text:
Breaking News: Walmart, the Nation's Biggest Food Seller, Says No to Cage Confinement for Hens
By	Blog Editor	on	April 5, 2016	with	86 Comments By Wayne Pacelle
With today's announcement by Walmart, the world's largest retailer and the biggest U.S. food seller, the era of confining hens in cages is officially sunsetting. Photo by David Paul Morris/For The HSUS
After working with The HSUS, Walmart, the world's largest retailer and America's biggest food seller accounting for 25 percent of all groceries sold in the United States, announced today that it intends to source all of its eggs from cage-free sources. The policy will be fully implemented by 2025, and it will apply to the company's stores in Canada as well.
Since September, when McDonald's announced its cage-free policy, we knew that we had turned the corner in the fight against battery cages. But today, that debate ends, and the trajectory of this debate is clear. The era of confining hens in cages in America's food system is officially sunsetting.
Over the last decade, my colleague Josh Balk and I took many trips to Bentonville, Ark. to make our case to key Walmart personnel, and the team at Walmart was open and welcoming throughout the process. But given that the company likely buys more eggs than any other food retailer, and that very little egg production in the United States has been of the cage-free kind, it was not a decision it could make precipitously.
For so long, this moment seemed so distant, even as we knew we'd get there.
In the mid-2000s, we worked with colleges and universities to pioneer cage-free purchasing policies, and partnered with corporate trailblazers to follow suit, like Whole Foods and Bon Appétit Management Company.
Almost a decade ago to the day, USA Today reported on this trickle of progress. In its article titled, "Cage-Free Hens Pushed to Rule Roost," the nation's largest newspaper wrote: "A wave of colleges and universities, along with big-name employers such as America Online, food-service purveyors, restaurants and even high schools, have either eliminated or reduced their use of eggs from caged hens."
That was the start. We then conducted a series of undercover investigations to show the American public what conventional egg production looks like. They didn't much like what they saw.
Then, in 2008, we reached a game-changing moment with the passage of Prop 2 in California, with that initiative attracting more "yes" votes than any other ballot initiative in U.S. history. After that landslide election banning cage confinement in the country's fifth-largest egg producing state, we persuaded many major food companies to switch some percentage of their eggs to cage-free.
In the following years, we passed a law in Michigan phasing out chicken cages. And we worked with Ohio's agribusiness leaders and the governor to pass a regulation banning construction of new cages. Weighing in on this growing movement, the New York Times editorialized, in 2010, that "Industrial confinement is cruel and senseless and will turn out to be, we hope, a relatively short-lived anomaly in modern farming."
Indeed, that would turn out to be the case.
We continued working in collaboration with virtually every major egg buyer. In 2012, Burger King became the first major fast food brand to adopt a timeline for going 100 percent cage-free. In September 2015, McDonald's did the same, breaking the dam on the issue.
In the months following McDonald's announcement, we helped nearly a hundred major companies follow suit—including the country's largest egg purchasers like Denny's, IHOP, Kroger, Albertson's, and so many more. Our efforts were so successful that Fox News called 2015, "The Year of the Cage-Free Hen" and NPR reported that, as a result, "Most U.S. Egg Producers are now Choosing Cage-Free Houses."
There's been unyielding progress throughout 2016—leading us to today's announcement with Walmart, which provides the closing argument on the era of battery-cage confinement.
Yes, there are still some outliers, and we'll work with them to join their competitors in going cage-free. It's also important that we pass our ballot measure in Massachusetts this year to ensure a cage-free retail standard in the state. But the debate on whether cages have a future in the egg industry has been concluded, and now it is a matter of egg producers converting all of their operations over the next few years to cage-free. Consumers want this change and it will ultimately produce a much better set of outcomes for producers, food retailers, and customers alike, but most of all for the hens.
Because of the tremendous work of the HSUS team, along with our friends, including Compassion in World Farming, we can mark it down in our calendars, as a matter of historical record: April 5 was a big day indeed.
Help The HSUS protect farm animals »
Farm Animals, Humane Economy
Should Hunters Really Be In Charge Of Conservation? | Care2 Causes | May 2, 2016
nella crosiglia says:
what a beautiful " gift"!!!!
I decided long time ago to go vegeterian! The only way to make a difference and end the suffering of millions of living , breathing, animals who suffer and feel pain.!!!
megahn says:
I do not understand why it takes 9 years to change the policy. That seems way to long. I can understand 1 year but 9? And, how can we trust that this is really going to happen? I want to trust all these companies that say they are "cage free", but I am always skeptical. That is why I stopped eating eggs and became a vegan.
They'll change it then jack the price through the roof
Tisa says:
Yes Megahn, my thoughts exactly "why so long?"
Jacqueline Schmidt says:
Everyone: Unless you are only purchasing HFAC Humane Certified "Pasture Raised" eggs, you are still contributing to the problem of barbaric living when it comes to laying hens. There is very little difference between how caged and free-range hens exist in big factory farming. Even if a company eliminates battery cages, we still need to continue to push for better conditions for the hens. Please take time to do your research on the internet, especially concerning HFAC Humane Certified "Pasture Raised" eggs and "pop holes". It will truly open your eyes.
Furthermore, every year millions upon millions of unwanted male chicks are killed at birth (ground up alive or suffocated in plastic bags) because they cannot produce eggs.
12 Egg Facts the Industry Doesn't Want You to Know:
http://freefromharm.org/eggfacts/
If you can handle it, this shows what happens to male chicks as they are being ground up alive:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQ5qAfyUuWE
Also, there is the matter of what happens to hens once they no longer lay eggs. So, you see, there really aren't any humane eggs unless you raise them yourself or find a farmer that you can trust. The good news is there are healthy, delicious alternatives. Some can be found here, and if you google the alternatives, you will find many, many more:
http://freefromharm.org/food-products/delicious-vegan-eggs-recipes/
Thank you for caring!
Leigh says:
Did I miss the part about free range chickens in the article? I know there is not much difference between caged and cage free. Is that what you meant? Luckily, we get our eggs from a few different friends who have chickens.
Watch a "Polyface Farms" video to see how true, Eco/Humane farming should be done. You don't have to give up meat, poultry, eggs or dairy to help make change, simply refuse to buy anything that does not have the certified humane stamp. Before you purchase, research the supposed cage free poultry and grass feed beef producers label and make sure they don't have any illegal infractions regarding their standards. Giving money to real farms rather than slaughter camps and letting grocery store managers know you will not shop there market until they bring in "Certified Humane" products. That is the best way to make your voice heard.
Tegan Roller says:
We need the meat!! Farmers will not abuse the animals and treat the poorly because that is less profit. Not only that its the fact that those farmers care about what the do on a regular basis. They care about the animals and take the best care
They do whatever they can to maximise profit, that includes short cuts when it comes to animal welfare. If they can reduce costs and increase production they will do so even if it means cutting the beaks off, injecting them with hormones, grinding live chicks and packing them so close together you need anti-biotics to keep them alive. BTW you don't need meat, you want it. Plenty of world class athletes who are vegetarians like Lizzie Armitstead.
J. V. Tyler says:
The big question is "Do you believe Wal-Mart and other large purchases?" Call me skeptical. Do you plan to monitor who they are buying from?
David Bernazani says:
J.V. It's easy enough to keep track of which egg producers are cage-free and which aren't. There aren't all that many, because most of them are so huge. And I'm sure the HSUS can easily track which producers have purchased the equipment to convert to cageless farms.
David Bernazani — Thanks for the responses. I have no doubt, as you point out, it is possible to track which egg producers are cage-free and which aren't. My concern is that HSUS is announcing a "victory" here with no stated intent or procedure for verifying that Wal-Mart will actually buy from cage-free producers.
I see a lot of folks here have questions about what exactly "cage-free" means, why it will take so long, and are skeptical about Walmart in general. All valid concerns. Cageless chicken housing is somewhat better than those horrid old battery cages, but still not adequate enough for me to purchase eggs at any store. I occasionally get some from a lady who rescues chickens and lets them roam around her little horse boarding ranch. If you have any doubts about where yours come from and how the layers are treated, I suggest you look for someone like her who you can meet personally, and see the chickens for yourself.
And if I DID buy eggs from a store, I think Johnny-come-lately Walmart, with its greedy and uncaring business practices, would be the last place I'd go. But I still applaud the HSUS for helping make at least some improvements in the lives of all those millions of birds.
I thought Walmart took its time getting on board, too. Seems like instead of being a leader in changing the way laying hens are treated they only did it when they might start "looking bad"
Vicki Gibson says:
You have a good point, however, I am sure they will be watched. And there is a growing movement of 'good will' with produce that is growing in the US and Canada. So, lets just keep an eye on them. Bad press will hurt them, as it has in the past. People will get eggs where they trust. I know I do! They will have to show that their eggs ARE legit. If we people watch, that is what makes the difference.:) Just a thought. Cheers, Vicki in Canada
WALMART IS SELLING JUMBO EGGS FROM $.43 to $.70 A DOZ. HOW CAN THEY DO THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE THEY BUY THEIR EGGS FROM.
Veronica Montoya says:
My question is why is it taking so long? The people decided and voted against these cages a few years ago and HSUS gave these places several more years to put this in place. So why are you asking for more money when the battery cages are still being used? I believe that I heard it would only cost 1 penny more per dozen eggs is that true?
From what I can tell in Canada, it costs a lot more for you to buy such eggs. And I pay it, although I don't think I should have to pay so much. However, one egg producer in Ontario Canada, loves his hens, and has them in a barn AND an open lot, so they can roam, run, and be free. The lab PROVED his eggs to be the highest in nutritional value. High in Vc, D. B's, etc, etc. His eggs were also 7.50 per dozen, as it took a lot longer for him to gather up the eggs as they were free ranging nests. Still, HIS chickens did not have any bare spots, bare bums, worn or unhappy looking critters. They were curious and came up to see him when he came into the barn and yard. When they told him after the national BLIND taste test with a group of others that were checked for taste and quality of nutrition, he actually cried to know his was the best, as he said to them and CBC, it validated his efforts for being humane in treatment of his animals. Good on him! If we had more caring farms to start with, none of these actions would ever be needed. There was a time, when farmers did care about their animals more than just food and fodder. Big box productions changed all that attitude! Our foods need not suffer, as that is not honouring our stewardship here on this planet, nor does it create good health either! Anyway, long story short, good eggs for now cost way more. The big box eggs are about 1.50 per doz in comparison. However, I can't look at eggs any more without seeing the suffering. So I want to feel OK about the critter giving me breakfast. You also know such hens that go to meat market are also BETTER flesh than the others as well! Like, no brainer, right? I may not eat as many eggs, but I can look myself in the mirror too, and support such great farmers! Cheers! Vicki.
Vicki, yep, I pay $6 (US) per dozen eggs from the chicken rescued, so I don't buy so many, but the ones I do eat are large and full of flavor, with nice orange yolks, not those pale, anemic, sickly-looking eggs I remember getting from grocery stores.
And I love visiting her ranch and petting the chickens that are wandering around. So to me, that $6 is well worth it!
Tamara Barnes says:
No cages does not mean humane containment. Hens are still crammed in airless huge barns by the thousands.
Ally Druckemiller says:
I agree. There also has been investigations on "free-range" and found that hens were just as confined as they were in cages. Has this been addressed with as well, once cages are eliminated?
Jane Steinberg says:
Cage-free alone doesn't mean humane. We have seen cage-free birds so crowded together in a poultry barn that some are crippled and maimed, even crushed to death. Those may not be laying hens, but rather birds destined for butchering, but inhumane is inhumane. Is there any hope for those?
You are so right! The definition of proper treatment has not really been defined for this. A setting that is crammed is no less healthy than the cages. Period. Pigs have proven that one long ago, yet where are we? I guess eating veggies and fruits will have to be the new thinking to protest such abuses. About all I can think of doing next. The bottom line is food that people are demanding. Big box companies and our need for chicken everything places pressure for high output of such foods. And the animal is no longer viewed as a critter but a faceless piece of merchandise! That is the problem with the entire industry as it stands today. We need to change our attitudes toward what we eat and how much of it and how if foods suffer or not. Unless that happens, billions on the earth will rule the 'faceless factor' for all food production even more than it does today. How sad is that, eh? And it need not be this way at all….that is the true tragedy of the picture. No wonder we loose species every year due to our careless and heartless production methods. "You cannot eat gold. When something is gone, it is lost forever. ' is an old native saying….but you would think so in today's methods!
