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Category Archives: Thrills & Chills
Have You Ever Been Haunted by a Goddess?
by S.O. Esposito
Over the past few years, a character named Alice has haunted me. She made her debut in a piece of flash fiction I wrote in 2011 called Mario's Goddess. She now officially has her very own full-length story in my new psychological suspense, THE BURNING.
This book came to me differently than my cozy mysteries, and it's a much darker tale. In the flash fiction story, Alice is the goddess of war and is locked up in a mental institution. Over the past couple years, her character wouldn't leave me alone, but I didn't know what she wanted. What were the opposing forces in her life? What was her story?
Some of her life came to me in pieces, scenes actually, that I dutifully wrote down over the years. She was a mother with two small children. She was orphaned at birth, spent her life in and out of a children's home. She couldn't remember anything before her thirteenth birthday.
I have to say, she confused me. Was she a goddess of war? Was she a human mother? Was this a fantasy story? Magical realism? Paranormal? And then it hit me. She was both a human mother and the goddess of war, and this was a psychological suspense.
They don't call it multiple personalities anymore, now it's called dissociative identity disorder, and this is what Alice has. Or does she? (I'll let the reader decide.) One of her personalities is Kali, the goddess of war, and she insists she's a goddess having a human experience. She's also the one who gets Alice into serious trouble. Arrested for arson and murder, in fact.
As more of the scenes came to me, I knew Alice/Kali needed an antagonist, but what kind?…READ MORE
I just finished the most compelling book I've ever read! The Burning is so amazing, riveting, spellbinding engrossing novel that every woman should read & take to heart!! -Bonnie O. (Reviewer)
THE BURNING, by S.O. Esposito
Now Available on AMAZON, NOOK, iBOOKS and KOBO
Alice Leininger seems to have the perfect life. She's happily married, has two beautiful children, a close-knit group of friends, and a cause she cares deeply about. But beneath the surface, her world of safety and comfort is unraveling.
The periods of lost time she's kept secret—even from her husband—are happening more frequently. She certainly doesn't remember leaving her Sarasota home at three-thirty in the morning to burn someone alive. Now she sits in a Florida state mental institution, awaiting judgment on whether she's fit to stand trial on charges of murder and arson.
While a psychologist works to help Alice face her past, her future depends on the answer to one question: How far did she go for justice?
*This book is recommended for mature audiences. While there are no explicit scenes of graphic violence, it does touch on mature themes.
How about you? Have you ever felt like you were haunted by a god or goddess? Do you believe in the Goddess of War?
S.O. Esposito began her writing career as a cozy mystery author under her full name, Shannon Esposito. She has four books in the PET PSYCHIC SERIES (misterio press) & two books in the PAWS & POSE SERIES (Severn House). But to keep her muse happy, she's ventured into darker territory with her suspense debut THE BURNING. She lives in the sunny state of Florida with her husband, twin boys and two mastiffs, where she is an avid reader, beach-goer and lizard wrangler.
We blog here at misterio press about twice a month, usually on Tuesdays. Sometimes we talk about serious topics, and sometimes we just have some fun.
This entry was posted in Announcements, New Releases, Giveaways & Contests, On Writing, Thrills & Chills and tagged anger, Goddess of War, haunted by a character, mental health, new release, psychological suspense, psychology, relationships, Shannon Esposito on April 10, 2018 by Kassandra Lamb.
Happy First Day of Spring!!
We're using this "off" week to announce something special for you all.
We're in the process of gathering the most fascinating tidbits from our archived posts into topic pages.
The first of these are now live under the parent page: True Crime and Criminals. Check them out!
Sophie Lyons (1848-1924) thief, pickpocket and con woman
True Crime and Crime-fighters in History by K.B. Owen
The Making of a Psychopath by Kass Lamb
Here are the other parent pages (with some of the topic pages under each) that we will be releasing over the next few months:
Spooky Side Up (Exploring the Paranormal, True Ghost Stories)
Mental Health Musings (Stress Management, Relationships, Self-esteem, etc.)
On Writing (Tips for Writers, Where the Research Takes Us, Conferences, etc.)
On Reading (Book Reviews, Mystery Author Interviews)
So stay tuned! And also check back next week for another interesting mystery author interview with Jenna Harte.
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This entry was posted in Announcements, New Releases, Giveaways & Contests, The History of Mystery, Thrills & Chills and tagged crime-fighters, criminals through history, misterio press, mystery novels, psychopath, serial killer, true crime on March 20, 2018 by Kassandra Lamb.
12 Crime Lab Tidbits
In March, I visited the Santa Clara Crime Lab because hey, that's the kind of thing crime writers do on a lovely spring day.
My husband, Danny, went along. He enjoys police info, too. I guess you better if you're married to a mystery author.
We were disappointed to learn that we would not be able to traipse about the lab. Even though the event was advertised as a "virtual" tour, when Danny and I visited the FBI Crime Lab in San Francisco, our guide led us right up to the line of weapons waiting for rifling tests. But that was many years ago and our group consisted of just Danny, Cara Black and me.
Criminalist Cordelia Willis
The Santa Clara Crime Lab presentation drew over 20 sisters and misters from NorCal Sisters in Crime as well as a whole class from a local college. I was glad that criminalist Cordelia Willis did not try to herd such an unwieldy flock.
But even if there were only a few of us, we could not have entered the lab. Our very breath could contaminate DNA evidence!
Instead, we congregated in the training room for slides and an informative talk.
Here are a dozen fun facts from our two-hour stint:
The bane of criminalists: lawyers, lawyers, lawyers, and EMTs who trample evidence.
CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) has two parts, the usual one we think of which contains info only from criminals, and another part for unidentified persons, used to match bodies to missing people. The criminal and victim parts do not mix.
Red Bull is the drink of choice for burglars (and a nifty way to collect DNA).
Thirty is the magic number when a murderer stabs his victim.
A slice on the perpetrator's hand is common in stabbings because the knife handle gets slippery. (Think O.J.)
Cordelia worked on a cold case where DNA evidence was taken from 22- year-old semen.
If a body is inside a structure, the police have to get a search warrant to call in the lab.
Digital/multimedia evidence is most backlogged. One case might yield 15 cellphones!
Bullet rifling is unique to each individual gun, but (sigh) many bullets get smooshed and can't be tested.
BUT, cartridges can be compared via the firing pin impression.
Gun shot residue disappears quickly — no sense testing after 8 hours.
It's blood spatter, not blood splatter.
Have you ever wondered how much of CSI is true? What's a question you would like answered by a crime lab?
Posted by Vinnie Hansen.
Vinnie is a retired English teacher and award-winning author. Her Carol Sabala mystery series is set in Santa Cruz, California.
Her forthcoming book, Lostart Street, is a stand-alone novel of mystery, manslaughter and moonbeams.
Here's a sneak peak at the cover. If you saw the cover in the last post, you'll notice the new iteration is slightly different. What do you think?
This entry was posted in Announcements, New Releases, Giveaways & Contests, On Writing, Thrills & Chills and tagged crime lab presentation, criminalist, evidence, Santa Clara Crime Lab, Sisters in Crime, Vinnie Hansen on April 25, 2017 by Vinnie Hansen.
COPS AND WRITERS
Two weeks ago, I attended the most amazing conference of my life, The Writer's Police Academy. And that's saying something since I've been to a lot of conferences through the years.
Mock "unknown assailant on campus" scenario
Real cops, firefighters, EMS personnel, lawyers and private investigators taught us how to Write it Right in our mysteries and thrillers. Sister mp author, Vinnie Hansen, also attended and she told us about her favorite takeaways last week.
Today, I'd like to share some of the many surprises I discovered during this eye-opening conference.
FIRE 101: Did you know that smoke burns? I didn't.
It is full of particles of unburned fuel, which then will ignite when the fire gets hot enough. But even the vapors in it are solid fuel converted to gas, and they also burn. Burning smoke on the ceiling is called "rollover."
See the fire coming out of the TOP of the front window. That's rollover from smoke burning near the ceiling. (Photo by Eric Hensley, CC-BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons)
Which burns faster, older buildings or newer, tighter buildings?
The answer is newer buildings. Older buildings (the instructor called them "legacy" buildings), while draftier, were built of more solid materials. And older furniture was made of wood, cotton and wool.
Today, some construction materials and many components of furniture are plastic, i.e., petroleum products, i.e., OIL. They ignite sooner, burn faster and give off more toxic fumes.
A fire in a modern house will be "fully developed" in about 10 minutes. In a legacy house, it may take 20-25 minutes.
SHOOT, DON'T SHOOT: This involved video scenarios where participants (with fake guns) got to play cops (us) and bad guys (in the videos).
A police officer has to determine whether to use potential lethal force (they are shooting to "stop the threat," not to kill, but their gun is a lethal weapon) based on 3 criteria:
● Does the suspect have a weapon?
● Do they have the means to deliver harm with that weapon?
● Do they intend to use that weapon?
The officer often has to make that assessment in less than a second.
Example 1: The person pulls a knife but they are fifty feet away. The officer has time to try to defuse the situation: "Police! Don't move! Drop your weapon! Sir, put the knife down."
But if the person is 20 feet away and running toward the officer (or someone else) with a knife in their hand, they are an immediate threat and the officer needs to shoot.
Example 2: The person has a gun, pointed down. "Police! Put your weapon on the ground!" But if they start to raise the gun, the officer doesn't need to wait until it's aimed at him/her. By then, it will be too late.
I came away from that workshop with a whole new respect for how stressful and dangerous police work is.
It is now lunch time of the first day and I already feel like I've gotten my money's worth!
After lunch, I started with retired police detective/now writer Robin Burcell's workshop…
THE WAY WE WALK, THE WAY WE TALK: "Perp" is East Coast; on the West Coast, they're called "suspects." And the FBI uses "subject," or "unsub" if they don't know the suspect's identity.
Unlike on TV and in movies, female detectives do not wear skirts and high heels! (Except maybe in court.) And cops don't point their guns toward the ceiling (not unless there's a bad guy up there) nor do they rack a bullet into the chamber just before engaging.
They carry their guns "locked and loaded" (already racked and safety off) at all times, and when they pull them out, the finger is beside the trigger until time to fire. And they point them straight ahead, in the direction they will most likely need to shoot.
10 COMMON MISTAKES WRITERS MAKE ABOUT THE LAW: Leslie Budewitz, lawyer and author, shared many interesting tidbits about how the law really works, including the difference between direct and circumstantial evidence, but my fave takeaway was that Miranda rights are not automatically read to someone when they are arrested.
Two things have to be in place for Miranda to be necessary — the person must be in custody AND interrogation must be happening. So if a "perp" (I'm East Coast 🙂 ) is arrested (in custody) and is on the way to the station, and s/he makes a spontaneous, incriminating statement (NOT during interrogation), it can be used even if no Miranda warning has been given yet. Likewise, if someone is questioned and they haven't been arrested yet, no Miranda is needed to use whatever they say.
Pistol-packin' Mamas ~ #2016WPA
End of Day 1, we thought…
We went back to the hotel, exhausted but happy, but that evening we were treated to more demos in the parking lot after dinner. And several volunteers got to wear real (and very heavy) police belts and learned how to wield a baton, and when to use it vs. your pistol.
PTSD: I almost didn't go to this one because I am an expert myself on PTSD, but this workshop was about what it looks like in police officers.
It was awesome!! The presenter was a former police officer, who developed PTSD, and is now a therapist working with officers with this disorder.
And he has a service dog for his PTSD! (The man made the mistake of giving me his card; I am so going to pick his brain via email.)
I came away from that workshop with a great story idea for Book 10 in my Kate Huntington series!
FORCE ON FORCE ROOM CLEARING:
This one wasn't quite what I thought it would be, but it was still quite awesome. It involved more scenarios, and we got to shoot guns loaded with tiny paint pellets. Again, a whole new respect for how hard it is to judge how much force to use and when to use it.
But the biggest takeaway from this workshop was the presenter Randy Clifton's comments about the recent controversial police shootings. He said he didn't blame the officers (unless there seemed to be blatant racism involved). He blames the departments for insufficient training with real-life scenarios that replicate the stress levels of on-the-street confrontations.
Police Trainer Randy Clifton and me. #2016WPA
He made the excellent point that when the adrenaline is flowing, the rational brain shuts down, and one reverts to old learned patterns (this is psychologically sound). If those old learned patterns aren't superceded by deeply ingrained new patterns during training, the officer is likely to make the wrong decision.
He demonstrated this via a scenario in which police have raided a house where a known felon is staying. The police have cleared the rest of the house, while yelling repeatedly that they are the police. The guy comes out of his bedroom with his hands in the air, but a gun in one hand. The young police recruit Randy used in this scenario yelled, "Sir, put the gun down. Sir, drop your weapon."
Randy stopped the scenario and asked us how many of us would shoot. Only 2 out of 12 responded yes (I was a no). Then he demonstrated how quickly someone can lower a gun from that "hands up" position and shoot the officer, while said officer is so politely telling him to drop the gun.
His point: our old patterns tell us that hands up means the guy is surrendering, but why then does he have a gun in his hand? He knows the cops are all over his house. If he was truly surrendering, he would have left the gun in the bedroom.
After this little lecture, all 12 of us voted unanimously to shoot.
Two last takeaways from the last two workshops:
DEFENSE TACTICS: Did you know that if you splay your fingers out at the end of your arm, it is almost impossible for someone to force you to bend your arm? Try it!
PRIVATE INVESTIGATION: OR HOW TO BE A DICK FOR FUN AND PROFIT: Do you know who the most accurate TV/movie private investigator is? (I'll answer below in the comments section after some of you have made your best guess.)
Now, you may be thinking that I've "gone over to the side of the cops" regarding unnecessary police shootings.
Some of our amazing and very generous faculty!
No way! First, I don't think it's them against us. Another takeaway from this conference was how generous many police officers are. Every presenter gave out his/her email address and encouraged us to inundate them with questions. I believe the vast majority of officers are truly trying to "protect and serve."
But many of them need better training, and PTSD needs to be identified and treated much more quickly in officers, because this disorder undetected can lead to more confrontations with the public, and bad decision-making due to lack of sleep (because of nightmares) and higher stress levels.
I still am pursuing investigating and improving these things in my own community, but I am so glad I went to this conference before my scheduled meetings with my sheriff and police chief. I now have a much better understanding of what their departments are up against!
Also, if you are planning to do the same in your own community, I found out that the place to start is with your local police department's Public Information Officer.
Back to WPA. I've decided I will have to go again next year, since I never got to the Ballistics or Blood Spatter classes. 😀
So who do you think is the most accurate TV/movie P.I.? Have you gone to any professional conferences that were as good as this one?
By the way, one of the stories I was able to make more accurate, thanks to this conference, is now available for preorder. (I'll bet you can figure out what I used when you read the story.)
$1.99 thru its release date of 9/5/16
ARSENIC and YOUNG LACY, A Marcia Banks and Buddy Mystery, Book #2
Sweet, adorable Lacy has stolen Marcia Banks' heart, but money is tight. Like it or not, the service dog trainer needs to complete the human phase of the training and deliver the dog to her new owner in order to get paid. But the ex-Army nurse client turns out to be a challenging trainee. On top of her existing neuroses–which go beyond the psychological damage from a sexual assault during her second tour in Afghanistan–the veteran is now being stalked.
When Marcia receives a bizarre warning to stay away from her client and Lacy is also caught in the stalker's malicious orbit, Sheriff Will Haines steps in to investigate. Marcia finds this both endearing and annoying, especially when he expects her to stay on the sidelines. The training fee would make her solvent again, but how can she put her dogs at risk?
Maybe Marcia should be more worried about herself, since the stalker has decided to pay her off in a very different way.
Available on: AMAZON US AMAZON UK AMAZON CA AMAZON AUS
APPLE KOBO NOOK
And Book #1, TO KILL A LABRADOR, is ON SALE for just $0.99 thru 9/3/16!!
Posted by Kassandra Lamb. Kassandra is a retired psychotherapist turned mystery writer. She is the author of the Kate Huntington psychological suspense series, set in her native Maryland, and a new series, the Marcia Banks and Buddy cozy mysteries, set in Central Florida.
