Should be ideal for making challenges.
I've changed the codeseed on the Lemmini version, which means that you have to progress through the levels without knowing any passwords.
I'm expecting that a lot! That will be great for beginners.
I live in Asia, so I am not good at write in English.
I did that once. I don't know if i still have it though, but i did do that once.
What happened to the Lemmix version?
Lemmixes are a lot harder to make than Lemminis, because everything's compiled into the executable, and the avialable source code is incomplete. Even in a complete state, adding custom data to it isn't the easiest, and that's assuming you use the same structure as one of the originals (IE: 30 levels each across 4 difficulties with the same oddtable positions, or 20 levels each across 5 difficulties with no oddtable, with the same music rotation although you can change the musics themself), if you are, it gets even harder.
Didn't Lemmini have nonstandard physics, while standard physics are crucial for some challenge ideas?
Just because the physics are different doesn't mean you can't make challenges out of a level, you know. It just means the challenge solutions may not carry over to standard versions of Lemmings.
I guess if I can modify the LemmixPlayer code to better support custom levels (eg. look for them in external files instead of compiled into the EXE), that would go a long way towards making it easier to bundle custom levels into Lemmixes. However I don't see myself having time and interest to do so at the moment.
Likewise. It'd be a great idea, but I don't know enough Delphi to do it and don't have the interest to learn.


