follow you? WEBSITE http://alex-pearl.net BLOG http://rhubarbrabbit.blogspot.com FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/The-Chair-Man-103009131263558/?modal=admin_todo_tour TWITTER https://twitter.com/AlexBPearl GOODREADS https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2842442.Alex_Pearl AMAZON https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alex-Pearl/e/B00AR0T3QA/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1
Michael Hollinghurst is a successful corporate lawyer living a comfortable, suburban life in leafy North West London. But on 7 July 2005, his life is transformed when he steps on a London underground train targeted by Islamist suicide bombers. While most passengers in his carriage are killed, Michael survives the explosion but is confined to a wheelchair as a result. Coming to terms with his predicament and controlling his own feelings of guilt as a survivor conspire to push him in a direction that is out of character and a tad reckless. In a quest to seek retribution, he resorts to embracing the internet and posing as a radical Islamist in order to snare potential perpetrators. Much to his surprise, his shambolic scheme yields results and is brought to the attention of both GCHQ and a terrorist cell. But before long, dark forces begin to gather and close in on him. There is seemingly no way out for Michael Hollinghurst. He has become, quite literally, a sitting target.
Eleven-year-old schoolboy, Roy Nuttersley has been dealt a pretty raw deal. While hideous parents show him little in the way of love and affection, school bullies make his life a misery. So Roy takes comfort in looking after the birds in his suburban garden, and in return the birds hatch a series of ambitious schemes to protect their new friend.
As with the best-laid plans, however, these get blown completely off course – and as a result the lives of both Roy and his arch tormentor, Harry Hodges are turned upside down. While Harry has a close encounter with God, Roy embarks on a voyage of discovery that draws in and impacts on everyone around him, including the local police, his headmaster and the national media. Where will it all end, and will life ever be quite the same for Roy Nuttersley?
(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.)
Posted in Author Interviews, The process | Tagged Alex Pearl, Author Interview, author life, Chair Man, Sleeping with the Blackbirds | Leave a reply


Fans of Walt Disney World and the musicians whose talent lends so much to the magic experience of millions of Guests will be sad to hear of the passing of Grayson Dunlap Wells. In addition to composing a piece for the Soarin' attraction opening at EPCOT, Wells had his own band and would occasionally be a substitute performer for 'Off Kilter' the Celtic Rock band in the Canada Pavilion.
The Orlando Sentinel has a nice tribute or you can visit Wells' own website where you can listen to the piece he composed for Soarin', although I'm not sure how long that will remain up.


Lovely, no? Ever since I started trying to fashion a career (okay, that's too lofty; how about "avocation"? "Nutty side gig"? "Deep dark secret"?) out of writing for kids, I've given a lot of thought about why I'm doing it. Since then, I've come to realize the value, perhaps even necessity, which stories represent for children. I've got a couple of them (kids), and I can say from experience something magical happens when I crack open a book and begin reading to them. Something equally magical occurs following those five gorgeous words: "Tell me a story, Daddy." That something has to do with dreams. In stories, anything's possible. The rules of our world don't apply. Good triumphs, hope rises. Monsters are slain. Swords are pulled from stones. And I think kids need this. It's a sanctuary, a safe zone where the "too-rough fingers of the world," as Hughes calls them, can't come prying. To read is to dream of a world you can call your own. I fully recognize that writing for children isn't seen as a legitimate form of literature by many. But the people I know who write for children, many of whom I'm lucky enough to share a table with at monthly RACWI meetings, are heroes. They dare to dream up whole worlds, spinning words into gold so that children now and in the future will be able to inhabit these worlds and dream their own dreams. I know that's what happened with me. I stand on the shoulders of Lewis, Tolkein, and others, and together, we all build this collective kingdom of story. They bring us their "heart melodies," and we wrap them gently in "blue cloud-cloth," preserving the innocence of youth for as long as we possibly can.


text:
Whose Impact Are We Measuring? Proving the Efficacy of Participatory Grantmaking
By Rose Longhurst
December 19, 2018, London, UK
At a gathering of participatory grantmakers in Mexico City, we were discussing how we could prove our effectiveness to advocates of 'traditional' philanthropy. 'But, why should we?', retorted Wanja Muguongo of UHAI-EASHRI, 'They don't feel the need to prove anything to us.'
