text:
Q: how to use Tango3DR_updateTexture? I am trying to make 3DR texturing but it always use only vertex colors in texture.
On every frame I store frame as PNG:
    RGBImage frame(t3dr_image, 4);
    std::ostringstream ss;
    ss << dataset_.c_str();
    ss << "/";
    ss << poses_.size();
    ss << ".png";
    frame.Write(ss.str().c_str());
    poses_.push_back(t3dr_image_pose);
    timestamps_.push_back(t3dr_image.timestamp);

In the method Save I am trying to process texturing:
1) I extract full mesh from context
    Tango3DR_Mesh* mesh = 0;
    Tango3DR_Status ret;
    ret = Tango3DR_extractFullMesh(t3dr_context_, &mesh);
    if (ret != TANGO_3DR_SUCCESS)
        std::exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);

2) Create texturing context using extracted mesh
    Tango3DR_ConfigH textureConfig;
    textureConfig = Tango3DR_Config_create(TANGO_3DR_CONFIG_TEXTURING);
    ret = Tango3DR_Config_setDouble(textureConfig, "min_resolution", 0.01);
    if (ret != TANGO_3DR_SUCCESS)
        std::exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
    Tango3DR_TexturingContext context;
    context = Tango3DR_createTexturingContext(textureConfig, dataset.c_str(), mesh);
    if (context == nullptr)
        std::exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
    Tango3DR_Config_destroy(textureConfig);

3) Call Tango3DR_updateTexture with data I stored before (this does not work)
    for (unsigned int i = 0; i < poses_.size(); i++) {
        std::ostringstream ss;
        ss << dataset_.c_str();
        ss << "/";
        ss << i;
        ss << ".png";
        RGBImage frame(ss.str());
        Tango3DR_ImageBuffer image;
        image.width = frame.GetWidth();
        image.height = frame.GetHeight();
        image.stride = frame.GetWidth() * 3;
        image.timestamp = timestamps_[i];
        //data are for sure in this format
        image.format = TANGO_3DR_HAL_PIXEL_FORMAT_RGB_888;
        image.data = frame.GetData();
        ret = Tango3DR_updateTexture(context, &image, &poses_[i]);
        if (ret != TANGO_3DR_SUCCESS)
            std::exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
    }

4) Texturize mesh
    ret = Tango3DR_Mesh_destroy(mesh);
    if (ret != TANGO_3DR_SUCCESS)
        std::exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
    mesh = 0;
    ret = Tango3DR_getTexturedMesh(context, &mesh);
    if (ret != TANGO_3DR_SUCCESS)
        std::exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);

5) Save it as OBJ (in the result texture are only data from vertex colors, why?)
    ret = Tango3DR_Mesh_saveToObj(mesh, filename.c_str());
    if (ret != TANGO_3DR_SUCCESS)
        std::exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
    ret = Tango3DR_destroyTexturingContext(context);
    if (ret != TANGO_3DR_SUCCESS)
        std::exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
    ret = Tango3DR_Mesh_destroy(mesh);
    if (ret != TANGO_3DR_SUCCESS)
        std::exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);

All methods returned TANGO_3DR_SUCCESS.
Full code here: https://github.com/lvonasek/tango