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The S500's bezel is high quality, easy to use and should be more than tough enough for even a sporting owner. Someday the last barrel of crude oil will be extracted from the ground and my 1967 Firebird will become a static display. That's the problem with finite resources. For 2018, it seems Victorinox listened to myself and others and did a better quality of fake watches at grand bazaar average price job with the lume application. It is still not the brightest but my example at least has an even coating and seems to hold a charge for more than past models. Do you remember my worries about the salmon Dumoreau CM02 being too shiny and cheesy? Those worries turned out to be a silly waste of time.
Lamborghini Aventador LP 780-4 Ad Personam Ultimae Roadster The company was sold to MegaTech, an Indonesian-Malaysian company, by 1993 but just a couple of years later Audi AG Part of the Volkswagen Group took over and dramatically restructured Lamborghini. The curvaceous case shows four straight-cut sides and a mix of hand-polished and brushed surfaces. Strap/Bracelet: Strap or beads-of-rice bracelet ThisStowa Flieger Klassik 40 Ikarus was sent to me about 2 months ago, and that is what was offered. Razor Icon Electric Scooter Specifications Motor : 350-watt powering rear wheel only. Here, we have a Laureato with a unique black onyx dial that solves most of the issues that I have with the regular dial.
Faithful to Cartier 's tradition of shaped cases, the Pasha plays with the geometry of a square inside a circle and is easy to recognise thanks to its cabochon-capped crown protector attached to a small chain. And the name, Havid Nagan? Well, it comes from Bazerkanian's heritage. The Best Dive WatchesThe following lists of dive watches is ever growing and will be updated by me and the TBWS team as new releases and trends occur that fit our criteria for being included in this list. If there are any dive watches you think are missing from this list, please let us know in the comments below. Seamaster Railmaster Co‑Axial Master ChronometerIn an alternative universe where railway watches are less niche, the Railmaster may well have become as iconic and renowned as the Seamaster and Speedmaster, creating its own legacy collection. Afterall, it started life as an equal to its sea and speed counterparts in 1957 as part of the 'Professional Trilogy". However, without the same success, the modern recreation has had to deviate from its heritage to become a hybrid Seamaster Railmaster. For anyone growing up in the 80s and 90s, Swatch was everywhere. In this story, Robin Swithinbank looks back on three different models he owned during three important periods of his young life, and which he still owns.
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Yesterday, on the main stage at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, Omega announced the most complicated movement the brand has ever made. Maybe you need to fight it out . literally? 5905/1A the sportiest watch in Patek Philippe's Complications collection. It is a cool story at the very least. Longines' modern take on a War time watch.
Inside the case of this new model, you'll find familiar mechanics: the classic, in-house made monopusher hand-wound chronograph movement of the classic Chrono Felix. This very clever, complex mechanism probably still makes the Yacht-Master II the most complicated model in Rolex's catalog today. Ok, enough name dropping. Let's look at some watches. I'm not going to get into very much detail since I'll save that for hands-on reviews, but I did want to point out some of my favorites, and what it is that makes them special. There's also plenty of space to feel at home. The stainless steel case is 43 mm in diameter and 10 mm high and through the sapphire crystal caseback displays a Swiss automatic movement, the ETA 2893, beating at 28, 800 vph and offering 38 hours of power reserve. The local time, the second time zone and the date can all be adjusted via the crown. George Illawarra Dragons captain and halfback signed a five-year deal with the Red V back in January 2017. No doubt, the Pilbara pulls in the prospective wearer with its fume dial, subtle layering, legibility, and balanced proportions. Don't worry; it's not actually touching the brick. I'm not that reckless. The butterfly fold is still a work in progress. While I am not in a hurry to buy myself a Seiko SKX013, I would certainly consider it in the future if I needed a watch that could patek philippe replica prices live in the water but would still be appropriate for work and casual days around town. Champagne Bollinger La Grande Annee Rose 2014 Scott Purcell – Co-Founder I've just stepped back into the office from a Bollinger event, so I think it's only fair that I write about the delicious Champagne I was lucky enough to try while the aftertaste still lingers in my mouth.
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Next up is Gary G; a collector of all things unusual and classic, ranging from Philippe Dufour to Kari Voutilainen and Patek Philippe, among others. Not only does Gary collect, but he also contributes to Quill Pad as their resident collector, so we thought we would get his first impression of the Kari Voutilainen 217QRS retrograde date. The Benrus strap is a thick and smooth seatbelt-style nylon weave. It has a lovely gradient dial with oversized numerals beneath a double-domed box crystal. The 44mm case is close in size to the Fifty Fathoms and it has a similarly proportioned bezel. Both watches have a classic 120 click unidirectional rotation, although at first glance it looks like the Divemaster's bezel might be fixed. However, it's not, it just has three chunky grips instead of a fluted edge like the Blancpain. Its measurements are 5″x5″ or 12×12 cm, the planter can also be used both inside or outside. Although the strap itself is fairly comfortable, I need to have it set on the second smallest hole for my 6. Watchmakers contributing pieces to the Only Watch 2015 collection include Hermes, Hublot, Chopard, Vulcain, Speake-Marin, Laurent Ferrier, Maurice LaCroix, Richard Mille, F. P. Journe, Breguet, Tudor, Vacheron Constantin, Patek Philippe, Jacob Co. , Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Harry Winston, Piaget, Van Cleef Arpels, Ulysse Nardin and Bell Ross. The latest interpretation of the Corum Golden Bridge is the Golden Bridge Automatic Titanium which combines the iconic baguette movement – here in a spectacular automatic version with linear oscillating weight – to a titanium case with black DLC treatment. Introduced at BaselWorld 2014, the new Corum Golden Bridge Automatic Titanium comes on a black crocodile strap and luminor panerai replica price is water-resistant to Fake Rolex Prices 30 metres. Diving into the depths is one of the most awesome experiences you can undertake, but like all extreme Fake Rolex Prices sports if you're not careful it can be incredibly dangerous. The most common danger people think of is running out of air, but there is actually a bigger danger if you don't prepare properly: pressure. And that's where diving watches can help, especially if they're kitted out with a decompression timer Fake Rolex Prices like the Mido Ocean Star limited editions and Delma's latest Shell Star. Anyone with two eyes and a heartbeat can tell you that there's no shortage of available tech for us in the modern world.
As most of us know, bronze patinas over time. How do you trigger hypertrophy? It's coming, but you have to be patient. So here I am, with this marvelous espresso gem on my wrist, and I don't want to send it back. I told myself it was too big, and I was wrong. I told myself I already had too many watches, and well, that's clearly a joke. The only thing left is the price, and although they are no longer stupid cheap the $280 Super Early Bird and $322 Early Bird are both sold out, I can still snag one for $372. That is an excellent value, and a hell of a bargain compared to the $549 expected retail. This was brought to you in partnership with Sincere Watch, the retailer for Greubel Forsey in Southeast Asia. It is always a great moment to see an actor Sean Bean, a musician Brian Johnson from ACDC and Jay Kay from Jamiroquai, an international CEO Ron Dennis fake rolex prices from McLaren or a contemporary artist Olivier Mosset wearing a Graham, especially when they have not contacted us to get a special deal to wear it. Also, I love to meet businessmen at the baggage belt of international airports wearing a Graham, as it's a nice opportunity to speak with someone who has decided to buy and wear one of our timepieces.
If your eyesight isn't perfect and maybe even if it is, the small inverted LCD display on the three debut models can be difficult to read, especially in low light situations. The lack of a positive display option is probably the biggest complaint about the GM-B2100 launch, perhaps even above the lack of Multi-Band 6. If you plan to use the digital functions a lot world time, stopwatch, timer, etc. , you might want to wait for a model with a positive display. The dial of the Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster Professional Diver BJ8050-08E offers an aggressive, ultra-legible take on the dive watch formula. The 692 is based on an ETA 2452, as evidenced by the stamp under the balance wheel. The 694 is based on an ETA 2472 – that's good to know if I need to find parts any parts that they don't share. So this case, for example, is my new 38mm Tonneau case.
Every year over four million travellers head to the shores of Britain for our mighty castles, confounding cathedrals, gaping greenery and cosy villages – but as a nation, we can sometimes forget what we have right on our doorsteps. So while we're temporarily restricted in overseas adventures, here are some of England's finest coastal retreats for a peaceful bolthole escape. Image credit: Bulang and Sons EU Tough find The Juvenia Architect "Protractor" has been on my wishlist for quite some time. Nike Nike Air Trainer 1 'Light Smoke Grey and Honeydew' The Air Trainer 1 from 1987 fits perfectly into the current sneaker climate, delivering a chunky, durable silhouette. Linder's departure was just one casualty of the drop in demand for luxury Swiss watches in 2014, mostly due to the political and economic upheavals in crucial Asian markets. Available exclusively in the boutiques of the brand, the Vacheron Constantin Overseas Ultra-thin Calibre 1120 ref. 2000V/120G-B122 meets the demanding Hallmark of Geneva requirements. The price is around Euro 59, 900 / US$ You can find out about the ranking system here. This is a classical complication with the combination of short time measurement in the chronograph in juxtaposition with the long time measurement in the perpetual calendar. AB: It was a horological dream come true, but it quickly became clear that this wouldn't be easy. Not only did the movements lack cases and dials, but they were as raw as they could be. They hadn't been oiled, cleaned, or given any lubrication since the 1950s. I think we can all agree and understand and appreciate that three-quarters of a century does not make a movement become better. We needed to oil, service, regulate, adjust, and finish each movement. That's when Alex said he had an idea. In that case, you might as well just drink whisky instead, right?
Our golfing collection has been consistently popular, whereas the angling stuff does well with a specific subset of guys. So far, so good, but some enthusiasts think it has a problem. You may dislike the vintage vibes of a Black Bay Fifty-Eight, but you cannot possibly argue that it is badly made. March LA. B continues to chase the "Mad Men" look with the very minimal JC1 Banker, which Fake Rolex Prices we assume is something of a tribute to vintage JLC Memovox Alarm models. The 40 mm JC1 uses a quartz movement with an alarm feature indicated by a marked disc on the interior Fake Rolex Prices of the dial. The simple style and alarm functionality makes for a winning combo but the price point is also quite high at $995 USD. Oddly, there is a large blank area below, possibly for a customer's own engraving. My last store project with Armani was this amazing building in New York, but it was rejected by the authorities. That's pretty important right now. This week, Visitor will launch five new products, one per day.
It's all about future proofing my skin! It's all vegan, it's all friendly and it's all stocked at Sephora. I always hated that unfinished edge. And a moon phase? It is the least useful of all complications on earth and yet, the most attractive. The Whitman comes in a beefy 10K gold filled case. The sterling silver dial has solid 18K gold markers and numerals that are "flush gold" and look like gilt to me. Why Any Watch Lover Should Visit Geneva For the first time, the calibre 3945A movement developed and built in the Eterna factory is used inside the Porsche Design P'6752 WorldTraveler. Thistraditional Swiss company is the licence partner of Porsche Design for the timepieces, and started the development of the new movement more than five years ago. The new movement has a 68-hour power reserve and beats at 28, 800 half-oscillations an hour. I don't think it will take the crown here because it was introduced five years ago in 2017 and this is a unique-piece variation. Blu Shark – Buy 3, get 2 free, plus free spring bar tool on all orders over $50, and an additional 15% off with code BF15.
The pie-pan dial is a great nod to those early Constellations, and the 39mm size is just perfect for most wrists. There are very few watches that can get us excited over a change of paint. Normally it's a case of rolling our eyes and moving on, but the MBF LM2 is different. Every time we see it in a new, ever more beautiful colour we want it more – making the new LM2 Red Gold Blue almost unfair. Just like all of the movements used by Arnold Son, the Cal. 6000 calibre, 151⁄2 lignes, 4. But the defenders dutifully backed the history and importance of the Zenith and pointed out the notable differences. 42 mm in diameter, the new Classique Tourbillon is only 7. 45 mm thick, an exceptional result which was possible thanks to the extreme slimness of the self-winding Calibre 581, just 3 mm thick. The combination of a platinum rotor with a high-energy barrel guarantees a power reserve of 80 hours. Beating at a frequency of 4 Hz 28, 800 vph, the movement isrichly decorated with hand-engraved bridges, barrel and oscillating weight. Features: Bi-directional trimmer; 3mm comb Dimensions: 21. As a result, in 2018, the company introduced a new, visually arresting FreakMeOut ad campaign that saw a Great White shark juxtaposed with famous urban environments fake g shock watches price such as Manhattan and Shanghai. And its think-out-side-the-box message chimed with collectors, proving to be yet another winner for the brand.
Under Armour Inspiring young athletes around the world, the three-time NBA champion and two-time league MVP Steph Curry has once again amalgamated forces with Under Armour. The watch face of the NATO is a traditional dive Located in: Longrain Melbourne Address: Upstairs, 44 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000 Hours: Sat 5pm-12am Phone: 03 9653 1611 Longsong In fact, thanks to innovations Roborock has developed for its new S7 MaxV and S7 MaxV PLUS, a robot vacuum could actually make your furry friend look at you with even more adoration than they already do. The new watch is available with a choice of three guilloche dials in different colours: silver grey ref. 1EDAS. S01A. D135A, black anthracite ref. 1EDAS. B01A. devon watches replica price D134A or the shade of royal blue typical of the brand ref. 1EDAS. U01A. D136A. The colour of the date disc fake rolex watch price matches the colour of the dial. De Ville Prestige 41 mm – Power Reserve Small Seconds The Power Reserve and Small Seconds model of the De Ville Prestige is replica designer watches at wholesale prices enlarged from 39. This latest edition in a mix of tarmac textured grey dial, black ceramic bezel and yellow highlights is about as sporty as you can get and, while it doesn't quite have the prestige of its more grown-up mechanical teammates, it holds up in the timekeeping stakes. The hour markers are slightly bigger as well. Each carries a price of CHF 1, 350.
Some mix it up with different straps, but the watch itself remains the same as when you bought it. Unveiled at BaselWorld 2014, the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Chronographe Flyback ref. 5200-0130 is equipped with a column-wheel chronograph mechanism and a vertical clutch with a flyback function which enables the wearer to reset and instantly restart the chronograph by simplypressing the pusher at 4 o'clock. It has a utilitarian style, but it is a bit more sophisticated than the rest of the Hager line. Despite its flaws, I loved wearing the watch for swiss quartz movement replica watches price the time we had it in the office. Aegir watches are produced in Germany and Switzerland, and these days assembled by him in Australia, where he resides.
One of the biggest ways Zenith is changing, is how it communicates with enthusiasts. And the "Masters of Chronographs" exhibit is an excellent example of community outreach. "In the old days, we'd introduce all the novelties at Baselworld and then embargo them for the rest of the year. But sometimes, writers would forget what happened in March by the time September rolled around. So this [immersive exhibit] is a new way of listening to our audience and reaching a new audience, " explained Marietta. We love to talk about watches, not only online but also in real life, in a nice environment with a drink and a bite. Stored within an outer two-piece Bulova embossed cardboard box, I found a hinged clam-shell type box that far exceeded my expectations. Few boxes get my juices pumping, but for whatever reason, Bulova's did. Perhaps it was the anticipation of wearing a piece of lunar history, but I remember literally saying "wow" out loud after giving it a glance. Inside you'll find the watch, an instruction manual, high quality low price fake watches a certificate of authenticity, and a small booklet detailing how this Bulova Moon Watch "replica" came to be. More on that later. And since the studio which represents me, Crisp Contrasts , have a very similar Sinar P in the studio, I spent an afternoon playing with the camera. Among the four summer A. Lange Sohne debuts launched last week, the German watchmaker's new Cabaret Tourbillon Handwerkskunst certainly stirred the most interest. Fifty Eight will ship the Geneva Tribute with two 20mm quick-release straps that taper to signed 18mm buckles. The review sample had a lightly padded blue alligator print and a slim saddle brown. I liked them both, although you may notice in the photo that they rub the edge of the case. This will be corrected in production by slimming the straps by about 1mm. The blue was an ideal match for the handset and definitely the more formal of the two. The brown presented a warm and pleasant contrast to the dial's cooler tones, creating a more relaxed look. But first, a little intro of the watches at hand.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Over the past few million years, the Earth's climate has swung repeatedly between ice ages and warm interglacial periods. Twenty thousand years ago, an ice sheet covered Canada, reaching as far south as Seattle, Iowa and New York City. More than a mile thick, the ice sheet, should it return, would tower over and crush to dust the tallest buildings in its path.
A 400,000 year record of temperature is preserved in the Antarctic ice sheet, which, except for coastal fringes, escaped melting even in the warmest interglacial periods. Water isotopes (deuterium and 18O) in the annual snow layers reveal the temperature at which the snow formed. This record (Figure 2) suggests that the present interglacial period (the Holocene), now about 12,000 years old, is already long of tooth. Absent humans, the Earth might "soon" (in thousands of years) be headed into its next ice age.
Figure 2. Record of atmospheric temperature, CO2 and CH4 extracted from Antarctic ice core (Reference 2f).
The next ice age will never come, however, unless humans desert the planet. As we shall see, the small forces that drove millennial climate changes are now overwhelmed by human forcings. A small fraction of the greenhouse gases that civilization emits is sufficient to avert global cooling. The problem is now the opposite: human forcings are driving the planet toward a warmer climate. Our best guide for how much the Earth's climate will change is provided by the record of how the Earth responded in the past to natural forcings.
The natural millennial climate changes are associated with slow variations of the Earth's orbit induced by gravitational torque by other planets, mainly Jupiter and Saturn (because they are so heavy) and Venus (because it comes so close). These torques cause the Earth's spin axis, now tilted 23° from perpendicular to the plane of the Earth's orbit, to wobble more than one degree (about 40,000 year periodicity); the season at which the Earth is closest to the sun to move slowly through the year (about 20,000 year periodicity); and the Earth's orbit to vary from near circular to elliptical with as much as 7% elongation (no regular periodicity, but large changes on time scales of 100,000 years and longer).
These perturbations hardly affect the annual mean solar energy striking the Earth, but they alter the geographical and seasonal distribution of insolation as much as 10–20%. The insolation changes, over long periods, affect the building and melting of ice sheets. Today, for example, the Earth is nearest the sun in January and farthest away in July. This orbital configuration increases winter atmospheric moisture and snowfall and slows summer melting in the Northern Hemisphere, thus, other things being equal, favoring buildup of glaciers. Insolation and climate changes also affect uptake and release of CO2 and CH4 by plants, soil and the ocean, as shown by changes in atmospheric CO2 and CH4 that are nearly synchronous with the climate changes (Figure 2).
When the temperature, CO2 and CH4 curves are carefully compared, it is found that temperature changes usually precede CO2 and CH4 changes by 500–1000 years on average. This indicates that climate change causes CO2 and CH4 changes. However, these greenhouse gas changes are a positive feedback that contributes to the large magnitude of the climate swings.
Climatologists are still developing a quantitative understanding of the mechanisms by which the ocean and land release CO2 and CH4 as the Earth warms, but the paleoclimate data are already a goldmine of information. The most critical insight provided by the ice age climate swings is an empirical measure of climate sensitivity.
The composition of the ice age atmosphere is known precisely from air bubbles trapped as the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets and numerous mountain glaciers built up from annual snowfall. The geographical distributions of the ice sheets, vegetation cover, and coastlines during the ice age are well mapped. From these data, we know that the change in climate forcing between the ice age and today was about 6 1/2 W/m2 (Figure 3). This forcing maintains a global temperature difference of 5 °C, implying a climate sensitivity of 3/4 ± 1/4 °C per W/m2. Although climate models yield a similar climate sensitivity, the empirical result is more precise and reliable because it includes all the processes operating in the real world, even those we have not yet been smart enough to include in the models.
The paleodata provide another important insight. Changes in the Earth's orbit are an instigator of climate change, but they operate by altering atmosphere and surface properties and thus the planetary energy balance. These atmosphere and surface properties are now influenced more by humans than by our planet's orbital variations. Greenhouse gases are increasing today and glaciers and ice sheets are melting back. The old maxim, that the Earth is heading toward a new ice age, has been rendered void by the power of modern technology.
"Last winter was so cold! I don't notice any global warming!" Global warming is ubiquitous, but its magnitude so far is only about 0.6 °C (1 °F). Day-to-day weather fluctuations are about 6 °C (10 °F). Even averaged over a season, this natural (year-to-year) variability is about 1 1/4 °C (2 °F), so global warming does not make every season warmer than it was a few decades ago. However, global warming already makes the probability of a warmer than "normal" season about 60%, rather than the 30% that prevailed in 1950–1980 (Plate XV in Reference 13).
"I read that satellites have measured global cooling, not warming." That was the story a few years ago, but as the satellite record has lengthened and has been studied more carefully, it has shifted to indicate warming. The discrepancy with surface measurements is disappearing. The primary issue now is: "How fast is the warming?"
"The surface warming is mainly urban 'heat island' effects near weather stations." Not so. As predicted, the largest warming is found in remote regions such as central Asia and Alaska. The largest areas of surface warming are over the ocean, far from urban locations (see maps at http://www.giss.nasa.gov/data/update/gistemp). Temperature profiles in the solid earth, at hundreds of boreholes around the world, imply a warming of continental surfaces of between 0.5 and 1 °C over the past century.
"The warming of the past century is just a natural 'rebound' from the 'little ice age'." Any rebound from the European little ice age, which peaked in 1650–1750, would have been largely complete by the 20th century. Indeed, the natural long-term climate trend is toward a colder climate.
"Isn't human-made global warming saving us from the next ice age?" Yes, but the gases that we have added to the atmosphere are already far more than needed for that purpose.
"Climate variations are mainly due to solar variability." The sun does flicker and the 'little ice age' may have been caused, at least in part, by reduced solar output. Best estimates are that the sun contributed about one quarter of global warming between 1850 and 2000. Climate forcing by greenhouse gases is now larger than that by the sun, and the greenhouse forcing is increasing monotonically, whereas no significant long-term trend is expected for the sun. The sun may contribute to future climate change, but it is no longer the dominant player.
"Global warming will be negligible if the 'iris effect,' suggested by Richard Lindzen, is valid." This proposed negative climate feedback (in which it is supposed that tropical clouds adjust to allow more heat radiation to escape to space when the Earth gets warmer) has been discredited in specific tests against in situ and satellite data. More generally, any feedbacks that exist in the real world are included in the empirical measures of climate sensitivity provided by the history of the Earth. This history shows that the Earth's climate is sensitive to forcings, with a sensitivity similar to that of climate models.
The largest change in climate forcings in recent centuries has been caused by human-made greenhouse gases (see Box 3). These gases absorb the Earth's infrared (heat) radiation. Because they make the atmosphere more opaque in the infrared region, the Earth's radiation to space emerges from a higher level in the atmosphere, where it is colder. The energy radiated to space is thus reduced, causing a temporary planetary energy imbalance, with the Earth absorbing more energy from the sun than it radiates to space. Thus the Earth gradually warms. Because of the large heat capacity of the oceans, the Earth requires about a century to return most of the way to equilibrium; however, more forcings may be added before this equilibrium is achieved.
The single most important human-made greenhouse gas is CO2, which comes mainly from burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) (see Box 3). However, the combined effect of the other human-made gases is comparable to that of CO2. These other gases, especially tropospheric ozone (O3) and its precursors, including methane (CH4), are ingredients in atmospheric smog that damage human health and reduce agricultural productivity.
Aerosols (fine particles in the air) are, besides greenhouse gases, the other main human-made climate forcing. Aerosols cause a more complex climate forcing than that caused by greenhouse gases. Some aerosols, such as sulfates arising from sulfur in fossil fuels, are highly reflective (white) and thus reduce solar heating of the Earth. However, black carbon (soot), a product of incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, biofuels and outdoor biomass burning, absorbs sunlight and thus heats the atmosphere.
The magnitude of the climate forcing due to aerosols is uncertain by at least 50%, in part because aerosol amounts are not well measured. In addition, the black carbon effect is complex. In regions with heavy soot, such as India and China, sunlight at the surface is reduced, causing local surface cooling. However, the heating of the air at higher levels results in net global surface warming through its influence on atmospheric stability and cloud cover. These effects must be computed with global climate models, and their magnitude differs from one model to another.
Aerosols also cause an indirect climate forcing by altering the properties of cloud drops. Human-made aerosols increase the number of condensation nuclei for cloud drops, thus causing the average size of the cloud drops to be smaller. The larger number of smaller drops makes the clouds slightly brighter. Smaller drops also make it more difficult for the clouds to produce rain, thus increasing average cloud lifetime. Brighter, long-lived clouds reduce the amount of sunlight absorbed by the Earth, so the indirect effect of aerosols is a negative forcing that causes cooling.
Other human-made climate forcings include replacement of forests by cropland. Forests are dark even with snow on the ground, so their removal reduces solar heating.
Natural forcings, such as volcanic eruptions and fluctuations in the sun's brightness, probably have little trend on a time scale of 1000 years. However, evidence of a small solar brightening over the past 150 years implies a climate forcing of a few tenths of 1 W/m2.
The net value of the forcings added since 1850 is 1.6 ± 1.0 W/m2. Despite the large uncertainties, there is evidence to support this estimate. One piece of evidence is the close agreement of observed global temperature during the past several decades with climate models driven by these forcings. More fundamentally, the observed heat gain by the world ocean in the past 50 years is consistent with the estimated net climate forcing, as discussed below.
Box 3: Climate forcing agents in the industrial era (1850–2000) (W/m2).
Error bars are partly subjective 1 σ (standard deviation) uncertainties.
Increases in well-mixed greenhouse gases (excluding O3) are known accurately from in situ observations and bubbles of air trapped in ice sheets. For example, the increase of CO2 from 285 parts per million (ppm) in 1850 to 368 ppm in 2000 is accurate within about 5 ppm. The conversion of this gas change to a climate forcing (1.4 W/m2), from calculation of the infrared opacity, adds about 10% to the uncertainty.
The increase in CH4 concentration since 1850, and its effect on stratospheric H2O and tropospheric O3, causes a climate forcing half as large as that caused by CO2. Principal anthropogenic sources of CH4 are landfills, coal mining, leaky natural gas lines, increasing ruminant population, rice cultivation, and anaerobic waste management lagoons. In the last decade, the growth rate of CH4 has slowed, suggesting that the growth of sources is slowing.
Tropospheric O3 is increasing partly because CH4 is increasing, but the primary cause is other human-made emissions, especially carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds. Air quality regulations in the U.S. and Europe have reduced O3 precursor emissions in recent years, but not quite enough to balance increased emissions in the developing world.
Black carbon (soot), a product of incomplete combustion, can be seen in the exhaust of diesel-fueled trucks and buses. It is also produced by combustion of biofuels and burning of biomass. Black carbon aerosols are not well measured, but their climate forcing is estimated from wide-spread multispectral measurements of total aerosol absorption. The estimated forcing includes the effect of soot in reducing the reflectance of snow and ice.
The reflective human-made aerosols are mainly sulfates, nitrates, organic carbon, and soil dust. Sources include fossil fuel burning and agricultural activities. Sources of the abundant sulfates are known reasonably well, but the 1 σ uncertainty in the net forcing by reflective aerosols is at least 35%.
The indirect effects of aerosols on cloud properties are difficult to compute accurately, but recent satellite measurements of the correlation of aerosol and cloud properties are consistent with the estimated net forcing of –1 W/m2. The uncertainty is at least 50%.
Land cover effects are estimated in a global climate model by replacing crops with natural vegetation. The primary effect is in snowy regions, where snow-covered fields are brighter than forests.
Long-term measurements of sunspots and faculae on the sun, and their empirical relationship with solar brightness during the satellite era, suggest a small solar brightening over the past 150 years. The estimated climate forcing, including associated ozone change, is a few tenths of 1 W/m2.


