people have a love-hate relationship with valentine's day. either way is fine, do with the holiday what you wish (but please dispense with all that 'it's a holiday made up by hallmark' nonsense. it's not. not anymore than christmas is.) but in all reality, i really don't care how you feel about this holiday. the important thing is, people don't have any sort of hate relationship with chocolate and raspberry cupcakes especially when they're packed full of vodka. make them for your husband, make them for your mom, make them for yourself, or pull a stephanie and say you're making them for your boyfriend but actually eat them all yourself. makes no difference to me and it shouldn't to you either, because 12 cupcakes later you'll be drunk and happy.
combine the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl (first 5). add the butter, egg and milk and beat with an electric mixer for about 1 minute. slowly add the water and vodka and mix another minute or two until smooth. pour into your lined cupcake tin and bake at 350 degrees for around 20 minutes. bowl licking is acceptable, salmonella be damned because vodka kills germs. cool the cakes completely.
cut the cores out of the cupcakes. there's real tools for this but i use the cap off of an ez squeeze cheese bottle. seriously. eat the cores. then just mix preserves and vodka together, but don't let it get to liquid-y or it will leak out of the cupcake cores. then fill your cakes!
puree the raspberry preserves you have left over from the filling. this means beat them in a blender and then use a sifter of some sort to strain out the seeds and chunky pieces. seeds = harder to spread frosting. beat the butter for 3 minutes with an electric mixer. add powdered sugar and beat on low until it's all mixed. add the vodka and raspberry puree and beat until it's light and fluffy.
frost the cupcakes. take a photo. eat all the cupcakes. destroy photo so no proof exists that there were ever any cupcakes. if you have a heavy hand with the booze like i do and pretty much doubled those numbers, eating all the cupcakes = 6 shots of vodka. just saying. happy valentine's day indeed.
this looks delightful. I want it.
Oh man I might just have to make these and of course destroy all evidence of them existing by eating them...I now have valentines day plans, sweet!!!
Yum! Raspberry + chocolate+ getting my buzz on = best Valentines desert idea ever!
The vodka is definitely the best part ;) They're delicious!
Ohhh! I need to make these for the weekend- except my boyfriend's 16 year old sister is visiting so maybe not!
You can't go wrong with chocolate and raspberry! Add in 6 shots of vodka and I am sold!
Raspberry and chocolate are my weakness. SO GOOD. These sound fantastic.
You had me at cupcake. And vodka.
Holy schneikies! If I can get out of the house safely with all this snow, I am totally getting the ingredients to make them!
Or better yet, can you just make me some and send them my way?
OMG! These look sooo good!
Ok, I may be the most ignorant person ever -- but I think you just solved all my cupcake eating problems with that last picture. It's never occurred to me cut the wrapper like that. I almost always smoosh my cupcake when I try to peel it away.
YUM! I am going to try these this weekend (I'm always looking for a good excuse to make something sweet). And I'll have a GREAT excuse not to share with the kids.
GOD YES> it's not a made up holiday. can't we just have an excuse to love? love your hair, love your dog, love your boyfriend, love your vodka- whatever! get over it. and these look divine. that is all.
I love when you feature a new cocktail cupcake! Sounds yummy!
i just wanna leave work now and go home and make these and eat them all.
I love both the pink icing and the premise of these.
Oh my God... You're genius. I'm making these tomorrow night, diet be damned.
Delicious treats like this and pink sparkly things are Valentine's Day's saving grace.
Pretty sure I need to make these for an upcoming bachelorette shindig!
those look damn good! ya did good again.
Whoever makes these for me tomorrow is my valentine!


There are 3 possible values for the "speaker" option: on, off, disabled.
If you disable it server side, the client cannot enable it.
> but I'll check again tomorrow.
> on the client side?
* "--speaker=off" to you command line, as a one-off.
> On Nov 16, 2016 9:27 PM, "Antoine Martin via shifter-users"
>     > capacity, even when my X applications are TOTALLY idle (i.e.
>     > out of focus and/or no redrawing from X clients).
>     will consume network and CPU even when no sound is being played.
>     application's window is refreshing.
>     > the windows are not updating.
>     TigerVNC does not do sound, or printing, and many other things!


The Disney princesses are awesome. Not only are they royal, but they are also smart, independent, funny and teach us important life lessons. You obviously belong in their midst and are a princess at heart - but, which one?
I refuse to go to the ball!
What should the perfect prince be like?
What do you love to do first thing in the morning?
What is the most romantic spot for a first kiss?
What are your friends most likely to call you?


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Here at Allantel, we take client relations very seriously. Consistent transparency and the guaranteed confidentiality of our clients' property information are some of our top priorities. Additionally, if you choose to buy, we will be there with you through each step of the process to ensure a smooth transaction.
By providing each of our clients with the consult of our expert advisors and informative materials detailing the specifics of our marketing strategies, we can ensure unrivaled services and results.
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Messe Berlin the organisers of the highly popular European trade show IFA, for the appliance and consumer electronics industry is tipped to launch a US version of the show up against CES.
The German events Company is among the world's ten leading trade fair companies even operating their own exhibition grounds in Europe.
Every year, more than 100 regional, national and international events are staged at the exhibition grounds Berlin ExpoCenter City and Berlin ExpoCenter Airport and at venues around the world.
The tipped move, to take on the CES Show in Las Vegas was a key talking point at this week's Hong Kong Fair.
In what is seen as a strategic move Messe Berlin has also invested in US trade publication Dealerscope.
The investment not only gives them access to a database of brands distributors and retailers in the consumer electronics and appliance markets, it allows them to have a voice up against Twice Magazine that has a commercial relationship with the Consumer Technology Association who own the CES show.
A major European sound brand that takes space at both IFA and CES said in Hong Kong "Messe Berlin have not invested in Dealerscope without a reason. We have been told recently that they are setting up to take on CES which is fast become irrelevant to CE and appliance industry executives because of investments in car brands and other technology that they don't sell".


