The BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept car was unveiled at Deutsche Motoren by Praful Patel, Honorable Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises at New Delhi.
BMW Vision EfficientDynamics is a road ready, four seater concept sports car that combines the performance and emotional character of a BMW M Car with extraordinary fuel economy and emission management.
BMW Vision EfficientDynamics with its outstanding fuel efficiency of 26.5 kilometres/litre and an exemplary CO² emission rating of 99 grams/kilometre is far superior to all conventional hybrid cars.
It is capable of achieving a top speed of 250 kmph with acceleration from 0 to 100 km/hr in just 4.8 seconds. The car is powered by ground breaking BMW ActiveHybrid technology and cutting-edge drive systems.
BMW Vision EfficientDynamics is presented in India for the first time and will be exhibited at the new BMW Studio, Connaught Place, New Delhi till 24 May 2011.


There are a variety of associate's and bachelor's degree programs available for those interested in a career as a veterinarian assistant. Most community colleges offer a two-year, Associate's degree program in Veterinary Technology. In these programs, students can expect to study biology, animal physiology, anatomy, common procedures and medications, health and hygiene, animal handling and other related topics. Students who are considering a career as a veterinarian in the future should think about earning a bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, zoology or veterinary medicine. These programs provide the skills and knowledge needed for a career as a veterinarian assistant and also allow for the possibility of continued education in a master's or even doctoral degree program.
Find out more about what it takes to become a veterinarian. Here, you will get information about the degree requirements, the salary, job duties, and more!
To become a veterinarian, you need to earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree and obtain a professional license in your state. Keep reading to learn more.
Do you love animals and care deeply about their welfare? If so, earning a degree in Veterinary Science may be right for you. These academic programs can prepare you for careers as a veterinary scientist and veterinarian. Veterinary professionals have important jobs and are in high demand throughout the country. Learn more about whether earning a degree in Veterinary Science may be right for you.


This stunning Victory Versailles Luxury lodge is situated on White Acres Holiday Park and has 3 bedrooms and central heating and double glazing. It overlooks Jenny's Lake which is just 1 of the 13 fishing lakes which are suitable for beginner anglers to the avid fisherman or woman as competitions are held here on a regular basis for all ages including the Parkdean masters.
The park doesn't just cater for those of you who fish, it is fantastic for families as well with an indoor swimming pool, various different parks scattered around, a crazy golf course and amusement arcade situated inside The Venue also there is a restaurant which does beautiful home made pizzas that you can eat in or take away.
White Acres Holiday Park is situated about 5 miles outside of Newquay where you would be able to find the Uks no.1 surfing destination Fistral beach and it's many other beautiful white sandy beaches and it's harbour where if you are lucky you may even be able to sea the wild seals coming in to get fish that the fishermen throw away.
The contemporary living area boasts comfortable sofas, TV DVD player and patio doors leading to the veranda. The open plan living area then leads to the dining room and kitchen.
The modern kitchen comes complete with all your essentials including fridge freezer, iron, high chair, washing machine, microwave, dishwasher and toster.
The bedroom consist of 1 master bedroom with king sized bed and an en suite shower bathroom attached to it and 2 twin bedrooms which boast full sized single beds and it also has a separate bathroom with a shower, there is also a hair dryer.
A travel cot and hich chair are available for your use if needed.
The lodge has a bathroom with shower, basin and toilet, there is also an en suite to the master bedroom.
With decking on the front by the patio doors and also down the side of the Lodge you can sit outside in the sunshine and eat alfresco with your family watching the wildlife on Jenny's lake.
There is also a parking bay for two cars.


text:
Avalanche Averted
Tuesday, January 22, 2008 at 3:59 PM 1 clicked here to leave a comment
This past Sunday was everything we had hoped and dreamed it could be.
Now, if you are from Charlotte, you know that the weather forecasters did not help. On Saturday night they were predicting avalanches, Armageddon, and twelve feet of snow...in fact things weren't so bad.
But our volunteers were hyper-ready. The campus was primed, our guys who drive trucks parked in the mud and sacrificed shoes and floor mats for the cause, our parking lot guys braved really ugly cold to get people in and, in spite of the forecast, cold, and weather, we had as many new people as we have ever had.
What a Sunday. The worship was insanely good, I felt a real freedom in teaching, and folks have been calling and e-mailing non-stop talking about how they sensed God's presence and made real spiritual advances in dealing with anger and forgiveness.
Shot glasses got delivered, more will come, and the media continues to take notice. Tomorrow morning I am doing a Sirius radio network interview which will reach hundreds of stations and many thousands of people. Churches from all over the country are writing and calling, asking for shot glasses, asking how they can do a similar outreach, or saying "I wish we could do that here". (My response...just do it).
And we are T-minus two weeks to the Ballantyne Campus launch and our return to three services in Matthews.
One church - multiple locations is about to become a reality, not a slogan!
Bottom line - the energy and growth and sense of God's presence are almost overwhelming right now.
Keep praying and keep bringing folks and, more than ever, step up and get in the game by serving!
It's too much fun now to miss out!
Posted by Todd Hahn
1 clicked here to leave a comment:
What a privilege to be a part of what God is doing.
Our services have been so awesome. The Holy Spirit's presence is so real during the messages that He is palpable.
You are all in my prayers.
More On Leadership Community
Bittersweet Start, All Sweet Finish
Game Face On
One Church, Multiple Locations
You Might Not Know It... But You're On The Team
Ballantyne Launch Right Around the Corner
BLINK, And Don't Miss It

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Georgians and Victorians particularly enjoyed cognate anagrams, in which the anagram is related in some way to the original word or phrase.
A number of anagrams were made from well-known names of the Napoleonic Wars.
Napoleon wasn't much given to word play, though he did enjoy naming Claude Victor Perrin ("beau soleil") the Duke of Belluno. One of Napoleon's companions in exile on St. Helena related the following anecdote.
It was stated by one of our people that the owner of one of the houses…on the island…said, 'It is reported that you complain up yonder and consider yourselves unhappy (he spoke of Longwood), but we are at a loss to make it out; for it is said that you have beef every day, while we cannot get it but three or four times a year, and even then we pay for it at the rate of fifteen or twenty pence a pound.' The Emperor, who laughed heartily…observed, 'You ought to have assured him that it cost us several crowns.' Crowns in English, and in several languages of the continent, means also a piece of money.
This resilience stands him in good stead in Napoleon in America.
The Gazette of the Union, Golden Rule and Odd-Fellows' Family Companion, Vol. IX (New York, 1848), p. 30.
"On Palindromes," The New Monthly Magazine and Literary Journal, Vol. II (London, 1821), pp. 171-172.
H. B. Wheatley, Of Anagrams (London, 1862), p. 142.
Ibid., pp. 86, 96-97, 135-137.
Emmanuel-Auguste-Dieudonné Las Cases, The Life, Exile and Conversations of the Emperor Napoleon, Vol. II (London, 1835), pp. 164-165.
I found delight in these trifles!
Thanks, Jeanne. I'm so glad.
The pun about crowns is said to have been made by Walpole. The king asked what it would cost him to take a London park into his private garden, and Walpole's answer was "Very cheap, Sire, only two crowns." I forget the details about which king or park it was, but would guess George II and Green Park, or St James's. The crowns would have been Great Britain and Ireland.
Thanks, Geoffrey. I hadn't heard that one.
Sometimes playing with letter shapes is not the only skill in creating anagrams. I am rapt in "Napoleon, Empereur des Français – Un pape serf a sacré le noir demon/A serf pope has crowned the black demon". The political contents of that anagram were so clever, at least for all the peoples of Europe except the French.
One can almost picture a Gillray caricature to go with it.
I loved reading this unique and witty post!
Thanks, Paula. Glad you liked it.
You're most welcome. Thanks for your kind comments. I'm glad you enjoyed the website.
[T]hough anagrams and all kinds of play upon words are in themselves trivial, there is no doubt that, on the presumption of recreation being necessary in a life of toil, the mind will at times find amusement and delight in trifles.