A: Thanks for reaching out and providing the detailed code breakdown.
The error is on our end - the library currently doesn't support RGB texture inputs. It assumes YUV for all input images. I've opened a ticket to track this bug and we'll fix it for the next release, by allowing RGB input and providing better return values for invalid image formats.
Edit: Found another bug on our end. The API states image_pose should be the pose of the image, but our implementation actually expects the pose of the device. I've opened a bug, and this will be fixed in next release (release-H).
You can try working around this for now by passing in the device pose without multiplying the device-to-camera extrinsic calibration, although of course that's just a temp bandaid.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
The Vegan Vine
A blog devoted to promoting veganism, animal equality, and the abolition of nonhuman slavery through information and topical reflections on related issues. The Vegan Vine aims to educate, inspire, and move people to embrace an ethical vegan way of life and to establish rights for ALL nonhumans in recognition of their moral value as persons, not property.
HOW DO I GO VEGAN?
A Tribute to Max
Max was diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer and passed away at home in my arms around noon on April 2, 2020.
I adopted Max from the Bucks County SPCA in Pennsylvania 14 years ago today. He was about four and a half months old. I remember holding his little face next to mine and instantly knowing that he was the one. He had big ears and paws. I didn't realize it at the time, but he would grow into a beautifully large and long adult cat.
Some might say that I saved Max by adopting him out of the shelter, but he saved me. He changed my life forever and brought me so much joy. I quit smoking cigarettes for good that year (2006), and returned to veganism, acknowledging little difference between Max and any other animal who wants to live and be happy.
Max was my only nonhuman companion. He was my whole world and the love of my life, my best friend, confider, and soul mate. We were alike in so many ways: cautious, insistent, inquisitive, affectionate, vocal, and creatures of habit. Max loved to curl up in small spaces. Sometimes he would sneak into the linen closet, and I would find him fast asleep on a shelf.
I remember the first week after I brought Max home. Initially guarded, he slept under the bed, but at some point that week, in the wee hours of the morning, he crept out from underneath the bed and curled up next to me. It was heavenly. Earning Max's trust then and over the years to come was like receiving a badge of honor.
Max was handsome, smart, athletic, and playful. We would chase each other around the house and he loved to climb his cat tree, which was fascinating to watch. I would throw his toys up to him and he'd bat them down better than any volleyball player. Quite often my head would be the receiving end of those toys, which would cause me to break out in laughter. His favorite toys were his little plush beaver and catnip-stuffed banana. When I brought cat grass home from the supermarket, he would get so excited that his tail would puff up. Each week when I changed the bed sheets, he'd love to jump on the mattress and hide under the sheets and we'd play hide and seek.
There was no other place in the world I ever wanted to be than home with Max. Our apartment was our sanctuary and he was the epitome of home and happiness. I hated leaving him to go to work and I knew he felt the same because he would often try to engage me (successfully) with play as I stood by the door, not quite ready to leave. Other mornings, he went to the bed to nap and I would return to him one, two, three times for "one more kissy" and to let him know how much I loved him and would miss him. I would tell him I missed him when I was on my lunch break and call out to him in the car on my way home to let him know, "I'm coming, Max!" My favorite time of the day was when he greeted me at the door. We were so happy to see each other. I'd pick him up and hold him for as long as he would let me, and he would rub his head next to mine or nuzzle my ear.
Max was very good about telling me what he wanted and when, but we had such a soulful connection that we frequently communicated without words. Sometimes I would be sitting on the couch and think about him and, even though he would be sleeping in the bedroom, he would somehow know I was thinking about him and suddenly emerge to hang out with me. If I wasn't quite ready for bed when he was, he'd often join me on the couch and fall asleep next to me.
I loved the way Max scrunched his nose when he was eating or covered his eyes with his paw to block out the light when he was napping. As I turned down the covers for bed, Max would patiently wait and then instinctively snuggle up on his side of the bed and bury his face under his pillow. Many a day I would linger nearby and watch him sleeping, marveling at how beautiful he was, and how happy and blessed we were to have each other.
Max was my connection to the nonhuman world. Whenever I saw oppression, pain, and suffering among my nonhuman friends and felt helpless, it was through loving Max that I felt a little less sad and a little more useful. I gave him the love I wish all animals felt and received. Max was a constant reminder to me of what is really important. Our relationship was so vital and meaningful to me; it made me highly conscious of the experiences of other animals as I tried to see life from their eyes.
Max was so pure and innocent and good. I came to recognize how much better he was than me. Max taught me to be less selfish as I made every effort to put his needs ahead of my own. He taught me the importance of being still and being together. He taught me the importance of play and enjoying the simple things in life. In caring for Max, I learned the value of time and patience, and the true meaning of love. Lastly, he taught me how to endure and to be brave.
I tried very hard to understand and respect Max for who he was—an equal and autonomous being—and to make him happy. I was constantly researching the best food, litter, and toys for him, and tried to provide him with the best care. I was devoted to him.
In the end, it wasn't enough to keep him from getting sick. He took a turn for the worse. Constantly throwing up, he finally stopped eating and spent most of his time under the bed. I knew he was in pain. In fact, he told me so three times by his water bowl the morning of his passing. His voice was hoarse and weak, but his words were resolute: "I don't feel well." I reached down and hugged him. "I know," I said. "I'm so sorry."
The hardest thing I ever had to do was release my Max. My heart is broken because he is no longer here to talk with, curl up with on mornings, or play with. I deeply miss his daily presence in my life and not being able to kiss him and give him "lots of lovie." I feel empty and useless without him. If home is where the heart is, I feel lost and displaced because Max was both my home and my heart.
I'm sorry, Max, for the times in our early years together when I was ignorant about food and nutrition. I'm sorry for when I left you alone to do things that I wanted to do. I'm sorry for the times when I didn't understand or when I was impatient and irritated. I'm sorry for the times when I was distracted and didn't give you my full attention. I'm sorry for any shortcomings, but I always tried to do better and learn from my mistakes.
I miss and love you so much, Max. I'm grateful to God for the 14 wonderful years I had with you. You'll always be my guy. You'll always be with me because the bonds we have are everlasting. Please come visit me, bunny; don't be a stranger. I miss you so very, very much. I look forward to the day when we can both be home, together again.
Forever yours,
What greater gift than the love of a cat. –Charles Dickens
Please consider making a donation to Tabby's Place, a cage-free, no-kill cat sanctuary.
Cortale, Bethany No comments:
Meat Is Not Only NOT Essential, It's Deadly
Courtesy of We Animals Media
Amidst a pandemic originating from a Chinese meat market and hundreds of cases of Coronavirus outbreaks in slaughterhouses, President Trump has done the unthinkable: declared that animal flesh (meat) is essential, subsequently ordering all slaughterhouse workers back to business as usual.
Trump invoked the Defense Production Act to keep slaughterhouses open—thereby spreading the Coronavirus—even though he refuses to use the same executive order to produce the necessary tests and personal protection equipment (PPE) that will help stem the spread of COVID-19. What's more, animal enslavement operations, which Trump seems so determined to defend, are why we have pandemics in the first place as they create opportunities for similar viruses like bird and swine flus.
Trump pretends to care about human health and human lives, however, his actions say otherwise as he looks to satisfy the economic interests of a declining and death-ridden industry.
Most slaughterhouse employees are poor, low-wage workers and unprotected immigrants so Trump's complete lack of concern for their well-being shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. Slaughterhouse workers are a means to an end, just like the other animals they are paid to kill and "process".
An industry that is hostile to nonhuman animals is no less hostile to the people it employs to do our dirty work. In a 2011 VegNews article, "Injustice for All", Mark Hawthorne investigated the conditions of slaughterhouse workers and found their jobs to be one of the most dangerous in the world. Most animal enslavement operations are owned by giant, wealthy conglomerates like Tyson, Smithfield, and Cargill. Nothing is more important to these peddlers of flesh than keeping the production line—the killing, eviscerating, slicing, and packaging—moving at all times.
Cortale, Bethany 1 comment:
The Silver Lining of COVID-19
I look out my window and I see trees and flowers in bloom, I hear birds chirping, I watch rabbits scurrying about and crows soaring high above. Life goes on for them as usual and this brings me great comfort. Seasons still change, the sun rises and sets, spring brings renewal, and hope springs eternal.
While human animals all over the globe hunker down in an attempt to avoid catching and spreading the Coronavirus virus (COVID-19), life as we know it has grounded to a halt. The natural world, on the other hand, seems mostly immune and for good reason. There is a silver lining to this pandemic as nature and many nonhuman animals benefit from reduced human activity, travel, and consumerism.
Airplanes that devour oil, adding tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, and interfere with bird migrations have had their flights severely curtailed.
Cruise ships that dump thousands of gallons of human sewage, engine oil, and medical waste into our oceans and seas are docked indefinitely.
Restaurants, bars, and other non-essential food operations that serve up gratuitous products made with nonhuman animal flesh, milk, and eggs are no longer operating.
With more and more governors ordering citizens to stay at home, less humans are traveling, which means a decrease in gasoline usage and air pollution.
More humans at home also means less cars on the road and a reduction in the number of gruesome deaths to millions of free-living animals on our roads.
More people at home means less interference with free-living animals in general, and less chance of us hurting them.
With many businesses closed, people forced to work at home are less likely to order takeout and contribute to more plastic pollution that is choking our forests and oceans and the animals who call them home.
Sporting events, casinos, concerts, nightclubs, gyms, theaters, conventions, and all kinds of human activities have been cancelled, resulting in all the above, including less accumulation of scattered trash.
Racetracks, circuses, rodeos, and other mass attractions that involve endless exploitation and abuse of other animals have also ceased.
Torturous Animal Experiments Continue in Secrecy at Rutgers University
"As a graduate student, I ordered ten rats, like so many test tubes, for experimental use because they were 'laboratory rats' and I was a 'researcher'," confessed Joan Dunayer in the introduction of her book, Animal Equality: Language and Liberation. "Those labels permitted self-disguise. I didn't see myself as an abuser—not yet. Then I observed vivisection for the first time. At the University of Pennsylvania every veteran vivisector in the psychology department treated rats with callous indifference. I heard rats scream as their ears were hole-punched for identification. I saw them flung by the tail into metal boxes that fit them like coffins. There they stayed 23 hours a day, unable to look out. So that they would work for food, some rats were kept half starved. Others received electric shocks. Still others were subjected to painful injury such as stomach puncture. Termed 'procedures' and 'methods,' all forms of torture escaped moral judgment." After reading Peter Singer's Animal Liberation, Dunayer finally realized that she had "failed to consider most nonhuman animals, the vast majority of the world's living beings. My actions," she wrote, "had displayed as arrogant, self-serving, and self-deceiving a mindset as sexism or racism. The concept of nonhuman rights completed my shift in worldview. No conscious being should be treated like an exploitable thing."
The animal activist group Stop Animal Exploitation NOW! (SAEN) recently filed a federal complaint against Rutgers University after three nonhuman animals were discovered to have endured horrific deaths in Rutgers University laboratories: a rabbit was boiled alive during cage sterilization, a goat died after becoming stuck in a feeder, and a pig died when her bowel was accidentally perforated during an experiment.
These deaths are only the tip of the iceberg. While the rabbit, goat, and pig fatalities were considered "accidents" and negligent violations of federal regulations, their deaths were not illegal because nonhuman animals are still considered property under American law. The University's use of these and other animals in unnecessary, wasteful, and costly experiments directly result in the untimely and obscure deaths of thousands of living beings every year. When I speak to Rutgers students and alumni, they are shocked to learn that Rutgers conducts animal experiments. The business of torturing other animals is not something Rutgers advertises, but it should outrage every student, alumni, and taxpayer who supports the University.
Vivisection is the restriction of individuals to confined environments and the routine infliction of pain, injury, deprivation, and death for experimentation. Vivisection commonly involves torture under the guise of "science," yet it is inherently unscientific. Many LGUs (Land-Grant Universities) devise all kinds of schemes—including creating new diseases—to acquire "research" monies to torment nonhuman animals and fund archaic experiments. Research is big business, so breeders, government agencies, pharmaceutical companies, universities, and others who profit generously from vivisection will do anything to keep the money flowing in.
Laboratories are living hells. Some nonhuman animals are born there and never leave. Many spend their entire lives surrounded by concrete and steel, subjected to nonstop physical and emotional pain. Reactions to trauma include persistent gagging from repeatedly having tubes stuck down their throats; chewed off fingernails from anxiety; rocking, and banging their heads on cell walls. In addition, hypervigilance, depression, and self-abuse—biting themselves—have also been exhibited in nonhuman animals manipulated in laboratories. These symptoms of distress have also been observed in human animals who have undergone physical and sexual abuse, war, and other traumatic experiences because suffering is universal, no matter who is experiencing it.
What the Coronavirus, the Film Contagion, and Infectious Diseases All Have in Common
In the final scene of the 2011 thriller Contagion, we learn that the deadly virus that killed 2.5 million people in the United States and 26 million worldwide by day 26 had originated in a Chinese "meat market." The "chef," who had been handling the corpse of the infected pig, wipes the pig's blood and saliva on his apron and heads out of the kitchen to meet with Beth Emhoff (Gwyneth Paltrow), a customer who requests a picture and to shake his hand. Beth becomes patient zero.
Two things came to mind when I initially heard about the Coronavirus, a zoonotic disease that is rapidly spreading across the globe and whose source has also been traced to a "meat market" in China where nonhuman animals were sold for human consumption. The first, was the movie Contagion, which relied heavily on science and was praised by experts for its authenticity. The second, was the inevitability of such an outbreak due in no small part to our insufferable and systematic exploitation and abuse of other animals.
In "Beyond Humanism, Toward a New Animalism" David Cantor wrote:
Humans' various holocausts against nonhuman animals . . . brought limitless disaster upon human beings, who until relatively recently were ignorant of organisms invisible to the naked eye. Hundreds of infectious diseases that chickens, pigs, cows, rabbits, camels, sheep, goats, horses, dogs, and others had adapted to over millions of years wreaked havoc on humans who assumed they could enslave other animals with impunity. Supernatural explanations arose for smallpox, bubonic plague, influenza, and other scourges that in actuality were zoonotic.
In "Animal Abuse: It's Why We Have Infectious Diseases," Cantor went on to describe the root cause of much human suffering brought about by our animal-abuse policies, cultures, and practices. Here are just some of the more well-known zoonotic diseases he addressed:
AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome):
The best-documented and most likely theory holds that human beings acquired the HIV virus which causes AIDS from unnatural contact with chimpanzees — namely butchering them for their flesh ("bushmeat"), enslaving them as pets, or attracting them to settlements or crops, most likely starting in the late 19th or early 20th century.
The Threatening Nature of Vegans and Truth
I was interviewing for a job and was prepared for the ubiquitous question: tell me a little about yourself. I mentioned a few interests, like organizing, reading, and writing, but it wasn't enough to satisfy my interviewer. I hesitated to mention my being vegan and knew if hired that it would eventually come up, but I went for it anyway. The interviewer seemed intrigued and as most "animal" conversations go, she related to a former dog companion whom she had loved and discussed at length.
"It must be a great sacrifice to be vegan," she finally stated, almost questioningly.
"It isn't a sacrifice, but a great joy," I beamed. "Going vegan is one of the best decisions I ever made because I no longer contribute to animal suffering through what I eat." I could see the wheels turning.
"Well, it's a choice, right?" she asked, rather rhetorically and smugly. "And that's your choice."
I smiled, noting the usual self-protective posturing. "Yes," I said.
Nonvegan rebuttals like the one above are both confounding and instructive, and provide interesting studies in psychology. When confronted with my being vegan, the interviewer quickly sought to make me "the other" so she didn't have to examine her own behaviors. Likewise, she sought to separate herself from me by implying that my being vegan is my own "personal choice," instead of a moral requirement. This begs the question: why would anyone want to defend a choice to do harm to others?
Years of experience has taught me that people need to put distance between themselves and what I'm espousing so they don't have to examine their own self-deceits. When someone insists that my being vegan follows my own "personal beliefs," I promptly point out that we both share the same beliefs. When I ask them if they believe that causing other animals unnecessary harm is wrong, they agree. Thus, when I point out that eating the flesh, milk, and eggs of other animals is unnecessary, causing billions of animals to be needlessly tormented and killed every year, they typically get defensive. The only difference is that I'm acting on our shared values and beliefs, while they are not.
"A person who tells you that eating animal products is a personal choice is experiencing a state of cognitive dissonance," wrote Robert Grillo in "Eating Animals and the Illusion of Personal Choice" (Circles of Compassion: Essays Connecting Issues of Justice, 2014). ". . . they have made this issue personal precisely in response to vegans making it public. Making the issue personal is a nice way of saying, 'I don't want to be judged or held accountable for my actions that harm animals.' So this is not so much an attempt to defend eating animals as it is a defense intended to block any further discussion or evaluation. Moreover, personalization removes animals from public discourse and keeps them tucked away in our closet of denial and silence."
Cortale, Bethany 2 comments:
"Farmers" Don't Deserve Public's Money or Pity
Overgrown hooves and anxious looks. © Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals
The words "farm" and "farmer" typically portend nostalgic and romantic notions of an American way of life. In the 1980's, like many teenagers, I was a fan of FarmAid concerts that sought to keep families from losing their farms. Songs like "Scarecrow" by John Mellencamp immortalized the financial struggles of farmers. Over the years I've seen many local farms disappear to human development.
When I became vegetarian, then vegan, I found that not all farms and farmers are created equal. I learned to let go of idealized, culturally-programmed concepts of these terms that—like the Old MacDonald nursery rhyme and Oscar Meyer jingle—conjure up naive and harmless impressions. Instead, when I came face to face with the truth of what most "farms" and "farmers" do, I uncovered violent operations where millions of nonhuman animals are needlessly bred, enslaved, and killed for their flesh, milk, and eggs.
There is a world of difference between farmers who grow fruits, nuts, seeds, legumes, and vegetables, or operate local, plant-based CSA's (Community Supported Agriculture) and "farmers" who oppress, manipulate, and massacre other sentient beings for a living.
"Divorced from the land, numerous 'animal agriculture' operations have no farming component," wrote Joan Dunayer in Animal Equality: Language and Liberation. "Yet, the exploitation of captive nonhumans for food retains the name agriculture, evoking pastoral images of cows grazing, pigs rooting, and chickens pecking in the spacious outdoors. . . . Farm is largely an anachronism. . . . 'Farmers' and 'producers' who deal in flesh, milk, or eggs actually are slaveholders. Slaughterers are mass murderers. Assisted by words that falsify, consumers of products from nonhuman bodies pretend otherwise."
On May 23, President Trump authorized a $16 billion aid package for "farmers" to tide them over during his trade war with China—this is in addition to the $12 billion they were given last year. It is not the responsibility of taxpayers to bail out food-industry enslavers, otherwise known as "farmers," who uphold the catastrophic animal flesh, milk, and egg cartels. Nor is it our responsibility to finance those who abet these cartels by turning their soybean and corn yields over to feed companies to fatten nonhuman animals for slaughter. In fact, 75 percent of all soy and 95 percent of all corn grown in the United States is used strictly to fill captive nonhuman animals ("live-stock"), in spite of the fact that if this grain were consumed directly by humans, we could feed nearly 800 million people, potentially wiping out human hunger across the world. Furthermore, subsidies to soy and corn farmers indirectly help lower costs for those who breed nonhuman animals for consumption.
Meet JIMMY
Notable Quote
How do we justify our treatment of nonhumans? We lie—to ourselves and to each other, about our species and about others. Deceptive language perpetuates speciesism, the failure to accord nonhuman animals equal consideration and respect. Like sexism or racism, speciesism is a form of self-aggrandizing prejudice. Bigotry requires self-deception. Speciesism can't survive without lies.
—Joan Dunayer, Animal Equality: Language and Liberation
Sponsor a Nonhuman
Working to End Tax Subsidies for Animal Agribusiness
Vine Sanctuary
Nonhuman Rights Project
Maple Farm Sanctuary
New England Anti-Vivisection Society
Cows Have Vaginas, Too!
Thrown Away with the Trash
Dogs Don't Belong in War
Can a Plant Be Considered Non-Vegan?
Vegans Confusing Consumerism With Activism
Abolitionism (5)
Free-living Nonhumans (20)
Human Population (3)
Inequality (11)
Intersectionality (3)
Nonhuman Companions (6)
Rights (11)
Vivisection (4)
Unless otherwise indicated, all written work presented is the property of Bethany Cortale and cannot be reproduced without explicit permission.
Please note: The Vegan Vine does not necessarily endorse or agree with all of the content on the websites to which links have been provided on this blog.
The Vegan Vine. Watermark theme. Powered by Blogger.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


