BETH MURRISON: Good afternoon and thank you to everyone for joining us today. It's my pleasure to introduce today USGA president Jim Hyler.
We are very much aware of obviously Mike's role in the U.S. Open and I want to take this right off the bat. We would be idiots if we extracted Mike from U.S. Open activities. Mike will continue to be involved with the U.S. Open from a site selection standpoint as well as golf course setup. He's the best in the world at that. He will continue to be involved in our U.S. Open activities.
Otherwise Mike will have full responsibility for all the staff functions at Golf House. He will report to the president, CEO. But we're looking forward to having Mike Davis as our executive director. I'm simply thrilled and excited we're at this point with the search and with Mike being selected.
What's really interesting about that is I was thinking about that and of those six people before me, I've known five of them. In my first year and a half with the USGA, I had the pleasure of getting to know Joe Dey, who was our executive director for 30 some years. One of the guys that hired me was P.J. Boatwright, who was a former executive director after Joe Dey. Then from there it went to Harry Easterly, and then Frank Hannigan, who I stay in touch with. And obviously for the last 21 years, David Fay has been at the helm.
When I think about that group, it's such an esteemed group that I'm humbled. But it's an exciting time. In following David Fay, who was such an incredibly outstanding executive director, and as I say, when I came onboard, David was the brand-new executive director, he's a hard guy to follow. These are going to be big shoes to step into.
It's almost, like I said to our staff an hour ago when we made the announcement, this is almost like trying to follow John Wooden, be the coach after John Wooden at UCLA, or Bear Bryant for the football program at Alabama, maybe in business, Jack Welch, the legendary CEO.
I use the analogy: When you're a coach, you'd love to have your last coach be 0-12. If you're a superintendent, it would be nice to come into a situation where there were 18 dead greens because you know you can make an improvement.
I think what I'm truly excited about, it is the USGA. Even though the USGA has changed tremendously in the 21 years I've been here, we've gotten bigger, the game has gotten bigger. But what we were doing 21 years ago is nothing different than what we're doing now. We conduct national championships in this country, we write and interpret the rules of golf along with the R&A, we regulate equipment with the R&A. We have not only a national but an international code of handicapping. We have a wonderful agronomic consultation service in the greens section, finest museum and library anywhere in the world as it relates to golf. It's a great organization and I really am excited to be a part of it.
MIKE DAVIS: Good question. There's going to be a few differences in my role at the USGA versus what David did and Jim Hyler just alluded to that. I have been public about this before. I love the golf course setup in what I've done for the past several years. I said, and I almost mean it, I would almost pay the USGA money to allow me to do this. I love putting this puzzle together. It really is a puzzle of sorts.
It's something when I talked to the search and management committee of the USGA, I think, Listen, this is something I genuinely think I can continue to do. I will give up the other portions of the conduct of the Open, such as being on the course, being a rules official, being the person that blows the horn for suspension of play, those kinds of things.
But I do think when it comes to the golf course setup part, working with the grounds staff, given the hours I do that, I can still retain that for the U.S. Open. But I will give that up for the Women's Open. I'll give it up for the Women's Amateur, the Walker Cup match. That's one area that I just have incredible interest in. Thankfully the board is willing to allow me to continue in that role.
Since David retired, which was on Christmas Eve of last year, he and I had exchanged several emails. Actually, this was kind of humorous. David actually came in the building late January. Came to Golf House. He had to get a few things he had not picked up out of his office, some books. He stopped by my office. It was hilarious, because he had a visitor's badge on. This is a guy that worked here for 32 years.
MIKE DAVIS: It's interesting because the president and the vice president and I talked about that subject a lot. I really see my way of handling it is dealing with the golf course setup portion. I will get to Congressional that week before. I'll be engaged with the grounds staff, looking very closely at how the course is being set up for the Open. But I will not get involved with marking the golf course, doing the rules sheet, the pace of play policy. That's going to be handed off to another person that has been helping me for years and years by the name of Jeff Hall, who is the manager of rules and competition.
I would see a normal day at this year's U.S. Open, I will be out with the grounds staff at 5 a.m., I probably get done on a typical day at 8:30 to 9:00 a.m. It's not that I will take my focus entirely away from the U.S. Open, but until the mid afternoon when I meet with the superintendent and grounds staff about what we're going to do for the next day, how the golf course is playing, how weather might affect it, that will free me up to do some things to meet with some of the key USGA's key (indiscernible).
Part of me is going to actually enjoy that when those thunderstorms rolls in, not that I won't care, but I won't be the guy pulling the trigger anymore on when to blow the siren. Somebody else is going to be doing that.
It's not as if I haven't touched those areas in the last 21 years. Trust me, when you're involved with championships, you touch every single part of the USGA, whether it's the greens section, accounting, the legal department. I know these people, I know what they do, but that hasn't been my day-to-day job. I just wanted assurances that I could flourish and succeed in this.
They've been wonderful in terms allowing me to mold this job. This is a work in progress. This is day one, so a lot of things are still going to be worked out in the future.
Q. Mike, I know it's still early, but is there sort of a list of things that you have in mind in terms of what you'd like to do with this job in the short-term? Is one of them possibly bringing the U.S. Open back to New Jersey, New York, for that open 2018 date?
I strongly believe, the R&A does, certainly our board does, that one of the most important things we do is preserve and protect the game. I certainly know something about that topic. I understand how the game's played. But I've never been engaged in really some of the details of that. I never sat in those equipment standard meetings.
Q. Will you still have the final say on course setup? You're going to get Jeff Hall more involved. And then your thoughts on the West Coast, the stretch where four of ten U.S. Opens will be on the West Coast. Curious about your philosophy on that going forward.
MIKE DAVIS: On the first question, I will stay involved with the golf course setup. As you look at how that gets done, it's a joint responsibility between the chairman of the championship committee, which is Tom O'Toole, and Jim Hyler did that four years earlier. Tom and I do that together. We obviously work very close with the USGA greens section.
Then with respect to your question on the West Coast, you know, I don't think anything will really change there. I mean, some of us have found it humorous that now we're being accused of being West Coast biased. Ultimately, the USGA does want to move its national championships around. We did have a void and we're filling that with the naming of Erin Hills for 2017. We went quite a few years without going to a middle America venue.
I think that ultimately what our championship committee wants to do, and I totally agree with this, is we want to go to the best, most special U.S. Open venues. That holds true for the Women's Open, Girls' Amateur, Girls' Junior.
Obviously, geographics play into that. I can tell you that geographics will not and should not ever be the number one consideration. We need to go to the most special venues, the best venues, whatever championship it is.
There are so many variables, that one of the things I think you're going to see the USGA do hopefully in calendar year 2011 is get together and try to talk about these 'what ifs' and say, To be responsible, we need to think about what would happen if the worst-case scenario happens.
I would say from a personal standpoint, I've got a wife who I've been with for 18 years. I have a son that's in eighth grade that is now taking up tennis, not golf. Now all of a sudden I'm playing more tennis than golf. I'm actually enjoying it. I used to play tennis when I was a kid. But I still love the game of golf.


Gallery hours Thursday, Friday and Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m or by appointment Celebrate and view artwork created by the students of the School District of Rhinelander, grades K-12. Student work consists of a variety of media from paints and drawings, prints and collage to ceramic sculpture and mixed media. Information at artstartrhinelader.org or call 715-362-4328.


Today I received an email from Ancestry.com, asking me to take a survey about AncestryDNA. I thought I'd share my responses on my blog.
My responses were influenced by the fact that I had tested with other DNA companies (ftDNA and 23andMe) prior to Ancestry.com. Based on what the AncestryDNA test currently offers in the way of results, my responses were low. I think that those without experience with other companies would probably give more positive answers.
Overall satisfaction? 4 out of 10. I had higher expectations for such a leader in the genealogy industry. This test is missing many features available from other companies.
Value for the money? 6 out of 10. It is much less expensive that the tests at other companies. But, you don't have the features.
Would you recommend it? 3 out of 10. Although it's cheaper, the other companies provide a better product. If you only have $100 and don't think you can save $300, go for this one. If you are more concerned about quality, save up.
Increased my satisfaction with Ancestry? 2 out of 10. Again, I expected better. This product actually lowered my opinion of Ancestry.com as a company.
Website is easy to use. 5 out of 10. It is easy to use (almost too simple) but it is slooooooow.
AncestryDNA website clearly represents my results. 1 out of 10. This one needs a bit of an explanation. Yes, the website is pretty simple. But, as I said above, it is almost too easy. I understand the info they give me, but I don't learn anything. Based on their website, I have no idea how they came to these conclusions. I just have to hope that Ancestry.com got it right. Sorry, but I want to know the science behind it all.
Test was easy to do. 9 out of 10. Spit. Done.
Test was easy to ship and register. 9 out of 10. It was pretty simple.
Test result turn around. 10 out of 10. It took less than a month. Hard to beat.
My results are kept private. 10 out of 10. Private? I don't even know all of the info behind my results.
I would love to see more detailed results from AncestryDNA. Raw data, chromosome data, ability to triangulate matches and, simplest of all, a search function. Let's add those features and I'll give a higher score.


c. he has, for a period of not less than ten years, held a judicial office in Pakistan.
Explanation.- In computing the period during which a person has been an advocate of a High Court or held judicial office, there shall be included any period during which he has held judicial office after he became an advocate or, as the case may be, the period during which he has been an advocate after having held judicial office.
3. In this Article, "District Judge" means Judge of a principal civil court of original jurisdiction.


text:
Q: program to Unit Test in Visual Studio 2008 VC++ (.exe file) What program is best to unit test a exe targeted project in Visual Studio 2008, VC++?

A: I strongly recommend using Boost::Test and just creating a separate project. Answers on this question might be helpful.

A: Sometime ago I used a cmake for managing my project and its unit tests. By cmake I generated visual studio files, then in visual studio I had project 'RUN_TESTS'. When I rebuilt it the tests were invoked.
Here You have some info:
http://www.cmake.org/Wiki/CMake_Testing_With_CTest

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


We work with a number of national letting agents as well as with private landlords.
As a customer of ADR Services (Midlands) Ltd you will receive an annual reminder from us one month before your inspection falls due. With your permission we will liaise directly with your tennants to arrange a suitable date and time for the inspection to take place, keeping you informed of arrangements by email, telephone or sms - whichever is your preference.
Just like with any other boiler service we perform we will also provide you with our full safety and efficiency report to keep you informed about the internal state and efficiency of your boiler and warn you of any potential issues that we spot while we undertake our inspection.