Participatory grantmaking, as defined in the new GrantCraft guide, cedes decision-making power about funding—including the strategy and criteria behind those decisions—to the very communities that funders aim to serve. Participatory grantmaking challenges the assumptions of who is a legitimate decision-maker in philanthropic processes, and in doing so it values the voice of community leaders and activists as much as—if not more than—donors.
There are few who would disagree that some form of participation by intended recipients in philanthropic interventions is a good thing, and participatory grantmaking goes beyond the occasional consultation with 'beneficiaries'. But before even contemplating the ceding of any decision-making power, many traditional funders ask for solid evidence of the positive impact of participatory grantmaking. My thoughts on this are two-fold:
Firstly, generating this evidence requires investment in learning.
And secondly, what is meant by 'impact', and who is defining it?
Supporting research on participatory grantmaking is necessary. Critical self-reflection is an important part of participatory grantmaking. We are driven to iterate our process based on assessments and feedback. But unlike many funders, we don't have the funds to undertake formal evaluations. Major funders who call for evidence on the benefits of participatory grantmaking should fund some learning infrastructure such as impact evaluations. Recently the European Cultural Foundation did this by supporting a values-led evaluation of FundAction, the new participatory fund and platform in Europe. This will support FundAction's development and help build evidence on the benefits and challenges of this approach.
I smile to myself whenever I hear funders worry that participatory grantmaking is 'expensive'. The infrastructure and bureaucracy of most foundations far exceed those of even the largest participatory grantmakers. Many of us operate on shoe-string budgets and, while not ideal, it does mean we are familiar with some of the unique day-to-day challenges that our grantees face.
One of these challenges is the limited time and space available to reflect and assess both as individuals and with peers. Many of us involved in participatory grantmaking attempt peer-learning when we can—often informally and in the gaps between our day-jobs—but strategic investment in assessing impact would benefit us all. However, any efforts to assess impact requires a discussion of what this means.
Defining impact is as important as understanding it. Currently, more needs to be done to document participatory grantmaking and rigorously test assumptions. But when I hear talk about 'proving impact', I wonder how 'impact' is being defined—and who made that decision?
It's not in keeping with the ethos of participatory grantmaking to come up with impact metrics in an external, top-down way. The community should determine what success is. If I heard that grantees felt that participatory grantmaking was not having an impact, I would worry. But, when I hear funders questioning the impact, I wonder on whose behalf they are speaking.
Funders should engage communities in evaluation design, incorporating metrics and methods that truly allow for those involved to reflect on their own needs, experiences, and successes. (This is what European Cultural Foundation did with FundAction.) Impact metrics that solely focus on pre-determined outcomes miss the key benefits that result from the process of participatory grantmaking itself. Evaluations should capture the more nuanced, relational aspects of this work that occur throughout the course of deliberative decision-making.
I'm involved with The Edge Fund and Fund Action because I believe that a just process itself is real impact, not because I've analyzed output metrics and find that we create bigger impact relative to traditional foundations. (Although I do intuit that the impact of our grants is vastly disproportionate to the monetary size of the grants.)
Participatory grantmaking is highlighting seldom-raised questions about legitimacy in philanthropy. Thinking back on Wanja's question, I believe traditional philanthropy hasn't had to 'prove' its impact perhaps in part because it views the legitimacy to intervene in the lives of others as being born from the authority of wealth. Participatory grantmaking, on the other hand, views legitimate decision-makers as those who are personally affected by the outcome of the intervention. These are very different approaches.
If we want rigorous evidence around participatory grantmaking, then let's create the conditions support this. But in doing so, let's consider what we are trying to prove – and to whom. Evaluations should serve us all, especially the communities whose lives are affected. That would be true philanthropic impact.
Rose Longhurst is an Atlantic Fellow for Social and Economic Equity. Rose has spent her career working in the non-profit sector and has specialized in fundraising and advising institutional donors on how to give effectively. She has been an active member of The Edge Fund since 2013 and is also on the Facilitation Group of FundAction.
participatory grantmaking
working with grantees
Content series
Rose Longhurst
Atlantic Fellow, The London School of Economics and Political Science
More from this series
Link to Participatory Grantmaking: Additional Resources
Participatory Grantmaking: Additional Resources
Link to Getting Your Board on Board with Participatory Grantmaking
Getting Your Board on Board with Participatory Grantmaking
Link to Are You Ready to Become an Activist Philanthropist?