Images above have been enlarged from original artwork in order to be placed on the wall in the photographs. For display purposes only.
You will absolutely love these resin workshops.
Your finished piece of artwork will be a one-off special item which you will be proud to show to family and friends. You will find resin art to be extremely addictive, love the unexpected results achieved and will 'just want more'.
Safety - not just for myself, but also for those attending workshops with me. We will not be using an inexpensive brand of resin (some may do this, which will give off toxic fumes and yellow over time). The resin we will use is a top of the range resin specifically made for art. It has no VOC, no smell and non-yellowing (uv) and claimed safe by the manufacturer. When being mixed with paints/pigments etc safety equipment is provided.
Due to the makeup of this resin and, although advised 'safe' to use, when it is mixed with paints, fumes may be given off - whereas others may not use safety equipment I do - as it is better to be safe and look after ourselves for our health - than not.
The 'introductory ' 1 and 2 sessions are to be attended prior to participating in other resin sessions. Prices include gst.
This gives attendees the confidence to work their own designs in micas, golds and silvers on the larger pieces supplied in later workshops.
All art materials are included in the price. Perhaps in one or two there may be just a couple of small items to bring with you, advised on booking.
Send a message to book and take time out using an unusual product - you will love the end result.
For details/info on other workshops please view the home page.
Like to create your own resin artwork?
If yes, then these will be for you.
The 'introductory resin workshop 1 and also 2 ' will have a duration of approximately 3 hours plus/minus which will include a demonstration at the start of the session prior to attendees commencing their own resin art. Will be shown how to mix, add colour and pour your own designs. Explanation of safety and other items necessary when using resin and other items will be explained.
Please note ... If you wish to undertake other resin workshops, then these two initial ones are to be attended first, prior to participation in others. This ensures you will be confident designing on other pieces later on.
The price includes all art materials with primed round board or canvas - unless otherwise specified.
Also note ... Safety equipment (including a mask) is supplied to be worn when undertaking resin on the day. If you do not wish to use, then will not be accepted for these sessions. Likewise on the day, if decide not to wear the mask, then will be unable to continue, however, no refund will be given.
Resin takes a minimum of 24 to 48 hours to cure - allow up to 5 days for hardness (or even more as is delicate). Please be aware when using a resined item, as it will be delicate as it is a type of plastic and can scratch easily.
Collection of article the next day (or as arranged).
As resin has a chemical structure and we are mixing in paint/pigments as well as using heat, it therefore is not advised for women who are pregnant or those who may suffer from asthma or have other allergies to items.
And, although I do have attendees plus myself use masks and other safety equipment, I do adhere to the above, as better to be safe for all of us than not. There may be others who do not advise this - but I do!
Attendees must be 18 years and over.
each day is totally separate to the other.
Work with high quality prof art grade resin, VOC free/UV protected.
In this No.1. workshop you will work with high quality prof art grade resin, VOC free/UV protected. Mixing a few, or more - your choice of colours / using a hairdryer to produce your own gorgeous resin artwork to hang on your wall at home, as well as drink coasters to match.
Please see note at bottom *.
I shall be supplying another item for you to resin whilst in your 3rd workshop.
Just my way of showing appreciation.
I am sure you will be really pleased with this extra 'resined piece' for your home.
Complete AFTER having attended Introd.workshop 1.
Work with a high quality professional grade epoxy resin. Work with a few or many colours.
In this introd. workshop No.2 - tray with 4 coasters, you will mix a few, or more colours - your choice of colours / using a different technique with a hairdryer and also use a flame torch on your resin to produce your own gorgeous one-off resin presentation tray with four matching drink coasters.
Complete AFTER having attended both the 1 and 2 sessions.
PRICE: $225.00 inc. Black or white Pleese advise which you would like to have. Use of all colours plus micas, golds/silvers/glitter to create beautiful art.
With this follow-on workshop you will work on a large round canvas, and able to choose any of the colours, as well as a variety of golds, silvers, coppers etc. Thereby producing an amazing item to take home to hang on the wall at your home, or perhaps as a gift for a friend. With the prior experience of the first two workshops, this will be a thrill for you to achieve.
PRICE: $225.00 inc. Black or white canvas, advise which upon booking.
I shall be supplying another item for you to resin whilst in your 3rd workshop as a thank you for attending/loving my resin classes.
Clock - Complete AFTER having attended both the 1 and 2 sessions.
PRICE: $185.00 inc. INCLUDES clock parts.
micas, golds/silvers/colours to create a beautiful clock.
With the above Clock Follow-on workshop you will have a load of fun, firstly thinking of what colours you will be choosing, and then the design you would like to hopefully turn out. Having experienced both number 1 and number 2 intro workshops, you will now be more confident in the use of resin for this type of art. Using all colours available including glitters and micas.
How to mix and work with a high quality professional grade (more expensive) epoxy resin, which is a VOC free and UV protected resin plus odourless.
How to mix various colours into resin. You will be able to select from a variety of coloured pigments, inks, pastes and beautiful iridescent, pearlescent and metallic powders as well as Mica pigments plus, of course, glitters (we cannot leave the latter out can we?).
How to use different tools in your resin. We will be using heat and other items to produce different effects in the resin.
Shirt with long sleeves which closes/does up at wrist.
Do not wear fluffy jerseys etc as may drop into resin and long hair best to be tied back.
Comfortable shoes as may be standing a little.
The substrates provided to you to paint on for the sessions will be given, by myself, one or two prior coatings before you use. Although not done by many, as I do this for my own professional work, I feel I also wish to provide a better service to all attendees and therefore spend the time to undertake this for you as well. I personally just feel that the little bit 'extra' I do will pass on to yourselves as well to do, and for you to be happy with the service which I provide.


text:
TNR Reacts to Obama's Speech
Last night, President Obama announced his new Afghanistan strategy, including his to start withdrawing U.S. troops by 2011. Don't miss the wide range of reactions and analysis today at TNR:
Richard Just likes the speech, but found contradictions in Obama's embrace of both isolationism and nation-building. "What, exactly, is Barack Obama's overarching worldview when it comes to foreign policy? For a long time, I've felt I didn't really know. After last night's speech, I suspect Obama doesn't really know either."
John B. Judis responds to Just's criticism, and suggests that Obama's may have sounded incoherent since he had to scale back U.S. objectives in Afghanistan. "Its [the administration's] objective of' 'breaking the momentum' rather than defeating the Taliban suggests to me that it has resigned itself to a messy, pre-modern pre-democratic, partially-Tribal, partially Islamic fundamentalist Afghanistan in which, nonetheless, al Qaeda does not have a refuge."
Judis also notes that, despite Obama's claims to the contrary, he finds ominous parallels with the U.S. experience in Vietnam. "Of course, there are differences--and Obama tried to cite them in his speech--but the similarities are disturbing."
Michael Crowley reminds us that Obama's vision for Afghanistan is not entirely new, and that this shows he has actually been consistent in his policy. "Obama's reiteration of his main talking points from March indicates that he believed what he was saying at the time and simply hasn't seen anything dramatic enough in the past six months to change his mind."
Crowley also focuses on how Obama and his national security team are playing up the plan's exit strategy. "Barack Obama's aides can pat themselves on the back today; they have succeeded in spinning the president's new troop surge as a simultaneous plan for leaving Afghanistan."
Steven Metz explores the similarities and differences between Obama's "escalation" and Bush's "surge." "Obama, by contrast, tried to mollify the public's concerns by identifying a clear point at which he intends to begin scaling down U.S. involvement in Afghanistan--the summer of 2011."
Lydia DePillis and Jesse Zwick report on Obama's "other front," the U.S. Congress, and the opposition he is likely to face from six influential congressman. "Obama's team will have its hands full cobbling together enough people from both sides of the aisle to get what it wants."
Elizabeth A. Samet, a professor of English at the U.S. Military Academy, wrote a beautiful piece about the scene within Eisenhower Hall last night. "Oratory, presidential or otherwise, occupies a peculiar place in military culture, where action is king. Cadets are accustomed to being exhorted, and they become adept at responding with an automatic enthusiasm. But they are even better, when given the chance (as I think they were last night), at thinking seriously about responsibility." We strongly recommend that you read the whole thing.
The Plank, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Al Qaeda, Barack Obama, Taliban, Congress, Bush, Jesse Zwick, Lydia DePillis, Richard Just, Michael Crowley, Steven Metz