Waves 1, 2, and 3 of the ending diagonal are complete and now we look for wave 4 to end above the wave 2 $64.87 low of 3/25/19. Looking at the chart below we look for wave 4 to end with one more push lower above $64.87 before turning higher for wave 5. This will be confirmed by moving above wave 3's 4/8/19 high, $68.25. Consequently a push below $64.87 before the new high would suggest that the entire cycle from the 12/24/18 lows has ended. Let's see how this plays out over the coming sessions.


Citation: Reddy, K.N., Cizdziel, J.V., Williams, M., Maul, J.E., Rimando, A.M., Duke, S.O. 2018. Glyphosate resistance technology has minimal or no effect on maize mineral content and yield. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 66:10139-10146. https://DOI.10.1021/acs/jafc.8b01655.
Interpretive Summary: There has been controversy over whether glyphosate affects mineral nutrition of glyphosate-resistant crops. Scientists from USDA-ARS, Crop Production Systems Research Unit, Stoneville, Mississippi; Global Change and Photosynthesis Research unit, Urbana, Illinois; Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland; Natural Products Utilization Research Unit, University, Mississippi; and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi have conducted field studies to address whether the glyphosate resistance transgene, glyphosate use on GR maize, and glyphosate use history in a field affect mineral nutrition and yield of maize. The results of 2-yr field studies indicated that neither the glyphosate resistance gene nor glyphosate, whether used for a single year or multiple years, has no adverse effect on yield or mineral nutrition of glyphosate-resistant maize.
Technical Abstract: Some controversy continues to exist as to whether the glyphosate resistance gene and/or glyphosate applied to glyphosate-resistant (GR) crops affect their mineral content. Previous research has shown GR technology does not affect GR soybean mineral content, however studies in GR maize are lacking. A two-year field study (2013 and 2014) in Stoneville, MS and Urbana, IL examined this issue. There were no effects of glyphosate or the GR transgene on yield or mineral content of leaves or seed at either location. In both locations, there was no effect of field crop history (for a field with both no history of glyphosate use versus one with a long history of glyphosate use) on grain yield or mineral content. Yield was not compromised by glyphosate, the glyphosate resistance gene, or prolonged history of glyphosate use in the field. Glyphosate and lower levels of its degradation product, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), were found in leaves that were sampled for mineral content, but little or no glyphosate or AMPA was found in seeds. These results indicate that the glyphosate resistance gene and glyphosate, whether used for a single year or multiple years, have no adverse effect on mineral nutrition or yield of GR maize.


Siquijor, the second island we decided to visit, and boy am I glad we did! An extremely underrated island with so much natural beauty & mystery, you would be silly not to go. With little to no tourism here, I felt like I got real taste of what the Philippines and people were truely about. We spent our days exploring the contrast of beaches, swimming in vibrant waterfalls & riding around meeting locals and playing ball with the ever smiling kids. Originally we had plans to fly over to Siagoia island for the next 3 nights after Cebu, but we were unexpectedly faced with huge flying costs that were WAY out of our budget :(. I tell ya, getting around the Philippines is so much harder then you'll ever expect! If there is one piece of advise I hand on about travelling through this country is plan ahead!
We mainly chose Siqiujor because it was close & accessible. From Cebu it is 2 short ferry rides from the town of Santander to Dumaguete, then to Siquijor. Santander is just south of Oslob, which you can catch the bus to for like $1. I cant remember the price of the ferry rides but I think it was close to $20. SO cheap!
For the 4 nights we stayed, we found a little place on the island which we booked through Airbnb, Silka. It is a little far from all the main restaurants but is right on the beach front and was super comfortable and affordable. The ladies working there were soo nice and helpful :) giving us bowls, hot water and a knife to cook our oats and cut our mangos every morning. If you aren't too keen on hiring a bike or riding 40 mins to the main area I suggest for you to find somewhere else to stay :).
The good thing about where we stayed was that it was a short ride to one of our favourite beaches on the island, Salagdoong Beach. Our first day on the island we rode to this beach & discovered some super sick cliff jump spots and a small white sand cove beach, surrounded by sparkling turquoise water. This beach is one of few that you have to pay to visit, as it is probably the most popular on the island. But its literally $0.50 which is the smallest price to pay for an amazing location. We ended up coming back here most days to cliff jump and sun bake :) If you are afraid of cliff jumping they have two levels you can jump from, but I recommend jumping the big one! Its the biggest adrenaline rush! Plus if you dont, all the local kiddies will show you up and jump off 10 times before you do haha. Playing with the kids and taking photos of them doing back flips into the water was such an incredible experience. Their laughter brings me so much joy!
We finally found Cambuguhay Falls, which was some kind of lush jungle paradise. The surroundings here are incredible! And yes the water is that blue and the trees that green :). We spent the next couple of hours channeling our inner Tarzan, swinging from a rope above the waterfall and into the water. There are usually local kids hanging around the rope and asking for money to use the swing, which we paid. The kids were a lot of fun & would pull you high up before letting you go for a faster and funner ride. The falls are closed to public after 5 so be wary of that. We literally spent a whole afternoon there before we were kicked out, upon which quickly made plans to visit again the next morning in hope to get some more shots. It was to damn cool not to come back.
Siquijor is also known as the land of magic and witchcraft, which is apparently still practiced up in the hills. Intrigued? We sure were! Thats why we decided to spend hours one afternoon on what felt like a wild goose chase, searching and asking around for this apparent witchcraft that goes on. To our disappointment we did not see anything spooky or witchy :( but we did get to meet some pretty cool kids in the street who invited us in for a game of basketball. Basketball is a huge part of the kids lives in the Philippines & you will usually find a very busy basketball court on every corner. If the locals aren't playing ball they are singing karaoke together. Yep thats right! Singing and Karaoke is almost every Philippinos favourite hobby. I don't think you'll ever understand the importance of it unless you see it for yourself.
The west side of the island is where you will find most the restaurants, in particular our favourite Baha Bar. This place has an exciting menu that uses ingredients grown and kept on their own farm. This place has a really cool vibe with live music most nights and an upstairs with a large deck. Check it out! Another favourite of ours was right next door to our accommodation called Pagoda verde. It is part of another resort called Casa de la Playa & specialising in vegetarian food. The wait can be a little ridiculously long but the food was super tasty and fresh.
On the West side of the island you will also discover long stretches of white sand beaches. The sand and palms are the highlight though as the water is quiet swampy and not overly refreshing. Great for relaxing & sun baking though :).
Although Siquijor wasn't our first choice in the beginning, I left feeling like I had strong connection with the island and its people. If it wasn't on your list it is now!


text:
De Oude toren is de torenruïne van de voormalige Sint-Martinuskerk van Dilsen, in de Belgisch provincie Limburg. De toren bevindt zich in het gehucht Oud-Dilsen bij het Mariapark.

Geschiedenis
De parochie van Dilsen is zeer oud, en dateert van de Karolingische periode. De eerste kerk lag iets zuidelijker, nabij de Vrietselbeek. In 1920 werden daar overblijfselen van een kerkje ontdekt. Vervolgens bouwde men op de plaats van de huidige oude toren een nieuwe kerk die men in 1250 verving door een grotere. Omstreeks 1550 was ze in vervallen staat waarop ze werd hersteld en vergroot. In 1556 werd ze ingewijd, maar in 1590 door Spaanse troepen in brand gestoken.

De kerk werd herbouwd. In 1604 kwam het koor, en in 1617 het schip klaar. De toren had weinig schade geleden en kon nog worden hersteld.

Begin 20e eeuw was de bevolking toegenomen en had de grootste bevolkingsconcentratie zich naar het westen verplaatst. Daar werd de nieuwe Sint-Martinuskerk gebouwd, die in 1912 gereed kwam. De oude kerk werd, op de toren na, gesloopt.

Heden
De toren heeft drie geledingen. De onderste geleding, uitgevoerd in Maaskeien, is een restant van de kerk van 1250. In 1851 werd ze nog omkleed met gebouchardeerde kalksteen. De overige geledingen stammen van de kerk van 1550 en zijn uitgevoerd in mergelsteen. Het dak van de toren is verdwenen. In het derde kwartaal van de 18e eeuw werd nog een classicistisch rondboogportaal in de westgevel aangebracht. Enkele 18de-eeuwse grafstenen werden in de toren ingemetseld. Enkele restanten van de oude kerk: De dakhelling en een zuil met Maaskapiteel, bleven zichtbaar.

Galerij

Onroerend erfgoed in Dilsen-Stokkem
Beschermd monument in Vlaanderen
Voormalig kerkgebouw in Limburg (België)
Toren in Vlaanderen

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Some people see water cremation as a greener—and gentler—way to treat bodies after death, but only 15 states allow it for human remains.
In 2016, cremation became the most common method of body disposal in the U.S., overtaking entombment for the first time. This shift is often attributed to the high cost of traditional burial and the waning importance of religion. But experts also point to society's changing views about how dead bodies should be disposed of. The spectrum of what's morally acceptable is broadening, at the same time that the most common disposal methods are coming under scrutiny for their environmental impact. More than 4 million gallons of toxic embalming fluids and 20 million feet of wood are put in the ground in the U.S. every year, while a single cremation emits as much carbon dioxide as a 1,000-mile car trip. Thus, the rise in America of "green burials," where bodies are wrapped in biodegradable material and not embalmed.
Sieber is a part of this trend, but she doesn't want a green burial. When she dies, she told me, she wants her body to be dunked in a high-pressure chamber filled with water and lye. That water will be heated to anywhere from 200 to 300 degrees, and in six to 12 hours her flesh, blood, and muscle will dissolve. When the water is drained, all that will remain in the tank are her bones and dental fillings. If her family desires, they can have her remains crushed into ash, to be displayed or buried or scattered.
Alkaline hydrolysis was originally marketed as a way to rapidly decompose animal bodies and use their nutrients for fertilizer. It was later adopted by scientific labs to dispose of disease-contaminated bodies, like cow carcasses infected by mad cow disease in the 1990s. Its commercial use for animals began in the early 2000s, Seiber said, as grieving pet owners sought a sentimental disposal option that didn't require an expensive burial or involve burning Fido to ashes.
The growing use of aquamation for pets created more demand for human use. Minnesota was the first state to legalize alkaline hydrolysis for humans in 2003, and other states eventually followed. Oregon and Maine passed bills in 2009; Florida and Kansas in 2010. Ten more states followed, the most recent being California, which passed a bill last year officially deeming aquamation a type of cremation. Funeral homes will be allowed to offer it beginning in 2020.
The idea that aquamation is unnatural or gross or even immoral has impeded its adoption in other states.


text:
Q: Android - Change READ_PHONE_STATE permission request message I'm using the Android Marshmallow READ_PHONE_STATE permission and I would like to change the text that appears on the permission request.
By default it shows:

Allow [App name] to make and manage phone calls?

