We offer a wide variety of fitness, recreational and cultural activities for residents ages 50+ and five facilities dedicated to programming and social opportunities for older adults.
A current Seniors Services 50+ membership is required to register for Seniors Services 50+ programs.
Seniors Services 50+ members, join us to enjoy day trips via bus.
Enjoy fun Seniors Services 50+ day trips!
We make our way to Orangeville for a tasty tour of local restaurants. Then, browse and shop at the Home Accents Emporium for gifts and more.
Tour the countryside and enjoy a warm homemade lunch on a Mennonite Farm.
Enjoy a buffet lunch at Queen's Inn followed by a matinee performance of Billy Elliot at the Stratford Festival.
Open the Seniors Services 50+ Day Trips schedule (PDF) for details. Tickets on sale now. Valid Seniors Services 50+ membership required.
This new Aquatic Boxing program for Parkinson's patients takes place in the pool, reducing the risk of injury fear of falling!
Studies also show that aquatic boxing with specialized equipment helps improve balance, reduces stiffness, and has lasting neuroprotective effects.
If you have been diagnosed with Parkinson's or are experiencing Parkinson's symptoms, this program is for you.
Strengthen joints and help prevent falls and injuries by addressing balance, gait and posture issues in this 50+ indoor program.
A Walk Better, Be Stronger participant's family recently wrote us to say "Thank you all for giving our mother her independence and mobility back through your excellent program."
Open to all abilities and levels, a Seniors Services 50+ membership is required to register.
Active Oakville, the online drop-in program finder, displays schedules for art, sport and recreation activities for all ages; fitness classes; swim and skate schedules; and more up to seven days in advance.
As well as the seniors newsletters which follow, browse the Parks, Recreation and Culture Program Guide or online registration system for more information.
Want to get involved? We're always looking for volunteers to help out around the centres and at special events.
For information about community services and resources visit the Seniors Services page.
Click on one of the headings and/or locations that follows for more information.
Registration for spring and summer Seniors Services programs begins Tuesday, February 19, 2019.
Registration for fall and winter Seniors Services programs begins Friday, September 7, 2018.
Memberships can be purchased at any community centre, Sir John Colborne Centre, and Town Hall.
Online program registration is available. Please ensure your membership is up-to-date before registering.
Friendship Luncheon program that provides.seniors 80+ an opportunity to get out and socialize with others.


Whether you are commencing or continuing your studies at the TUM, you must pay your semester fees in the amount of 129,40 (from SoSe 18) euros within the designated period before the start of each semester.
Please note that the date of the receipt of payment is decisive, and not the date of transfer. So please allow for sufficient processing time at the bank (3-5 working days).
Students at TUM Asia at the campus in singapore, at Campus Straubing and at Campus Heilbronn are exempted from the payment of the solidarity contribution for the semester ticket. In these cases, the semester fee consists only of the basic student union fee.
Please take note of the special regulations concerning dual degrees and teacher training.
Extra fees are charged for some continuing education programs. For more information please visit the pages of the correspondent faculty or school.
For degree programs with restricted admission (NC) other deadlines apply. Here, the semester fee has to be received by TUM within 14 days after you receive the admission letter.
Please pay your semester fees in full as soon as possible after notification of admission. Only after your student fees have been paid in full are you officially enrolled as a regular student at TUM. Once you are officially enrolled, you will be able to print your student documents (enrollment verification and enrollment record) or register for courses and exams.
Please be aware of the different deadlines for programs with restricted admission (NC).
If you have not paid your semester fees within the time frame stipulated in §10 of theEnrollment, Student Fee Payment, Leaves of Absence and Withdrawal statutes(Immatrikulations-, Rückmelde-, Beurlaubungs- und Exmatrikulationssatzung), your enrollment at the university will be terminated automatically. Only after your semester fees have been paid in full will you be able to print your student documents (enrollment verification and student progress certificate) or register for courses and exams.
Please also send us a copy of your bank statement via e-mail if you are making a bank transfer from an Non-EU country studium(at)tum.de or send by fax +49 89 289 22809.
You may pay your semester fees in cash at the Bursar's Offices (Zahlstelle) on the Munich City Campus and the Garching campus.
In general: If you study on Campus Munich, Garching or Weihenstephan you have to pay the solidarity contribution for the semester ticket. This fee has to be paid once each semester in any case.
If you are enrolled in two degree programs at TUM (parallel studies), you have to pay the basic student union fee only once.
If you are enrolled in two degree programs within Bavaria, you have to pay the basic student union fee only once.
If you are enrolled in two degree programs and the other one is outside of Bavaria, you will have to pay the basic student union fee at TUM. Please contact your other university to find out whether you have to pay the fee there as well.
Students in teacher training programs for upper secondary or intermediate schools and for elementary / general secondary or special schools pay student fees to LMU.
Students in teacher training programs for vocational schools pay student fees to TUM.
In order to document your payment to LMU, please submit your LMU proof of enrollment and payment.
This does, however, only apply to re-enrollment. If you enroll at LMU with a second subject at TUM for the first time, i.e. at the start of your studies, you need to bring proof of your enrollment and the payment of the semester fee at LMU to TUM once.
If, at the end of your studies, you take an examination which is allocated to the previous semester within the first week of the lecture period, and do not intend to take any courses, you do not have to re-enroll. This also applies for oral exams which are part of the mandatory examinations stipulated in the academic and examination regulations.
The student status is withdrawn at the end of the last semester you have re-enrolled in, not retroactively. For the submission of your thesis enrollment is, however, mandatory.
For the legally binding regulations, please refer to §14 of the General Academic and Examination Regulations for Bachelor's and Master's Programs at the Techical University of Munich.
On Thursday, 11.04.19, the semester fees management will only be available from 1 - 4pm.
As of 1 October 2013, TUM will receive public funds to compensate for revenue previously generated through the collection of student tuition. These funds – as with the previously collected student tuition – are to be allocated specifically for improving the conditions of study and teaching. Want to know more?
Exchange students please refer to the payment deadlines of TUM International Center.