CBQ Services does not gather or store information about those who access our site. Both our Collection Division and Credit Reporting Division have written policies in place to cover laws, rules and regulations including but not limited to Fair Credit Reporting Act, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, HIPAA, and Gramm, Leach, Bliley.
The advice, services, products and information offered on this web site are provided �as is�, with no warranties or guarantees of any kind. We will not be liable for any damages you incur while using it.
You should not consider any information on this web site to be legal or accounting advice or directives, as it is not intended as such. You should always seek the advice and counsel of a paid professional as each situation and set of circumstances is unique. The opinions expressed on this web site are those of the management of CBQ Services and are based on decades of experience in the areas of professional debt recovery and credit information.
The trademarks, service marks, and logos (if any) used in this web site may be registered or unregistered Trademarks. The Trademark owner has exclusive rights to the Trademark. Any unauthorized use of the trademarks is strictly prohibited. You may not display or use Trademarks for any purpose without the written permission of the Trademark owner.
You may contact us to request a limited, non-exclusive right to create a hypertext link to the CBQ Services home page (www.cbqservices.com). However, you may not portray CBQ Services or any of its products or services in a false or offensive manner. Also, you may not misrepresent your relationship with CBQ Services or imply that CBQ Services sponsors, endorses, or is affiliated with your web site or products. You may not replicate, modify, or alter the appearance or content of this web site. You may not use, frame, or utilize framing techniques to enclose any of the content of this web site. Except as stated above, you are not given any other right or license to (i) the content of this web site or (ii) any intellectual property or proprietary rights of CBQ Services. Any limited linking right we may grant may be taken away from you at any time at our discretion.
This web site contains links to third party web sites. CBQ Services does not represent, guarantee, or endorse any web site that you may access from this web site. In addition, if we provide a link to a web site, we do not represent, guarantee, or endorse the company or any of its offerings. Links contained on this web site are provided solely as a convenience for you. When you access a non-CBQ Services web site, please understand that the linked site and its content are not under our control. CBQ Services is not responsible for web casting or any other form of transmission received from any linked sites. You are responsible for protecting your system from viruses and other invasive items.
If you provide us with comments, ideas, or suggestions (�feedback�) such feedback is not considered confidential and becomes the property of CBQ Services. We are not obligated to you if you provide feedback. We are free to use, copy, or distribute the feedback to others for any purpose.
Because this web site can be accessed internationally, you agree to follow all local laws and rules about the Internet, data, e-mail, and privacy. Specifically, you agree to follow all laws and rules that apply to transmitting technical data exported from the United States or the country of your residence.
The materials in this web site are designed for use by residents of the United States. CBQ Services controls and operates this web site through its office within the State of Illinois. This Agreement shall be governed, interpreted, and enforced according to the laws of the State of Illinois, regardless of Illinois conflict of laws.
Except as otherwise stated, CBQ Services owns all content contained in this web site. Content includes the information, text, graphics, web site design and its selection, assembly, and arrangement (collectively �Content�). Copyright laws of the United States and other countries may protect the Content. The Content may not be used for any commercial purpose or copied, distributed, displayed, modified, or reverse engineered without CBQ Service�s prior written permission. You may print or download portions of material from the web site solely for your own non-commercial use, if you do not change or delete any copyright or proprietary notices from the materials.


How are you keeping up with the technological advancements that impact the meetings industry? Do you find that you're barely able to keep pace with the latest developments? This webinar reviews what's new and way cool in the technology in this fun, fast-packed look at what's here for us to use now, and what's coming in the near future, including the latest information about virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence and other important tech trends.
Identify the five pillars of business disruption.
Understand how to evaluate which technologies you should be using today.
Recognize how new technologies, such as mixed reality and artificial intelligence reality can impact the hospitality industry.