This entry was posted in Announcements, New Releases, Giveaways & Contests, On Writing, Thrills & Chills and tagged #2016WPA, conferences, Kassandra Lamb, misterio press, mystery novels, mystery series, new release, police, psychology, Vinnie Hansen, Writers' Police Academy, writetip, Writing it Right on August 30, 2016 by Kassandra Lamb.
10 Nuggets from the Writers' Police Academy
Vinnie Hansen and I attended a rather unusual conference last week. It's called the Writers' Police Academy. Law enforcement and EMS faculty (among others) taught us how to get it right when we have cops, courtrooms and/or blood in our novels.
Which happens a lot when one writes murder mysteries.
I'll be sharing some of my best moments from the conference next week but today Vinnie's here to tell us about her experience.
The Friday morning "announcement" at WPA was a staged car crash. They brought in a friggin' helicopter!
Attending the Writers' Police Academy gave me a wealth of cop and EMS info. I offer these 10 nuggets:
A person will bleed out in three to five minutes.
If you're bleeding out, I can improvise a tourniquet with a two-inch wide band of material and something to twist it up good.
In hand-to-hand combat, the rule is flesh to bone and bone to flesh…
Posted by Vinnie Hansen. Vinnie is a retired English teacher and award-winning author. Her cozy noir mystery series, the Carol Sabala mysteries, is set in Santa Cruz, California.
This entry was posted in On Writing, Thrills & Chills and tagged #2016WPA, emergency medical services, getting it write, misterio press, mystery novels, mystery series, police, Vinnie Hansen, Writers' Police Academy on August 23, 2016 by Vinnie Hansen.
Things that Go Bump in the Night in The Carolina Hills
I am delighted today to introduce you all to a guest blogger, a writer of mysteries and romantic suspense whom I recently stumbled upon.
Please welcome the delightful Marcia Meara…
Appalachian Legends and Myths
Right up front, let me say that I am absolutely besotted with the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee. The Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Smokies, in particular. Part of the Appalachian chain—the oldest mountains on the planet—they are stunning in their ancient, mystical beauty.
Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina (public domain, Wikimedia Commons)
And vast. It's rather amazing how many, many miles of wilderness they encompass, along with the mountain towns and villages like Asheville, Lake Lure, and Bat Cave.
(photo by Stratosphere, CC-BY-SA 4.0 International, Wikimedia Commons)
(Yes, there is actually a small town named Bat Cave. You can't make stuff like that up.)
I also love the legends, folk lore, and outright myths that have sprung up over time throughout these hills.
Some tales arrived in the area via settlers from England, Ireland, and Scotland, and have a solid basis in Celtic mythology. Others apparently have been made up out of whole cloth—unless, of course, they aren't legends at all, but strange truths that our modern minds refuse to accept. (Is that the theme from The Twilight Zone I hear playing in the background?)
Here are some examples of stories passed around in "them thar hills." Some might make you grin, others might give you a shiver, but all are part of the overall body of strange tales you run across in these mountains.
The Moon-Eyed People
A race of small, bearded men, with pure white skin, who were called moon-eyed because they were unable to see in daylight, the moon-eyed people eventually became totally nocturnal. So the story says.
(photo by TranceMist, CC-BY Generic, Wikimedia Commons)
The Cherokee believed them to be responsible for ancient stone structures that line many mountain ridges from North Carolina down through Georgia and Alabama. The most famous is Fort Mountain in Georgia, which gets its name from an 850 foot long stone wall that varies in height from two to six feet and stretches along the top of the ridge. This wall is thought to have been constructed around 400-500 C.E.
Were the moon-eyed people early European explorers? Legends refer to them as a race of small, pale people, rather than mystical beings unrelated to humans, but so far, no one has come up with any information on who they might have been, or if they were real at all.
Boojum and Annie
The Boojum is reported to have been an 8' tall creature, not quite a man, and not quite an animal, covered in shaggy fur. (Does the name "Bigfoot" ring a bell?) He is said to have had two very human habits, though. He liked to collect gems, and hoarded them in discarded liquor jugs, which he buried in secret caves. (I do have to wonder how they know this, if the caves are so secret.)
He also was a bit of a Peeping Boojum, as he apparently liked to watch women, particularly when they were bathing in mountain streams. Bad, bad Boojum! But when a young woman named Annie spotted the hairy creature watching her, instead of screaming in fright, she fell in love with his sad eyes, and—wait for it—ran away with her hirsute admirer, presumably to settle down in a cozy little cave somewhere, and raise a whole passel of little Boojums.
There's more to the tale, but this is a G-rated blog.
The Brown Mountain Lights
The Brown Mountains are home to a genuine and puzzling phenomenon. In the autumn, on crisp and cool nights, ghostly blue orbs are seen floating a few feet above the ground. They have been documented repeatedly by a large number of reputable witnesses. So far, there is no scientific proof as to what the lights are. Swamp gas and other known possibilities have all been ruled out. So when the nights get cool, people (presumably people with too much time on their hands) head to the Brown Mountains to observe and wonder for themselves.
The Phantom Hiker of Grandfather Mountain and the Chimney Rock Apparitions
Both of these are full on ghost stories, one a little shivery, and one just downright bizarre.
Sunrise in the autumn over Grandfather Mountain (photo by http://kenthomas.us public domain, Wikimedia Commons)
According to the first, there is an old man who has been hiking the trails on Grandfather Mountain for generations, passing by groups of modern day hikers without a word, and disappearing into the distance, never looking back. He's dressed in clothing not appropriate to today, and appears and disappears before anyone knows he's coming.
And he never answers when spoken to. Indeed, he never even seems to see other hikers.
Chimney Rock State Park, overlooking Lake Lure (public domain)
Now, the apparitions at Chimney Rock occurred long ago, though it's said that many people witnessed them for several days, and they were widely publicized in the newspapers of the day. In the first tale, ghostly white figures gathered in the air over the chimney formation itself, circling it for some time, before several larger figures rose above the rest and guided them all straight into the heavens above. A sort of airborne revival meeting, without the sermon in the tent.
And as if that wasn't enough excitement for one of my favorite places to visit, there are still more tales about military men on horseback, who fought an epic battle in the skies over the chimney for several days, before just up and disappearing. This, also, was witnessed by many people over a period of time, and reported on in all the best papers.
Official inspects moonshine (tough job, hunh?)
Moonshine — more than just an afternoon refresher.
(Okay, I'm being a bit skeptical here, but can you blame me? Pity there were no cell phones on hand at the time. The cavalry would never get away with a stunt like that today!)
Ol' Shuck
Tall tales for every taste abound in the Appalachians, but of all of them, my personal favorite is the legend of the Black Dog, or Ol' Shuck, as they call him. This one is based on truly ancient Celtic legends of a huge, hellhound of a dog who is thought to be a harbinger of death, and many variations appear throughout literature. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle loosely based his famous book, Hound of the Baskervilles, on one version.
But beware! When you see Ol' Shuck, someone you know (maybe you!) is going to die. Obviously, you don't want to wake up one day, and find him sitting on your doorstep. And you'll know it's him if you do. We aren't talking your everyday black Labrador retriever, here. Oh, no. An impossibly large dog with gleaming red eyes, sent straight from the devil himself to escort you to . . . wherever you're going next. Be afraid. Be very afraid!
As the theme for my latest book makes clear: You can run, but you can't hide.
". . . he felt the wet slide of the dog's burning hot tongue on his face, and the scrape of its razor sharp teeth against the top of his head. A white-hot agony of crushing pain followed, as the jaws began to close."
The wine-red trillium that carpets the forests of the North Carolina Mountains is considered a welcome harbinger of spring—but not all such omens are happy ones. An Appalachian legend claims the Black Dog, or Ol' Shuck, as he's often called, is a harbinger of death. If you see him, you or someone you know is going to die.
But what happens when Ol' Shuck starts coming for you in your dreams? Nightmares of epic proportions haunt the deacon of the Light of Grace Baptist Church, and bring terror into the lives of everyone around him. Even MacKenzie Cole and his adopted son, Rabbit, find themselves pulled into danger.
When Sheriff Raleigh Wardell asks Mac and Rabbit to help him solve a twenty-year-old cold case, Rabbit's visions of a little girl lost set them on a path that soon collides with that of a desperate man being slowly driven mad by guilt.
As Rabbit's gift of the Sight grows ever more powerful, his commitment to those who seek justice grows as well, even when their pleas come from beyond the grave.
Marcia Meara lives in central Florida, just north of Orlando, with her husband of over thirty years, four big cats, and two small dachshunds. When not writing or blogging, she spends her time gardening, and enjoying the surprising amount of wildlife that manages to make a home in her suburban yard. At the age of five, Marcia declared she wanted to be an author, and is ecstatic that at age 69, she finally began pursuing that dream. Three years later, she's still going strong, and plans to keep on writing until she falls face down on the keyboard, which she figures would be a pretty good way to go!
Marcia has written six books so far: the Riverbend series, the Wake-Robin Ridge series, and a book of poetry. She's a very social being. You can find her hanging out on Twitter (@marciameara), Facebook, Pinterest and at her two blogs, The Write Stuff and Bookin' It (for book reviews). You can sign up for her newsletter to get news and giveaways at either site, or just give her a shout via email at mmeara@cfl.rr.com.
NOTE: Vinnie Hansen is participating in Smashwords' Summer/Winter Sale. Her awesome novel, Black Beans and Venom is 75% off for the entire month of July!!
This entry was posted in Announcements, New Releases, Giveaways & Contests, Guests (posts by non-misterio authors), Spooky Side Up, Thrills & Chills and tagged Appalachian legends, ghosts, Harbinger, Marcia Meara, misterio press, mystery novels, mystery series, new release, North Carolina mountains, paranormal, romantic suspense, Wake-Robin Ridge on July 12, 2016 by Kassandra Lamb.
The Global Security Consultant Biz (and a New Release)
by Kirsten Weiss
When I worked in Eastern Europe and Afghanistan, I got to know many security consultants. And there were a lot of… characters.
But the consultant who stood out the most in my mind was a woman. British, with freckles and curly hair, she looked more barmaid than badass, though she'd worked in personal protection (that's what they call "bodyguarding" in the biz) and helped companies develop security strategies.
She gave us an unforgettable training on security in warzones. I learned just how much damage an automatic weapon can do and to look people in the eye when in a hostile crowd.
And FYI, landmines only explode when you step off them when they're made in Hollywood. In real life (well sort of real life), this is what happens:
I got a lot of great and sometimes unbelievable stories from the security consultants I met while overseas. (Sorry I can't share them with you now; I'm going to use them in future novels. 🙂 )
Note: Do not believe anyone who tells you they're the hostage negotiator the film Proof of Life was based on. I've heard that from at least five guys. In the global security consultant biz, it's a thing.
Bottom line? It's a crazy business. People go into it from all sorts of backgrounds and for all sorts of reasons. And they get thrown into hostile situations on a regular basis.
The idea of a female global security consultant as a fictional heroine stuck with me. It took me a while to develop it, but eventually, Rocky (short for Raquelle) Bridges was born.
When we meet Rocky, in The Mannequin Offensive, she is seriously considering getting out of the biz after losing a client in a hotel bombing overseas… but life is what happens while we're making other plans.
The ebook version of The Mannequin Offensive is going to be on sale for 99 cents for one day only – launch day, July 1st. You can pre-order it now at the discounted rate, or buy it July 1st. So give Rocky a chance!
Here's a bit about the book:
After an overseas assignment goes bad, all Rocky Bridges wants is out of the global security business. No more personal protection gigs. No more jaunts to third world countries. No more managing wayward contractors. But when her business partner is killed, Rocky must investigate her own company and clients.
Rocky's no PI, but she's always trusted her instincts. Knife-wielding mobsters, sexy insurance investigators, and a Russian-model turned business partner are all in a day's work. But her inner voice has developed a mind of its own, and she finds herself questioning her sanity as well as reality as she knows it. Rocky can't trust those around her. Can she trust herself?
The Mannequin Offensive is a fast-paced novel of mystery and suspense with a hint of magic.
Pre-order it here, only 99 cents until July 1st: AMAZON KOBO
(Also Vinnie Hansen has a giveaway going over at Goodreads. Three copies of her new release, Squeezed and Juiced. Check it out!)
Kirsten Weiss worked overseas for nearly twenty years in the fringes of the former USSR, Africa, and South-east Asia. Her experiences abroad sparked an interest in the effects of mysticism and mythology, and how both are woven into our daily lives.
Now based in San Mateo, CA, she writes genre-blending steampunk suspense, urban fantasy, and mystery, mixing her experiences and imagination to create a vivid world of magic and mayhem.
Kirsten has never met a dessert she didn't like, and her guilty pleasures are watching Ghost Whisperer re-runs and drinking red wine. Sign up for her newsletter to get free updates on her latest work at: http://kirstenweiss.com
This entry was posted in Announcements, New Releases, Giveaways & Contests, Thrills & Chills and tagged global security consultant, Kirsten Weiss, misterio press, mystery novels, mystery series, new release, personal protection, Rocky Bridges on June 28, 2016 by Kirsten Weiss.
It's in the Aether
In the wacky world of Victorian science fiction, aka steampunk, machines are typically powered by steam. But the fictional Victorians discovered an alternate power source: aether.
Because seriously, powering a ray gun with steam is just ridiculous. 😀
But what exactly is aether? It depends on who you ask.
~ Ask an ancient philosopher, and he'll tell you the matter of the universe is divided into four elements (much like this post): earth, wind, air and fire. Everything in creation was composed of different combinations of these elements.
Plato, from The School of Athens fresco by Raphael, in the Vatican (public domain)
The concept of the elements as building blocks for matter really got going in the 3rd century, when Plato proposed a fifth element: aether. He considered it the material filling the region of the further reaches of the cosmos.
Aether as an "in between" element was used to explain several natural phenomena, such as gravity and the movement of light.
~ Ask an alchemist, and they'll tell you that aether is the substance which pervades all matter – sort of an animating spirit, the anima mundi. This fifth element is an incorruptible substance that activates the other four.
For example, the Philosopher's stone, of Harry Potter fame, is a magical substance which can transform lead into gold and is composed of aether.
~ Ask a Victorian-era scientist, and he'll theorize that aether is a hidden, dark energy in space. So empty space isn't actually empty – there's an energy within it that, according to the Victorians, can't be detect yet.
~ Ask a modern physicist, and she'll tell you that in the 20th century, scientists discovered the universe was expanding. This expansion must be driven by some sort of energy.
Could it be… aether?
We also know that atoms aren't "solid" per se – there is space in between them. Is it aether?
Which of these theories about aether makes the most sense to you?
Aether plays a major role in my new pre-Steampunk novel of suspense, OF MICE AND MECHANICALS, now available for pre-order on Amazon and Kobo.
Mechanicals, Mayhem, and Murder.
All Sensibility Grey wants is to tinker in her new laboratory in boomtown San Francisco. A stranger in a strange land, she is finally making a life for herself as a purveyor of mechanicals to eager miners. But a pair of government agents have other things in mind.
Loves and loyalties fracture, and mysterious forces threaten to destroy Sensibility and her clockwork secrets. Tangling with occultists, aether gone wrong, and a local vigilante group, Sensibility must decide where her allegiances lie, and whom she can trust.
OF MICE AND MECHANICALS is book two in the Sensibility Grey series of pre-steampunk, paranormal suspense set in the wild west of the California gold rush.
Posted by Kirsten Weiss. Kirsten has worked overseas, on the fringes of the former USSR and deep in the Afghan war zone. These experiences gave her glimpses into the darker side of human nature and sparked an interest in the effects of mysticism and mythology, and how both are woven into our daily lives. Now based in San Mateo, CA, she writes paranormal mysteries, blending her experiences and imagination to create a vivid world of magic and mayhem. Kirsten is the author of the pre-Steampunk novels, Steam and Sensibility and Of Mice and Mechanicals, and the Riga Hayworth series of paranormal mysteries/urban fantasy.
This entry was posted in Announcements, New Releases, Giveaways & Contests, Thrills & Chills and tagged Kirsten Weiss, misterio press, mystery novels, mystery series, new release, Of Mice and Mechanicals, paranormal, Riga Hayworth, Steam and Sensibility, Steampunk, Steampunk suspense on April 7, 2015 by Kirsten Weiss.