But I'm using it to get the device id and the sim serial number, so I think is better to change the request message. Do anyone knows how to do it (some special function or something)?
Or I just have to implement an independent Dialog for that?
Thank you very much.

A: No you can't change the text in the dialog. It is implemented by default in the system. You can provide a brief explanation regarding the permission before you ask for it. That way user will know exactly what you're going to use it for.

Request Permissions
If your app needs a dangerous permission that was listed in the app
  manifest, it must ask the user to grant the permission. Android
  provides several methods you can use to request a permission. Calling
  these methods brings up a standard Android dialog, which you cannot
  customize.
Explain why the app needs permissions
In some circumstances, you might want to help the user understand why
  your app needs a permission. For example, if a user launches a
  photography app, the user probably won't be surprised that the app
  asks for permission to use the camera, but the user might not
  understand why the app wants access to the user's location or
  contacts. Before you request a permission, you should consider
  providing an explanation to the user. Keep in mind that you don't want
  to overwhelm the user with explanations; if you provide too many
  explanations, the user might find the app frustrating and remove it.
One approach you might use is to provide an explanation only if the
  user has already turned down that permission request. If a user keeps
  trying to use functionality that requires a permission, but keeps
  turning down the permission request, that probably shows that the user
  doesn't understand why the app needs the permission to provide that
  functionality. In a situation like that, it's probably a good idea to
  show an explanation.
To help find situations where the user might need an explanation,
  Android provides a utiltity method,
  shouldShowRequestPermissionRationale(). This method returns true if
  the app has requested this permission previously and the user denied
  the request.

More details in the documentation


Sky Wi-Fi allows you to connect to a stable, reliable WiFi connection on the go! Connect to the Cloud from thousands of locations across the UK. Sky Wi-Fi allows you to connect to a stable, reliable WiFi connection on the go! Connect to the Cloud from thousands of locations across the UK.... Connect your mobile device to the Wi-Fi network of your Wireless Plus or Seagate Wireless drive. Connect the Wireless Plus concurrently to the iOS deice and your home Wi-Fi network. Launch your web browser and type the IP address of the drive 172.25.0.1 into the address bar and tap go.
Connect your mobile device to the Wi-Fi network of your Wireless Plus or Seagate Wireless drive. Connect the Wireless Plus concurrently to the iOS deice and your home Wi-Fi network. Launch your web browser and type the IP address of the drive 172.25.0.1 into the address bar and tap go.
Set the MAC address for the ScanSnap on the wireless access point, and then configure the wireless settings again. In addition, the set channel may be used with another wireless access point. In this case, change the value of the wireless channel on the wireless access point.
It seems with iCloud wifi sync on, I can't connect my laptop to WiFi without my phone also connecting. The only way to get around it seems to be disabling Keychain sync in iCloud. I've tried Googling, but got no real help on how to disable it without turning off Keychain, which is what I've done at the moment.


Gold prices trading down as US Dollar Index (DX) declined around 0.2 percent today. At the MCX, silver is trading at Rs. 53370 and declined more than 0.50%. It may find support at the level of 53100 where we can see some recovery move. So traders can go for buy at this level according to the trend.
Gold may slip down to 29900-29700 level if it does not sustain the level of 30000. Currently trading at 30046, mcxgold has immediate support of Rs 30000 while resistance has been seen at 30130 level. Traders can take their positions according to these levels.


text:
Piano Song is an album by the Matthew Shipp Trio, led by American jazz pianist Matthew Shipp, recorded in 2016 and released on Thirsty Ear's Blue Series. It was the second recording by his trio with Michael Bisio on bass and Newman Taylor Baker on drums.

Reception

Response was positive, with Metacritic assigning the album an aggregate score of 77 out of 100 based on 4 critical reviews indicating "Generally favorable reviews".

In his review for AllMusic, Thom Jurek states "For those who haven't encountered him before, Piano Song is an excellent and accessible introduction that surrenders nothing in terms of creativity. For fans, this authoritative statement is a revelatory chapter from one of the most fascinating musicians since 1980s."

The All About Jazz review by Jakob Baekgaard notes "Piano Song feels like an entirely fresh take on the piano trio, a vibrant continuum of sounds that avoids the pitfalls of both mainstream and avant-garde music."

The Down Beat review by Peter Margasak says "This album may be saying goodbye to a particular partnership, but musically it feels like an exciting new beginning for one [of] the most preeminent pianists of the last three decades."

Track listing
All compositions by Matthew Shipp
 "Links" – 1:48
 "Cosmopolitan" – 7:31
 "Blue Desert" – 4:37
 "Silence Of" – 5:32
 "Flying Carpet" – 5:53
 "Scrambled Brain" – 5:33
 "Microwave" – 4:03
 "Mind Space" – 4:47
 "Void of Sea" – 3:34
 "The Nature Of" – 5:16
 "Gravity Point" – 5:27
 "Piano Song" – 4:32

Personnel
Matthew Shipp – piano
Michael Bisio – bass
Newman Taylor Baker – drums

References

2017 albums
Matthew Shipp albums
Thirsty Ear Recordings albums


3 Reasons Parents Will Want to Watch "Sing"
Everyone knows that when the going gets tough, the tough get going, but what happens when the going hits the galactic fan and then gets all surreal with a shade of apocalypse on you? Where's my copy of "This is Not a Drill – Your Guide to Surviving 2016"?
I'm Tired. I Make Mistakes. I am a Mom, and I Work.
"I don't understand why you're making these mistakes," she sighed, exasperated.
I can't remember my answer. I'm sure I apologized (acknowledge your mistakes) and made some sort of a positive, reassuring statement (demonstrate that you've learned from this experience).
One of the side effects of aging, as it turns out, is realizing that if you really want something, sometimes you'll just have to get it yourself. Gretchen Rubin elaborates on that concept in her book The Happiness Project when she discusses expecting praise (gold stars, as she refers to it) for the hard work she's been doing as a mother and a wife. She talks about coming to terms with the fact that the praise will sometimes have to be self-generated.
The scariest thing is that I never even thought about it in sexual harassment terms until my husband shared an alarming statistic with me about the number of girls who experience assault in our home country. The numbers seemed unreasonably high and it got me reflecting on my own experience. I was never raped. Nothing TERRIBLE ever happened. It's not like I was groped. Or was I?
Let's play a game. It's called My Biggest Turn Off and I'll start.
Summer is all about DIY, as in "do it yourself, parents." As such, you may find yourself bending over backwards before even 8am as you try to come up with fresh ideas to entertain your children. Everybody loves the beach, but sometimes we don't feel like spending two and a half hours negotiating the details of an outing and then three more hours getting everyone out the door - with sunscreen applied, no less.
So that's when you bring the beach to your own breakfast table!
My son is into old school card trading, and it's not all bad!
The era of Pokémon is upon us, and I'm becoming a reluctant expert in damage points, energy, and Mega Charizard. The object of your child's obsession is annoying by definition. "Please tell me more about your current obsession, because hearing about it twenty four seven just doesn't cut it anymore," said no parent ever.
So You're Travelling to Europe With Young Kids! Now, Take Our Advice.
Last Monday we came back from two and a half weeks of vacation in Italy with our two sons, three and seven years-old. A lot of people we've met on our trip or talked to beforehand called us "brave" (a euphemism for cray cray) for doing this. While two little boys may not be the perfect candidates for appreciating Italy's rich history, architecture and art, we had an unforgettable experience travelling with them. There is, however, always room for improvement. Below is a list of some of the mistakes we've made during our trip.
Remember high heels and date nights?
This was the caption to a photograph I recently posted on Facebook. The picture was taken to capture a joyous event, a special occasion.
Remember when date nights were a given?
It's Time to Spring Clean Your Résumé!
Do you have a spring cleaning routine? Perhaps a more relevant question would be "do you have SPRING?" While so many of us still can't see the spring for the snow/rain/single digit temperatures, others are thrilled to be unfollowing their winter gear and comfort food in preparation for warmer weather. Spring, after all, is about feeling lighter. Those among us, searching for jobs will, no doubt, feel invigorated about pursuing their job search in a non-polar vortex reality, but what about their résumés? Don't they deserve to feel lighter too?
That Time I Ended Up Giving Birth With No Epidural. Twice.
It's a good thing I don't keep neat little notebooks with pros and cons lists and other things I imagine people with a birth plan would tackle. Had I kept such a notebook with a birth plan that included Epidural, I'd be one chagrined camper in the spring of 2009 and summer of 2012. This was when I experienced childbirth without Epidural and it was... owie. I know that people with a plan sometimes struggle greatly when it falls apart.
To put the bottom line first, I'm grateful for the recent decision made by the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario to treat one woman's miscarriage as a case of disability. If the ensuing shift in disability law which CBC alludes to will indeed occur, then going on a disability leave when you miscarry could become a reality.
Do You Cringe When Your Chatterbox Child Goes On and On?
Note to Self: Don't. Here's Why.
Something unusual happened on our drive back from our weekend away. I could hear myself thinking "how come it's so quiet in here?" It wasn't a pregnant kind of silence either, one that precedes a fierce "WHY IS THIS TAKING SO LONG?" toddler tantrum or a toy fishing rod poke in the driver's eye. No, it was a much eerier, unchartered territory of the real deal, Dead Silence, something that parents don't get to experience very often.
Especially not parents of chatty kids.
My husband is nothing like Wash My Green Shirt and Fetch Me Some Coffee dad in the ad. He is a hands on dad who once, when we had just moved in together, remained completely unmoved when I shared this new revelation with him from a lecture I attended: couples shouldn't strive for a 50% - 50% kind of arrangement, they should each be putting in 100%. You see, he had already arrived at this conclusion himself.
Have We Started Sacrificing Animals for Likes?
Some days I wish that there was an app that would screen my feed and omit the stories that are too much for me to handle. Like the one about the baby dolphin that died of dehydration when it was being passed around on the Santa Teresita beach in Argentina for selfies and photographs.
Let's just get with the times and ditch the term "struggling moms" once and for all. I mean, it's 2016, for God's sake.
No, it's not because the parenting struggle isn't real. Parenting, and motherhood in particular, might be the realest struggle that ever struggled and it's precisely because of that that we should stop. Let mommy explain.
January will mark the ninth anniversary of my immigration to Canada with my husband. Nine years of answering the question "But why here? Why Canada?"
The Syrian refugees arriving in our country these days may not be expected to address such a question for obvious reasons, but I'm certain there will come a day when someone detecting a foreign accent will innocently pose it and they may or may not be prepared to respond. I'd like to offer my own answer. And I'm going to be completely honest this time.
My social media feeds were flooded with Paris on Friday just like yours were, I'm sure. Messages of support and words of bewilderment, hope, and despair were sent traveling up my phone screen to make way for older posts and updates, as feed chronology dictates. In moments like these – when you know what's on everyone else's mind - so many of us experience a sense of connection to something larger - humanity, if you will, and pardon the cliché. It's a pretty powerful feeling completely lost on some of us.
Parenting Bravely - You Can Do It!
About two years into becoming a mother of two (and about five years into not sleeping), something in me must have snapped. I began watching myself, the same way you would a stranger, as I behaved in a way that was completely unnatural for me. I didn't recognize nor like the uptight persona I was observing. With her clenched teeth, impatient hissing, occasionally raised voice, and distorted anger grimaces, she reminded me of that parent who behaves like they took a wrong turn somewhere and landed on parenting.
Katia is the mother of two boys, a toddler and a preschooler. She is chronically overwhelmed and would like to use this opportunity to apologize for not returning your call/email/text. As someone who both worked as well as stayed at home as a mom she understands the special advantages and challenges that come with each territory. While taking her second maternity leave Katia started fulfilling a lifelong dream to write and make people laugh. (And sometimes cry, which wasn't her dream nor intention.) She blogs about her family on IAMTHEMILK , a Wordpress recommended blog in the Family category. She also gives job search advice on her website Recruiter Mommy but some of her best work can be found on Twitter @KatiaDBE.
Katia Bishops: The Designated Grownup 3 Reasons Parents Will Want to Watch "Sing"
Katia Bishops: The Designated Grownup I'm Tired. I Make Mistakes. I am a Mom, and I Work.
Katia Bishops: The Designated Grownup Dear Jerks: Our IVF & IUI Children Are Not "Synthetic"