Want to make a big gift to Geisinger Health Foundation without touching your bank account? Consider giving us real estate. Such a generous gift helps us continue our work for years to come. And a gift of real estate also helps you. When you give us appreciated property you have held longer than one year, you qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction. This eliminates capital gains tax. And you no longer have to deal with that property's maintenance costs, property taxes or insurance.
Another benefit: You don't have to hassle with selling the real estate. You can deed the property directly to Geisinger or ask your attorney to add a few sentences in your will or trust agreement.
When you make a gift today of real estate you have owned longer than one year, you qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction equal to the property's full fair market value. This deduction lets you reduce the cost of making the gift and frees cash that otherwise would have been used to pay taxes. By donating the property to us, you also eliminate capital gains tax on its appreciation. See my benefits.
A gift of real estate through your will or living trust allows you the flexibility to change your mind and the potential to support our work with a larger gift than you could during your lifetime. In as little as one sentence or two, you can ensure that your support for Geisinger continues after your lifetime.
Are you tired of the hassles of maintaining your property such as paying taxes, utilities and repair bills? Consider donating the property to Geisinger in exchange for reliable payments for life for you (and someone else, if you choose). When you arrange a charitable gift annuity, you receive a federal income tax charitable deduction in the year you set up the gift annuity when you itemize on your taxes. If you use appreciated real estate to make a gift, you can usually eliminate capital gains tax on a portion of the gift and spread the rest of the gain over your life expectancy. A gift of unmortgaged property to fund a deferred gift annuity is preferable and generates the greatest tax benefit. See my benefits.
Want to sell us your property for less than the fair market value? A "bargain sale" may be the answer. When you make a bargain sale, you sell your property to our organization for less than what it's worth. The difference between the actual value and the sale price is considered a gift to us. A bargain sale can be an effective way to dispose of property that has increased in value, and it is the only gift vehicle that can give you a lump sum of cash and a charitable deduction (when you itemize) at the same time. See my benefits.
You can contribute any type of appreciated real estate you've owned for more than one year, provided it's unmortgaged, in exchange for an income stream for life or a term of up to 20 years. The donated property may be a residence (a personal residence must be vacant upon contribution), undeveloped land, a farm or commercial property. Real estate works well with only certain variations of charitable remainder trusts. Your estate planning attorney, who will draft your trust, can give you more details. See my benefits.
This gift can be a wonderful way for you to benefit Geisinger and simultaneously transfer appreciated real estate to your family tax-free. You should consider funding the charitable lead trust with real estate that is income-producing and expected to increase in value over the term of the trust.
Contact Robin L. Endicott, CFRE at 570-214-9267 or rendicott@geisinger.edu to discuss the possibility of giving real estate to Geisinger.


text:
News / Aberdeenshire
Dinnie Steen challenge to take centre stage at Arnold Schwarzenegger's US strongman festival
January 18, 2017, 7:35 am Updated: January 18, 2017, 11:44 am
The 2017 Arnold Sports Festival, which takes place annually in Columbus, Ohio, will feature a Dinnie Stone "lift and hold" competition
A legendary Deeside challenge will take central stage at Arnold Schwarzenegger's US strongman festival – one of the biggest of its kind in the world.
The 2017 Arnold Sports Festival, which takes place annually in Columbus, Ohio, will feature a Dinnie Stone "lift and hold" competition when it is held from March 2 to 5.
The historic "steens" made their way into the history books after legendary Birse strongman, Donald Dinnie, carried them the width of the Potarch Bridge in 1860.
His achievement has inspired hundreds of strongmen to flock to Deeside to lift the boulders, which together weigh 733lbs.
Belfast man, Jack Shanks, is credited with being the first person to lift and then carry the two massive stones unassisted exactly the same distance as Dinnie did, a feat the policeman achieved in 1973.
His son, Stevie Shanks, then fulfilled a lifelong ambition in 2015 by lifting the stones in Aboyne Green after overcoming Guillain Barre Syndrome.
Stevie Shanks on the Nicol Stones. Credit: Jim and Rosemary Splaine.
Mr Shanks jun has since dedicated much of his time to spreading the word of the Dinnie Steens, even setting up a website which records every successful lift of them throughout history.
He is one of just a handful of lifters that has been invited to the Arnold Sports Festival to take part in the challenge on US soil.
The event – which includes the Arnold Classic, an expo and a number of bodybuilding, strongman and other sporting events – was established by the movie star in 1989. It is the largest health and fitness event in the US.
The Dinnie Steen competition will feature replicas created by the late Gordon Dinnie, which have now been shipped to the US.
The lift and hold competition was organised by Jan and Terry Todd, who founded the festival.
They also produced Stoneland, a documentary on Scottish stonelifting focusing on Dinnie's lagecy – which has received four million views since going live in late 2016.
Last night Mr Shanks jun, 53, who at 156lbs weights around a fifth of the two stones combined, said: "The whole thing in Columbus is whoever holds them longest wins.
"It is unbelievable. I actually think Dinnie would have had a presence in the states when he competed.
"I think the video, Stoneland, has had an impact. It has really brought stonelifting back to the fore. It is absolutely wonderful, it really is. You couldn't have asked for a better result from Stoneland."
Mr Shanks jun will be competing against famous strongman, Odd Haugen.
Among the other well-known faces who will be competing at other events during the festival is Hafthor Bjornsson, famed for his role as The Mountain in Game of Thrones.
Arnold Sports Festival
Birse
Dinnie Steens
dinnie stones
Donald Dinnie
Jack Shanks
Potarch Lodge
Stevie Shanks
Stonelifting


Receiving Homemade Canning Gifts during the Holidays - Canning Homemade!
A tough topic for me this holiday is what does someone who knows how to safely can and preserve food do when confronted with a home made gift from a friend or family member that comes in a jar? Clearly this an ettiquete issue first, but a thank you is the best first gesture. The next thought will be whether you want to ask questions if you don't know their level of preserving. This might be a bit tricky.
Naturally you are excited that someone has taken the time to make you a 'homemade' gift. You could ask a few questions without insulting and find out their level and experience with canning.
"Did you learn to do canning recently? I didn't know you knew how to do jams."
"Wow this look great. How do you get your lids to seal on your jars?"
"This soup looks great. Did you have to do anything to it after you put it into the jar?"
or if you could take the direct approach then ask if they water bathed or pressure canned the jar?
This is probably the most important question when receiving low acid foods in jars since over time there are no visible signs of the growth of bacteria which could lead to botulism or ecoli in the jar.
If the jars don't have a label other than the "name" of the product you might want to inquiry what is in the recipe. Some people have allergies and it wouldn't hurt to ask what specifically went into making the end product.
This will also help you to decide whether there has been some level of safety put into making the recipe. Ingredients like milk, cornstarch, tapioca, cheese, butter, flour, cream and chocolate from cocoa butter are not safe to can. Also there are no safe recipes for pumpkin butter, pesto, cream soups and stews, and mayonnaise for the home canner.
"When did you have time to can this with your busy schedule?" or "We will open this right away or do I need to let the flavors develop?"
Once you have received the answers to these questions you might want to do some additional investigating before you eat that first bite.
Looking for visible signs of a jar that has "turned" are somewhat easy to identify. First unscrew the ring and look at the top of the jar for any signs of mold, check the lid to see that the seal is still viable, and make sure that the liquid in the jar covers all the food. Usually you will see signs of mold in jars of jelly, jams, or preserves. Discoloration of the food at the top is fine, but not as tasty. If the jar is some kind of pickled vegetable make sure that the brine or liquid is clear and not cloudy. A cloudy brine can be an indication of a start of bacteria growth to the contents. If you find that the jar has gone bad before you open it dispose of it immediately.
If you decide to open it check for the "whoosh" of air sound that a sealed jar will have, notice if there are any smells that seems odd, and if you have any concern, "When in doubt, throw it out!".
It may seem like a lot of questions but you would be surprised at how willing people are to talk about their labor and pride in their gift. I am always very excited to get homemade gifts and love to hear about the experiences they had in making it. Either way the decision of whether to eat the "food in jars" may come down to how well you know your friend. In any case, be a gracious receiver and thank them for all their labor.


I spent the weekend working away at the Mariners, and so unfortunately my fun weekend plans pretty much consisted of sleeping, working, riding the bus, and sleeping again. This doesn't leave a lot of time to do fun and exciting, jealousy inducing events.
After one particularly shocking long shift (8 hours, only 3 customers! Come on people, don't you want to see the m's?), my mom surprised me and picked me up outside of the box office. Mothers always have a tendency to know when you need a pick me up, so she brought me to one of my favorite Seattle spots.
Molly Moon's is one of Seattle's most popular stops for locals in need of a sweet treat, even winning the title of one of Seattle Magazine's Best Restaurants of 2010. The small but bustling shop opened its doors in 2008, and has been feeding happy souls ever since.
The ice cream is probably some of the most flavorful, creamy and boldly flavored ice cream that I have ever had. The honey lavender literally makes me go weak at the knees. The salted caramel gives me chills. And the menu is so diverse that every time I walk in it STILL takes me the entire long, out the door, down the street, wrap-around line to figure out what I want.
Clearly I opted for both. Are you drooling yet?
My mom opted for the salted caramel on top of vivace coffee, which happens to also be my favorite coffee place in Seattle, (when I choose to cheat on Starbucks). Definitely delicious. I have also sampled the Theo chocolate, vanilla bean, balsamic strawberry sorbet, and "scout" mint.
Seriously, you must must check this place out!
aaaand then I got really full and kinda nauseous. ice cream heaven overload.
do you take your pictures with your iphone or your actual camera??
Most of the time I take them with my big camera because I like the clarity&quality much better, but this past weekend it was trapped in Bernasconi's car! So I had to take all of my Molly Moon's pictures with my phone.


Vinyl LP ~ Russian only 13 track album with extensive sleeve notes (in Russian). Rear sleeve is ..
Vinyl LP ~ Limited EU double heavyweight vinyl issue in custom stickered gatefold sleeve. Eagle ..
Vinyl LP ~ Limited UK / European 18 track double 180gm heavyweight vinyl issue, in gatefold slee..
Vinyl LP ~ Scarce US indie-pop obscurity. Mitch Easter (REM) production. US issue in stickered p..


This listing features a pair of beaded fringe earrings with grey geometric pattern. Color combination is one of my favorites, as I'm a big fan of grey shades; matte gunmetal and matte opaque iridescent grey, accentuated by sparkling silver hues. These beads add the perfect sparkling boho chic touch.
'Grey Chessboard' Earrings have been designed and crafted by me with love, care and inspiration, using premium quality Japanese glass seed beads and an extra durable beading thread. They are finished with high quality Sterling Silver earwires. Each pair comes with silicon stoppers.
Like all SouSou earrings, they are surprisingly light-weight; you can hardly feel the on. SouSou jewelry is made only with the highest quality materials to ensure their beauty and durability. With proper care, SouSou jewelry is made to last!
If you prefer a different color combo, please convo me and I will do my best to accommodate your requests!
This pair of earrings, due to its long fringe tail, is recommended to be stored flat and separately from other jewelry, as the thread tends to have 'memory' and will cause the fringe to become crinkled. For that reason, I ship these earrings in a handmade felt envelope pouch or a craft box, which will prevent any damage.