As soon as you open the front door you know you are in for a special time with memories that will last a lifetime. The marsh view alone is breath taking with the ever changing tides and then add the most handsome sunsets you will find any where, you will be glad you chose this home.
This freshly adorned home hosts 5 bedrooms with 12 people able to all sleep in beds. Two master suites with the downstairs having a queen bed, separate tub and shower (dual heads), a walk in closet and a smaller closet, TV with DVD player and an alarm clock. The rest of the downstairs has an open family room,a huge sectional couch with plenty of sitting for everybody in the home, a little sitting area and then the dining room table that can hold 8 calming. The kitchen is open to the dining room and has a row of windows so that you don't miss the breathtaking vistas and a counter with 5 bar stools. Pantry and laundry room are off of kitchen.
There is a screen porch off the dining room with a crab table and sitting area with vistas once again. A half bath is also downstairs.
The upstairs hosts another master suite with a king size bed, separate tub and shower (dual heads), walk out to screen porch sitting area upstairs, TV with DVD player. Bedroom #3 also host a king size bed with a walk out to screen porch sitting area, plenty of closet space and a TV with DVD player. Bedroom #4 is the All-American bunk bedroom. It has 2 sets of bunk beds, TV and plenty of closet space. Bedroom #5 has two twin beds in it which is the ideal room for catching up with your friend or taking a nap. It has phenomenal vistas of the Davis Adore Golf Course. The bathroom upstairs has a view too of the marsh for your taller folks.
Adore the Davis Appreciate golf course view out the front porch or watch the deer while sitting in the rocking chairs out front or see a whole different part of the island right off the back inviting in the hammock. Abundance of coastal feathered friends and South Carolina feathered friends to be viewed. This home is ideal for all to appreciate.
For the babies there are two new pack n plays and two new high chairs.
Amenity Cards: The Fripp Island Resort Club is a private club that accepts privileges for guest. The niceties of Fripp are for the use of its members and their visitors. All guest of members over the age of 12 are mandatory to have a card. Cards are mandatory at all resort golf courses, tennis, swimming pools, eateries, exercise center, Camp Fripp and the Food Court. Amenity cards cannot be bought by guest. They must be charged to a members account. Therefore, visitors must be aware of the number of cards they require before arrival to the island.
Other Activities: Amenity cards to resort,golf courses, swimming pools, tennis, eateries, Camp Fripp, golf cart, iPod audio system system, beach towels, beach toys, beach chairs, ceiling fans all through, iron, ironing board, vacuum/broom/mop if wanted, garden hose, outdoor showers with hot and cold water, outdoor hammocks.
Weekly units include departure cleaning, golf cart, two comfort cards and 10% taxes included.
Nightly Units include golf cart only.
Nightly units DO NOT include departure cleaning of $200 or comforts cards. 10% taxes not supplied.
Search for the tourism bureau where you want to travel. Many tourism bureaus offer printed guides with special offers for rental properties, restaurants and attractions. These guides can provide an excellent start to your rental search.
Can you move your dates? Shoulder seasons special offer impressive prices.
A number of rental companies and owners offer savings for active and veteran members of the Armed forces, or returning travelers of the same rental. Make sure to check with property management company to see if your vacationing crew is eligible for a special offer.
Is there a particular activity you are most getting excited about ? If there's a certain Beaufort, SC atteaction you simply love, be on the lookout for properties that cater especially to you.
Rental companies and individual rental owners generally offer their customers an opportunity to buy trip insurance. Trip insurance, which generally add between 1% - 5% of the basic vacation rental rate, provides vacationers reimbursement of their travel costs for any days missed as a result of health-related emergencies or storms, as well as ensuing additional hurricane evacuation costs or expenses, like an unplanned hotel room stay or extra fuel. Trip insurance might just be a bank account-saver if the unforseen occurs (heaven forbid!).
Many people are shocked to discover just how many rentals can be found in their area of interest. With such a big selection, renters are certain to select a vacation home that matches their expectations and price range.
Vacation rentals are commonly owner operated or managed by rental management companies. For owners not directly engaged in the management of their home, management companies are instrumental in helping travellers with making reservations, checking-in, housekeeping services, and any repairs and maintenance problems that may arise.
We have constructed a short guide to assist you in getting most out of your rental home experience.
Do you believe " FRIPP ISLAND, Marsh, Golf Course, Sunset Views Free Golf Cart and Cards" is the best rental for your next vacation? Look over this guide to ensure it fits all of your preferences.
Beaufort, SC vacation homes start booking early. To assure the greatest selection of rental homes, we suggest searching and reserving your Beaufort, SC rental 6-Twelve months in advance, whenever you can. Many groups prefer to start their search during Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Eve holiday gatherings.
Start by figuring out which specific area of Beaufort, SC you'd like to explore, and the choose trip dates.
How many relatives are planning to share your vacation? Remember that that a lot of rentals list maximum guest capacity, which often includes sofa beds in the living room. You'll need to figure out what is suitable for the group. Specific descriptions of bedrooms and beds are commonly accessible online. If not, contact the property owner before you reserve the home.
What Exactly Are You Willing to Shell out?
Does your preferred rental home fit your budget during that prime Summer week? If a few individuals or family members are sharing the cost, make sure each group knows their responsibilities and has agreed to a maximum they are willing to chip in. One individual in your party will need to be responsible for getting contributions and agreeing to responsibility for the whole rental payment at time of reservation.
Create a list of "Preferences" and "Necessities"
What amenities is your family trying to find? Is a screened deck a necessity? Are you more interested in a natural landscape or night life? Will the home have bicycles and beach toys available for use as part of your stay? Make a list of priority features to help filter your search.
Elderly family members will thank you for not reserving a stairs-access-only property on the 3rd floor. If wheel chair entry, elevators, pool lifts or other specialized devices are needed, include that into your search. The majority of vacation home listings will include a list of amenities.
Make sure you include your pets. While quite a few vacation rentals allow canine companions, rules and fees fluctuate per rental. A number of constraints may possibly eliminate a potential rental home. Ensure that you study agreements and contracts carefully. Additional fees or deposits may be applied to your agreement. When in doubt, ask the property owner and get it in writing.
After the area, travel dates and family members are decided, search multiple resources for the greatest vacation home selection. In addition to Homeaway, VRBO and Tripadvisor, we recommend searching Google for "Beaufort, SC local rentals" for local vacation home management companies. Local rental home management companies take pride in a first-class rental experience.
Re-read the description to confirm the vacation rental has everything that you need. If something is missing, the home management company might know of comparable properties that better suit your style and budget..
While not true for all properties, many rental owners and property managers will negotiate rates. If they are hesitant to budge on a highly-desirable stay, try asking for an additional night. Your easiest potential for a reduced rate is shifting to a less desirable week.
In addition to the standard rate, guests will have to pay state taxes when renting " FRIPP ISLAND, Marsh, Golf Course, Sunset Views Free Golf Cart and Cards", along with various other fees which may be required depending on their circumstances, including a dog fee, earlier check-in or late check-out fee, or a pool heater fee for private pool usage during the fall or spring months.
Cancellation policies are different for each rental. Rental management companies and individual rental owners commonly offer their guests the option to buy trip insurance. Trip insurance, which typically costs ranges from 1% - 5% of your base rental home cost, can provide travellers with reimbursement of their vacation costs (and subsequent rental home costs) for any days missed as a consequence of personal health related emergencies or weather, as well as hurricane evacuation costs, such as a unanticipated motel stay or extra gas.
When everything looks right, it's finally time for you to sign a rental agreement. You will likely be asked to submit a security deposit at time of booking.
Put the property manager's contact info into your smart phone and wallet for quick access to answers throughout your trip.
Record the condition of the rental unit right away. Get in touch with the property manager immediately to report your findings.
Ask questions. If you have any ambiguity about parking, rules of the property, property access, pool functions, etc... we recommend you ask the rental manager promptly. A phone call can save hours of hassle.
Please be considerate of the local community. Local people are likely to be as friendly to you as you are considerate of them. Respecting late-night quiet hours and parking restrictions can make a stay significantly more relaxing.
Ask a local. Natives are a good source of recommendations. Who better to ask where to get the best chicken wings, have a great date night, or the best spots for night life?
Enjoy your stay! Make sure that you protect the property owner (and your stuff!) by keeping the property secured when you are away, just like you would in your own home.
Always make sure that you've packed everything. Examine drawers, bath cabinets and closets.
Once your things are all out, perform a walk-through of the rental to make certain no property damage occurred in the course of your remain. Whenever you can, do this walk-out review with the property manager present. If the property owner is not available, ensure that you take photos of the property to record its condition.
How was your vacation? Many vacation rental websites request reviews after your stay . Property owners and property managers will appreciate your positive reviews. If anything was wrong and they failed to correct it in a practical manner, or when the vacation rental was not as described, you'll want to note that in your comments.
Did they love their vacation? Maybe everything ended up being fantastic and you're all set to re-book the same rental home for next year. If not, you've acquired invaluable experience to help with the next search.


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US Election 2016 selected
States A-Z
US election 2016: Who is John Kasich?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-us-2016-35529282
Image copyright EPA
Image caption John Kasich speaks to supporters in New Hampshire ahead of the primary
Governor John Kasich was the last holdout in the fight to keep Donald Trump from the Republican presidential nomination.
The Ohio governor ended his presidential bid on 5 May and was the last Republican candidate standing next to Trump. Kasich struggled throughout his campaign to win national recognition.
He was elected to the governor's office in 2011, after a lengthy congressional career and a stint in the private sector.
Kasich touted his experience in executive office and tried to distinguish himself as a relative moderate, calling his opponent's policies "irresponsible" and trying to distinguish himself as an alternative to Jeb Bush.
The second-term governor launched campaign with a speech in front of 2,000 people at Ohio State University in July 2015.
The 63-year-old told the rally in Columbus his work at state and national level was his main qualification.
"I have the experience and the testing, the testing which shapes you and prepares you for the most important job in the world," he said.
Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, North America reporter
Kasich entered the Republican race because he perceived the nominal front-runner, Jeb Bush, to be weaker than at first thought. The Ohio governor has turned out to be only a slightly less flawed version of the man he sought to supplant for the mainstream Republican vote, however.
Like Bush, he isn't trusted by grassroots Republican voters who dislike his perceived heresy on healthcare reform in his state. His sometimes-dour demeanour has hurt him during the high-profile debates, where he's struggled to get attention.
He has touted his Christian faith's influence on his policy making, and has pointed to balanced budgets during his time as governor and in Congress.
In one debate, Kasich justified his decision to expand Medicaid coverage under Obamacare by quoting the Bible, a move criticised by the conservative wing of his party.
Kasich also attacked Trump on several occasions, including his calls for mass deportation of undocumented immigrants and ban on Muslims entering the US.
He was also endorsed for the Republican candidacy by the New York Times.
But the attacks and the endorsement did not make a significant difference in Trump's national polls.
The day after the Indiana primaries and the end of Senator Ted Cruz's campaign, Kasich also bowed out, leaving Trump as the party's presumptive candidate for president.
Republican road to the White House
US Election 2016 Sections
US & Canada selected

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Keep up-to-date on weekly closures and detour routes during peak construction season.
During peak construction season—typically April through October—we send out weekly road and traffic reports each Friday to help members of our community plan the quickest, safest and most reliable routes to their destinations. The weekly report is intended to provide information about various projects within City limits that impact the roadways.
The map below shows lane and road closures on arterials and collectors and full closures on residential streets.
If you are experiencing issues with this map, please contact the City of Bend Communications department at communications@bendoregon.gov.
Click and drag to navigate the map, or use the + or – buttons to zoom. For information about a specific, highlighted project on the map, click it and a pop-up window will appear that contains detailed information.
The City of Bend will be releasing a weekly road and traffic report each Friday during peak construction season to help members of our community plan the quickest, safest and most reliable routes to their destinations. The weekly report is intended to provide information about various projects within City limits that impact public roadways.
This year we have also launched a new interactive, online map at www.bendoregon.gov/traffic that will be regularly updated to show the current and upcoming projects that may affect travelers. This map will show lane or road closures on arterials and collectors and full closures on residential streets. To use the interactive map, click and drag the map to move it, or use the + or – buttons to zoom. For information about a specific, highlighted project on the map, click it and a pop-up window will appear with more information.
It will be another busy summer, with road construction, private development projects and occasional special events that can require lane or road closures. The Bend City Council has authorized about $7.04 million for street preservation work in Bend this summer to improve 125 of lane miles of Bend's roads. Attached is a map of this year's street preservation projects. These will be included in weekly road and traffic reports.
The weekly reports will be emailed to the City's media address group on Fridays, posted on the City's website www.bendoregon.gov/traffic and can be received via email by subscribing to Weekly Road and Traffic Reports at www.bendoregon.gov/enews.
Earth Day Parade, April 20 from 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m., closed streets include Bond Street, Minnesota Avenue, Wall Street, Louisiana Avenue, and Kansas Avenue.
Kansas Avenue will be closed between Bond Street and Lava Road for a street fair, 4/20/18, 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Greenwood Avenue between Hill Street and 3rd Street for railroad bridge improvements, westbound lane closures with detour, 4/1/19 - 5/17/19, Sunday – Thursday, 9 p.m. - 6 p.m. (The road is opened each Thursday at 6 p.m. and will close again on 9 p.m. on Sunday).
O.B. Riley Road between Mathers Road and Cooley Road for infrastructure installation, road closure with detour until 5/10/19.
NW Rocklyn Road between NW Drake Road and NW Glen Road for waterline installation, road closure with detour, local access only, 4/10/19 - 4/30/19, 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Brosterhous Road between American Lane and Jacklight Lane for sewer main installation, southbound lane closures with detours, 4/22/19 - 7/15/19, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
15th Street between Knott Road and Golden Gate Place for waterline installation associated with the Murphy Corridor Improvement Project, single lane closures with flagging, 4/22/19 - 6/28/19, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Work schedules are dependent on weather conditions and other factors.