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text:
Gifts name Citadel's School of Science and Mathematics for Swain family
June 1, 2018 October 26, 2018 last updated on October 26, 2018 at 12:11 Alumni Featured News Releases Science & Mathematics
Photo left to right: David and Mary Swain, Lt. Gen. John Rosa, Chris and Debora Swain
Alumni brothers and their families committed to advancing science innovation
The Citadel is proud to announce a pair of substantial gifts to name the Swain Family School of Science and Mathematics. The combined eight-figure gifts were formalized June 1 by brothers David C. Swain, Jr., Citadel Class of 1980, and his wife Mary, as well as Dr. Christopher C. Swain, Citadel Class of 1981, and his wife Debora at a private signing event in the college president's office. The Swains have been a part of The Citadel family for decades.
"The Swain family is extremely generous to The Citadel. Their gifts advance their legacy and expand the transformative impact they are making campus-wide," said Lt. Gen. John W. Rosa, USAF (Retired), president of The Citadel and member of the Class of 1973. "The support of the Swain family will help us take our School of Science and Mathematics to the next level in its ongoing pursuit of academic distinction and national prominence."
The gifts will fund the modernization and renovation of outdated facilities in Byrd and Duckett Halls, ensuring excellence in education not only for biology, chemistry, and nursing majors, but also for non-science majors taking general education and service-related courses.
In addition, the gifts will establish and support a Center for Science, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship. The center will be housed in renovated laboratory space in Byrd Hall, where a state-of-the-art innovation space will be constructed. Objectives for the center include:
• Facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration among faculty, cadets and students
• Fostering partnerships among industry and academia
• Providing access to emerging technologies
• Promoting innovation and entrepreneurship by developing both technical and nontechnical skills in the pursuit of solving real-world problems
The Swain family's desire to advance the School of Science and Mathematics at The Citadel stems from their shared personal and professional interests. Together, the Swain brothers founded the Ob Hospitalist Group (OBHG) in Mauldin, South Carolina, in 2006 with a vision to elevate women's health care by providing quality medical care to expectant mothers. More than a decade later, OBHG is the single largest dedicated OB/GYN hospitalist provider, partnering with approximately 700 board-certified physicians nationwide.
Chris Swain, a veteran OB/GYN doctor himself, founded the company as the result of his passion for women's health care and his strong commitment to seeing the industry elevated to provide improved safety and care. After graduating from The Citadel with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, he attended the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and completed his OB/GYN residency training at Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Florida. He currently serves on OBHG's Board of Directors and resides on Isle of Palms, South Carolina, with Debbie and their two sons, both of whom are currently enrolled in the South Carolina Corps of Cadets at The Citadel.
As co-founder and current member of the Board of Directors, David Swain brings more than 20 years of corporate experience to OBHG, where he oversees all operational aspects of the company to ensure the highest quality of care and service. Prior to joining OBHG, he served as president of two technology companies and served 10 years as a U.S. Air Force officer, implementing $5.5 billion life-cycle technology upgrades at bases worldwide. After graduating from The Citadel with a computer science degree, he earned a graduate degree in electrical engineering from the University of South Carolina. David and Mary also manage a vineyard in the upstate area of South Carolina, where they reside with their six children.
In 2017, the family provided the gift launching the Swain Department of Nursing at The Citadel, which will have its first graduating class in 2019. Additionally, they recently celebrated the groundbreaking of the Swain Boating Center on the college's campus, which will reintroduce the Lowcountry water culture to the campus community after replacing an outdated facility.
The Citadel and The Citadel Foundation are profoundly grateful to the Swain family for its generosity in advancing the Swain Family School of Science and Mathematics even as they continue to support numerous other interests on campus. Their contributions, coupled with those of many other alumni and friends, helped to ensure the unprecedented success of the recently concluded $175 million Foundation for Leadership campaign, which raised over $250 million in celebration of The Citadel's 175 anniversary.
Department of NursingMagazine News 2018Swain Family School of Science and Mathematics
Citadel launches climate science research center with $2 million donation
New Center for Climate Studies to be established at The Citadel
My ring story: Inspired by my grandfather