This track depicts desperation that reaches out of this world right to the ends of space and time. With an aching groove and gritty guitars, Until I Have you speaks of unquenchable longing and eternal devotion bundled into a sound fit for James Bond film. Featuring vocals by American singer Ellen Tift, programming by Kurt Goebel, words by Ellen Tift, music by Kurt Goebel and Ellen Tift.
-This song is the 10th consecutive monthly music release in the Year of the Groove.
-This song was written and produced in a couple of days for a quick pitch opportunity to replace a song by Portishead.
-Ellen wrote the lyric and melody over the instrumental version of a song they'd released years earlier, and later they replaced the instrumental parts under this new song.
-The lyric of this song is not directed toward another human being. Ellen wrote a blog post about the creative process behind it. Read it here.


text:
Blackburn 1 - 1 Man Utd
A controversial Wayne Rooney penalty was enough to secure Manchester United's record-breaking 19th league title at Ewood Park. The point was enough to clinch a 12th Premier League title for manager Sir Alex Ferguson on an afternoon of high drama at Blackburn. United looked to be heading for defeat until Rovers keeper Paul Robinson was ruled to have brought down Javier Herndandez and the visitors were awarded a penalty. Rooney kept his nerve to fire home the spot-kick and send United's army of supporters into a title frenzy. Blackburn had taken a first-half lead through Brett Emerton after a mix-up in the United defence involving stand-in goalkeeper Thomas Kuszczak. But Rooney's 73rd-minute equalising penalty was enough to spark scenes of celebration as United gained the point to take them beyond the challenge of Chelsea in the title race.