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iPad Case by Stash
Ben Branch March 24, 2012
Reading time: less than a minute.
Usually I'm very careful about bold colours, however, I've learned the hard way to use brighter colours when it comes to wallets, laptop bags and iPhone/iPad cases. It makes them a lot harder to lose or leave on the backseat of a cab. Trust me on that.
This well designed iPad (1,2 and 3) case is made from orange cotton with a herringbone weave, it has a water-proof canvas liner and leather straps with stainless steel studs.
All Stash cases are handmade and this particular model costs a reasonable $75, click here to check it out.
Published by Ben Branch - March 24th 2012
There's a Rare 702 Cubic Inch (11.5 Litre) GMC V12 For Sale On eBay
Extraordinary Engines For Sale
The 702 cubic inch (11.5 litre) GMC V12 was only ever built between 1960 and 1965, it's estimated that approximately 5,000 were made, and that only 1,500 or so remain in usable condition today. The…
The Original M*A*S*H Bell 47 Helicopter Is For Sale
The most memorable vehicles in the M*A*S*H TV series were almost certainly the twin Bell 47 choppers that featured heavily in the opening credits – the helicopter you see here was the one closest to the camera…
The New Icon Tarmac WP Boots – Comfortable, Lightweight, & Waterproof Motorcycle Boots
These are the new Icon Tarmac WP boots, they were designed by the team at Icon to provide a daily-wearable motorcycle shoe for people who want protection from both the weather and the asphalt, without…
The Überleben Kräftig Fire Starter – An 8″ Long 20,000+ Strike Fire Steel
This is the Überleben Kräftig Fire Starter, it's an 8 inch long, 1/2 inch thick fire steel designed to last for years thanks to the fact it's good for over 20,000 strikes. For the uninitiated,…
The AMC Eagle – The Original American 4×4 Crossover
Classic 4x4
The AMC Eagle was released in 1979 as a Hail Mary for American Motors Corporation, the struggling American automaker that was on the brink of financial ruin. At the time AMC were the parent…
Concord Cufflinks – Made From Alloy Sourced From The Fastest Of The Concordes
These cufflinks have been cast from Hiduminium RR58 aluminium alloy sourced from the air intake assembly of Concorde 101 (G AXDN) – this was the fastest Concorde ever built with a top speed of…
Vintage Flat Trackers
Murray Walker's Tribute to James Hunt


"They're Gone! But It's Not Over"
Last week I announced, "They're coming, they're coming; this week they're gone. Halloween is over and so is the election.
Witches, ghosts, goblins, cowboys and lots of kids, including Pebbles and Bam-Bam visited our house last Sunday. It was almost like a raid.
The bowl I was holding had three different kinds of M&M's, as well as four different candy bars. She chose another bag of regular M&M's. I took a bag of peanut M & M's and dropped them in her bucket thinking she hadn't noticed. While I played a minute with her brother, 4-month old Bam-Bam, Pebbles put the peanut M & M's back in the bowl and selected another regular M&M's. When I tried to check her bucket, she wrestled it away and off she went with brother, Mom and Dad.
Next Halloween will really be a problem with that family, Bam-Bam will probably be able to fill two buckets himself as big as he is now. When the family left, they noticed my porch light was not lit. I thought, oh no, I'll have to get a ladder to change it and with the kids pushing around the door I would probably get knocked down.
Maybe because of the burnt-out light or because it was so cold, we didn't seem to get as many kids this year. The ones who did show up were all cute and most of them graciously said, "Thank you." As I closed the door when begging hours ended wondering what I would do with half a bowl of candy, a pick-up pulled into the driveway. This time it was a raid by the Jaworskis, and they cleaned out the bowl. That was OK, because I had an extra bag of my favorites hidden in the closet, in case I needed them.
I don't know if everyone enjoys Halloween as much as I do, but driving around the county, especially in Bad Axe, the spirits seemed to abound. Cemeteries popped up all over, some right on front lawns, while ghost peeked out from behind bushes and trees. Witches could be found flying around on their brooms and jack-o' lanterns were everywhere.
After all the fun of Halloween, we were brought down to earth on Election Day, which I was happy to see come and go.
I could re-claim my mailbox and not have to hang up on unwanted callers. Near the end of the campaign, it seemed like every other ad on TV was a politician making promises or complaining about their opponent. I was happy that they would be gone also along with the endless commentaries about the election.
I've heard the final tally, seen who was chosen by the greatest number of people and been told why the election turned out as it did. But — it's not over. The pamphlets have stopped, the phone has quieted, but all I can find on TV is political rhetoric. Who will run in 2012? Why will they run?
I've heard who campaigned for whom and what the elected stood for, but I just can't understand why the media can't give it a rest. Please stop the forecasting about who will run and what their platform will be.
As I see it, or at least hear it, the average person has had enough. We don't want to hear anymore empty promises or election quotes. We need a break from all the hot air. I do have a suggestion though. It's my hope that all the politicians who are planning on running in 2012 get together and pool the money their promoters plan on spending on signs, brochures and ads on TV and donate it to the needy. I believe the dollars spent on TV ads alone surly could have fed many hungry families, prevented a few foreclosures or housed a large number of homeless all over our country.
I would like to send a message to the winning candidates. If they would like to be voted into office the next time, try to come through on promises you made this time.
I'm sure that doing so would buy more votes than all the costly advertising.


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Home » Hot Topics » REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE AND GENDER EQUALITY (06/24/2022)
REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE AND GENDER EQUALITY (06/24/2022)
In light of today's US Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade I am re-sending the resolution we had previously passed regarding our support of reproductive justice and gender equality:
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE AND GENDER EQUALITY
Whereas, the Mission Statement of the American Federation of Teachers Guild, Local 1931 (AFT Local 1931) states that the Guild is dedicated to achieving and maintaining the highest quality educational environment provided for our students and a respectable and equitable work environment for our employees.
Whereas, AFT Local 1931 recognizes that achieving equity requires the dismantling of institutional racism, sexism, and homophobia as well as societal and economic barriers facing students and all workers in our member units.
Whereas, Texas recently passed Senate Bill 8 ending almost all abortion access and care in the state, on September 1, 2021. The Supreme Court refused to block the law, which is the most restrictive reproductive rights law in the country. Similar restrictive laws have been signed in 13 other states and more will be passed by states in the coming weeks. In response to these laws, Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed legislation to make California a "reproductive freedom state." And the San Diego County Board of Supervisors also voted to declare San Diego a "champion of reproductive freedom."
Whereas, restrictive reproductive laws and policies deepen the community college drop-out crisis for both men and women. For example, the National Study of Youth and Religion found that dropping out of college due to unplanned pregnancy was especially prevalent at community colleges, where nearly half of all students, both men and women, have experienced an unplanned pregnancy. Thus, 61% of community college students who have children after enrolling do not finish their education. Additionally, according to a 2013 University of California, San Francisco study, one in seven women who sought reproductive services said that it was in order to continue their education. Also, research published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found that 30% of women college dropouts cite "pregnancy" and "parenthood" as key reasons for discontinuing their education.
Whereas, regulatory policies restricting access to reproductive health care are anchored to social and ideological coercion, not budgetary considerations for public health. Unwanted pregnancies, regardless of the pregnant person's decision, have significant economic consequences. These economic consequences disproportionately affect working-class, Black, Indigenous, People of the Global Majority (BIPGM) as an outcome of inequitable access to reproductive education and health care.
Whereas, physical health is severely compromised when pregnant persons, including transgender persons, are denied reproductive freedom, with the mortality risk being 14 times greater for those denied abortion. Denial of reproductive freedom has also historically resulted in unnecessary deaths. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated the number of illegal procedures went from 130,000 to 17,000 between 1972 and 1974. In these same years the mortality rate for nonwhite women was 12 times that of white women. In 1972, 39 of those women died. Since that year, the number of deaths from illegal abortions has plummeted. To restrict reproductive freedom is to endanger pregnant persons' lives.
Whereas, mental health is essential to the overall well-being of individuals. Abuse, whether physical, emotional, verbal, or sexual, can have long-term effects on a individual's mental health. Denying individuals the right to a safe and legal reproductive health services adds fear, stress, and cruelty to an already difficult and personal decision. The implementation of SB 8 has devastating effects on the physical and mental health on low-income and women of color who are unable to travel out of state for reproductive health services.
Whereas, discrimination on the basis of sex and gender is prohibited under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and California's Fair Employment and Housing Act.Various reproductive freedoms have been established and upheld as constitutional rights through U.S. Supreme Court decisions including Griswold v. Connecticut (1965), Eisenstadt v. Baird (1972), Roe v. Wade (1973), Casey v. Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania (1992), and Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt (2016). Fundamental to these decisions is the concept of personal privacy as a constitutional right within the Fourteenth Amendment's concept of personal liberty.
Resolved, that the AFT Local 1931 stands with the San Diego Board of Supervisors and the Governor of California in championing reproductive freedom and categorically opposing any legislation that would diminish reproductive freedom.
Resolved, that the AFT Local 1931 affirms that women's, LGBTQIA+ rights and pregnant persons' rights are human rights. We are students, workers, families and members in our community concerned about equitable working conditions, access to health care, including reproductive services, and safety in our communities from violence against those who attack us for our gender identification and our reproductive choices.
Resolved, that the AFT Local 1931 will create a Gender Advocacy group to provide recommendations to the CFT's Civil, Human and Women's Rights Committee and provide educational opportunities to our membership on the issue of gender and sexual rights.
Adopted November 4th, 2021
The current make-up of the US Supreme Court seems determined to roll back most if not all of the progressive and social justice related gains which had been won over the past century. This is indeed a sad state of affairs we find ourselves having to live within these days.