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Festivals / journalist / News
Parshuram Jayanti 2020 Twitterati hail
New Delhi: Parshuram Jayanti commemorates the birthday of the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu – Parshuram. The day falls in the Shukla Paksha Tritiya in the month of Vaishakh.
Parshuram is considered the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It is believed that, like other Lord Avatars, Parshuram was born to kill evil. Aggression, war and bravery define this incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who valued equality and justice.
Bhàrgava r?ma, Jamadagnya r?ma and Rambhadra are his other names. He was born the son of Brahmin Jamadagni and his Kshatriya wife Renuka on the hills of Janapav in what is now Indore, Madhya Pradesh. He worshiped Lord Shiva in the temple near the ashram, where he stayed and prayed. It is named after his father Jamadagni Ashram.
Parshuram Jayanti is celebrated as the birthday of the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It usually takes place during Shukla Paksha Tritya in Vaisakha month. This year it falls on April 25th. To honor her adoration for Lord Parshuram, who is celebrated as a warrior brahmin, Twitterati shared stunning pictures and paid tribute.
It is believed that Lord Parshuram was born during the Pradosh Kala. Once Tritiya begins during the Kala period, the time is considered appropriate to observe Parshurama Jayanti.
On the occasion of Parshuram Jayanti 2020, Vijay Inder Singla, Minister of Education and PWD of the Punjab government, went to Twitter to convey his warm wishes to the compatriots.
"I wish everyone good health, determination and happiness on the occasion of the #ParshuramJayanti event," says the tweet.
We wish everyone good health, determination and happiness on the occasion of the #ParshuramJayanti event.
Ashok Gehlot, Prime Minister of Rajasthan, also wished people an opportunity.
"Greetings and best wishes from #ParshuramJayanti. May Bhagwan Parshuam bless everyone and give strength to face challenges, "he tweeted.
Greetings and best wishes from #ParshuramJayanti. May Bhagwan Parshuam bless everyone and give strength to meet challenges.
Punjab Mayor Karamjit Singh Rintu has extended his greeting. "May we all be blessed with health, prosperity and joy on the happy occasion of #ParshuramJayanti," he tweeted.
May we all be blessed with health, prosperity and joy on the occasion of the #ParshuramJayanti.
Shripad Y Naik, Union Minister of State for AYUSH (Independent Indictment) and Defense, asked Lord Parshuram for a blessing to meet all the challenges in life.
"Greetings to all on the occasion of Bhagawan Parshuram Jayanti's favorable occasion. May Lord Parshuram bless us all with strength and competence to meet all challenges in life. # ???????_????? #ParshuramJayanti, "was the tweet.
Greetings to everyone on the occasion of Bhagawan Parshuram Jayanti. May Lord Parshuram bless us all with strength and competence to meet all challenges in life. # ???????_????? # ParshuramJayanti
According to Hindu belief, Lord Parshuram is considered a "Brahmin" warrior. In some Hindu texts, Parshurama was referred to as Rama Jamadagnya, Rama Bhargava and Veerarama.
Hindu belief dictates that he still lives on earth. Therefore, he is not worshiped. On Parashurama Jayanti followers observe fasting and worship Lord Vishnu with flowers, kumkum, chandan and tulsi leaves.
6th JPSC result 2020 out @ jpsc.gov.in, checklist of selected candidates for the civil service
Arijit Singh Birthday today: His Best Non Film Songs is here

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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La principauté (ou royaume) de Galicie-Volhynie (en ruthène Галицко-Волинскоє Королѣвство, en ukrainien Галицько-Волинське князівство, en polonais Księstwo halicko-wołyńskie, en russe Галицко-Волынское княжество, en latin Regnum Galiciae et Lodomeriae, Regnum Rusiae), appelée aussi Galicie-Volhynie en français ou Rus' de Halytch-Volodymyr, est un État de l'Europe orientale formé par l'union des principautés ruthènes de Galicie et Volhynie (dite aussi Lodomérie) à la fin du .

À son apogée aux , elle s'étend du Wieprz à l'Ouest aux deux rivières Boug, septentrionale et méridionale à l'Est, englobant la Ruthénie rouge et la Ruthénie noire ; outre son territoire proprement-dit, elle étend son influence sur ses vassaux : la principauté de Tourov et Pinsk et les duchés valaques de la future Moldavie entre la Pocoutie et la mer Noire.

Roman le Grand et l'union des principautés de Galicie et Volhynie

Roman le Grand, prince de Volhynie, de la dynastie des Rurikides, réunit son état à la principauté de Galicie voisine à la fin du . S'appuyant sur les habitants des villes, sur des boyards dévoués et sur de bonnes relations avec les ducs polonais Piast, Roman le Grand bâtit un État puissant, signe un traité de paix avec la Hongrie et noue des relations diplomatiques avec l'Empire byzantin, avec lequel il commerce par le Sereth, le Pruth, le Danube et le Dniestr. En 1205, Roman le Grand lance une offensive contre la Pologne, mais il est arrêté par les armées de Conrad de Mazovie et de Lech le Blanc. Il est tué en passant la Vistule le  lors de la bataille de Zawichost.

Sa mort est suivie d'une période de troubles dont essaient de profiter la Hongrie et la Pologne, puissances rivales. André II de Hongrie se proclame roi de Galicie-Volhynie (en latin rex Galiciae et Lodomeriae). En 1215, Hongrois et Polonais arrivent à un compromis en vertu duquel la principauté est indépendante avec comme souverain Kálmán, fils du roi de Hongrie André II ; Kálmán épouse Salomé, fille de Lech le Blanc, en 1219.

Royaume de Galicie-Volhynie

En 1221, le prince Mstislav le Hardi chasse la dynastie hongroise, mais c'est Daniel , le fils de Roman le Grand, qui réunifie la Galicie-Volhynie. Il devient vite le plus puissant des princes ruthènes et étend son pouvoir en occupant Kiev. En 1245, il écrase les Polonais et les Hongrois à Jarosław, mais il est contraint de plier devant des Mongols de la Horde d'or dont il essaiera de se libérer.

Il est couronné premier roi de Galicie-Volhynie en 1253. Pendant son règne, son royaume prospère : il fonde les villes de Chełm (1237), près de Lublin, et de Lviv (dit également Léopol) (1256). L'immigration contribue au développement économique du pays avec l'arrivée des commerçants juifs, arméniens ou grecs et des artisans allemands. Des routes commerciales se développent, reliant la mer Noire à la Pologne, au Saint-Empire et à la mer Baltique. Daniel transfère sa capitale de Halych à Chelm.

Après la mort de Daniel, ses fils Chvarno et Léon (Lev)  lui succèdent. Léon transfère la capitale du pays à Lviv en 1272. En 1303, George , fils de Léon obtient du patriarche de Constantinople Athanase  la nomination d'un métropolite à Halytch. À sa mort, le pays est gouverné par ses fils André II et George II qui sont tués en 1323 en combattant les Mongols. Leur mort marque la fin du règne des héritiers de Roman le Grand en Galicie-Volhynie. Le dernier souverain de la principauté de Galicie-Volhynie est Boleslas, le neveu de Léon et le fils de Troïdène  de Tchersk. Ce dernier meurt empoisonné en 1340. Le pays connaît alors une période d'anarchie qui profite aux influences de la Pologne et de la Hongrie.

