text:
The Best Time to Visit Israel
Your Trip to Israel: The Complete Guide
Ben Gurion Airport Guide
Driving in Israel
Reasons to Visit Israel
Best Israel Tours
Top Tour Companies
Top Things to Do in Israel
Best National Parks
Outdoor Markets
How to Visit the Dead Sea
Food to Try in Israel
Things to Do in Jerusalem
Top Sacred Sites
Guide to the Western Wall
Best Jerusalem Hotels
Tel Aviv Nightlife
Best Hotels in Tel Aviv
Africa & Middle East Israel
Devorah Lev-Tov
Devorah Lev-Tov is a Brooklyn-based journalist who focuses on luxury travel, family travel, food trends, and sustainable food and travel.
kolderal / Getty Images
The best time to visit Israel is typically in the spring (March to May) or during the fall (September to November). At these times, you'll likely find fewer crowds, cheaper accommodations, and the best weather (even for hitting the beach). Summer is the most popular and therefore the most crowded, but it can often be extremely hot and unpleasant.
Whenever you decide to go, use this guide to help plan your trip to this tiny but fascinating country known for its rich culture, fascinating history, stunning beaches, and eclectic food.
Israel is the world's only Jewish country, and as such, all of the Jewish holidays are national holidays. They follow the lunar calendar, so the dates are different each year on the Gregorian calendar, but generally they tend to fall in a certain month or season. Some turn into countrywide celebrations for an entire week, while others are more somber or have particular rules that may affect your stay.
That said, it's important to research what occurs on each holiday. For example, on Passover (usually in April), observant Jews do not eat bread, cake, and other foods made with grains, so those foods can be difficult to find during that week. Yom Kippur (usually in September) is a fast day, and everything in the country closes down (even public transit and many roads) starting the night before and through the next day. Holidays like Sukkot or the Feast of the Tabernacles (usually in September or October), Purim (usually around February), and Yom Haatzmaut (Independence Day, in May) are rowdy celebrations.
It is worth noting that Muslim holidays, which change every year because they follow the Islamic calendar, are also celebrated in certain parts of Israel. Laylat Al-Miraj is a big event at the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, as it marks Mohammed's rise to Heaven from what is now the Dome of the Rock. Eid Ul-Fitr, the end of Ramadan, brings celebrations to the Muslim Quarter of the Old City in Jerusalem. Check before you visit to determine when these holidays fall on the Gregorian calendar.
Israel has plenty of secular festivals as well, including the Red Sea Jazz Festival, the Israel Festival, the Jerusalem Beer Festival, and Tel Aviv Pride Week, which draws massive international crowds every June. Hotels and other accommodations are more expensive and book up quickly during holidays and festivals, so plan accordingly—Passover is one of the most expensive and popular times to visit Israel.
Even if you don't come during a long holiday, Jews celebrate Shabbat every weekend, from sundown on Friday to an hour after sunset on Saturday. Practically speaking, this means that public transit stops running to many Orthodox neighborhoods—in fact, Tel Aviv only started limited bus service during Shabbat at the end of 2019. Taxis and other services are also limited, and in Orthodox neighborhoods especially, many restaurants and shops are closed. Of course, Shabbat is not only about limitations, it's also a wonderful tradition. If you can get yourself invited to someone's home for a Shabbat meal, you're in for a real treat. It's also a great time to relax, be outside, and go on long walks. And, one of the best activities to do before Shabbat on Friday morning is go to one of the big outdoor markets, or shuks, to see the bustling pre-Shabbat shopping—Machne Yehuda in Jerusalem or Shuk Hacarmel in Tel Aviv are both lively options.
The Weather in Israel
With highs creeping into the low to mid-90s in some places in the summer, it's best to visit Israel in late spring/early summer (April, May, or early June) or fall (September and October) to avoid the extreme heat. While the weather is a little more unpredictable during these times (be prepared for the occasional rain shower), you can expect average temps in the 80s, ideal for beach days, hiking, and sightseeing.
Most of the country experiences a mild winter with lows in the 50s. However, winter can get rainy, and some parts do get cold—most notably Jerusalem, which can experience lows in the 40s and the occasional snowfall. Mount Hermon in the north, likewise, gets cold enough that it's home to the country's only ski resort.
Peak Season in Israel
Despite the often oppressive heat, summer (July and August) is still the most popular time for tourists to visit Israel, and prices usually reflect that.
The week of Passover in the spring is probably the next-most popular time to visit. With schools, workplaces, and many government offices closed for the entire week, attractions, beaches, hotels, and restaurants can get quite crowded and expensive. Book early if you plan to come during Passover.
Winter in Israel is the rainy season and it can get quite wet, depending on the year. Though Jerusalem is one of the coldest cities and the Negev desert gets chilly at night, winter in general is fairly mild here. Attractions, restaurants, and shops are less crowded and flights, hotels, and rental cars are generally cheaper (except during December when U.S. schools are on break).
Events to check out:
The holiday of Hanukkah, celebrated nationally, typically falls in December; while it's not as big of a celebration as some other Jewish holidays, there are often public menorah lightings, concerts, and parties.
Christmas is not a public holiday in Israel, but the Armenian Quarter and Via Dolorosa in the Old City in Jerusalem and Nazareth are good places to experience the holiday in Israel. Many tours also go to Bethlehem in Palestine.
Secular New Year's Eve in Israel, sometimes called Sylvester, is celebrated with parties and a night out, but it's not as widely celebrated as it is in other countries because the Jewish New Year actually occurs in the fall.
The national holiday of Purim falls in February or March and is generally a rowdy holiday that involves dressing up in costume, reading the story of Purim from the megillah, eating triangle-shaped hamentaschen cookies, having a celebratory meal, and drinking alcohol.
Spring in Israel is absolutely lovely, with wildflowers blooming and temperatures creeping up to the mid-70s and 80s. It's pleasant beach and hiking weather, and it's perfect for trips to the Negev desert, Dead Sea, and Jordan Valley—some of the hottest parts of the country that are often unbearable in summer. Spring also brings some of Israel's best holidays and festivals.
The Jewish holiday of Passover usually occurs in late March or April and is celebrated across the country for a full week. Some days are yom tov days, with stores, restaurants, public transit, and more shutting down for a day. The rest of the week is filled with events, festivals, and lots of touring because the entire country is on vacation the whole week.
Lag Ba'Omer comes 33 days after Passover. It is a national holiday but is especially celebrated in the city of Meron, where the famous Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai is buried. Lag Ba'Omer is traditionally celebrated with bonfires, picnics, and singing.
Usually in May, the Shavuot holiday is celebrated 50 days after Passover. It is like Shabbat, where many things close down across the country, and it lasts one eve and one day. It's a tradition to eat dairy food on Shavuot.
Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israel Independence Day, typically occurs in April or May, and is accompanied by picnics and barbecues. Don't wear nice clothing: Children and teens often walk through their city and spray shaving cream or silly string at people.
Easter is celebrated in Jerusalem, with festivities usually focused around the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City.
The Israel Festival is usually held at the end of May or beginning of June at multiple Jerusalem venues and is filled with art shows, dance performances, theater, concerts, and more.
Summer in Israel can get very hot. It never rains in the summer though, so you're guaranteed good, if hot, weather. It's the most popular time for tourists; many attractions fill up quickly and beaches across Israel are crowded. While there are no Jewish holidays in the summer, there are several festivals.
Pride Week is held in Tel Aviv in June. Visitors from around the world flock here for parades, parties, and various celebrations.
The Jerusalem Festival of Light in June illuminates the Old City with light installations and art on the ancient stone walls and cobblestone streets.
Come August, more than 150 breweries (both international and domestic) are represented at the Jerusalem Beer Festival, which hosts food stands and live music, too.
The Red Sea Jazz Festival in Eilat is a three-day-long festival held the last week in August with about 10 concerts per night and daily workshops.
Fall is very pleasant in Israel, as the oppressive heat of summer dissipates and temperatures are mild. The Jewish New Year occurs in fall, and there are several holidays during this season.
Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year; it typically occurs in September and is celebrated nationally over two days. Though many things shut down, there are lovely traditions around Rosh Hashanah, like eating apples with honey and blowing the shofar (ram's horn). The fast day of Yom Kippur takes place 10 days later, and everything in the country shuts down again. It is a serious holiday, without lively celebrations.
The weeklong holiday of Sukkot, or Feast of the Tabernacles, is a wonderful holiday to be in Israel for. More of a harvest festival, there are small huts set up outside for eating in and elaborate meals are typical. You'll also see people walking around carrying lulavs and etrogs (palm fronds and citron fruits)—especially around the Western Wall in Jerusalem, where thousands of people can gather on certain Sukkot mornings. There are some days of yom tov, but the rest of the week is filled with events, festivals, and lots of touring because the country is on vacation. The week ends with Simchat Torah, a raucous celebration with a lot of singing, dancing, and alcohol consumption.
The Best Time to Visit Tuscany
The Weather and Climate in Israel
What to Know Before You Plan a Trip to Israel
Here's Everything You Need to Do During a Trip to Israel
The Best Time to Visit Brisbane
The 9 Best Israel Tours of 2021
Top 10 Reasons for Visiting Israel
The Best Time to Visit Canada
The Best Time to Visit Busan, South Korea
The Top 25 Things to Do in Jerusalem
The Weather and Climate in Frankfurt, Germany
The Best Time to Visit Ho Chi Minh City for Nice Weather and Events
The Best Time to Visit the Czech Republic
The Best Time to Visit Nuremberg
The Best Time to Visit Berlin


By: Dima posted on May 22, 2017 in Free PSD Mockups .
Restaurant Advertising Street Board – it is awesome 4 Free PSD Mockups! It can be useful for designers and product promotes and for being successful in achieving professional goals. Download it only one and using Photoshop add there your design. Enjoy!
This Free Restaurant Advertising Street Board mockup can be good for implementing a lot of designers ideas as well.