Constance Pepin says:
"The policy will be fully implemented by 2025" which means 9 more years of millions of hens suffering in cages. I do not understand why people who negotiate these agreements settle for just distant deadlines. If it's important to do, it's important to do NOW! The excuses about transitions taking time are disingenuous–if the company could make money off a change, it would do so quickly–certainly much sooner than 9 years out. Such a distant deadline questions their credibility and intentions.
Marj says:
Corky says:
I agree… why does it take 9 years. If everyone stopped buying/eating eggs for a short time it would probably speed things up.
Laura D. says:
I agree with Constance Pepin. Why will it take so long for Walmart to comply?
Val Silver says:
I totally agree with you. I would think a year or two would be more than enough time.
Nadine Girouard says:
Totally agree here. Also, why not free roaming instead? Those big barns where farmers walk through and remove many dead birds from, Daily, are Not anything but Huge multiple bird cages.
Michele Koskinen says:
The cages are indeed horrible, but I've also seen, and heard about, the also horrible conditions of many huge facilities where the hens are just as crowded, the reek is just as bad, and the lack of bars makes a fairly negligible improvement. I hope this is not what this agreement is offering.
Wonderful, wonderful news!
Sally Palmer says:
It's crazy that it takes this much work to get others to do something about what the majority of us see instantly as needed, but obviously it's wonderful that you understand this how the world works and you and your colleagues have seen this important shift in how people see animals through. Inch by inch you will fight to take back what God gave animals to begin with–their own special way of life– and some people have taken away out of ignorance, greed, or meanness.
donald kunkel says:
it's about time they said no to cage birds yes it's time to do so !!!!
sign don kunkel
Jeff Torres says:
Cage free does not mean the hens are being treated better. It just means that instead of living in cages they live with thousands of other hens in a crowded hen house with no lighting or fresh air. "cage free" is a misleading phrase that fools the consumer into thinking that the hens have this great life since they don't live in cages. People should look into what exactly cage free means before celebrating. Matter of fact, it's probably easier and cheaper for the farmer to have one giant hen house instead off hundreds of cages….so who is really benefitting from "cage free"?? The hens? When you write an article celebrating wal mart going to free range hens then you can brag and mark the date on your calendar.
Also is it safer or more dangerous for them to be cage free? Won't it increase the chances of altercations breaking out? I don't know the answers and so I'm asking these questions. I only buy eggs that are Certified Humane because I trust that label more than "Organic" or "Cage Free".
Roxanne Burke says:
I agree. Free range is the best possible outcome. If it takes until 2025 to go cage free, I will be dead and gone without ever seeing free range hens. I have been eating as few egg products as possible, hope it helps.
I agree! But this is definitely progress!
B. Walter says:
The assertion that poultry facilities would be airless is wrong. Air must be brought in to take ammonia build up out or the birds would suffocate post haste. Lacking a facility that puts the hens in a relatively confined area would mean having to range far and wide to gather the eggs. Having them roam free outside would expose them to predators and infestations of Northern Fowl Mites. The main problem I see is agribusiness instead of agriculture, and the notion of bigger somehow being better. Smaller and more numerous facilities would solve a lot of the problems that plague the giant facilities.
My point exactly. Lol
AVIS HOLT says:
This is FANTASTIC news! Now, instead of taking this for granted, I hope the right people keep on top of it to make sure it's really happening.
nancy messer says:
What great news ! When one hears about such things it feels good. There is so much suffering, cruel treatment ,abuse and killings that when something comes about positive it makes you want to go on fighting in wherever small way one can. My hat is off to all of you for the great work you do .To be honest , I lack what it takes to take it easy and wait for things to change therefore I sit and sign whatever petition I can to help and dream I will see the day when animals are no longer suffering at the hands of humans..
Dianne Rowe says:
At last some GOOD news regarding animals kept for food production. A HUGE well done to everyone concerned – something to cluck about for sure!!
Randy T Clark says:
I am glad they are off bondage of cramp world no love they need to feel love more eggs the more love increase eggs cage cramp free from cage love
Kim Oppelt says:
This is GREAT news! But will they be cage free? Or pastured? Big difference…..(baby steps, but I'm just wondering…)
Bravo!! Congratulations!
Frederick Fuller says:
Wonderful news. However, cage free does not mean pastured. They could still be massed in some filthy barn where they mill around without seeing the sun. I hope we can get chickens in the pasture, to run free. Thank you for what you do.
My thought exactly! Hopefully cage free is a step forward but it may just be another loophole for those who mass produce eggs.
bonnie anderson says:
Does "cage-free" also mean humanely raised? I have read that "cage-free" can sometimes be misleading in that the hens are still in very over-crowded conditions, although not crammed in a cage. Are there parameters that the industry has to follow so that the hens are humanely raised?
SANDRA VAN FREDENBERG says:
This is such a good thing for the chickens. When I was a child I won a black chicken at the State Fair and it never needed caging. When I would come home from School Blackie as I called her would meet me at our property line. She was such a sweet hen I can't imagine anyone caging chickens in order to raise them for the profit the give to their owners. Little things mean a lot and I hope that the other industries follow suit.
Michelle Jones says:
Why does it take so long to make these changes? I understand that a lot of time and money will go into retrofitting the farms to make them cage free, but does that mean nine years? Also, what does "cage free" mean exactly? Are they just going to contain the chickens in slightly larger living spaces, or will they be able to move around, get fresh air, sunlight, and enjoy their natural behaviors? I'd like to see more specific details on how this will role out. The current information is too general and nonspecific.
I have been avoiding meat and other animal products for the last few years as a result of what I've learned about factory farming. Lamb has been "off the table" for 13 years. It's not easy when you have lived most of your life eating these kind of foods. I look at my pets and realize that all these other animals are as unique and feeling. Consuming them is just wrong, and so much worse when their lives are horrendous.
I look forward to a day when no animal suffers at the hand of man for fun, entertainment, or profit.
Clare Rosenfield says:
But they are not completely cage-free until 9 more years??? Why so long a time span to phase out? Congratulations on your successes but not happy about the timing.
I been waiting for this for awhile .. I am so excited to know that big coorporations taking a stand against animal cruelty such as having hens being caged !
Donna Lagomarsino says:
NO MORE CAGES FOR EGGS LAYING CHICKENS, THANK YOU WALMART AND MCDONALDS FOR STANDING TALL, to source all of its eggs from cage-free sources. PLEASE DO THIS A SOON AS POSSIBLE!!!!
What a fabulous day! Can you give any information about the proposed alternative? I certainly don't want to sound negative because this is a major success. Are the egg producers still going to use those massive barns where hens have no chance of getting in the fresh air because there is only one tiny exit at one end of a barn the size of a football field?
Kim Mac Leod says:
The persistence of HSUS in this effort should be lauded. While individuals can do their part, it is the clout of your organization that has given clarity and credibility to creating an economy and world that values humane treatment – for hens and others. Our thanks for your collective efforts.
Sofie Buschman says:
There were MANY good questions about whether they will be pasture raised or in those crowded stuffy barns. Also about why will it take 9 years for the changes. Could you respond to the comments you received so that ALL of us will have a better understanding.
Thank you for all your hard work and efforts.
Ricci says:
They need to do this with their pork too. Pigs are equally as confined.
Angela napier says:
That was a question I had too..What about the poor cows and calf's.. And pigs..when is someone going to help them to..helping the chickens is awesome..but what about the suckie life the others live..
Ricci: Yes, the HSUS is fighting for gestation-free housing for pigs, bans on veal crates, and, well, every other improvement for factory-farmed animals you can think of (as well as all other animals).
In the mean time, The best way for you to personally help them is to simply stop buying meat, eggs and dairy. Millions of vegans live healthy and cruelty-free lifestyles, and are better off without the carcasses.
Héctor Castillo Juárez says:
Well, it is social pressure given the US market. In Mexico Wallmart does not care about it.
All they have to do is say they will not buy any eggs from caged chickens after the end of THIS year. Walmart sells millions of eggs each year and there are plenty of suppliers who will do what they have to do to get their business. 9 years? Really? How long does it take to open a cage door?
Karen Dresel says:
I totally agree with you Lesley! it should be mandatory that they are held to their word and be in compliance by the end of this year! Take those 9 years and use those years for developing ways HOW to keep them in compliance!
Just because they are cage free does NOT mean it will be a humane existence for these birds. We now need to lay the rules down for what exactly is cage free and humane and make them stick.
On the more positive note, even baby steps ARE steps when they are made in the right direction!
Don't believe a word Walmart says , have seen their business practices first hand and whatever they need to do to make 1/10th of a penny more I. Profit they will do .
Lisa Holsonback says:
Thankyou. SO very MUCH… its a Start! …
Alan Parrillo says:
Somewhat guarded good news. Why 9 more years? Every inch forward is good news but tell that hen, 9 more years. Guys…, we all love every move in the right direction and love your dedication but the next move forward.., stand a much harder ground. Thank You..!
Rachael Cain says:
I am very happy for this victory! I just hope that there will be monitoring of conditions. Thank you for being a voice for the animals!
NINE YEARS???? 2025??? Seriously? ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ruby says:
Great news for the hens, but what about Mc Donalds putting new born chicks through a grinder and making processed chicken Mc nuggets? When is this practice going to end? These chicks are ground alive! How horrible!
Suzanne Meyers says:
This is a joke….really….cage free…and 9 years more to take effect? You got to be kidding. All the thousands of thousands of chickens that will endure the inhumane treatment is what I see. this is such a joke. And cage free? Yep 1000's stuffed in a fenced in area and still i consider this inhumane!!!! I'm sick over this….this is so disturbing…I don't call a victory what so ever!
Not being caged is awesome..but not being stuffed in housing so tight that they have no life sucks…I've seen the videos where they are packed in with no room…their legs..and wings get broke..and they are left to die..they workers throw them down hole's… The workers are a big problem in these places..they throw them against the walls..and stomp them…so no cages..and free range would be awesome…then they can live like they should..oh..and get rid of the butt hole workers…
Moe Browning says:
I am glad to hear that SeaWorld has finally gave in about breeding; but very disturbed to hear that the Humane Society is collaborating with them when they have admitted they will not release the orcas, or any other animal trapped in their parks. It will be much harder to fight for the orcas freedom, now that they have the Humane Society's approval.
patchur white says:
'allow your
to become
vegetarians!!'
'save all the endangered species!!'
Wendy South says:
Why 9 years from now? I am glad they acknowledge that hens need to be free, but why not sooner? Can you imagine how many chickens are going to suffer in 9 years, do the math.
Olga Lebon says:
Right now, what I see in stores, just makes me sick: every store have one stack of cage-free egg boxes that cost around 6 bucks, and lots of other "organic", "vegetable-fed", "large" etc, some from the same producer, that cost 2-3 bucks. Walmart is the same way. Like on purpose–to show that cage-free production is not going to survive because no one buys those eggs. I wonder if the farmers let couple of hens out of cages, then just allocating the percentage of their eggs as "cage-free" to go waste in stores by pricing them three times more expensive. I wonder if the farmers get their way to petition the government to stop the cage-free campaign or something. I live in Seattle area.
Lucille says:
Thank you. Now please work on speeding up the process. Make sure the hens are better off and have more freedom to go outside. Also work on the confinement of veal calves and pigs kept in darkness, in crates so small they can not even turn around. And set free mama pigs in gestation crates.
Adrienne Bishop says:
This is GREAT news! Maybe not the perfect scenario, but you have to start somewhere. Thank you HSUS and all the other organizations that have fought so hard for this step forward.
Teresa Lopes says:
No cage confinement is good, but what will their confinement move to? Very skeptical. Will these farms be monitored? And 9 years is crazy long! Why is that?
This is great news but, what about the BILLIONS of male chicks who are ground alive or suffocated to death because they cannot lay eggs!? WHAT ABOUT THAT!??????
Vishesh says:
let's become vegetarian together..??
Phala Bowles says:
THEY NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THEIR INHUMANE MEAT WHILE THEIR AT IT!!!!!!!!! ALSO THE POOR FISH IN PINT SIZE CONTAINERS JUST SITTING ON THEIR SHELVES BEING TORTURED!!!!!!!!!
They'll change bc it means they can jack the price up that's all its about
"Fully implemented by 2025" I guess it takes 9 years to make the change?
If only it was faster and easier to make positive changes.
Steffen D says:
It might be best for us all to GO to some farms, see first hand, where possible, how chickens live. I'm saying city folks dont know, they need to check it out for themselves