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text:
HEGEMONY: A Political Thriller
A Political Thriller
by Elizabeth Ferido-Bohlin
Once again, it is back! The blade-like crescent figure, which several times in the past had violently hacked its way to subdue and conquer, looms large on the horizon of the European continent. On the road fortified by political leaders, mainstream media, and so-called public intellectuals, an intrusive three-headed monster spewing the forces of multiculturalism, relativism, and political correctness has accelerated the Islamisation of Judeo-Christian Europe with creeping impunity.
Secularism's edict separating the twin bedrocks of European nationhood – Church and state – though lest one forgets that they still cohabit under the same roof of a cultural heritage that has lasted for more than 2,000 years, upon whose bosom emerged the highest universal values of freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law, human rights, and the flourishing of the sciences and arts, have become unequal partners, where the latter is aggressively pushing the other to her graveyard.
The Muslim soul awakens to quench its historic thirst for conquest. Where once it was repulsed and driven to the fringes, it has surreptitiously entered through the rectum of those who wield political power across the Judeo-Christian world.
At this critical juncture of unparalleled historical importance, is it high time for the bell's toll for HEGEMONY of the phantom state?
Copyright © 2013. Elizabeth Ferido-Bohlin. All rights reserved.


Has an Auto Accident Changed Your Life?
Have you or a loved one suffered a personal injury in a car, truck or motorcycle accident? Was a member of your family killed in an accident? If the accident was caused by an act of negligence, you may have the right to seek compensation. An experienced lawyer can help you do that, fighting for the money you need and deserve.
The law firm of Donohue, Sabo, Varley & Huttner features veteran attorneys who are skilled at overcoming all obstacles in even the most challenging car, truck and motorcycle accident cases. Since 1980, we have been standing up for the rights of accident victims in Albany and throughout Upstate New York. You can be confident that we can stand up for your rights. You can be certain that we will fight to get you the compensation you need.
The first thing that auto accident victims learn when they are trying to get compensation is that their real opponent isn't the driver who caused the accident. Their real opponent is that driver's insurance company. Our attorneys have experience handling both the plaintiff and defense sides of these cases, which means we have a unique perspective. We know the strengths and weaknesses of each side, and we use that knowledge to get results that are fair.
Attorneys at our law firm are listed in Super Lawyers in Hudson Valley Magazine and are AV-rated* under Martindale-Hubbell's peer review rating system. Members of our team have also been elected to leadership positions in prominent legal organizations. This is evidence of the respect and trust we have earned from our clients and our peers.
All car, truck and motorcycle accident claims are handled on a contingency basis. You are not required to pay us anything unless we win your case and you recover compensation.
Call us at 518-458-8922 or send us an e-mail to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced attorneys.