Galicie et Lodomérie polonaises et autrichiennes
De 1349 à 1352, le roi de Pologne Casimir III le Grand et le grand-duc de Lituanie Gediminas s'affrontent pour s'emparer de la principauté de Galicie-Volhynie. En 1352, la Pologne et la Lituanie concluent un accord sur le partage de la Galicie-Volhynie. Casimir III le Grand obtient la Galicie (avec Lviv, Halych, Chełm, Loutsk et Belz), la Podolie et un morceau de la Volhynie. Le reste de la Volhynie et la Podlachie deviennent lituaniennes. Quant aux duchés valaques, ils s'émancipent en formant la principauté de Moldavie en 1359.

À la suite de l'Union de Lublin en 1569, la principauté de Galicie-Volhynie devient polonaise et fait désormais partie de la Pologne-Lituanie. En 1772, l'impératrice Marie-Thérèse d'Autriche, qui est aussi reine de Hongrie, justifie la participation de l'Autriche aux partages de la Pologne par les droits de la Hongrie sur l'ancien royaume de Galicie et Volhynie. Les territoires polonais annexés par l'Autriche prennent le nom officiel du Royaume de Galicie et de Lodomérie, même s'ils n'incluent que l'ancienne Galicie ; la Volhynie restant temporairement polonaise avant de revenir à l'Empire russe.

Voir aussi

Bibliographie

Articles connexes
 Liste des souverains de Galicie

Notes et références

Ancien État polonais
Histoire de la Hongrie
Histoire de la Lituanie
Histoire de la Pologne
Ukraine au XIIe siècle
Ukraine au XIIIe siècle
Ukraine au XIVe siècle
Fondation au XIIe siècle
Rus' de Kiev
Ancienne principauté en Europe


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This Searing Light, the Sun and Everything Else: Joy Division: The Oral History (HB)
Jon Savage
Joy Division emerged in the mid-70s at the start of a two-decades long Manchester scene that was to become much mythologised. It was then a city still labouring in the wake of the war and entering a phase of huge social and physical change, and something of this spirit made its way into the DNA of the band. Over the course of two albums, a handful of other seminal releases, and some legendary gigs, Joy Division became the most successful and exciting underground band of their generation. Then, on the brink of a tour to America, Ian Curtis took his own life.
In This searing light, the sun and everything else, Jon Savage has assembled three decades worth of interviews with the principle players in the Joy Division story: Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris, Deborah Curtis, Peter Saville, Tony Wilson, Paul Morley, Alan Hempsall, Lesley Gilbert, Terry Mason, Anik Honore, and many more. It is the story of how a band resurrected a city, how they came together in circumstances that are both accidental and extraordinary, and how their music galvanised a generation of fans, artists and musicians. It is a classic story of how young men armed with electric guitars and good taste in literature can change the world with four chords and three-and-a-half minutes of music. And it is the story of how illness and demons can rob the world of a shamanic lead singer and visionary lyricist.
This searing light, the sun and everything else presents the history of Joy Division in an intimate and candid way, as orchestrated by the lodestar of British music writing, Jon Savage.
Soul – Timeless Classics from The Queens of Soul, title
Various , artist
Le Poete – Vinyl Box Set, title
Serge Gainsbourg , artist
The Soul Legend – Vinyl Box Set, title
Ray Charles , artist
Funk – Groovy Anthems by the Queens of Funk, title
Trip Hop Vibes Vol 1, title
Metronomy Forever, title
Metronomy , artist
Pan Machine, title
Ebony Steel Band , artist
Jazz Legends – The Best of Jazz Divas, Crooners and Performers – Vinyl Box Set, title


PhotoDesk 3.14 (latest version) which is RiscPC, Iyonix, A9home, ARMini/BeagleBoard, PandaBoard, Raspberry Pi 0, 1, 2 & 3, ARMX6, and RapidO Ig & Ti (IGEPv5 & Titanium) compatible.
A summary of the new features & improvements over version 3.12 is here.
PHOTODESK is the leading bitmap editing package for computers running RISC OS, it has been favourably compared with industry standard graphic tools. True studio quality is available with enhanced quality tools and effects with extensive calibration, accuracy and previewing giving much improved productivity for the professional user.
Virtual memory is highly optimised for bitmap graphic processing and extensive hardware support is provided. A great deal of development effort has gone into ensuring that this truly professional solution retains ease of use, productivity and quality. Even small but thoughtful touches, such as the provision of left - handed tools have been implemented. The professional graphics designer as well as the enthusiastic dabbler will feel equally at home with this package.
PHOTODESK is the professional version, which allows your work to be assembled in LAYERS. This means that the master image can be made up of individual pictures consisting of layers of colour and transparency - very like layers of acetate or film on a light box or overhead projector. The ability to layer work means that the functionality of the software is multiplied many times. PHOTODESK also includes a sophisticated Colour Management System which enables the full-time graphics professional to properly handle colour separations (CMYK).
Price: £84.00 no VAT to pay!


In a quick turn of events, SEGA is now denying the accusation of Atlus and Index Corporation.
This statement comes from SEGA themselves over at SegaSammy.co.jp.
Now this doesn't mean that the company hasn't really bought Atlus – it could be SEGA denying it so they can make an official confirmation themselves. After all, the company was one of the rumored companies that supposedly made a bid on Altus last month. But at the same time, this could also mean the exact opposite – they really haven't acquired the studio.
Some of you I know may be rejoicing at this news seeing as how there were concerns about the localization of Atlus's games, due to SEGA being infamous for not localizing certain titles.
Nobody has no idea what's going on now, but I suppose all we can do at this point is wait for official confirmations. Stay tuned for more info.
UPDATE: SEGA has confirmed now that they have officially acquired Atlus. As I stated in this article, they simply weren't ready to make the announcement which is the reason they first denied it. But it's official now. Excited, or disappointed?


Desserts were added to Pac-Man assuming that such elements would attract more female players.
When I developed Pac-Man, you could only play video games in an arcade. These arcades were full of men, and you rarely saw women there. I wanted to attract women and couples. So I thought of thought of things that women would seem to like. For instance, things like fashion and boys. Then it occurred to me that women like to eat desserts often. So I took that action, eating and made it into the keyword for developing this game.


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Yet Another "Minister for Procurement" Takes the Government Commercial Hot Seat
- January 24, 2018 5:31 AM |
Categories: Procurement Commentary	| Tags: People, Politics, Public Sector
With all the Carillion "excitement", we've somewhat ignored the recent UK government ministerial reshuffle last week, which turned out not quite as planned for Prime Minister Teresa May.
A couple of moves she wanted didn't happen as Ministers resisted; we do wonder why leaders don't check out in advance how key people feel about what is proposed!
Anyway, the Cabinet Office, the government department that holds overall responsibility for public procurement, saw changes again. Their most senior Minister, Damian Green, had to step down recently after a pornography scandal, so at Cabinet level David Lidington steps in. And at junior minister level, Caroline Nokes, who had the efficiency portfolio, including procurement, was moved to become a Home Office Minister with the immigration policy brief.
That's probably a good move for her, but it means we will have our fourth minister in less than three years with the procurement brief. Matt Hancock held it from the 2015 election to July 2016, when Ben Gummer moved into the role. But he lost his seat unexpectedly as an member of parliament in June 2017 after the general election, at which point Damian Green was moved into the more senior Cabinet level role with Caroline Nokes working for him and holding that procurement responsibility.
Now we will have Oliver Dowden as the minister who will drive procurement performance and improvement (we hope). He went to a comprehensive school near Watford then studied law at Cambridge, was an adviser to Tory politicians, then worked in a PR firm, then was Prime Minister David Cameron's deputy Chief of Staff until he won the seat of Hertsmere in 2015 – a potential Cabinet Minister, we would think, he is still only 39.
Clearly a very bright bloke, but not someone with real-life business or commercial experience unfortunately. He now has a brief including not just commercial and procurement matters but the digital agenda, government property and "public appointments".
We just hope he is in the role long enough to gain some understanding of the issues. Francis Maude was really the last Minister to have a real interest in and understanding of public procurement, and his tenure from 2010-15 saw many changes. And while he made some arguably unsuccessful and even ill-advised moves, he did at least try to move things forward, and he certainly raised the profile of procurement and commercial activities.
The recent rapid turnover has done little for the profile of procurement unfortunately. Nokes cannot have had time to build any understanding of the issues and indeed we have no evidence she did anything at all in terms of policy initiatives or changes. We might argue she did at least let Gareth Rhys Williams and Malcom Harrison get on with things, but think how much time they must have wasted in recent months briefing a Minister (whose previous business experience was as CEO of the National Pony Society) on these matters.
Now they have to start again with Dowden. "So Minister, let me explain why we can't hit the 33% SME spend target and why it is a stupid idea anyway …" But you have to feel a little sorry for him and particular Lidington, who walked into the Carillion scandal within days of their appointments!
Finally, just in case you think that Oxbridge doesn't still dominate British politics, it's interesting to look at the line of politicians holding the procurement brief.
Maude – Cambridge
Hancock – Oxford (then a MPhil from Cambridge)
Gummer – starred double first from Cambridge
Green – Oxford
Lidington – Cambridge (inc. PhD)
Dowden – Cambridge
We would also point out just how clever these folk are – Gummer with his starred double first, Dowden making it to Cambridge from a Watford comprehensive, and Lidington not only being Dr. Lidington but leading the Sidney Sussex college team to victory in the 1979 University Challenge competition – then doing the same in the alumni "champion of champions" series in 2002!
So they both should be smart enough to "get" procurement, if they see it as enough of a priority to spend any time on it amongst many other responsibilities. We hope they do.
Charlie Middleton: 26.01.2018 at 3:37 am
Caroline Noakes may have let Malcolm Harrison get on with things, but CCS is still woefully inefficient and ineffective. Look at the continuing debacle of the Management Consultancy Framework. Spent months designing a framework, suppliers bid on it, spent months evaluating it and then at the last minute found a "construct error" and had to bin the key lot. Then put out a PIN saying they were expecting to issue a new ITT in mid October, missed that date and in late November said it was coming out mid December, missed that date and then said at the start of January it would come out mid January. Guess what, still not out.
Oliver Dowden needs to get a grip on CCS and quickly. It is supposed to be the centre of excellence for public procurement but time and time again it looks like a complete shambles.
Procurement has not changed in a decade: 25.01.2018 at 1:21 am
With the "digital agenda" on his list of activities, one would assume (and would happily bet) that procurement will not be a priority.