text:
import * as expect from 'expect'

import { IInfer } from '../../src/types'
import { allNodes } from '../../models/alarm'
import { createNetwork } from '../../src/utils'
import { inferences } from '../../src'

const {
  enumeration,
  junctionTree,
  variableElimination,
} = inferences

const network = createNetwork(...allNodes)

const infersAlarmGiveBurglaryTrue = (infer: IInfer) => {
  const given = { BURGLARY: 'T' }

  expect(infer(network, { EARTHQUAKE: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.0020')
  expect(infer(network, { EARTHQUAKE: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.9980')
  expect(infer(network, { ALARM: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.9400')
  expect(infer(network, { ALARM: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.0600')
  expect(infer(network, { JOHN_CALLS: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.8490')
  expect(infer(network, { JOHN_CALLS: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.1510')
  expect(infer(network, { MARY_CALLS: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.6586')
  expect(infer(network, { MARY_CALLS: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.3414')
}

const infersAlarmGiveBurglaryFalse = (infer: IInfer) => {
  const given = { BURGLARY: 'F' }

  expect(infer(network, { EARTHQUAKE: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.0020')
  expect(infer(network, { EARTHQUAKE: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.9980')
  expect(infer(network, { ALARM: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.0016')
  expect(infer(network, { ALARM: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.9984')
  expect(infer(network, { JOHN_CALLS: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.0513')
  expect(infer(network, { JOHN_CALLS: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.9487')
  expect(infer(network, { MARY_CALLS: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.0111')
  expect(infer(network, { MARY_CALLS: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.9889')
}

const infersAlarmGiveEathQuakeTrue = (infer: IInfer) => {
  const given = { EARTHQUAKE: 'T' }

  expect(infer(network, { BURGLARY: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.0010')
  expect(infer(network, { BURGLARY: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.9990')
  expect(infer(network, { ALARM: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.2907')
  expect(infer(network, { ALARM: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.7093')
  expect(infer(network, { JOHN_CALLS: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.2971')
  expect(infer(network, { JOHN_CALLS: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.7029')
  expect(infer(network, { MARY_CALLS: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.2106')
  expect(infer(network, { MARY_CALLS: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.7894')
}

const infersAlarmGiveEathQuakeFalse = (infer: IInfer) => {
  const given = { EARTHQUAKE: 'F' }

  expect(infer(network, { BURGLARY: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.0010')
  expect(infer(network, { BURGLARY: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.9990')
  expect(infer(network, { ALARM: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.0019')
  expect(infer(network, { ALARM: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.9981')
  expect(infer(network, { JOHN_CALLS: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.0516')
  expect(infer(network, { JOHN_CALLS: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.9484')
  expect(infer(network, { MARY_CALLS: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.0113')
  expect(infer(network, { MARY_CALLS: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.9887')
}

const infersAlarmGiveAlarmTrue = (infer: IInfer) => {
  const given = { ALARM: 'T' }

  expect(infer(network, { BURGLARY: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.3736')
  expect(infer(network, { BURGLARY: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.6264')
  expect(infer(network, { EARTHQUAKE: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.2310')
  expect(infer(network, { EARTHQUAKE: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.7690')
  expect(infer(network, { JOHN_CALLS: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.9000')
  expect(infer(network, { JOHN_CALLS: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.1000')
  expect(infer(network, { MARY_CALLS: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.7000')
  expect(infer(network, { MARY_CALLS: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.3000')
}

const infersAlarmGiveAlarmFalse = (infer: IInfer) => {
  const given = { ALARM: 'F' }

  expect(infer(network, { BURGLARY: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.0001')
  expect(infer(network, { BURGLARY: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.9999')
  expect(infer(network, { EARTHQUAKE: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.0014')
  expect(infer(network, { EARTHQUAKE: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.9986')
  expect(infer(network, { JOHN_CALLS: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.0500')
  expect(infer(network, { JOHN_CALLS: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.9500')
  expect(infer(network, { MARY_CALLS: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.0100')
  expect(infer(network, { MARY_CALLS: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.9900')
}

const infersAlarmGiveJohnCallsTrue = (infer: IInfer) => {
  const given = { JOHN_CALLS: 'T' }

  expect(infer(network, { BURGLARY: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.0163')
  expect(infer(network, { BURGLARY: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.9837')
  expect(infer(network, { EARTHQUAKE: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.0114')
  expect(infer(network, { EARTHQUAKE: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.9886')
  expect(infer(network, { ALARM: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.0434')
  expect(infer(network, { ALARM: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.9566')
  expect(infer(network, { MARY_CALLS: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.0400')
  expect(infer(network, { MARY_CALLS: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.9600')
}

const infersAlarmGiveJohnCallsFalse = (infer: IInfer) => {
  const given = { JOHN_CALLS: 'F' }

  expect(infer(network, { BURGLARY: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.0002')
  expect(infer(network, { BURGLARY: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.9998')
  expect(infer(network, { EARTHQUAKE: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.0015')
  expect(infer(network, { EARTHQUAKE: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.9985')
  expect(infer(network, { ALARM: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.0003')
  expect(infer(network, { ALARM: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.9997')
  expect(infer(network, { MARY_CALLS: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.0102')
  expect(infer(network, { MARY_CALLS: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.9898')
}

const infersAlarmGiveMaryCallsTrue = (infer: IInfer) => {
  const given = { MARY_CALLS: 'T' }

  expect(infer(network, { BURGLARY: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.0561')
  expect(infer(network, { BURGLARY: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.9439')
  expect(infer(network, { EARTHQUAKE: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.0359')
  expect(infer(network, { EARTHQUAKE: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.9641')
  expect(infer(network, { ALARM: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.1501')
  expect(infer(network, { ALARM: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.8499')
  expect(infer(network, { JOHN_CALLS: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.1776')
  expect(infer(network, { JOHN_CALLS: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.8224')
}

const infersAlarmGiveMaryCallsFalse = (infer: IInfer) => {
  const given = { MARY_CALLS: 'F' }

  expect(infer(network, { BURGLARY: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.0003')
  expect(infer(network, { BURGLARY: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.9997')
  expect(infer(network, { EARTHQUAKE: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.0016')
  expect(infer(network, { EARTHQUAKE: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.9984')
  expect(infer(network, { ALARM: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.0008')
  expect(infer(network, { ALARM: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.9992')
  expect(infer(network, { JOHN_CALLS: 'T' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.0506')
  expect(infer(network, { JOHN_CALLS: 'F' }, given).toFixed(4)).toBe('0.9494')
}

const inferencesNames: { [key: string]: IInfer } = {
  Enumeration: enumeration.infer,
  'Junction Tree': junctionTree.infer,
  'Variable Elimination': variableElimination.infer,
}

const tests: { [key: string]: (infer: IInfer) => void } = {
  'infers give Burglary True': infersAlarmGiveBurglaryTrue,
  'infers give Burglary False': infersAlarmGiveBurglaryFalse,
  'infers give Eath Quake True': infersAlarmGiveEathQuakeTrue,
  'infers give Eath Quake False': infersAlarmGiveEathQuakeFalse,
  'infers give Alarm True': infersAlarmGiveAlarmTrue,
  'infers give Alarm False': infersAlarmGiveAlarmFalse,
  'infers give John Calls True': infersAlarmGiveJohnCallsTrue,
  'infers give John Calls False': infersAlarmGiveJohnCallsFalse,
  'infers give Mary Calls True': infersAlarmGiveMaryCallsTrue,
  'infers give Mary Calls False': infersAlarmGiveMaryCallsFalse,
}

describe('infers', () => {
  describe('alarm network', () => {
    const testNames = Object.keys(tests)
    const inferNames = Object.keys(inferencesNames)

    for (const testName of testNames) {
      const method = tests[testName]

      for (const inferName of inferNames) {
        const infer = inferencesNames[inferName]

        it(`${testName} (${inferName})`, () => method(infer))
      }
    }
  })
})

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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text:
Hill challenging Howard for seat in state House District 124
Susan McCord
smccord@augustachronicle.com
One of the biggest local contests on the Tuesday Democratic primary ballot is newcomer Gregory Hill's effort to unseat longtime state Rep. Henry "Wayne" Howard.
House District124 takes in most of north Augusta-Richmond County along Washington Road, follows the riverfront east to Gordon Highway then hooks west almost to Barton Chapel Road.
With no Republicans in the race, the winner of the Democratic primary will likely be going to Atlanta. Hill, despite a limited campaign war chest, said he's up for the challenge.
Raised in Augusta's Allen Homes housing project and a graduate of Lucy C. Laney High School, Hill,45, is now a retired Army officer with a political science degree from South Carolina State University, a master's in business administration from Troy University and is a Certified Economic Development Finance Professional.
Along the way, Hill was married to state court judge candidate Monique Walker, making him the father of former Sen. Charles Walker's 8- and9-year-old granddaughters.
Hill said he envisioned District 124's Central Avenue, Laney-Walker Boulevard, Harrisburg and downtown Augusta/15th Street corridor as "the economic engine of the entire CSRA - not just housing, but small businesses." He said he had the skills to make that happen.
As a legislator, Hill said he'll push for incentives to attract the type of businesses - those with military ties, for instance - that the area needs.
In the General Assembly, Hill said he'll also make himself available to Richmond County Board of Education, the Augusta Commission and Mayor Hardie Davis, whom he'll ask, "what do you need from State Representative Hill," he said.
He disagrees with the November referendum allowing state takeover of failing schools, but said the school system needs to face its issues locally.
"I don't feel as though I need someone to come in and clean up my house," Hill said, "but we cannot be afraid to identify the elephant in the room. We cannot be afraid to say who's not doing their job."
For his part, Howard said at a recent forum that he shares Hill's sentiments about the referendum and on raising the minimum wage.
The chairman for several years of the Augusta legislative delegation said he seeks re-election on his record of service.
That includes five two-year terms in the House seat inherited from his father, the late Rep. Henry Howard, with whom he worked closely for many years.
Bills he's sponsored or co-sponsored include the "Too Young to Suspend" Act, dedicating the Rosa T. Beard Memorial Bridge over 15th Street and more than30 other commendations or recognitions during the last session.
Howard reported raising$12,505 for this campaign as of March 31, with the largest donations being $1,000 from Tutt Contracting of Harlem and the Civil Justice Political Action Committee, while Hill had just over $1,200.
One local political observer said while Hill poses a slight challenge to Howard, the elder lawmaker's longevity and background resonate with older residents.
"I think Wayne is better known, and older people - they're more likely to come out and vote," said businessman and political observer J.R. Riles. "A lot of people respected Wayne's daddy. He played a great part of the community when he was living."
Augusta Democrats, regardless of who they are, have a limited role as long as the state's governor is a Republican, but Hill has a future in Richmond County politics regardless, Riles said.
"I think Gregory Hill is an ambitious young man, and eventually he'll be a politician," he said.