Are You Ready to Become an Activist Philanthropist?
Link to Why Let Go of Power?
Why Let Go of Power?
Link to Deciding Together
Deciding Together Shifting Power and Resources Through Participatory Grantmaking
Link to Mechanics of Participatory Grantmaking
Mechanics of Participatory Grantmaking
Link to Announcing Our New Guide on Participatory Grantmaking!
Announcing Our New Guide on Participatory Grantmaking!
Link to Insight on Participatory Grantmaking: Romy Krämer, FundAction and Guerrilla Foundation
Insight on Participatory Grantmaking: Romy Krämer, FundAction and Guerrilla Foundation
Link to Insight on Participatory Grantmaking: Wanja Muguongo, UHAI EASHRI
Insight on Participatory Grantmaking: Wanja Muguongo, UHAI EASHRI
Link to Insight On Participatory Grantmaking: Patricia Eng, New York Women's Foundation
Insight On Participatory Grantmaking: Patricia Eng, New York Women's Foundation


text:
Scale model created by W.W. Weeks in 1936, here shown with a view from the west
Architects Allan George and Walter Moorehouse built "Graydon House" at the cost of $250,000 in 1936. The 29-room Georgian manor was 130 feet (39.62 meters) long house and 50 feet (15.24 meters) wide.
The terraces, garden walls, auxiliary buildings, including the lodge, were built of the same variegated fieldstone as the house. This fieldstone matched the texture and colors of fieldstone of farmhouses in the area. The window trim, balustrades, port-cochere and the courtyard fountain were made of imported Indiana limestone.
View from the south
Interior Designer, R. Marcum Slimon designed the rooms of the manor.
Dunnington-Grubb and Stensson designed the innovative landscaping and original gardens.
George Cumming laid out the private, 9-hole golf course
Rupert Bain boasted that he would create a "sportsman's paradise." The estate included a park, a race track, lodge house, stables for raising champion race horses which housed more than 30 thoroughbreds at its peak, polo ponies and a large kennel facility for raising hunting dogs. The property also included a large original farmhouse that pre-dated the manor.
Florence Wyle, a close friend of Lorrie Dunnington-Grubb, designed the sculpture for the central fountain in the garden, which features a lady kneeling, holding a bowl. The fountain is now part of the collection of the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Bain selected the location for the house to be built on the brow of a hill, commanding an extensive view across the valley and surrounding country. The house was built on a very linear axis, which followed the natural direction of the slope. The architects and landscape designers incorporated the shape of the terrain in an innovative way into the layout of the estate. The 1938 Canadian Homes and Gardens article describes the attention to orientation and axis:
"Orientation has been studied with care. The garden front faces south-southeast, so as to give full sun to the gardens while securing protection from northwest winds, and permitting use of a shady terrace in the late afternoon. Seclusion of all garden parts has been achieved. The designers have planned their pictures carefully, and have taken precautions that they should be viewed from the most advantageous angle. Thus, there is no access to the gardens except through the house, none of their beauty is visible as he drives up the long avenue to the entrance court and port-cochere. . . the house dominates its gardens and views, and occupies its position with grace and dignity. . ."
To the east of the fountain courtyard, two small buildings framed a lawn divided by a long canal with flowing water. These buildings likely housed the pumps for the water that flowed from this point down the slope of the property for a total of five acres in a continuing series of cascading fountains and pools:
Beginning at the two little buildings
Running down the canal
Down into a small waterfall framed by stairs
Supplying the courtyard fountain
Continuing into a pond
From then on running down a series of connecting pools as a man-made waterway, spotted with landings and rock gardens for over four more acres.
Henry Rupert Bain is born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, son of Scottish doctor, Hugh Bain and Florence Clarke Bain. After the death of Rupert's father, the Bain family moves to Toronto, when Rupert is five years old.
At the age of 25, Bain sets up his own brokerage firm, H.R. Bain and Company, dealing in municipal and corporate bonds.
Bain switches H.R. Bain and Company to financing mining, becoming the first broker to promote gold stocks during the Depression. Bain successfully finances the Pickle Crow mine by raising confidence and large sums of money from investors all over Ontario, which makes him very wealthy. On June 19 th, 1934, Bain purchases 100 acres of farmland, the parcel labeled as Lot 12, 3 rd Concession east of Yonge on the 1878 Crown Grant map. The cost of the purchase is estimated at $75,000. Bain begins to develop the land into an estate.