You purchased a pretty prayer journal confident that this would be the tool you needed to develop into a consistent prayer warrior. But a new month is starting, and your pretty prayer journal has collected more dust than prayers.
Is that you? Well, sister, it is me also.
Oh, I pick it up and purpose to start, but, truth be told, that has not happened. I do not know why I long to begin but stop. I guess there's a glitch in my DNA called humanity.
This month, this glorious new month of March is my restart, my "I'm going to practice using my prayer journal for 31 days if it kills me." month. Ha!
A little dramatic, but I hunger to be a more intentional, effective prayer warrior. I long to grasp the fantastic gift of prayer God has furnished us to communicate with the Lord and utilize it to the best of my ability.
- post daily charges in our "By Faith, She Prays" Facebook group.
Undivided heart. That's what I want when it comes to "praying without ceasing."
You, dear one, don't have to go public with your "I haven't started yet." declaration. However, do quietly join our "By Faith, She Prays" Facebook group. But, don't stay quiet, get involved! Read the charge for the day. Comment. Interact. Be faithful. Most importantly, pray, with an undivided heart.
This warrior is picking up her battle book and running toward the battle line, and I'm calling other warriors who have been sitting on the sidelines to join me.
Come on. I know I'm not the only one who has had the "failure to launch" prayer mentality.
Pick up your Battle Book and join me and other sisters in the "By Faith She Prays" Facebook group and let's consistently storm the gates of Heaven for ourselves, our loved ones, and whatever else needs our attention.
No more pretty prayer journal for me, for it is time to blow off the dust, open the cover and start fighting this battle the most effective way possible, by praying!
Tammy Valdivia - Jesus Girl. Wife. Momma. Student. Teacher. Confidante. Lover of milky coffee, dark chocolate, deep talks, lively laughter, and a front row seat on the beach at sunrise.
Are You Feeling Weary? There's Hope.
On December 22, 2000, I walked down an aisle that changed my life. It was the night of my wedding; the night when I gave myself to one man forever.
I was not the type of bride who had dreamed about my wedding nor was I one who fussed about every little detail. In fact, there were only two details that I insisted on: two big Christmas trees on the stage and the song O Holy Night played at the very beginning as the guests settled into their pews and stilled their hearts. This was my wedding, yes, but it was also Christmas and I wanted to acknowledge that this night belonged first and foremost to the Lord.
After the song request was complete, the doors swung open and the bride who emerged was hardly ready for the commitment that she was about to make. She was a mess. And, the man she was walking toward was a mess, too. Yet, these two messy people thought it was a good idea to pause long enough on that Christmas night to stand before the Lord and vow their messy lives to Him. And so, against the backdrop of twinkling lights and flickering candles, these two individual messes became one big giant mess. Queue the wedding march.
Little did I know that when I made the song choice that this stanza would go on to become the theme of our marriage. Our mess made us weary. Weary from striving. Weary from fighting. Weary from trying & trying & trying only to fall flat on our faces again & again & again. Weary from bitterness. Weary from loneliness. Weary from the brokenness that marked both of us.
I don't know about you but I'm willing to bet that you have had your fair share of weariness, too. Maybe that is exactly where you are at right now. Just plain weary. Bone weary.
Weary from an unanswered prayer.
Weary from a prodigal child.
Weary from loving an unlovable person.
Weary from trying so hard.
Weary from a messy marriage.
Weary from a dried up faith.
My man and I were a mess and remained a mess for a good many years after that first night. Weariness clung to us. But, what a thrill of hope when Jesus burst onto the scene! Hope was born!
God's presence has changed everything in our lives. He resuscitated our floundering faith and brought light where there had once been only the deepest darkness. The fact that one big giant mess walked down the aisle to begin a life together and has since seen 18 years pass, each one growing stronger and sweeter, is proof that Jesus changes the story. Christ and Christ alone is the reason why our once weary marriage now rejoices.
If you are weary today my friend, look for Him. He will burst onto the scene and change absolutely everything. I promise.
Can you remember the friend you have had the longest? I sure can...and she is still one of my dearest friends today! We laid in cribs next to each other in the church nursery. I bet if you can remember a friend like that, you will remember her mom, too! She was like my second mom and I was at her house as much as my own. I am thankful to have Glenda, my childhood friend's mom on the blog today! I am watching as many women are walking through what she faced many years ago. So, I asked her to share her story and she did so beautifully!
I can't even explain how naïve we were, me especially. I've always been a reader and thought my life would be like a Hallmark movie! Our first year was pretty rough because we each had our own idea of what wedded bliss looked like.
In my eyes, the home my parents built was almost perfect. I rarely saw any disagreement, any conflict or any strife at home. If it existed between my parents, I sure didn't know it, and to this day, I believe in family life, primarily because of my parents. My daddy was my hero and still is. He was a hard-working, respected man, who put his family first. In our home, there was never any question of where we would be on Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night. I never felt rebellious about it, that was just the way it was. Ricky also came from a church-going family, but he fell out of church when he was a teenager. He would tell you he only went back after we began to date. He gave his heart to Jesus when he was nineteen, but once again, he gradually got out of church. While we were dating, he'd go with me on Sunday nights, but that was about it. Of course, I thought I could change all of that once we were married! It didn't happen.
I have so much admiration for any person who is faithful to attend church by themselves. Church, just like anywhere else we go, is full of people who look like they have it all together. That's just a big fat lie that Satan tells us! But, in my eyes as a young bride, I felt like all eyes were on me and everyone was wondering what was wrong with my marriage because my husband wasn't with me at church. Another lie...perception is not truth! The truth was this: Even though Ricky wasn't with me at church, he was still a great husband and we were building a lasting relationship.
But, my perceptions and expectations caused lots of arguments when it came to Sunday morning. I became that nagging wife that Proverbs says is like a dripping faucet. My insecurities led to trying to "make" Ricky come with me to church. I thought if he came, we'd have a perfect marriage. Little did I know at this time, God had a plan. You see, up until then, I had lived a sheltered life. I had a great home life and a great church life. No one had challenged my beliefs. For the first time in my life, it was up to me to see if my faith was real, or if I was living off of my parents' faith.
God was growing me. I can't express how hard this time was for me; the tearing down of my expectations was so painful. However, what was being built up was far more valuable. The lessons God taught me during this time only caused me to love Him more, to step up and be the wife He would want me to be and the mom to our daughters when they came along later in our marriage. I learned to nurture the most important relationships in my life, the one with my heavenly Father, my Husband, and those that I need at any time and in any place. He is perfect and is always with me. He loves me unconditionally; He is the lover of my soul.
Our first daughter, Jessica, was born about three years into our marriage. I felt the responsibility of leading her in the path that would lead her to faith in Christ. That responsibility was doubled when Elyssa was born. It takes a village to raise children, a village populated with folks who love Jesus, who care about people and a have a passion for sharing their love. I found that in my church. We need each other!
Fast forward about twenty-two years into our marriage….Ricky was still not attending church with me and our girls are now nineteen and sixteen. Life started throwing some heavy situations into our lives and into our girls' lives. They were the kind of situations that only God can control, situations that became wake-up calls.
Through a series of these events, my husband was drawn back to church. Not only to church attendance, but to church service. Oh my goodness, it got to the point where he wanted to go to church more than I did!
Just because couples go to church together, doesn't mean all is good in their home. Our marriage was great, other than the church thing. I've seen church-going couples split up. Just because you go to church together doesn't mean you have a perfect marriage.
I was so frustrated! I just needed help, help getting the kids ready and out the door. I needed companionship, a companion to sit with so I wouldn't feel alone in a crowd. I longed for "couple" fellowship. I saw other couples from church hanging out together, and I wanted that. At the time, nothing much was offered for single ladies at our church. Even though I was married, I felt like a single person at church.
I'm so very thankful for the season in my life where God strengthened my walk with Him. I would have been so tempted to "piggyback" off of my husband's faith, instead of seeking after Christ. I've learned God is good in every season, that He alone is my source.
The most important lesson I learned is this: I am not the Holy Spirit. I can't be the Holy Spirit for anyone. Only God convicts. But, His promises are true. If I seek Him and His will in my life, He will bring it to pass. I wish I had known this when I was nagging Ricky to come with me! I think all I did with my nagging was to push him away. Once I let go and let God handle it, He gave me the desire of my heart, a Godly husband, who loves the Lord with all his heart.