Primacy Day Nursery | Toddler room cares for those children aged between 24 months & 2 years 9 months and does so on a staff ratio of 1:4.
The toddler room cares for those children aged between 24months & 2 years 9 months and does so on a staff ratio of 1:4. This room is staffed with a number of Nursery Assistants in addition to a Room Supervisor who is fully qualified to NVQ Level 3 or equivalent.
In the toddler room we aim to provide lots of space for your child to have fun, learn and experience. We have a big washable floor area for messy play with sand & water trays, Painting stands and Play-Dough tables.
We also have a table top area with activities and games to develop hand eye co-ordination, colour recognition, fine motor skills as well as social skills.
In a carpeted area we have soft cushions and books where your child can listen to story telling.
Lastly, but not least we have a safe and secure outdoor area with bikes, scooters and pavement games.
At the end of each day you will receive a daily report to provide you with the information about what your child has been doing, sleep times and the meals for that day.


text:
Home » Featured News » AJ Styles Contradicts Official Story About Why WWE Superstars Were Kept In Saudi Arabia
AJ Styles Contradicts Official Story About Why WWE Superstars Were Kept In Saudi Arabia
by Felix Uptonon November 3, 2019 November 3, 2019 at 8:36 pm
WWE and Atlas Air's official reason for why WWE Superstars were unable to leave Saudi Arabia on time had to do with mechanical issues. This might not be the case.
AJ Styles recently revealed that a lot of the reporting about WWE's situation in Saudi Arabia was exaggerated. He went on to discuss what the issue really was on his Mixer.
The Phenomenal One said that it was a paperwork issue and then the person who came to refuel the plane had to leave and go home. He did note that he thought that was odd.
By the time all that happened and they got fuel in the plane, the pilots had to sleep because their shift had already ended. It's still unclear why it took 24 hours to take off.
This does seem to contradict the reasoning why the WWE Superstars were kept in Saudi Arabia. WWE even reportedly wanted Superstars to make videos talking about mechanical issues.
WWE Signs Another Indie Star
Cody Rhodes Set To Make Career Announcement On AEW Dynamite

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan says a diplomatic row with the Netherlands can not be dismissed with an apology and is warning of further possible measures, after Ankara suspended high-level diplomatic ties with the Dutch.
Incensed by Dutch and German government bans on his ministers from speaking to rallies of overseas Turks, Erdogan also accused German Chancellor Angela Merkel of siding with the Netherlands in the deepening row between the NATO allies.
Turkey's diplomatic riposte on Monday, which included a ban on the Dutch ambassador and diplomatic flights, came after Erdogan branded the Netherlands "Nazi remnants" at the weekend for muzzling his ministers.
"The cabinet took action yesterday but there are many other things that could be done against the Netherlands," Erdogan said in a speech broadcast live on television.
"We will show those who think they can get away with an apology that they are making a mistake," said Erdogan, who is campaigning for an April 16 referendum on boosting his powers.
The Turkish president did not elaborate. Ankara's initial response had appeared symbolic as the measures did not include economic sanctions or travel restrictions for ordinary citizens.
Erdogan has threatened to take the Netherlands to the European Court of Human Rights over the ban on his ministers, which the Dutch imposed citing fears of unrest.
Dutch police used dogs and water cannon on Sunday to disperse hundreds of protesters waving Turkish flags outside the consulate in Rotterdam.
EU states are also unhappy with what they see as an increasingly authoritarian tone from Turkey and the spat is likely to further dim Ankara's prospects of EU membership.
Erdogan, who last week invoked Berlin's Nazi past in criticising cancellations of Turkish ministers' rallies in Germany, renewed his attack on Merkel after she criticised his "Nazi remnants" jibe against the Dutch.
"The countries that have embraced this thuggery have lost all their credibility. The Chancellor of Germany has come out and said she supported the Netherlands. We know that you are no different than them," Erdogan said.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the Turkish sanctions, while "not too bad", were inappropriate as the Dutch had more to be angry about.


The Krewe of Des Allemands Mardi Gras parade will be held at 1 p.m. March 3 in Des Allemands. The parade will have floats, visiting queens, characters, fire trucks and dance groups.
The Krewe of Montz will roll March 2 at 10 a.m. in Montz.