Bain retains Allan George and Walter Moorehouse to build "Graydon House" at the cost of $250,000. The 29-room Georgian manor is constructed of fieldstone with fine Indiana limestone trim. Interior Decorator, R. Marcum Slimon assembles the furniture and creates the interior to Bain's request. Dunnington-Grubb and Stensson design and plants the original gardens. The estate has stables for raising race horses, and kennels for raising hunting dogs. A private, 9-hole golf course is laid out by designer, George Cumming. Bain commissions Florence Wyle, a close friend of Lorrie Dunnington-Grubb, to design a sculpture for the central fountain in the garden, which features a lady kneeling, holding a bowl. The fountain is now part of the collection of the Art Gallery of Ontario. Graydon House becomes a center for high society life, regular socialite gatherings including the Eglinton Hunt Club, debut parties, and a yearly New Year's Eve gala. Famous visitors during the heyday of Graydon Hall included Katharine Hepburn, Vivian Leigh, and Mary Pickford, who was actually a childhood friend of Aileen Bain.
Bain purchases an additional 50 acres adjoining the north end of the estate from Stafford Watson. As a gesture, Bain offers this land as a site for a private residence to the King and Queen in anticipation of their visit in the following year.
In May, Graydon House is featured in Canadian Homes and Gardens.
Bain sells off the first part of the property to local land developer, and neighbor, E.P. Taylor. This 50 acre parcel included the polo field and race track, the kennels, and the stables for the horses.
Shortly after divorcing his wife, Aileen, and marrying the ex-wife of his friend, Reginald Watkins, Bain sells the parcel of the property with the house itself, now called Graydon Hall Manor, to Nelson Morgan Davis, president of Intercity Forwarders. Davis takes possession of the house and property on September 1 st. In October, Bain suffers a cerebral hemorrhage as a result of a horse-riding accident in Mexico
Henry Rupert Bain dies on March 25 th, at 54 years of age.
Nelson Morgan Davis sells Graydon Hall Manor to Normco Limited and Combo Construction for over one million dollars. Normco develops the land to build apartments and condominiums, with Peter Pocklington, Peel Elder Limited.


text:
TOSANAK@NACK.CO
Tosanak
Best News/Magazine Site
Cambodia Destinations
Galleries & Performance
Best of Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh Events
Modern Artists Paint New Life Onto Abandoned Colonial History
Modern Artists Paint New Life…
The image of a young man's face blends into the weathered side of Damnak Sla Khmao, former King Norodom Sihanouk's palace. (Phan Soumy | Tosanak)
Located just about 37 km west of the sleepy town of Kampot, Bokor mountain is filled with hidden images and messages waiting for both local and international tourists to discover.
The resort on the summit of Kampot's 1,079 m mountain was built during the French colonial period as a city escape for foreign residents. Now a tourist attraction, the local government improved transportation to the site with a renovated road that finished in 2011, so Bokor's beauty can be easily accessible by cars or motorbikes.
The winding road up Bokor Mountain on a foggy day. (Phan Soumy | Tosanak)
For tourists seeking adventure, driving up the mountain by motorbike is ideal and highly recommended. One would be amazed with the fresh air, cold temperature, birdsong and beauty of the wildlife and forests along the winding road.
Motorbikes can be rented for $5 a day from any of the travel agents in town, and with just three liters of gasoline in the tank, visitors can travel there and back again.
An older man is depicted on one of the walls of Bokor Mountain's colonial buildings. (Phan Soumy | Tosanak)
Bokor Hill Station was initially developed as a luxury resort for the colonial resident in the early 1920s atop Bokor Mountain, which is now located in the province's Preah Monivong National Park.
The resort, which includes of hotel, casino, church and royal residence, was abandoned a few times throughout history, during the First Indochina War against the French in the 1940s, and again as the Khmer Rouge descended upon the station in 1972. The structures have withstood decades, with only small fractures affecting the colonial facades. Traveling between different buildings on the mountain makes one feel as if they are going through the cities of Kampot or Battambang—both famously known for their French architecture—but surrounded by trees, a nice atmosphere and cold temperatures, making it a must-see for visitors.
As the buildings age, several artists have used their walls as a canvas. Visitors can spot several styles of artwork throughout the abandoned French buildings, as well as words and phrases in Khmer and English.