What is it about British horse racing that attracts the world's attention? Dubbed, 'the Sport of Kings', horseracing certainly warrants closer inspection by even the most humble 'punter'. But the 'sport' (I use the term loosely, as horse racing is not technically an equestrian sport) does appear to attract all types of people. Bloodstock figures can reach into the millions, race winnings can be hundreds of thousands and gambling losses and gains can also be many thousands. But nowadays, anyone can become an owner... EVEN YOU!
For many more, it's the excitement of the gamble - placing your hopes and dreams on the nose and stride of a finely tuned animal based on your knowledge, personal preferences, predictions, analysis and gleaned information. Of course, like many others, you may follow the trends of the current top jockeys, successful trainers or fashionable bloodlines. However you choose your horses, you can always get some free helpful suggestions.
Tradition would have us believe that the whole 'sport' of racing horses was the pursuit of the rich, titled and landed gentry. Their obsession with proving their supremacy over others, even to the extent that their animals were supreme, could be said to have led to the now world famous racing industry. Once the class barriers were broken down and gambling was legalised, the bloodstock industry took on a life of its own. Bloodstock became a commodity and the right bloodlines became a mark of esteem (pardon the pun). Owning a racehorse became a status symbol for many. How impressed would your friends, relatives or colleagues be in the event that you entertained them on course at a meeting where a horse raced in your colours or name? The ability to sponsor a horse, jockey, race, meeting or training yard has opened the floodgates in corporate hospitality.
Financial status dictates the level at which you participate in horseracing but it isn't always as expensive as many would have you believe. As a general rule, you could expect to pay from £12,000 per year just to keep a horse in training, plus the initial outlay of actually purchasing the horse but with small shares, partnerships, racing clubs and syndicates, racehorse ownership has become possible for almost anyone.


It's been another busy week. I have an art opening this weekend at Riverside Arts Center. So, I wasn't sure I was going to have time to participate in this challenge.
Thinking of "round," the letter "O" kept popping into my head. Regardless of your political views you must agree the names Obama, Osama and Oprah are dominating our media this week. Obama's running for re-election. Oprah's farewell count down is wrapping up, only 17 more shows. The airwaves are full of the news that Osama bin Laden has been killed.
How do we put this all in perspective? The world has changed so much in the last 10 years. Sometimes I imagine having a conversation with a deceased relative and try to catch them up on the happenings of the 21st century. The "OM" refers to my recent attempts to reintroduce yoga to my life. Hopefully meditation and prayer will help lead me to better understanding of how I fit into all this.
This entry was posted in art, exhibition, life, Obama, OM, Oprah, Osama, sculpture and tagged Postaweek2011, Weekly Photo Challenge. Bookmark the permalink.
This news cap has O. Just rolling by. Klassi K.
what an excellent interpretation of the challenge!
Thank you. I couldn't stop thinking about the connection. Just glad I finally found the time to post.


Are you making these major mistakes?
These are the things Beckley Plumbers suggest you do not do to your plumbing.
Forget using chemicals to open or clear drains — they rarely get the job all the way done, says Jerry Smales, CEO of Beckley Plumbers and Mountaineer Plumbing.
Not only are the chemicals very harsh and dangerous for you to handle, they can also ruin drain pipes and the equipment used to clear the stoppage.
Hint: To prevent blockages in the first place, keep notorious cloggers like grease and hair, out of drains.
2. TREAT THE TOILET LIKE A GARBAGE CAN.
Even if they're labeled "flushable," don't toss feminine hygiene products, personal-cleaning wipes, toilet scrubbers, makeup remover pads or cat litter into the toilet, says Reckon. The fact is, they don't disintegrate quickly enough and can ultimately block the drain pipe.
3. YOU TRY TO TACKLE THE PLUMBING PROBLEMS YOURSELF.
Don't try to diagnose and fix a plumbing problem yourself, or hire a handyman (or handywoman) to do plumbing work, says Jim Jennette, a plumber for 25 years and Mr. Rooter franchise consultant. Plumbers can find and correct a problem faster than an amateur can, which will save you money in the long run.
4. HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THE MAIN WATER VALVE IS.
Don't be in the dark when it comes to knowing the location of the main water valve and every emergency shut-off valve in your house, says Mark Dawson, president and CEO of Arizona's bluefrog Plumbing + Drain. And while you're at it, learn how to turn off these valves. It's easy but if you'd prefer to have a pro show you how, many plumbers will check emergency shut-off valves at no charge.
5. DROP IN TOILET FRESHENERS.
Ditch the drop-in tank toilet fresheners. You may love the blue water it makes in your toilet bowl, but these tablets often contain chemicals that wear out working parts inside the tank, Reckon explains. Plus, as these tablets disintegrate, they can get stuck in the flush valve and prevent the toilet from flushing.
Water hoses don't give any warning before they burst, so avoid a potential flood by changing out rubber hoses on washing machines and dishwashers every five years, says Dan Runkel, licensed journeyman plumber and head of Washington Energy Service's plumbing division in Seattle. When you do replace them, use stainless steel on all water lines, if possible.
7. DON'T HAVE A LEAK PROTECTION SYSTEM.
Don't skimp on water-leak protection, cautions Runkel. It only costs a few hundred dollars to get a water-leak protection system that offers both an alarm and a main water shut-off should a leak occur in your water heater, dishwasher, sinks and more.
8. HOT WATER HEATER IS OUTDATED.
Your tank water heater won't last forever — the average lifespan is 8-12 years. Just like toast tends to fall butter-side down on the floor, your 20-year-old tank will inevitably fail and flood while you are on vacation, warns Runkel.
9. FIDDLE WITH THE WATER HEATER'S PRESSURE VALVE.
Don't try to drain your water heater or test the temperature and pressure valve yourself. These need to be done professionally, says Dawson. If the valve is not properly removed, the pressure from the tank can disperse scalding hot water that could cause serious burns as well as property damage.
10. OVERLOAD THE GARBAGE DISPOSAL.
Be kind to your garbage disposal: Don't pour grease into it (the goopy stuff will eventually solidify and clog the drain) and don't put in fibrous food like celery and artichokes. Also avoid pushing through large amounts of garbage at once, Reckon says. Instead, feed garbage slowly into the disposal with cold running water.
Call Beckley Plumbers at 304-923-2013.