Should You Remove File Opener Pro?
File Opener Pro does offer some useful features such as enabling you to open Microsoft files easily and quickly. Malware experts, however, still have reasons to categorize it as a PUP (a potentially unwanted program).
Download a FREE System Scanner, to See If Your System Has Been Affected By File Opener Pro.
What Does File Opener Pro Do?
It claims to save you money as it is "100% free, well-known and quality software avoiding the cost of expensive software alternatives.
Why Is File Opener Pro Considered a PUP?
Once installed, File Opener Pro may alter your browsing settings and default home page. In addition, it may sometimes redirect you to third-party sponsored webpages without your permission. These pages may be infected and this way you put your system at risk. Considering the above, the browser add-on is categorized as a PUP.
How Does File Opener Pro Enter Your PC?
You can manually download File Opener Pro from its official website. However, it is often bundled with freeware users download from the Web. The bundling method is completely legal, and it's a popular way of distributing various PUPs and even malware. Therefore, it's best to always disallow the bundling option during the installation process. Also, make sure to disable any options and features you know nothing about, and aim for custom installation instead. This way, you will protect your system from unwanted applications and even viruses.
What to Do If You Already Have File Opener Pro Installed?
Our experts consider some of File Opener Pro's features a bit intrusive, although File Opener Pro is not malicious by its nature. If it does not annoy you, and if you find its features beneficial to you, then you can sure keep it.
We, however, recommend its removal. If you decide to remove it, however, make sure you either carefully follow the manual instructions below or use a legitimate anti-virus tool that would clean the system for you.
After File Opener Pro is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red "X" in the top right corner and start it again.
From the opened "Extensions" menu locate File Opener Pro and click on the garbage bin icon on the right of it.
After File Opener Pro is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red "X" in the top right corner and start it again.
Select File Opener Pro to remove, and then click 'Disable'. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected toolbar, and some additional toolbars might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click 'Disable'.
After File Opener Pro has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red 'X' in the top right corner and start it again.
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall File Opener Pro. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the File Opener Pro will be removed.
2. Remove File Opener Pro automatically with Spy Hunter Malware - Removal Tool.
2. Remove File Opener Pro automatically with Spy Hunter Malware – Removal Tool.
Threats such as File Opener Pro may be persistent. They tend to re-appear if not fully deleted. A malware removal tool like Combo Cleaner will help you to remove malicious programs, saving you the time and the struggle of tracking down numerous malicious files.
Threats such as File Opener Pro may be persistent on your system. They tend to re-appear if not fully deleted. A malware removal tool like SpyHunter will help you to remove malicious programs, saving you the time and the struggle of tracking down numerous malicious files.
Note! Your computer system may be affected by File Opener Pro and other threats.
SpyHunter is a powerful malware removal tool designed to help users with in-depth system security analysis, detection and removal of threats such as File Opener Pro.
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for File Opener Pro and remove them.
2. Scan with SpyHunter, Detect and Remove File Opener Pro.
Ransomware infections and File Opener Pro aim to encrypt your files using an encryption algorithm which may be very difficult to decrypt. This is why we have suggested several alternative methods that may help you go around direct decryption and try to restore your files. Bear in mind that these methods may not be 100% effective but may also help you a little or a lot in different situations.
Note! Your computer system may be affected by File Opener Pro or other threats.
Remove File Opener Pro by cleaning your Browser and Registry.
Fix registry entries created by File Opener Pro on your PC.
Combo Cleaner is a powerful malware removal tool designed to help users with in-depth system security analysis, detection and removal of threats such as File Opener Pro.
Step 5: In the Applications menu, look for any suspicious app or an app with a name, similar or identical to File Opener Pro. If you find it, right-click on the app and select "Move to Trash".
Step 6: Select Accounts, after which click on the Login Items preference. Your Mac will then show you a list of items that start automatically when you log in. Look for any suspicious apps identical or similar to File Opener Pro. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus ("–") icon to hide it.
Remove File Opener Pro – related extensions from your Mac's browsers.
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall the extension. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the File Opener Pro will be removed.
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as File Opener Pro, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. Combo Cleaner offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac's security and protect it in the future.
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VOV.VN - The history of the Vietnam Youth Union is being introduced at the Hoa Lo prison historical relic site in Hanoi.
VOV.VN - An online dialogue between the First Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee, Le Quoc Phong and youth union members in Hanoi, Danang and HCM City took place on March 21.
As many as 28 Vietnamese young leaders will embark on a 52-day voyage with their regional peers with the Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Programme (SSEAYP) from October 23 to December 13.
The Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) Central Committee and the Vietnamese Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA) signed a programme on coordination for the 2018-2023 period in order to encourage the involvement of youths in care for dioxin victims on June 25.
VOV.VN - The Youth Union of central Quang Tri province is organizing a youth volunteer campaign in Uthumphon and Xaybuly districts of Savannakhet province in Laos from June 12-16 with a wide range of practical activities.
A delegation led by First Secretary of the National Committee of the Young Communist League of Cuba (UJC) Susely Morfar González paid a working visit to the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre on May 22.
VOV.VN - Young volunteers' campaigns have inspired young people's dynamism and responsibility. The campaigns will continue to be one of the Youth Union's main activities in the future.
VOV.VN - The 11th National Congress of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union for the 2017-2022 tenure opened in the National Convention Centre, Hanoi on December 11, attracting 1,000 young people from across the country.
A blood donation campaign was launched on October 25 by the youth union of the centrally-run business bloc and the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion.
The Ministry of Home Affairs and the United Nations Volunteers Programme held a consultation in Hanoi on September 19 to discuss policies on youth's voluntary activities.
More than 1 million volunteer youngsters joined the three-month 2017 Summer Youth Volunteer Campaign, according to the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union's Central Committee.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh hosted a reception in Hanoi on September 6 for a delegation from the Lao People's Revolutionary Youth Union led by its Secretary Sonethanou Thammavong.
The Vietnam-Laos Youth Friendship Meeting 2017 will be held from September 5-9 in Vietnam as part of a cooperation agreement between the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Lao People's Revolutionary Youth Union.
VOV.VN - Since it was implemented in 2011, the project "600 young communal Vice Chairmen" has developed competent cadres for many remote communes. 97% of the project's cadres have fulfilled their assignments of contributing to the communes' socio-economic targets and security.
During the week-long campaign, which started on August 18, they will offer free health check-ups and medicines to 1,500 people in Sikhottabong district.
A project on smart interactive museums will be piloted at the Southern Women's Museum and the Cu Chi Tunnel Historical Complex in Ho Chi Minh City.


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Steven Woolf announces he will retire from The Rep in two years
Saturday | Aug. 26, 2017
Steven Woolf has announced that he will retire as Augustin Family Artistic Director of The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis in two years, following the completion of the theatre's 2018-2019 season.
"It's not often you get to live your dream, but I've been able to do just that at The Rep," said Woolf, The Rep's artistic leader of the last 30 years. "My life's work has been about the theatre, and making it all come together has been a grand experience. Our theatre has had major successes and some bumps in the road. But through it all, I've had fun – it's too hard a gig not to have fun. I am wildly proud to have been a part of the collective effort that has built our institution into a community leader."
The Rep will conduct a comprehensive national search for Woolf's successor in the coming year. Ann Cady Scott, a past president of The Rep's Board of Directors, will chair the search committee, which will include members of the Rep's Board of Directors and community leaders. The Rep has retained the services of the nationally recognized consulting firm of AlbertHall & Associates, LLC to conduct the search and assist the committee in identifying the right candidate for The Rep's future artistic leadership.
The Rep hopes to have a successor identified by the beginning of the 2018-2019 season.
Woolf began as The Rep's artistic director in June 1986, following a tumultuous artistic and financial period for the theatre. Woolf had worn many hats in the years leading up to his appointment, serving as The Rep's managing director, production manager and interim artistic director at various points. His leadership redefined and revitalized the theatre, culminating in last year's record-breaking 50th anniversary season.
Along the way, Woolf has directed 43 shows at The Rep (he'll direct two more this season), produced more than 300 plays and served as the theatre's premier ambassador in the community. Since 2006, The Rep has won a combined 100 Kevin Kline and St. Louis Theater Circle Awards for its onstage excellence. In 2016, the St. Louis Arts and Education Council recognized Woolf's legacy with a Lifetime Achievement in the Arts award.
"Steven Woolf is synonymous with The Rep," said Arlue Briggs, President of The Rep's Board of Directors. "Over the past 30 years, his stewardship has kept The Rep culturally relevant, financially successful and artistically daring. We cannot thank him enough for making our institution what it is today. Together, our search committee members and consultants will conduct an exhaustive, national search to ensure that we identify a worthy successor."
Woolf says that he wanted to wait until after The Rep's 50th season had concluded before announcing his retirement, while also providing a two-year window to ensure an orderly transition of artistic leadership.
While his retirement marks the end of a major chapter in the local theatre community, Woolf says he plans to continue as a proud part of The Rep and St. Louis. His new official title at The Rep will be "artistic director emeritus."
"This is a major moment of transition for me and for The Rep," Woolf said. "I so look forward to seeing what the next leadership does with this institution I treasure so much."


Nick Cassavetes has won a major victory -- he has his child back after claiming his baby mama stole their child from him ... TMZ has learned.
Nick appeared in an Oklahoma courtroom Friday to square off with Heather Wahlquist over 12-year-old Barbie. Wahlquist was asking the judge for an emergency order to allow her to keep Barbie in her custody, despite the fact that it's a California case. The Oklahoma judge rejected her request.
Nick has claimed Heather and her mother essentially stole Barbie and went on the run, despite the fact that the California custody order gave him physical custody effective December 18.
Barbie went back into chambers with the judge for about a half hour, and after their talk the judge told Nick he was the one who had current lawful custody, so they left the courtroom together.
The famed "Notebook" director tells TMZ Barbie is back in L.A. with him.
Heather had claimed Nick neglected Barbie while he had custody and she returned recently with a bacterial infection. She made other claims as well but the Oklahoma judge rejected them.
The fight isn't over. They're back in a California family law court January 18.