A picture of a girl with her hair decorated with animals in a building on Bokor Mountain. (Phan Soumy | Tosanak)
In a country where the vast majority of people practice Buddhism, some might be surprised to stumble upon an old Catholic church, mounted with a wooden cross. The empty church holds no service and has little graffiti to find inside, but the old pulpit now holds icons from three different faiths.
The Catholic church on Bokor Mountain now contain imagery from three different faiths. (Phan Soumy | Tosanak)
What might surprise those who have never visited the mountain is the old, weathered buildings hold beautiful graffiti images painted in recent years. The graffiti depicts from young to older people and imaginative creatures. The resulting atmosphere renders an amazing mixture of old colonial architecture and modern arts, unique to Cambodia and much of the region.
Category: Cambodia Destinations, Travel, Weekend EscapesBy Phan Soumy October 19, 2017
Author: Phan Soumy
http://nack.co
PreviousPrevious post:Young Director Wants to Share A Different Story About the Khmer RougeNextNext post:The Voice Cambodia Candidate San Sreylai's Kindness Is As Memorable As Her Songs
Abused Boy's Mother Dies in Traffic Accident
Young Director Wants to Share A Different Story About the Khmer Rouge
The Voice Cambodia Candidate San Sreylai's Kindness Is As Memorable As Her Songs
Coming Out Struggles for Cambodian
Cambodia Destinations(1)
City Guide(1)
City Life(3)
News & Features(3)
Weekend Escapes(1)
64ZC Street 360 PHNOM PENH
TOSANAK OFFERS INSIGHTFUL AND AWARD-WINNING EDITORIAL COVERAGE OF NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND LOCAL ISSUES, AS WELL AS FOOD, FASHION, TRAVEL AND ENTERTAINMENT
Copyright © 2017 TOSANAK - Designed & Developed by Nack Solutions


Too many cooks spoil the climate. Our hobs, ovens, kettles and microwaves use as much electricity in a year as British streetlighting does in six years.
But, by making a few considered choices, the average household can shave £170 off its utility bills every year. If you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, your carbon cutting will really add up. Here's how to make a few simple savings.
Pressure cookers can save you huge amounts of cooking time, drastically cut energy consumption, and, if you're a keen cook, pay for themselves in no time. Prices start from just £20 for a 4 litre capacity cooker.
A pressure cooker is a large pan with a closely fitting lid. A certain amount of liquid is boiled in the sealed pan with the food, and the build-up of steam under pressure inside the pan means that some foods cook in less than half the time usually taken.
– Pulses, such as dried beans and chick peas, which take just 15–20 minutes in a pressure cooker, compared with the usual hour or two. They don't even need to be soaked overnight this way!
– Steamed puddings, such as Christmas puddings. A 1lb (450g) Christmas pud takes just 1½ hours in a pressure cooker, instead of the usual six hours.
Once you've tried this simple energy and moneysaving trick you'll never go back. Boil the water for pasta in a kettle. Place the water and pasta in a pan, cover with a well-fitting lid, and bring back to the boil. Then turn the electricity/gas off. When the cooking time specified on the packet is up, you'll find that it's cooked as normal!
If a stovetop recipe, such as veggie chilli and most soups, stores well in the fridge or freezer, make larger batches of it. That way you won't have to use the stove again to make additional batches. You can reheat it in a few minutes using the microwave instead – and it's much healthier than bought ready-meals.
A microwave oven uses about half the energy of a conventional electric oven. This is mainly due to faster cooking times – and the energy heats only the food, not the entire oven. Though it uses more power per minute, it cooks faster!
Blitzing frozen veg in the microwave instead of waiting for them to boil saves time – and cuts energy use by 65%. And microwaving a frozen ready-meal rather than cooking it in the oven can halve energy use.
Switching from an electric oven to a gas oven could save you £50 a year – and cut your emissions as effectively as turning all your appliances off standby.
Because electric cooking is three times more expensive than gas cooking, a simple new model will have paid for itself in about four years!
– Electricity is three times more expensive than gas – and emits twice as much CO2 per unit.
– The average Brit spends about £75 a year on cooking bills.
– Cooking uses about 830 kWh annually in the average UK home.
By making a few considered choices, the average household can shave £170 off its utility bills every year. If you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, the savings will really add up.
© Amanda Woodvine for Didsbury Dinners, 2o11. All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced in whole or in part without the permission of the copyright owner.