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Hedgehogs in France and their decline.
Extraordinary as it may seem the French hedgehog population has declined by some two thirds during the course of the last 20 years or so with an average of some 2 million killed each year and although they are still captured illegally to be eaten by Romany people, however interesting that may be, it would be wrong to hold them responsible for something that is much closer to home for all of us.
Hedgehogs in France and their decline
Labels: Mammals
Gendarmes are also Red and Black bugs, (Fire bugs), in France, not just Police personnel.
Pyrrhocoris apterus
le Pyrrhocore or Gendarme
Many will know this highly successful common bug by the name of Gendarme or perhaps, depending on the region, names such as Suisse, Soldat, Punaise rouge, Cherche-midi or Punaise au corps de feu, all of which are widely used French vernacular names for this colourful insect.
As most people will have noticed the "gendarmes" are gregarious and as such live in colonies, which can be described as "gendarmeries", and can number several hundred or even thousands of individuals. Their Black and Red colouration apparently contains a substance that gives them some immunity from predation and as such they make no attempt to hide and even have a very pronounced propensity for collective sunbathing, hence the name of "Cherche-midi". Even in winter on a warm day a sunny stone wall or tree trunk will see them out and about.
Being well equipped defensively the gendarmes are totally devoid of olfactory cells that provide the "fatal weapon" of many so-called "stink bugs" in the excretion of noxious smells when threatened.
Congregations will frequently be seen at the base of walls, the bottom of hedges and they will often be seen at the foot of trees, especially Lime trees, (Tilia), as they have a taste for the seeds. The seeds of Hollyhocks, Mallows and Hibiscus are also especially tempting for them and additionally they will eat dead and dying insects.
Eating a dead bee
They, as with all hemipterans, are equipped with a rostrum which is a beak-like projection that can reach nearly half its body length. These mouthparts are distinctive, with mandibles and maxillae modified to form a piercing "stylet" sheathed within a modified labium.
In the case of the Fire bug the sharp needle can be used to pierce hard seeds allowing saliva to be pumped into the interior with enzymes that make the nutrition available to be sucked up as food. When not in use it is folded back under its body and as such is rarely seen or not recognised for what it is. Other true bug species may use this for killing prey or defensively.
Coupling usually takes place from April until August in France and they can be seen joined in pairs in a copulation that can last more than 24 hours. There is no biological requirement for this and one could speculate that the male is preventing other males from mating. Batches of around 50 white eggs are laid and hidden under or in anything handy, a stone, a piece of wood, a fissure in a tree, anything will do. These take about 2 weeks to hatch into tiny yellow larval nymphs with dark heads that rapidly change colour to orange, then red and then red and black as they develop.
Whatever their stage of development they cause no harm to living plants or insects and are no cause for concern to humans although there is an outside chance that one could prick you with its rostrum if handled but why would you handle one in the first place unless you are like me.
NOTE: There are quite a few other species of red and black shield bugs to be found in France but are unlikely to be found in such numbers.
Masked Hunter - Assassin Bug
Stink bugs and Shield beetles
Labels: Insects
Praying Mantis in France - Mantis religiosa
Although the vast majority of Mantis species have their homes in tropical and sub-tropical climates France plays host to a dozen species most of which are in the Mediterranean region, some quite rare and only found in the coastal band. However the one that most people are familiar with, the Praying Mantis Mantis religiosa, can be found throughout all of France and much of continental Europe as far north as Denmark.
Without doubt people will be drawn to their two bulbous complex eyes but like many insects they also have three small simple eyes located between them which largely go unnoticed by most people. Although called "simple" they aren't at all simple. (Human beings have "simple" eyes see link at the end). Their triangular head has powerful mandibles and can rotate through almost 180° allowing them to remain motionless while looking around. Their vernacular name comes from the manner in which they hold their spectacular forelegs with hands joined as if in prayer. The importance of these strangely developed forelegs is to defend against attack and to grab and hold prey, never for walking although they may be used in climbing to pull themselves up or hang on. The males will also use their forelegs to hold the female during copulation. Although rarely seen they also have beautiful wings and can make short flights.
Mantis with wings showing having just landed after a short flight
Brown Praying Mantis
Their Life Cycle is an incomplete metamorphosis, egg, stages of nymph and then adult. They reach adulthood in late summer and mating takes place in August and September when the females release what is known as an Oothecae or Egg case. This is slowly forced out by the genital valves in the form of a mousse which hardens rapidly on contact with the air. In it will be contained some 200 to 300 eggs which will remain there until the following June when the nymphs will emerge in a thin membrane from the central band running down the egg case. This is quickly shed at which stage they already look just like very tiny adults and as they grow they will shed their skin another 6 times before reaching adulthood. Their wings fully develop just before the final moult. The adults die from late October until early December depending on region and weather conditions.
Mantis releasing egg sack
Mantis egg sack when hardened
Mantis that has just shed skin
The shed skin of the above mantis
Mantis eating a fly
The act of mating itself can last many hours and although it isn't always the case the female can and will eat the much smaller male when he has served his purpose, photo below.
Female eating male following copulation
Preferred habitat is rough grassland and scrub but gardens even in towns can be equally attractive for them provided they are insecticide free.
Diet is rich and varied with prey being captured using the forelegs which are armed with a series of angled spines that prevent the prey escaping. In their initial nymph stages they will eat aphids, baby spiders and other small insects but as they grow they take larger insects, flies, butterflies, bumble bees, solitary bees, anything in fact that settles within range of their forelegs. Even instances of small birds and hatchling snakes being eaten have been recorded.
Mantis eating one of my honey bees on a hive front
One more point is that there appears to be no obvious environmental reason for some being brown and some being green, both colours will be found in the same habitat and for both sexes and they will breed with each other.
LINK Simple eye.
Labels: Bees, Insects
French Honey bee swarm in August - too late to survive?
Honeybee swarms that issue from colonies that live in hollow trees, cavities in stone walls, roof spaces and such like are always of interest to me as they have invariably developed the ability to survive without all the treatments and manipulations that beekeepers generally use and to my mind these are the survivor bees we need for the future.
This little piece is about one such swarm…….
To my surprise I was called to a bee swarm on the 18th August this year which is extremely late in the season but these things do happen and after asking the caller a few questions to verify it really was a swarm of bees I prepared a ruchette, (which is a small hive or nuc box in English), popped it in the car and set off.
Sure enough, when I arrived there was the small swarm clustered close to the ground attached to an Oleander shrub about 20 metres from the persons' house where it had come from. Remarkably the roof of the house has three separate bee colonies in it, one on each eave and one in the ridge and they have apparently been there for several years which goes some way to disproving the widely held view that left to themselves honey bees won't nest close together – these are no more than 6 or 7 metres apart in total.
A small swarm at that time of year will almost certainly be a swarm that the colony has produced in addition to its main or prime swarm that will have been larger and earlier in the year. The conventional wisdom is that secondary swarms or after-swarms are issued in the first week or so following the prime swarm and contain a virgin Queen and although normally the first virgin Queen to hatch will kill the others in their cells before they hatch this isn't always the case and exceptionally over a period of some weeks there could possibly be a 3rd, 4th or even 5th swarm all lead by a Virgin Queen if the issuing colony is severely restricted for space or genetically inclined to swarm which can apparently be the case. There are other reasons put forward for after-swarms but that isn't really important here as this particular very small swarm had a mated Queen and didn't issue until the 18th August, (April – June being the normal time period for swarming here).
Housing the swarm in the Ruchette was easy with a little persuasion following which I took them back to my place.
Next there is the tricky matter of giving them a fighting chance of becoming a viable colony at this late stage of the year, something they would be unlikely to have without help. When a swarm moves into its new home it has nothing, no comb, no stores and no brood. This is a period when the bees must work hard and fast in constructing comb, fetch both nectar and pollen to enable the raising of new bees. Even if conditions are good it will be nearly 4 weeks before there will be any new bees during which time the size of the colony will be diminishing as bees die. In this case that would take us to the middle of September when the season is more or less finished apart from Ivy, a few garden flowers and perhaps some flowering cover crops / green manures, phacelia, mustard, fodder radish being the most widely grown, certainly not enough for so few bees to provide themselves with winter stores.
With this in mind the following morning I immediately put a top feeder on with syrup and continued keeping it topped up every day until the beginning of October when I started giving them slightly diluted honey using a simple modification to the inner cap of the feeder by drilling some holes in it to make the honey available to the bees.
All this feeding has given the bees the ability to increase their colony size and bring the ruchette up to winter weight with stores of honey before the end of October. All I can do now hope that they will get through the winter, especially as they are from an unmanaged colony which as I mentioned at the outset tend to have good survival traits.
Fingers crossed, Chris
Hawk moths in France - a simple guide
In the UK the Sphingidae family of moths are commonly called Hawk moths and in France they all use the word Sphinx as part of their common name.
The simple list that is linked gives their names in English, Latin and French, the caterpillar food plant, annual generations and migratory status, (if any), and a link to photos & distribution for each species on Lepinet.
LINK - Hawk or Sphinx moths in France, (Sphingidae).
Owls in France - List of names
In France there are 9 species of Owl and unlike the UK they have a name prefix that divides owls with visible ear tufts from those without visible ear tufts.
It seems even most French people are unaware of this as they only learn the name and not the reason why. Most of these owls have other popular names including many of which that are local.
Full list with names in French - Latin - English can be found here in PDF format you can save.
Spring bees in France - solitary and bumble
Living where we do it's highly unlikely that I will see anything but the most common species of either solitary bees or bumble bees and even those are under increasing pressure as almost all the available land surface is constantly plowed for the production of cereals and crops for the animal feed industry. It's mainly the ground nesting species that are suffering although increasingly people also spray insecticides on the solitary species that nest in the outside walls of their houses or block the tiny holes and spaces they use. Many people also spray ground nesting bees in their gardens but I'm sure in most cases this isn't malicious but simply because people don't know what they are or the important role they play in our environment.
Of course even the common species are a joy to me and I see a reasonably large number at our place. Here are a few I've managed to spot so far this spring which given the rather poor weather it isn't too bad.
Click on or tap photos to enlarge.
Male Andrena fulva, Tawny mining bee, not managed to get a decent photo of a female yet, perhaps when the rain stops.
Female Andrena haemorrhoa, Early or Red tailed mining bee. Females of this species are easily identified by the combination of a foxy brown thorax and foxy brown tip to the tail.
Female Andrena nitida, Grey patched mining-bee.
Andrena gravida, Banded or white bellied mining bee. Probably a female judging by size alone and what a stunningly pretty bee.
Male Andrena cineraria, Ashy mining bee. A species that may be benefiting from the extensive cultivation of Oil seed rape in the region, (or in much of France), as only takes pollen from certain Cruciferous plants, (mustards, rapes, charlocks etc).
The above Ashy mining bee was found about 20cm, (8 inches), from this Nomada lathburiana, Lathbury's Nomad which is a "cuckoo bee" or cleptoparasite for the Ashy mining bee. The Nomada female detects incomplete host cells which are still open and being provided with food and places her egg in it. When the Nomada hatches it will destroy the egg or the larva of the Andrena species and consume the provisions.
Male Anthophora plumipes, Hairy footed flower bee having a few moments rest from feeding and trying to defend a patch of violets from other males. Haven't seen any females yet this year.
Queen Bombus pratorum, Early bumblebee or early-nesting bumblebee.
Xylocopa violacea, Carpenter bee. Always plenty of these here, (just let one out of the house that came down the chimney). A docile bee that frightens some people that don't know what they are.
Now when is that rain going to stop so I can go outside and get on with the garden, (and play).


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Well, we'd heard this one was going to be different. The great leveller of playing fields. A track that had been made especially for this race, never ridden let alone raced on, in a venue which is only months old. No home favourites, no local kids who knew the track like the back of their hands, no sneaky tourists riding the trail repeatedly before the race. No, everyone went into this race with the same blind confidence.
Now, we've got to mention the dust. Freshly cut in track, inches deep in dry, powdery dust. This was a throwback to the recent World Cup races in Europe, like Andorra and Val Di Sole. This track was spectacular to watch. Riders roosting into corners and dust exploding out like small wars between tyre and berm.
These kinds of conditions made for spectacular viewing, however things like lungs, eyes and cameras weren't so easily impressed. Lenses were caked in dust, snot was turned black, and the shower water after you got in became a sickly grey. But this was a small price to pay for such an impressive race.
Rider turn-out was better than ever, with a brimming elite class unlike any race in the series yet. A full contingent of Vanzacs were present, along with nearly all of NZ's big name downhill riders, and a few from Old Blighty too. Pivot Factory Race team did a 1-2 with Bernard Kerr taking top spot, followed by new addition, Rupert Chapman. Matt Walker managed 3rd, with Blenki and Brook taking the next two spots respectively. Alanna Columb brought it home for the ladies with a huge lead over 2nd placed rider Kathy Morris, with local legend Agata Bulska rounding out the podium.
Everyone seemed to enjoy their racing, and is now heading home to empty dust out of everything they own. The racing heads to Dunedin next weekend, followed by National Champs in Wanaka, the weekend after.
Rupert Chapman, 2nd place by less than 1 second!
It's always incredible to come back to New Zealand. Every summer is better than the one before it..