Combine stock and rice in a saucepan over high heat. Bring to the boil. Cook, covered, for 15 minutes or until tender. Bring to the boil. Cook, covered, for 15 minutes or until tender.... Just be sure to skim off the fat, and remove skin before piecing up the chicken for the remainder of the soup.) 1. In a large pot, combine the chicken broth, lemon juice, soup base and pepper.
Lemon Chicken Rice Soup Greek Lemon Rice Soup Greek Egg Lemon Soup Recipe Boiled Chicken And Rice Crockpot Chicken Lemon Vegetable Rice Soup Quorn Chicken Chicken Chili Chicken Noodle Soup Forward Chicken Lemon Rice Soup is a classic Greek, lemony soup made with fresh ingredients and simple foods like chicken, lemon, rice, and eggs.... Rice will work well to make a Greek chicken lemon rice soup recipe, but keep in mind that different types of rice have different cook times. White rice should be tender in about 12-15 minutes, just do a taste test to make sure.
Gluten-free: To make this soup gluten-free, use white rice instead of the orzo. Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat on the stove over low heat, making sure not to boil the soup.
Just be sure to skim off the fat, and remove skin before piecing up the chicken for the remainder of the soup.) 1. In a large pot, combine the chicken broth, lemon juice, soup base and pepper.


General anesthetics have a more widespread effect on the brain than inducing sleep, suggests a new study that could lead to improved drugs for use in surgery.
Researchers now suggest that general anesthetics do much more than simply induce sleep.
The team, from the University of Queensland in Australia, write in the journal Cell Reports that their "findings may provide a more complete understanding of general anesthesia."
Using a technique known as single-molecule imaging microscopy, the scientists were able to explore the effect of propofol, a common general anesthetic, on single cells.
Specifically, they studied the effect of the drug on synaptic release, which is a mechanism through which nerve cells, or neurons, communicate with one another.
"We know from previous research," says senior study author Bruno van Swinderen, an associate professor in the Queensland Brain Institute, "that general anesthetics including propofol act on sleep systems in the brain, much like a sleeping pill."
But, in the new study — in which they examined the drug's effects in rats and flies — the scientists found that propofol can also act in another, quite different, way.
As Prof. van Swinderen explains, the team found that the drug "disrupts presynaptic mechanisms, probably affecting communication between neurons across the entire brain in a systematic way that differs from just being asleep."
He and his team found that propofol restricts the mobility of a protein called syntaxin1A, which is needed at neuron synapses in order for neurons to communicate with each other.
Learn how the common general anesthetic isoflurane may interfere with the growth of neurons in the developing brain.
Synapses are junctions at which neurons transmit signals to other neurons as well as other types of cell, such as gland and muscle cells.
Most signals are carried by chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. These are released by the presynaptic neuron and received at the postsynaptic cell.
The new finding is significant because, as Prof. van Swinderen and his colleagues note in their study paper, "Every neuron communicates with other neurons by way of syntaxin1A-mediated neurotransmission," and the mechanism is the same across species, ranging from "worms to humans."
Prof. van Swinderen says that the team's recent discovery might explain some of the side effects of general anesthesia, such as why we feel groggy and disoriented after surgery.
While propofol and other general anesthetics do put us to sleep, it is their "widespread disruption to synaptic connectivity" — or the communication pathways throughout the brain — that make surgery possible, he suggests.
"The discovery has implications for people whose brain connectivity is vulnerable, for example in children whose brains are still developing or for people with Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease," Prof. van Swinderen adds.
He says that more work is needed to determine whether or not general anesthetics produce long-term side effects in these vulnerable groups.
"It has never been understood why general anesthesia is sometimes problematic for the very young and the old. This newly discovered mechanism may be a reason."


Betting on 60 second options is a huge rush. It is the fastest trade available on the internet available today. You can literally make or lose money in one minute flat. If you are good, you can make more cash waiting in line to pick up McDonalds for lunch than the cashier makes all week! It's unreal. It's fun and it's exciting to bet 60 second binaries. This post lists the best one minute binary options brokers and gives the basics of how to trade a 60 second option.
If you are good, you can make more cash waiting in line to pick up McDonalds than the Mickey D's cashier makes all week!
Trades open and close in one minute flat. The question you have to ask your self is, do you think the price of 'x' is going to go up or down one minute from now. Place your bets! Yes it sounds like a huge flip of the coin, and in many aspects it is! It is hard to know what a certain price is going to do over the course of just seconds so winning these trades is not easy. It is possible and plenty of people do it but it is not something that you can just start banking crazy money without skill.
Wise, young grasshopper it is smart to research the best places to trade and especially the places to avoid. I will not keep you in suspense where you should be betting sixty second options.
24Option.com – They added one minute options at the end of 2012. One of my favorite all around brokers. *No USA Traders as of June 2013.
Good question, the force is strong with you. The truth is there are a bunch of different brokers out there that offer this type of trade but I wouldn't deposit my money there and you probably shouldn't either. Learn from others mistakes and go with the reputable binary options websites. There are only a few worth trading at. We can safely count on one hand the sites we would deposit and trade sixty second options at. And those are the few listed above. There are plenty of other brokers out there that offer this speed of expiry however we do not trade there.
The one exception I would like to take a minute to point out is the fantastic broker that is now no longer available to US binary options tradres. If you are outside of the US, Banc De Binary (www.bancdebinary.com) is another fantastic choice for the 60 second trades, however in January of 2013 they stopped accepting US traders as they are attempting full regulation via the US regulators and have temporarily stopped accepting US traders to get the proverbial ducks in a row.
Most traders use price action trading when dealing with the short expiry times. This means watching the candlestick charts to see what price is doing in near real time and finding entry points that make sense. IE, price has been going up but there is always a mini rebound along the way. Find the top of the crest and bet with a 'put' (meaning you think the price will fall) and hold on to your hats.
There are plenty of strategies that can be found searching the trading forums like trade2win or binaryoptionsdaily. However there is a very limited selection of quality signal service providers. We did some google searching found one on google that is selling a signal service called binaryoptionsxposed.com. I have not tried this service personally, however after researching it more in depth we were not impressed with the results enough to consider it worth trying ourselves. If you want to give it a go and leave some feedback on this post, go for it. If I am going to use a signal service it is going to be on a more proven signal provider like BOTS where a live trader (Franco) trades and you copy him.
Is there a reliable 60 second option signal provider? I want someone to do it for me! The best one we are aware of today is a service called 'BOTS' or 'Binary Options Trading Signals" and it is a service where a professional trader is making trades live and you watch his screen and listen to him explain why he is doing what he is doing. Not all of his signals are on the 60 second mark, and the last time we used the service the majority of bets placed were on the 15 minute time frame. Franco is trading at 24option, however many of the followers seemed to be using TradeRush for their 60 second trades and just mimicking what Franco is doing over at 24 option.
The short answer is that you will probably do better with a signal service on longer expiry times. Trade the 60 second options for the thrill of the bet. It's more profitable to take signals on longer expiry times, but more entertaining to bet one minute binaries on your own. Professional trader signal services are a great addition if you are betting big bucks but are certainly not required to win. If you want to bet, just start small and get your feet wet. It is a whole lot better to lose a $5 60 second bet on TradeRush than a $50 bet because you thought you were able to jump right in without developing a price action strategy you like.
Here is a link to a guy who does a quality explanation of trading binary options in general.
You can get a FreeStockCharts.com account to watch 60 second candles without needing an account at a broker like Oanda.
I'm ready to bet 60 sec options now at Finpari!
A traders resource to learn the basics of 60 second binary options trading. Find where to trade, how to trade them and links to signals and strategies.
A top list of everything a trader needs to trade 60 second binary options including the best brokers, strategies and signal service providers.


Scientists are meeting this week, right now, to try to save the world or to produce a PR and marketing excuse, whichever comes first. After 20 meetings just like this one even slow journalists like Matt McGrath at the BBC know exactly what the scientists will say before they have said it.
After a week of deliberations in the city of Incheon, the researchers' new report is likely to say that keeping below this limit will require urgent and dramatic action from governments and individuals alike.
These researchers, who are unpaid, have reviewed the available scientific literature on the feasibility, impacts and costs of staying under 1.5C.
Hot magma is melting Greenland ice – can windfarms save it?
Here on the ball of magma called Earth, there's a hot plume of rocks under Iceland that stretches right across under Greenland. Those hot rocks are melting the ice from below in a band 1,200 km long and 400 km wide.
I don't think solar panels are going to stop Greenland melting.
The main part of the plume has been progressing eastward over the last 120 million years, right under Greenland and now lies under Iceland.
Will the media take a million years to catch on?
Presumably, being world class journalists, from now on all ABC/BBC/CBC stories will not mention melting Greenland ice-sheets without also noting that geothermal heat may be causing it instead of your long hot showers.
Big-government propaganda: ABC, BBC are "Aggressive political participants". Sell or Split?
Big-government fans forcibly take funds from all citizens to support big-government propaganda by journalists who predominantly vote left or very-left (see here or here). The question is not whether or not they should do this but whether to privatize the public broadcasters, or to split them in two. I say, let's forget the submissive plea to get one conservative commentator among a monoculture of "progressives". Chop the current one in half and call it what it is: pro big-government. Then set up a new counter half to match — the pro-small-government broadcaster with the same funds but new staff. (Game on — let the best team win that ratings war.) Abbott could keep ABC funding promises. ABC-L plus ABC-R equals current ABC-LL+ funding.
The evidence for man-made climate change is now so overwhelming and convincing that the BBC has written to a Green politician to apologize for airing alternate views (the dumb punters might get the wrong idea, eh?). The head of the BBC complaints unit told the Green politician it would not happen again.
Well obviously, it doesn't help the United Kingdom to allow riff raff like the former Chancellor of the Exchequer to present his views — unless he agrees with the doctrine, of course. How could anyone expect listeners who are merely doctors, lawyers, teachers, and businesspeople to be able to understand a debate this complex? (Only certified government approved scientists, and BBC journalists have the mental ability to understand the nuances of an argument which uses large numbers, like 97%). Henceforth, British voters must be shielded from alternate views. Repeat after me: there is a consensus.
First they take your money to force their opinions over you.
Then they take your money to hide what they were doing, because they knew what they were doing was wrong.
It was a turning point in BBC coverage. The 2006 seminar with "climate experts" turned out to be mostly a workshop with Greenpeace, industry activists and lobbyists. It was the point the BBC dropped even the pretense of impartial news reporting on the climate. After this "high-level" seminar the Beeb announced it didn't need balance in the climate debate. Then having made out they were so scientific and honorable, they spent the next six years burning more money to hide the names of the experts from the public that paid for them.
Is there any better argument to explain why state funded media is not just a waste of money, but irresponsible, immoral and unethical political advertising?