Justin J. Miller, author and expert on Black Forest clocks will be putting on a display of rare and unusual Black Forest clocks this weekend in Pasadena, California. The display will be part of the National Watch and Clock Collectors Association (NAWCC) 2012 National Convention. The convention will be held at the Pasadena convention center from June 13 to 16, 2012. While the convention is primarily for members of the NAWCC, it is open to the public on Saturday, June 16th.
The display will include at least 12 Black Forest clocks, many of which have automata and mechanical music components. The following list gives a brief overview of what you can expect to see:.
This will be a wonderful opportunity to see and hear a variety of clocks from the Black Forest. You should also be aware of Miller's new book, Rare and Unusual Black Forest Clocks, which will be available in mid July of 2012.
Here's where you can get information on the NAWCC convention.


Smitty's Grill is a bustling restaurant with wood-clad walls virtually covered with the spirit of America and a menu filled with familiar culinary traditions from the Heartland.
As enthusiastic guests tuck into comfort foods such as barbecued ribs and chicken pot pie, the likes of Joe DiMaggio, Liz Taylor and Ike peer over their shoulders from vintage black-and-white photos. Smitty's Grill is the kind of place in which a classic martini or frosty glass of draft beer seem to fit the mood, although an impressive wine list is offered, too.
Monday - Thursday 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.


text:
Western Colorado
You Said It
GJ Rockies
State Wrestling
You Saw It
Sen. Michael Bennet
Government reverses its decision to close, privatize Job Corps
CHARLES ASHBY
The Trump administration has reversed itself and decided not only will it not close any of the Job Corps centers operated by the U.S. Forest Service, but it won't privatize them either.
While that comes as good news for Colorado's only such center in Collbran, at least one state senator is wondering why all of this happened.
Last month, the U.S. Departments of Labor and Agriculture announced the planned closure of 25 Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers across the nation, including the one in Collbran.
A few weeks after that, the two departments decided to spare a few from outright closure, but said some would be privatized, including the one in Collbran.
On Wednesday, the news came that none of them would be closed or sold off, prompting U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., to sound off.
"While it's welcomed news that the administration listened to our calls and reversed their misguided proposal, the fact is this never should have happened in the first place," Bennet said. "With little warning and no justification, the Trump administration's plan to privatize the Collbran Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center left the center's students and employees in limbo."
The Jobs Corps offers instruction and on-the-job training to students in several occupational careers. It also ensures that graduates earn their high school diplomas before leaving.
The centers offer training in such fields as carpentry, masonry, welding, facilities maintenance, culinary arts and computer networking.
"Collbran's training
programs have equipped young people with essential job skills, and support critical fire prevention and natural disaster response across the state," Bennet said. "We will continue our efforts to ensure the Collbran Job Corps, and centers like it across the country, can continue to serve our rural areas for years to come."
The centers were created 55 years ago by former President Lyndon B. Johnson. There are 128 around the nation, 25 of which are operated by the Forest Service.
In May, the two departments announced that 16 of those Forest Service centers, including Collbran, would be privatized, while the remaining nine would close, including one in Montana.
That prompted U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, a big Trump supporter, to call the president asking him not to close the center in his state. The president agreed, Daines announced in a press release at the time.
That move prompted 18 U.S. senators and 33 representatives from both political parties to send a letter to the secretaries of the two departments — Agricultural Secretary Sonny Perdue and Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta — imploring them not to close or privatize the centers.
Local lawmakers who signed that letter include Bennet, U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., and U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton, R-3rd.
More Top Jobs
View all our ads
Downtown Development Authority
Ken Richards
Gj Air Show Inc
Garfield Estates Vineyard & Winery
Wild Birds Unlimited
Homes Of Midlands Village Llc
Bob Scott Rv'S Inc
Brimstone Services
MC Public Library
The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel
gjsentinel.com
Email: webmaster@gjsentinel.com
Grand Junction News
Grand Junction Weather
Grand Junction Opinion
Grand Junction Sports
Grand Junction Lifestyle
Grand Junction Entertainment
Grand Junction Obituaries
Grand Junction Classifieds
Jobs in Grand Junction
Real Estate in Grand Junction
Rentals in Grand Junction
Cars in Grand Junction
© Copyright 2019 gjsentinel.com, 734 S. 7th St. Grand Junction, CO | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The PD-300 paralleling switchgear significantly reduces footprint, components and wiring, installation and start-up times, while increasing reliability. The switchgear uses a common control platform across UL-891/UL-1588/UL-medium voltage lines, and, all load control and synchronizing logic have been moved from third-party hardware-based controls to a software system. Kohler Co.
The PD-300 paralleling switchgear significantly reduces footprint, components and wiring, installation and start-up times, while increasing reliability. The switchgear uses a common control platform across UL-891/UL-1588/UL-medium voltage lines, and, all load control and synchronizing logic have been moved from third-party hardware-based controls to a software system.


text:
our lives are made by the death of others
The life I live is one big calamity
They had docked early in the morning - the superyacht once again taking up that role of a shiny, ostentatious behemoth to dominant the skyline of the Western Ward. It was hardly like the Ark they had lost - this one certainly smaller and yet, what it lacked in size, it made up for in pure and simple extravagance. The once worn paint and industrial vibe had been replaced by sleek matte grey siding with reflective one way mirrored windows that lined the hull. A large cursive 'A' had been painted upon the boat, this ship had been titled the same as the one it replaced. The Ark. Finally, after months, she was back in all of her splendor. And how undeniably stately she was! With two topside decks, one of which featured a pool with a waterfall feature over top of his garage. Her interior was just as breathless. Each pack room held floor to ceiling windows, inline lighting, and meticulous wood paneling. They each had identical modern styled bathrooms and custom-crafted walk-in closets, each room decked with only the bare necessities to allow them to be styled by each member of the pack. The boat's amenities hardly stopped there, however, there was a library, a proper spa, a gym, the observatory, and, most importantly of all, a newly revamped fighting ring just so that the Ark might continue its seedy line of business, naturally in added style.
The Were-King was settled at the new bar, his hand idly spinning his phone on the black tiled countertop in front of him before glancing at the time, again. A soft sigh crossed his lips and yet, he was well aware of the golden irises that glanced almost bemused at him. "I know, I know." He commented, already anticipating whatever word Mira might utter about how useless it was to stare at the clock, like that would make the time move any faster. The vibrant emerald hue of his gaze watched the young woman as she began to restock the lighted empty shelves of the bar with the multitude of bottles that had been awaiting them on board. It had been pointless to put them up prior to now, the trip across the Atlantic ocean had hit its fair share of rough seas and the couple, in turn, had been otherwise preoccupied with exploring every nook and cranny of the boat Tetradore had purchased, and indulging within it. Nevertheless, it was his pack that Tetradore waited for. He'd sent out a group text message earlier in the morning, something along the lines of 'Merry Christmas Eve. Come down to the docks at 8.' Perfectly vague and perfectly to the point. After all, the Ark was meant to be a Christmas present of sorts. It had been...months since he had seen the pack gathered together. In fact, the night the cargo ship had sunk was the last evening the group had been together as one...as a family.
Impatience had never been a trait that defined Tetradore, at least, not where his pack was concerned. This was...somewhat abnormal for the Alpha. He knew it, Mira knew it, and by the way she was looking at him he knew too she wanted to ask after it. Tetradore had gotten...accustomed to that probing stare, the way her eyes as questions she would only occasionally voice. Then again, his girlfriend had also learned a greater deal of his own....quirks ever since the pair had been living in such tight proximity to one another. "I just want to see their reaction to it." Tetradore offered her as he leaned back within the barstool, restlessly letting the stool turn with his feet. A soft breath left his lips, "It's already 8." He mumbled to her, that soft snort of air that left her nose told him well what she thought of that. It was the sound, however, of footsteps on the opened gangplank outside that drew the man's attention, the vibrancy of his gaze so quickly shifted towards the door, curious both of who the first person to arrive would be and how they might handle finally having a home again.
New Ark Pics: https://www.sacrosanctrpg.com/Misc/Ark
I don't owe you a god damned thing
virtue has a veil, vice a mask - By Raven Cain on December 31, 2020 at 3:55 PM
Count it down from 10 to 1; - By Mira Ramos on January 01, 2021 at 5:47 PM
he'll only break your heart - By Tobias on January 09, 2021 at 1:06 AM


To start cooperation with GENERACJA.pl network you should come to our office at Racławicka 52a in Wrocław with your ID card and conclude the contract.
Time of service activation depends on the localization and chosen hour of connecting. As a standard it makes 1 or 2 business days.
To get more information call at the number: 71 78 56 000.