By the time we got to Grace, we were all late. We rushed to Medtronic where we had a tour with Jeff Vogel (the Superintendent of Bethel AIS). We saw a lot of equipment that is all used in the production of stents. (Stents are these little things that they put into blood vessels, veins, and hearts where there are problems to help the blood flow properly. That's what Dr. Jeff does, he designs stents.) We had a lot of fun.
After visiting Medtronic, we went over to the Minneapolis Institute of Art. We saw lots of artwork from all over the world and different time periods in history. There were large sections of Asian art (including China, Japan, and Korea), as well as Native American art. We saw a section of African art that included lots of Nigerian art including Nok, Ife, and many others. We saw a monkey sculpture done by Picasso and so much more.
Since there was no place to eat, we went to church to eat lunch. After lunch we stayed around and helped the kitchen prepare for dinner. At 5:30 we ate rice and chicken. Then we went for youth group where we were asked questions and we got to know each other. We split into groups and had a little class where high school girls were in one group with high school boys in another (and the same for the junior ones). In my class we played a ball game and asked each other questions about each other.
Most host parents came to pick their children up by 8:30pm. By the time we got home I watched television until past 10:00 and then I went to bed.


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How to get tickets for The Masked Singer 2022 tour which allows audience to join judging
If you've ever found yourself shouting out who's that behind the mask at the TV then we've got the perfect night out for you
Narin Flanders
Davina McCall and Doughnuts (Image: ITV)
Is the highlight of your Saturday night unpicking the clues to figure out the identity of Mushroom?
Were you busy telling the family Will Young was Lionfish long before Jonathan Ross and co had an idea?
Then The Masked Singer 2022 tour - when audiences will be able to help a series of celebrity judges unmask a host of new and returning characters in a family-friendly live show - might be just the ticket this spring.
The team behind the ITV hit have announced a nationwide tour.
Running from early April, making it a perfect Easter holiday family treat, the show takes everything you love watching it from your sofa and makes it bigger, louder and more exciting than ever before.
The host of the main TV show, Joel Dommett will present the first ever live version of the guessing game, joined by celebrity guest judges.
The tour starts on April 2 in Liverpool, and then runs through shows in London, Birmingham, Newcastle, Glasgow, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Nottingham.
Best TV shows to stream this January
The Book of Boba Fett on Disney Plus: Star Wars' monosyllabic bounty hunter is taking over Jabba the Hutt's old territory whether the criminal underworld wants him to or not in Jon Favreau's slow burn follow up to The Mandalorian.
Alex Rider Season 2 on Amazon Prime: Sixth former Alex juggles AS Levels with going undercover for a shadowy subdivision of MI6 into places where adults can't go. Basically 24 for families - whip-smart, slick and surprisingly funny.
The Shrink Next Door on Apple TV: Excellent performances by Paul Rudd, Will Ferrell and Kathryn Hahn form the cornerstone of this fascinating tale of a millionaire manipulated into giving his therapist hundreds of thousands of dollars, his house and more.
Superstore Season 6 on Peacock (streaming free with Sky TV and Now TV): The final season of this sharply-observed supermarket sitcom starring America Ferrera and Ben Feldman sees the long-suffering staff coping with covid as well as the public.
Cobra Kai Season 4 on Netflix: 34 years after the infamous All Valley Karate Tournament, Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso are back to join forces against John Kreese's Cobra Kai. This follow-up to The Karate Kid films is essential viewing.
It finishes in style with a giant show at London's SSE Arena, Wembley.
There will be new and returning characters and a series of spectacular song and dance routines masterminded by Elizabeth Honan, who is the choreographer and creative director of the main ITV show.
Alongside Dommett, who will appear at every show to oversee proceedings, will be 'celebrity guest judges' although whether these will include resident experts Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall, Mo Gilligan and Rita Ora isn't confirmed.
Each show will include two new reveals for the judges and audience alike to guess at, alongside much-loved characters from series one, two and three.
Tickets for all venues are available now from Ticketmaster, with prices starting from £25.
Davina McCall
Scottish and Southern Energy
Primark home: Fans lose their mind over Mickey Mouse furniture bringing some 'Disney magic' into the home
PrimarkIt has caught the attention of tens of thousands of shoppers

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


In the current hyperconnected era, modern Information and Communication Technology (ICT) systems form sophisticated networks where not only do people interact with other people, but also machines take an increasingly visible and participatory role. Such Human-Machine Networks (HMNs) are embedded in the daily lives of people, both for personal and professional use. They can have a significant impact by producing synergy and innovations. The challenge in designing successful HMNs is that they cannot be developed and implemented in the same manner as networks of machines nodes alone, or following a wholly human-centric view of the network. The problem requires an interdisciplinary approach. Here, we review current research of relevance to HMNs across many disciplines. Extending the previous theoretical concepts of socio-technical systems, actor-network theory, cyber-physical-social systems, and social machines, we concentrate on the interactions among humans and between humans and machines. We identify eight types of HMNs: public-resource computing, crowdsourcing, web search engines, crowdsensing, online markets, social media, multiplayer online games and virtual worlds, and mass collaboration. We systematically select literature on each of these types and review it with a focus on implications for designing HMNs. Moreover, we discuss risks associated with HMNs and identify emerging design and development trends.


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Home » Tech News » SSD Makes HDD Obsolete
SSD Makes HDD Obsolete
Kunal Sharma, 2017-10-28
The most important part when building a computer system is its storage device. In past, only HDD (Hard Disk Drive) was used for storage. However, with technology advancement, SSD (Solid State Drive) soon gave tough competition to HDD. SSD being the latest and HDD having an established reputation has left users in a dilemma which to use.
To clear the confusion, we share with you difference between both the types of storage device which will come handy while building a PC.
Difference between HDD and SDD:
Both HDD and SSD are storage devices. However, where HDD (Hard Disk Drive) uses a rotating disk to store and retrieve data, SSD (Solid State Drive) does not contain any moving parts. Instead on SSD, the data is stored on memory chips which are interconnected.
Apart from being storage devices they both differ in almost every aspect. Let us look at the differences between both the devices.
It is one of the major difference between these two storage devices. Considering it is more advanced, usually SSD is 5 times more expensive than HDD. Price factor is the main deciding factor for users.
While comparing the price, if you search for the equivalent SSD in the price of HDD you will get very low storage in SDD. You can get both the drives in 4 TB capacity; however, you might want to drop the idea as cost of 4 TB SSD will be very high.
Also Read: How To Speedup PC : Make Your Windows System Faster
Since HDD contains moving parts, its read/write speed will depend upon the speed at which the disk spins. And once the disk is full of data, it is written on different parts of the disk so the data becomes scattered, which is called fragmentation. This reduces the speed of the read/write operation over time.
Whereas, SSD does not contain any moving parts. Fragmentation is also not an issue as it is designed in such a way that data is stored in a scattered manner in the cells. Therefore, data is fetched at a higher speed than HDD.
Fragmentation problem arises in HDD as it uses rotatory parts for recording the data, which works best when the data is stored in continuous manner.
This is not the case with SSD as it contains not moving parts and the date is stored in different cells.
Also Read: 10 Best Disk Defrag Software for Windows In 2017
A device which contains mechanical parts is more likely to get damaged if it is dropped or shaken while in working state. Therefore, HDD is less durable than SDD.
Due to moving parts, there is a limit on the size of the HDD that can be manufactured. Usually, you will find two basic sizes i.e. 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch.
However, it's not the same with SSD as it is made of electronic parts and will continue to shrink in size. Currently you can find 1.8-inch, 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch SSD.
Also Read: 10 Best Disk Management Software for Windows
SSD makes no noise at all, since it is electronic and contains no mechanical parts.
When using HDD, you can hear some ticking, vibrations and other moving parts sound.
SSD is more efficient than HDD in terms of power.
SSD contains, no moving parts, which means no friction and no extra use of power in moving the parts, therefore, it is more efficient than HDD.
We hope analysis of the major differences between SSD and HDD are helpful to you.
If you prefer latest technology with extra advantages then SDD is the option for you. However, if you want to save some money and don't mind using a technology which has been tried and tested over the years then HDD is the best option.
You can also opt for a dual drive system, which lets the user take small storage SSD for the OS installation and use HDD for storing files.