Can we make a business case for all of our development programs?
What balance should we attempt to strike between developing our own talent internally and bringing in talent from the outside?
How does the shape of our promotion pyramid affect our growth prospects?
Do we have too many people at the top?
Should we train anyone at all?


Today we have appointment with numbers from Apple, a quarterly ritual, which raises the interest of those who follow the company closely. In particular, numbers are of interest to those who and the history that surround. Because one thing is how a company presents results and another what can be drawn from them.
One of the variables most closely followed in recent times is the average price of sale of the iPhone (ASP for its acronym in English). A simple division that sheds a lot of light the behavior of the product Apple star.
The calculation of the average sales price is quite simple. It's a simple division, where total revenues of a product is divided by the total number of units sold. Both metric must correspond to the same quarter, obviously.
If the PMV increases, it means that revenues have increased their proportion with respect to the number of iPhone sold.
If the PMV decreases, otherwise occurs and revenues have decreased their proportion on the terminals sold.
From here, we can infer that if the PMV increases, Apple would be selling more "expensive" terminals than before. I.e., that users would be choosing models like the 7 Plus iPhone and higher storage capacities compared to the rest. And unlike something similar happens. If the PMV drops, Apple customers are preferring more affordable models like the 6s iPhone.
It may be best to express it with examples. If this variable increases, is that users have bought more iPhone 7 Plus. If it decreases, customers have opted more for iPhone 6s or the iPhone is.
Apple sells more units and generated more revenue than last year, resulting in a superior PMV. This would be the best scenario for the company, Since simplifying, it would have sold many iPhone 7 Plus with long storage.
Apple sold fewer units and generated less revenue than the previous year, but resulting in a superior PMV. Despite the fall in revenue, it is not all bad as Apple would have attracted fewer clients but would have chosen more expensive terminals.
Apple sells more units and generated less revenue than the previous year, by dropping the PMV. This tells us that Apple would have not convinced with its new batch of iPhone and customers would have chosen "in mass" both the iPhone and the iPhone 6s is before the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus.
Apple sold fewer units and generated less revenue the previous year, causing a drop of the PMV. It is the worst possible scenario, because that would mean that both the new generation iPhone and the previous proposal would have not motivated enough to consumer to renew terminal or jump from other platforms.
We ended up with a look at the evolution of the PMV from the iPhone in the past seven years. Decipher the movements that are generated behind the numerical result is complex, especially by the increase of available models. The top graph You can see the impact that the arrival of the iPhone had 6 and 6 Plus, the latter more expensive.
The PMV grew and consolidated above $600 until the arrival of the iPhone is in March 2016. The return of 4-inch iPhone He made enough dent in the price of the iPhone, but in return he encouraged millions of users to renew your iPhone for one of content size.
Several studies claim that 7 Plus iPhone has managed to surpass in popularity to his little brother of this generation. As already indicated Miguel López in his article, the main reason lies in the dual camera and portrait mode. In my experience, the portrait mode is capable of generating enough enthusiasm and interest among the public (family and friends).
7 Plus iPhone and your portrait mode approach to the public a feature that previously could only be achieved through a more or less professional camera. It is not the same result, but is approached by and for many this is sufficient. Materialize the studies and analyses, we should see a positive impact on the PMV from the iPhone. In a few hours we will leave doubts.


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Home > Logistics > Locus appoints Anusha Yomahesh as Director-Brand & Content Marketing, Anshu Singh as VP-HR
Locus appoints Anusha Yomahesh as Director-Brand & Content Marketing, Anshu Singh as VP-HR
Last year, Locus raised $50 million in Series C rounding of funding led by Singapore's sovereign fund - GIC and Qualcomm Ventures along with participation from existing investors
BY Our Correspondent7 March 2022 5:49 AM GMT
Anusha Yomahesh is the Director - Brand and Content Marketing, Locus
Our Correspondent7 March 2022 5:49 AM GMT
Locus, a global logistics technology company that solves for final mile efficiency with its end-to-end platform solution, has appointed Anusha Yomahesh as Director - Brand and Content Marketing, and Anshu Singh as Vice President - Human Resources.
As Locus scales and expands exponentially in North America, Europe, and South-East Asia, Anusha will oversee all aspects of its brand growth and operations including reputation management, brand influence, thought leadership, influencer marketing, media relations, event marketing, C Suite advocacy, and employer brand. She is a brand and communications marketer with over 12 years of experience in building and scaling B2C and B2B brands across industries like Media, Luxury Retail, Information Technology, and SaaS.
Anusha believes that crafting strategic, integrated, and 'human' brand experiences across the customer journey is foundational to her role. "I'm thrilled to join Locus and its talented leadership team at such a pivotal point of its evolution and growth journey. It's exciting times at Locus and I am elated to be a part of this first-principle-thinking, deep-tech company that is disrupting final-mile logistics tech, and creating meaningful impact to its customers and end-consumers. I firmly believe a brand's superpower lies in its purpose and authenticity, and I look forward to the opportunity to shape and scale a global brand that is committed, thoughtful, sustainable, and relentless in its pursuit to enable final mile efficiency."
In her leadership role as Vice President - Human Resources, Anshu Singh will anchor the people strategy globally Locus' ever-growing team. She is passionate about people development and enabling transformational changes through culture and talent management. A veteran HR professional with close to two decades of experience, Anshu has worked across IT, Life Sciences, BFSI, and Consulting industry with leading Indian and multinational brands, spanning across all functional areas of HR.
Anshu Singh is Vice President - Human Resources, Locus
"I am delighted to be a part of a fantastic team at Locus. Its talent pool is ambitious, highly talented, and driven. It is fascinating to see how the team has swiftly grown over the years while still keeping its original DNA intact. Locus is 'team-first' and I am excited to explore new ways to connect with the team and help them harness their collective potential to achieve new heights," she said.
Prior to Locus, Anshu has had stints with TeamLease Services, ICICI, ING, Novo Nordisk India, and Zapr Media Labs. Last year, Locus raised $50 million in Series C rounding of funding led by Singapore's sovereign fund - GIC and Qualcomm Ventures along with participation from existing investors.
Anusha Yomahesh Anshu Singh Locus TeamLease Services ICICI ING Novo Nordisk India Zapr Media Labs Singapore sovereign fund GIC Qualcomm Ventures North America Europe South-East Asia IT Life Sciences BFSI Consulting industry logistics technology


text:
include_recipe node['mysql-multi']['install_recipe']
include_recipe 'mysql-multi::_find_master'

if node['mysql-multi']['serverid'].nil?
  # creates unique serverid via ipaddress to an int
  require 'ipaddr'
  serverid = IPAddr.new node['ipaddress']
  serverid = serverid.to_i
else
  serverid = node['mysql-multi']['serverid']
end

# drop slave.cnf configuration file
mysql_config 'slave replication' do
  config_name 'replication'
  cookbook node['mysql-multi']['templates']['slave.cnf']['cookbook']
  instance node['mysql-multi']['service_name']
  source node['mysql-multi']['templates']['slave.cnf']['source']
  variables(
    cookbook_name: cookbook,
    server_id: serverid,
    mysql_instance: node['mysql-multi']['service_name']
  )
  notifies :restart, "mysql_service[#{node['mysql-multi']['service_name']}]", :immediately
  action :create
end

# sync slaves to master
mysqlm_slave_sync 'slaves' do
  replpasswd node['mysql-multi']['server_repl_password']
  rootpasswd node['mysql-multi']['server_root_password']
  master_ip node['mysql-multi']['master']
end

tag('mysql_slave')

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Opinion: U.S. overbearing meddling shows hegemonic bigotry
The Marine One carrying U.S. President Donald Trump arrives at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Oct. 5, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)
By imposing its hegemonic will on others and acting in defiance of the international law, Washington is turning itself into a pariah.
BEIJING, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Some U.S. politicians have for long relentlessly smeared China over its peaceful development. However, it is Washington that is infamously known for endangering global peace by meddling in other countries' internal affairs and instigating violence to subvert governments labelled as so-called hostile ones.
Since World War II, the United States, in order to pursue global domination, has tried various means to seek to transform or subvert foreign governments that, in the eyes of Washington, did not conform to U.S. interests.
By resorting to such disruptive measures as armed intervention, military invasion, economic sanctions, cultural infiltration, incitement to riots and disinformation campaigns, Washington has become the biggest destabilizer of global political security.
Washington loves to brand itself as the leader of the free world and the guardian of the Western-style democracy. Nevertheless, renowned linguist and political scholar Noam Chomsky once commented that the contemporary history of U.S. foreign policy is "pretty much defined by the subversion and overthrow of foreign regimes ... and the resort to violence to destroy popular organizations that might offer the majority of the population an opportunity to enter the political arena."
Iraqi protesters take part in a demonstration against the presence of U.S. troops in the country, in Baghdad, capital of Iraq, Jan. 24, 2020. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)
According to a tally by Lindsey O'Rourke, assistant professor of political science at Boston College and the author of "Covert Regime Change: America's Secret Cold War," the United States conducted 64 covert regime-change operations between 1947 and 1989.
Apart from covert operations, Washington has flagrantly and repeatedly violated international law by invading countries including Panama, Grenada and Iraq. Its decade-long drone war in South Asia, North Africa, and the Middle East has also displayed Washington's shocking disregard for flesh-and-blood lives.
Latin America, among the victims of the hegemonic Uncle Sam, bears the brunt of U.S. intervention. According to John Coatsworth, former provost of Columbia University and historian of Latin America, Washington intervened successfully to change governments in Latin America at least 41 times from 1898 to 1994.
The U.S. interventions "called into question the U.S. commitment to democracy and rule of law in international affairs," Coatsworth wrote in an article published on "ReVista: The Harvard Review of Latin America."
U.S. military interventions have also played major roles in perpetuating the threat posed by violent extremists to global peace and security.
Since the U.S. invasion in 2003, Iraq has been cast into the abyss and transformed into an almost contiguous conflict zone. Foreign military occupation has also turned the region into a breeding ground for extreme terrorism.
A migrant kid cries at Skala Sikaminias, on the island of Lesvos, Greece, on March 1, 2020. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)
In recent years, Europe has witnessed the largest influx of refugees since World War II. It is widely believed that the root cause lies in the interventionist actions carried out by Washington in the Middle East and North Africa.
Most recently, the United States had approved planned arms sales to Taiwan worth about 1.8 billion U.S. dollars, which seriously violate the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. Joint Communiques, as well as undermine China's sovereignty and security interests.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said on Monday that China has decided to impose sanctions on relevant U.S. enterprises, including Lockheed Martin, Boeing Defense and Raytheon, as well as individuals and entities playing a "vile role" in the process, as "necessary steps" to protect its national interests.
"Arrogance, always doing as one pleases, acts of hegemony, overbearance or bullying will lead nowhere," Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday at a meeting marking the 70th anniversary of the Chinese People's Volunteers entering the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to fight in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea.
In today's world, the norms governing international relations, such as sovereign equality and non-interference in each other's internal affairs, are deeply rooted in the hearts of the people across the world. By imposing its hegemonic will on others and acting in defiance of the international law, Washington is turning itself into a pariah. ■