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Ukrainian border guards building 'wall' on border with Russia
Sept 11 2014
ITAR-TASS
Ukrainian border guards have begun the construction of a 'wall' on the border with Russia. This was reported by the press service of the military operation on its Facebook page.
On the Russian-Ukrainian border. Source: ITAR-TASS
As reported by the security forces on behalf of President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, the installation of "fortification equipment and systems engineering barriers" began on Wednesday.
After the truce: Where now for eastern Ukraine?
"It is planned to create two defensive lines," read the statement.
Security officials are planning to build just under 1,000 miles of trenches and communication trenches, more than 8,000 trenches for equipment, 4,000 dugouts and a "non-exploding fence" 40 miles in length.
On September 5, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said that the government has prepared a draft plan for the bolstering the entire length of the Ukrainian-Russian border called "The Wall". In its first stage, the plan envisages equipping the border outside the conflict zone, where it is possible to begin engineering work immediately - in the Chernigov, Sumy, and Kharkov regions, as well as the north of the Lugansk Region. The border, according to the plan, will feature a trench 4 meters wide and 2 meters deep, completed with systems of electronic optical surveillance, towers and other facilities to prevent the movement of vehicles. On the maritime boundary it is proposed to establish complete electronic optical surveillance.
According to the State Border Service of Ukraine, the border with the Russian Federation is currently a 2295 km (1426 miles) long.
Press Digest: Amnesty International accuses Kiev battalion of war crimes>>>
world Russia-Ukraine relations News Ukraine


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There's no doubting the fact that innumerable questions pop up in our minds when we have plans to purchase a car. The basic one amongst these, is perhaps, whether we should opt for an all-new car or a pre-owned one. This dilemma often confuses car buyers, simply due to the reason that, while buying a new car has many advantages to it, settling for a used car also comes with its own sets of benefits and positive points.
For those not in a mood to buy a car to avoid high depreciation, for utilitarian reasons, or simply because of budgetary limitations, second hand cars in delhi will suit all the needs perfectly. It may interest you to know that unlike the new car market, which has traversed some rough patches in recent times, India's used car market has had a relatively stable growth.
Budget: The most fundamental decision that you need to take is to ascertain the amount that you can spare for buying a car. Thus, it will be wise of you to only look into those cars which can fit into your budget.
Type of car: Once the budget is fixed, assess your requirements and select a car that suits those. It is also very important to decide at this stage, whether you prefer a petrol car or a diesel one.
Fuel economy: This is one of the most considered features offered by a car. With the rising fuel prices, Indians in general are very particular about the fuel efficiency of a particular car.
Seller: It is advisable to buy the car from an authorized dealer, even if it is a second hand car. Almost all leading manufacturers of the country including Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, and Toyota operate a separate wing for pre-owned cars in Delhi. Purchasing a second hand car from these manufacturers will ensure that after sales and services are provided.
Physical Check: Once you have shortlisted a certain car, it is crucial to make a physical check of the vehicle. In the meantime, you should also check the history of the car – distance travelled, age of the car, ownership transfers, original papers and certificates- all of these things should be verified carefully.
For buying used cars under 2 lakhs in Delhi, one should opt for cars which have zero turbo lag and can be excellent drives in city traffic conditions with the linear pickup.
The cars that are most well-suited for city bumper to bumper traffic with unmatched low end engine response are many, and these include both diesel as well as petrol cars.
Underpinning Suzuki's TECT concept, the Ciaz is the longest car in its league. The front fascia has a rectangular radiator grille with chrome accents, which is complemented by the dual projector headlamps. The company emblem lies at the centre.
The body-coloured front bumper houses the twin fog lamps. Moving sideways, the strong shoulder line runs all along the length, lending dynamism and balance to the Ciaz. Additionally, there are chrome door handles and electrically adjustable outside rear view mirrors with turn indicators.
The super-stylish 16 inch alloy wheels are only limited to the top-end trim, and the entry level variants come loaded with 15 inch steel wheels. At the rear end, the premium rectangular tail lamp cluster is a reminder of the current generation Honda City.
The body-coloured bumper sports dual black reflector console, while the tailgate boasts of a spoiler with a chrome badge.
The best-in-class wheelbase of 2650mm has resulted in vast legroom, shoulder room, and head room for all the passengers, be it at the front or the rear. The interiors are done in a dual tone black and beige theme with wooden detailing. The dashboard design is reminiscent of other Maruti models including the Ertiga and the Swift Dzire.
The car gets keyless entry and start, Aux-in, USB, Bluetooth streaming with telephony, automatic retract for the ORVMs, reversing camera and navigation system. An integrated audio system is a touch-screen unit- a segment first. it has 4+2 speakers, tweeters, and USB connectivity as standard.
In terms of comfort and convenience features, the Ciaz has front centre armrest, rear centre armrest with cup holders, engine push start/stop system with intelligent key, audio controls mounted on the steering wheel, automatic climate control system with dust and pollen filter, rear AC vents, front and rear accessory sockets, height-adjustable driver seat, footwell lamps, besides others.
Maruti has incorporated an efficient braking system in the sedan with front brakes being ventilated discs and the rear ones being drum brakes. The primary braking system is amply backed by the ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System) and EBD (Electronic Brake-Force Distribution).
Other safety features include dual front airbags, seatbelts with pre-tensioners and force limiters, and reverse parking sensor and camera.The company's Total Effective Control Technology (TECT) platform, which has high tensile steel deployed extensively across the body panels of the Ciaz, thus further making it stronger and stiffer.
To add to the security, the company has introduced an engine immobilizer and anti-theft security system as standard features across the entire variant range.
What sets Mahindra KUV100 apart is its unparalleled combination of aggressive styling, spacious interiors with flex 6 seater and 5 seater options, peppy performance, accessible technology, and excellent safety.
This car offers both petrol and diesel versions, with the petrol engine being powered by the falcon G80 1.2litre 3-cylinder all-aluminium unit, which produces 83PS of power and a peak torque of 115Nm.The diesel variant, on the other hand, hosts mFalcon D75 1.2L CRDi unit, which churns out 78PS of power and maximum torque output of 190Nm. Both the engines are mated to a 5-speed manual transmission.
The car promises decent ride and handling quality, thanks to the independent McPherson strut suspension with dual path mounts, coil springs and hydraulic gas charges shock absorber in the front and semi-independent twist beam suspension with coil spring and hydraulic gas charged shock absorber at the rear. Also, the KUV100 is equipped with front disc and rear drum brakes.
The fuel mileage of petrol SUV is 18.15 kmpl while that of the diesel SUV is 23.32 kmpl. Its fuel tank capacity is 35 litres.
The car sports stylish dual tone exterior, with the front fascia featuring a sleek front grille, a buffed-up bumper and large sweptback headlamps with LED. The side profile gets an aggressive appeal, owing to the shallow greenhouse area.The rear profile, however, is less aggressive and more modern and palatable. You can also expect a high ground clearance of 1700mm and runs on 185/65 R14 tubeless radial tyres.
The interior features a flowing dash design layout which is simple yet unique in its class. Buyers will also be impressed by the easy-to-read instrument cluster with DIS and gearshift indicator.The subtly designed centre console is accompanied by vertically stacked AC vents/controls, a simple-looking integrated audio system and a gear shifter. Though the build quality is not that good, the fit and finish are quite decent.
There are 2 seating options on offer- a 5 seater and a 6 seater. The front occupants can enjoy ample leg/head/shoulder room, but the rear passengers might experience some space crunch.
The feature list in the cabin includes, keyless entry, in-dash music system with Bluetooth, USB and Aux-in connectivity, steering mounted controls, electrically foldable mirrors, LED DRLs, puddle lamps for all 4 doors, micro-hybrid technology, Power-eco mode, power outlet in the second row, ambient lighting, foldable rear seat, etc.
Volkswagen made its foray into the sub-4 meter sedan category with Ameo compact sedan. It genuinely exhibits the characteristics strengths of Volkswagen including a sturdy build, uncluttered design, and timeless appeal.
Under the hood, this car is powered by a 1.2litre petrol motor generating 75 PS at 110Nm and a 1.5litre TDI diesel motor which is capable of churning out 110PS at 250Nm. Both the motors channelize power to the front wheels via 5-speed manual transmission.Unlike its rivals, the Ameo offers the Automatic convenience on the Comfortline and Highline diesel variants. You can choose from either of the two engines- a 1198cc, 3-cylinder, petrol engine, and a 1498cc, 4-cylidner turbo diesel engine.
The Ameo is Volkswagen's conceived and made-in-India compact sedan based on the Polo hatchback. It shares most of its design with the hatchback except its rear profile. The design overall is understated, with only the boot standing out.The most prominent characteristics of its exterior include, the dual-barrel headlamps, subtle chrome highlights all around, large multi-spoke wheels, stubby boot, etc.
A 2+2 seater, the Ameo is a very compact car in terms of its cabin, besides a tough build quality, premium quality materials, and high-tech features. Highlights of the interior include the touch-screen infotainment system with reverse camera display, rain sensing wipers, cruise control, bezel-less IRVM, cooled glovebox, rear AC vents, hill-hold assist, traction control, etc.
The claimed ARAI mileage for the petrol variant is 19.44kmpl, while that for the diesel variant is 21.66kmpl. Also, according to ARAI figures, the mileage returned by the Volkswagen Ameo diesel automatic variant is 22.0kmpl.
In terms of safety features, the Ameo is equipped with dual front airbags and ABS as standard across all its variants.
The front wheels come with disc brakes that lend extra power to the car, making the handling easy even in tough situations. the handling is further improved, thanks to power steering with tilt and telescopic features.
Honda City, when it was first introduced in India, became an overnight sensation! The rate at which people booked this car, made it seem like finally, their dream car had arrived – the one they have been waiting for since ages.
Sales were skyrocketing, and even after the facelift, it continued to enjoy an abundance of takers. Though it did have to overpower a drawback of sorts due to the lack of a diesel power train as an option, the makers took it seriously and the diesel engine was launched.
The fundamental feature of Honda City that makes it one of the favourite cars is its drivability. With its light steering (and controls) and sleek gear-box, it is an easy drive. What's more, it comes equipped with an option of automatic transmission, which is very useful for bumper to bumper city traffic. It guarantees easy manoeuvrability and effortless driving.
When it comes to safety, you can 'safely' place your bets on Honda City. It boasts of features such as an anti-roll bar, air bags, and ABS (anti-lock braking system) that ensure uncompromised safety. The electronic brake force distribution system further makes it look like the car that the country was waiting for!
The design is quite different even though this is not an entire generational change. The front fascia looks edgier and sleeker and the front grille is brand new with a slimmer chrome strip and the headlamp cluster also looks unique.
The headlights are now placed closer to the grille and the front bumper is also new with new fog lamp housing. Honda has flooded the new City with LED lamps at the front, rear and also the fog lamps in tandem with daytime running lights. The car has new LED tail lamps and a new lip spoiler for the top end variant. There are new 16 inch diamond cut alloy wheels.
The interiors are premium thanks to the leather upholstery and the 7 inch Digipad touch screen infotainment unit and audio visual navigation system which feels super premium.
The Maruti Suzuki Swift has always been one of the highest selling cars in India majorly for its refreshed design, more interior space, new features, good fuel economy and the competitive price point. If you want a hatchback in this price range, the 2018 Swift is definitely one to look out for!
Powered by the same 1.2 litre petrol and 1.3 litre diesel engines of the previous generation. The petrol motor churns out 83PS/113Nm while the diesel variant develops 75PS/190Nm. Unlike its predecessor, the new Swift is accompanied by a 5-speed AMT (automated manual transmission) with both the engines besides the 5-speed manual gearbox.
It claims to offer a mileage of 22kmpl and 28.4kmpl from the petrol and diesel motors respectively.
Dual front airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist, front seat-belts with pre-tensioners and force limiter, Isofix with child seat anchorages, seatbelt reminder and engine immobilizer.
Besides the more 'mature' looking front fascia, it also flaunts a redesigned headlamp unit which sports projector headlamps and LED daytime running lamps as opposed to the multi-reflector units in the previous version. Additionally, the chrome garnishing has been given a miss, though the circular fog lamp housing has been retained.
Also, it comes with a large hexagonal grille with vertical slats in place of the honeycomb mesh seen in its predecessor. What's more, the rear profile also flaunts a completely overhauled look, with LEDs in a redesigned tail lamp unit, wider boot lid and a new bumper.
There are 15 inches two tone alloy wheels for the ZXi+ or ZDi+ variants along with 58 litres of extra boot space.
The cabin gets a more premium feel, thanks to the new dual-tone dashboard layout. Aircon vents in the centre are now round in shape and the AC controls too get new rotary dials.
The no-nonsense instrument cluster has been replaced by racing-car inspired dials. There are Android Auto and Apple CarPlay for this unit which is only available for the top-end ZDi+ and ZXi+ trims.
There are a neat climate control system and a three-dial design with the central screen showing the temperature. The flat bottomed steering wheel feels nice to hold and the plastic quality is much improved. There is good knee room and headroom along with decent legroom.
There is a reddish-orange hue for the dials which is very sporty. There is good knee room and headroom along with decent legroom. However, there is no rear AC vent and under thigh support could have been better.