John Beech, Recent Sculpture and Large Scale Drawings (2005), installation view. Courtesy of Peter Blum.
Born in 1964, in Winchester, England and currently living in Brooklyn, John Beech is known for his innovative transformations of seemingly mundane industrial objects into extraordinary epitomes of mysterious beauty. Be it three-dimensional containers, pieces of scrap wood, or photographic images of junkyard dumpsters, Beech's sources for inspiration are as eclectic as they are drawn from the familiar, bestowing the seemingly bland with exotic charm.
Comprising works from the past three years, Beech's current exhibition features examples of the artist's so-called "Dumpster Drawings" as well as large-scale sculptures. While rooted in the Duchampian question of the distinction between art and everyday life, Beech's work adds a strong sense of theatricality, which is initiated by the artist's careful alteration and presentation of each object. Leading into the main gallery are ten "Rotating Paintings," all differently shaped Plexiglas shards coated with bright enamel. Though reminiscent of standard geometric shapes, each work seems slightly "off," and hence, imperfect circles and uneven rectangles with rounded edges dominate the scene. Installing these paintings in unusual angles or even perpendicular to the wall, Beech provides them with a dramatic aura that raises their otherwise simplistic characteristics to a new level. Viewed together and from different perspectives, they become part of an elaborate re-examination of the basic relationships between color and form, a reconsideration of the boundaries between painting and sculpture.
The main gallery features two of the artist's "Container Sculptures", both counterbalancing each other, as one is vertical, the other horizontal in nature. Stripped of its former function, the plywood enclosure "Blue Container" is shown with one of its side panels removed. While allowing a thorough glimpse into its interior life, the tall sculpture is partially coated with bright blue enamel that looks like swimming-pool insulation plastic. Lush drips have seeped through the bottom plane and hardened on the corner edges, defying a false image of perfection and generating an overall sense of autonomy. "Low Container," a rectangular structure, measuring no more than nine inches in height, shares this quality. Painted in deep sunset orange, the work spreads over the floor, encouraging the viewer to examine the now slick angles and original indentations from above. One would not be able to guess this alien creature's former function.
Framing these centered objects, a series of "Dumpster Drawings" dominate the gallery walls, such as the monumental "Large Double Dumpster Drawing (Silver/Bonn)." The work features two black-and-white photographs of the same image on whose subject only the title offers any information: a dumpster as seen in Bonn, Germany. However, covered by metallic silver paint, the former host of trash has been made invisible and its three-dimensional likeness has been replaced with the flattened shape of its authentic volume. Whereas Warhol colored his silkscreen images and personas without disguising their identity (in fact he relied on their easily recognizable likeness), Beech removes everything but the object's outline and setting. Despite this difference, it is arguable that in both oeuvres the creation of adaptable ghost-images and blank screens onto which the viewer can project his imagination is essential. Abstraction becomes both the artist's signature and a means to elevate the altered image to an object of its own and of independent value, or better, to a work of art.


text:
How to watch the Travis Scott event in Fortnite
April 29, 2020 ebcandles
Excited for the Travis Scott Fortnite event? Well, for some of you, it's already happened. Record-breaking numbers of players 'tuned in' for the alt hip hop star's Astronomical in-game gig, and it was quite the show. It was literally massive.
In case you hadn't heard, Grammy-nominated rapper and producer Travis Scott is going on a mini-tour in Fortnite. From April 23-25, Scott is performing five in-game shows for players around the world that will feature the premiere of a brand-new track called Astronomical.
The Travis Scott concert comes just over a year after Marshmello's live show, which reportedly drew more than ten million viewers in-game and millions more who watched online. Scott's concert could pull in even bigger numbers: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in stay-at-home orders around the world, and that means there are an awful lot of gamers out there with an awful lot of extra free time on their hands.
But the concert is just the beginning. There's a Fortnite Travis Scott skin available in the item shop, plus an emote and other in-game items. And once they're in your back pocket, there are some special challenges to celebrate the event that you can complete now, such as the quest to bounce off different Fortnite Astro Heads. So, here's when you can enjoy the gig, what you need to know about the special challenges, and the cool merch you can buy.
Fortnite Travis Scott skin: All themed goodies in the item shop
Fortniters are also able to pick up Scott's outfits, emotes, and other in-game items. The official Fortnite Travis Scott skin costs 1,500 V-Bucks, but there are other cosmetics available from 300 to 2,000 V-Bucks depending on what you want. And for those of you who want to save their premium currency, anyone who attends the Astronomical event will be given the Astroworld Cyclone Glider and two loading screens for free.
Scott isn't just here to play some music, though: He's also joining the game in a more permanent sense as part of the Fortnite Icon Series, a collection of in-game cosmetics inspired by artists and content creators including Ninja, Jordan Fisher, Pokimane, and Elly.
Previous Previous post: Kori Muhammad convicted of murder for Fresno mass shooting
Next Next post: Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund Shuts Down Six Debt Schemes: All That Investors Need to Know


text:
import { toTitleCase } from "@artsy/to-title-case"
import { StackScreenProps } from "@react-navigation/stack"
import {
  FilterData,
  FilterDisplayName,
  FilterParamName,
} from "app/Components/ArtworkFilter/ArtworkFilterHelpers"
import { useArtworkFiltersAggregation } from "app/Components/ArtworkFilter/useArtworkFilters"
import { orderBy } from "lodash"
import { ArtworkFilterNavigationStack } from "../ArtworkFilterNavigator"
import { MultiSelectOptionScreen } from "./MultiSelectOption"
import { useMultiSelect } from "./useMultiSelect"

interface MaterialsTermsOptionsScreenProps
  extends StackScreenProps<ArtworkFilterNavigationStack, "MaterialsTermsOptionsScreen"> {}

export const MaterialsTermsOptionsScreen: React.FC<MaterialsTermsOptionsScreenProps> = ({
  navigation,
}) => {
  const { aggregation } = useArtworkFiltersAggregation({
    paramName: FilterParamName.materialsTerms,
  })

  const options: FilterData[] = (aggregation?.counts ?? []).map(
    ({ value: paramValue, name, count }) => {
      return {
        displayText: toTitleCase(name),
        paramName: FilterParamName.materialsTerms,
        paramValue,
        count,
      }
    }
  )

  const { handleSelect, handleClear, isSelected, isActive } = useMultiSelect({
    options,
    paramName: FilterParamName.materialsTerms,
  })

  // Convert options to boolean options for checkboxes
  const filterOptions = options.map((option) => ({ ...option, paramValue: isSelected(option) }))
  const sortedFilterOptions = orderBy(filterOptions, ["count", "name"], ["desc", "asc"])

  return (
    <MultiSelectOptionScreen
      onSelect={handleSelect}
      filterHeaderText={FilterDisplayName.materialsTerms}
      filterOptions={sortedFilterOptions}
      navigation={navigation}
      searchable
      noResultsLabel="No results found"
      {...(isActive ? { rightButtonText: "Clear", onRightButtonPress: handleClear } : {})}
    />
  )
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Rising Appalachia is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that strives to provide its services to every member of the community. To ensure that our camp is available to all we provide a range of scholarships providing partial or full tuition. To apply for a scholarship, please use the Apply for Scholarships button at the bottom of the page. Upon receipt of the completed application the camp deposit will be waived and we will inform you of our determination no later than May 18.
Below are the different types of scholarships available for campers this year.
To view the full description of scholarships offered, click here. To apply, please use the button below.


Looking for Internal Bleaching in Centennial? For an appointment at Advanced Dental on Smoky Hill Road call our office today at 303-690-7778 or make an appointment today.
There are different processes for internal bleaching, depending on whether the tooth in question is stained because of prior root canal treatment, or because it's in need of root canal treatment. Your dentist at Advanced Dental on Smoky Hill Road will evaluate which process is needed in your particular case. Call our office at 303-690-7778 for a consultation.


The National PUBG League (NPL) will host four types of events with three phases each beginning in February.
Sixteen teams will compete for a total prize pool of $1M USD and a shot at the World Championship.
This is the first competitive year for NPL, which was created with Korean esports broadcaster OGN last November.
League (NPL) revealed its 2019 North American event schedule on Thursday. The top-qualifying teams will represent North America in a number of global events leading up to the Global Championship in November and feature an overall prize pool of $1M. $100K of that prize money has already been awarded for the 2019 pre-season.
, a division of CJ ENM–one of the largest entertainment companies in Asia and producers of the world's first esports event in 2004. Subsequently, all NPL events will be produced and streamed live from the OGN Super Arena in Manhattan Beach, California.
Each NPL phase will run for five weeks and feature a total prize pool of $200K. Phase 1 begins Feb. 1 on Fridays at 5 p.m. PT and Saturdays at 2 p.m. PT. Phase 2 will begin on May 3 and Phase 3 will commence on Sept. 6, following the same format as Phase 1. The top prize for NPL is $100K per phase.
NPL Contenders creates a league of 16 up-and-coming teams who will compete against the aforementioned pro teams in an event called NPL Royale. Unlike the pro teams, NPL Contenders will run four weeks instead of five. Phases 1, 2, and 3 begin Feb.y 5, May 7 and Sept. 10, respectively. NPL Contenders will compete for a top prize of $6K per phase.
Two weeks after each NPL phase, the bottom six NPL teams and the top 10 NPL Contenders will compete in a three-day event called NPL Relegation, determining placements and promotions similar to European football. NPL Relegation matches are scheduled for March 22-24 (Phase 1), June 21-23 (Phase 2) and Phase 3 from Oct. 25-27 (Phase 3).
NPL Royale will offer a first place prize of $40K per phase. Phase 1 will take place on Feb. 22-24, Phase 2 on May 24-26 and Phase 3 from Sept. 27-29.


text:
You are here: Home / 2019 / August / Beyond food: the role of animals in the bioeconomy
Beyond food: the role of animals in the bioeconomy
The bioeconomy may be dominated by plant-based processes, but the role of animals in the bioeconomy is also notable.
This article was first published on the site of NNFCC.
Much research has been done into spider silk as a material with extraordinary properties. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
In the bioeconomy, we are well-used to processes involving plants. In the overwhelming majority of cases, plants are the source of biomass from which biobased products are derived, and it is plant biomass that is processed and burned to produce bioenergy. Thus, rightly so, plants get the bulk of the attention, but the role of animals in the bioeconomy is also important, if at a lesser scale. The obvious difference is an ethical one: there is no concept of plant welfare (although this does manifest itself in a way, through forestry management, and farmers seeking to find the optimal growing conditions for crops), and it is welfare concerns that see animals rarely involved in modern industrial processes. However, this does not preclude an involvement of animals in the bioeconomy, and indeed, an increasing number of bioeconomy processes and products are starting to take inspiration from animals: biomimetics is a field dedicated to imitating nature in industry, taking advantage of the millions of years of evolution that have produced efficient processes. The bioeconomy is no different in the way it can benefit from such an approach.
Spider silk: a miracle material
It has long been known that spider silk has extraordinary material properties. Its incredible tensile strength is well-known – a highly desirable trait for fibres – as well as its resistance to fracture. In the biobased products sector, it is often seen as a 'holy grail' product: one with a great many applications, which, if developed, could be revolutionary.
The problem with spider silk is the fact that in nature it is only produced by spiders, and only in certain situations. Farming spiders is inherently difficult, if not impossible, due to their solitary and highly territorial nature –we've all seen the David Attenborough clips of the female spiders eating their mates – although researchers in the Oxford Silk Group have managed to successfully create conditions in which spiders produce silk industrially. The spiders are sedated and restrained, and their spinnerets connected to spools, which wind as the spider continually produces silk. The difficult part here is the initial process of connecting the spiders' silk threads to the spools, which is delicate and often time-consuming – unfit for industrial scale production – not to mention the ethical concerns with using sedated spiders, although the researchers claim the spiders are comfortable during the process.
Thus, viable commercial production of spider silk has become an area of much interest in the bioeconomy. Several approaches have been developed, with many companies such as AMSilk, Bolt Threads, and Spiber opting for the common biochemical approach of fermentation to produce the proteins, before subsequently spinning them into fibres. Producing spider silk from genetically modified bacteria is a proven technology, but one that comes with high costs – particularly in the downstream processing wherein the proteins are separated from the fermentation medium, and then spun. These costs remain prohibitively high, with no applications for the fibres able to support such costs on the market. A similar process was developed by Nexia biotech, which also involved animals: the company had, somewhat bizarrely, developed 'spider goats' –genetically modified goats whose milk contained all of the requisite proteins for spider silk fibres – and, much like with the fermentation processes, span fibres from the proteins produced in their milk. This process too, however, proved to be prohibitively expensive, and Nexia has since gone bankrupt, although some scientists are continuing research into spider silk goats' milk.
Kraig Biocraft has succeeded in modifying silkworms to produce spider silk rather than ordinary silk. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
The company closest to producing spider silk in a cost-effective manner is Kraig Biocraft, who have taken an altogether different approach, still involving animals. The company has developed genetically modified silkworms, which spin the spider silk fibres themselves, in a process not dissimilar to traditional silk production. The company claims to have production costs over 100 times less than companies using the fermentation approach, and this year Kraig have announced the first commercial production of spider silk, initially remaining confined to military applications, the company hopes to enter the high-quality fabrics market in the near future. This would represent the culmination of years of research and development to bring one of nature's most remarkable materials into the sphere of human use.
The role of animals in the bioeconomy
However, the role of animals in the bioeconomy is not restricted to the provision with products and materials. Biomimetics also concerns itself with processes as well as products, and it is in this area that animals can help us deal with the issues surrounding our main source of biomass: plants. When dealing with plant biomass, lignin has become the bane of many a biobased process. The complex polymer is one of the three major components of lignocellulosic biomass. As far as biorefinery is concerned, it is generally the cellulose that we are most interested in, but in order to access it we must first separate it from the lignin that reinforces it. This can be a physically and chemically intense process, which in turn makes it expensive. More efficient methods of processing lignocellulosic biomass are always the subject of much interest in the bioeconomy, and it is from animals that we may draw inspiration to pursue such methods.
Animals have already developed methods of processing wood: many animals rely on woody plants as a food source, and it is from these animals that insight can be derived. The majority of these animals are able to digest wood through an extensive gut flora: microorganisms living in the animals' digestive systems that break down the lignin themselves, leaving the animals' digestion to work on the cellulose. Industrial processes have thus focused on these microorganisms, as although they require very specific environments to function in, these conditions are less intense to produce.
A passaid beetle from the Philippines. Photo: Wikiemedia Commons.
Recent research has taken this concept further, inspired by Passalid beetles. These beetles (aside from being of great interest to coleopterists for their curious social behaviour) utilise a compartmentalised digestive system to enable them to digest wood. The beetles' gut flora are highly segregated, allowing for procedural breakdown of the lignocellulosic biomass for maximum uptake of nutrients. American researchers are now seeking to replicate this in a biorefinery concept: by compartmentalising the process, different microbes are able to 'work' on the breakdown of biomass. This contrasts with traditional microbial processes, which use either a monoculture – in the case of fermentation – in order to protect the microbes from competition, and to maintain favourable conditions for production of desired chemicals, or diverse polyculture – of which the classic bioeconomy example is anaerobic digestion – in which the conditions are less specific, and the microbes work together to perform the process. The Passalid beetles have managed to find a 'middle ground' here, which could lead to more efficient biorefinery in future, if it can be successfully replicated.
But it is not just through microbial assistance that animals can process woody biomass: the gribble – a small crustacean well-known in harbour communities as a menace that eats the wood of boats, piers, and the like – has a digestive system that breaks down the lignin in wood completely without microbial input. Recently, scientists from the University of York have identified the proteins that are key to this process, and believe that this could result in more cost-efficient biorefinery, by offering a pre-treatment for biomass that this neither expensive nor energy-intensive, without having to conform to the finnicky demands of microbes.
By-products from the food industry
Of course, as far as animals are concerned, their biggest use to humans is as a source of food – every year millions of animals are raised to be eaten. Ethical debates around this aside, these animals in turn produce many thousands of tonnes of by-products which often simply go to waste, but the bioeconomy has shown us that there are applications for these by-products too.
The obvious such by-product here is manure. Anyone remotely familiar with what we get up to here at NNFCC will know that bioenergy, particularly anaerobic digestion, is a big part of what we do, and manure is a very viable feedstock therein. The key advantage manure has over other AD feedstocks is that it does not take up cropland otherwise used for food – as is the case with energy crops – and it is also not a waste that would be prevented in an economy that conforms to the waste hierarchy, as is the case with food waste. Manure obviously favours small-scale local generation, and many farms in the UK with large animal herds are now looking to build on-farm anaerobic digesters, in order to become energy self-sufficient, and to also potentially support their income through tariffs by exporting any generated biogas to the national grid.
There are, however, more innovative uses of animal by-products. One such instance has been the development of chitosan: a plastic produced from the chitin present in prawn shells. For countries where prawns make up a significant part of the diet, the waste shells often simply end up in landfill, but can be processed to produce a plastic film with remarkable properties. It is very useful in a medical context, as it is biocompatible, meaning the body doesn't reject it, and it also possesses antimicrobial properties, making it a useful plastic for packaging medical equipment. Researchers are also looking to develop a chitosan-based film for plastic bags: an application for which chitosan is well-suited, being biodegradable. Of course, introduction of such plastic bags would require education as to the conditions in which the plastic will biodegrade, which may require industrial composting facilities. There is also research ongoing into chitosan plastic bags with the curious property of absorbing oxygen. This would be significant in food packaging, as it would extend the shelf-life of food, reducing food waste, much of which is thrown out by shops despite still being edible.
Though here is no direct role for animals in the bioeconomy processes, said processes could not happen without them.
Reducing the burden on animals
Lastly, the bioeconomy also has a potentially important role to play in taking away industrial effort being put upon animals, particularly in the wake of increasing concerns about animals as food, both from an ethical and environmental perspective.
It is here that microbes come to the fore. Above we discussed how animals were able to outperform microbes in some contexts, but as fermentation technologies develop, microbes are able to produce important nutrients in a much more sustainable manner than intensive farming can. Classic example of such a situation is salmon farming: in order to increase the fat-richness of the farmed salmon, they are often fed omega-3 supplements. Ironically, these supplements tend to be derived from the oil of fish caught in the wild, such as cod. This is a highly inefficient system – catching fish in order to rear other fish makes no sense beyond the latter fish being more commercially viable – but the bioeconomy has been able to 'break the loop' through production of omega-3 from algae. Consumers will be more familiar with microbial meat substitutes such as Quorn, which have become commonplace.
While plants will continue to be the main foundation upon which a sustainable bioeconomy is built, there is still important role to play for animals in the bioeconomy, if only in specific applications.
Omega-3 fatty acids produced from corn by marine algae
Lignin makes a take-off across the board, says Ludo Diels (Vito)
Genetically engineered spider silk
Tags: Biobased economy, Biobased polymers, Bioenergy, Biorefinery
By: Robert Horton
on: 13 August 2019


THERE IS NOTHING THAT TASTES AS GOOD AS YOUR HEALTH…NO DONUT…NO CANDY… NO STEAKS…..NO CHIPS….NOTHING……HEALTH TASTES WONDERFUL ….. THERE IS NOTHING LIKE IT…..
Most people have a reactive approach to being diagnosed and take the advice of their Doctors by going through Chemo and Radiation. But Jack took it upon himself to do his own research and it SAVED HIS LIFE. He shares his story and hopes that people will take his advice. Sugar feeds Cancer he said, and he makes sure that anyone who has been newly diagnosed knows this.
This image from Jack's website says it all. Cannabis is the anti-virus and it could also be the solution for the growing Opiate crisis in Canada and in Windsor Ontario The interview was an emotional one as we shared our stories. The undying support he got from friends, moved him to tears at one point. He was diagnosed with Adenocarcinoma of the bladder and his solution for Cancer would cost a lot of money.
You truly find out who your real friends are when the chips are down "Jack said.
Jack, with the help of many of his friends, funded his cure. He still had to go in debt to fight his Cancer but he was proud to say he has now paid off that debt. It is true that you can't buy Health but unless you invest in your body, you will pay the price. Over the years, Jack has developed relationships with people worldwide. He received a video call while I was there from a friend in Texas who will also be speaking at the two day Epic 420/421 in Windsor. During my interview several people dropped in to visit him. They all had stories to tell about their health conditions and how Jack had helped them. He is a magnet for people who are sick and tired of being lied to by the media and Doctors. Not enough Doctors are recommending Medical Cannabis and yet it saved Jack's life and thousands of others. The more Jacks we have in this world, the more people will realise that prescribed drugs are not the answer. Read his website and see just how many drugs he was on at one time, and how much pain he was in. Doctors just want to prescribe more, they do not advise about diet or nutrition. Jack did his homework and it paid off with his Life.
I loved the shirt that Jack wore on the day of our interview. It said "You don't know Jack" and his website underneath it. (a gift from a friend) I have to say he was the most interesting person and has earned the respect of 100's of people The world needs more Jacks in the world to educate people about Cancer and how they can cure themselves.
If you would like to share your story of how Medical Cannabis has helped you please contact me. Once Trudeau decides to truly legalise edibles/medibles I will feature companies here as well.
For those who do not know, the festival is the second annual event planned by Leo Lucier of Windsor Ontario. More information can be found on the 420 Windsor Ontario Facebook page.


text:
Buzzer beater lifts Mosley past Niceville
BRANDON WALKER / DAILY NEWS
Jan 10, 2013 at 12:01 AM Jan 10, 2013 at 10:12 PM
Mosley junior Je�Quan Ward made just one shot from the field against Niceville Thursday night. It turned out to be the biggest shot of his career.
NICEVILLE � Mosley junior Je�Quan Ward made just one shot from the field against Niceville Thursday night.
It turned out to be the biggest shot of his career.
With Mosley trailing District 1-6A foe Niceville 61-60 in the game�s final seconds, the Dolphins had the ball under their own basket with seven seconds to get off a winning shot. While Niceville defended well initially, the ball bounced Mosley�s � and Ward�s � way, as the Dolphin point guard corralled the rebound after a Josh Turner miss and banked in a layup as time expired to give Mosley an unlikely 62-61 victory.
�As soon as I saw the first shot was missed, the ball came right to me,� said Ward, who scored 12 points. �I just thought �This is it� and I picked it up and put it up as fast as I could. As soon as I shot it, I heard the buzzer and I knew we had won. It felt amazing.�
Ward�s loose ball layup capped a frenetic final possession. Originally, the Dolphins took over with 30 seconds to go on the clock, and Nice-ville forced two near-turnovers, the second of which turned into a jump-ball possession, and the arrow gave the ball to the Dolphins with seven seconds left, setting up Ward�s heroics.
�It�s those 50-50 balls,� said Niceville head coach Jerome Strutchen. �You have to get them. We had two chances to get the ball down there, and we didn�t. But my hat goes off to them. They played well.�
The buzzer beater gave Mosley a win in a game where they trailed by as many as 14 points late in the fourth quarter. When Niceville�s Devin Vazquez connected on a pair of free throws with one minute, 45 seconds to go in the third, the Eagles led 53-39. That�s when Mosley junior Nat Dixon took over. Dixon, who scored a game-high 29 points, scored nine points in a 15-0 run that gave Mosley a 54-53 lead two minutes into the fourth quarter. The forward hit a three-pointer and connected on back-to-back old-fashioned three-point plays before finish-ing the run with a steal and assist to Brandon Salazar to help turn a 14-point deficit into a one-point lead.
From there, the two teams battled back-and-forth, with Niceville freshman Mitch Morken hitting two free throws to give the Eagles a 61-60 lead with 30 seconds left, setting the scene for the game-winner. Earlier in the final minute, Niceville had missed consecutive free throws on the front end of one-and-one situations, failing to stretch their one-point lead.
�We�ve got to hit our free throws,� said Strutchen, whose team fell to 2-3 in district play. �But the biggest thing is that our guys played to-gether and played with a lot of effort. As a head coach, I can�t complain when they do that. The ball didn�t bounce our way in the end, but I was pleased with the effort.�
For Mosley head coach Chris Martello, the last-second win was a breath of fresh air.
�I�ve been coming here for about a decade and that�s the first time we�ve stolen one like that,� said Martello. �Any time you win at Nice-ville, it�s a great win. They�re so well-coached and they make you work for everything. To win here is a big deal.�
On a night where both teams combined to shoot 54 free throws, 10 of Ward�s 12 points came from the free throw line. The Dolphins con-nected on 23 of their 30 foul shots, while Niceville hit on 17 of 24.
In addition to Dixon�s 29 and Jones�s 12, Turner had nine for the Dolphins (4-10, 2-3).
Nicholas Haynes scored 15 to lead Niceville, while Morken added 10. Korey Amaker and Terrance Jones each scored eight points.


text:
Santa Maria da Graça é uma antiga freguesia do concelho de Setúbal (Portugal), com 0,75 km² de área e 7 620 habitantes (2011) (densidade: 10 160 hab/km²).

Em 2013 foi agregada às freguesias de São Julião e Nossa Senhora da Anunciada, para formar uma nova freguesia denominada União das Freguesias de Setúbal (São Julião, Nossa Senhora da Anunciada e Santa Maria da Graça).

População

Média do País no censo de 2001:  0/14 Anos-16,0%; 15/24 Anos-14,3%; 25/64 Anos-53,4%; 65 e mais Anos-16,4%

Média do País no censo de 2011:   0/14 Anos-14,9%; 15/24 Anos-10,9%; 25/64 Anos-55,2%; 65 e mais Anos-19,0%

Política

Eleições autárquicas

Junta de Freguesia

Património
 Portal da Gafaria
 Muralhas de Setúbal
 Igreja de Santa Maria da Graça ou Sé de Setúbal

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
E: peace@local-legend.co.uk
Welcome! The journey begins...
Non- Fiction Books
*** Click on a title to read an extract and on an ISBN number to order a book. ***
Peter Walker : The House of Being
(978-1-910027-26-4)
WINNER OF THE 2018 LOCAL LEGEND SPIRITUAL WRITING COMPETITION
This is Peter Walker's most powerful collection yet of acutely observed verse by a master of his craft. He shows us the mind, the body and the soul of what it is to be human in this glorious natural world, looking deeply beneath the surface of life and writing with sensitivity, compassion and often with searing wit and self-deprecation.
It is a collection that the reader will want to return to again and again, seeing something afresh each time in the formation of a phrase, in a certain pause and in the choice of an exact word. Every one of us will learn something new here about the nature of being.
David J Serlin : Power for Good
Life is full of invitations and opportunities for discovery and growth, if only we keep our minds open, and Spirit has a subtle way of urging us in the right direction... Saying "Yes!" to life's invitations can lead us on exciting journeys of spiritual adventure, as David & Linda Serlin learned. This is the amazing and inspiring story of how their lives were changed completely by finding the Power for Good in the universe that we can all use! From a stately home in Essex, UK, to a retreat on the north Californian coast of the USA, their travels brought deep spiritual insights and principles that David shares with us in this fascinating and uplifting book.
Sandra Bray: Even More Days of Heaven
The eagerly awaited sequel to Sandra's brilliant debut, Odd Days of Heaven, completes a full year of spiritual inspiration for everyone on a spiritual path, with 180 further fascinating and insightful ideas and suggestions to make our lives rich and fulfilling.
Every day of the year can now be graced by new and meaningful activities: things to make, topics to research, groups to join, quiet gratitudes and meditations... These titles are an astonishing and unique feat of research and deserve to be on every spiritual seeker's shelf.
Pam Brittan: Spirit Shows the Way
Pam Brittan has been a clairvoyant medium for over thirty years and is well known throughout the UK. Her spiritual knowledge is unsurpassed and her teaching style is clear and compassionate.
Whilst she describes herself as "an ordinary woman blessed with an extraordinary gift", the reader soon realises that there is absolutely nothing 'ordinary' about Pam's life. She has met - and overcome - the most severe challenges, all the while simply trusting in Spirit guidance. Her story is told here without a trace of self-pity and always with optimism. It is truly uplifting!
Her purpose now is to inspire us all to develop our own innate spiritual abilities, trusting in the guidance of the spirit world.
Pam is the very embodiment of this philosophy.
Sandra Bray:
Odd Days of Heaven
If you feel that you've lost the joy of life then this book has been written for you. Perhaps you're just not sure where you're going these days or you've been shaken by a life-changing event. Sandra Bray knows these feelings all too well but she refused to be a 'victim of circumstances' and instead decided to treat them as blessings in disguise. This is exactly how we grow spiritually! This is how we find the true joy of life.
But Sandra felt that she needed a 'guide book' to help her in doing something new each day. But there wasn't one… so she wrote it! In these pages you will find nearly two hundred suggestions for activities that are sure to lift your spirits. One or two of them may even change your life entirely…
Jo Dunbar: The Spirit of the Hedgerow
Since the beginning of human history, our ancestral roots and those of the hedgerows have been intimately entangled. Now, often forgotten amongst the hedgerows, the 'wild weeds' still offer amazing medicinal opportunities, delicious sources of food and fascinating legends of our past.
In this fascinating and unique book, richly illustrated in colour, Jo Dunbar shows us what we so often miss in the beauty all around us. We learn here which plants to pick (or avoid!) and how to use them for ourselves. And woven in with this are the ancient stories and folklore of the countryside.
This book was a FINALIST in the national
Wishing Shelf Awards, with a score of 37/40!
See Jo talk about her work at the world-famous
Watkins Bookshop
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIC2id4lTLM
Joanne Gregory: A Universal Guide to Happiness
Now is the time for you to have the life that you want and deserve. This book is a reminder of the knowledge that you were born with, that you are an amazing being with skills and talents lying dormant, ready to awaken and give you all the answers you need. Here is a spiritual reference handbook - a guide to living happily and successfully, hand in hand with the energy that created our universe. It is the knowledge and wisdom distilled from a lifetime's experience of working with spirit.
Joanne Gregory is an internationally acclaimed clairaudient medium with a world-wide celebrity contact list.
Nigel Peace: 5P1R1T R3V3L4T10N5
Nigel is a mathematician and a philosopher, with a lifelong interest in parapsychology. His personal experiences of incredible spiritual phenomena are described in this book, national runner-up in The People's Book Prize. Here are hundreds of examples of provably precognitive dreams and synchronicities, showing that everyone can receive genuine spiritual guidance for their everyday life. Dr Rupert Sheldrake has called this book "vivid and fascinating... pioneering research."
Grace Puskas: A Message From Source
WINNER of the Local Legend SPIRITUAL WRITING COMPETITION 2014
A collection of beautifully written and inspiring poetry written by a special new voice in the world of spirituality and consciousness. Grace writes thoughtfully and with focus about the most important of all themes. Allow these words to flow through you and they will lift you to higher states of awareness. The book is also illustrated with superb sacred geometry.
See Grace read her work at the prestigious Watkins Bookshop:
Grace Puskas : Inspirational Poetry
Jacqui Rogers: Simply Spiritual
Jacqueline's story proves to us that we are loved and that we do not walk our paths alone.All too often we feel very small, as if our lives are insignificant, but in this uplifting and astonishing debut book we learn that being human is a very special thing. Jacqui describes her experiences as a healer and a medium with great courage.
A finalist in The People's Book Prize
AND the Wishing Shelf Awards.
'A very honest... story of a psychic and her journey to help others. Highly recommended.'
The Wishing Shelf Awards
Alison Wynne-Ryder: The Quirky Medium
Alison is scared of ghosts - not the best qualification for a clairvoyant medium! But her exceptional psychic abilities have brought her world-wide recognition, and led to her being chosen as co-host of the brilliant TV programme RESCUE MEDIUMS. Here she tells her life story and gives spine-tingling accounts of her encounters with malevolent spirits and angels alike. Hold on to your seats...
Finalist in The People's Book Prize and SILVER MEDAL WINNER in the national Wishing Shelf Awards.
'An insightful and often surprising look into the world of spirituality. Almost impossible to put down.'
Jacqui's new book is
Words to Ease Your Soul
Trying to live a good and spiritual life can be really tough and we all need someone to give us words of encouragement and comfort. This collection of poetry and prose is full of compassion, inspired by the spirit world for when we need a little extra help.
Lynne Harkes: Spinach Soup for the Walls
Lynne has travelled from Nigeria to Oman, South America to the Gabon jungle. Her descriptions of the landscapes, of the animal life and of the human struggle, are beautifully expressed. But a nomadic life sharpens one's personal challenges. Lynne felt isolated and deeply unhappy. This is the brave and inspiring story of how she rediscovered her spirit.
WINNER of the GOLD MEDAL in the national Wishing Shelf Awards.
'Not only is this a spiritually rewarding book, it is also a fantastic travel book, providing a wonderfully detailed insight into South American and African culture. Highly recommended.'
A I Kaymen: Aura Child
The amazing and wonderfully written story of a true Indigo child, born with unique spiritual and psychic gifts yet unable to share her experiences with anyone else. Please read this book: it's not just eye-opening and page-turning, it tells us so much about the power of the human mind.
The UK's most prestigious MBS bookshop, Watkins in central London, decided to give over its entire front window display to this book!
Jacquie Parton: Tap Once for Yes
This astonishing book should be read by everyone. When Jacquie's beloved son Andrew suddenly died, she was determined to stay in contact with him and prove that he had survived death. She devised a brilliant method of communication and he obliged! This is powerful evidence of survival after death, and a deeply moving account of courage in bereavement that will uplift everyone who has lost a loved one.
'The moving story of a mother devastated by the loss of her son, yet determined to discover if his spirit lived on. A compelling read.'
Sarah Truman: Haunted by Past Lives
Do we live many lives? Do we have to return to the Earth over and over again to learn our lessons better or 'pay the debts of our karma'?
Whatever your beliefs, you will be gripped by this true story of investigating an apparent past life of the eighteenth century. Prompted by her partner's vivid dreams and psychic visions, Sarah began thorough academic research of the 'clues' with dramatic results. The book is beautifully illustrated.
Catherine Lowry: Don't Rush to Heaven
Have you been told that your illness is incurable? Well, don't give up! Catherineoffers powerful evidence that even a terminal diagnosis can be overturned with proper nutrition and spiritual attitude. Her sound medical knowledge is supported by inspiring accounts of cultures that are disease-free and of individuals who have transformed their lives.
Chris Guyon: Extraordinary Things Happen to Ordinary People
Born in Essex and leaving school at 15, Chris thought she was 'ordinary'. But you may not agree when you've read her amazing story! Her descriptions of vivid past life memories, of healings and undeniable encounters with angels are astonishing and uplifting. A superb debut book that will lighten the heart of anyone who hasn't yet recognised how special they are.
Nigel Peace: LIGHTING THE PATH
An unorthodox scientist and philosopher, Nigel has over 30 years' experience of using the wonderful Chinese oracle, the I Ching (The Book of Changes). Frustrated that so many commentaries are very technical, he has written this down-to-earth account of what the book means and how it works, with simple descriptions to guide even the beginner in using it for themselves. It includes many true examples of readings and the first ever full glossary of the book's words and phrases. Nigel is available for private consultations visit:
www.spiritrevelations.com
Nigel's work has been featured in
SOUL & SPIRIT MAGAZINE
www.souldandspiritmagazine.com
MORE TO LIFE MAGAZINE
www.moretolifemag.co.uk
www.kindredspirit.co.uk
Hear Nigel's radio interview in which he describes the I Ching at
https://m.mixcloud.com/discover/interview-with-nigel-peace/
Mollie Peace: One Pair Of Shoes
The life of an extraordinary woman told in sensitive poems of nature and funny stories. Born in poverty in the English countryside, her life spanned the twentieth century and all its astonishing developments as well as its tragedies. Like so many women of her generation, she was never able to realise her personal dream, of being a writer - until now! And her descriptions of rural life just a couple of generations ago will shock you.
'This collection of work is, quite simply, beautiful.'
Sandy Phillips: The Narrow Doorway
This is the story of an extraordinary life that began at the start of World War II. The spiritual things that happened to Sandy, the animals and people from other times that she saw, were as far as she was aware happening to everyone. It was all part of living an ordinary life. Here, for the first time, Sandy tells the story of an amazing life in which this world may have changed beyond recognition but the spirit world speaks to us with an unerring message: we are not alone and we never die.
Janine Wilbraham: Can You Hear Me?
Inspiring true accounts of communication with animals. Janine Wilbraham has a worldwide reputation as a horse communicator and a talented clairvoyant. Here she shares some amazing stories of the clients she has worked with, including actors, authors, academics and rock stars. Janine's message is that we are all able to communicate with and heal our own animals. In easy and clearly explained steps, she tells how we can listen to and talk to the animals we love.
Home About Us Submissions Contact Us Books Authors
All material on this site is © Local Legend 2020
Omnia Bespoke Designs


Lorenzo Francesconi, aka Airone, musician since 1991, Vj since 2004.
Human since 1978, PhD in Communication Sciences since 2008.
2018 Began a collaboration with Unruh, from Einstürzende Neubauten, for his side project called "Beating the drum".
Some of the artists he worked with: Congo Natty, Dillinja, Dj Storm, Shimon, Hatcha, Roy Paci, Marta sui tubi, Solar FX, Floxytek, Sonnotek, Hallucinator, Uto Karem, Nuky, Dj Kaos, Alexander Robotnik, Joakim, Photek, BAM (Jungle Brothers), Leeroy Thornhill (The Prodigy), Aphrodite and many, many, many more.
–2008-2010 In Florence, Italy: Viper Theater, (Alternite Crew), resident VJ.
–2004-2008 many different location around Italy (Link, S.Salvi, Ippodromo delle cascine, Faf, Comeana Skatepark, Cpa, Ex emerson, Auditorium Flog, Tenax, Qube, in Roma, Firenze, Bologna, Pisa, Livorno, Pistoia, Prato and many private parties around Tuscany).