text:
Experiences and challenges of foreign agricultural workers in Finland
T. E.A. Mattila, U. Ovaska, B. Kinnunen, V. M. Tuure, J. Leppälä, K. Taattola, V. Rinnola, R. H. Rautiainen
Central States Center for Agricultural Safety & Health
Environmental, Agricultural & Occupational Health Sciences
Foreign workers have become an important part of the workforce on horticulture and livestock farms in Finland. The aim of this study was to investigate the experiences of foreign workers regarding their working and living conditions. We conducted semi-structured theme interviews during two time periods: in 2008-2009 (n = 40 workers on eight farms) and again in 2018-2019 (n = 9 workers on four farms). We found variations in expectations and goals among workers when they take a job abroad. Compelling factors in the origin country included unemployment, low wages, and low standards of living, and enticing factors in the destination country included social relationships and expectations of better income. Personal networks had a strong role in the recruiting processes. Work on farms is physically demanding, and being a foreign worker affects social life in many ways, such as being separated from family and facing pressures from the home community to arrange jobs for others. New communication technologies have improved possibilities to stay in contact. Employers could contribute to better working and living conditions for foreign workers by improving work organization, ergonomics at work, orientation of new workers, and continued training of supervisors. Worker orientation and training should be carefully planned, taking into consideration the limited language skills, work competence requirements, and possibilities for career advancement of the workers.
Specialist publication
Journal of agricultural safety and health
https://doi.org/10.13031/JASH.13893
10.13031/JASH.13893
Dive into the research topics of 'Experiences and challenges of foreign agricultural workers in Finland'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
farm labor Agriculture & Biology 100%
Farmers Medicine & Life Sciences 93%
Finland Medicine & Life Sciences 87%
Farms Engineering & Materials Science 78%
foreign worker Social Sciences 70%
Occupational Groups Medicine & Life Sciences 57%
worker Social Sciences 50%
Mattila, T. E. A., Ovaska, U., Kinnunen, B., Tuure, V. M., Leppälä, J., Taattola, K., Rinnola, V., & Rautiainen, R. H. (2021). Experiences and challenges of foreign agricultural workers in Finland. Journal of agricultural safety and health, 27(1), 13-28. https://doi.org/10.13031/JASH.13893
Experiences and challenges of foreign agricultural workers in Finland. / Mattila, T. E.A.; Ovaska, U.; Kinnunen, B. et al.
In: Journal of agricultural safety and health, Vol. 27, No. 1, 2021, p. 13-28.
Mattila, TEA, Ovaska, U, Kinnunen, B, Tuure, VM, Leppälä, J, Taattola, K, Rinnola, V & Rautiainen, RH 2021, 'Experiences and challenges of foreign agricultural workers in Finland' Journal of agricultural safety and health, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 13-28. https://doi.org/10.13031/JASH.13893
Mattila TEA, Ovaska U, Kinnunen B, Tuure VM, Leppälä J, Taattola K et al. Experiences and challenges of foreign agricultural workers in Finland. Journal of agricultural safety and health. 2021;27(1):13-28. doi: 10.13031/JASH.13893
Mattila, T. E.A. ; Ovaska, U. ; Kinnunen, B. et al. / Experiences and challenges of foreign agricultural workers in Finland. In: Journal of agricultural safety and health. 2021 ; Vol. 27, No. 1. pp. 13-28.
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title = "Experiences and challenges of foreign agricultural workers in Finland",
abstract = "Foreign workers have become an important part of the workforce on horticulture and livestock farms in Finland. The aim of this study was to investigate the experiences of foreign workers regarding their working and living conditions. We conducted semi-structured theme interviews during two time periods: in 2008-2009 (n = 40 workers on eight farms) and again in 2018-2019 (n = 9 workers on four farms). We found variations in expectations and goals among workers when they take a job abroad. Compelling factors in the origin country included unemployment, low wages, and low standards of living, and enticing factors in the destination country included social relationships and expectations of better income. Personal networks had a strong role in the recruiting processes. Work on farms is physically demanding, and being a foreign worker affects social life in many ways, such as being separated from family and facing pressures from the home community to arrange jobs for others. New communication technologies have improved possibilities to stay in contact. Employers could contribute to better working and living conditions for foreign workers by improving work organization, ergonomics at work, orientation of new workers, and continued training of supervisors. Worker orientation and training should be carefully planned, taking into consideration the limited language skills, work competence requirements, and possibilities for career advancement of the workers.",
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note = "Funding Information: We want to thank all workplaces that participated in this study. The study was funded by the Finnish Work Environment Fund, MTT Agrifood Research Finland, TTS Work Efficiency Institute, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, and Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK). Additional data were collected in a project funded by the European Social Fund (ESF), Farmers{\textquoteright} Social Insurance Institution (Mela), Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), TTS Work Efficiency Institute, and Potato Research Institute. Professor Risto Rautiainen{\textquoteright}s efforts in this study were partially supported by CDC/NIOSH Award No. U54OH010162 to the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 ASABE",
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AU - Taattola, K.
AU - Rinnola, V.
AU - Rautiainen, R. H.
N1 - Funding Information: We want to thank all workplaces that participated in this study. The study was funded by the Finnish Work Environment Fund, MTT Agrifood Research Finland, TTS Work Efficiency Institute, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, and Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK). Additional data were collected in a project funded by the European Social Fund (ESF), Farmers' Social Insurance Institution (Mela), Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), TTS Work Efficiency Institute, and Potato Research Institute. Professor Risto Rautiainen's efforts in this study were partially supported by CDC/NIOSH Award No. U54OH010162 to the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 ASABE
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AB - Foreign workers have become an important part of the workforce on horticulture and livestock farms in Finland. The aim of this study was to investigate the experiences of foreign workers regarding their working and living conditions. We conducted semi-structured theme interviews during two time periods: in 2008-2009 (n = 40 workers on eight farms) and again in 2018-2019 (n = 9 workers on four farms). We found variations in expectations and goals among workers when they take a job abroad. Compelling factors in the origin country included unemployment, low wages, and low standards of living, and enticing factors in the destination country included social relationships and expectations of better income. Personal networks had a strong role in the recruiting processes. Work on farms is physically demanding, and being a foreign worker affects social life in many ways, such as being separated from family and facing pressures from the home community to arrange jobs for others. New communication technologies have improved possibilities to stay in contact. Employers could contribute to better working and living conditions for foreign workers by improving work organization, ergonomics at work, orientation of new workers, and continued training of supervisors. Worker orientation and training should be carefully planned, taking into consideration the limited language skills, work competence requirements, and possibilities for career advancement of the workers.
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text:
New York's statute of limitations must be eliminated
2 May 2016
It is widely accepted that around 1 in 5 children – 20% of the population – experience some form of sexual abuse before they turn 18. We also know that a very small proportion of victims ever disclose their abuse and that those who do, typically do so more than twenty years after the fact. These alarming statistics highlight the prevalence as well as the long-term and profound impacts of child sexual abuse. But they also emphasise the urgent need to change the way in which the statute of limitations operates in some regions when it comes to cases of child sexual abuse. That upon attaining the age of 23 in New York, a victim loses the right to pursue justice (criminally or civilly) against their abuser, is out of touch with what we now know to be the reality of such cases.
Brave victims and survivors who muster the courage to disclose their abuse must have recourse to justice at whatever time they decide to come forward. Moreover, perpetrators must be held to account no matter how much time has passed after a particular offense, not only for the sake of justice but also to protect other children who might otherwise be vulnerable. It is simply absurd that an offender may receive lifelong immunity from their crimes through the passage of as little as five years and continue to pose a danger to children, while their victims typically spend decades working up the strength to talk about their detrimental life-changing experience, which often accompanies them for a lifetime.
I am therefore pleased that Kol v'Oz, a newly-established Israel-based organisation to address child sexual abuse in the global Jewish community, has assembled a broad and strong coalition of local and international Jewish organisations, leaders and rabbis to support the change to these outdated laws in New York (where the largest Jewish community exists outside Israel), which are considered the worst in the US alongside those in Alabama, Michigan and Mississippi.
I acknowledge and thank the many individuals and organisations – within and outside the Jewish community – who have been working tirelessly on these changes until now. Moreover, I would like to congratulate the numerous legislators who have been addressing this issue, most notably Assemblywoman Margaret Markey who initially proposed the Child Victims Act (also referred to as The Markey Bill) around a decade ago.
While our coalition holds diverse opinions regarding the ideal reforms to the statute, we are united in our view that the status quo must be changed. Most agree that the statute must be completely abolished and at the very least, an extended window must be provided for bringing actions for past crimes that better reflects the time taken for victims to speak up.
That is not to say that the burden of proof should be lessened. Indeed, in most cases it is those pursuing justice rather than their alleged perpetrators who will be most prejudiced by the passage of time. The potential unavailability of witnesses and difficulty remembering events of so long ago only serve to make it harder for a complainant, who might already be in the difficult position of trying to make a case from their word against that of another. But courts should have an opportunity to hear evidence and, if the evidence is strong enough to find a perpetrator liable, then they should be held accountable. Victims should always be entitled to have their cases heard in court, rather than being blocked by a legal technicality, which makes little sense in this area today. We must focus on the rights and wellbeing of the victims and place those ahead of the rights and wellbeing of the perpetrators.
After consulting with some of my colleagues, my strong belief is that a bill should be passed in the New York State Legislature that allows any victim of child sexual abuse – in the past or future – to launch civil proceedings against their abuser when they feel ready to do so. However, to protect institutions to some degree from possible financial ruin, and to encourage best practice in the running of today's institutions, those institutions who meet certain standards ought to be protected to some extent by a financial cap on each claim. Moving forward, police should be able to pursue criminal cases against any alleged perpetrator once a crime has been reported.
It is important to emphasise that revisiting the abuse in any form, including pursuing justice, is often re-traumatising for victims. So it's not a decision they take lightly. Moreover, in the majority of cases, victims are mostly interested in an acknowledgement and an apology for the injustice they endured. Financial compensation is typically of secondary importance, notwithstanding that victims often suffer financially as a result of the abuse they endured.
While most of the current public discussion about child sexual abuse is focused on institutions, it's noteworthy that the vast majority of this form of abuse – around 80% – in fact occurs within the family environment. Uncles, step-dads, granddads, neighbours, tutors and others. Eliminating the statute of limitations will no doubt provide justice for many of these victims as well. It will also protect other young family members from these predators.
I'm looking forward to joining my colleagues – both within and outside the Jewish community – in doing everything we can to ensure the statute of limitations is eliminated. This includes lobbying days in the New York State Legislature in Albany on 3-4 May, facilitated by Assemblywoman Markey whom we support. I urge the entire Jewish community and beyond to join us in our public campaign to achieve this essential reform. We can no longer turn a blind eye and say we don't know about the prevalence, the impact or the injustice. The time to act is now.
Originally published at The Times of Israel.


After Medecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) was forced to suspend medical activities at the center of the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo due to two arson attacks, on Thursday officials said the fight against curbing the spread of the virus was failing, according to Africa News.
MSF said ordinary people across the DRC do not trust the health workers and the militarized response from the government is alienating patients and families.
MSF's international president Joanne Liu said the outbreak, which reached more than 900 cases and killed 569 people, would continue until the community trusted authorities.
She said the first responders treating the outbreak were increasingly seen as the enemy, listing over 30 attacks and incidents carried out against the medical teams in the past month alone.
The North Kivu and Ituri provinces where the outbreak has been spreading are already subject to violence from armed groups, so DRC officials have been prioritizing security over the healthcare response.
She said the involvement of the security forces only deepened suspicions among the locals that Ebola was being used as a political tool.
A spokesperson for Congo's Health Ministry said there was confusion about the security forces' role in the response.
She said it was unacceptable for health workers to be threatened and attacked or have the threat of violence stop families from burying their loved ones which is why the security officials were dispatched to the area.
She also said MSF was insistent on security before it returned to its damaged facilities since local officials did not have the privilege of being evacuated.
MSF said there were signs the outbreak was still not under control since only 40 percent of the deaths were outside medical centers, meaning patients did not seek care, and 35 percent of new patients were not linked to existing cases.