The Antigua Inland Empire PGA Chapter Cup Matches are just about underway. We have 2 great teams competing this year and I wouldn't be surprised if the matches came down to the last 2 or 3 singles matches tomorrow. If you would like to follow along the players will be using live scoring today. Please click the link below or use the GGID: 18CUPMATCH on the Golf Genius app.


On the occasion of Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday, it seems like the perfect time to examine her taste in jewelry. Since few women have been photographed as often as the Queen, it's very easy to see her style. She loves pearls, and often wears both the classic pearl stud earrings and three strand pearl necklace. If she has a special event, she'll wear a tiara–she has several to choose from– and a gemstone-studded necklace. But what I found really interesting is how she accents her outfits with a brooch.
She's received and worn brooches since she was a teenager. Her brooches come from all over the world, and her collection numbers well over one hundred. Many of them have names, like the Flame Lily and the Three Thistle. One of her favorites is the diamond brooch, the Jardine Star, which she's wearing in the picture above. Some of the brooches are actually badges, representing specific organizations and are worn by the Queen as a mark of her ties to the groups. I found one blog that really gives a lot of detail and history about Queen Elizabeth's brooches, and you can access it here. And if you just want to see pictures of them, click on this link.
The Queen has been in her royal role for over 60 years. She had her Diamond Jubilee Celebration in 2012. She has served her country and the commonwealth loyally. So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! QUEEN ELIZABETH!!
Queen Elizabeth, youthful at heart!
It was 18 years ago this past August 31st that Princess Diana died at the young age of 37. I remember the day vividly, how shocked and saddened everyone felt. She was so beautiful, so deserving of happiness. Her tragic death was felt around the world.
I'd always been interested in Princess Diana because 1) I was the same age; and 2) I was in London the summer of 1981, when she married Prince Charles. I actually watched her carriage drive past on the way to her wedding. It was an exciting time to be a study abroad student in London. Everywhere you turned, pictures of Lady Di and Prince Charles were plastered on stamps, plates, and posters. My fellow students and I stayed up all night to guarantee a good spot from which to view the procession. It seemed like all of London showed up for the celebration.
Princess Diana's engagement ring started a trend of having a colored center gemstone. The oval, approximately 12 carat sapphire from Ceylon, was surrounded by 14 colorless diamonds and set in 18 karat white gold. She chose the ring from a collection made by Garrard. In existence since 1735, when it received its first royal commission, Garrards is the jeweler of the royals. It has made crowns, brooches, and many other royal pieces. What's interesting is that Lady Diana didn't choose to have her ring custom-made. Her ring could have been purchased by anyone who had the approximately $50,000 purchase price.
Almost thirty years later, Princess Diana's son, Prince William, presented the ring to his fiancé, Kate Middleton. She modified it slightly, adding two platinum studs to the shank, effectively increasing the size of the ring from an H(size 4) to an I(size 4.5). Kate's ring has brought renewed interest in colored gemstones for the engagement ring. Sapphire is perhaps the most commonly used gemstone in engagement rings. Its hardness, 9 on the Mohs scale, makes it a good choice for a ring that is worn everyday. Rubies, fancy-colored sapphires, and colored diamonds are also durable colored stones.
Kate's ring is valued today at approximately $500,000 (10 times its original purchase price). Hopefully, she will wear it a very, very long time before it is passed down. Maybe her daughter, little Princes Charlotte of Cambridge, will wear it someday.


We booked a trip before arrival (but you're likely to find options you can possibly barter down just by strolling along the beach). A sunset cruise is a must-do! We boarded our dhow with a couple of captains and guy named Ali who managed to explain everything about the islands of Zanzibar, all why making sure we didn't capsize. I was very impressed by the sheer strength that goes into erecting the sails (no wondered their bodies were very toned!).
We were a little insecure at first, waiting to see if it was safe to move around but it wasn't long before we felt the benefits of being out at sea. It was serene and the view was even better when we climbed to the second level of the boat with a few beers and some wine to really feel the wind in our hair.
The sunset was absolutely incredible and despite getting on at another location, they dropped us off right on the shore where our hotel was. Thanks, guys!
The Z Hotel has a few different accommodation options around it which offered a change in scenery and new food options when we wanted it but I highly recommend a candlelit dinner on the beach. No, you don't have to be loved up to enjoy it – my friends and I even invited other people we knew staying in another hotel to join us for the night. They light the beach up by digging holes in the sand and place candles inside, and of course, the menus are lit up with clipped on lights because it really is pitch black otherwise.
After watching how locals come out and fish for their own food for the day each morning in the water right outside our hotel, I was excited to enjoy some seafood. It was, by far, our most expensive meal of the trip at about $50 each with wine, but you've got to treat yourself!
It doesn't sound so glamorous, and it's not, get ready to step in some tortoise poo, but don't go home without heading to Prison Island first. The former home of slaves and later a quarantine island, now it houses a hotel and best of all hundreds of tortoises! The oldest was 193 years old and it was amazing to see and feed these huge creatures. There was also a section with tiny babies! A great one for picture purposes. Where else will you be surrounded by them?
Pray the weather is glorious. We happened to go on a very rainy day which made things interesting on the boat ride from Stone Town. It's such a small boat that you're likely to feel very wobbly but our guide reassured us that all was okay and they've crossed the water in worse weather. Explaining that he once swam 6 hours over to the island just for fun, he promised to save us if anything unexpected happened!
The bar scene is very chilled out, at least in Nungwi where we were staying, but then again it was Eid Al Fitr, the holiday just after Ramadan. However, it still nice to go out during the day and have a few happy hour drinks. The Coco Cabana bar and its friends surrounding provide the ideal spot to enjoy some beverages and lap up the gorgeous scenery (the water is so clear!).
The service generally is rather relaxed buy hey, island life!
Our hotel pool didn't open until 10am but we were still out early to make sure we caught some rays on the beach. The Z Hotel is the perfect accommodation for a relaxing vacation, with a nice quiet pool area on the deck (except for the man calling for people to buy fresh coconuts on the beach below). I don't know how his voice didn't give in after doing it all day, every day!
You can dine by the pool or in one of the two other restaurants and a snack shop on site, but there's a great rooftop bar for watching the stars. If you haven't had the chance to pop out and buy some souvenirs, there's a gift shop on site with some cool items, but if you walk into the small alleyway in between the hotel and convenience store, you'll notice small businesses where you can barter down the price of many of the same things.
The hotel doesn't deal with cash so if you stay here don't take all your spending money out, pretty much everything goes on the room. Each room comes with a balcony with a table and chairs, which you'll appreciate of an evening or when you just want a bit of room service. The beds were not the most comfortable and I wished I had more bedding (yes, it was hot but I'm always cold, especially in highly air-conditioned places). There was also an issue with in-room fridges when we visited so it was a bit annoying to not have cold drinks on hand in the room. Any room service deliveries come with a $5 charge.
Surrounding the hotel, life continued as normal, which was not in the luxury we were living. It felt a bit odd that only a few steps away was a completely different scene.
PS. Roads are very bumpy and some off-track so make sure to get yourself a decent driver.
Stone Town is the local city center, you have through to get the boat across to Pٍrison Island. With all the stunning beach resorts around, it's here you'll get a real feel for what life is like on the island. We used a tour guide who showed us the markets, which sold meat, fresh fruit and vegetables and spices, there were also little shops selling art and things that would make great souvenirs as we wondered the small side streets.
Places loved by tourist include Freddie Mercury's old apartment black where he grew up (yes, he's from Zanzibar!) and a hotel rooftop restaurant visited by loads of celebrities, including Bill and Chelsea Clinton, Dakota Fanning and Jesse Eisenberg.


This piece by David Ettinger is beautifully written, shedding some light in a new way for me, on Israel, with regard to Jesus and who He is. I have been asking this particular question, "Who is He?", in sermons for several years, exploring with people exactly who Jesus is. Everything to do with our salvation depends upon what we believe about Him.
Pray for people everywhere to come to know who He is, especially as they hear the Christmas songs and messages of the season.
Please visit the pages of David Ettinger's blog…..
This entry was posted on December 15, 2015 by annj49 in Blog, Reblogged and tagged Faith, Hope, Israel, Jesus, Jews, Messiah, prayer, Reblogged.