text:
Search For "minister of commerce amp industry"
Chairman, TEXPROCIL hails Enhanced ECGC Cover for Small Exporters
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 2 (ANI/PNN): Chairman of The Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council ( TEXPROCIL), Manoj Patodia, extended his thanks to Piyush Goyal, the Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Textiles, Consumer Affairs and Food & Public Distribution and M. Se
Indian Plastics Industry eyes USD 25 Billion Exports by 2025 - PLEXCONCIL
Updated : 9 months, 2 weeks ago IST
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 20 (ANI/BusinessWire India): Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles appealed to the Indian plastic industry to set a target to become a Rs 10 lakh-crore industry in the near fu
India Targeting USD 1 Trillion Exports by 2030: Piyush Goyal
Updated : 10 months, 1 week ago IST
Dubai [UAE], March 29 (ANI/NewsVoir): India's Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs & Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, and Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha, Piyush Goyal said that India's target is $1 trillion goods exports by 2030. "I would want a larger sh
India's aim is to become world's largest startup destination: Piyush Goyal
Dubai [UAE], March 29 (ANI/NewsVoir): India's Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs & Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, and Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha, Piyush Goyal yesterday said that the country aspires to become the largest startup ecosystem in th
India to become fastest-growing green economy of the world: Piyush Goyal,
Updated : 11 months ago IST
Dubai [UAE], March 8 (ANI/NewsVoir): Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs & Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, Government of India and Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha today said that India is moving towards becoming the fastest growing green ec
India Pavilion crosses 800K footfall milestone
Updated : 1 year ago IST
Dubai [UAE], January 18 (ANI/NewsVoir): The India Pavilion, one of the largest and most visited pavilions at EXPO2020 Dubai, has crossed 8 lakh footfalls milestone. The Pavilion was inaugurated by Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs & Food & Public Dis
India Pavilion rings in 2022 with 7 lakh visitors
Dubai [UAE], January 4 (ANI/NewsVoir): The India Pavilion, one of the largest and most visited pavilions at EXPO2020 Dubai welcomed the new year in style as it crossed 7 lakh footfalls since its opening. The Pavilion was inaugurated by Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce & Industry, Co
EXPO2020 India Pavilion pride of every Indian: Piyush Goyal
Updated : 1 year, 1 month ago IST
Dubai [UAE], December 17 (ANI/NewsVoir): India's Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs & Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, and Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha, Piyush Goyal today said that the India Pavilion at EXPO2020 Dubai is a matter of pride for all
Piyush Goyal highlights need to enhance tourist infrastructure in J-K to a
New Delhi [India], October 19 (ANI): The Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal on Tuesday inaugurated the tourist hut of Pahalgam Development Authority at Golf Course Pahalgam, in Jammu and Kashmir and said that the union territory is on a path of development and prosperity
Dubai's Emaar enthusiastic about India, need to ramp up systems to match i
Dubai [UAE], October 2 (ANI): Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday said that he had a meeting with officials of Emaar, a UAE-based multinational real estate development company, and said enthusiasm to invest in India was phenomenal and beyond his expectation.
India, UAE review progress towards Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agre
Dubai [UAE], October 2 (ANI): India and the UAE on Saturday reviewed progress towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the two countries and held discussions on exploring mutually beneficial methods to facilitate further investment from UAE sovereign investment entit
India, UAE agree to ensure speedy normalisation of air transport operation
Dubai [UAE], October 2 (ANI): India and UAE on Saturday agreed to work on a priority basis to ensure the speedy normalisation of air transport operations between the two countries.


On January 26, 2018, FGBNU VNIIMK in collaboration with the company "Agri 2.0 Precision Farming" held a seminar "The experience of practical application of precise agriculture on the example of farm business in the Oryol region".
It was demonstrated that there are scanners capable to evaluate the mechanical composition of soil, the humus content, the acidity of soil at a speed of 8-12 km/h. The scanner passes through the field at an interval of 24 m.
Precise mapping of soil fertility allows more economic use of fertilizers and lower costs for crop production.
The seminar was attended by agronomists of the Krasnodar region.
Christian de Vries, company's representative, made a report.


The Re-vive Lounge Arm Chair and Ottoman,with its classic lines and contemporary design, gives extreme comfort thanks to the open and welcoming backrest, decorated with handmade elements, also present on the integrated headrest and footrest. The Lounge King combines the comfort of the best Natuzzi arm chairs with the most advanced technologies in the relaxation field. Available for Custom Order only. Price reflects model in showroom. Calgary and Edmonton Delivery Only. Prices reflect starting fabric and leather grades.


The way in which bronchiectasis develops in the airways is poorly understood. The primary cause is not known in conditions other than CF, primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) syndromes and primary immunodeficiency syndromes. In CF, impairment of mucociliary clearance is the result of abnormal airway hydration due to CF transmembrane regulator (CFTR) mutations. In PCD it is due to abnormal structure and function of cilia. In other groups of patients with bronchiectasis, it is assumed that infection and/or perturbed innate or acquired immunity are important factors, with secondary impairment of mucociliary clearance.
In established disease, there is a vicious cycle of inflammation driven by neutrophils, recurrent or persistent infection, primarily with Haemophilus influenzae and injury to epithelium and bronchial and bronchiolar structures (figure 2). The anatomical damage further impairs mucociliary clearance; inflammation through proteases impairs some important aspects of innate immunity in the airways, causing further persistence of this vicious cycle. While this process is widely accepted as a paradigm for the condition, there are a number of key parts of the pathway which are poorly understood.
In people with bronchiectasis, a diagnosis of an underlying associated condition can be made in about 50% of cases. Many studies of diagnosis begin by excluding people with CF, and in some diagnostic and treatment guidelines the condition is labelled as non-CF bronchiectasis, to capture all of the other conditions. However, there is no intrinsic pathological difference between bronchiectasis associated with CF and bronchiectasis due to other conditions. In general, in CF, lung disease is more aggressive and associated with a higher prevalence of Gram-negative infection, particularly with P. aeruginosa . Bronchiectasis is almost universal in people with CF (see chapter 14). It is also a common complication of PCD and primary immune deficiency disorders, particularly common variable and X-linked immunodeficiency associated with reduced blood concentrations of immunoglobulin (Ig)G. Bronchiectasis also occurs, uncommonly but with increased frequency, in a number of systemic immune conditions, particularly rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. Bronchiectasis is associated with infection due to HIV, non-tuberculous mycobacteria and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The pathophysiological connection between these conditions and bronchiectasis is poorly understood. However, in many patients with a diagnosis of bronchiectasis, there is no clear association with another underlying disease. Childhood infections, such as whooping cough (pertussis) and measles, have been considered as strongly associated or causative. However, problems with recall bias make it very difficult to know the importance of this association.
Bronchiectasis may also complicate a range of other lung diseases: it can be identified in some patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), severe asthma and interstitial lung disease. In these conditions, bronchiectasis is usually found in the context of severe disease and is then not considered the primary disease. However, when it occurs alongside these conditions, it is associated with a higher incidence of infective pulmonary exacerbations and some of the management strategies used for primary bronchiectasis may be effective.


NexPoint Credit Strategies Fund Announces Name Change to NexPoint Strategic Opportunities Fund - Nexpoint Advisors, L.P.
DALLAS, March 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — NexPoint Credit Strategies Fund (NYSE: NHF) (the "Fund") today announced the Fund will change its name to NexPoint Strategic Opportunities Fund, effective on or about March 19, 2018. The Fund's CUSIP, 65340G205, will not change. In addition, the Fund's investment objective of providing both current income and capital appreciation will remain the same and the Fund will continue to invest in the following categories of instruments: (i) secured and unsecured floating and fixed rate loans; (ii) bonds and other debt obligations; (iii) debt obligations of stressed, distressed and bankrupt issuers; (iv) structured products, including but not limited to, mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities and collateralized debt obligations; and (v) equities; however, the Fund will no longer be required to invest at least 80% of its assets in categories (i)-(iv). NexPoint Advisors, L.P., the Fund's investment adviser, believes this will position the Fund for continued strong performance and support the Fund's dividend coverage in the current market environment by allowing the Fund to purchase attractive investments with higher yield and lower expected volatility than many credit securities.
Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the NexPoint Credit Strategies Fund (to be renamed NexPoint Strategic Opportunities Fund) carefully before investing. This and other information can be found in the Fund's prospectus, which may be obtained by calling 1-866-351-4440 or visiting www.nexpointadvisors.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before you invest.
NexPoint Credit Strategies Fund (to be renamed NexPoint Strategic Opportunities Fund) is a closed-end fund managed by NexPoint Advisors, L.P. The Fund's investment objectives are to provide both current income and capital appreciation. The Fund is invested primarily in below investment grade debt, equity securities and real estate and has the ability to hedge risk. The Fund's investment adviser attempts to deliver consistent returns in excess of the Dow Jones Credit Suisse Hedge Fund and the HFRX Global Hedge Fund indices in a transparent, registered fund format consistent with monthly dividends. No assurance can be given that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives.


text:
Barrios preps for Boschiero knowing he's inching closer to 130-pound title shot
Jul 05, 2016 By Lem Satterfield
By the time he enters the ring against Devis Boschiero on Saturday, Mario Barrios will have spent nearly a month developing a champion's mentality at the Las Vegas home of two-division title winner Robert Guerrero.
If he can get past veteran opponent Devis Boschiero on Saturday, 21-year-old Mario Barrios will be in line for a world-title fight against 130-pound champion Jose Pedraza. (Ryan Greene/Premier Boxing Champions)
"Robert hasn't been around, but he was kind enough to let us stay at his house for the duration of our camp," said Barrios, who is swiftly climbing the ranks in the talent-rich 130-pound division.
"Robert [whose primary residence is in Gilroy, California] has a gym facility in the garage of his backyard, and being here in this atmosphere is a great feeling that motivates me and definitely lets you know where all of the hard work is done."
The 21-year-old Barrios is well aware that his stacked division is loaded with gifted titleholders, including undefeated Francisco Vargas and Jose Pedraza and once-beaten Vasyl Lomachenko and Jezreel Corrales. And he yearns to join them at the top of the weight class.
"It's a very exciting division to be a part of, especially knowing that I'm getting closer and closer to being in a big fight," said Barrios, who is trained by his father, Martin, and Bob Santos. "Me and my dad, we watch all of the fights in our weight class, because we know that those are the guys I'm going to come up against one day."
That one day could arrive very soon if Mario Barrios (15-0, 8 KOs) can take care of business against Italy's Devis Boschiero (39-4-1, 21 KOs) on Saturday at Sun National Bank Center in Trenton, New Jersey (ESPN, 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT). The scheduled 12-round bout has title implications, with the winner moving into the No. 2 positition for a shot at Pedraza (22-0, 12 KOs).
Boschiero will enter the fight with a significant edge in experience, as he's boxed 279 professional rounds and gone 12 rounds seven times, while Barrios has logged 63 rounds and has never been past eight rounds. However, the 34-year-old native of Veneto, Italy, doesn't measure up to Barrios in terms of size: Boschiero is 5-foot-5½ with a 68-inch reach, while his long and lean counterpart is 6 feet tall with a 74-inch reach.
"The height advantage is definitely something we focus on for every fight, and this one is no different," Barrios said. "Even my sparring partners are saying that this guy is in trouble."
Barrios went 7-0 with five knockouts in 2015, with four of those victories coming in a three-month stretch in the fall, culminating with a sixth-round knockout of Manuel Vides on December 12.
Barrios then took a well-deserved four-month respite, returning on April 16 with an eight-round shutout victory over Edgar Gabejan on the undercard of 147-pound contender Errol Spence Jr.'s sensational stoppage of Chris Algieri at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Gabejan displayed traits similar to Boschiero in that the 5-foot-4 Filipino was an experienced opponent whom Barrios towered over.
"We're satisfied with my last performance," Barrios said. "The guy was a really awkward veteran who came in from all kinds of different angles, but it was great exposure for me to be on that card, and we came out with the win."
A former European titleholder, Boschiero is 5-1 in his last six fights, including consecutive knockouts of Ignac Kassai in December and Tamas Laska in March in his last two outings. Those wins followed a sixth-round TKO loss to Stephen Smith, who subsequently went the distance with Pedraza, losing a unanimous decision.
Given his opponent's level of experience, Barrios understands he could be in for the toughest bout of his young career. At the same time, the San Antonio resident is confident that he'll get past Boschiero and continue marching toward his goal of being a world champion—at 130 pounds and beyond.
"For right now, I'm staying at 130," Barrios said. "There is no doubt that eventually I'll be moving up in the future, but for now, I want to be a champion in this division."
For full coverage of Barrios vs Boschiero, check out our fight page.
Barrios vs Boschiero
Mario Barrios
Devis Boschiero
Jun 13, 2019 / Mario Barrios
Standing Eight: Mario Barrios
The undefeated super lightweight contender plans to conquer the 140-pound division—and that's just the beginning.
May 12, 2019 / Hurd vs Williams, Jarrett Hurd, Julian Williams, Mario Barrios, Immanuwel Aleem, Stephen Fulton
Williams Shocks Boxing World, Defeats Hurd to Become Champion
Julian Williams turned in a masterful performance versus Jarrett Hurd, outboxing and outbrawling him to win a 12-round decision and become the unified World Super Welterweight Champion.
May 11, 2019 / Jarrett Hurd, Deontay Wilder, Gary Russell Jr, Mario Barrios, Tony Harrison
A Mother's Day Celebration From the PBC Family
Fighters from the PBC family explain why their mothers are the true warriors—and the inspiration for everything they do.