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Electronics & Music Maker - Feb 1984	Korg Poly 800 Synthesiser
Korg Poly 800 Synthesiser
Korgs latest fully programmable polyphonic synthesiser, with digital sequencer, and MIDI.
Hard to believe though it may seem, it's actually less than a year since the PR people at Korg announced the Poly 61 synthesiser onto an unsuspecting public. It set a trend among poly-synths that has since been followed by Roland (the JX-3P), Yamaha (the DX series), and, more expensively, Rhodes (the Chroma and Polaris), in that it was the first such instrument to utilise digital setting of parameters to cut the number of mechanical controls down to a minimum in order to reduce parts costs and increase portability considerably. It was also Korg's first - and, from a sonic point of view, very successful - foray into the world of digitally controlled oscillators.
The Poly 800 continues along both these paths, and in the former case has taken the ultimate course in doing away with almost all mechanical controls save for three slider potentiometers, one rotary one, a score or so touch-switches, and a performance joystick. All these are located at the instrument's top lefthand corner, with the schematic of programmable parameters printed on the right, as on the Poly 61. However, the Poly 800 is rather better endowed in this department than its senior stable-mate, in that almost every conceivable parameter known to synthesists can be fiddled with, including the built-in Chorus unit, Break Point and Slope (in addition to ADSR) on each of the Digital Envelope Generators (of which more anon), and control over MIDI in/out.
Altering preset values of parameters is accomplished in much the same way as on the Poly 61, by pressing the 'Prog/Para' switch and changing values via the Down and Up switches just to the right. Storing settings in memory is accomplished with the red Write button, slightly further to the right.
In the oscillator department, the 800 goes one better than the 61 in offering two per note in the context of eight-note polyphony as opposed to six-note, making sixteen oscillators in toto. However, both DCOs offer a choice of only square or sawtooth waveforms and a choice of three octave ranges, and this in fact proves to be something of a limiting factor when it comes to the instrument's sonic versatility. For while the synth can quite willingly reproduce a myriad variations on the brass/organ/strings theme, radically different sounds are difficult to achieve, largely due to this lack of versatility at source.
Digital Envelope Generators
On the credit side, however, there are no fewer than three envelope generators, one for each oscillator bank and one for the VCF and Noise. Not only do these facilitate control at six points along the envelope instead of the more usual four, but the fine degree of control available for each parameter (31 steps) results in easily the most versatile EG section the right side of £1000.
As well as the Chorus unit mentioned above (which is quite comfortably Korg's quietest circuit to date, incidentally, even though its variability is nil), the Poly 800 also boasts a digital fully polyphonic sequencer of 256-step storage capacity. This can only be programmed in step-time from the control-panel (I think it's safe to say that real-time programming would not have been feasible at this price level) and it is of course possible to clock the sequencer externally via the MIDI out.
Keyboard Performance
The keyboard itself is only four octaves in length, with a light but positive action that's typically Korg. Whereas on most instruments of this sort I would have expected a limitation such as this to be fairly serious (even the Poly 61 had five octaves), in practice there were few occasions when I wished for greater extension during performance. The joystick control is quite a versatile one, seeing that it's capable of modulating pitch, DCO and VCF.
Factory Presets
The Poly 800 comes complete with factory sounds loaded into its fifty memories (these are also stored on a supplied cassette), but a lot of these are a bit disappointing and don't really make full use of the synthesiser's capabilities, while those sounds that are given names similar or identical to the factory settings on the Poly 61 are rarely as good as their forebears.
When it comes to programming your own sounds, the first problem that becomes apparent (once the waveform limitations have been negotiated) is the provision of only one filter for all oscillators. The upshot of this is that no note can be triggered individually without any held notes being re-triggered also.
It's an effect that can be quite fun at first but it rapidly becomes fatiguing and eventually annoying. I realise that such an economy is probably necessary if the Poly 800 is to be the price breakthrough it's intended to be, but I still can't help thinking that the money spent on providing three envelope generators might have been better spent a little closer to the source of the sound-generation chain.
Still, these gripes can't detract from the fact that what the Korg sets out to do, it does well. The system of programming is ridiculously easy to master regardless of whether or not you've had previous experience of synths with digital control, and if you take your time programming the parameters - particularly the VCF and Modulation Generator - the Korg will reward your labours with some fine, full-bodied poly sounds, equally effective whether you regard it principally as a lead or a backing instrument.
Construction And Finish
Undoubtedly, the 800's makers have been able to save considerable sums in constructional economies. This isn't to say that the keyboard is poorly built - far from it - but in comparison with most other pro instruments, including some of Korg's own, the Poly 800 is a real featherweight. The scarcity of mechanical controls has already been mentioned, and those that do exist are small and light, saving further on production costs. The review sample was perfectly put-together with no faults that I could see, and my only worry is that the 800 may not stand up all that well to the pressures of road use. Digital control is not in any case a particularly convenient way of using a keyboard in a live situation, and it's no understatement to say that the Korg's frailty may well pose problems if the machine is treated to an extended bout of touring.
To take advantage of the Poly 800's enormous portability (it weighs no more than an average large Casiotone, and is extremely compact to boot), Korg have given it a battery supply, six 'C'-type batteries being housed in a sliding cover on the synth's underside. The only problem here is that the instrument seems capable of consuming these at a fantastic rate, even a set of new Duracells lasting little more than six hours of continuous use. To be honest, I'm not altogether sure why Korg have included this particular facility since no built-in amplifiers or speakers are provided, and although there is a standard quarter-inch headphone jack, this is rather inconveniently located at the rear panel.
Accompanying it are the socket for a 9V mains supply, stereo main outputs, connections for sequencer and program tape-dumping, plus DIN sockets for MIDI in and out. This is of course one of the Poly 800's star features, since it is now comfortably the cheapest professional keyboard so-equipped, and this fact alone should win the instrument a lot of friends.
While it's always dangerous to say that anything is a revolutionary instrument, there's no doubt in my mind that the arrival of the Poly 800 is going to cause some widespread and far-reaching changes in the professional keyboard market. We've already heard rumours of competing products being developed as you read this, but as it stands now, and bearing in mind the slight shortcomings illustrated above, it's and extremely impressive piece of equipment.
If you can live with the fact that it's unlikely to stand up all that well to live abuse and aren't too fussy about the sound details already mentioned, the mere fact that a polyphonic, programmable sequencer- and MIDI-equipped keyboard can be bought for what was monosynth territory little more than two years ago is going to make the Poly 800 very, very hard to beat.
The Korg Poly 800 carries a recommended retail price of £635 including VAT, and the importers, Rose-Morris, of (Contact Details) should be able to provide you with any further information. Alternatively, you can contact them by telephone on (Contact Details).
Brian Chatton on the Poly 800
Customise (Part 1)
(ES Jul 85)
Korg Poly 800 - Asia and the Poly 800
(12T Apr 84)
Korg Poly-800 vs SCI Six-Traks
(ES Jun 84)
(EMM Nov 84)
(EMM Jun 85)
Featuring related gear
(IM Feb 86)
Born Again - Korg EX800
(ES Dec 84)
Korg EX800 Expander
(12T Sep 84)
Korg Poly 800 II - Polyphonic synth
(MM May 86)
Second Time Around - Korg Poly 800II Polysynth
Browse category: Synthesizer Module > Korg
Roland Drumatix Modifications
Siel PX Electronic Piano
Electronics & Music Maker - Copyright: Music Maker Publications (UK), Future Publishing.
Electronics & Music Maker - Feb 1984
<ref name="mz7806-korg-poly-800-synthesiser">{{cite magazine|last=|first=|date=Feb 1984|title=Korg Poly 800 Synthesiser|pages=44-46|url=http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/korg-poly-800-synthesiser/7806|magazine=Electronics & Music Maker|publisher=Music Maker Publications (UK), Future Publishing.|location=United Kingdom|access-date=2022-01-18}}</ref>
{{cite magazine|last=|first=|date=Feb 1984|title=Korg Poly 800 Synthesiser|pages=44-46|url=http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/korg-poly-800-synthesiser/7806|magazine=Electronics & Music Maker|publisher=Music Maker Publications (UK), Future Publishing.|location=United Kingdom|access-date=2022-01-18}}
<ref name="mz7806-korg-poly-800-synthesiser">{{cite magazine
| last        =
| first       =
| title       = Korg Poly 800 Synthesiser
| url         = http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/korg-poly-800-synthesiser/7806
| magazine    = Electronics & Music Maker
Synthesizer > Korg > Poly 800
> Brian Chatton on the Pol... EMM Apr 84
> Customise (1) ES Jul 85
> Korg Poly 800 12T Apr 84
> Korg Poly-800 vs SCI Six... ES Jun 84
> Patchwork EMM Aug 84
> Patchwork EMM Oct 84
> Patchwork EMM Nov 84
> Patchwork EMM Mar 85
> Patchwork EMM Jun 85
> Patchwork MT Jan 87
> Patchwork MT Feb 87
Synthesizer Module > Korg > EX800
Synthesizer > Korg > Poly 800 II


Posted August 19, 2015 by Dr. Ehrenman & Dr. Khan & filed under General Dental Articles, General Dentistry, Health.
Everyone is born with a full set of teeth sitting in the jaw, just waiting to erupt through the gums. Even though you can't see them, except with an x-ray, they're still extremely important for your child's development. At our pediatric dental office in Long Island, we'd like to explain the importance of baby teeth.
Talking. As your child ages, she'll most likely start chattering non-stop. Talking is an important step in child development as it aids in speech development, social skills, and communication. Teeth make speaking easier and allow children to pronounce words more quickly, easily, and clearly.
If your child is proudly sporting some tiny teeth and hasn't been to the dentist, give our Long Island pediatric dental office a call. We'll make sure everything looks healthy, no problems are lurking, and their grins are all set for a lifetime of smiles.


Tuesday, 14 October2014 – As a first step for seeking recourse for their dismissal, the Generations Actors Guild (GAG) had their first hearing at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
Their appeal to the CCMA is based on the SABC and MMSV's dismissal of the cast members after they had made a decision to withhold their services as actors from the SABC TV show, Generations.
The outcome of today's hearing was that MMSV and SABC were unwilling to settle – as such, the matter will continue on to arbitration. For the cast, there is a sense of relief that the process has begun.


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Q: Create a matrix based in Objects Class acquire by Class Loader method In my code, I load class in .loadClass method. This work.
NewUnit = myClassLoader.loadClass(classNameToBeLoaded);

Now I need create a matrix based of instances of this class, like this:
NewUnit[][] units = new NewUnit[8][5];

Help!

A: Use java.lang.reflect.Array.newInstance(Class<?>, int...) (see https://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/api/java/lang/reflect/Array.html#newInstance-java.lang.Class-int...-), as in:
java.lang.reflect.Array.newInstance(NewUnit, 8, 5)

Also, it is customary to name your variables using lower (not upper) camel case.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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2021-05-04 00:00:00 2021-05-04 00:00:00 https://avenuemagazine.com Avenue Magazine The 'Other Shoe' in Bill and Melinda Gates's $130 Billion Divorce
The 'Other Shoe' in Bill and Melinda Gates's $130 Billion Divorce
Melinda and Bill Gates receiving the Commander of the Legion of Honour in Paris in 2017
Photo by Kamil Zihnioglu/Getty Images
When Bill Gates's Twitter account dropped the bombshell announcement late yesterday afternoon that he and wife Melinda were divorcing after 27 years of marriage, observers braced for the other shoe to drop.
Gates, 65, is worth around $130 billion, making him the fourth richest person in the world. The timing of the announcement raised eyebrows for such a high-profile person: why drop the news on a Monday, giving ravenous journalists four days to run with the story before the weekend, when conventional wisdom holds the news cycle resets?
Announcements public figures want to bury are typically released late Friday — ideally the Friday of a holiday weekend, such as Memorial Day later this month. So why, after 27 years, could this news not have waited another three weeks?
One theory is Gates may have been trying to get ahead of a tabloid which got wind of the story. Although the weekly gossip rags are not the force they once were, Monday is typically the last day the subject of an unflattering story has to comment, before the magazines print on Tuesday.
And in the commotion of a divorce, it is not uncommon for a previously unknown third party to become public, such as Jeff Bezos's surprise romance with Lauren Sanchez. In fact, Bezos announced his divorce and new relationship on a Monday, precisely to get ahead of the National Enquirer, which was set the break the story on Tuesday.
And yet this Tuesday arrived with no revelation, yet, of another woman or man.
With competing reports regarding whether the Gateses have a prenup (the Times says they do, some tabloids say they don't), the divorce is still likely to be the largest in history, eclipsing even the $35 billion Bezos settlement. Assets include not only the usual dazzling array of properties (like a $125 million Washington state mansion dubbed Xanadu 2.0, plus other homes in California, Florida and Wyoming), private jets and collectible cars, but also more esoteric items such as the "da Vinci Codex" — a notebook of Leonardo's that Gates paid $30 million for in 1994.
With such irresistible details, the story will continue to run, through the weekend and likely beyond.
So, why did they announce it the way they did? Any hack with a drop of ink in their veins has to imagine that we don't know the full story quite yet.
Can Prince Andrew Avoid a New York Trial?
Beauty and the Billionaire: Paulson Steps Out with Influencer Girlfriend
Remembering Elisabeth Kieselstein Cord Hamm


Hip Hopsicles Ice Cube Tray has been added to your shopping cart!
Back in the day, when you wanted to get your gin and juice frosty you had to reach for some lame ice cubes. If you want to get your party crack-a-lackin' you're going to want to bring the noise with these Hip Hopsicle beverage chillers.
Fill the flexible rubber mold with water, juice, or mix up your own libation and get ready to chill in style.
Four throwback shapes: microphones, boomboxes, turntables, and a little bling for your drizzank.


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Category: Blog tours
July 5, 2019 Jebraun Clifford
I'm excited to be part of the blog tour for Keen, a YA banshee novel by Laura L. Zimmerman and published by L2L2 Publishing that's coming out July 9th.
Here's a sneak peek:
You must walk the darkness to find the light. Half-faerie Caoine has no control over the banshee lament she sings each night, predicting the death of others. A senior in a brand new high school, she expects the same response she's received at every other school: judgment from fellow students over her unusual eyes and unnaturally white skin and hair. However, when Caoine arrives at West Lincoln High, for the first time in her life she finds friends. Real friends.
But being a teenager is never easy, especially when the star soccer player, Oliver, sets his sights on her. Allowing him to get close means revealing her curse to the human world. She can't let that happen. Life spins further out of control when her lament comes out during the day, those whose death she predicts die right in front of her, and a dark faerie known only as the Unseelie prince blames Caoine by leaving her the creepiest notes ever. Her curse is not supposed to work like that.
In a race against time, Caoine must uncover the Unseelie prince's identity and stop a spell before it unleashes hell on earth, all while trying to control her banshee song and finding a place among her peers.
Senior year just got real.
I cornered Laura in a coffee shop (where she was innocently sipping on coffee with a splash of skim milk) and was rewarded with some surprising and fun facts about this talented author.
1. She has eclectic tastes
Jebraun: you mentioned that the TV series Teen Wolf gave you some inspiration for Keen. What are some other TV shows/series/movies you enjoy?
Laura: I'll watch some shows, like Teen Wolf or Pretty Little Liars, because it's a good chance for me to connect with my teenagers. But if left solely to my own discretion, I'll binge watch Friends, The Office or Parks and Rec, Psych…I'm currently rewatching Downton Abbey with my girls (for the third time!) But my favorite TV show is Supernatural! My oldest daughter and I never miss an episode!! Movies almost always center around the Marvel Universe, Star Wars, or a kids movie, since my youngest is just eight. Although, my teens have roped me into watching a few horror with them recently! (Against my will. *hides eyes. literally*)
2. She yearns for the simple life
Jebraun: This sounds similar to what I like to watch. Except the horror, lol. I'm with you on that one! Suppose you were a character from Lord of the Rings. Who would you be and why?
Laura: I'm not sure which specific character, but I think I'd like to be a hobbit! They lead such simple lives in the beautiful countryside, and they love to celebrate! *heart* Their relationships revolve around good food and good conversation. It's so opposite of Western culture. I swoon every time Gandalf's cart rolls into the Shire at the beginning of the movie.
3. She also dreams big
Jebraun: the Shire is certainly inspiring. And speaking of inspiration, where would you go on a writing retreat? Would you bring anyone with you? Give me all the details!
Laura: Dream retreat, you say? *little bubble forms overhead* An open coffee bar that never closes with a barista who knows ALL the drinks, all my favorite writing community friends would be there, it would be in Ireland (naturally because we would totally all be able to afford to go there and stay a whole week), our families would function perfectly without us and there would be no problems with any flights. *bubble pops* But in reality…if I can ever connect with any of my writing friends, no matter where, I'll be there!
4. She loves to read
Jebraun: Sounds heavenly! What about reading. Any favourite authors?Mine would be CJ Redwine. I LOVE her Ravenspire series!
Laura: Oh wow. I think anything written by Kristen Ciccarelli. *swoon* Her writing is gorgeous, I adore her world building and the way she weaves her plots is amazing!
5. She's up for an adventure
Jebraun: Let's step outside of fiction for a moment. You have the chance to go colonize the moon. It's perfectly safe. You can bring your family if you wish. Would you go? Why or why not?
Laura: YES. I'm always on-board for an adventure. I mean, yeah, I'd be terrified for that flight, but the view would be crazy beautiful! I'd bring my whole family and would love every minute getting to experience something new and exciting! Besides, how fun would it be to get to walk on the moon?
6. She's practical when it comes to sustenance
Jebraun: What favorite snack food would you bring along on your mission to the moon?
Laura: Chocolate. And Kind bars. Or nuts. Okay, let's be honest, if I'm in a coffee shop, it's basically any carb-loaded yumminess they have to offer!!
Jebraun: Thank you soooo much for sharing your thoughts with me! I seriously can't wait for KEEN!!
Laura L. Zimmerman lives in a suburb of Charlotte, North Carolina with her husband, three daughters, and three furbaby felines. Besides writing, she's passionate about loving Jesus, anything Star Wars, and singing loudly. She takes her coffee black and spends her days pretending to do yoga. Keen is her debut novel.
Connect with Laura on Facebook Twitter Instagram Goodreads Pinterest or her website.
You can purchase Keen at L2L2 Publishing.
And don't forget to join the fun at the Keen Facebook party on Thursday, July 11th.
Too short to be an elf and too tall to be a Hobbit, Jebraun lives smack-dab in the centre of New Zealand's North Island surrounded by thermal activity, stunning lakes, and enough Redwoods to make her Californian heart swoon. She writes about discovering identity, living without fear, and enjoys creating fantastic worlds. Her loves include coffee, tree ferns, dark chocolate, and Jesus, and she harbours a secret penchant for British spelling. You can find her sci-fi short story "Beyond the Stars, Past the Moons" in Encircled, a collection of fairy tale retellings.
Have you signed up for my newsletter yet? You'll get access to my free flash fiction story, The Stone Veil, and I give away New Zealand chocolate and an e-book in every newsletter!
Blog tours blog tour, Keen, Laura L Zimmerman, new release, YA books, YA fantasy 1 Comment
April 6, 2019 April 5, 2019 Jebraun Clifford
I'm so pleased to host Kristy Perkins on the blog today to talk about her short story in the anthology Fractured Ever After.
But first, here's the blurb:
Old classics are fractured into exciting new tales in this international collection of magic, mystery, and adventure.
Some heroes go searching for their happily ever after: a dragon cocoon hunter explores the dangerous woods for his sleeping beauty; a prince forces a perfect romance on an unsuspecting maiden; and when a girl leaves town, she must quickly decide to trust—or be wary of—a new stranger.
Destiny is thrust upon others: a disconnected emperor struggles to retain his title; a frog prince leaves his pond in search of answers; and after Rapunzel is rescued, a new quest is awarded to her savior.
Whether it is destiny or choice, all actions have consequences: sibling rivalry pushes one little piggy to extremes and a princess must choose to follow her heart or step up as future queen.
Prepare for an adventure as these eight fantastic fairy tales transport you to places beyond your imagination.
Jebraun: Hi Kristy! Thanks for joining me. I love that we've both got short stories in upcoming anthologies. The blurb sounds great! I'm wondering, what was the inspiration behind your story?
Kristy: I wrote a short story as a Christmas present detailing the holiday misadventures of an older Rapunzel's family. I'm not sure how much I want to spoil about my story's ending, so I'll just say that there were elements of that story that made me curious how things could have ended up that way after the usual events of that fairy tale. So that was my starting point.
Beyond that, I knew that Rapunzel had a secret, so the prince had to be the POV character, and the rest of the story unfolded from there.
Jebraun: Oooh! Rapunzel is a favourite of mine! Did you have any difficulty coming up with a story to fit the theme of the anthology?
Kristy: Oh, no! I love fairy tales, and my real problem was choosing which story idea to go with. Another forerunner was a variation on The Little Mermaid, the version where she ends up as heartbroken seafoam.
Jebraun: Oh, dear! Break my heart! That ending truly makes me sad! What were some of your biggest challenges during the writing/editing process?
Kristy: The prince! Almost everyone who read early and middle drafts noted that he didn't quite work as the POV character because Rapunzel just felt more like the main character. It was a struggle to bring him forward and make him more active in how he was dealing with Rapunzel and their relationship. Hopefully I succeeded!
Jebraun: I can't wait to read it and find out! What was your favourite story in the anthology (besides yours, lol) and why.
Kristy: "On the Wrong Foot"! It's the funniest retelling of Cinderella I think I've ever read. I tend to gravitate toward the more humorous stories. Also, "Beauty" gets an honorable mention because dragons are my favorite.
Jebraun: I love Cinderella retellings, too! How do you sustain yourself whilst writing?
Kristy: Sugar. Pure, raw sugar that I consume by the spoonful.
Oof. Forget the joke, that just makes me feel a little nauseous.
I like things like goldfish crackers, chocolate chips, pieces of chicken. Not all together! The main idea is something where I can nibble it a tiny bit at a time. Reward myself after every sentence if the writing is going slowly.
Favorite drink is tea, either pu-erh or a spice tea, depending on my mood. I tend to get involved in writing and forget I made myself a cup so it oversteeps, but that's how I like it so it works.
Jebraun: Yeah, I was definitely making a face at the idea of spoonfuls of sugar! And I tend to end up with oversteeped tea myself 😉 So, if you could be a fairy tale creature, what would it be?
Kristy: DRAGON!!!! Absolutely I would choose to be a dragon. I could fly, breathe fire, have beautiful shining scales, a massive hoard of treasure, and if I was lucky, I could find the right cave and be as antisocial as I wanted because no one would bother me because DRAGON. I could even still be a writer, with voice-to-text programs.
I'm Jebraun: Dragons are awesome! Thanks so much for answering all my questions and best of luck with the release of your anthology!
Kristy Perkins is a nanny, and a writer whenever she can find the time. Ever since she could write legibly, she has created stories. She writes fantasy and sci-fi stories to satisfy the need for more dragons and spaceships in her life.
"Out of the Tower" started as a simple tale of a boy falling in love with a girl after he rescued her from a witch. But that was too easy, so he had to lose all his memories and then try to avoid the problem. When that also proved too simple, the wonderful Rapunzel gained a secret of her own, which led to the story found here.
Short stories of Kristy's can be found in other JL Anthologies. Check out Kristy's blog or follow her on Twitter or Pinterest.
We've got a fabulous giveaway going to celebrate the release of both Fractured Ever After and Encircled!
Grand Prize (US only): Two Paperbacks (Fractured Ever After and Encircled), book cozy + shoe ornament, 3D-printed bookmark (pick one design), set of four signed illustration prints
First Prize (US only): Two Paperbacks (Fractured Ever After and Encircled), charm bracelet, 3D-printed bookmark (pick one design), set of four signed illustration prints
Second Prize (International): Two Ebooks (Fractured Ever After and Encircled), 3D-printed bookmark (pick one design), set of four signed illustration prints
Third Prize (International): Two Ebooks (Fractured Ever After and Encircled), choice of 3D-printed bookmark (pick one design) OR set of four signed illustration prints.
Enter the giveaway through this magic portal!
Have you signed up for my newsletter yet? You'll get instant access to my flash fiction story, "The Stone Veil," plus I give away New Zealand chocolate and an e-book in every newsletter!
Blog tours, Giveaways anthology, Fractured Ever After, kristy perkins 2 Comments
You know those fantastical stories that draw you in from the very first line?
The ones packed with solid world-building, interesting characters, magic, danger, romance, and…a…a…shape-shifting otter?
If Wishes Were Curses by the uber-talented Janeen Ippolito hits all these high points and more.
Before I get into the reasons I loved this story, I'm gonna give you the blurb:
So I accidentally killed a shifter. On purpose.
With genie powers I shouldn't be able to use, thanks to my curse-mark.
In my defense, the damn grizzly was threatening civilians and might have been a vampire as well. Pittsburgh is safer without him. Only the Fae court doesn't believe my story, and the shifters are out for blood.
Now I've lost my job as a romantic investigator, and I'm on death row. My only hope is an oddly outgoing vegetarian vampire lawyer who seems strangely familiar. Too familiar.
Almost like we've met before, and this whole thing was a set-up to take us both down.
Wishing won't get us out of this mess.
But my forbidden wish magic just might.
Whoa! Sounds intense, right?
Okay, here's what I loved:
1. Non-stop action
Once this story starts, it does not let up. Our heroine, Allis, battles the Fae world (which really have it out for her), her own powers (astronomical), and even destiny to get what she wants. Set in an absolutely magical but absolutely believable Pittsburgh, this imaginative tale sucked me in and took me for a wild ride. I loved the bits and pieces of plot dangled ever so skillfully in front of me that left me hooked as well as all the mythological traditions blended together.
2. A character I could root for
I loved Allis's snarky comments and absolute flair for wry observations that were so witty, I literally laughed out loud more than once. Allis was handed a raw deal, but instead of feeling sorry for herself, she plucks up her courage, reins in those darker impulses, and sets about making things right. I really admired her streak of justice! And the family dynamic with her brother provided an opportunity to showcase her loyalty.
3. A romantic subplot that hummed beautifully throughout the story
I don't read 'romance' stories. But I still like romance, you know? This story hit the perfect balance. Without giving you any spoilers, let's just say I really enjoyed the way Allis constantly met and re-met the love of her life. Their chemistry was red-hot without being too in-your-face, and I loved how their devotion to one another got them out of more than one sticky situation.
Buy If Wishes Were Curses on Amazon and don't forget to add it to your Goodreads list!
Janeen Ippolito writes steampunk fantasy and urban fantasy, and creates writing resources, including the reference book World Building From the Inside Out and the creative writing guide Irresistible World Building For Unforgettable Stories. She's an experienced teacher, editor, author coach, marketer, and is the leader of Uncommon Universes Press, a small traditional science fiction and fantasy publishing house. She's also the cohost of the podcast Indie Book Magic. In her spare time, Janeen enjoys sword-fighting, reading, pyrography, and eating brownie batter. Two of her goals are eating fried tarantulas and traveling to Antarctica.
Connect with Janeen on Facebook Twitter Instagram or her website.
Blog tours blog tour, book review, If Wishes Were Curses, Janeen Ippolito, new release, urban fantasy Leave a comment
How to Destroy a Dark Lord: Behind the Scenes of Pam Halter's Fairyeater
October 24, 2018 October 22, 2018 Jebraun Clifford
Welcome to the blog tour for Pam Halter's new fantasy, Fairyeater.
I got a sneak behind-the-scenes peek at the central conflict of this fabulous tale from the author herself.
Take it away, Pam!
Figuring out how to destroy Riss'aird was difficult. I didn't want to be cheesy. I didn't want my readers to think I had copied from another story. I wanted to be original.
As a Christian, I believe praise to the Living God drives away many unwanted things, including the enemy, so I wondered how I could use that in Fairyeater. How could I utilize the elements? What if there were something fairies need to remain healthy in their faith and their magic?
I came up with Fountains ~ one for each element. And they each have fairies who come to them each sunrise to offer praise to Celtar (God) and to bless them.
Earth fountain is a fountain of swirling sand.
Water fountain is a fountain of water.
Fire fountain is a fountain of fire.
Air fountain is invisible. It moves from place to place, therefore, making it hardest to find.
There is a map showing the location of each Fountain except for the Air Fountain. It is this map Tzmet gets her hands on. She is determined to poison each Fountain. When Tzmet uses the cape of fairywings to poison the earth fountain, it becomes tainted and the earth fairies are unknowingly sowing evil into the ground which allows Riss'aird to regenerate.
How do the Fountains destroy Riss'aird?
When the four pieces of the Fairystone are complete and joined with the Guardian, the Fountains come together and form the Fairysong – pure praise to Celtar from not only the very the elements, but also from every soul that loves Him. When the Fairysong is formed, it creates the wave of praise, capable of destroying the evil it is called up for.
Here's a piece of the story where Akeela brings forth the Fairysong. I had goosebumps writing it.
The moons drifted away from the sun and the sunlight struck the Fairystone in Akeela's hand. Her body jerked and became taut. The far off song she heard swelled and grew louder. Then the Fairystone came to life. All the auras Akeela could see grew as bright as the sun. She could hear every heartbeat of every fairy pounding in her ears. The song became recognizable; a song of praise to Celtar, ringing from the souls of every fairy and person who believed. A startling, fresh joy Akeela never experienced before pulsed through her and she could feel her soul joining in song with the others.
And what happens next?
The song grew and became a wave. It emanated from Akeela and rushed toward Riss'aird. He shrieked and turned, but it crashed over him, enveloping him. Without warning, he disintegrated. His ashes floated for a moment before the air fairies whirled around them, sending them up and away.
I wish I could show you the picture in my mind when I wrote this. With all the amazing special effects today, I imagine this scene in vivid color whenever I read it. I also imagine the future, where all believers will be together forever, praising God. It gives my heart a little leap.
All fifteen-year-old Akeela has ever wanted is an ordinary family who will love her. But the only mother she has ever known is the old hag, Krezma, who berates her night and day. Why did the old woman even take her in?
But Krezma knows her charge is no ordinary child. She can see the auras surrounding living things and can communicate with fairies. And the birthmark on her palm reveals a secret Krezma must hold close for the child's safety.
A secret that the witch, Tzmet, hunts for night and day, drying and eating fairies for the power they contain. When Akeela discovers her fate lies in being the next Fairy Guardian, all hope for an ordinary life dissipates like the dreams they were. She must protect the fairies from the witch—and an even darker power that threatens them all. Akeela is unwillingly thrust into an adventure that will not end until she decides to accept her fate and give up on her dream.
Maybe even her life.
Wow! Thanks, Pam. This sounds amazing. Can't wait to read it!
Don't forget to attend the Facebook party celebrating the release of Fairyeater. There will be a heap of giveaways and a chance to learn more about this fabulous author!
Pam Halter has been a children's book author since 1995. The first book in her Willoughby and Friends series, Willoughby and the Terribly Itchy Itch, won the 2018 Realm Award in the children's category, and she also received a Reader's Choice Award in 2015 for her short story, "Tick Tock," in Realmscapes. Fairyeater is her first fantasy novel. She lives in South Jersey, deep in farmland, and enjoys long walks on country roads where she discovers fairy homes, emerging dragons, and trees eating wood gnomes.
Connect with Pam on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads, Amazon, or on her website
And you can follow purchase links to Fairyeater here!
Thanks for joining me 🙂
Too short to be an elf and too tall to be a Hobbit, Jebraun lives smack-dab in the centre of New Zealand's North Island in a town filled with thermal activity, stunning lakes, and enough Redwoods to make her Californian heart swoon. She writes about discovering identity, living without fear, and enjoys creating fantastic worlds. Her unpublished YA fantasy, The Two Queens of Kyrie, won both the American Christian Fiction Writer's 2015 First Impressions contest and the 2016 Genesis contest. She loves coffee, tree ferns, dark chocolate, and Jesus, and harbours a secret penchant for British spelling.
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I give away New Zealand chocolate and an e-book in every one!
Blog tours authors, fairy, Fairyeater, fantasy, new release, Pam Halter, writing 10 Comments
Armor of Aletheia: Interview with Ralene Burke
October 1, 2018 October 8, 2018 Jebraun Clifford
I'm excited to host author Ralene Burke today as part of the blog tour for her new fantasy novel, Armor of Aletheia.
Ralene and I caught up, and I got to pelt her with questions about life, writing, and everything in between.
Jebraun: Yay! I'm so happy you're here. First of all, the cover is stunning. The gate! The mountains! The purple!!
Now. I want to hear about your journey with this new story. There are so many steps to writing (and publishing!) a novel from the thrill of the first draft to the joy of seeing your book on a bookshop shelf. What are some highlights from a few of the steps of Armor of Aletheia?
Ralene: Armor of Aletheia was a long project for me. We had a lot of personal things going on throughout the writing/editing process, so it took a long time. So finishing each step was a huge accomplishment, a reason for celebration. It was also the story that snagged both my agent and my first publisher. Woot! Which then turned this into my first traditionally published novel. The best part so far has been the reader's reactions. It has been such a blessing to me to see how the readers are relating to the characters, to their situations, and that the story is staying with them. That's all I want with these stories that live in my heart.
J: That has to be so satisfying for you. Let's dig into the story. Any settings or characters based on real places or people?
R: No, not really. Well, except Karina, the main character, is a lot like me and her journey echoes mine. I wanted people to know my journey, to see my discoveries, and maybe that would help them in their own lives, with their own journey.
J: I love this! This is why we write, isn't it? So good to hear that your story is touching those who read it. What about some of the deeper points about Armor of Aletheia. What themes really resonate in this story?
R: Embracing who you are. We were all created for a purpose, something that only we can fulfill. But oftentimes, we resist that calling for one reason or another. Maybe we're scared, maybe we don't feel worthy, maybe there's something standing in our way like finances, education, obligations, etc. But it's important that we find and embrace who we were meant to be. That's when and where we will shine the brightest!
J: Yes! So good. Learning lessons like these are challenging though it's satisfying to pass them on. Obviously, this knowledge has been hard-earned. But you managed to capture it and put it down on paper. I'd like to hear about what inspires you. What feeds your soul? How do you refresh yourself creatively?
R: Reading good books, watching great TV shows/movies, listening to amazing music. I'm really influenced by other people's art. It inspires me.
J: I'm right there with you. What about sustenance for your body, haha. What's your favourite snacks or drinks whilst writing?
R: Dark chocolate M&Ms and a big glass of iced tea. That's how I accomplish those crazy 10k days!
J: Mmmm. Sounds perfect. To end here, do you have any wise words of advice for a newbie writer?
R: It's important that you learn your craft. Be sure to study the art of writing from many sources. But don't forget to write, write, write. And then write some more.
J: Thanks for joining me today, Ralene. Godspeed and best of luck as your story gets out there in the world!
You're invited to celebrate with Ralene at her book launch for Armor of Aletheia on Facebook. Chat with her and other authors, and there will be prizes! RSVP here.
Whether she's wielding a fantasy writer's pen, a social media wand, or a freelance editor's sword, Ralene Burke always has her head in some dreamer's world. And her goal is to help everyone SHINE BEYOND their circumstances! Her novels, Bellanok and Armor of Aletheia are available on Amazon.
When her head's not in the publishing world, she is wife to a veteran and homeschooling mama to their three kids. Her Pinterest board would have you believe she is a master chef, excellent seamstress, and all around crafty diva. If she only had the time . . .
Connect with Ralene on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or at her website.
Jebraun Clifford always wanted to step through a door into an imaginary kingdom, so it's no surprise she now calls Middle Earth home. Too short to be an elf and too tall to be a Hobbit, she lives smack-dab in the centre of New Zealand's North Island in a town filled with thermal activity, stunning lakes, and enough Redwoods to make her Californian heart swoon. She writes about discovering identity, living without fear, and enjoys creating fantastic worlds. Her unpublished YA fantasy, The Two Queens of Kyrie, won both the American Christian Fiction Writer's 2015 First Impressions contest and the 2016 Genesis contest. She loves coffee, tree ferns, dark chocolate, and Jesus, and harbours a secret penchant for British spelling.
Have you signed up for my newsletter?
I give away an e-book and fabulous New Zealand chocolate in every one.
Looking for the clue? Here it is!
Blog tours Armor of Aletheia, author interview, authors, blog tour, books, fantasy, Ralene Burke Leave a comment
The Awesome Adventure of Kill the Beast ~ and a giveaway!
September 18, 2018 September 27, 2018 Jebraun Clifford
You know those stories that keep you up late at night reading? The ones with fantastic heroines, lush descriptions, and exciting adventures?
If you're in the mood for such a story, look no further.
Michele Israel Harper has done it again!
In Kill the Beast, an imaginative retelling of familiar fairy tales, Michele weaves a wonderful world of monsters, mademoiselles, castles, and crossbows.
Set in a long-ago France, this book captures some of the best elements of Beauty and the Beast (the enchantment! The food! The rose!) as well as manages to turn Little Red Riding Hood into a kick-butt heroine who is anything but a damsel in distress.
Want more? Of course you do!
Ro remembers the castle before. Before the gates closed. Before silence overtook the kingdom. Before the castle disappeared. Now it shimmers to life one night a year, seen by her alone.
Once a lady, now a huntress, Ro does what it takes to survive—just like the rest of the kingdom plunged into despair never before known. But a beast has overtaken the castle. A beast that killed the prince and holds the castle and kingdom captive in his cruel power. A beast Ro has been hired to kill. Thankful the mystery of the prince's disappearance has been solved, furious the magical creature has killed her hero, Ro eagerly accepts the job to end him. But things are not as they seem.
Trapped in the castle, a prisoner alongside the beast, Ro wonders what she should fear most: the beast, the magic that holds them both captive, or the one who hired her to kill the beast.
Doesn't that sound intriguing? Now check out this cover:
What I liked about this tale was the smattering of French phrases scattered here and there to lend authenticity, the mouth-watering descriptions of the food, the detailed world-building which made me picture the Beast's castle and surrounding countryside, the backstory that left me begging for more, and the unexpected twist at the end.
But most of all, I loved the heroine, Ro. She is feisty and fierce yet somehow vulnerable at the same time. I loved her loyalty to her family, especially her sister, and how she would do anything to protect her.
I enjoyed it soooo much, I've giving you a chance to own your very own copy! I've got a prize pack for one lucky reader including a paperback version of Kill the Beast, some yummy chocolate all the way from New Zealand, and a book cozy featuring a forest scene complete with foxes, hedgehogs, and rabbits.
*Giveaway Closed*
Go through the magic portal to enter (erm, actually, it's a link to Rafflecopter).
You've got a week to enter. Sorry, only open to residents in the United States.
You also don't want to miss the Facebook party on Thursday, September 27, 2018 8-10pm EST.
Michele Israel Harper spends her days as a work-at-home mom and her nights typing away furiously on her laptop. Sleep? Sometimes… She has her Bachelor of Arts in history, is slightly obsessed with all things French—including Jeanne d'Arc and La Belle et la Bête and loves curling up with a good book more than just about anything else. Author of Wisdom & Folly: Sisters, Zombie Takeover, Beast Hunter, and Kill the Beast, Michele prays her involvement in writing, editing, and publishing will touch many lives in the years to come.
Connect with Michele on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or her website.
You can also purchase Kill the Beast on L2L2 Publishing's website!
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Blog tours, Giveaways authors, book review, books, fantasy, giveaway, Kill the Beast, Michele Israel Harper, new release, writing 19 Comments
The Amazing Aesthetics of Renegade Skyfarer
July 9, 2018 July 9, 2018 Jebraun Clifford
Today author RJ Metcalf celebrates the release of her brand new book, Renegade Skyfarer.
She's got a heap of beautiful aesthetics for us to ogle, so let's jump in, shall we? Take it away RJ!
It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words, and a dear friend of mine recently got me into the whole aesthetics thing, and I'm afraid to say, I am hooked. So, it may be considered cheating to some, but I'm going to share a bit of my characters via aesthetics, because, really now, who doesn't love them? And with that, I must also note that I am not skilled in such gorgeous graphics, and these were all made by the lovely LoriAnn Weldon of Magpie Designs, Ltd. ^_^
Meet Ben Dubray, an amnesiac who gets rescued by the crew of the airship, the Sapphire. He can't remember anything beyond his name that's listed on his metal necklace, but throughout Renegade Skyfarer, bits and pieces of memory will flash into mind, and he'll start piecing the puzzle together. During all that, the Sapphire mechanic and daughter of the airship captain, Jade Stohner, befriends him and does what she can to encourage him in this strange new world.
Spunky and passionate about life, Jade doesn't know that life is about to drastically change once her father reveals a secret he's been keeping all her life. Caught between her own plans for her life and her father's ideas for her life, she's going to have to find a dark corner of the Sapphire to figure out what she's going to do. But what she and her childhood best friend, Krista, plan, may not match up to what Jade's father, Slate, wants.
Slate, the captain that carries the world on his shoulders. Burdened by choices he made in his youth, burdened with secrets, burdened with the knowledge that if he fails in his quest to restore the barrier, all he holds dear could die, Slate is a man on a mission. He doesn't always handle the stress well–in fact, he often doesn't–but he owes up to what he needs to do, and he's the man to see it done. Whether it be pompous lords, bandits, or even a crazed berserker, Slate will give it everything he's got to right his wrongs.
Not all appearances are as they seem when it comes to a berserker. Blade has his own mission and his own goals, and he will do all he can to bring Slate's world crashing around him, in flames and blood and death, as only Slate deserves.
The adventure won't end until at least one person fulfills their goal–while the other worlds burn.
And how about a little teaser to give us a better idea of the storyline?
The airship crew saved Ben's life from a dragon, of all things.
When Ben wakes up, he has no memory of his family, his home, or how he got to this strange world. All he knows is what his new crew members tell him: the magical Barrier that protects their land is weakening. Unless they find the artifact that can repair it, all of Terrene will be destroyed and enslaved by the enemies beyond.
But when Ben suspects that danger may lurk closer than dragons or sky pirates, he has to decide: stay and fight with the airship crew, or focus on regaining his lost memory? If he leaves, he risks losing his newfound friends–but if he stays, he might never return home.
Welcome to Terrene–where dragons exist, the past haunts, and magic is no myth.
Welcome aboard the Sapphire.
Calling all book readers! Join author RJ Metcalf as we chat about her fantasy novel RENEGADE SKYFARER on July 6th from 8 PM to 10 PM EST (7 PM CST and 5 PM PST).
Grab your favorite drink and snack and be prepared for a fun time of chatting with RJ, games, and giveaways. Special guests S D Grimm and Jamie Foley, Author will also be sharing their books and joining in the fun. RSVP here.
Want to dive into a new world or in need of a good book? Enter to win a signed print copy of Renegade Skyfarer, a Stones of Terrene notepad and pen, Notebook of Writing, and bracelet! (US only.)
During the day, Becky is a stay at home mom of two active little boys. When she has 'free time', she enjoys reading, writing, baking and sewing. After many years of creative writing classes, writing fanfiction drabbles and daydreaming, it was high time to start writing her husband Mike's story. She dove into the world of Terrene and hasn't looked back—except for when she runs out of dark chocolate. Any free time not spent in Terrene is typically expended on hosting dinner and game nights, running amok with the two little monkeys or watching nerdy movies with Mike.
Connect with Becky
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Amazon Author Page
Sign up for my newsletter. I give away chocolate and e-books in every one!
Blog tours authors, fantasy, new release, R.J. Metcalf, Renegade Skyfarer 3 Comments


A study of small and medium-sized retail business owners found that theft of merchandise by customers, vandalism, break-ins and online security were the top concerns for retailers.
Reflecting on the state of their business at the end of 2013, only 32 percent felt they were "extremely" or "very secure from theft" prior to the holiday season, according to the Harris Poll survey, commissioned by ADT.
Security experts at Unisys Corporation predict that the coming year will usher in broad-based adoption of encryption as enterprises respond to recent disclosures that unencrypted data traffic inside enterprises is vulnerable to detection from outsiders.
Only three days after one of the largest diamond thefts in history, two armed robbers held up a luxury watch store in Cannes, only a half-mile from the site of the diamond heist.
How do you measure a proactive means of what can be done to mitigate the unique risks of retailing? On the front end; by setting the foundation through relevant, strong policies, clear procedures and guidelines, developing a policy/compliance/validation audit program focused in on physical security, loss prevention measures.
Back in the day, convenience stores were as convenient to robbers as to customers. It once was estimated by law enforcement officials that six percent of all robberies of businesses in the U.S. involved convenience stores.
Loss prevention is a difficult but rewarding career path. During a special ceremony under the banner of the National Retail Federation Loss Prevention (LP) Conference in June, winners of the 2013 Loss Prevention Awards were honored.
The median dollar value of items and cash stolen during completed household burglaries increased 54 percent from 1994 to 2011.