On the day of arrival at New Delhi airport, our Holidays At representative will assist you at airport and later transfer to your hotel for night stay. Relax at hotel or day free to leisure activities. Overnight at Hotel.
Today morning after breakfast at hotel, later proceed for full day guided tour to New & Old Delhi, visit Rashtrapati Bhavan, India Gate, Laxmi Narayan Temple, Humayun's Tomb, Lotus Temple (Bhai's Temple) and Qutub Minar. After lunch at local city restaurant, later proceed for Old Delhi sightseeing tour visit Raj Ghat, Jama Masjid and Red Fort also take a short rickshaw ride at Chandni Chowk spice market and huge market for clothes.
Today morning after breakfast at hotel, later check out from hotel in New Delhi and drive to Agra "City of Love". Upon arrival at Agra check in your hotel for night stay. After relax at hotel, later proceed for half day guided city tour of Agra, visit Agra Fort, Itmad-ud-Daulah's Tomb, Akbar's Tomb, Jama Masjid, Moti Masjid, Octagonal Tower, Jahangir's Palace, Chini ka Rauza and Sikandra Fort. Evening enjoy the light and sound show "Mohabbat-the-Taj - the saga of love", in Agra.
Early morning before breakfast Sunrise visit the world's most popular and beautiful monument Taj Mahal and Mehtab Bagh. After finish your guided tour to Taj Mahal, later back to your hotel and enjoy your breakfast. After breakfast at hotel, later check out from hotel and drive to Jaipur via en-route visit to Fatehpur sikri, the oldest deserted town built by Mughal Kingdom in 1571 and bulit by red stone in honor of Saint Salim Chisti also visit Diwane e Khas, Punch Mahal, the Tomb of Salim Chisti, and the Buland Darwaza, one of the largest and tallest gateways in the world.
After finish your sightseeing tour at Fatehpur Sikri, later drive to Jaipur. Upon arrival at Jaipur check in your hotel for night stay. Relax at hotel or day free to leisure activities.
Today morning after breakfast at hotel, later proceed for full day guided tour of Jaipur, visit Amber Fort with elephant ride, Nahargarh Fort, Jaigarh Fort, Jal Mahal, Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds), City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Birla Temple, Central Museum and Laxmi Narayan Temple. After finish your sightseeing tour to Jaipur later drive back to your hotel for night stay.
Today morning after breakfast at hotel, later check out from hotel and drive to Mandawa. Upon arrival at Mandawa check in your hotel for night stay. After relax at hotel, later proceed for half day guided tour to Mandawa, visit various havelis (palaces) of Mandawa.
Today morning after breakfast at hotel, later check out from hotel and drive to Bikaner. Upon arrival at Bikaner check in your hotel for night stay. Later proceed for half day guided city tour of Bikaner visit Junagarh Fort, Lalgarh Palace, Jain Haveli, Bhandeswari Jain Temple and Karni Mata Temple. Relax at hotel or day free to leisure activities.
Today morning after breakfast at hotel, later check out from hotel and drive to Jaisalmer. Upon arrival at Jaisalmer "the city of Sands" check in your camps for night stay. Later enjoy the sunset in desert of Rajasthan with sit in the back of camel. Evening dinner with some cultural activities in dunes with dance performances of local Rajasthani traditional.
Today morning after breakfast at Camp, later check out from camp and proceed for Jaisalmer city. Upon arrival at city and check in your hotel for night stay. Later proceed for full day guided tour to Jaislamer, visit Jailsamer fort, Bada Bagh, Salim Singh-Ki-Haveli & Patwon-Ki-Haveli, Thar Heritage Museum, Gadisar Lake, Silk Route Art Gallery & various temples. Relax at hotel or day free to leisure activities.
Today morning after breakfast at hotel, later check out from hotel and drive to Jodhpur. Upon arrival at Jodhpur check in your hotel for night stay. Later proceed for half day guided tour to Jodhpur, visit massive Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada, Umaid Bhawan Palace (Now converted into luxury Hotel), Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park, Clock Tower, Mandore Temple and Mandore Gardens, Balsamand Lake and Kailana Lake. Evening visit the local markets and walk around some local villages home.
Today morning after breakfast at hotel, later check out from hotel and drive to Mount Abu. Mount Abu is situated in 1200 Mt, It is the only hill station of Rajasthan. Upon arrival at Mount Abu check in your hotel for night stay. Evening you can visit sunset point and Nakkhi Lake.
Today morning after breakfast at hotel, later proceed for full day guided tour at Mount Abu visit Dilwara Jain temples, Mount Abu, Wildlife Sanctuary, Achalgarh Fort, Adhar Devi Temple, Shri Raghunathji Temple and Guru Shikhar. Relax at hotel or day free to leisure activities.
Today morning after breakfast at hotel, later check out from hotel and proceed for half day guided tour at Mount Abu visit Dilwara Jain Temples, Mount Abu, Wildlife Sanctuary, Achalgarh Fort, Adhar Devi Temple, Shri Raghunathji Temple and Guru Shikhar. Later drive to Udaipur after finish your sightseeing tour at Mount Abu via en-route visit to Ranakpur Jain Temples, built in 12 century. After finish your temples visit later continue drive to Udaipur. Upon arrival at Udaipur check in your hotel for night stay.
Today morning after breakfast at hotel, later proceed for full day guided tour to Udaipur, visit City Palace, Bagore Ki Haveli, Fateh Sagar Lake, Ambrai Ghat, Jagdish Temple, Udaipur Ropeway, Shilpgram, Vintage collection of classic car museum, Eklingji and Nagda Temples. Enjoy boat ride at lake pichola.
Today morning after breakfast at hotel, later check out from hotel and drive to Chittorgarh. Upon arrival at Chittorgarh check in your hotel for night stay. Later proceed for half day guided tour to Chittorgarh, visit Chittorgarh Fort, Rana Kumbha's Palace, Kumbha Shyam Temple, Victory Tower, Meerabai Temple, Meerabai Temple, Tower of Fame, Padmini's Palace, Chittaurgarh Museum & Jaimal and Patta Palaces. Relax at hotel or day free to leisure activities.
Today morning after breakfast at hotel, later check out from hotel and drive to Pushkar via en-route visit to Ajmer Dargah Shareef "shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti" and Adhey-Din-Ka Jhonpara - a mosque. Upon arrival at Pushkar check in your hotel for night stay. Later proceed half day guided tour to Pushkar, visit Pushkar Lake, Brahma temple, Savitri temple Mahadev Temple, Varah Temple, Ramavaikunth Temple, Rangji Temple and the Apteshwar Temple.
Today morning after breakfast at hotel, later check out from hotel and drive back to New Delhi. Upon arrival at New Delhi check in your hotel for night stay. Relax at hotel or day free to leisure activities.
Today morning after breakfast at hotel, later check out from hotel and transfer to New Delhi airport to board the flight to your home.
The booking stands liable to be cancelled if 100% payment is not received 16 days prior to departure date and received amount will be fully forfeited.
Hotels are subject to avalibality at the time of booking.


If you wish to meet up with new neighbors inside the online world of web based scratch games then you can certainly meet up with them at select web sites and also allow your new neighbors help win money on the Neighbors scratch game. This particular ingenious online game merges the fun associated with scratch to win tickets with an exciting and straightforward game of uncovering your brand-new neighbors which could help you win thousands of prizes including the enviable 100,000 Pound jackpot.
Although a traditional scratch out ticket can be fun for you to scratch even as you get instant results, it currently appears to be a lot of inconvenience to physically visit outlets, purchase scratch off tickets and scratch these to find out about your fate. The outcome could well be loss of precious time and also fuel whenever you go to these stores as well as damage to the environment as you would simply throw away non winning scratch off tickets that would have required cutting down of precious forests simply to provide you with a few moments of fun. An easier option which is not only eco-friendly but also provides you with a chance to enjoy an innovative online game instead of merely scratching away at paper tickets is to visit secure betting websites including primescratchcards and scratch2cash.
A couple of initial moments invested in enrolling your name will reward you with totally free on line scratch cards that may be utilized to play a few free games that could still turn you into a very rich individual since Neighbors scratch is a game which is based purely on luck rather than compelling you to try various gambling techniques. This multi-colored game starts up using a display of a house having 9 closed windows. Additionally, you will be able to notice a variety of neighbors on the left part of your screen along with their power to multiply your winnings. You can place your own wager and scratch over the home windows in order to open them prior to checking in case the chosen character matches your selection. You can even choose the Wild Card option available as an cute baby to enhance your odds of winning more money.
In case you have been lucky in getting good neighbors then you could also get lucky on prime scratchcards and scratch 2 cash, and also end up getting huge winnings including the monumental 100,000 Pound jackpot. You could start wagering by using as little as 10P on the Neighbors scratch card game although a 10 Pound game would be the right selection to lead you to the massive jackpot. As soon as you commence using this vibrant scratch card based online game then you will never want to travel to any kind of store to purchase paper scratch n win tickets. If you do manage to strike it lucky with a virtual rich for life scratch card then you may also treat your own real neighbors to a very good dinner in order to commemorate your current winnings.
If you want to experience a lot more pleasure on scratch out card games then you definitely must move online and visit select websites which will actually pay you to connect with your virtual new neighbors. You can certainly have a lot of fun playing this innovative scratch and win online game even while you let your brand-new neighbors help win obscene levels of money on the Neighbors scratch game.


text:
50 to 99 beds
Port Lincoln Health Service
Small hospital with an emergency department
Waiting times for surgery
In 2016–17, there were a total of 101 stays at this hospital for vaginal delivery, of which 98% were overnight stays. The average length of overnight stays at this hospital was 3.1 days, compared to its national peer group performance of 2.6 days.
2015–16 100 3.1 days 2.6 days 311
In 2016–17, there were a total of 92 stays at this hospital for caesarean delivery, of which 100% were overnight stays. The average length of overnight stays at this hospital was 3.4 days, compared to its national peer group performance of 3.7 days.


Versão mobile do clássico DDTank, Bomb Me integra tiros frenéticos com sistemas inovativos! Em Bomb Me você pode customizar suas armas, criar pets e até fazer bons amigos no mundo real!
The coming dungeon Cidade das Estrelas offers a new gameplay for players to develop themselves. Players can send the pets to adventure for rare materials to learn skills thus they can boost their power or make more profit from playing.
2.New fashion suits are being online! Urso Encantador, Kurt and Garota Obcecada will give you a unique and fresh look in the game. Get your new dress and be different!


text:
Q: fixing three divs in a dynamic navbar I'm trying to create a dynamic navbar which changes on scroll and having problems getting the elements within the nav to stay fixed when the menu options appear.
see the attached codepen to see what I mean: http://codepen.io/timothyfernandez/pen/azXQPV
Any help would be very much appreciated!
The CSS:
body {font-family:sans-serif;}

.socialmedia {margin-left: 80%;}

.socialmedia li {
display: inline;
border:none !important;}

/*Fixed Nav*/
#nav {
position: fixed;
top: 0;
left: 0;
width: 100%;
padding:30px 0 5px 0;
z-index: 100;
color: white;
background-color: #211f1f;
font-family: sans-serif;}

.inner {
margin-left: 19%;
float: left;
text-align: justify;
font-size: 120%;}

.inner a {
padding: 0px 63px;}

#nav li {
display: inline;
border-right: 1px solid grey;}

#nav a {
display: inline-block;
color: #FFF;
text-decoration: none;}

/*Nav Transitions*/

.noNav {display: hidden;}

#content {
width: 800px;
height: 700px;
margin-top:100px;
margin-left:auto;
margin-right:auto;}

A: add position: fixed in this class
SEE DEMO
.inner {
    margin-left: 19%;
    float: left;
    text-align: justify;
    font-size: 120%;
    colour:red;
    border: solid red 1px;
    position: fixed;
}