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Tata Steel move to sell UK unit to trim debt, losses; could fetch company up to Rs 5,000 crore
Greybull Capital LLP is a UKbased family office that makes longterm investments in private companies. The deal, if goes through, would be a positive step for the company
Jwalit Vyas
December 24, 2015, 12:00 IST
ET Intelligence Group: Tata Steel has signed a letter of intent with Greybull Capital to start exclusive negotiations for the potential sale of its UK long product business; a deal that could fetch the company not more than Rs 5,000 crore, according to various analyst estimates.
Greybull Capital LLP is a UKbased family office that makes longterm investments in private companies. The deal, if goes through, would be a positive step for the company. This will partly reduce the debt and cut down losses but it may not be a game changer considering the sharp drop in the global commodity prices amid slack demand.
Tata Steel's gross debt was Rs 72,000 crore, 2.7 times its equity, at the end of September 2015. It means the expected deal money would lower the debt by just over 7 per cent. Therefore, the debt-equity ratio, which is high given that the huge net loss, will not see any meaningful improvement.
The company does not provide the exact financials of this business but analysts believe that it made an operating loss of about Rs 140 crore. Total operating loss in the quarter was Rs 7,357 crore.
The business is estimated to form 20 per cent of the total revenue, which was Rs 1.4 lakh crore in FY15. This makes the predicted valuation of the business to be sold at one-fifth of the topline, which does not appear to be a sweet deal.
Investors would keenly observe whether the deal would go through since in the past, the company attempted to strike a deal, which fell through since investors pulled out after the due diligence.
After falling by 42.6 per cent in a year, Tata Steel's stock has gained 16 per cent in the past 10 sessions. Investors with a longer horizon need to look for triggers to grow business before making fresh investments.
Greybull Capital
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A skier day is one person purchasing a lift ticket for one day's skiing or snowboarding. Some assumptions are made as to how many days the purchaser of a season pass skis or rides.
As from 2015, only national skier visitation data is measured. Also, measurement methodology changed due to electronic scanning technology, with "unique scans" measured as opposed to a previously imputed visitation levels for certain lift passes.
The figures show the percentage of Australian skiers and snowboarders which wear a helmet whilst skiing and snowboarding, as measured across all Australian alpine resorts.


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Intermittent Fasting Effective for Weight Loss in Adults With Obesity
Colby Stong
Losing weight with intermittent fasting gets more and more popular, here showed with a clock and traditional, vegan Chana Alu Masala, an indian dish
Intermittent fasting has demonstrated health benefits in a number of randomized clinical trials. Researchers sough to directly link specific health outcomes from these trials in people with overweight or obesity.
Intermittent fasting (IF) is associated with measurable weight loss and metabolic benefits in adults with overweight or obesity, researchers reported in JAMA Network Open.
The investigators conducted an "umbrella" review of several other meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) to more specifically define the benefits associated with IF on obesity-related health outcomes.
PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane database were searched from inception to January 12, 2021 to identify relevant meta-analyses of RCTs involving IF. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) criteria were used to assess the quality of evidence per effect.
The study authors selected 11 meta-analyses, which included 130 RCTs (45 unique RCTs) with a median (interquartile range [IQR]) sample size per RCT of 38 (24-69 participants) studies and follow-up of 3 (2-5) months. A total of 104 unique associations were identified, with a median (IQR) of 4 (3-5) studies per association and median IQR sample size of 266 (119-423) participants.
Among the types of IF included in the study were zero-calorie alternate-day fasting, modified alternate-day fasting (MADF), the 5:2 diet (in which participants fasted for 1 to 2 consecutive or nonconsecutive days per week), and time-restricted eating, which involved fasting for 12 to 24 hours per day. Associations with IF included 42 (40%) anthropometric measures (such as body mass index [BMI]), 34 (33%) lipid profile outcomes, 15 (14%) glycemic profile outcomes, 10 (10%) blood pressure outcomes, and 1 outcome associated with C-reactive protein, adiponectin, leptin, and ghrelin levels.
According to GRADE criteria, a majority of the associations were supported by very low strength of evidence (75 associations [72%]). Other associations were supported by low (22 associations [21%]), moderate (6 associations [6%]), and high level of evidence (1 association [1%]).
Of the 104 associations, 28 (27%) were statistically significant according to a random-effects model, of which 17 were supported by a very low level of evidence (61%), followed by low (5 associations [18%]), moderate (5 associations [18%]), and high (1 association [4%]) levels of evidence.
The associations primarily involved adults with overweight or obesity and showed beneficial outcomes associated with intermittent fasting for BMI, body weight, fat mass, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglyceride level, fasting plasma glucose, fasting insulin, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance, and blood pressure. Intermittent fasting was also associated with reductions in fat-free mass.
Of the 7 associations supported with moderate to high-quality evidence, 6 were statistically significant. One association was supported with high-quality evidence, as a meta-analysis found that MADF for 1 to 2 months was associated with lower BMI in healthy adults and adults with overweight, obesity, or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFDL) vs regular diet (mean difference, −1.20; 95% CI, −1.44 to −0.96).
The investigators noted several study limitations. The meta-analyses did not include adverse outcomes, which prevented the researchers from comprehensively evaluating the benefits and safety aspects of IF. The study also did not include meta-analyses of observational studies of IF, which may have a longer follow-up, and most of the RCTs were limited to short follow-up durations and relatively small sample sizes.
"This review suggests that intermittent fasting may have a beneficial role in improving anthropometric and cardiometabolic outcomes, especially for adults with overweight or obesity," the study authors concluded.
Disclosure: Some study authors received personal or professional fees. Please see the original reference for a full list of authors' disclosures.
Patikorn C, Roubal K, Veettil SK, et al. Intermittent fasting and obesity-related health outcomes: an umbrella review of meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials. JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(12):e2139558. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.39558
Close more info about Intermittent Fasting Effective for Weight Loss in Adults With Obesity