Tonga, a small island nation with a population of just 107,000 and GDP of $426 million, has found itself at the center of the power struggle between China and the West in the South Pacific. The country is heavily indebted to Beijing – to the tune of 24 percent of GDP – and the first payment on a loan it took out a decade ago is due next month. But it's trying to delay the payment as long as possible, or even to avoid it completely, by banding together with its South Pacific neighbors to pressure China into forgiving the debt it holds over islands in the region. Perhaps most important, it's being egged on by New Zealand, which over the past few months has joined Australia to try to reduce China's economic leverage in the South Pacific.


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Facebook's TIP to Launch AI Working Group
Iain Morris, International Editor
THE HAGUE -- SDN NFV World Congress -- The Facebook-led Telecom Infra Project (TIP) will launch a new working group dedicated to the subject of machine learning in November, it was revealed here this morning.
The new group will look at ways in which machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) can improve network management and be co-chaired by Germany's Deutsche Telekom AG (NYSE: DT) and Spain's Telefónica, said Axel Clauberg, the vice president of aggregation, transport and IP for Deutsche Telekom, during a keynote presentation.
"This is about how machine learning is applied to network management and how artificial intelligence can be used," Clauberg told conference attendees.
Launched in early 2016, the Telecom Infra Project (TIP) aims to spur innovation in the network equipment market and lower technology costs through the use of open technologies and by fostering collaboration between its members, which include operators, established vendors and a growing number of network startups.
Facebook hopes that lower-cost technologies will be used to provide connectivity in underserved regions, giving it access to more potential users, while some telcos appear to have joined TIP out of frustration with their traditional suppliers.
Operators have previously complained that vendors tie them to long and expensive contracts and about the lack of interoperability between products from different suppliers.
They hope to put pressure on those vendors by teaming up with startups and taking greater advantage of open source technologies. (See TIP Players Voice Open Source Misgivings.)
While few details are currently available about the new AI working group, its formation clearly reflects growing interest in the potential of machine learning.
Telcos are increasingly eager to "automate" their networks and cut out the need for human intervention. With so-called "zero-touch" capabilities, they would be able to make changes without relying on technicians.
"When something goes wrong you have an engineer touching the issue and that by default takes time to sort out," said Peter Konings, the head of product development in Europe for US-based Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), during a panel discussion here on Tuesday.
Arash Ashouriha, Deutsche Telekom's deputy chief technology officer, this week said the operator's ultimate goal was to build networks that could function with "no human involvement," arguing that "brutal automation" was the only way the company would be able to succeed in future.
For more NFV-related coverage and insights, check out our dedicated NFV content channel here on Light Reading.
Those comments and the formation of a working group on machine learning will fuel concern about the impact that automation and AI could have on jobs in the telecom sector.
While some analysts have downplayed the automation threat, arguing that many employees will simply get redeployed on other tasks, some operators are reportedly looking to use automation to cut their employee count by 50% or more. (See The Revolution Will Be Automated .)
But Clauberg says that Deutsche Telekom's current priority is to "get better at finding radical approaches to capital efficiency."
The volumes of traffic on its networks continue to rise exponentially just as average revenues per user keep falling, he complains.
"Five years ago we launched NFV [network functions virtualization] and we are pushing that and the cloudification of network functions heavily, but it is not enough," he said in explaining Deutsche Telekom's interest in joining TIP.
One concern is that telcos are now struggling to attract the brightest talent, with young software developers preferring to work for Internet companies such as Facebook or Google.
TIP can help to address that problem by bringing network operators together with startups. Through a program called the TIP Ecosystem Accelerator Center (TEAC), it is now providing telco support and even venture capital (VC) funding support to a number of startups.
"We've been talking to VCs recently and expect them to bring more money in," said Clauberg.
TIP has now opened three TEAC facilities globally and plans to open a fourth in Germany later this year. France's Orange is playing the role of telco "host" in Paris, while BT and SK Telecom are doing the same in London and Seoul respectively. Deutsche Telekom will host the TEAC in Germany.
In the UK, VCs have already made commitments to invest a total of $170 million in TIP startups, while in France they plan to invest $115 million, said Clauberg. (See UK's Zeetta Eyes £125M in TIP Funding and Orange, VCs Commit $113M to Network Startups as 'Black Box' Frustration Mounts.)
— Iain Morris, News Editor, Light Reading
danielcawrey
Opprtunity
There's a lot that can probably be done with AI and machine learning to improve network performace. As usual, Facebook is leading the way with networking. Remember, they helped start this whole open source networking movement.
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Leading Research across the AI spectrum
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Making AI Ubiquitous