.socialmedia {
    margin-left: 84%; //changed to 84%
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Transform Minnesota's current five program initiatives support evangelical leaders in key impact areas by providing resources and collaboration on challenging issues. Transform Minnesota seeks to gather leaders and resources to develop solutions, share perspectives, and connect evangelicals for ministry opportunities. Together, we can increase Gospel impact to transform the state of Minnesota.
Serve church leaders with resources that equip congregations to change and save lives.
As Christians, we are called to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our neighborhoods, cities, and support the spreading of truth and love around the world. As an evangelical network, we support churches, their mission staff and efforts, along with other nonprofits in their advancement of the Gospel. Transform Minnesota provides meetings for evangelicals to stay informed on how the Gospel is advancing and opportunities for new strategies in multiplication, missions, and Church vibrancy.
Click the icons for details about Churh Impact Events & Resources.


text:
Home / Blog / A program to share knowledge — and salmon — across the Bering Sea
A program to share knowledge — and salmon — across the Bering Sea
BY: Amy McDermott
Russian and U.S. students carry bug spray for the mosquitoes, bear spray for the grizzlies and notebooks for the salmon science, while studying in Alaska's backcountry.
John Simeone on behalf of WWF
At the height of the Alaskan summer, a troupe of students hiked up the middle of a shallow creek. Undergraduates and grads from the University of Washington, the University of Alaska Fairbanks and Kamchatka State Technical University in eastern Russia carried handheld clickers to count the multitudes of salmon thrashing upstream to spawn. Some of the students spoke English, others Russian, but they all came to see salmon: fish that their two countries share.
Five species — sockeye, coho, pink, chum and chinook salmon — live in the freezing ocean between the United States and Russia, and swim up rivers in both countries to reproduce. Even though some fish spawn in Alaska and others in the Far East, they ultimately seed the same stock in the Bering Sea. It sits at the top of the North Pacific, the largest, most valuable and most abundant wild Pacific salmon fishery in the world.
Salmon are enormously economically important to both Russia and the United States. They contributed $406 million to Alaska in 2016, according to the state's Department of Fish and Game. And in Kamchatka, salmon in the Kol Refuge pull in $981 thousand to $3.7 million annually, with ecosystem services from the fish and their habitat estimated at $784 million to $2.38 billion, according to the Wild Salmon Center in Portland, Oregon.
Despite so much on the line, Russia and the U.S. rarely coordinate management efforts and research is largely siloed, said fisheries ecologist Megan McPhee, an associate professor at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. "Because of the language barrier," she said, "there's a lot of research that goes on without the other side knowing about it."
That's where the students come in. From June through August, budding fisheries scientists from both sides of the Pacific live and study at a rustic field camp near Bristol Bay. It's part of a summer field course, taught jointly by the University of Alaska Fairbanks, The University of Washington and Kamchatka State Technical University, and championed by the World Wildlife Fund in Anchorage. Hiking up creeks to count salmon is one way to learn the ropes, and to lay the foundation for future collaboration.
"The idea is to build greater understanding of the similarities and differences in management on both sides of the Bering Sea," McPhee said. It's "an opportunity to learn from each other."
There is plenty to learn on both sides.
"The Russians have a lot to offer," said Milo Adkison, a fisheries professor at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks who teaches the field course. "They're excellent naturalists and do a lot of research on salmon," which is often complimentary to research in the U.S., he said. For instance, Russian scientists were the first to realize that steelhead and rainbow trout can interbreed, even though steelhead spend their adult lives at sea, while rainbow trout live in fresh water.
Russia, too, might learn from Alaska's model of salmon management. Bristol Bay saw the largest sockeye salmon run in its 125-year commercial fishing history this summer. "I'd argue that means our methodology is pretty successful," said biologist Tim Sands, who manages the salmon fishery on the west side of Bristol Bay. "I think a lot of people look to the way we do things here, because it's working."
When students come over from Kamchatka, they also get an education in Alaska's salmon culture, which borders on obsession. Salmon festivals punctuate the summer, and fish motifs feature heavily in local art. "Obviously it's a source of food and income," McPhee said, "but I think it's also tied up in the identity of many Alaskans."
The same is not true across the Bering Sea, she said, where salmon are less of a touchstone, likely because Kamchatka was historically a Soviet military outpost, and even today people tend to keep to the city. Yet, coastal far-eastern Russians and Alaskans face parallel challenges. They both have abundant salmon habitats threatened by mineral and fossil fuel development, and they're both limited by the language barrier. The hope for Russian and North American students is a future that embraces their common ground.
The University of Washington and University of Alaska have offered field courses near Bristol Bay for years. But it's only since 2016, with the help of funding from the World Wildlife Fund, that they've brought in students from Kamchatka. A handful have spent summer weeks living in bunk houses, attending lectures and field trips and working through homework assignments with U.S. peers.
Biologist Sands, who oversees the local salmon fishery, occasionally guest lectures for the field course, but isn't formally affiliated with the program. He sees potential for students to learn from one another, and one day, to build better fisheries. "We do things the way we do things, and we don't necessarily change," Sands said. "But when you interact with professionals from other places … you can get ideas about how maybe we could do something a little different."
Students from both countries can be shy at first, especially with language skills, said John Simeone with the World Wildlife Fund in Anchorage. Walls crumble as they work through homework assignments and shared meals, he said. "Early on the barriers seem hard, and by the end they're hugging each other and sad to see each other go."
The hope is that friendships evolve into professional collaborations, as participants grow into leaders of salmon conservation. McPhee and Alexander Bonk, a professor from Kamchatka State Technical University, are already joining forces on an educational curriculum that includes the most important salmon studies from both sides of the Bering Sea.
For students hiking Alaska's shallow creeks, their pant legs sopping, the summer was an immersive education. Salmon was just one part of it. Knowingly or not, they were also laying the foundation to bridge the divide across the Bering Sea.


I wouldn't be anything without you in my life today.
you support me ,love me in every way.
Your kindness, and tenderness make me melt in your arms to.
Your smile and your warmth ,radiates so beautifully through.
Makes you so special and wonderful to.
My life has changed and this is down to you.
My life now has a purpose and is fulfilled to.
has now began since I fell in love with you.
I once had a hope that my wish would come true.
That I would find happiness and be loved to.
I waited and searched and had great misfortune to.
Then one day sun shined and stars guided me to you.
to a heart full of warmth and kindness in every way.
but only wanted love to.
A woman of love and honesty and passion .
Who felt same as I do.
and brought me love to.
who gives me wisdom, and appreciate the things I do.
I know you listen to.
and guide me through life to.


text:
Review: Breathe With Me (#7, With Me In Seattle) by Kristen Proby
A wonderfully addictive second chance love story
that was equal parts romance and sexiness.
Fans of the series will fall in love with Meredith and Mark!
Sometimes you meet the right person at the wrong time…
Mark Williams has loved Meredith since he was seventeen. A successful man with a strong family, he's worked hard to move on from Meredith breaking his heart all those years ago. When his path crosses with the only woman he's ever loved again years later, Mark knows there is nothing he won't do to keep her in his life. But when the going gets tough, will Meredith stick around or will he lose her again?
…But true love has a way of finding its way back.
Meredith Summers is a dancer. One of the first things she learned in following her dreams is that timing is everything. She has spent the past ten years following her dream touring with mega-stars while trying to forget the high school sweetheart she left behind. Now she's back in Seattle, running a successful dance studio with her best friend Jax and determined to move on from her gypsy past. Until the day she sees Mark Williams and time stands still. It's as if no time has passed at all when Meredith finds herself in Mark's arms again. The chemistry, the bonds and the love are as strong as ever and hearing Mark whisper breathe with me in her ear is a balm to her wounded soul. But will she grab onto this second chance at love, or is the timing all wrong for them again?
Don't miss catching up with the Montgomery and Williams clans in this latest installment of the With Me In Seattle Series from New York Times bestselling author, Kristen Proby.
Kristen Proby has the unique ability to create a story that is witty, sexy and romantic all at once. Her books are deliciously addictive with just the right amounts of steam and heart, helping to build a strong connection between her two protagonists. It's so enjoyable to jump into a book where I get to see characters I've read and loved before, all interacting together in a way that made me laugh, blush and swoon. Breathe With Me is the story of Meredith and Mark, affectionately known as M & M. Their tale is one rife with love and desire, friendship and closeness, as well as the well-meaning, but often costly blunders of first love.
"I'm knew every inch of her. I knew what turned her on and what made her squirm. What made her smile. What made her sigh in pleasure. But better than that, I knew what made her laugh. What made her sad. How to cheer her up and even what she was going to say before she said it. I knew everything. She was my world."
Mark Williams and Meredith Summers fell in love as teenagers. They loved each other deeply. They depended on each other. They were the closest of friends and each other's firsts in many things. At the brink of new beginnings and on the path they were to take together, Meredith breaks Mark's heart, choosing her love of dance at the cost of their young, but very real relationship. And after ten years apart, after life and other lovers, and work and ambitions realized, they meet again in Seattle. Immediately all the feelings of intimacy and love flood them both, as if no second was lost.
"I still think of her as mine. After all this time when I think of Meredith, she's my Meredith. Irrational? Yes. Stupid? Most definitely."
Meredith has followed her dreams over the years, pursuing her love of dance relentlessly, but seeing Mark dredges up a maelstrom of feelings. Guilt. Hope. Love. And Mark, he realizes immediately that Meredith is still very much it for him. With just one gaze, one hug, he's back to his youth, needing this woman now more than ever. He's determined to not lose her again.
"I'm fucking in love with hear again already. I'm never letting her go. Never again."
As Meredith and Mark give their relationship another shot, they must get to know each other as the people they are now… work to overcome their insecurities and fears. They didn't part on good terms and all those feelings need to come out before they can pursue a second chance at love. Mark was deeply hurt when Meredith left him and he fears that will happen yet again.
"There were days I would have traded a year of my life to touch you again."
Meredith has lost so many loved ones in her life and she's afraid to give herself completely to Mark out of fear of losing him. She can't imagine bearing a life without him… again.
"Am I making a mistake? Am I letting myself fall back into love with him and setting myself up for heartbreak when it all falls apart?"
You can absolutely feel the closeness between these two people. It's wonderfully heartwarming and uplifting to see Meredith come into the crazy fold that is the Montgomery/Williams clan. Mark is so deeply in love with Meredith and the things he says to her totally made my heart felt. And not to mention, the chemistry between them absolutely sizzles! I loved how Kristen Proby explores the ties that bind, the real difficulties of second chances and the lasting power of first loves. I would've loved a bit more angst, or a bigger conflict to challenge their happy ending, but even so, it was entirely enjoyable, addictive and easily devoured. I found myself feeling full and happy by the story's end and truth be told, what more can I ask for? Fans of the With Me In Seattle series will surely fall in love with Mer and Mark!
"It's everything. I crave everything about you. Your body, your laughter, the way you make me feel when I'm with you. You're my drug, Meredith."
Reading Order and Purchase Links
Click on the cover to purchase from Amazon US. Each book can be read as a standalone.
Connect with Kristen
Facebook | Twitter | Website
Review: The Good Daughter
Review: The Time In Between
Review: Devil's Cut
Review: Trust
Review: The Darkest Sunrise Duet
Review: Final Girls
Review + Excerpt: Wish You Were Here
Review + Excerpt: Emma In The Night