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Romeo and Juliet School Tour
Artist-in-Residence
Shakespeare Lecture Series
Shakespeare in Love: Open Mic Poetry Night
PST Curriculum Standards Alignment
Artistic Director Message
EITC Tax Credits
Shakespeare in the World Lecture Series
Lecture: Shakespeare and the Supernatural
Wednesday | October 23, 2019
The Free Library of Philadelphia; Room 405; 1901 Vine St, Philadelphia, PA 19103 (Parkway Central Library)
Shakespeare and the Supernatural
Led by Jim Casey, Associate Professor of English at Arcadia University in Philadelphia
Date: Wednesday, October 23, 2019; 6pm-7pm
Location: The Free Library of Philadelphia; 1901 Vine St, Philadelphia, PA 19103 (Parkway Central Library); Room 405
Admission: Free with advance registration
Parking: Metered street parking, and nearby garages and lots
Shakespeare's plays are full of supernatural elements and entities, but how did these fantastic spectacles appear on stage during Shakespeare's time? What did Shakespeare's fairies look like? How were ghosts recognized on stage? What were the techniques of stage-magic that made gods and witches (dis)appear or made Oberon turn invisible? Paying particular attention to the material embodiment of magicians, devils, ghosts, and fairies, this lecture will attempt to answer these questions and illuminate the role of the audience in the creation of magic on the early modern stage.
Click here to register today!
*Photo by Kendall Whitehouse
Email: info@phillyshakespeare.org
The Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre is proud to be a member of The Shakespeare Theatre Association (STA).
As a National Guild member, The Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre is committed to making high quality arts education accessible to all.
© 2020 The Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre. All Rights Reserved


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DNA Shows It: Birds Are Promiscuous
Scientists find genetic advantages for birds in straying from the nest.
COLUMN By LEE DYE
April 14, 2013— -- Here's the warm and fuzzy part of this column: most birds really do mate for life. But here's the cold side: They mess around.
And here's the switch: Blame the ladies.
Ever since Charles Darwin postulated it would be to a bird's evolutionary advantage to stick with the same mate for its entire life, poets and novelists and even scientists have thought that meant they would remain faithful to the same mate, both sexually and socially.
But that sweet song began to sour a few years ago when scientists, armed with the powerful tools of modern genetics, began capturing birds around the world, and borrowing eggs from active nests, and even following the lives of the hatched chicks to see what was really going on in the avian bedroom.
Females may be socially connected to one male, but they are always on the alert for a better offer, and it frequently comes from the guy next door. In some cases, up to 70 percent of the eggs found in some nests were fertilized by a male other than the primary occupant, protector, and supplier of the nest.
That opens the way for a female that settled for an ordinary chap to enrich the gene pool by inviting a cool dude with obviously very good genes, as shown in his exceptional plumage and long tail, into the bushes with her.
This provides two advantages: greater genetic diversity in her chicks, and thus more resistance to disease, and yet the man of the nest will remain around to help raise the brood, probably unaware that some of the chicks aren't his.
In one ambitious study, British scientists found that female Seychelles warblers prefer having their eggs fertilized by a male other than their social partner. These researchers, from the University of East Anglia, captured more than 97 percent of the warblers on the tiny island of Cousin in the Seychelles. They drew DNA samples from the birds and observed their breeding habits.
Then they monitored the fate of 160 birds that hatched between 1997 and 1999 for 10 years and found that 40 percent of the offspring were fertilized by males other than the female's mate. And most important, these birds had higher genetic diversity of disease detecting genes -- meaning they were more likely to defeat more diseases -- than "if they had been sired by the cuckolded male," the scientists reported in their study, published in the journal Molecular Ecology.
Another study, from the University of Melbourne in Australia and the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, found that "extra pair offspring," as scientists now call birds sired by an outsider, have advantages other than just genetic diversity. These researchers collected 1,732 eggs from 190 blue tit nests to determine their hatching order. All chicks were tested to identify the father.
It turns out that mom gave her illicit chicks a better start in life by hatching the outsider's eggs earlier than her own mate's eggs. That made them stronger than the competition during those crucial early days, and that could give them an advantage for the rest of their lives, the researchers concluded.
"Remarkably, almost 75 percent of the offspring that resulted from these extra pair matings were produced in the first half of the clutch," Michael Magrath of the University of Melbourne said in releasing that study, giving them a 10 hour head start on life.
The female bird has a unique ability to influence which eggs hatch first. She can store sperm for days in her reproductive tracts, releasing some from the outsider to fertilize some of her eggs, giving them a few hours head start, and a few hours later release some from her mate for the remaining eggs, ensuring that he will hang around to help raise the young.
It's the best of both worlds.
Scientists who have been aware of the infidelity among birds have generally thought that the males were the real cheaters, possibly because most of the scientists were men. But some research indicates it's really the females that are most eager to find alternative sources of DNA.
Biologist Bridget Stutchbury, who has authored two books on the subject, said the female is the most opportunistic, and she doesn't have to look far to find a male who's willing to fill her needs, at least as far as the birds in her Canadian backyard are concerned.
"When the female sneaks around, she goes next door, and then visits the male, mates with him, then comes back," she said during an interview on Canadian television. "And her own mate does all the work raising the young, but he's not always the father."
Other research underscores the importance of the male's role in taking care of the nest, and it offers a strong warning to the females: When the hanky panky is over, preen a little.
Scientists with the Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology in Great Britain captured female blue tits just after their eggs hatched. These birds do not appear to be all that colorful to human eyes, but the feathers on the tops of their heads reflect ultra-violet light, which birds can see, giving them more color and the necessary sex appeal.
The researchers smeared the tops of their heads with either "duck preen gland oil containing UV-blocking chemicals or the oil alone." That had no effect on the females, but males whose mates had been coated with the oil containing UV-blocking chemicals made fewer hunting trips to feed their brood. So beauty still matters.
Some birds don't even try to help raising their young. The notorious cuckoo likes to lay its eggs in another bird's nest, and then go on about its life. If the cuckoo's egg hatches first, the chick will nudge any other eggs over the side of the nest, thus becoming an only child. It's nasty business.
But purple martins and swallows in Europe have figured out how to beat the cuckoo. They build their nests near humans, and cuckoos don't care much for our species, thus leaving the nests alone.
Apr 14, 12:48 AM
Man's 'action movie' stunt to escape police backfires spectacularly