A recent reduction for a QUICK sale!!! A Spectacular Unique Finca with 26 stables. Located in Monda, just 15 minutes drive from Marbella and 30 minutes from the airport. There is tarmac access with two separate entrances to the Finca: one at the main house and one at the stables with a fenced plot of 15.300m2. The main house - 217m2 built (plus garage 33m2), plus terraces over 300m2 with a fabulous swimming pool and barbecue and with panoramic views of the Sierra de las Nieves hills. The house is divided into two parts with two separate entrances from the front porch. There are a total of four bedrooms, three bathrooms (two en suite bathrooms, plus a 5th bedroom for offices and a large loft space for storage). 2 kitchens. The farm has stables & barns. The stables are located at a lower level to the main dwelling far enough not to invade the living space of the house, but close enough for good management and supervision of the horses. The stables consist of separate entrances with 26 stables and groom quarters, barn, tack room, feed store and a kitchen for the general use of the stables. The property has its own septic tank, a private well that produces more than 300,000 daily liters of fresh water from mountain spring. Ample parking for many vehicles. A large paddock of 40 metres long x 17 metres wide (almost Olympic size) is ideal for schooling horses as well as for lessons for beginners. It´s also available for evening classes because it is floodlit. There is full electricity throughout the stables and barn.IT COULD BE PERFECT TO RUN A BUSINESS AS A RESTAURANT & HORSE RIDING CLUB!


text:
Ellesmere Hotel, Ellesmere, Shropshire Stay in the heart of Shropshire's Lake District
Find us Enquire and book
Ellesmere Guide
About the Ellesmere Hotel
The Ellesmere Hotel has always been at the centre of the life of the town and you're sure of a warm welcome.
Over 200 years ago the hotel played an important part in the building of the Llangollen Canal and the prosperity that followed, and we're proud of its association with the history of Ellesmere.
After many years as a pub, the Bridgwater Arms (later in the 1990's it was re-named the Ellesmere Hotel), has once again became a hotel and we offer well-equipped rooms at great prices, with discounts for stays over three nights.
Right now we have a choice of Double, Twin or Single rooms with en-suite shower, and family rooms.
Enquire and book
The Ellesmere Hotel has a large public bar with real ales, a pool table, darts, juke box and TV.
We're a lively pub, with regular entertainment and activities, and of course we get involved in local events.
We're friendly, down to earth people who want to give our guests the best possible experience, whether on holiday or business travellers. In the short time we've been open as a hotel again, we've already picked up some loyal customers who stay with us again and again.
The Ellesmere Hotel is a great place to meet friends, old and new.
The Ellesmere Hotel is owned by Mark Griffiths, and he runs it along with his partner Sandra. Always a regular at the Bridgewater Arms (Ellesmere Hotel), he bought the pub when it came up for sale in 2009, and leased it out to a tenant.
Both have lived and worked locally all their lives, and like many people in Ellesmere, the hotel had been part of their lives.
They took over the running of the hotel in 2015 and since then have been busy improving it, and in particular, refurbishing the hotel's many rooms.
Part of the new Function Room
Staff & friends had an enjoyable afternoon provided by "Jones the Boats" on the Llangollen Canal.
(Button will open in a new browser tab)
What's On at the Ellesmere Hotel February 27, 2018
News and What's On February 27, 2018
Save with our bargain breaks!
From time to time we have a four night break special offer. Please ask at time of booking.
Connect on Facebook and Twitter
Find us on Twitter and Facebook!
Ellesmere Hotal and the Canal Revolution
The Ellesmere Hotel – then the Royal Oak Hotel – played an important part in the canal coming to Shropshire.
In 1792 the Duke of Bridgwater called potential investors to a meeting at the hotel to raise money for a new canal that would link Ellesmere with the tiny port of Netherpool.
Plaque on the wall of the Ellesmere Hotel commemorating its role in the canal age (click to expand image)
The fundraiser raised £1 million, an enormous sum in those days, and the Ellesmere Canal Company was formed. Ellesmere became a hugely important transport hub, and its terminal on the Mersey was renamed Ellesmere Port.
This event led to the construction of the two aqueducts at Chirk and Poncysyllte, with the extension of the canal to Llangollen. Today they are a World Heritage Site and well worth a visit.
The hotel was immediately renamed the Bridgwater Arms in honour of that night in 1796, a name it kept until it was re-named in the 1990's to the Ellesmere Hotel.
Ellesmere Hotel
SY12 0ES
Sun-Thurs 10am - midnight
Fri-Sat: 10am - 1am
Stay four nights and save!
© 2020 Ellesmere Hotel, Ellesmere, Shropshire. All Rights Reserved.
Made in Shropshire by Moghill Web Services
Photos by Sue Austin


Synopsis: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's most famous creation is given an altogether naughties twist in Sherlock. Martin Freeman (The Office) stars as John Watson,.. Results 1 - 16 of 175 . 10 GB: 1--- Homeland Season 3 S03 720p BluRay x264-DEMAND [RiCK] in . Mexico Netflix Originals TV Series Tags: 480p 720p 720p x265. mp4, . . the legend of Atlantis). is. years, 5, 1 1 Sherlock [The Great Game].. Arabic Sherlock S01 720p BluRay DD2.0 x264-CtrlHD(Complete Season) hotboy . Bengali Sherlock S01-E02 (The Blind Banker) BANGLA BRRip 720p x264.. 27 2015 . sherlock holmes season 1 to 7 mp4 720p Alternate Download Sherlock Holmes Season 4 Episode 4 Wisteria Lodge.mp4.torrent. With the fourth season just around the corner, thought you guys might want to watch the previous seasons as well. **FORMAT**: Matroska.. Sherlock Series 3 Prequel - BBC One P mp4 Posted by Dec 24, Sherlock. CBS mess series based on the stories of Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle with.. Sherlock Season 1 Season 2 / p Bluray. Here you can download TV show Sherlock (season 1, 2, 3, 4) full episodes in mp4 mkv and avi. All episodes are.. Top Rated TV #15 Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. . the Conan Doyle characters, using his detective plots, Sherlock Holmes lives in early 21st century London.. Sherlock. 88 min; Crime, Drama, Mystery; 24 Oct 2010 (UK, USA). trailer details. 9.2 / 10 . Season 1 / 480p HDTV / Server 1 . Season 1 / 720p Bluray / Server 1.. 24 Dec 2013 - 7 min - Uploaded by BBCSUBSCRIBE for more BBC highlights: sherlock .. Season 4. The Abominable Bride. S4, Ep0. 1 Jan. 2016. The Abominable Bride . Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson find themselves in 1890s London in this.. 16 May 2017 . Visit - Scroll the . Sherlock Season 1 will be downloaded in desired quality (360p/720p/1080p).. Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson solve the mysteries of copper beeches, a Greek . builder, a resident patient, the red-headed league, and one final problem.. 14 Aug 2014 . Sherlock Season 1 2 720p-BRrip-x264-Xitz (StyLish Release). torrent . ago: Sherlock S01E03 720p BRRiP x264 AAC-killb mp4: 705.82 MB: 1.. 28 Jun 2018 . Download Sherlock Season 1-4 full in high quality with English . File Type : MKV , Mp4 . Sherlock Season 1-4 Download in 480p & 720p.. Sherlock.gnomes.2018.1080p-dual-lat-cinecalidad.to.mp4 . ShAaNiG Sherlock.S01.720p.BluRay.x264.ShAaNiG torrent file Sherlock.S01.720p.BluRay.x264.. Free Download Sherlock Season 1 480p 720p All Episodes. . Full episodes of TV show Sherlock season 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 in mp4 avi and mkv download free.. TV show Sherlock season 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 download full episodes and watch in HD (720p) quality free, without registration. Free episodes of your favourite TV series.. sherlock tv series season 1 & season 2 . The Real L Word - The Complete Season 1 [DVDRip]-FFNDVD . Vikings Season 1 - COMPLETE [mp4,AAC,5.1]. Sherlock S01-E01 (A Study In Pink) BANGLA BRRip 720p x264 Bengali subtitles Sherlock S1E3, The Great Game Bangla, by Bengali.