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Automotive Glossary
Research new cars by make:
2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid
2016, Hyundai, Sonata Plug-In Hybrid
It was only a matter of time for the giant automaker Hyundai to produce a better Sonata Hybrid. Their first attempt was more like a "market-chaser" than a well thought out effort for a company that is obsessed with improvements. Examples like Acura's ZDX or BMW's SUV/sedan X6 prove great companies chasing a profitable market trend can produce not such great vehicles. This is the case with Hyundai's 2014-15 Sonata Hybrid. This is not a bad car and it can be bought today at a good price. The first-generation hybrid is just not up to market standards. However, the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid are quantifiably better vehicles. After a drive along San Diego's coastline, I can attest to the luxury feel of Hyundai's latest Sonata upgrade. Even under an emergency stop from 70 to 0 mph, the Sonata PHEV performed exceptionally well and avoided an accident. Great ABS 4-wheel disc brakes with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD). Prices have not been released yet but the content of the Plug-in Hybrid is impressive. The 2016 Sonata Plug-in Hybrid includes a hands-free "Smart Trunk" which opens automatically if you stand next to the car with the key in your pocket or purse. The electronic parking brake comes with an automatic vehicle hold feature for uphill starts. Also included are some luxury features like a driver seat memory, heated steering wheel, LED interior lights, and leather A/C ventilated front seats. The new Smart Cruise Control can bring the car to a full stop when in heavy traffic. My test drive revealed a smooth and natural braking and acceleration cruise system that makes rush hour traffic a less stressful affair. When the Sonata is fully stopped, the driver then has to take over the brake and accelerator pedals - as it should be. For the commute, Hyundai has also simplified their 8.0-inch navigation system and added downloadable apps, HD radio and an available and excellent sounding Infinity premium audio system. 2016 Sonata Plug-in Hybrids come standard with iPod/USB and auxiliary input jacks, SiriusXM satellite radio and Bluetooth phone connectivity with phonebook transfer and voice-recognition. Standard safety features include seven airbags with a new driver's knee airbag, Electronic Stability Control, Vehicle Stability Management, Traction Control, and rearview camera. Straight from Hyundai's luxury cars, Sonata Hybrids get forward collision and lane departure warning systems. The Blind Spot Detection system is standard and better calibrated than the last Sonata I drove. This camera and sensor was still reading cars within 30 feet of my test Sonata, a fairly large gap for changing lanes in Southern California. Hyundai claims that their "Lane Change Assist system determines the closing speed of any vehicle in the adjacent lane to determine if the lane change is safe. If the system determines the vehicle in the other lane is closing too quickly, it sounds an audible alarm to warn the driver that the lane change is unsafe." That engineer needs to spend more time on the LA freeways and less time in the lab. But I digress. The 2016 Sonata Hybrids are much better cars to drive. The first real improvement in the handling dynamics are felt through the steering wheel. Previous electronic power steering systems on Hyundai vehicles have been numb. Freeway driving took more work due to a lack of a neutral or on-center position, in addition to the vague feedback when steering around corners. We believe Hyundai has finally gotten the steering software correct and calibrated the steering just about perfectly. This is not the only electronically controlled pump which saves engine horsepower. Hyundai Hybrids now use an electric oil pump for the engine and the transmission. They also have introduced an electric water pump- maximizing the cooling of the engine and transmission while saving more horsepower which can be sent to the front wheel drive. This sedan is very refined with a quiet ride that is supple over rough pavement, even with 17 inch low-roll resistant tires. The lighter drivetrain components, along with the increased high-strength steel, mean that Hyundai engineers were able to revise the suspension now attached to a much stiffer platform. Structural rigidity is up by 50% and it can be felt from the driver seat. The hybrid gas and electric transfers of power are smooth and quiet. I was pleasantly surprised how seamless this new drivetrain is compared to the last generation Sonata Hybrid. Moving along in heavy traffic on the Los Angeles freeways, the 2.0 liter direct-injection engine started and stopped on demand without any drama, and interfaced with the 50 kW electric motor without even a bump. The new Sonata Plug-in Hybrid utilizes a 9.8 kWh lithium polymer battery pack- which is nearly five times larger than the Sonata Hybrid's battery pack. This means that the Plug-in Hybrid range is approximately 24 miles of all-electric driving before the hybrid system kicks in. Currently, this is farther than any other midsize PHEV sedan. Sonata PHEV's Nu engine produces 154 horsepower and 140 lb. ft. of torque. The Sonata Hybrid is not a sports sedan but there is plenty of juice for everyday driving. According to Hyundai, they were looking for a balance between fuel-efficiency and enjoyable driving, and I think they go pretty close on this goal. Sonata PHEV has EPA estimates of 93 MPGe combined, running in EV mode. In charge sustaining mode, the Sonata PHEV is expected to return 40 mpg combined based on internal testing. Recharge time ranges from three hours at a 240V Level-Two charging station to less than nine hours using a standard 120V outlet. A high voltage commercial charging station will get the job done in under 20 minutes! Gratefully, the combined 202 horsepower from the gas engine and electric motor is passed through an electric drive system and into an updated 6-speed transmission. There is no Constant Variable Transmission (CVT) here! This provides a very satisfying driving experience that is controlled and yet responsive. There is also a driver-controlled setting for the allocation of battery use and charging. This allows for EV, Hybrid, or combined driving. The Eco mode has an annoying hesitation when stabbing the accelerator pedal. Then the power comes on and the sedan moves out. The lead Hyundai engineer explained that this minimizes the "driver inconsistencies" which adversely affect fuel mileage. A computer determines that the driver needs hard acceleration and is not inadvertently fluttering the pedal. This idiosyncrasy is not an issue in other modes. When running in Normal or Sport mode, the reaction from the engine/motor is instantaneous for quick acceleration in traffic situations. Zero to sixty miles-per-hour times were not available at the time of publication. Keeping up with Gen-X trends, the Sonata Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle can be controlled remotely via an exclusive Blue Link smartphone app. This app gives owners access to real-time data from their Sonata PHEV and perform commands like starting the engine on cold or hot days. One can lock or unlock doors, search navigation for points of interest using Google, and monitor and manage the car's charging schedule. Owners can plan charging based on different electric rates at various times. For example, in Southern California, charging could be set to start at 10:00 p.m. when rates drop so the car is ready to drive at 7:00 a.m. the next morning. Additional "Connected Car Services" include vehicle diagnostics/status, existing battery level, real-time electric ranges, and a host of charging status information. The most important consideration in buying a hybrid vehicle is the life of the battery pack. This concerns owners who will have to pay thousands of dollars for a replacement- negating all the money saved with better fuel economy. Hyundai has addressed this upfront with a Lifetime Battery Pack warranty. Furthermore, the 10 year/100,000 powertrain warranty on the rest of the drivetrain is also included. In summary, the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle could be a great value. The Sonata Plug-in Hybrid will be available in California, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont this Fall (2015). Sonata Plug-in Hybrid buyers will be eligible for a $2,500 fixed federal tax credit and another tax credit based on battery capacity for additional thousands. There is also a clean vehicle rebate in California is an additional $1,500. For California freeway folks like me, the Sonata Plug-in Hybrid is also eligible for California's Green Clean Air Vehicle Decals that allow access to the carpool lanes. 2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle already is a very nice sedan to drive with responsive handling. It is quiet and comfortable on the road. It has excellent brakes and improved mileage. It is a much better vehicle, and Hyundai got it to market in just 2 short years after the first Sonata Hybrid.
By Jim Powell
More Hyundai car reviews?
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Images of the 2016, Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid
2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV)
2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid instrument cluster
2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid tail light
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In 'The New Republic,' a July 13 article titled "Trump's Russian Laundromat" explores how to use Trump Tower and other luxury high-rises to clean dirty money, run an international crime syndicate, and propel a failed real estate developer into the White House.
The independent investigation into Russian government meddling in the 2016 U.S. election is in full swing. While Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller is keeping tight-lipped on how involved the Kremlin may have been with the Trump campaign, a new investigation from The New Republic suggests that Trump has been dependent on a different Russian sector: the mafia.
Worldview talks with Eric Bates, Editor of The New Republic, joins us to discuss the investigation.
Timeline: Series Of Coincidences Or Something More?


If you're visiting this site, it's likely that you are doing so because you are considering hiring a videographer for your wedding. If you're reading this post, it's likely that you are doing so because you're not actually sure that you want to hire a videographer yet. Friends, that is totally fine! I understand where you are coming from!
When Adam and I got married, we were two 21 year old babies on a budget. Yes, we got married at the ages of 21 and 22- call us crazy but it was right for us! Because we got married so young we had a very small budget for our wedding. Let me emphasize, the words very small. Like our total budget was the same price that some people pay just for the wedding dress alone! But the one part of the day we did invest a lot of money in was the part that we would have for years to come to be able to remember the day.
Here are a few reasons I think hiring a wedding videographer is so important.
1) The day goes by in a flash. The day goes so fast so you will want someone there to film the moments you won't remember two and a half years later. You'll want to relive some of the moments that are going to slip your mind. You spend months planning the day and before you know it, it will be over. You will love having a video that you can watch again and again to remember some of the moments you may forget. The other thing, is that there are some moments you wont even see as a bride or groom! You might miss the way your bridesmaids' faces look when you put on the dress, or you might not see the flower girl walking down the aisle. A video can capture those moments so you can take part in every aspect of the wedding day. Plus, a bonus feature is drone footage. No one gets to see what their beautiful venue looks like from the air unless a drone is there to capture it for you- and drone shots are pretty epic if you ask me!!
2) Wedding videos are easily shareable. No matter how many people you invite to your wedding, there will always be people you care about that can't make it. I can't tell you how many times people have commented on my videos that when they watched the film it made them feel like they were there. With social media being so prevalent, when wedding films are shared on Facebook, it's easy for your friends and family to share in the joys and emotions of your wedding day, even if they weren't able to make it to the actual wedding.
*3 1/2) I've notice a trend with videographers to take out all of the audio from the day and slap a love song on top of the footage they captured. Friends, I'm here to tell you this is a cop-out. There is so much more to your love story than an overused sappy song! If you're going to hire a videographer, ask them about how they are going to capture audio, and if they don't include anything in the video from your ceremony or speeches or something, get the heck outta there! You want someone that is going to do more than give you a glorified slide show. You want someone that is going to actually capture your vows or speeches, those moments are so special!
4) Wedding videos capture the emotion of the day and your story. Your love story is important and beautiful. Most love stories are also incredibly emotional! One thing I love about wedding videos is that they are able to capture the emotions that were felt on the wedding day. When watching the film you'll cry, laugh, and everything in between! While I said in number 3 1/2 that it's a cop-out to set the footage to nothing but a love song, it's not a cop-out to combine the footage from the day, the vows/officiant/speeches or whatever other audio is important, and a carefully curated song, to really bring out the emotions of the day.
I am so excited to get started on the 2017 wedding season in just a few months! If you haven't hired a videographer for you wedding yet, it's not too late. I implore you to look into hiring a wedding videographer! A recent survey conducted by the Wedding and Event Videographers Association found that 98% of newlywed couples recommend to future brides that they SHOULD have a wedding videographer. 98%, people! If that's not convincing, I don't know what is. I have heard from so many couples that one of their biggest regrets from their wedding day was not hiring a videographer. Ultimately, you know what is best for you and your fiance. Only you can decide if you want a videographer on your big day or not. Just know that I am here for you if you do decide to hire a videographer!