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text:
Q: Get the correct number of bytes from NetworkStream.Read() and place them in a buffer I'm trying to get my client application to read a response from the server, and I'm really having trouble grasping a certain concept here.
According to the research I've done, you must have the length of the bytes to read from a NetworkStream before you can actually read the data. This makes very little sense to me. How are you supposed to know how much data is coming in before it even gets there?
This code:
using (var stream = client.GetStream())
{
    stream.Write(data, 0, data.Length);
    stream.Flush();

    Console.WriteLine("Data sent.\n");

    Console.WriteLine("Reading response...\n");

    byte[] buffer = new byte[1024];

    int bytesRead = stream.Read(buffer, 0, buffer.Length);
}

reads 1024 bytes into a buffer with a set size. So what if the response from the server has more than 1024 bytes? Then what?
If somebody could help me grasp this concept, I'd be extremely grateful.

A: You need to loop whilst the NetworkStream.DataAvailable is true; see here:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.net.sockets.networkstream.read.aspx

A: You need to have some sort of pre-agreed scheme (a protocol) between the sender and the receiver for determining the "end of message".
Usually this is done by starting the message with a header that includes the length of message. For example, both parties can agree that the first 4 bytes determine the length of the incoming message, so the receiver reads that many bytes.
Another way would be having a specific sequence of bytes that signifies the end of message. For instance, the receiver keeps reading in until it sees the ascii bytes of <EOF>.
Do not use DataAvailable because it is quite possible that you receive the message in chunks, so DataAvailable can turn false before you have received the full message.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Las elecciones generales de Kenia de 2017 se llevaron a cabo el 8 de agosto del mismo año para elegir al Presidente, los miembros del Parlamento y los gobiernos descentralizados. El presidente en funciones Uhuru Kenyatta fue reelecto en el cargo con el 54% de los votos, resultado que su principal oponente, Raila Odinga, se negó a aceptar.

Después de que Odinga impugnara los resultados ante la Corte Suprema, los resultados fueron anulados y se ordenaron nuevas elecciones en un plazo de 60 días.

Sistema electoral
El Presidente de Kenia es elegido usando una versión modificada del sistema de dos rondas: para ganar en la primera ronda, un candidato debe recibir más del 50% de los votos y el 25% de los votos en al menos 24 de los 47 condados.

Los 337 miembros de la Asamblea Nacional son elegidos por dos métodos; 290 son elegidos en circunscripciones de un solo miembro por escrutinio mayoritario uninominal (mayoría simple). Los 47 restantes están reservados para mujeres, y son elegidos de circunscripciones unipersonales basadas en los 47 condados, también usando el sistema de mayoría simple. Los 67 miembros del Senado son elegidos por cuatro métodos; 47 son elegidos en circunscripciones de un solo miembro basadas en los condados y electos por mayoría simple. A las partidos se les asigna una cuota de 16 escaños para mujeres, dos para jóvenes y dos para personas discapacitadas sobre la base de su cuota de escaño.

Acontecimientos

Asedio en la casa de William Ruto
El 29 de julio de 2017, la casa del vicepresidente William Ruto fue atacada por un hombre local armado con un machete. Durante el asedio, el vicepresidente y su familia no estuvieron presentes. El asaltante primero agredió al guardia de servicio, lo mantuvo como rehén y luego lo mató. El asedio duró 18 horas antes de que las fuerzas especiales de la policía de Kenia dispararan al atacante causándole la muerte. Los motivos del atacante eran desconocidos y los miembros del público no sabían cómo un hombre armado con un machete mantuvo a las fuerzas de policía de élite durante 18 horas.

Asesinato de Msando
El 27 de julio de 2017, dos cuerpos fueron encontrados en las afueras de Nairobi. Uno de los muertos, Christopher Msando, era el jefe de información, comunicación y tecnología de la Comisión Electoral Independiente y de Límites. Él desempeñó un papel importante en el desarrollo del nuevo sistema de votación para la elección. Su cuerpo mostraba claras marcas de tortura antes de ser asesinado por razones poco claras. Junto a él estaba el cuerpo de una mujer de 21 años, Maryanne Ngumbu. El FBI y Scotland Yard se ofrecieron para ayudar en la investigación.

Resultados

Presidente

Senado

Asamblea Nacional

Reacciones postelectorales
Se anunció el 13 de agosto que el nuevo Parlamento sería juramentado el 22 de agosto, con la segunda inauguración de Kenyatta a seguir una semana más tarde. Sin embargo, la inauguración de Kenyatta fue empujada de nuevo a por lo menos el 12 de septiembre después de que Odinga acordó desafiar los resultados en la Corte. Más tarde se anunció que la reanudación del parlamento keniano se retrasó a más tardar el 7 de septiembre debido a una petición presentada por grupos afiliados a la Federación de Mujeres Abogadas de Kenia (FIDA- Kenia) sobre la falta de mujeres que necesita el nuevo parlamento para cumplir con los dos tercios de los criterios de la regla de género.

El Standard informó más tarde el 22 de agosto que el Parlamento de Kenia volverá a reunirse en la próxima semana. El 23 de agosto, Kenyatta emitió un decreto en el que declaraba que el Parlamento volvería a reunirse el 31 de agosto cuando se reúnan para jurar nuevos miembros y elegir a los respectivos oradores y vicepresidentes.

El 28 de agosto, la Corte Suprema de Kenia escuchó los argumentos de Odinga por primera vez. El permiso fue concedido para permitir a dos agentes del partido gobernante y del partido de Odinga auditar los resultados de IEBC, aunque el abogado de Odinga James Orengo alegó después que el IEBC negaba a su equipo acceso completo a los servidores y otro equipo que transmitió resultados de las mesas de votación al centro de conteo a pesar de la Corte permitió el acceso de "sólo lectura". Los argumentos de clausura concluyeron el 29 de agosto y se anunció que la Corte tomará una decisión el 1 de septiembre en torno a los resultados de las elecciones presidenciales. En ese día, la Corte Suprema anuló la victoria electoral de Kenyatta y ordenó que se llevara a cabo una nueva elección presidencial en 60 días.

Referencias

Elecciones en Kenia
Kenia
Kenia en 2017

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
In Out Barcelona Tours Blog
We run Day Tours IN and OUT of Barcelona
Desplazarse al contenido
Publicado en 20 marzo, 2019
History and love
"Castell de Cardona"
Would you like to discover a medieval castle? To unravel its most well-kept secrets and explore every single one of its marvelous rooms? If the answer to all of those questions is yes, then I know the perfect place for you!
This place is the one and only Cardona Castle. And when I say "one and only" I mean it, because this castle is for sure one of a kind. Now, you may be wondering why. What does it have to be so special? Why people goes specifically to Cardona to visit its castle?
Well, let's start with its history! The Cardona Castle was built in 886 by the count "Guifré el Pilós" and was the official residence of the noble family of Cardona between the 11th and the 15th century. The nearby valleys were controlled from the castle, the Valley of the Salt being one of them.
The first period of the castle's history was one of abundance and wealth thanks to the salt of the valley. Its power was such that the Cardona noble family was known as "the lords of the salt" and the Catholic monarchs named them as dukes.
Another well-known period for this castle was the War of the Spanish Succession, when the Crown of Aragon positioned themselves with the Austrian heir Philip V. The Cardona Castle is known to be the last resistance in this 13 years conflict before losing against the Bourbon heir side.
If the historical importance of this castle hasn't convinced you to go pay a visit then I'll tell you something that definitely will.
The castle has a legend. A love one. It is said that in the time where Spain was being conquered by Muslims and Cardona was just a little fortified village made out of sand and stone.
The parties at the castle were frequent and the duke decided to invite the Muslim prince Abdala to one of them. There, while he was walking through the gardens of the castle, he met with Adalés, the Cardona's duke daughter. And it was there where they both fell in love and swore eternal love to each other.
As they knew their love was forbidden they kept meeting until one they were discovered. When the duke realized he got so mad that he decided to lock up her daughter in a tower, exiled Abdala and declared war against him.
After some time the duke decided to forgive his daughter, but when he got to the tower to let her out Adalés had already died of sadness, but had shown her faith engraving a cross onto a wooden door before dying.
The legend says that if you go to the castle at midnight you can see the ghost of prince Abdala riding outside the tower where Adalés was kept to save her and take her with him.
I'm sure this is enough convincing to have you craving for a visit to the Cardona Castle! It would definitely be a visit to remember, right? And who knows, you even may be able to meet some of its ghosts!
Publicado en 5 marzo, 2019
Sun & Culture
Can you imagine a place as beautiful and interesting as Sitges? With its dreamy scenery, replete of gorgeous beaches, an awe-inspiring village, lovely people and a charming collection of museums?
Even if you haven't heard of Sitges, I can assure you it's one of those towns with a dreamlike feeling that makes you think about all of those wonderful imaginary places you've fantasized about when you needed a well-deserved vacation.
I bet you've already got a couple of questions about Sitges, like which are its best beaches? What can I visit while I'm there? And which are those museums you'd mentioned?
Well, some of the beaches you may want to go when you're in Sitges are: "Platja Les Botigues", "Cala Ginesta", "Platja de Garraf", "Platja Riera de Vallcarca" or "Cala Morisca". Each one of them with that little bit of something unique that'll make you feel like living in your very own summer paradise.
The museums you can visit in Sitges are: "Museu del Cau Ferrat", "Museu de Maricel", "Museu Romàntic Casa Llopis", "Fundació Stämpfli Art Contemporani", "Palau de Maricel" and "Casa Bacardí".
"Museu del Cau Ferrat" was the home-studio of the artist and writer Santiago Rusiñol, was transformed into a museum in 1933. It contains art collections formed by Rusiñol Pieces, antique art (el Greco) and modern art by Santiago Rusiñol, Ramon Casas, Enric Clarasó, Mas i Fondevila, Zuloaga, Picasso, and more.
"Museu de Maricel", located in the old "Hospital de Sant Joan" which was renovated by the artist Miquel Utrillo to become the home of the american art collector and industrialist Charles Deering, has sculpture and antique paintings collections (Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and the Baroque period) and also modern ones (Romanticism, Luminism, Modernism and "Noucentisme") from Dr. Jesús Pérez Rosales and "Vila de Sitges" collections.
"Museu Romàntic Casa Llopis", with a neoclassic facade from the 18th century and property of the Llopis family (traders, historians and jurists), was left to the "Generalitat de Catalunya" after the death of Manuel Llopis de Casades, the last heir of the family. The house is decorated as a romantic mansion of the 19th century, in its first floor stands out the mural by Pau Rigalt, and its wine cellar it's known to have been an important "Malvasia de Sitges" producer. The house's garden is used for cultural activities during the summer and the second floor holds a doll collection by Lola Anglada.
"Fundació Stämpfli Art Contemporani" holds a collection of 60 works from 21 different countries. These works present a unique tour from the 60's to the present day.
"Palau de Maricel", the most important building of the "Noucentisme" in Sitges, was built by Miquel Utrillo between 1913 and 1918 to give a home to Charles Deering art collection. In 1935 the "Generalitat de Catalunya" rented the building to expand "Muse del Cau Ferrat". Years later (1945) would be acquired by the council of the village to form a conceptual artistic unit together with "Museu de Maricel" and Can "Rocamora"
Finally, "Casa Bacardí" is a permanent visit center located in the old "Mercat Vell", a modernist building in the Old Quarter of Sitges. The reason behind its location its the origin of the founder of the brand, who was born in the village. "Casa Bacardí" offers the opportunity to get to know the history of Sitges and the Barcadí family, at the end of the visit can drink cocktails from the ambassador of the brand and professionals.
Tell me, wouldn't it be great to visit some of this places? To explore the village and find its treasures? Maybe relax and have fun in its beaches?
Publicado en 15 febrero, 2019
The Origin Of Catalonia
"Ibers"
I'm sure that in some moment of your life you have wondered about your origins. You may have asked yourself things like who are my ancestors? Where do I come from? Who are the people that lived here before me?
The truth is, these are questions I've asked myself too. Because of that I've decided to investigate about the civilizations that lived where I do thousands of years ago.
In my case, my ancestors would be a civilization called "Ibers", a group of different cultures that occupied the Iberian Peninsula between the end of the 7th-century b.C and the beginning of the 6th-century b.C.
As you may suspect, if I want to know more about the people that could have been my predecessors, I should look into each of this civilizations and see which one I could be related to.
The first culture I'll be talking about is "Laietans". The only information about this mysterious community that has persisted until today is its location (occupied the east-central part of Catalonia) and its tendency to build big settlements and fortified villages in hills and litoral mountain chains to make use of lower lands as agrarian soil.
Then, there are the "Lacetants", a civilization that lived in the central part of Catalonia. They standed out because of their bravery and resistance against the Roman occupation.
The "Indigets" were located in the actual zone of Costa Brava, the north-east of Catalonia. In addition, their territory was nearby the greek cities of Emporion (Empúries) and Rhode (Roses), which contributed to its economic, cultural and technological growth. Their most important city was Indika, in its vicinity is where the Battle of Ebre (iberian natives against Romans) took place.
The "Ilergets" was one of the most distinctive societies of the Iberian Catalonia thanks to their control over a very large territory in the west. They had 2 capitals (Iltirta and Atanagrum) and their own currency. Also, "Ilergets" were very active in the Second Punic War and battles related to the Roman conquest, their princes were the ones who lead the riots against the Romans.
The "Ilercavons" was a culture that lived by the Ebre River. Their origin is an older civilization (the "Ilaraugats") that divided in two different cultures (the "Ilercavons" and the "Ilergets"). They occupied the south of Catalonia and are considered one of the most dynamic Iberian cultures thanks to their situation near the Ebre.
Then, there was the "Cessetans", who lived by the actual Costa Daurada. Their settlements were small and very close to each other, forming a net. Their territory was where some of the first confrontations between Romans and Carthaginians took place.
The "Ceretans" lived in the mountains, just in the middle of the Pyrenees and right in the frontier with France.
Finally, there were the "Ausetants", a civilization that inhabited the Catalan region of Osona (known for their medieval villages and towns). They lived in fortified villages situated in strategic points to control the territory. In addition, the "Ausetans" outshined for their interventions in riots against Roma and for being one of the few Iberian and catalan cultures that coined denarius and bronze coins.
I bet now that you know a little bit of this incredible civilizations you are as curious about them as me. You are probably thinking if there's some place you could go to discover more about the "Ibers" that populated Catalonia.
Well, what if I told you there's a whole ruote dedicated to them? This tour I'm talking about it's called "Ruta dels Ibers" and it go across Catalonia to visit the settlements left by all these cultures.
The Shared Home of Two Cultures
Empúries
Empúries is the kind of place where you can see how cultures are able to coexist and even blend together with time. What was first a Greek city became later on a Roman one. But how was this process? When did it start? To know all of this we have to go back in time to its very own origin.
The beginning of this now archaeological site was the Paleapolis (Old City) and its origin devolve upon the citizens of Phocaea, a Greek settlement located in Turkey, who founded the colony with commercial goals. That way, the island became a commercial port in which the natives (the population of Indika) traded goods with the Greeks.
Nearly one century later (550 b.C.) the second formation in solid ground, the Neapolis or New City, was established and started to develop into a city.
After some time the population grew due to the flight of Phocaea after the Alàlia battle (where the Carthaginian and the Etruscan fought against the Greeks from Phocaea).
Later on, during the 5th century b.C., Indika and Greece established politic and commercial agreements, transforming the colony not only into an important economic center (thanks to its situation in the commercial route between Malaysia and Tartessos) but also into one of the biggest Greek territories of the Iberian Peninsula.
In the 4th century b.C. the colony gained the name of Emporion, and the first currency of Catalonia appeared in the city.
Then, the arrival of the Barcids (a noble Carthaginian family) caused a strong competition in the market because of a significant economic recession. For that reason the city sent the ambassadorship to Roma to ask for help, what made possible the Ebre Treaty (226 a. C.) with Asdrubal (a Carthaginian politician and general). That treaty banned the Carthaginians to navigate in the river Ebre.
After the Second Punic War (conflict between Roma and Cartago) Emporion formed an alliance with Roma, which sent and army to cut the supplies of Annibal.
With the landing of the roman army commanded by the magistrate Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus the conquest of Hispania started.
In 197 b.C. Marcus Porcius Cato (roman consul, soldier and writer) placed a military camp near Emporion to fight against the Iberian Resistance. Around this military camp was where the Emporion Battle (one of the Native Riots) took place. From that moment, the camp became a roman city and coexisted with the Greek one. But the roman influence was stronger and both cities joined under the same legal state to become Municipium Emporiae.
As a consequence of the Civil War between Pompeu (Roman general) and Julius Caesar (Roman politic and soldier) the city lost its independence.
After the Roman conquest of Iberia, since the first century, Emporiae and other old roman cities started their decline due the importance acquired by Tarraco and Barcino.
Finally, at the end of the century the city was abandoned because of that loss of importance mentioned and the migration of its population.
I'm sure that all of that history has made you curious about Empúries. You are probably wondering what you could visit there or what the ruins of that cities are. Well, some of the monuments you can see there are the Ascepli sculpture, the Mosaic Domus, the Roman Amphitheatre or the Roman Forum.
Tell me, would you like to discover Empúries now?
Publicado en 9 enero, 2019 22 enero, 2019
The Fairy Village
Legends of Viladrau
Have you ever wondered what kind of magical beings could be hiding in the forests of Catalonia? Which are the legends born in their depths? What it is that makes them so fascinating?
To me, there is one village in Catalonia that surpass all the others when it comes to myths, legends, and supernatural creatures. This village is Viladrau, located in the Montseny Massif. The legends born in its forests are the most enchanting and they revolve around one specific topic. What do you think this could be?
Well, the particular topic that makes Viladrau's legends so interesting is water. Yes, water. And I'm sure you are wondering why. I mean, what is so incredible about it? What does water have to turn these legends into something that captivating?
The reason why its legends are strongly related to this element is the huge number of springs that can be found in the village, and what make them engrossing enough to captivate everybody that hears them are the creatures that give them live, the water fairies.
The legend says, they are the ones who keep the water of the springs flowing and that the sound makes by the water running is actually their voices. It is also said that if the fairies are seen their magical powers disappear and they become human.
Thanks to these beliefs there are a lot of different tales about the fairies and the natural fountains where they live.
Per example, "The Hunter and the Water Fairy" is a legend that tells the love story between a fairy and a hunter. Their romance begins when the hunter falls asleep at the edge of a little lake and a curious fairy watches him sleep until he wakes up. When the hunter sees her, she becomes human and he falls instantly in love. Then, he begs her to marry him and have children, and she accepts under one condition: to never reveal to anyone who she truly is. But, he does it during a heated discussion. After that, she vanishes. It is said that the hunter would find pearls every night at her side of the bed and that those would be the tears she cries for not being able to be with their children.
Another one is "The Big Boy". A story that happens in a period of drought, in which the people of Viladrau are desperate to find water. In that state of despair and distress, there is a kid who decides to go search for water by himself and finds a spring. From that moment the boy goes there every night to drink water and he ends up growing taller each time he does it. Because of that people decide to follow him and end up discovering the spring too. The legend says that if someone drinks from that it at 12 o'clock during the night they will grow.
The legend "The Spring of Lovers" is about a natural fountain, with the same name, where it is told that if two people drink at the same time through the two outlets of water the fountain has, they'll fall in love with each other.
These are just some of all the legends and myths of the village. I'm sure now that you already know a couple of them you want to discover about the others. And what a better way to do it than go visit the places that inspired them?
Publicado en 12 diciembre, 2018 12 diciembre, 2018
Where the history begins
The Medieval Town of Besalú
If you are interested in the Middle Ages and you are willing to explore new areas to learn more about it, I know the perfect one to visit. The place I'm talking about is Besalú, a small town of Catalonia full of old treasures that will cast a spell on you and make you want to spend days discovering its magic monuments and sights.
Now, what is it that makes the history of this village so interesting? Why does it have such spectacular attractions? Where they come from?
The thing is, Besalú arrived at its peak, precisely, during the Middle Ages. Its origin as a town began with its castle, dated for the first time during the 10th century. And it's during this period when Besalú became one of the most important villages of Catalonia as a result of being a connection between towns situated high in the mountains and others located near the coast.
That way, people could trade animals (from the ranching in higher regions) for food (from agriculture), and vice versa. Thanks to that, and together with its markets (where a variety of professionals like farmers, traders or artisans could be found), Besalú became the core of Catalan economy in the Middle Ages.
For this reasons, Besalú turned out to be an incredible place full of fascinating sights to see and learn from.
Can you imagine what all of this history has left behind to these days? All of the amazing places we are now able to visit thanks to it? I'm sure you're dying to know them, so I'll tell you some!
First of all, there is its iconic bridge located at the entrance of the village. Built in the 11th century, the bridge is a fortified Romanesque construction that starts as a defense tower and crosses the Fluvià river to access the town.
Then, there is the Mikveh or Jewish bathrooms. This is one of the few preserved in the Iberian Peninsula and in Europe (where there are only four), too. The Mikveh is located in a previous Sinagoga and were supposed to be a place to purify the soul through bathing.
Also, there is Sant Julià, an old hospital for travelers and church. It was built in the 12th century by the counts of Besalú to attend travelers, even though it was owned by the monks of Sant Pere monastery.
There is a Sant Vicenç church, too. Being one of the oldest buildings in Besalú, it was built between the 8th and the 11th century, and it combines Romanesque and gothic elements. Besides this, it also stands out for its decoration in the principal door and its laterals, formed by animals with wings and mythical creatures.
These are just a few of the astonishing monuments of Besalú! I bet you are curious about what else could be hiding in this village! It would be awesome to explore it yourself, right?
Publicado en 28 noviembre, 2018 28 noviembre, 2018
A dance as mysterious as fun
Catalonia is a unique land rich in culture and folklore. It is the kind of place where you could get lost in countless celebrations, each one of them with their specifics traditions, food, music, and dances. As you can imagine, there's a lot we could talk about when it comes to culture in Catalonia, but today we will be focusing in discovering one of its traditional dances: "Ball de Bastons" (literally translated as "Dance of Sticks"). You may be wondering, what's so alluring about "Ball de Bastons". What does it have, that is impressive enough to write a whole article about it?
Well, I can assure you there are many reasons to find this dance as interesting as I do! After all, its origin it's a complete mystery, it is one of the most fun dances you'd be able to witness, and it even has a cool costume do dance in it!
As I was saying before, nobody can exactly pinpoint how or when this dance was born. The thing is, that "Ball de Bastons" is considered one of the oldest dances in Catalonia. Is so old, that there is a wide variety of theories to choose from to explain its origin.
One of these theories, says "Ball de Bastons" was created as a mixture of ritual dances that represented the agrarian work and had the goal to bring fertility to the field. According to another one, this dance was made by warriors to train for real battles in times of peace. In other theory, it is believed to be a game that was played by bandits to simulate conflicts with other bandits. These, are the most famous theories about the way "Ball de Bastons" was created.
Now that you know some of the ways that it could have been originated, it's time to reveal how it is danced. First, to dance "Ball de Bastons" you need to form groups of 8 or 16 people and stand in a circle, a square or in rows. Then, once everybody is in place you should grab your two sticks (the main reason behind the dance name) and kick the sticks of the other dancers following the rhythm of the song playing (usually played with instruments like "la gralla" or "el tabal"). Also, you should keep in mind that to dance "Ball de Bastons" people have to practice some of its choreographies first.
Lastly, there are the traditional clothes worn in "Ball de Bastons". These costume usually consists of a white shirt and trousers with underskirts, scarves, hats, and ribbons of different colors, as well as little bells tied to the bottom of the trousers, and traditional espadrilles.
What do you think about this dance? Did you ever imagine a dance like that could exist? I'm sure you're curious about it! It would be fun to see it live, right? Or would you prefer to dance it?
Food and volcanoes, the most delicious combination
When you travel there isn't a better way to truly get to know the places you are visiting than eating their traditional food and dishes. They have the power to tell you how people live and have lived, why they act the way they do, where some of their traditions come from, and the most important, what they eat and how they cook it. Those dishes can tell you little pieces of history bite by bite. Have you ever really thought about what kind of stories could be hiding in your food?
To be honest, despite my love for food, I had never wondered that until I discovered something called "Volcanic Cuisine" (Cuina Volcànica in Catalan). It sounds kind of scary, doesn't it? Who in their right mind would want to eat something with such a dangerous name?
Believe it or not, there are people out there who do eat it. These are the locals of La Garrotxa. A place surrounded by the beautiful Natural Park of the Volcanic Zone of La Garrotxa, known for its amazing forests, full of native plants, wildlife, and volcanoes (the most well-known being "el Croscat" and "Santa Margarida").
And it's precisely because of its volcanoes that the traditional food of this stunning area of Catalonia is called "Volcanic Cuisine".
Now that I've already told you the reason behind its name, you may be wondering what is the history residing in this unique type of cuisine.
It all lies in the ingredients used to cook. These are the product of the rich characteristics of the volcanic land in which they grow, a fruitful ground where the local farmers have been cultivating the traditionals aliments of the region for ages. Some of these are: the "fajol", the "farro", the "fesols of Santa Pau", the "formatge serrat d'ovella", the "naps negres", the "patata de la Vall d'en Bas", the "piumoc", the "recuit", the "tomàquet of Montserrat", the "vedella ben criada" and the "xai de ramat" or "pigallat".
But not everything about this cuisine is based on tradition, another of its characteristics is the wonderful mixture of old recipes with new techniques and creative combinations. All of this, brought by a group of restaurants that base their dishes on this impressive type of cuisine, representing, defending and promoting the culinary culture of the territory cooking with products raised, cultivated and fabricated in La Garrotxa.
The restaurants that serve "Volcanic Cuisine" are: Font Moixina (Olot), La Quinta Justa (Olot), la Deu (Olot), Hostals dels Ossos (Batet de la Serra), Cúria Reial (Besalú), l'Hostalet (Hostalets d'en Bas), Ca la Matilde (Sant Feliu de Pallerols), Sant Miquel (Sant Esteve d'en Bas) and Can Xel (Santa Pau).
What do you think about the "Volcanic Cuisine" after reading this? Wouldn't it be great to taste it? I bet you are wondering how good it is just from hearing about it! It would be great to come and try it, right?
Publicado en 6 junio, 2018 6 junio, 2018
Until the late 19th century Gràcia was an independent town. The Passeig de Gràcia connected the city with the little town Gràcia. 1897 it got swallowed by the growing Barcelona.
Continuar leyendo "Vila de Gràcia"
Publicado en 29 mayo, 2018 5 junio, 2018
The Salt Mountain
The Salt mountain is located in Cardona, which is about 1 1/2h away from Barcelona. This Salt mine is one of the largest and most important ones in Europe. It is located in the Cardona's Salt Mountain Cultural Park, which shows the outstanding natural resources and mineral heritage. This unique place is a great opportunity to see Cardona's saline outcrops.
Continuar leyendo "The Salt Mountain"
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Plaça Reial, 3 1ro 3ra – 08002
Monday to Friday: 10:00AM a 19:00PM
Lunes a Viernes:10:00AM a 19:00PM
info@inoutbarcelonatours.com
We run Day Tours IN and OUT of Barcelona. Not only we will take you to Barcelona's main attractions like Sagrada Familia or Park Güell Gaudi Masterpieces, but also to unknown treasures all arround Catalunya, such as: Dali's world, Penedes Cava wineyards, Spiritual Montserrat, Roman Tarragona, Espectacular Costa Brava or Medieval Girona
Lunes a viernes: 10:00AM a 18:00PM
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Probably the number one Mexican food item that people are familiar with is the taco (tah-co), but as with everything else, one man's taco is another man's burrito, or something like that. There are a multitude of taco recipes floating around using either corn or (shudder) flour tortillas, different cooking methods and an equal number of ways to stuff a wild taco.
For many folks, the only taco they know about is the fast-food type sold at Taco Bell or many other joints that hawk pseudo-Mexican food. Those of us lucky enough to live in the Southwest have access to countless small taquerias that sell a traditional style of street taco which features two small corn tortillas filled with meat, salsa and cilantro. Add a couple of slices of fresh radish and a spritz of lime and you are, as they say in the East San Gabriel Valley, 'having things'.
For this recipe, I'll focus on the traditional Tex-Mex taco I grew up with, the same style made famous at Manny's Chile Bowl (now sadly closed) in Paradise, California: corn tortillas, quick deep-fried and then stuffed with tasty ground beef and veggies. The choice to go 'hard' or 'soft' totally depends on your personal preference, but these 'soft' tacos are WAY BETTER than the ones you get at The Crazy Chicken or places like that, where they use steamed corn tortillas and IT JUST AIN'T THE SAME!!!! My choice is always for 'soft' tacos, done a la Manny's.
Short stack of cloth kitchen towels (NOT the good ones!), deep fryer, medium size frying pan with lid, various wood spoons, cooking tongs, paper towels, a Dos Equis and thee. If you don't have a deep fryer, BUY ONE... they're really inexpensive and you can then make tortilla chips or funnel cakes with it too! See the end of this recipe for my recommendation (hint: Presto Fry Daddy).
One (1) dozen fresh (packaged, non-frozen) corn tortillas, ½-lb. Cheddar or Longhorn cheese, vegetable oil, choice of meat (chicken, beef, pork, catfish, wolverine, whatever), lettuce, tomatoes, one (1) can sliced olives, one (1) medium size potato, taco sauce or salsa, fresh avocados if you have them. Note: you can use frozen corn tortillas, which I regularly do. Just pry them apart gently and lay them on a towel on the counter for about 10 minutes, turning them over every so often until they are soft and dry to the touch. They might curl up a bit, but no worries unless they crack and split apart, usually a sign they've been in the deep freeze a bit too long. Just make sure they are completely thawed before you drop them in the deep fryer!
My kitchen is laid out with a stovetop on my left and sink on my right, with a counter top in between. As I am right-handed, I work from left to right with the cooking and assembly, laying out the utensils with my assembly strategy in mind. I also like to cover the counter area with cloth towels to lessen any spillage mess. Hey, we're cooking, right?
1. Cook your meat, heh heh heh. Now, this can be as simple or complicated as you wish, but for this recipe I'll go with ground sirloin, browned in a pan and drained. Once returned to the pan, season to taste, shred half of the potato directly into the meat, fold in and simmer over semi-low heat for around 30 minutes, turning every 5 minutes or so until the potatoes have cooked properly (if you're in a time pinch, leave out the shredded potato). Then drop in a can of sliced olives with the water, season to taste again and continue to simmer while you take a swig o' cerveza and prepare the other ingredients.
2. Grate the cheese, chop the lettuce (julienne-style) and tomatoes and stash in the fridge.
3. Set up the deep fryer on a covered surface and pour in about 1-inch of vegetable oil. Plug in and heat the oil until a small bit of tortilla dropped in will begin to sizzle and cook immediately.
4. Fold two (2) paper towels bi-fold, then fold two more – these will be used to pat-off any excess oil from the cooked tortillas.
5. Confirm your meat is completely cooked and the potatoes are the right consistency. You'll note the 'taters are slightly dry, and that is exactly what we want – NO DRIPPY CACA TACOS!!!
6. Set up the taco makin' station with your cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, hot sauce and spices.
7. Raise your beer in celebration of the most-excellent tacos you are about to create!
1. Using the cooking tongs, immerse one corn tortilla into the oil, allowing it to cook for 5 to 10 seconds, then flip it over and cook for another 5 to 10 seconds. Cooking time may vary depending on how soft or semi-soft you want the tortilla to be. Once done cooking, grab the tortilla and hold it over the fryer to drain off any excess oil. Use care if the tortilla begins to grow a pocket of hot air while cooking – gently poke a small slit in it with the tongs and it will flatten out, but watch out for the hot oil.
2. Place the cooked and drained tortilla onto the paper towel pad you've made, place the other paper towel pad on top and gently press down to soak up any excess oil. This is a very important step and will make or break your tacos. NO DRIPPY CACA TACOS!!!
3. Once patted dry, place the tortilla onto a plate and spoon on a heaping helping of taco meat, likely two spoonfuls or so. Make two more tacos just like this for a plate-full, then transfer the plate over to the makin' station.
4. This part is TOTALLY FREE-FORM. Add the fixings any way you choose, but here's my style, in order: shake of salt & pepper, a few drops of Pico Pica (my fave hot sauce), a few slices of avocados, lettuce, tomato, cheese, a bit more pepper and some more hot sauce. My wife likes to put some cheese directly onto the meat so it will melt, but that goes against everything I ever learned about making tacos. Or not… whatever. She IS smarter than me, so there's that.
5. Repeat this process for each plate of tacos. If you have several people to feed for a sit-down meal, make each set of three tacos on a plate, then place them WITHOUT THE FIXINGS into a 200-degree oven to keep caliente until all the tacos are made and ready to be completed. Natch, be sure to use oven-safe plates! Make a few extras, put them on a plate, cover with a towel and stash in the oven for anyone (everyone?) who wants MORE TACOS.
6. Eat your tacos... drink your beer… make more tacos if needed! Oh yes… this will happen.
CHICKEN – this will take a little more advance planning than the ground sirloin. Bake a couple of chicken breasts ahead of time, skin off, dry-seasoned to taste. Once cooked, allow to cool for a bit, then shred the breasts with a fork and place in a small sauce pan over low heat. Simmer while adding your fave hot sauce and season to taste.
PORK – also referred to as carnitas (car-nee-tas), the variations for cooking are immense, but cook your pork roast (NOT CHOPS!!) to your liking, then shred or pull apart and simmer like the chicken method. Wait a minute... maybe pork chop tacos would RULE, so cook some up!
FISH – I don't like fish tacos… I don't cook fish tacos… never ate fish tacos when I was a kid… fish tacos are an abomination! That said, cook your White fish filet any way you like for the taco stuffing and don't say I didn't warn you (insert evil Vincent Price-style laugh here).
BREAKFAST – of course you can make breakfast tacos! If you're like us, we can eat brekkie any time of the day or night. Eggs that are fried or scrambled are a natural taco stuffing, then slap some hash browns and cheese in there for good measure. The hard-core taco eaters out there may even want to whip up some huevos y papas con chorizo (scrambled eggs mixed with fried potatos and cooked Mexican chile sausage) and then stuff them in tortillas. ORALE'.
VEGGIE – a surprising taco stuffing that uses whole or refried pinto beans instead of meat can be very satisfying. You can also use seasoned fried potatoes or hash browns.
Hard taco shells are tricky to make without a wire deep-fry form, but it can be done. Dip the fresh tortilla into the deep fryer and while it's cooking, grab one side of the tortilla with the tongs, fold over and hold just off the side that's cooking. After a bit, turn the tortilla over so the other side is now cooking in the oil and hold the first side up… you'll see what I mean. Keep doing this until the tortilla holds the desired U-shape and is slightly browned around the edges – this means the tortilla will hold its crispy shape. You could also buy those pre-formed shells from the store, but trust me: they sucko mucho.
Stove-top soft taco shells are really easy to make if you prefer them to the deep-fried style, and I like to vary between the two from time to time. The best way to make them is with a comal (ko-mal) or cast-iron tortilla griddle, which is essentially a raised flat frying griddle… you can also use a regular frying pan with a slick coating. Place the griddle on the stove-top at medium heat and let sit until a drop of water skitters across the surface. Place the tortilla on the griddle for about 10 seconds, turn over and let cook for another 10 seconds. Repeat this process until the tortilla reaches the color and 'doneness' you want, then stuff it.
Steamed soft taco shells are typical for fast-food joints and are not my favorite, but will do in a pinch. Take a short stack of corn tortillas, wrap them in a clean kitchen towel, sprinkle the towel with some water and microwave them 20 to 30 seconds, depending on your micro settings. They'll be smokin' hot when done, so be careful when removing them from the towel.
Flour tortillas were never meant to be used for taco making, but there are SOME PEOPLE who prefer them for reasons of their own (not me!). If your heart is set on making tacos with (shudder) flour tortillas, DO NOT DEEP-FRY THEM as they will turn crispy on contact with the oil and break as soon as you try to bend or fill them. My suggestion is to use the stove-top method on a comal or heated frying pan, cooking them until they begin to fill with hot air bubbles and start to brown.
Bizarre tangent – when I was a kid, I would take a flour tortilla and a slice of bologna, put each on a gas stove burner and cook them directly over the flame, turning them a few times until both were cooked/burned/charred, place the bologna on the tortilla, roll it up and hork it down. Always left a HUGE mess on the stove and made my Dad real mad… heh heh heh. Is this a taco or a burrito? Believe me when I tell you: the aroma of a slightly charred flour tortilla and bologna is simply awesome.
As with all of my recipes, don't be discouraged if your first attempt to make tacos doesn't meet expectations. It just takes a little practice to get the hang of making the meat and frying the tortillas. Having said that, I don't recommend serving this dish to invited guests unless you've already made them a few times for good measure. I'm just sayin'.
I strongly suggest investing in a good deep-fryer like the Presto 'Fry Daddy', my weapon of choice. As I mentioned in the enchilada recipe from earlier this year, my first deep-fryer endured almost 15 years of regular use before it conked out, and the replacement cost all of $35 from Wal-Mart. A really good investment!
Be sure to avoid bargain-brand hot sauces or the really thick and chunky styles unless that's your bag. As an adult, I simply cannot accept anything less than Pico Pica, something my Dad always had on hand and would put on everything he stuffed in his taco hole. I always thought it tasted awful, but time and temperament have changed my taste buds and it is now the only hot sauce I'll use.
Taco Bone image, muchismas gracias de crunchyroll.com; War 'Nappy Head' video, muchismas gracias de YouTube.