text:
Clinic launches paediatric centre
The content originally appeared on: The BVI Beacon
Health professionals said they are hoping to support the long-term wellbeing of the Virgin Islands community with the opening of a new paediatric clinic that will serve children from birth to age 18.
The Wellness Center Clinics based at Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park launched the new wing on Nov. 11. The new facility — located where the centre previously offered Covid-19 testing — is in a separate building from the main offices. It houses two treatment rooms and a childfriendly reception area.
Dr. Michael Turnbull, a clinical psychologist who founded the centres, said at the opening that he was glad to launch a space specifically aimed at meeting the needs of young people in the community.
"We believe in early intervention and prevention, and we are looking forward to what the Wellness Center Clinics is able to do as part of this community," he said.
The clinic will start off with one paediatrician and welcome a second in January, allowing an expansion of urgent care services, Dr. Turnbull said.
Paediatrician Dr. Arnel Soller said his work will be centred around the "Bright Futures" approach recognised by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
He explained that this approach focuses on the health of children throughout their development and would help to identify indications of issues like autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder from an early age.
He added that annual checkups help ensure that children's needs are met and that they are given any necessary learning support.
Dr. Sharlon Lewis, director of the medical clinic, said the paediatric centre will allow staff to provide more specialised care to support the WCC's existing services for behavioural and learning issues.
L'année 2022 ou la menace d'apocalypse
"The kids are our future, and we want to make sure that we have that focus and that emphasis on them," she said.
Dr. Turnbull said the clinic will start with open hours on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays but plans to incrementally extend its hours at the beginning of 2023.
This will include offering urgent care for non-life-threatening concerns during the night-time hours, he said. Appointments can be scheduled online at www.twcbvi.com or by phone at 496-0838 or at 442-4357.


text:
package com.haulmont.yarg.structure.impl;

import com.google.common.base.Preconditions;
import com.haulmont.yarg.structure.ReportParameterWithDefaultValue;

public class ReportParameterImpl implements ReportParameterWithDefaultValue {
    protected String name;
    protected String alias;
    protected Boolean required;
    protected Class paramClass;
    protected String defaultValue = null;

    public ReportParameterImpl(String name, String alias, Boolean required, Class paramClass) {
        Preconditions.checkNotNull(name, "\"name\" parameter can not be null");
        Preconditions.checkNotNull(alias, "\"alias\" parameter can not be null");

        this.name = name;
        this.alias = alias;
        this.required = required;
        this.paramClass = paramClass;
    }

    public ReportParameterImpl(String name, String alias, Boolean required, Class paramClass, String defaultValue) {
        this(name, alias, required, paramClass);
        this.defaultValue = defaultValue;
    }

    @Override
    public String getName() {
        return name;
    }

    @Override
    public String getAlias() {
        return alias;
    }

    @Override
    public Boolean getRequired() {
        return required;
    }

    @Override
    public Class getParameterClass() {
        return paramClass;
    }

    @Override
    public String getDefaultValue() {
        return defaultValue;
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
University Archives Holdings Digital Archives Institute of Communications Research Subject File (Digital Surrogates)
Institute of Communications Research Subject File (Digital Surrogates) | University of Illinois Archives
https://digital.library.illinois.edu/collections/1af3abe0-e723-0138-74c1-02d0d7bfd6e4-a
Institute of Communications Research Subject File (Digital Surrogates)
Digital Surrogates of the Institute of Communications Research Subject File includes correspondence, reports and publications concerning research projects and conferences, psychological warfare in Korea, administrative matters, and recruitment of personnel, Operations Research Office.
Electronic materials are in PDF format and have a size of 99.63 MB.
1af3abe0-e723-0138-74c1-02d0d7bfd6e4-a
13/5/1 Subject File, 1947-1983
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Institute of Communications Research
Copyright of these records is not owned by the University of Illinois. Please contact us for more information about these materials or if you would like to request a copy for personal use.


text:
INFORMS: Perspectives – Banafsheh Behzad on Women in OR/MS
by David Morrison on November 11th, 2014
It's the elephant in the room that people don't really like to talk about: the lack of diversity in STEM fields. It's an important issue, though, because a group of people with different backgrounds and perspectives will always be stronger than a group of people who all have similar stories to tell. So for the past year, I've been a student liason with WORMS — the Women in Operations Research and Management Science forum at INFORMS. I believe these are important issues that need to be discussed openly, not only by our female colleagues, but by everyone. I'm not a student any more, so I can't keep being a student liason, but I'm planning to continue my involvement with WORMS in the coming years. And today, for my entry in INFORMS: Perspectives, I interviewed one of my friends and colleagues, and a prominent voice in WORMS, Banafsheh Behzad.
Banafsheh is an Assistant Professor at the California State University at Long Beach, and in addition to her work with WORMS, she's had a strong research career. She's interested in applying game-theoretic techniques to real-world problems, particularly in areas of public health, safety, policy, and social networks. Her dissertation work was at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign with Sheldon Jacobson (another INFORMS fellow!), where she performed a game-theoretic analysis of the public sector pediatric vaccine pricing market in the United States. The results that Banafsheh found are quite interesting: it turns out that pediatric vaccines are sold in the United States at higher prices than what the equilibrium prices from her models suggest. Banafsheh has some connections with researchers in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and her hope is that her research can be used by the CDC to negotiate better vaccine prices in the public sector, and thereby increase the availability of pediatric vaccines in the United States to improve public health.
Banafsheh has quite a few other research projects that she's worked on in addition to her dissertation work; her graduate advisor refers to these side projects as "bedtime research"—the problems that you're thinking about as you fall asleep. Banafsheh's bedtime research has revolved around the obesity problem in the United States; in particular, she's looked at correlations between obesity and seat belt usage, and demonstrated correlations between obesity and seat belt usage in states with primary and secondary seat belt laws—that is, states where failing to wear a seat belt is a ticketable offense by itself, and states where failure to wear a seat belt can only be penalized in conjunction with another traffic violation.
Banafsheh told me that these research projects have been quite rewarding because of the opportunities that she's had to directly impact and improve public health and safety. The challenges she's faced? Mainly they revolve around getting data. She didn't always have access to the data she needed, and had to make approximations, perform sensitivity analysis, and constantly search for better data sources. But she says it's important to not let the lack of data inhibit the research progress. "Find a problem that you're interested in, and try to find the best methodology for that problem. Don't limit yourself to only the methodologies that you're familiar with," she says.
I then turned the conversation to her involvement with WORMS, a topic about which she is equally passionate. Banafsheh has been attending INFORMS for five years, and went to the WORMS business meeting at her very first INFORMS. At that time, she was the only student at the business meeting, and very few people knew what WORMS was or why it existed. She wasn't even sure if students were allowed to participate in WORMS! Of course, they can, and it's partly through her efforts that WORMS now has much more visibility and much more student involvement. Over the past year, she's been a student liason for WORMS, helping to raise awareness of the forum and promote discussion about diversity in STEM. But there's still much work to be done.
I asked Banafsheh about the most significant barriers to success for women and minorities in STEM fields, and she told me this: "As an undergraduate student, if all of your professors are male, it is hard to imagine that you can succeed in this field." Banafsheh told me a story of a student of hers who had never considered a career in STEM, because all of the professors in the area were male. But after taking Banafsheh's class, her student realized that gender shouldn't be a barrier to success in STEM, and has been talking with Banafsheh about pursuing an advanced degree.
Stories like this are encouraging, but we need more people telling them. "It is the responsibility of all of us (not just women, but also male faculty) to encourage and support women in OR/MS," Banafsheh says. "If you have more female colleagues, more female students, it will be a healthier environment in your class, in your department. It doesn't make sense to say that men are more capable—it's just not true!" she concluded.
WORMS is one way to get more people telling these stories, and despite its increased visibility over the last five years, Banafsheh still meets women faculty and students at INFORMS who have no idea what WORMS is and why it exists. So she wants to encourage people to get the word out: come to the WORMS luncheon at INFORMS (sold out this year with 190 people!), come to the WORMS business meeting, find out what issues women and minorities in our field face, and take responsibility for correcting them. And particularly if you're a student and want to get involved, there's no better time! WORMS is looking for more student liasons to help with the forum, so if you're interested in being a student liason next year, let Banafsheh know!
From Uncategorized
Note: XHTML is allowed. Your email address will never be published.
Conference Updates
Tweets by @INFORMS2014
Attendee Tweets
#informs2014 Tweets
Some #analytics2015 photos
My 2014 take-away
END of 2014 Annual meeting or is it just the beginning?
Time to go!
I left my (Analytics) heart in San Francisco
Meeting management software on END of 2014 Annual meeting or is it just the beginning?
Mary Grace Crissey on I left my (Analytics) heart in San Francisco
Anna Nagurney on Remembering the Dantzig Century and a Conversation with His Daughter
Ching-Pu Chen on 50th Anniversary of Decision Analysis
Karen Guttieri on Thank you to the INFORMS staff!!
The INFORMS Annual Meeting, with more than 1,000 sessions and just under 4,000 papers, covers the broad landscape of O.R. and Advanced Analytics research and practice. Numerous events organized by INFORMS communities and committees are also held during the meeting. Scheduled annually in the fall.