I have recently dined at Noire, a new concept restaurant at The Fairmont Hotel Sheik Zayed Road.
As the website states "from pitch-black settings, night vision equipped waiters or the thrill of experiencing 5-star gourmet cuisine sight unseen, Noire brings you a culinary adventure unlike anything else in town and one of the top experiences in Dubai", the restaurant offers a very peculiar dining experience.
The original idea came to Mr. Edouard De Broglie, an entrepreneur who founded an ethic investment company where 50% of the staff were people with vision impairment. The main goal is to put people in a position to understand other people's life experience by "putting yourself in the others shoes to better understand" and possibly to raise some funds for charitable organizations.
Even though it lasts just the time of a dinner, it proved to be very touching and instructive.
The dinner takes place in the dark. A pitch black where you cannot see anything apart the red dot on the infrared googles used by the waiters. Listen to the noises in the dark, touch to understand and learn what you have on the table or in the plate, recognize the scents and discover the taste of the proposed foods. Yes, because the chef won't tell you what you are eating until the dinner is over and you have tried to guess the various ingredients.
We can summarize the dinner as "an experience to learn to see beyond the appearance".
You will be surprised in discovering that your brain might be deceived by your taste buds if not supported by your eyes. And you will ended up feeling different textures and aromas than the one you would have expected by looking at the plate.
We arrived at Fairmont Hotel by metro, the nearest station is World Trade Center few meters from the hotel, and went to the 9th floor where the restaurant is located. We got lost since there was no one and couldn't find anything looking like a restaurant. We finally understood that the restaurant is adjacent to the shisha cafe available on the terrace that serves the purpose of meeting points for the restaurant guests.
We were offered a welcome drink and then had to wait some 40 minutes!! before being allowed to enter the restaurant.
The waiters are very well trained and after having escorted us to our table, they helped us understanding what was on the table: on the right spoons and two glasses, on the left forks and bread, in the center the napkin.
After few minutes the appetizer was served. It is difficult to dig into the meal without seeing anything, but not impossible after some practice. After few failures, I eventually managed to get a full spoon of food and bring it to the mouth.
Something fried was tasting like fish. There was salad. Maybe berries and fois gras. It was a continue murmuring and mumbling "taste like fish", "mine got hazelnuts", "s..t I spilled the wine". It is difficult to talk to your partner because you don't what they are doing, if they understand you, how far are they.
In the main course I found some beef, maybe cabbage, some kind of fish and potatoes. The dessert was formed by a cake, an ice cream and something like a pudding. Soft and creamy one bite and poppy and crunchy the other one.
We all felt the burning taste of chilly since there were many "oh gosh it's spicy!!". In reality was pepper.
I was there celebrating my birthday and I was amazingly celebrated by the staff that invited all the guests to sing for me. It was really a great sensation because almost everybody sang. Something I doubt would have been happened if with the lights were on.
Once we were safely guided outside, we found the chef waiting for us with a display of the food we had.
Left: starterLeft: starter with battered oysters, salad, strawberries, foie gras, avocado and hazelnut. Center: main course with bbq eel, wagyu beef, salad, fries and caw flower. Left: dessert with panna cotta, red velvet cake and oreo ice cream and pepper.
This entry was posted in Dubai, Exploring, Food, Food Explorer, Restaurant in Dubai, Restaurant Review, Visit Dubai and tagged Blind, dubai, Eating in the dark, explore, Fairmont, Food, food lovers, Foodaholic, Noire, Restaurant on February 18, 2016 by andreadetto.
Last Thursday I have enjoyed a Sangria night at Boca restaurant in DIFC with some colleagues. The place is nice and well decorated and was really alive when we entered at 7.30 pm, straight after work. There was nice ambient music that wasn't too aloud and allowed us to talk in peace.
We were 4 people and we ordered 2 jugs of Sangria. The staff, very attentive and polite, informed us about a promotion consisting in a jug of sangria and 10 pintxo for just 200 AED. It seemed a good deal and we ordered the two sets because we were famished.
The sangria came first and we had a a first glass to start the party. It was alright, but not really the best in town. It was mostly ice cubes and it had just a slice of lemon and few slices of apples in it. The fruity taste was provided by what seemed to us, bottled juice.
We however enjoyed it and waited the Pintxo to satisfy our appetite. When the first tray came, we were surprised to see that there were only 2 portions available because we ordered only 2 jugs of sangria. Not really a delicate touch I would have preferred smaller portions but enough for 4 people to taste each and every Pitxo served, as many competitors do. When we ordered 2 additional jugs, the waitress informed us that the promotion was over and the sangria was going to be served alone.
The Pintxo served were good but we had only 2 bites for 4 people. We were famished, that's why the tray is almost empty.
This entry was posted in DIFC, Dubai, Food Explorer, Restaurant in Dubai, Restaurant Review, Spanish Food and tagged BOCA Restaurant Dubai, DIFC, dubai, Food, food lovers, Foodaholic, Pintxo, Restaurant Review, Sangria, Spanish Food, Tapas on August 9, 2015 by andreadetto.
After an exhilarating performance at Bouncing in Al Quoz (where I managed to twist both ankles), we drove to Umm Suqeim for a late Breakfast at The Surf Cafe. The restaurant is at the first floor of a small building located near the Jumeirah Beach Hotel and it is provided with a very convenient elevator that was much appreciated in my conditions.
The restaurant is very nicely decorated, with a full window external wall facing Jumeirah Road and nice tables scattered all around. The restaurant has a live lobsters and crabs section and it is well known for its fish recipes. Some friends of ours were positively commenting the excellence of the food they had tasted some weeks earlier.
We ordered different things: scrambled eggs and avocado, poached eggs in avocado (like placed where the seed was), traditional surf cafe breakfast and so on. I opted for the surf breakfast that was promising to be very filling: eggs, chicken sausage, beef bacon, hash browns, grilled mushroom, grilled cherry tomatoes and toasted bread. Three of our friends arrived earlier (I bet, I could barely walk) and ordered 10 minutes earlier.
It was the trigger of a drama. Their order arrived but then confusion was made with the drinks. The staff was a bit confused about who had ordered what and they brought a capuccino that no one ordered and missed some tea and juices. Not a big deal after all.
Few minutes later we noticed a member of the staff wandering around with two breakfast and asking to each and every table if they ordered a breakfast. They were puzzled in noticing that no one else ordered our breakfast !!! We tried to call them but they were ignoring us, being so busy in understanding who had ordered the food. The problem was that they saw people eating at our table and assumed that we were alright.
The breakfast was good, with high quality and tasty ingredients. It wasn't that massive though and I had to order a slice of cake in order to suitably fill my stomach. The cake was awful. I was a stupid in asking the last slice of a Walnuts and Chocolate cake/biscuit that, since it was the last, tasted old.
The coffee is excellent, since they serve Illy caffe, one of the best and most appreciated in Italy, and they make it right.
The manager (that then explained to us to be the girlfriend of the owner that helps during the weekends) came and apologized for the little confusion they experienced during the day. A nice thing, really appreciated.
It is a good breakfast option if you are around Umm Suqeim.
This entry was posted in Breakfast, Dubai, Restaurant Review and tagged Breakfast, dubai, Eggs, Food, food lovers, Foodaholic, Hash Brown, Restaurant, Restaurant Review on July 26, 2015 by andreadetto.


A worldwide compilation of 333 analyses of U and Pb concentrations in olivine-hosted melt inclusions from island arc magmas. These data were used in Delavault et al. (2016, Geology 44, 819-822) to calculate the present-day distribution of the U/Pb ratios in magmas generated in subduction setting.


Looking for ways to reduce pollution in the home, at the office and around the community? You've come to the right place! This resource is designed to help you connect with the right information.
Looking for ways to keep your environment healthy? Start taking action now.


Juniors Blake and Brooke Barnard.
Close teammates rely on one another and may even dismiss a huddle by shouting "Family" in unison, but only a few teammates play a collegiate sport with an actual family member or even better, a twin. Three sets of twins at Baker are able to keep teamwork in the family.
With tennis rackets in their hands by the age of 5, there wasn't really any other option for sophomores Blake and Brooke Barnard. Their father started taking them to the tennis courts daily, where he would practice with them. However, their father soon learned that the twins had a competitive nature about them that forced him to ban them from playing each other in the seventh grade.
In high school, the twins put their differences aside and started to focus on their goal of earning a scholarship to play collegiately. They have done more than just join a collegiate team. Regionally, Brooke ranks 17th and Blake ranks 10th. As for who the better player is, we may never know, that is unless their father decides to withdraw the ban.
For seniors Kelsey and Cari Vollenweider, their competitive drive included pillow fights and races to see who would get to the shower first. The Vollenweider sisters were constantly trying to one-up each other.
"Anything you could make a competition, we made a competition," Kelsey said.
Their passion for softball started by watching the U.S. Olympic softball team play in Springfield, Missouri, in 2004. After watching All-American Stacey Nuveman play catcher, Kelsey knew she wanted to be a catcher herself. The U.S. team also made Cari realize that she wanted to play at the collegiate level. Not soon after realizing their dreams of playing softball, the search was on for the right college.
The transition to Baker was not the smoothest for the two. Their freshman year, they roomed together in Irwin Hall.
"Our hall mates would have to take turns on who got to break up our fights," Kelsey laughingly said.
Having matured since their freshman year, they have decided to give it another try by living together their last semester of college. They wanted to start and end their college years together because they're not sure if they'll ever be able to live with one another after their senior year is over.
Junior Spencer Atkin can also attest to having a vastly different personality than his twin sister, Keeley. Spencer says the only thing the two really have in common is soccer, and the sport serves as a good way for them to bond.
They also have a pair of older twin brothers, making Keeley the only girl in the family. Keeley would stand her ground by repeatedly kicking Spencer in the shins when they would play in the backyard as kids.
Keeley admits that Spencer has always been better than her at soccer, but she can still hold her own.
"He's a really good defender, but I'm better at attacking than he is," Keeley said.
After interruptions in their high school playing careers, both knew they wanted to continue playing the sport they loved. Spencer had quit his freshman year but couldn't stay away for long and came back to play as a sophomore.
Keeley suffered an ACL injury her junior year of high school. After coming back from the injury, Keeley had a new outlook on soccer and committed herself to it more.
Spencer admires his sister's desire to continue playing after overcoming her injury. Keeley gives credit to Spencer because he's quicker and faster than she is, but that doesn't change the fact that she's still 14 minutes older than him.
Despite all the constant competitions and bickering, one thing all three sets of twins agreed upon is that they'll never be alone in life.