text:
Home / Healthy Eating / 6 Scary Side Effects of Pandemic Loneliness You Didn't Know About
6 Scary Side Effects of Pandemic Loneliness You Didn't Know About
Quarantining can stop the virus from spreading, but has other implications, as well.
By Amanda McDonald
Published on July 30, 2020 | 8:20 PM
As cases of the coronavirus continue to rise across the country, some effects of quarantine are coming to light. For those who are older, the impacts can be worse, according to the New York Times.
By staying inside, social distancing, and not gathering in groups in public like at restaurants and bars, you're helping reduce the spread of the virus. But isolation has some negative fallouts to be aware of. Here are six everyone could see.
Eating more
Jeshoots.com/Unsplash
According to Forbes, sales of Kraft macaroni and cheese were so high during the initial stages of the pandemic, that the company had to add shifts for employees at production facilities to keep up with the demand. Other snack foods saw similar trends. Sales of goldfish crackers were up 23%, according to the New York Times.
"We don't normally have chips at home. But now we have Doritos and Cheetos. Chips made with orange stuff and all sorts of seasonings that we normally don't eat," one grocery shopper told the newspaper.
Related: The Unhealthiest Snacks On the Planet
Eating more, especially if it's processed food, can increase the number of calories that are consumed in a day. Munching on Oreos and other comfort foods then can lead to weight gain. This is especially true if you aren't moving as much throughout the day because of stay-at-home orders.
But here are 25 Bad Habits That Make It Almost Impossible to Lose Weight.
One review in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research says that depression and loneliness have similar effects like pain and hopelessness. It's important then, the review says, to offer support to those facing a lot of alone time right now.
"Quarantined for some five months, many oldsters feel more isolated, suspicious and withdrawn or, worse, in danger of vanishing," Susan Gubar writes in the New York Times. "Fear of contagion has turned us into prisoners under house arrest."
Be on the lookout, these 17 Foods That Make Your Depression and Anxiety Worse.
Sleeping issues
One study published in May found that sleep issues have increased because of COVID-19 and pandemic loneliness. The risk of catching the virus makes people stress about their own health and the health of their family and friends. This leads to sleep issues like insomnia because it makes the brain more active.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e
Here's What Happens to Your Body When You Can't Sleep Every Night.
Being lonely can cause heart disease at the same rate as smoking, according to Harvard Health. Yep, if you're lonely, especially during a pandemic, your risk of a heart attack or stroke could be higher.
So, to stay safer during quarantine, skip The Common Foods That Raise Your Heart Attack Risk.
Weak immune system
Pandemic loneliness can also mean a weakened immune system which is responsible for fighting off diseases. Research shows that being stressed or sad increases inflammation in the body, which can sit around for a while and harm the immune system.
For more information about the pandemic, sign up for our newsletter!
Amanda McDonald
Amanda has a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University and a bachelor's degree in digital journalism from Loyola University Chicago. Read more about Amanda
Overeating // Unhealthy


WATERLOO, ONTARIO--(Dec. 19, 2014) - BlackBerry Limited (NASDAQ:BBRY)(TSX:BB), a global leader in mobile communications, today announced that Ocean Capital Investments, and its subsidiaries, members of the Irving family of companies, are migrating to BES12™: a cross-platform EMM solution by BlackBerry®. Ocean Capital Investments will be deploying BES12 as a BlackBerry hosted cloud solution to manage BlackBerry and iOS devices, displacing their former mobile device management provider, MobileIron.
BES12 provides expanded cross-platform EMM capabilities that can manage any mobile deployment model such as BYOD, COPE and COBO, and leverages BlackBerry's trusted global infrastructure. The BES12 platform seamlessly supports iOS, Android™, Windows Phone®, BlackBerry® 10 and BlackBerry® OS devices.
Ocean Capital Investments will replace the majority of their iOS devices with BlackBerry's best-in-class QWERTY keyboard smartphones, BlackBerry Passport and the newly launched BlackBerry Classic. The BlackBerry Passport is a device purpose-built for productivity-driven business professionals who want a smartphone that empowers them with the mobile tools they need to get things done, without sacrificing style or portability. BlackBerry Classic offers users traditional device design and features, including the classic navigation keys, optical trackpad and short cuts with the power and performance of BlackBerry 10.
"BlackBerry is providing the most secure end-to-end mobile solutions with BES12 and their new suite of smartphones with BlackBerry Passport and BlackBerry Classic," said John K.F. Irving, President, Ocean Capital Investments. "We're working closely with BlackBerry to implement BES12 as a hosted solution for our EMM needs and are ready to replace our previous provider with this highly secure, cross-platform service. Our priority is to give our employees the right tools to get the job done, and our BlackBerry solution will allow us to do that."
"As a company focused on construction, broadcasting and property management, Ocean Capital Investments has high expectations around secure, cross-platform mobile communications and the productivity of their employees, which is why they're choosing BlackBerry," said Billy Ho, Executive Vice President, Enterprise Product and Value Added Solutions at BlackBerry. "BlackBerry Hosted Solution is a great option for customers like Ocean Capital Investments because it offers them the secure, cross-platform features of BES12 with the convenience of hosted IT administration and support."


text:
#ifndef __fbp__component__
#define __fbp__component__

#include "que/queue_closed_exception.h"
#include "que/queue_empty_exception.h"
#include "que/queue_full_exception.h"
#include "connectable.h"
#include "executable.h"
#include "serializable.h"
#include "raw_ip.h"

namespace fbp {

    /**
     Interface class component has a duality of purpose, being both the the abstract base class for all libfbp Flow-Based Programming compute elements and the interface class that enables components to be added, removed and retrieved for the aggregating composite pattern.
     Component class has the following duality of purpose:

As per J.Paul Morrison "Flow-Based Programming: A New Approach to Application Development" (1994,2010) chapter III "Basic Concepts" - Concerning the elementary, indivisible compute "atom" FBP termed component.

Implementation of the "Gang of Four" "Design Patterns: Elements of Reuasble Object-Oritented Software" (1994) "Structrual Patterns: Composite" composite pattern partitioning design pattern's base unit of part-whole hierarchy the sharedcomponent interface that enables components to be executed by an executor.

     From a Parallel Programming Model PPM perspective the FBP paradigm is message passing model (MPM). In a message passing model, parallelizable tasks exchange data through passing messages to one another. As described by Morrison in FBP these communications are expressed as information packets (IP) passed asynchronously between tasks termed components via channels termed connections.

     A MPM approach is a liberating one that enables:

(Dynamic)Distributable - a component shouldn't care where it is executed and nor should it necessarily be bound there.

Non-contentious - unlike a shared memory model FBP components do not share memory and therefore avoid memory contentions. Ideally the memory footprint of a component (granularity/grain size) of a component should fit in lowest cache level to avoid even cache contentions.

Simplified Synchronisation - connections look after synchronisation and can be made fungible to improve programmability.

Scalability - all of which results in the MPM and hence FBP approach being an inherently scalable one.

     At the core of this behaviour is the component class and as such it is the fundamental and indivisable parallelizable unit of the Parallel Programming Model (PPM) inherant in the libfbp implementation of Flow-Based Programming (FBP).

     Regarding libfbp's mathematical semantics:

From a Communicating Sequential Processes Theoretic (CSP) perspective the component class embodies the concept of a process P.

     Lemma 1: The CSP process can be mapped to the libfbp component as an otherwise environmentally immune disjointed local state.

From a Graph Theoretic (GT) perspective the component class embodies the concept of a node of vertex v.

     Lemma 2: The GT vertex can be mapped to the libfbp component as the compute node of an ensemble of compute elements and directed communication elements.

     It is, therefore, axiomatic that libfbp components be both isolated processes whose internal state is invisible to the environment and the indivisable node able to form part of an executable program graph as a vertex.

     The problem for libfbp is how to interface a polymorphic set of components in a user opaque way with any underlying Program eXcution Model (PXM)?
     The libfbp library adopts the most general purpose way to do this - simply provide a functor to the PXM that executes the extant component behaviour.
     */
    struct component: public pxm::executable, public io::serializable<> {

        /**
         Fungible function object Application Programming Interface (API).
         The Program Execution Model (PXM) generic point of entry enables libfbp components to be agnostic of the underlying PXM.

         The API contract is simple, the returned component pointer points to the next component to be executed with the only guarantee being that it will be executed "eventually". A returned value of null_ptr indicates that the PXM should remove that component from the execution pipeline.
         @return    component* pointer to the next component to executed, in most cases this will be a pointer to the same component requesting that its lifetime in the PXM is sustained. Returning null_ptr is an instruction to the PXM not to sustain that component.
         */
        virtual component* operator()() = 0;

        /**
         Attach a named (or single anonymous) connection as a connectable to an equivalentl named input port.
         @note duplicate named connectables are not permitted duplicates should result in an fbp_excpetion being thrown.
         @param connectable* pconnectable - the named connection automatically cast to its underlying connectable
         */
        virtual void connect_input(connectable* pconnectable) = 0;

        /**
         Attach a named (or single anonymous) connection as a connectable to an equivalently named output port.
         @note duplicate named connectables are not permitted duplicates should result in an fbp_excpetion being thrown.
         @param connectable* pconnectable - the named connection automatically cast to its underlying connectable
         */
        virtual void connect_output(connectable* pconnectable) = 0;

        /** The CSP process primitive SKIP which, axiomatically, does nothing but terminate successfully by responding to success event (however that occurrence may be defined):

         (success -> SKIP)

         or idiomatically for CSP success is often denoted ✓ the termination event.