Arable margins are tight and prices are volatile, so it's more important than ever for farmers to squeeze every pound out of their crops.
Whether it's through precision machinery, optimum crop choice or using expert advice to produce a more efficient business strategy, there is plenty on offer to help farmers to boost profits at this year's Cereals Event. Bringing together nearly 500 exhibitors to showcase the latest arable innovations, just two weeks remain before the 40th Event gets under way.
Stretching over 64ha on a working farm and attracting more than 24,000 visitors every year, Cereals is a hub for arable innovation. With so much on offer, here are just five key reasons why visitors won't want to miss Cereals 2017.
This year visitors will see the return of the Soil Pit – albeit larger than ever before – where farmers will have the chance to view crops 'underground' in the soil profile. With crops such as winter and spring beans as well as radish and oat mixes included in this year's pit, experts will be on hand to discuss a variety of topics – including cultivation techniques and rooting habits of different cover crops. Visitors are also encouraged to bring a sample of their own soil to discuss how specific issues can be rectified on their own farms.
Cereals features millions of pounds worth of static machinery, and there will also be 5ha of working demonstrations where the power, productivity and performance of tractors, cultivators, drills and subsoilers will be put to the test. But it's not just about kit on the ground – The Drone Zone will also feature demonstrations. With an on-site flying cage for short flights as well a nearby crop field for longer flights, visitors will be able to see how drones can be used to collect data and provide real benefits on farm.
For those wanting to keep up with the latest industry research and news, the Arable Conference will cover a breadth of topics – from Brexit to glyphosate. In association with the De Lacy Executive, the conference will host a range of high calibre speakers including NFU president Meurig Raymond and Liz Bowles, head of farming at the Soil Association.
Bringing together nearly 500 exhibitors, there's a lot to see at Cereals and it can be hard for visitors to condense everything into a single day. This year's event is making it easier for visitors to seek out the information they need, with the introduction of six Knowledge Trails. Visitors will be able to download maps prior to the show to help them pick out exhibitors to visit based on a chosen theme.
Technology has progressed rapidly over the past few decades and is likely to play a big role in revolutionising farming practices. Giving visitors just a hint of what is in store is the Fields of the Future display. Brand new for 2017, this area will collate innovations and research from some of the country's leading universities and businesses to showcase exactly what is in the pipeline.
Tickets are on sale via the website www.cerealsevent.co.uk/tickets and visitors can use the promocode CEREALS17TOS to save over 15% on the ticket price.