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School Districts Show 'Compassion' For Atlanta Students Who Miss Class During Pandemic
By Martha Dalton | Dec 17, 2020
Although students between the ages of 6 and 16 are required to attend school in Georgia, thousands of metro Atlanta students haven't been able to consistently participate in online learning or still remain "non-engaged" even as some districts have resumed in-person classes.
Credit Pixabay
When Georgia schools shifted to online learning in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, metro Atlanta districts made massive efforts to distribute technology devices and Wi-Fi hotspots to students without them.
Even so, thousands of students haven't been able to consistently participate in online learning.
Even in Fulton County, which has resumed in-person classes, about 3,000 students are considered "non-engaged."
Students between the ages of 6 and 16 are required to attend school in Georgia. But instead of penalizing students and families for not showing up, school districts are taking a more supportive approach due to the COVID-19-related hardships many families face.
'Compassion Over Compliance'
The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) has been learning remotely since the pandemic started. Superintendent Cheryl Watson-Harris says when the school year started, about 89% of students were participating in online learning.
It's really not about, 'Hey, you're not here. X, Y, or Z is going to happen.' It's more, 'How can we support your family during this time?'
–DeKalb Superintendent Cheryl Watson-Harris
"Everyone [DCSD employees] really worked feverishly over those first few weeks to ensure that all students that needed a school-issued device received one, as well as donations from community leaders, elected officials, some celebrities, just really coming together and making sure that we got the devices in the hands of the students," she said.
Now, Watson-Harris said, the percentage of students who can participate is about 97%. That means about 3% of students — or roughly 3,000 kids — are considered "non-engaged."
In DeKalb County, some social workers make home visits to figure out what families need and then help fill those needs if they can. For example, some parents may not be able to pick up food because they don't have reliable transportation. (Tom Strickland/Associated Press file)
"I have to give our state superintendent [Richard Woods] credit for coining this phrase, but it's something that we've adopted here, it's really 'compassion over compliance,'" Watson-Harris said. "So, it's really not about, 'Hey, you're not here. X, Y or Z is going to happen.' It's more, 'How can we support your family during this time?'"
Denise Revels has seen this first hand.
She's DCSD's coordinator of social work services. She and her team have visited students' homes when they haven't been able to log on. She says some parents of younger kids have trouble helping them with technology.
"So we've had to supplement that with giving them hardcopy packets at times because the technology just wasn't working for them," Revels said. "It created almost a barrier."
Revels said DeKalb's social workers make home visits to figure out what families need and then help fill those needs if they can.
"Sometimes you need to actually just sit with someone and just look at them eye to eye and say, 'Are you OK? I'm here for you,'" she said. "So staff members have been doing that when that's been needed."
And while districts, including DeKalb, have set up sites to distribute free food for families, Revels said a lot of families can't get there because they don't have reliable transportation.
"When you think about parents having to walk because those food boxes we were giving out … were heavy, they had milk in there, and they had Ragu sauce, they had canned goods," she said. "So, a lot of the social workers did end up providing transportation or just dropping the food off."
Revels said some social workers ended up ordering pizzas for families so they have something to eat. She said in addition to visiting students' homes, her team has visited hotels where some DeKalb families live as well.
Making The Connection
Like DeKalb, students in Atlanta Public Schools have also been learning remotely since March. APS officials say at least 90% of kids are able to log on each day and participate. That means up to 5,000 students aren't able to participate.
"We know for some students those barriers have been … maybe mental health or some difficulty with housing and things of that nature," said Dr. Katika Lovett, APS's assistant superintendent for student services.
Lovett said schools are constantly working with families to figure out what's keeping kids from logging into class.
APS Superintendent Lisa Herring, left, visits teachers at Howard Middle School conducting online lessons with their classes on the first day of school. (Martha Dalton/WABE)
"For some students, the engagement piece is simply an issue of connectivity," she said.
Anita Williams, chief of schools for APS, said some connectivity problems can be solved by a home visit.
"Sometimes it's as simple as there's no other adult in the home tab to assist the kid," Williams said. "So just a staff member going [to the home] and saying, 'This is how you log on, this is how you do this.'"
But sometimes it's more complicated.
APS — like DeKalb, Clayton, Cobb, Gwinnett and Fulton counties — has armed families with laptops and Chromebooks and has handed out free Wi-Fi hotspots. But hotspots can get overwhelmed, and devices aren't always reliable. So the district has come up with new solutions.
"For some students, the engagement piece is simply an issue of connectivity," said Dr. Katika Lovett, APS's assistant superintendent for student services. (Pixabay)
"Schools have even created plans that allow students to come in [to the school] for up to two days a week and maybe even connect [to the internet] in some cases," Lovett said.
Many Happy Returns?
In Fulton County, students have returned to in-person classes. Even so, it has about the same number of "non-engaged" students as DeKalb — just over 3% or 3,000 kids.
Cliff Jones, Fulton's chief academic officer, said there are typically three reasons why students may still be "non-engaged." One hurdle, like Revels mentioned, is technology. Parents of younger children may not be able to set up everything the student needs to partake in online learning.
The other two, Jones says, are usually related to high school students.
High school students may not be engaged in school because some take care of their siblings or are working to help out their families during the pandemic. (Ian Palmer/For WABE)
"They are home, taking care of their siblings," Jones said. "They're not engaged with school, but they're engaged in life and trying to navigate this unprecedented time. We're hearing also from the older kids … they're working. Many of our families are impacted economically during this time of COVID, in ways that are truly heartbreaking. So the older kids are having to work to go out and bring money and food home."
As metro Atlanta faces a likely surge in COVID-19 cases, districts like Fulton, DeKalb and APS have all come up with plans to resume in-person classes after winter break ends the first week in January.
Schools are also preparing for these "non-engaged" students to eventually return to school. They're increasing services like counseling and tutoring and will offer free summer programs.
But Cliff Jones, with Fulton County Schools, says students don't need to wait for the new school year to return.
"We want to invite them back when they want to come back," he said. "Please just come back. If that's what you are ready to do as a family, we'll take you. It doesn't have to start in August."


We have a very active youth group. Teen activities include Teen Choir, Youth Rallies, Teen Summer Camp, and Vacation Bible School.
Brian and Beth Hickman are the Youth leaders for our SENIOR HIGH. They have two daughters and a son, Hallie, Ryleigh and Hudson. The Hickmans love the Lord and have a desire to serve Him in whatever capacity He would have them to.


This Top Paw TUFF Fire Hose Fox Bottle Crunch is a tough, interactive and entertaining toy your dog will get a kick out of. This fun toy contains an internal plastic bottle that makes playful sound when it is squeezed, while its tail includes material that makes equally entertaining crinkling sounds. The end result is a toy that is certain to keep your dog's attention. Only at PetSmart.
Top Paw® Firehose Water Bottle Fox Dog Toy is rated 2.8 out of 5 by 8.
Rated 1 out of 5 by letitia from Do not recommend We gave this to our dog on Christmas day and within several hours she had the tail almost detached and the fire hose starting to shred and separate. Very disappointing. We also have the snake which has held up well. The mallard did not.
Rated 4 out of 5 by Maria K from I bought this toy before Christmas for my heavy chewer Doberman Pinscher's. It has been used almost daily and has lasted very well between the three of them. The only issue is that the face, eyes, mouth started to peel off almost immediately. I never give my pets toys unsupervised, so I was able to immediately notice. Took the toy away, peeled off the eyes and nose/mouth and it's been a super durable toy ever since. Very happy with the orchard overall and would buy this again, just need to peel the face off!
Rated 5 out of 5 by Jenn Sloan from Has outlasted all other toys. We bought this toy about 10 months ago. It has stood the test of time. It is true that within minutes the ears and tail were shredded and gone but I have to say the main body part is still solid. It is the toughest toy I have seen or bought. So no it will not stay looking like a fox but it will stay as a great chew toy for your dog.
Rated 3 out of 5 by G in Texas from Fire hose great, the rest is not. We bought this toy today. Our dog is an American Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix. She's a heavy chewer and usually out of boredom too. Within 10 minutes of giving her this toy, she tore open the tail and took the "crunchy" plastic piece out and tore it into pieces. She also tore it's ears off into pieces and scratched off some of the fox's face with her teeth. I gave it 3 stars because she hasn't seemed to be able to tear apart the part that is made of a fire hose and has the water bottle. BUT she's also home with us so she may not be interested right now. I guess the true test will be while we're away from home to see if she tears that up too.
Rated 1 out of 5 by Love my dog from Not for enthusiastic dogs My dog had this destroyed within the first 15 minutes. Not worth the money and definitely not ultra durable as the tag claims. I would not recommend this for large breed dogs.
Rated 1 out of 5 by Sroseb from Not durable at all Within 3 days of purchasing this toy for my dog it has been destroyed.


This mug is dishwasher safe. It includes a "pinup beauty" with the words "beach please." Give it to your sassiest Jersey shore friend.
What better way to wake up on the NJ shore than with the Asbury Park Beach Please Mug. This great souvenir is perfect for a beach goer or working individual. The mug features a "pinup bathing beauty" accompanied by the phrase "beach please." A great reflection of the Jersey Shore sassiness everyone gets during the summer. It makes a wonderful gift for your or a loved one!


This Memorial Day send flowers of gratitude to honor the men and women veterans who have sacrificed so much for our country. Whoever you decide to honor. Posey Palace can send your bouquet to Seaford, DE or nationwide!


Slightly moisten the rusk on both sides. Make sure not to soak it!
Arrange thinly sliced cheese on top, scatter with dried oregano and freshly milled red pepper. Decorate with capers and olives and drizzle on the olive oil.


With temperatures plummeting and whispers of snow in the air, now is the perfect time to tuck into some comfort food.
And the Swiss have got it so right – there's nothing better than a hot cheese fondue in cold weather.
Think gooey, oozy fromage with crusty bread and an assortment of vegetables to dip. And wine, of course.
But you don't have to head for the Alps to get your fondue fix.
This winter, there are plenty of places in London where you can dip to your heart's content.
Here are 10 places where you can tuck into a cheese fondue this winter.
Old Spitalfields Market cheese emporium Androuet has one of the biggest selections of fondue on offer.
Currently, they have a classic (£13.50), blue cheese (£15), a seasonal four-cheese version with mushroom (£17.50) and a Swiss (£23).
They're portioned for one but you can also get extra things for dipping and to share.
La Fromagerie have fondue at all three of their branches in London.
Check before you visit though as it might not be available for both lunch and dinner.
For £18.50, you get bread and cornichons to dip but you can also buy extra veggies or cold cuts.
Champagne and Fromage have a fondue with a twist – instead of a pot of cheese, you have a baked number that's oozing and dippable.
While they have different options for this across their four locations in London, the Mont D'Or, which is baked with garlic and Champagne, is available across all their branches.
It costs £25 and comes with charcuterie and potatoes.
Vegetarian restaurant Tibits have a Winter Terrace at their Heddon Street location where you can enjoy vegetarian and vegan fondue until February 28.
Their Swiss cheese fondue costs £19 per person and includes bread and potatoes, while it's an additional £5 for the vegan version.
It's for a minimum of four people, and you will need to book ahead.
The Cheese Bar at Camden Market is probably the place to go if you want to chow down on, well, cheese.
But in November and December, they are going one step further by launching Fondue Thursdays where you can get all sorts of lovely sides to dip into their four cheese (£14) or Young Buck and blue cheese (£15) fondue.
It's for a minimum of two people on Thursday nights, but if you have six or more people in your group, you can pop in any day of the week provided you book ahead.
The Fortnum's Lodge pop up at Somerset House is probably the fanciest fondue setting in London right now – it's right next to SKATE and serves up posh fare from Fortnum & Mason.
There are three different cheese ones to choose from at £28 each – classic, Welsh Rarebit and Cropwell Bishop Stilton, which all come with different sides.
You can indulge with friends until January 7.
If fondue with rooftop views is what you're after then Skylight at Tobacco Dock is where you should go.
They have an Emmental and Gruyere fondue from Melt that comes with crusty bread, which starts from £9.50 for a portion small enough for one.
And if you want to work up an appetite beforehand, there's also an ice rink you can book tickets to. It's open until January 14.
Jimmy's Lodge has returned to the South Bank and are offering a fondue as part of the set menu at the Refuge Restaurant until December 31.
For £40, you get a three-course meal where the fondue is the main course.
And if you're feeling fancy, you can also book the Igloos for a private meal.
Radio Rooftop Bar are offering a truffle cheese fondue as part of their #ApresWithAView pop up.
It will set you back £650 – but don't worry, this is for 10 people.
You get to enjoy the fondue with a bottle of Grey Goose Vodka and mixers, a magnum of Veuve Clicquot Champagne, and a seasonal sharing platter plus dessert in one of their bespoke cable cars.
Bluebird Chelsea are once again offering their cheese fondue in the courtyard and cafe.
It's £25 for two people to share and the restaurant advises guests to call ahead so they have time to prepare.
You can get the fondue every day after noon until January 31.


First Use of the Term "Design Thinking"
Reverting back to an earlier discussion on the PHD-Design List about who, and how the exact term "design thinking" was defined by those who first used it in the form of a compound gerund noun -- not in modified versions, such as "thinking" modified by the word "design". There are far more examples of this in literature.
This leads me to think that Rowe's use of the word "design thinking" is in large part aligned with the contemporary understanding and usage of the word.
It is quite possible that Rowe has been influenced by others or other disciplines. The most likely person would be Donald Schön, who described how designers when designing have a "conversation" with the moment.
Others that can be included here are Herbert Simon and Buckminster Fuller. The academic work by Simon and Fuller has largely centered on the creative process by designers and their professional work. In fact, they never used the exact term "design thinking".  The discussion around "design thinking" over the past 15 years has largely focused on the methods by which designers design and also on how "design thinking" can be applied to areas outside the domain of design. The explosion in the world "design thinking" has only produced few thought leaders.
The second widely use of the word "design thinking" is by Richard Buchanan -- a philosopher.  He wrote on the issue of wicked problems in design thinking. Buchanan's use of the term "design thinking" is even more aligned with contemporary usage than was the case in Rowe's book.


Do you claim to have experienced or witnessed something supernatural?
2. Words of knowledge or predictive prophecies.
I wish to hear from anyone who genuinely believes they have experienced – or knows someone who has experienced – one or more of these phenomena. I am particularly interested in healing claims and I'm hoping to investigate a number of claims for my book.
Healing claims are more difficult to assess than is often thought. In many cases we are presented only with healing testimonies, and often straight after the supposed healing event. However, in order for a genuinely persuasive healing claim to be made much more is required.
Firstly, we need medical confirmation that the person had the condition they claim to have been healed from. Regrettably many people have claimed healings for ailments they were never actually diagnosed with, but perhaps simply believed themselves to have. Moreover, when brought up on stage in front of an expectant crowd, a very natural human reaction is to play to the audience, even if that means stretching the truth a little about the severity of one's ailment, and thus how dramatic one's healing is. A person's understanding of their own condition is often different from that of a medical professional.
Secondly, we require medical confirmation that a person no longer suffers from the ailment. Testimonies within minutes of a claimed healing are often misleading. The nature of many conditions – particularly pain related conditions – is that they can, through the power of suggestion (the placebo effect), go away during the highly charged atmosphere of a healing crusade or worship service. The person genuinely feels their back pain has gone, only to find it return a day or two later. The literature is full of examples of people thinking they are healed at the time only to discover later that they were not. This sometimes takes a rather insidious twist, especially in the presence of a theology that says a person can lose their healing through sin or lack of faith. In such cases not only does a person fail to experience genuine healing, but they must deal with often profound guilt, blaming themselves for losing a healing they never had. I remember a particularly tragic case of this in a Pentecostal church I attended in my early twenties. A couple who attended the church had a hard time because the woman had cancer. However, after being prayed for they believed she was healed. She continued to have symptoms of cancer, and the doctors continually told her she still had cancer. However, they simply refused to believe it, because they had swallowed a theology that said these symptoms were a satanic deception intended to make them lose faith and therefore lose the healing. But medical confirmation that a person no longer has a condition is crucial to any purported genuine healing.
Thirdly, note that not all healing claims are equal. For example, praying for a person with arthritic pain in her knees that goes away during a prayer meeting is not equal to a broken leg fusing within seconds. The former is far more consistent with what we know about the natural characteristics of arthritic pain, whilst the latter is highly anomalous and thus a better candidate for a genuine healing claim. I am particularly interested in healing claims where what has occurred is highly anonymous and against the grain of what we know about that illness. Praying for one's cold to go away and finding it go away after 2 or 3 days would not be terribly impressive as a healing claim! Or, take a more extreme case such as cancer. The majority of cancer sufferers undergo treatment such as radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. Moreover, in all likelihood virtually all cancer sufferers are prayed for by someone. We also know that many cancers will go into remission. This is a natural fact about cancer. Therefore, that some go into remission in the period of time after prayer has taken place is not necessarily surprising. However, there could of course be exceptions to this. Some people claim to have the "gift of healing," and it would be significant if it could be shown that an overwhelming number of people they prayed for recovered, particularly if the recovery is from a form of the illness that is highly unlikely to go into remission. So, even though cancer can go into remission, it would strike me as significant if it just happened to go into remission right after a given person prayed for it to do so, and if this happened in a high proportion of cases.
I am interested in investigating any such claims as part of the research for my book, though please be aware that my approach will be analytical and investigative.
My own position with respect to divine healing is an "open but cautious" one. I am a Presbyterian who previously spent around 15 years in Pentecostal and charismatic churches. I believe God can heal anyone he chooses but I am initially sceptical of healing claims because I've witnessed so much that later turned out to be false. I have several articles on this website explaining my general scepticism of healing claims, but I would like to investigate specific claims in more depth.
I appreciate this can be a sensitive area for many people, who may not be entirely comfortable with sharing medical details with a stranger, however, all claims will be treated in the strictest confidence and no individual who comes forward will be identified in any subsequent book or articles.
Anyone who wishes to present a healing claim for investigation should make contact in the first instance by leaving a comment (which won't be published publically).