Welcome to this outstanding 1 bedroom plus den unit in the CityPlace. This high quality steel and concrete building is located in the best neighbourhood of Downtown Victoria - the Humboldt Valley. Morning sun streams into this spacious suite and brilliant colours make for a cheery feel. An open concept kitchen and living/dining area are perfect for entertaining guests and the corner gas fireplace is a cozy gathering place on cool evenings. The den is an ideal home office. The east-facing deck overlooks St Ann's Academy grounds and is the perfect spot for summer al-fresco dining! CityPlace is an excellent option for investors too as rentals are permitted. Underground parking stall and separate storage are included and pets are welcome!


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4 Major Military Events That Happened On Christmas
By Katie Lange | December 25, 2019
This article was originally published on Dec. 17, 2018, by the Department of Defense.
On Christmas Day every year, many Americans relax and enjoy time with their families. For many of our troops, though, it can be a day of sacrifice and hardship.
Over the history of the U.S., several big military actions have taken place on December 25. Here are four noteworthy ones.
1776: Washington's Famous Crossing of the Delaware
The Battle of Trenton inspired this famous painting by Emanuel Leutze of Gen. George Washington crossing the Delaware River. Photo courtesy of the National Archives.
The winter of 1776 didn't start as a good one for Gen. George Washington's Continental Army. They suffered many defeats in the first few months of the American Revolution and had been pushed out of New York and New Jersey into Pennsylvania. For the troops, morale was low.
Washington needed to renew faith in the battle for independence, so he decided to surprise the Hessians – German troops hired by the British – who were stationed in Trenton, New Jersey. He figured that doing so after the enemy's Christmas celebrations would find them groggy and unprepared for a fight, especially as a terrible winter storm was brewing.
So late Christmas night, Washington and his troops hopped in boats and waded across the icy Delaware River to test his theory – and he was right. At dawn on Dec. 26, about 2,400 frozen Continentals pushed into Trenton, and they did indeed surprise the enemy, who surrendered within an hour and a half.
The mission, which became known as the Battle of Trenton, was of huge significance to the Continental Army's cause. Not only did it raise the troops' spirits, but it revived the hope of the colonists, who were beginning to think their battle for independence wasn't feasible.
1864: The First Battle of Fort Fisher
A damaged Confederate gun at Fort Fisher, N.C., circa 1864, after the first battle there toward the end of the Civil War. Photo by Timothy O'Sullivan/Courtesy of the DOD.
For most of the Civil War, North Carolina's Fort Fisher saw very little combat. But that changed on Christmas 1864, when the Union decided it wanted to capture the last port the Confederates held on the Atlantic Ocean.
It was a debacle for the Union.
First, the Union tried to pack a warship with explosives and blow up the fort's walls — but that didn't work. It just blew up their ship and alerted the Confederates of an imminent attack. So on Christmas Eve, the Union tried again, bombarding the fort with heavy gunfire, most of which fell short or missed its target.
On Christmas morning, Union commanders decided to shell an area north of the fort so troops could land and come ashore. But when they did, more disappointment followed — the fort's heavy artillery was completely unscathed, so that was a no-go, too. It was only then that the Union ordered troops to retreat.
While the first Battle of Fort Fisher was a massive failure for the Union, the second wasn't. In mid-January 1865, Union troops were finally able to capture the fort, effectively cutting the Confederates off from global trade and supplies. The Civil War ended three months later.
1972: Operation Linebacker II in North Vietnam
A B-52 Stratofortress bomber takes off from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam in support of Operation Linebacker II in December 1972. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Air Force.
American troops were in the middle of the biggest bombing mission in military history during the Christmas season of 1972. The air campaign, called Operation Linebacker II, has largely been considered the action that ended U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.
President Richard Nixon ordered the bombings to begin on Dec. 18 after North Vietnamese delegates walked out on peace talks. Nicknamed the "11 Days of Christmas," the operation consisted of 11 successive days of raids by B-52 Stratofortress bombers flown in from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam.
The only day that both sides got a reprieve was Christmas, when troops were given a 36-hour break to celebrate. During that time, Nixon ordered the North Vietnamese to return to the bargaining table. The North Vietnamese refused, so the bombings continued until Dec. 29, when they agreed to resume peace talks.
In 11 days, Linebacker II dropped 15,000 tons of bombs via 729 U.S. Air Force sorties involving about 12,000 airmen. Defense Department records show the raids destroyed or damaged 1,600 structures, 500 rail targets, 10 airfields and 80 percent of North Vietnam's electric-generating capacity. Fifteen U.S. B-52s were also destroyed in the process, killing 35 men and leading to the capture of nearly 40 American prisoners of war.
The resumed peace talks that came from the campaign led to the Paris Peace Accords in January 1973. The U.S. ended its involvement in the war soon after, but the last American troops wouldn't leave the country for another two years.
1896: "Stars and Stripes Forever" is Written
On this stereoscopic card, the John Philip Sousa Band plays on a bandstand in Philadelphia around 1900 while two band members wave American flags. Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress.
While this wasn't exactly a military action, it's definitely a symbol of America's military might.
John Philip Sousa, who grew up during the Civil War, was a talented musician who became a long-time director of the U.S. Marine Band. Known as the "March King," he was a rock star of his time, eventually starting his own band in 1892.
On Christmas Day 1896, while crossing the Atlantic on his way home from a European vacation, Sousa's lasting legacy came to him. He said the notes for "Stars and Stripes Forever" were born out of homesickness and fond memories of his time as the Marine Band's leader.
The iconic song officially became America's national march in 1987.
So this holiday season, while you're enjoying leave, family, friends and feasts, think of some of your fellow troops, past and present, who had to forgo their holidays for the greater good of the country. While you're at it, you might even want to put on "Stars and Stripes Forever" in their honor.
Have a great holiday season, everybody!
Katie Lange
Author for Department of Defense
For more content like this, visit defense.gov.
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All organizations, surveys and market research play an important role in the strategic decision-making. Data mining and web scraping technique either for personal or business use of the knowledge and information act as essential tools. Many companies make use of people to your web pages to manually copy and paste data. This leads to a waste of time and efforts since it is extremely expensive and highly unreliable.
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The Search Engine Optimization (SEO) industry has developed hugely in the previous couple of years, and to such a degree, that numerous SEO rehearses have turned out to be essential segments of the Internet marketing techniques for some businesses.