The events listed below occur on a weekly basis unless noted otherwise. For further details please click on the event name.
10:00 - 15:00 Calligraphy, 3rd Tuesday of the month, a group of established calligraphers meeting to share ideas and show work. The group welcomes new members, but please note that this is not a teaching class. Please contact Penelope Leaf or Patricia Conlon.
There are no regular events on Saturdays but do take a look at our special events.
Burford Church youth and children activities - part of the 11am service at Burford Church - followed by refreshments.
Every 4th Sunday of the month at 11:00 Burford Church hosts an all-age Praise Service, where children stay with their families and learn together. At 18:00 (also on the fourth Sunday) 14-18s meet, enjoy supper, and look at the Bible together.
You are very welcome to join us at any of our Sunday services.


text:
Durres Day Tour with Local Guide
Albania. And it consists of the port where the ships embark.
Explore the city's 1930's architecture as you walk along the boulevard.
Visit the Ethnographic Museum and its artifacts displayed on the second floor of a traditional house from the 19th cent. It exhibits authentic objects of hand-crafts as well as a rich collection of Albanian traditional costumes.
Durres is one of the oldest cities in Albania. Not only, but it also consists of the Byzantine walls and the Roman Amphitheater.
The Roman Amphitheater from the 2nd century AD, built during the reign of Emperor Trajan as one of the biggest amphitheaters in the Balkans. The Roman Amphitheatre and the city of Durrës are unusual for their extraordinary degree of preservation, particularly for their large stretches of undisturbed stratigraphy. About a third of the amphitheater was not set on manmade supports, but on natural ones, utilizing a precipitous hillside to support its northern seating or cavea.
On the way to the archaeological museum, you can admire the Byzantine Wall, an engineering masterpiece, built during the reign of Emperor Anastasius ( VI cent AD ) whose origin was from Durres, and the seaside promenade enjoying the fresh air and the view of the largest bay in Albania. The Byzantine Chapel is our next stop. An early Christian chapel built into the western side of the amphitheater. Its western alcove preserves a unique polychromatic mosaic representing Christian iconography in almost its natural sizes.
Durres Day Tour
The Byzantine walls that used to surround the city from the Ottoman Empire still stand tall, and give the city another insight. But the Roman Amphitheater is one of the most majestic ruins left in Durres.
The Amphitheater reminds you of ancient times as it is built in the 2nd century AD.
The archaeological museum is also located in this city and it offers an exhibition of the archaeological findings.
If you're interested in Durres history, or even just curious about it, Durres Archaeological Museum has some of the best exhibits. Having a guide at your side as you explore means you can ask as many questions as you like! The Venetian Tower and the Byzantine stretch of wall – A 15th cent intervention done to the byzantine fortification of the city. A flight of stairs takes you to the roof which gives you the opportunity to watch the seaside and the surroundings of the old city.
It also portrays Albanian culture and tradition around the rooms.
The city of Durres doesn't have only the ancient appeal but also the modern.
Explore the archaeological sites and learn about the modern side with an expert guide.
Therefore you will learn why the city has the name "Tavern of the Adriatic".
And you will enjoy your trip more.
Book now the Durres day Tour
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Created with Sketch. Durres
Durres Day Tour will immerse you in the monuments of classical Durres.
The name of the city in the past was Epidamnos and Dyrrahium, deriving from the ancient Greek language. It is the second-largest city in Albania. And it consists of the port where the ships embark.
The the Ethnographic Museum
Your trip starts at 9:00 at the "Liria" Square. Explore the city's 1930's architecture as you walk along the boulevard.
Visit the Ethnographic Museum and its artefacts displayed on the second floor of a traditional house from the 19th cent. It exhibits authentic objects of hand-crafts as well as a rich collection of Albanian traditional costumes.
The Roman Amphitheatre
Next, you will visit the Roman Amphitheater from the 2nd century AD, built during the reign of the Emperor Trajan as one of the biggest amphitheatres in Balkans. The Roman Amphitheatre and the city of Durrës are unusual for their extraordinary degree of preservation, particularly for its large stretches of undisturbed stratigraphy. About a third of the amphitheater was not set on manmade supports, but on natural ones, utilizing a precipitous hillside to support its northern seating, or cavea. On the way to the archaeological museum you can admire the Byzantine Wall, an engineering masterpiece, built during the reign of Emperor Anastasius ( VI cent AD ) whose origin was from Durres, and the seaside promenade enjoying the fresh air and the view of the largest bay in Albania. The Byzantine Chapel is our next stop. An early Christian chapel built into the western side of the amphitheater. Its western alcove preserves a unique polychromatic mosaic representing Christian iconography in almost their natural sizes.
The Archaeological Museum
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Created with Sketch. Albania
Albania Honey Trail
Created with Sketch. from €1.065,00
Created with Sketch. Tirana
8 Days Off Road in South Albania
Created with Sketch. from €550,00
Albania Food and Walking Tour
Created with Sketch. Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia
8 days in Albania Kosovo and Macedonia


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Following the relaxation in lockdown across the country, Indian EV startup Ather Energy has restarted its operations in Chennai. Production at its facilities had resumed in Bengaluru a week ago.
The move comes after the government in both the cities announced a relaxation for two-wheeler & four-wheeler showrooms, service centres, and firms dealing in automobile spare parts.
Deliveries of its electric scooter Ather 450 have also begun in a limited capacity in both cities. The company has said it will scale up depending on resumption of operations of other ancillary partners, and permissions for interstate transport of vehicles.
The company has issued a statement saying all possible precautions are undertaken including sanitisation of the workspace, use of masks, gloves and sanitisers by the service professionals and staff, and practicing social distancing for a safe and smooth experience.
The R&D centre in Bengaluru and the experience centres in both cities have opened for a restricted number of employees and customers. The experience centres will be open for limited hours and will operate with limited staff onsite to comply with health and safety guidelines.
To address the economic impact of the lockdown, Ather will continue to innovate on its ownership models, like increasing the financing options available to consumers and introducing batteries on subscription. Ather was the first OEM to introduce lease plans for two-wheelers in India and a unique, zero hassle post purchase plan - Ather One - that limits cost of ownership and usage to ₹700 per month.
This year Ather will be available in 8 new cities - Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Kochi, Ahmedabad, Kolkata - with their flagship model Ather 450X.
Ravneet Phokela, Chief Business Officer, Ather Energy said, "We are slowly opening up our retail stores and offices and are hoping that some semblance of normalcy will be achieved in the coming months. We have a lot of work ahead of us to expand pan-India over the coming months, and thankfully, the lockdown has not affected those timelines dramatically. We are now working on a slightly revised timeline of Q4 of 2020 to begin deliveries of the Ather 450X across India."
In January this year, Ather Energy had launched the Ather 450X in two interchangeable performance packs - Plus and Pro, in India at a starting price of ₹99,000 (ex showroom) if the monthly subscription plans are chosen. The price starts at ₹1.49 lakh (ex showroom) minus the monthly subscription fees.
The 450X, which is an upgrade on the existing 450 from the company, will lock horns with a number of e-scooters including the recently launched Bajaj Chetak electric and TVS' iQube.
Ather Energyelectric vehicleselectric scooterEV startupAther 450Ather 450X


We all know by now that Michelle Obama loves her Duro Olowu. She been spotted during her trip to Africa this jacket from the Nigerian designer fall 2010 collection and also this Over sized sleeveless shirt from the Asos Africa 2011 collection .
I think the she looks great the first outfit is my favorite!


The Department of Energy's (DOE) LED Lighting Facts and their Snapshot Report, focuses on core metrics in outdoor lighting. For LED lighting products in the market, the DOE metrics include lumen output, energy use, luminous energy efficiency, color rendering index (CRI) and color temperature (CCT). A new Snapshot Report published on July 1, 2013, on Outdoor Area Lighting examines the current state of the LED outdoor lighting market based on manufacture submitted LM-79 reporting data. The report shows that the best performing LED products are achieving over 100 lumens per watt for outdoor area lighting applications.
Across the outdoor lighting categories of area lighting, parking garage lighting, and canopy lighting, LED outdoor lighting products are exceeding the efficiency of conventional HID fixtures. These LED lighting products provide better alternatives in both energy use and lighting quality. The light distribution patterns and effective optics allow for delivery of more usable light at lower levels of lumens compare to the equivalent HPS or MH fixture.
Parking lot lighting with an area luminaire, such as a Cobra Head fixture are a very common outdoor luminaire that is widely deployed. Various DOE reports have shown that these types of outdoor lighting fixtures are major contributors to property owners energy bills. Further benefits of well-designed LED outdoor fixtures include much longer life, reduce maintenance needs, better color quality, along with more efficient operating characteristics than a HPS or MH fixture.
The Cobra Head Lighting Efficiency Brief, downloadable below, outlines how select fixtures from Metro LED Lighting, have greater efficiency than the majority of Lighting Facts listed products. These Cobra Head lighting fixtures are not only 41% more efficient than the highest performing HPS or MH fixture, but also a breath of products are available to serve as an effective replacement for 7O watt to 400 watt traditional HID outdoor area lighting products.
As shown by the DOE Outdoor Area Lighting Report substantial performance gains are achievable over HPS / MH fixture, but as important major performance differences exist in LED outdoor luminaires such as those used in area lighting.


Stuart Maslanik Recognized as a Certified Legal Manager - Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A.
LLW Chief Financial Officer Stuart Maslanik was recently recognized by the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) as a Certified Legal Manager (CLM). Stuart is one of about 5% of the total ALA membership that has passed this exam. The CLM program recognizes individuals that have demonstrated a mastery of the knowledge, skills and abilities to operate at a high level of expertise in the field of legal management. For more information visit https://www.alanet.org/education/certification/clm-credit-approved-provider-program.