text:
Checkmate by Quania2004
[Reviews - 22]
Table of Contents [Report This]
- Text Size +
1. Chapter 12. Chapter 2
Title: Checkmate
A couple smiled happily as their newly born daughter was placed into her mother's hands. Both were stunned at the child's beauty. She had large blue eyes, a cute shapely mouth and smooth brown hair. She had all the features of a refined Lady. There was no doubt that she would one day be an important person.
The child's parents were just as stunning as she. Her father was considered to be one of the most handsome men in the kingdom. His curly hair gave him a boyish charm. His tanned skin contradicted the fact that he did not leave his home much and his strapping build intimidated many foes. Her mother was of average height, her black hair long and flowing. Her dark skin glowed beautifully even though the infirmary was not well lit. Her smile was bright enough to light the darkest of rooms.
"She's so beautiful, Albert. She's perfect," the dark skinned woman said as she stared upon her new born daughter's face. She wiggled her finger in front of the child's face and watched as the baby took her finger in her fist, holding it tightly. "I suspect her beauty could rival Princess Madison's.
"I never knew that someone could look so gorgeous. I think you're right, Honey. She is perfection. You did a good job."
The woman laughed at her husband before lifting her head to face him. He was smiling down at the newborn. There was so much joy in his eyes. She had never seen him so happy. She kissed him sweetly before releasing a sigh. "She looks just like you, Albert. So, don't give me all the credit," She turned her attention to the baby, "Great things will happen to her. I won't ever have to worry about her succeeding in life. She'll fall in love and marry a rich man that can take care of her."
"I have no doubt, Marilynn. She's only a few minutes old and managed to capture the hearts of everyone in the hospital. She'll have so many suitors when she grows up, just like her mom. I just can't believe we have two of them."
The sound of a second baby crying caught both of the parent's attention. The nurse was bringing the baby over after cleaning her up. She placed the baby in the anxious father's hands before walking away. Albert looked down at his second daughter but this time there was no joy in his eyes or a smile on his face. He just stared down at her with a blank expression.
"What's wrong?" Marilynn asked her husband worriedly. She craned her neck to see the baby's face but the blanket that she was wrapped in blocked her view. "Is something wrong with the baby? Is everything alright?"
"She's fine. It's just—I thought that they were identical."
"They're not?"
"No," he whispered, "Not in the least."
He lowered the baby so his wife could see the child's face. Marilynn held in a gasp. The child was hideous. She looked nothing like their first born. Her eyes were smaller, her nose, lips, and ears were bigger. And the child's hair was already an unruly, curly mess. She didn't look like an angel at all. The only thing that was slightly adorable about the girl was the heart shaped birthmark on the back of the girl's neck.
"What are we going to do, Albert? We can't take a child home that looks like that. I will never be able to hold my head up high knowing that I spawned something that looks like it came from a swamp."
"Marilynn, you shouldn't say such things. For all we know she could grow into her features."
"She still wouldn't be worthy enough to bear the Cornwell name. We'll have to get rid of her."
Albert shook his head no as he gently bounced the baby to keep her from crying. "We can't do that. It would be wrong. Besides, she's just as perfect as her sister. She's just a little rough around the edges. With a little work she will be a fine lady."
"Alright, Albert." Marilynn said as she turned away from her husband. "If that's what you want I won't argue. Perhaps you are right. Maybe she will be worthy of the Cornwell name when she get older."
"I'm glad you see things my way," Albert smiled as he took a seat in a chair next to the bed. "What should we name them?"
"Callia." Marilyn said while looking down at the oldest twin. "It means beautiful."
"Then I shall name this little one, Nadira because she is a very precious little girl."
13 years later, at the Cornwell Estate, a celebration was taking place. It was the girls' thirteenth birthday party and everyone was excited. All of the nobles of the kingdom attended with their children, waiting for the big reveal. Every person in the Kingdom was aware of the Cornwell's family beauty and they were curious about the next generation.
While today was a day to celebrate another year of the girls' lives it was also a day for match making. Albert and Marilynn will spend the day discussing potential suitors and hopefully would have a successful arranged marriage by the end of it. They both knew that by the day's end, their eldest daughter would surely be promised but Nadira was another case. She did not hold any qualities of a noble lady, unlike her sister. She wasn't beautiful, particularly smart, or talented. She wasn't even attending her own birthday party.
"This isn't right, Marilynn. Nadira should be attending the party too. It's her birthday as well," Albert said through clinched teeth as he smiled as Callia sang La Primavera è in Fiore, a song that she written and composed.
Albert and Marilynn stood in front of a large audience and watched along with everyone. Callia looked wonderful in her pink gown and intricate ponytail that was held together by a simple white flower. A few loose, curly strands swayed in the wind as she played the piano wonderfully. Marilynn could not have been more proud of her at that moment.
"No. This is our daughter's unveiling. I can't have it ruined with that girl's presence."
"That girl is your daughter."
She didn't say anything as she noted that one of the guests were staring that the couple curiously. She waited until the woman turned her attention back to Callia before whispering, "You said that she would grow into her features, she hasn't and I refuse to accept her as my daughter looking like that. She belongs with the help and that's where she will stay."
Albert couldn't believe what he was hearing. He knew that his wife could be cold at times but not like this. "You're being cruel."
"I'm being practical. If people found out that we spawned that thing, we would be shunned. We would be outcasts. We would be no better than the people who serve us and I refuse to take a drop in status, not after I worked so hard to be viewed as a noble."
"The only work you did was convincing me to marry you."
"Do you think that was easy with all the other noble girls fluttering around you, flirting shamelessly? The chance of my success was small. How does a lady compare to a Duchess?"
"You tell me, that is your title now," He tried to conceal his anger but he knew that he was failing horribly. He turned to face his wife, his eyes ablaze. "You're right; you did work hard to acquire that name. You had me believing that you were kind, and sweet. You told me that what we have is love, now I know the truth. I never knew that lying was your forte."
Albert left Marilynn's side hurriedly to mingle with the guests. Callia's song had just ended and the guests were now talking amongst themselves about how impressed they were with Callia's performance.
Marilynn smiled tightly as she watched Callia walk of stage, gracefully. She was angry that she couldn't fully enjoy this moment. Her daughter was being revered by the most important people in the kingdom but all she could do was think about that wretched girl and how Nadira made Albert angry with her. She would have to do something to get rid of her. That girl was ruining their family and she refused to have things get any worse.
"Duchess," someone called, bringing Marilynn back to reality. She looked to her right and saw the Queen standing before her, looking as elegant as ever. She was dressed in a red and blue ball gown and her diamond studded tiara shone gloriously in the sun's light.
"Your Highness," Marilynn greeted as she bowed quickly. "It honors me greatly that you saw fit to attend my daughter's party."
"I've heard that your daughter was an exceptional beauty. I had to see this for myself."
"Her beauty does not compare to Princess Madison's by far."
"Well, I'm not so sure about that." The Queen laughed, "While my daughter is stunning, I can't help but stare at Lady Callia. She's like a shinning gem amongst a sea of rocks."
"Thank you, My Queen," Marilynn smiled brightly. She followed alongside the Queen as they walked away from the party and into the Mansion.
"I have something that I would like to discuss with you," the Queen said when they were well into the mansion and away from the guests. The likelihood that their conversation would be heard was minimal. "I'm actually considering choosing your daughter to marry my son."
"My Queen!" Marilynn gasped.
"You see, the king insists that my son marries for love and that's fine if the woman he chooses looked and acted like she belonged to the royal family. While many of the noble ladies are beautiful their daughters… It seems like a disease of sorts is spreading around."
"I know exactly what you mean," Marilynn said, thinking about Nadira.
"Good, and since your family isn't technically related to the royal family but was inducted in, I think your daughter is a fine choice for my son."
"Thank you, Your Highness but won't the king object."
"To an arranged marriage, yes. I just plan on pushing my son in the right direction and I hope that you'll do the same for your daughter."
"Yes, of course."
The queen noticed a few servants coming down one of the halls and thought it was time to end the conversation. She smiled at Marilynn. "We will finish this chat of ours soon but now I must go. Oh, before I leave. I would like to offer my condolences for your other daughter, Nadira. It is so sad that such a young girl would contract a crippling disease from one of your servants."
"Yes, it's very tragic," Marilynn pretended to be sad.
The queen nodded before leaving quickly and the Marilynn bowed. She couldn't believe that that brat managed to wiggle her way into her life once again. Something would have to be done about Nadira.
"Is everything alright, Your Grace?" One of the young servants asked.
"Courtney, where is Nadira?"
"She's at town's square with all the other servant children. There is a small festival being held for the little ones there. But I doubt you'll be able to find her. The place will be packed with entertainers and townsfolk. I told her not to go. Children go missing from those things every year, sold into slavery and prostitution. You know that sort of thing but don't worry, Your Grace. I'm sure Nadira will be fine."
"You may go."
"Yes, Your Grace."
Courtney left promptly and Marilynn tried with great difficulty to hide the smile that was slowly forming on her face. She would have to contact a few acquaintances, quickly. Hopefully, with any luck, Nadira wouldn't return and she could finally be free of the pesky, little parasite.
A tall girl with red hair and matching freckles walked along the street with a friend who was much shorter and much rounder. They wore clothes that were associated with their commoner status, cheap dresses that lacked style and flare. Their hair was pulled into a simple bun The only thing that made them stand out was the embroiled insignia of the Cornwell family, letting everyone know that they were servants to the Duke and Dutchess.
There was another girl tagging along. The young girl wore no such embroidery but her clothes were tattered just the same. Her hair was much messier, just a bunch of entangled curls that reminded people of a birds nest. She was definitely a sight to see.
"She's following us again, Rita." The short girl muttered to the tall one.
"Just ignore her."
"I can't. Everyone is staring at us because of her. I feel like an outsider."
Rita sighed before turning around to face the younger girl who was skipping merrily behind her. "Go back home, kid. Kim and I don't need a little kid like you following us around. People are starting to stare."
Kim folded her arms and stared down at the girl. "The festival isn't for little kids anyway. Do you know how dangerous it is for little girls like you?"
"I can do whatever I want," The girl said defiantly. "If I want to follow you to the festival, I can. I'm Lady Nadira Cornwell, daughter of Duke and Duchess Cornwell."
"No you're not," Rita said simply. "You are servant. You always have been and always will be."
"No I'm not."
"Then why aren't you at the birthday party then? Because you'd rather be here with us?"
Nadira didn't say anything, only glared. This always happened whenever she told someone who she was. They never believed her and called her a liar to her face. She couldn't understand why people found it so hard to believe that she was a Cornwell. She looked like one, didn't she?
"Besides," Rita continued, "Everyone knows that the real Nadira is sick and has been since she was born. They say that she can't even walk on her own and look at you, walking about with such ease and no grace. Better yet, I have never seen the Duke or Duchess so much as glance your way. You should stop lying. You are just a servant girl with servants for parents, just like the rest of us."
"I think you're wrong about that, Rita," Kim said.
Nadira smiled. Maybe there was someone out there that believed her, after all.
"I don't even think she has parents. She's probably an orphan that was dropped on the Cornwell's door step. They are such kind people, taking in a child as useless as her."
Nadira glared at the two cackling girls as they left her behind. She didn't care, she didn't need them. She was 13, a lady in bloom. She could take care of herself just fine on her own.
She walked further into the town square and was immediately bombarded by a cacophony of sound. Different types of music and the sound of the townsfolk melded together making a noise that was not so pleasant but even though the noise was ear splitting, Nadira managed to smile. The immense feeling of jubilation seemed to wash over everyone in the crowd. The many tents and booths had throngs of people surrounding them, shouting merrily at whatever form of entertainment was in front of them.
A loud sound caught her attention. There were several boys rough housing by one of the tents not too far away. The sound was a mixture of laughter, tears, and grunts as the boys pushed, pinned and flipped each other. They looked like they were having fun and Nadira wanted to join. She knew that wrestling with a bunch of boys isn't what a girl should do but she didn't care. She wanted to have fun today and they looked like they were enjoying themselves.
"Can I play?" She asked as she approached them.
"You're a girl," One of the boys with dirty blonde hair stated the obvious. He was flipped by a boy that was twice his size and landed roughly on the ground.
She noted that these boys clothes were a bit better than Rita and Kim's but not by much. They weren't apart of the Cornwell household which meant that perhaps they would be nicer to her.
"I know that but I would still like to play with you guys. I'm really good at wrestling."
"You're a girl," the same boy repeated.
It was becoming clear that he was the head of the little pack. He stood up off the ground and stared at Nadira expectantly who stared at him in return. She was not going to be intimidated by a bunch of boys that she knew that she could pulverize in a minute.
"Well, aren't you going to leave?"
"Look Girly—"
"How about," Nadira interrupted, "I wrestle with your best guy. If I lose I'll walk away and if I win then you'll let me play with you guys."
"That's not fair, Michael. We can't fight a girl!" One of the other boys shouted.
"She doesn't act like a girl so we won't treat her like one. Akira, you're up."
She watched as the boys moved aside to reveal a very thin boy. Nadira felt her mouth fall open at the site of him. The boy was very handsome with lively, dark brown eyes that were slightly covered by his black hair. The smudges of dirt on his face made him seem more attractive somehow. He looked like he held deep strength within him but she doubted that he would be a problem for her.
She charged forward and grabbed Akira around his middle. She tried to tackle him but he wouldn't budge. He was a lot stronger than he appeared. She spent several minutes trying to get him to move an inch but nothing happened. Akira must have grown tired of Nadira because the next time she charged at him, he simply tripped her before pinning her to the ground.
All the boys cheered and Akira got off of Nadira before helping her up.
"Are you alright?" he asked and Nadira felt herself melt at the sound of his voice. It wasn't particularly deep but it was cute.
"Yea, I'm fine."
She stared into his eyes and he stared into hers and a moment began forming between them. It felt like at that exact instant in time, only Akira and Nadira were in existence but reality set in all too quickly as the loud mouth leader decided to start talking.
"Alright, you lost so get lost."
She glared at Michael. "I'm not going anywhere."
"But you promised."
"I said I would walk away and I am." She took a few steps back. "I won't bother you. I just don't have anything to do."
Michael looked like he wasn't going to agree but Akira spoke up, "She's not messing with anyone so just let her be. She could be a look out because we all know how bad Bixby is at it."
All the boys turned around to look at a portly boy who was standing at the tents edge, watching a group of female gypsies walk by. One of them waved at him and he giggled happily before tripping on his shoe laces and falling to the ground.
Michael turned his attention back to Nadira and gave her a long glance. The inner battle he was having was plainly written across his face but at the end of it he sided with Akira. "Fine, you can stay. Just make sure to keep a look out for cops, ok?"
"Okay," she nodded.
It was starting to get dark and many of the guests had already left, only a few stayed behind to have some drinks with Albert. Marilynn took the opportunity to leave the Cornwell grounds in search of a contact that was nearby. She would need to have a low profile and get things done as quickly as possible so she changed into one of her servant's casual clothing and walked a bit until she came across a lone man standing underneath a large tree. His figure was hidden by the tree's shadow and a large wall that surrounded the Cornwell estate.
"Riki?" she called out as she approached the figure. "Riki is that you?"
"Yes." A deep voice replied.
"I'm glad that you were able to come out on such short notice."
She ventured a step forward but still was unable to see the man's face. She went to take another step but his words stopped her.
"You know that I would do anything you asked of me, Your Grace."
Marilynn bowed her head, embarrassed at the sudden heat that surrounded her face at his words. Riki always had that affect on her since she was a child. That had grown up together several miles away from her current home. He was one of the household staff that worked in the kitchen. She seriously considered running away with him when she had turned eighteen but then she found out about his underground racketeering business and instead ran into the arms of Albert. That was almost fourteen years ago. "You know that you don't have to call me that. We're old friends."
"Once upon a time, we were more than that."
"Why did you ask me to come here, Marilynn?"
"I need a favor from you. I need you to relieve me of a burden."
"And how do I go about doing that?"
"There's a child that's becoming troublesome. I need you to dispose of her."
"Kill her?" She could hear the surprise in his voice. "You want me to kill a child?"
"I want you to get rid of her. If it comes to killing…"
"You've changed, Marilynn," He chuckled but there was no warmth in it. "A few years ago, such a thought wouldn't have entered your mind."
"Will you do it?" she ignored his comment. She only cared about accomplishing her goal.
"Of course, but first you'll have to do something for me."
He stepped closer to her and out of the tree's shadow. She was finally able to see his startling blue eyes. His nose was thin as were his lips. They were shaped like a bow. She used to joke with him saying that he was always frowning because his lips were downturned. Riki's dark brown hair was slicked back by a large amount of grease. His face was the same as she remembered it from all those years ago. The only difference was now he had a long scar that ran from the corner of his right eye to the side of his lip. Before she realized what she was doing Marilynn had rushed forward and grabbed his face in her hands and examined his scar closely.
"Riki, what happened to you?"
"I got into an accident." He grabbed her hands and held onto them tightly. The feel of her skin was so soft and warm. "I missed you." He whispered.
"Riki, we shouldn't be doing this. I'm married. I have a family."
"But you're still not happy. Tell me, why does that child bother you so much? Why can't you remove her and her parents from your home and be done with it all?"
"It's not that simple."
"Is it because of your husband? Is it because of Albert? Did he have an affair?"
Marilynn didn't say anything. Even though it was a lie by omission she thought that it would be better than the truth. As a mother, her actions were unforgivable but she had more than one child to think about—more than one person. Nadira was drowning and dragging the whole family with her. She needed to let the child go.
"How could he do that to you?"
"Don't worry about that. Time is of the essence so you must move quickly. She's a girl of thirteen years with massive curls. She has a heart shaped birth mark on the back of her neck and responds to the name Nadira and is currently at the town square."
"The festival is today. It'll be hard to find her."
"But you will. Whatever you do, make sure that she doesn't return here. So do what you must. Hurry," she said as she pushed him away.
"Before I go—" Riki grabbed Marilynn's face and pulled her close before kissing her on her lips. "That's all I wanted."
"Thanks for all the help. You did good kid," Michael said as he patted Nadira's back. The sun had set almost an hour ago and it was time for many of the children to return home, including Nadira. She knew that a massive tongue lashing was awaiting her when she got back. "You can be our look out any time."
"Really? Thanks Michael!" She said as she hugged him tightly. She knew that being a look out wasn't much but it was a lot better than being alone all day.
"Hey! Get off me!" Michael screamed as she pushed her away roughly, causing her to stumble into Akira.
"Sorry," She whispered shyly as he helped her regain her balance. "I didn't mean to—"
"I know. Don't worry about it." He released her and looked at Michael who was running away with a few of the other boys. "That boy is too much. He should know not to push a girl."
"Hey. I can handle myself. I'm not delicate."
Akira lifted an eyebrow. "Have you forgotten about what happened earlier?"
"No. I just wasn't myself. I let you win."
"Really?" the stare that he gave her made her feel that he could see right through her. It was like they were forcing her to tell the truth. The feeling that was radiating off of him was too powerful for her to withstand.
"I'm glad to see that you're being honest with yourself." He turned around and started walking away. Nadira made a face behind his back and he stopped. She was worried for a moment that he somehow had seen her but then realized that it was impossible. He would have to have eyes in the back of his head.
"Which way are you going?"
"Huh?" Nadira asked, confused by the question.
"I just realized that I was angry with Michael for not behaving like a gentleman and here I am not behaving much better. I shouldn't let you walk home alone, especially on a night like tonight. There are always crazy people lurking around at these types of things."
"Yes," Akira nodded his head. "We don't only have a lookout because of the cops but also because of the psychos that roam about at festivals. Kids get kidnapped all the time at things like these."
"Really?" She asked again. Nadira was starting to get scared. Everything under the moon's light seemed to morph into some kind of creature out of a horror story that one of her maids' children use to tell her. She quickly ran to Akira side and pointed in the direction east of them. "I'm going that way. It's a bit of a walk. So it will take us awhile to reach my home."
"That's fine. I'm sure my house is further away than yours. I was heading in that direction as well."
For the first 15 minutes of their walk neither spoke. Nadira figured that Akira wasn't talking because he was the strong silent type and she didn't speak because she didn't know what say. She never really held a pleasant conversation with anyone before. They always turned her away, except for her Dad and Callia. She could usually count on them for anything but lately her Dad has been distant—almost as cold as her mother.
"Nadira," She said without thinking. She winced when she realized what she had sad. She knew that she was about to be called a liar.
"Lady Nadira Cornwell of the Cornwealas Providence?"
"Yes, what of it?"
"Nothing," he said with a shake of his head. "I just thought you were bed ridden."
"A lot of people think that but it's not true. It's a rumor that my mother started."
"Your mother, Duchess Cornwell?"
"Yes. She's embarrassed of me. She says that she doesn't want anyone to know that her daughter is no better than a commoner so she made up that lie so people wouldn't question her about me. Look, I know you don't believe me but—"
"I never said that I didn't believe you," Akira interrupted.
"People would like to believe that the nobles that govern us are as dignified as their title suggests but I beg to differ. They can be just as deplorable as two dogs copulating on the side of the road."
"You know, you don't sound like a teenager."
"That's because my mother forces me to read various novels that she sneaks away from the people we serve. She says that she wants me to be just as smart as them—to have a clear mind and a bright future. But I know that all that I will ever be able to achieve is the status of a butler— just like my…father. The knowledge that I gain will inevitably go to waste."
"You do know that you don't have to be a butler. You could open your own business or something."
"I would need a college degree to run a business that is successful enough for me to live comfortably.
"I have a feeling that owning your own business will be a lot better than spending your life serving someone."
"Being a Butler might not be as bothersome if the person that I serve is as kind and smart as you Lady Nadira." Akira glanced over at Nadira and saw a slow smile forming on her face. He watched silently as she placed her hand on her cheeks and began rubbing them. "Are you blushing?"
"So what if I am?"
Akira didn't say anything. Instead he smirked and sped up a little.
Nadira quickly followed behind, embarrassed by her own reaction to his words. He most likely thought she was liar and immature girl not to mention weak. "Thanks for not calling me a liar."
"When I told you my name, thanks for not calling me a liar."
"Should I have?"
"Well—no but most people do. No one ever believes me when I tell them who I am."
"It would've been hypocritical of me to not at least entertain the idea that you are who you say you are, considering my own situation."
"What situation is that?" she found herself asking but didn't get an answer. Instead Akira pointed ahead of them. She looked in the direction that he was pointing and realized that she was home. She didn't think that she would be so upset as they stopped at the entrance. Home was usually her sanctuary but now she wanted to be far from it, anything to spend more time with Akira. "I guess this is it."
"I bid you farewell, Lady Nadira."
"Goodbye Akira. Maybe I'll see you around some time?"
"Sure." He waved goodbye before walking ahead.
Nadira sighed before turning around. She started walking up the road that led to the Manor when she noticed a man standing a short distance away. She assumed that it was one of the farm workers. Most of the house servants remained inside the house at night.
When she got closer she realized that he was wearing a long coat which meant that he definitely wasn't a worker. She surmised that he must have been one of the guests from Callia's party.
"Hello, sir." She said as she approached him.
"Are you Nadira?"
The man grabbed her roughly before turning her around and moving her hair away from her neck.
"What are you doing?" She yelled as he released her. She watched with wide eyes as he pulled out a dagger. She didn't wait for an answer and began running in the direction of the main road. "Akira!"
She screamed as loudly as she could. "Akira! Somebody help me please!"
She turned around and saw the man chasing after her at full speed. He was too fast for her to out run. In her panic she didn't see the large branch in the road and tripped over it. She came crashing down to the ground, gaining a few cuts and bruises. She tried getting back up but it was too late. The man was standing over her. He raised the knife high above his head and was about to embed it within her chest when a strong kick sent him reeling.
Akira had came just in time and landed a successful round house kick on the man's head. The guy fell to the ground and hit head on a nearby rock. Akira turned to Nadira and helped her up.
She nodded, not able to speak. Her heart had been pounding so fast earlier. If Akira hadn't intervened she was sure that if she hadn't died by the man's hand she would have died from a heart attack. When she finally was able to breathe properly she began to speak.
"Thank Yo—Akira!" She screamed as the man suddenly appeared behind them. Akira went to turn around to fight the man off once again but it was too late. The man stabbed him in his chest and Akira fell to the ground lifelessly. Nadira dropped to the ground beside him and held him within her arms. "Akira!" She cried out. As if screaming would bring him back. "Akira, I'm so sorry."
"Why are you doing this?" She screamed at Akira's murderer.
"It's all for Marilynn." The murderer picked up the rock he tripped on before approaching Nadira.
"My mother?" she whispered before the rock came crashing down on her head, causing her to lose consciousness.
You must login (register) to review.