Peak Design makes bags explicitly for photographers, but in Everyday Messenger there is enough careful design for just about anyone who needs a quality bag it worth considering. It's a tough competition for Timbuk2 and Chrome.
The Everyday Messenger is not cheap – $ 220 for the smaller 13-inch version, $ 250 for the larger 15-inch. However, this investment is worthwhile if you want a bag that is reliable, accessible and flexible for carrying sensitive items. In a word: fantastic.
The Everyday Messenger could only be called ironic because the design is anything but. On the surface, it looks surprisingly simple, with a large main pocket that is not separated by sleeves or inner compartments. The laptop holder, more or less a requirement for any modern messenger, hides on the back under a sturdy weatherproof zipper. This exposes your laptop (and / or tablet because it has a divider) without opening the main compartment.
But it turns out it's easy to get into that big compartment – easier than any other messenger bag I've ever used. This is thanks to the unique "MagLatch" loop and ladder mounting system. The aluminum mechanism engages with a sliding lock on one of the ladder rungs so that it can be easily closed and opened. A large piece of metal keeps things securely closed in each of the four positions, while the magnets in the top flap keep them relatively stable without locking when you're in a hurry or need to access the tray several times in a row. It's an ingenious design that can be easily and firmly opened or closed with just one hand.
Speaking of which, there is another way in this big bag. If you need to quickly grab something from the top of the bag, the top of the flap has its own zipper, which allows access by hand for smaller devices and lenses. It's a nice benefit if you frequently replace parts of the equipment, but it would not be a practical way to get an iPad into the main compartment and out of the main compartment, for example.
We focus on this main bag: It looks empty. And by itself it's a big dump for all your loose gear. The bag is also equipped with two partitions: two rigid, trapezoidal small walls that you can attach anywhere thanks to the soft Velcro at the front and back of the compartment. If you are used to camera bags, you may be familiar with the setup.
These dividers feature unique origami-inspired pleats in the material, allowing them to be set up in different ways. You can get a large, slim pack, ideal for a water bottle or zoom lens, a split bag that works well with a power adapter and mouse, or a double fold that serves as a hiding place as well as a platform for irregularly shaped objects. like a DSLR with a lens attached. The partitions can be placed anywhere inside and provide space for smaller or larger contents.
This shot is not perfect. It's hard to put big things and small things in the main bag at the same time – for example, I can not carry a mechanical keyboard with me and at the same time organize smaller devices. But it's great for camera equipment and laptop gear, and I'm sure even more general users can do the work for them effectively.
One of my favorite parts of the bag is the strap. It solves two problems that I did not know I had with my old Timbuk2 bag: First, it is reversible, so there is no need to order a particular bag with a sewn right-handed or south-paw strap. And second, it has a large, padded area with a grippy bottom, so no extra padding is required, which is secured with Velcro.
Length adjustment can be made with a sliding friction lock or an aluminum hook mechanism: the former for smaller, faster settings, the latter for a large foot-length transition from low to high. For cyclists, a cross belt is included, but I never needed it during the ride, thanks to the round hinge strap attachment (below in red) on both sides.
The new V2 version of the Everyday Messenger At the back there is a luggage loop, which makes attaching to your rolling luggage easier and secured with another magnet. On both sides are sleeves with even more magnets, which are suitable for smaller devices such as a battery charger. Both cases have an internal loop for keys (with a quick release ring included) and mini straps for use with the Capture Clip Peak Design quick release camera. If you use them already, you will love this feature, and if you do not, they will not stand in your way.
The material of the bag is made of weatherproof nylon with stylish offset seams and square pleats that reflect the Origami design touches. The only exception is the floor: it is covered with a rubberized material so you can put your bag on a dirty floor without polluting the fabric. This is an excellent mark, considering it should go anywhere.
If the Everyday Messenger fails, it's the front Organizer tray. This is secured with a double zipper over the entire length, which means that it is difficult to access everything quickly, especially if you also want to go through the zipper of the main flap. The inside pockets are small, and even the largest are unsuitable for a long phone or a large battery, and the small ones are large enough only for memory cards or short cables. There is not even a pen pocket, something that I did not know I had missed.
This whole section is a difficult access, no matter how you carry the bag, and I have to store smaller loose items in the origami dividers in the main bag. If this had been a more conventional organizational area, easier to reach and more useful in terms of subdivision, the Everyday Messenger might have achieved a perfect score.
The large inside pocket has two smaller pockets that I did not mention above because they are not exceptionally useful. A long, thin zippered pocket under the flap is only for loose items that you do not need regular access to … and I can not think of anything in my regular setup that fits that description, except perhaps obscure adapter cables. A loop behind this bag and one included Silicone ring are used to attach a tripod to the outer flap.
There is a tiny mini pocket (red lining) on the inner wall of the chamber designed as a dedicated phone pocket. But it's so tight that it's a tedious task to open and remove your phone with the zippered zipper. Instead I simply held my phone in my pocket and it's so slim and flat that it's not suitable for anything else.
One last comment, and it's more of an observation than a point against Peak Design: the laptop bag in the 13-inch version of the bag is actually pretty tight. Designed for the 13-inch MacBook Pro, it does not last much longer or larger, like my 14-inch ThinkPad. (The smaller MacBook Pro is 11.97 inches, 30.41 inches wide, for the record.) If you have doubts about getting the smaller or larger version of the Everyday Messenger, opt for the large 15-inch Option.
The Everyday Messenger is a high quality all-purpose bag that fully justifies its price. The MagLatch locking system is ingenious and sets a new standard for quick and easy access. Other design aspects, in particular the flexible carrying straps and the origami dividers, will delight users looking for different wearing options.
The selection of the bag for the careful organization of smaller items is unfortunately missing. Therefore, this bag can not be replaced by a purse or a wallet if you have many loose jewelry items to tidy up. But the stylish presentation, the excellent materials and the sophisticated design elsewhere make up for this sore spot. Get out there and get one if you can justify the high price – and the bigger one, if you're wondering if you might need more space for your laptop or more gear.