         (✓ -> SKIP) */
        static component* skip; /** < The CSP process primitive SKIP which, axiomatically, does nothing but terminate successfully by responding to success event (however that occurrence may be defined):

                                 (success -> SKIP)

                                 or idiomatically for CSP success is often denoted ✓ the termination event.

                                 (✓ -> SKIP) */

        virtual ~component() {}

    };

}

#endif

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Tha-Norr were a German black metal band from Lower Saxony.

Biography
Tha-Norr recorded the Assault on Aerie demo cassette at Dark Knight Studio and released it in 1994. The song Tyrant of a New Aeon was recorded on the sixth and seventh of June 1994 at the same studio, mixed at Confusion Studios and released on the Infinite Visions of Hell compilation album via Ground Zero Entertainment in 1994. Hendrik Poppe played drums on this track.

From November 1994 to February 1995, they recorded nine songs for their only studio album Wolfenzeitalter, on which Tyrant of a New Aeon was re-released, at Confusion Studios. The lyrics for the song Tears for All Those Who Died were written by Absurd drummer Hendrik "Jarl Flagg Nidhoegg" Möbus. The album mentions Hendrik Poppe and Marko Sklenarz but does not specify who played which instrument, so it is likely that the two members shared vocals and Marko Sklenarz played guitar as on all former recordings while Hendrik Poppe played all other instruments. It is only specified that the 12-string guitar and solo on The Fortress Will Fall were played by producer and mixer Kai Schwerdtfeger and "[a]ll keyboards and 'Fegefeuer' by Nachtsprung (Norbert Weber)". The band greeted Florian Müller and Sebastian Theby as "future members of Tha-Norr" in the booklet.

It is unknown then Tha-Norr disbanded, but Opyros, the leader of Nazgul's Eyrie Productions, mentioned that their last concert was held in May 1997 in Bramsche together with Sabbat, Countess and Barathrum.

Music and ideology
On the Barbarian Wrath homepage, Opyros, the former leader of Nazgul's Eyrie Productions, described the band's style as "'HELLHAMMER on Speed' Black Metal being inspiration to many who followed. Listen to 'Tears For All Those Who Died' or 'Tyrant Of A New Aeon' and compare it to later recorded albums like MOONBLOODs 'Blut Und Krieg' […]." Alexander von Meilenwald (ex-Nagelfar, The Ruins of Beverast) called Tha-Norr one of the most underrated German bands and their album "a fantastic, extremely atmospheric underground jewel" and one of the five most important German black metal releases. German Rock Hard magazine featured the album on the list 250 Black-Metal-Alben, die man kennen sollte ('250 black metal albums you should know').

Although Tha-Norr had no NS lyrics, they are sometimes listed as an NSBM band, possibly because the lyrics to Tears for All Those Who Died were written by German neo-Nazi Hendrik Möbus. Their demo recording Assault on Aerie features the statement "we only believe in ourselves and our music". They thanked "Aleister Crowley and Gregor A. Gregorius for inspiration" on their album.

Last known lineup
 Hendrik Poppe
 Marko Sklenarz

Past members
 Felix Alesis - drums

Discography
 1994: Assault on Aerie (demo)
 1994: Tyrant of a New Aeon on Infinite Visions of Hell
 1995: Wolfenzeitalter

References

External links

German black metal musical groups

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Girls split with Republic, Lake Roosevelt; boys fall to Raiders
December 22, 2021 by Rick Lewis
Photo by Don Nelson
Liberty Bell's Shae Taylor, No. 25, put up 7 points and pulled down 19 rebounds in the Mountain Lions' home court win over Republic. See more basketball pictures on page B5.
The Liberty Bell High School girls' basketball team got two games in last week as Republic made the trip to the Methow on Dec. 14, and the Mountain Lions then traveled to Lake Roosevelt on Dec. 16 for a game originally scheduled for Friday. The results: a scrappy win over Republic, a loss on the road.
The Lake Roosevelt game was rescheduled to accommodate scheduling of officiating crews. A shortage of officials in all three local associations is forcing creative blending of crews and added travel to service North Central Washington schools.
Liberty Bell outlasted the Republic girls, 40-34, in a struggle of wills. The Lions just seemed to find the hoop a few more times in the closing moments to finish off the victory. Senior Jadyn Mitchell led all scorers with 19 points, and managed another double-double, adding 13 rebounds.
Shae Taylor scrapped and hustled her way to 19 rebounds in what coach Stephanie Mitchell described as a career effort. "She had her best game yet. She was all over the court grabbing rebounds, playing great post defense, and her all over hustle she kept us in the game," the coach said. Taylor added 4 steals and 7 points.
Thursday's trip to Lake Roosevelt did not go so well as the Raiders ran away from the Mountain Lions, scoring a 73-29 victory in Coulee Dam. Mitchell did notch another double-double, a regular thing for her this year, hitting for 13 points and 11 rebounds. Mitchell has doubled in every game so far this year. Ruby McCarthy tallied 7 points, Caitlyn Cooley added 5 and Taylor grabbed 6 rebounds.
Like the boys, he girls take a break now until the Jan. 4 trip to visit Okanogan. The Bulldog girls pose a formidable task as one of the top five teams in the 2B class so far this year. Next home action for Liberty Bell in the Den is Jan. 15, when the Manson Trojans come for a visit.
COVID, weather reduce boys' schedule
The Mountain Lions' last competitive week of 2021 was reduced from three games to one as a Dec. 14 scheduled home non-league game with Republic was canceled outright, and a road trip to Manson postponed on Saturday. The Republics boy' program reported a positive COVID test, and Saturday's trip fell victim to winter weather and driving conditions.
The Mountain Lion boys lost to Lake Roosevelt on Thursday in what Nate Chrastina characterized as a hard-nosed, defensive battle, 52-44.
"I'm very pleased with our effort," said the head coach. Free throw attempts, rebounding and turnovers were three areas Chrastina pointed to as keys in the loss to the Raiders.
Liberty Bell turned the ball over to Lake Roosevelt 19 times during the game and, while outrebounded by just two boards, lost out on some put-back opportunities with only 10 offensive rebounds. The Lions shot 80% from the charity stripe, hitting four of their five attempts.
Chrastina said would like to see a more assertive attack of the hoop, hoping to draw fouls and more tries from the line, taking advantage of the team's high percentage on free throws. "We've got to be better in these areas and are working to do just that over the holidays these next couple weeks," the coach said.
Isaiah Stoothoff again led all scorers with a game high 15 points, doubling up with 11 rebounds. Eighth-grader Remi Paz posted 9 points in the effort.
Saturday's game at Manson was postponed as significant morning snowfall created difficulty clearing roads adequately in the Manson area. The reschedule of that road game is slated for Jan. 21. The Trojans will travel to Liberty Bell on Jan. 15. The Mountain Lions take a holiday break until a Jan. 4 contest at Okanogan.
Old Home Week
The annual Mountain Lion Christmas Alumni Game, a fundraiser for the basketball programs, is scheduled for Thursday night (Dec. 23) in the Lions' Den at Liberty Bell High School. The women tip off at 6 p.m., the men at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $5 and there will be an accompanying silent auction and concessions available for attendees.
Wrestlers at Cashmere Invitational
Three Mountain Lion Wrestlers traveled to Cashmere last weekend for the Bulldog Invitational Wrestling Tournament, featuring athletes from all over North Central Washington in the 1A and B classifications.
Liberty Bell senior Grey Patterson, wrestling at 170 pounds, won the third-place trophy. He pinned Eric Ramirez (Quincy) at 0:19 of the first round, then lost to Genaro Reyna (Cashmere) 9-2. In the consolation bracket, he pinned Franky Rosario (Cascade) at 1:43, and pinned Ian Carlo Lopez (Cashmere) at 1:58 to win third place.
Damien Spears (170 pounds) drew a double bye to advance automatically to the semi-final round as the No. 2 seed. He defeated Ian Carlo Lopez (Cashmere) 6-2 and was pinned in the championship bout at 2:24. Spears suffered a knee injury and is on the shelf pending an evaluation and treatment.
Holden Riggs, wrestling at 145 pounds, forfeited his first match to Blake Pratt of Newport, then wrestled in the consolation bracket, losing by fall to Chelan's Ron Hooten at 1:39 into the match, ending the tournament for Riggs.
Mountain Lions Cassidy Jones-Mowen, Noah Holston and Cody White did not wrestle at the Cashmere tournament.
Sandra Hernandez ran into resistance by Republic on her way to the basket.
Filed Under: SPORTS
MonTueWedThu


text:
← Book Review: My reading companions to Crete
Online Resources on Bilingualism and Multilingualism →
Travelling Corner: My 5 Favourite Places in Belgium
Belgium is an interesting country with three different languages, five parliaments and 1150 different types of beer! There is a lot to see there too. I used to live and work in Belgium and spent six years in the country in total, three in Brussels and three in Antwerp. In that time, as well as learning Dutch and improving my French, I got the opportunity to travel around quite a bit, on the (very affordable) train and by bike! Here is a breakdown of my five favourite places in the country. Perhaps it will inspire you to take a visit!
Magritte Museum
One thing that Belgium is famous for is its love for all things surreal. René Magritte, one of the most famous surrealist painters, was from Lessines, in the French-speaking part of Belgium. His work is celebrated in a new museum in the heart of Brussels. It is possible to visit the museum in several different languages, including three sign languages.
The Red Star Line Museum
From 1871 to 1935, the Red Star Line, which had ports in Antwerp, Southampton and Liverpool, took European emigrants from many countries by boat to North America. Two million passengers travelled on the ships, including some people who were to become famous. The Red Star Line museum in Antwerp celebrates the stories of some of the passengers and reminds us that migration has always been and always will be part of the human experience.
Ghent (Gent)
Ghent is one of the main cities to visit in Flanders. After Antwerp, it is the biggest city in Belgium, and is the capital of East Flanders. It is built on a series of canals and is a port city. It also has a prestigious university. It is famous for its ten-day-long annual Gentse Feesten (Ghent Festival), which receives about 1-1.5 million visitors every year.
Huy is a town in the south of Belgium. It is home to a huge 'citadel', an 1818 fortress that towers over the town. The 'Mur de Huy' (Huy Wall) is a 128-metre high slope that is a feature of many cycle races in the country, including the Flèche Wallonne (Walloon Arrow), of which it is the finishing climb. Every seven years, a religious procession commemorates the ending of a drought in 1656. The last one took place in 2012.
Béguinages / Begijnhoven
A beguinage is a building or series of buildings built to house beguines: religious women who lived in a community but did not take vows or retire from the world. Belgium boasts a number of impressive and beautiful beguinages built around courtyards. They are very peaceful places and offer a welcome (and surprisingly quiet) respite from the hubbub of the city. This is a bit of a cheat because there is more than one beguinage but I couldn't choose just one to mention!
I hope you enjoyed this whistle-stop tour of some of the sights Belgium has to offer. Why not visit the country and send us a list of your favourite places?
Written by Suzannah Young
Travelling Corner
Let us MOTIVATE you, INSPIRE you and inform you about our exquisite OFFERS. Become our insider now!
Bristol Message
Bristol Language School is passionate about
languages. We teach more than 12 languages
and deliver high quality translations.
Email: office@bls-courses.co.uk
Skype: blscourses
Twitter: @blscourses
Facebook: blscourses
Tyndale Centre Imperial Road Bristol BS8 2QG
Open Hours: M – Th 4-7pm
©2015 Bristol Language School. All rights reserved. Brought to you by Bristol Language School and hi-websites


The biggest US military realignment in a generation may be underway in the Asia-Pacific. But most Americans know nothing about it.
Unveiled in 2011, the "Pacific Pivot" aims to transition US military and diplomatic resources away from the Middle East and toward the world's most populous and economically dynamic region.
The United States already has enormous resources invested in the region – including tens of thousands of troops, large aircraft carrier groups, and mutual defense treaties with powerful countries like South Korea and Japan. The pivot aims to bolster that military presence, as well as secure more political cooperation from US allies and boost trade through major pacts like the Trans Pacific Partnership, or TPP.
In a sprawling 5,500-word article in Foreign Policy, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton described America's role in the region as "vital," "essential," and "irreplaceable." For a few companies, it could also be lucrative: Key components of the strategy, Clinton explained in 2011, are strategic economic partnerships and international trade agreements like the TPP.
Under pressure from the Bernie Sanders campaign, Clinton says she now opposes the TPP. But it remains a key plank of the US strategy to pull countries in the region into its sphere of influence. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter has said that "passing TPP is as important to me as another aircraft carrier" – though he's asking for actual armaments too, including "high-end capabilities" like the new long-range stealth bomber and anti-ship cruise missiles.
Though overshadowed by unrest in the Middle East, the pivot remains very much underway. Already the US has expanded and established new military exercises and agreements with Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines, and other parts of Southeast Asia – as well as Myanmar, Bangladesh, India, Mongolia, and even China.
The linchpin of this military realignment is my home state of Hawaii, which has hosted the headquarters of the US Pacific Command, or USPACOM, for almost 70 years.
Unfortunately, members of Congress who should be prepared to explain their positions aren't talking. Specifically, I'm referring to Hawaii's four-person congressional delegation – which represents the one US state that truly is Asian and Pacific.
None of the four was willing to be interviewed about their views on the pivot, or US military policy in Asia more generally. I learned this after making dozens of phone calls and sending scores of emails over a 13-month period. I even approached Gabbard, whom I've interviewed before, in person following a Veteran's Day ceremony in an attempt to schedule an interview.
These weren't "gotcha questions" designed to elicit an embarrassing response. They were straightforward and honest inquiries related to US policy in a key region of the world – all on subjects each of the four should have been prepared to discuss with the media.
1. In May 2015, Schatz, Hirono, and Gabbard all met with Takeshi Onaga, who governs the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa – a small island that plays host to the vast majority of US military installations in Japan. Onaga was visiting Hawaii to protest a plan, favored by both Washington and Tokyo, to build a new Marine base in Okinawa despite overwhelming local opposition, more than a year of continuous protests, and the plan's disputed legal status.
There are more than 30 US bases on Okinawa already. Do the members support construction of the new base? If so, do they believe the way the dispute has been handled is consistent with the US values of freedom, democracy, and human rights?
2. Obama, Carter, and USPACOM's Admiral Harry B. Harris have criticized China for militarizing the South China Sea, accusing Beijing of both inflicting environmental damage and destabilizing of the region. Doesn't the increasing US military presence also threaten to bring environmental damage and instability to Okinawa, the Philippines, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Marshall Islands, the South China Sea, and elsewhere?
3. In 2014, the US military conducted 425 "signed activities" and rotated 3,700 of its own forces through the Philippines under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which gives the US broad access to operate and pre-position weapons and troops inside Philippine military bases.
The agreement was not voted on or ratified by the Philippine Senate or US Congress. It's opposed by many Filipinos, who say it violates their sovereignty and risks drawing them into US conflicts with China. Additionally, after the initial ten-year term, EDCA automatically extends, meaning it's not really a "ten year" agreement. Do you think Congress should debate the terms and degree to which US forces can operate under an open-ended agreement in a foreign country?
4. The Korean peninsula, one of the most heavily militarized places on earth, remains home to some 28,500 US troops – with more at least 800 more added during the pivot. In light of this massive troop presence – and not to mention the tremendous destruction of North Korea by the United States during the Korean War and a climate of mutual threats and posturing ever since – are the US and South Korea making a bad situation worse every time they conduct large-scale annual war games on North Korea's frontier?
For example, when the US flies nuclear capable B-52 and B-2 stealth bombers in drills near the North Korean border to "send a message" to Pyongyang, is this the best way to finally end the Korean War? Can provocative measures like these lead to reunification, or are we just provoking North Korea, playing a warmongering yin to North Korea's yang?
Yet all four members of Hawaii's congressional delegation spent more than a year avoiding a journalist – and a constituent – trying to conduct a single interview on the subject. There's nothing transparent about that at all, especially since Hawaii is the headquarters for many of these operations.
Will the Pacific pivot actually create a safer, more secure world, or preserve a status quo that ensures the sale of a lot of expensive weapons systems? Does the broader rebalancing promote human rights – consider how increased militarization impacts North Korean civilians or curtails press freedoms in Japan, for example – and stability? Or does it promote and expand a global order in which trade agreements are as important as new aircraft carriers?
Jon Letman is a freelance journalist and photographer based on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. Reprinted with permission from Foreign Policy In Focus.
Previous Previous post: Is a Silent Coup in Democratic Disguise Taking Place in Brazil?
Okinawans Want Their Land Back, Is That So Hard To Understand?


text:
NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES CELEBRITY
Sonning: A Picture-Perfect British Village Where Privacy is Protected
When not at 10 Downing, Prime Minister Theresa May calls this village home
By Laura House
| Originally Published On October 15, 2016 | Mansion Global
Sonning is the quintessential English countryside enclave.
Stephen Dorey / Getty Images
A picturesque village with period-perfect estates perched along the Thames River, Sonning is an idyllic British-countryside hamlet in Berkshire. Just over an hour's drive from London, it's also attracting a prestigious group of home buyers.
Sonning neighbors Henley-on-Thames on the Thames River downstream and Reading upstream to the east, with Pangbourne and Twyford nearby.
Family houses in the village sell for between £800,000 ($1.04 million) and £1.8 million ($2.3 million), although there are a number of large prime properties that would command much higher figures, says Matthew Mannall, Knight Frank Partner, Office Head in Henley. For example, the White House-inspired mansion owned by Uri Geller, the illusionist, was recently on the market for £15 million ($19.5 million).
More:Rod Stewart's Countryside Mansion Comes With Its Own Soccer Field
Stately Georgian, Victorian and Tudor-style estates line the Thames. "There is an established mix of eras dating back to the 12th century—of note is the Deanery Garden built by the famed architect Edwin Lutyens," says Mr. Mannall.
This is a quintessential English countryside enclave. Mr. Mannall makes a literary reference noting, "Jerome K. Jerome described Sonning in his book 'Three Men in a Boat' as 'the most fairy-like little nook on the whole river.'"
It's also as beautiful as it is exclusive. In a July 16, 2016 "Daily Mail" article, reporter Robert Hardman says of Sonning, "It is a place that guards its privacy so zealously that it has become one of the first villages in Britain to impose a ban on uninvited door-knocking. Sonning has just been formally designated a 'no cold calling zone' by order of the council." This makes it ideal for residents seeking the ultimate in privacy.
Luxe amenities in the neighborhood
Charming inns, shops, pubs and restaurants—the French Horn, the Bull, the Coppa Club—and The Mill Theatre and Sonning Golf Club offer plenty of diversions. But nature is the star of the show, and the 335-acre Dinton Pastures Country Park is ideal for a ramble through meadows and around its seven lakes. Reading Blue Coat School for boys founded in 1646 and the Sonning Church of England Primary School are the local schools.
British Prime Minister Theresa May is currently topping the list as Sonning's most distinguished resident. This village located close enough to London but at a safe distance from prying paparazzi, also attracts an A-list celebrity crowd, including Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page and George and Amal Clooney. The Clooneys are now Lord and Lady of Aberlash House, a 17th-century manse set on a five-acre-island in the river complete with a 12-seat private cinema. The above mentioned Daily Mail article also notes that Taylor Swift has been on a property hunt in the area.
More:What Do the British Prime Minister, George Clooney and Led Zeppelin Have in Common?
It's quite favorable, according to Mr. Mannall, "Sonning has always enjoyed strong demand, and we see no reason why this would change. The market is performing well across the price ranges, although accurate pricing is key."
Shares the stories you may have missed from the world of luxury real estate
Stay up to date with Mansion Global newsletters
Surrey's St George's Hill Is Known for Its Large Estates and Country-Club Vibe
Tommy Hilfiger Gets $45 Million for Greenwich Home, as Susie Hilfiger Lists Hers for $40 Million
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Lists Atlanta Equestrian Estate for $7.5 Million
Read Next Story
For the optimum Mansion Global experience, please turn off any ad blockers and refresh this page.