checkout process and try again. View Sale, get alerts when we add new. Copy and paste the, true, leaf, market coupon code in the box next to the product and click "Apply" or "Submit". FreeShipping sale, free Shipping w/ 45, get Offer 25Off sale 25 Off Select Seeds. Free Shipping on 45 order. People can find numerous options online to consider and shop. Some sellers also offer Thank. If you have any questions about using your coupons online, please contact m Customer Service. These coupons allow people to make the right choices and save big every time.
We have 86 true leaf market coupons for you to consider including 86 promo codes and 0 deals in January 2019.
To save money on all your purchases from.
True Leaf Market, you can use any of the online coupons or promo codes that are offered by Giving Assistant.
Each time that you redeem one of these special offers, a donation will be made to charity.
Below is the Easy 3 Step process to get your savings now! Non-GMO, Heirloom and Organic Vegetable Garden Seeds. Wheatgrass Kits, Juicers, Seeds and Supplies. Get 5 Off Your Purchase, take 5 Off Your Purchase, save 5 On Your Purchase. Shop Organic Sprouting Seeds. True, leaf, market coupons. Step 3: Scan your shopping cart to confirm that the coupon code was properly entered and is reflected in your total price. Emergency Garden Seeds and Supplies. Off, sale, product, sale, category. Confirm that you are buying what you want, and that it fulfills any requirements to qualify for the.


More than 44,000 visitors from 160 countries visited the worlds' leading exhibition for the solar industry in Munich from June 22-24 where Delta unveiled its new innovative green energy solutions.
Delta, the global leader in power and thermal management solutions, presented a broad portfolio of energy-efficient solutions to optimize the harvesting of renewable energy and support the growing sustainable lifestyle trend.
Visitors to the Delta booth were impressed by the compact size and high power output of the world's first 88kVA wall-mounted string inverter. To give a size comparison the M80H power module, with 88kVA output power is roughly the same size as the M50A, a 55kVA string inverter, representing an increase of more than 50% in power density.
The greatly increased power density was reached by Delta due to the use of silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductor components in the M80H design. The M80H is a two-stage, large DC input voltage range 200-1000V boosted solar inverter with a high peak efficiency of 98.8%, a large advantage in reaching maximum yields for solar systems that are partially shaded during the day.
The inverter offers a safe DC/AC wire connection box and built-in DC switches and AC and DC surge protection devices (SPDs) to reduce installation costs due to additional external devices. Multiple communication interfaces are available such as RS-485 and optional Ethernet.


text:
Q: Why sum(//*) returns this answer on this xml? This is the xml
2<c>3</c>

And this is the XPath query
sum(//*)

Which produces the following result :
Type: Num
Value : 28.0000

This is XPath 1.0
Please explain the type conversions (step by step)

A: Let's break it down:

*

*the //* would match the a, b and c nodes

*the sum() function would sum up the results of number() function call for every node

*the number() function would call string() on every matching node

*the result of number() for "a" is 23, for "b" is 2, for "c" is 3 - 23+2+3=28

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange