text:
COLOGNE – Ford of Europe is confirming its plan to deliver an exciting all-new, high performance Focus RS model for launch in 2009. A design image released by the company today hints at the exciting direction the new model is taking.
The new Focus RS will be based on the dynamic new Focus ST. It will be developed by Ford Team RS, a specialist team led by Jost Capito who, as previously announced, is being appointed to the new role as Vehicle Line Director for Ford of Europe Performance Vehicles from January 1, 2008.
"With two consecutive Manufacturers' World Rally Championship titles under our belt, the time is right to create a new Focus RS," said John Fleming, Ford of Europe's President and CEO. "With the Fiesta and Focus ST models, Jost and his team have proved already that they can deliver exciting and practical performance road cars. The success of these models, combined with Jost's experience in motorsport and Ford of Europe's positive business results, mean that we now have a credible business case for a no-compromise Focus RS roadcar for more enthusiastic drivers."
The basic concept for a new Focus RS has been under development within Ford Team RS under Capito's leadership for some months already. Now that the programme has been given the 'green light', Capito and his team will be concentrating fully on this programme.
"We have reviewed our technical options and worked closely with the Design team on how the car might look, and I'm very excited by the results," said Jost Capito, "Now with the programme going ahead, the hard work really starts as the small team working on the project takes the car from prototype to production."
Ford of Europe will not reveal any of the technical details of the new Focus RS until closer to launch in 2009. The company plans to show a concept version of the car publicly for the first time in mid-2008.
"We will use the redesigned 2008 Focus ST as the base for a no-compromise RS model that will become the ultimate road-going Focus," Capito added. "Just as the Focus RS WRC owns the rally circuit, we want the new Focus RS to own the road, so we have the major competitors in our sights as we develop the car's performance, design, handling and braking."
"We're not ready to confirm any of the technical details of the new Focus RS yet - Jost and his team have a lot to do to finalise the exact specification and styling," said Fleming. "But make no mistake, I can assure you that ultimately, the car we plan to launch will be worthy of wearing the coveted Ford RS badge."
Photo: Ford


Occupying a choice corner cul de sac location Number 14 offers three bedrooms (master ensuite), one and a half reception accommodation together with oil fired central heating and uPVC double glazed windows. Millfields being a very popular residential area will command strong interest especially from the investor or first-time buyer.
with under stairs storage, laminate flooring, telephone point.
with low flush WC, pedestal wash hand basin, tiled splash back.
with pine surround fireplace, cast iron horseshoe inset, tiled hearth, dual aspect windows, laminate flooring, TV point.
(measured to widest points), with shaker style eye and low level units, tiled between, integrated hob and oven, extractor fan, space for under counter fridge, single drainer stainless steel sink unit, French Door to rear garden.
with tiled splash back, plumbed for automatic washing machine.
with hotpress, access attic, smoke alarm.
Ensuite: comprising; low flush WC, pedestal wash hand basin, tiled splash back, fully tiled walk in shower cubicle with electric shower fitting.
Property approached by loose stone driveway leading to parking area. Front garden in lawn, rear garden, outside lights and tap.
From the Balnamore Road turn into Millfields, proceed to the mini roundabout turning left. Number 14 will be straight ahead.
I am interested in 14 Millfields, Balnamore, Ballymoney. Please contact me about this property.


In December 1948, nine McCloskey ships were partially sunk to form a ferry breakwater off the coast of Kiptopeke Beach, Virginia.
After the construction of the Chesepeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel, the ferry was put out of business; however, the breakwater still protects the beach and provides a home for coastal fish and birds.
Click on photos with blue borders for a larger version.


text:
require 'open-uri'
module Wecheat::Models
  class QRCode < Hashie::Dash
    include Hashie::Extensions::IgnoreUndeclared
    include Concerns::Persistable

    property :appid
    property :ticket, required: true
    property :action_name
    property :expire_seconds, default: 0
    property :scene_id
    property :created,  default: Time.now.to_i

    def self.store_dir
      File.join(Wecheat::Models.store_dir, 'qrcodes')
    end

    def initialize(attributes = {}, &block)
      attributes[:ticket] ||= Time.now.strftime('%s%L')
      super(attributes, &block)
    end

    def expired?
      action_name == 'QR_SCENE' && created + expire_seconds.to_i > Time.now.to_i
    end

    def action_info
      Hashie::Mash.new(scene: { scene_id: self.scene_id.to_i })
    end

    def app
      Wecheat::Models::App.find(self.appid)
    end

    def image data
      open("http://chart.googleapis.com/chart?cht=qr&chs=200x200&chl=#{data}").read
    end

    protected
    def filename
      self.ticket.to_s
    end

  end
end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


The Spidi X Nashville boots are a stylish addition to any retro gear, and a comfortable option when not on two wheelsHaving recently had the pleasure of reviewing some retro bikes, I thought it high time I upgraded my true 1980's retro gear. A new pair of boots was one of the items I needed and again Spidi came to the rescue in the form of their Nashville boots.
Spidi's Nashville boots are a more stylish full motorcycle boot, well matched to the current crop of retro and cruiser bikes. Although, not limited to those bikes, they also make a great alternative to full on sports bike boots, for those occassions where you are heading out somewhere on the bike with a destination with a social bent.
A lunch outing, a winery tour, attending a race meeting like the World Superbikes or MotoGP. Times where you want a boot that looks stylish both on and off the bike, as well as being comfortable to walk around in. The Nashville boot covers all those bases.
Unlike some retro styled boots, the Spidi Nashville boots have you covered with a decent amount of protection for feet and ankles. They feature an upper made of full grain cow leather with a thickness of 1.2 to 1.4 mm, with an oiled water resistant treatment. The lining is a full grain calf leather of .4mm thickness, making it soft and breathable.
The inner sole also gains the benefit of leather, again using full grain calf leather. The Nashville has a front with laces treated with wax, to really set off the whole retro look of the boot, but Spidi have cleverly incorporated a full metal 8mm pitched YKK zipper down the inner sides of the boots making it just oh so easy to slip them on and off, yet making them fit snugly and securely in the event of an oops.
The sole is made from the usual vulcanised rubber of a quality boot and features a "trek" design tread pattern. This makes the boot fantastic for walking around even on less than ideal grip surfaces, yet still feels fantastic while riding a bike.
The sole is trimmed nicely with a welt perimeter atop the sole, stitched to truly make the boots look vintage. They also include a "shoehorn" strap at the rear to assist in putting them on. The outer ankle area incorporates a polyerethane crumple ankle protector with reinforcements on both the toe and the heel which all enable the boots to be CE certified EN13634:2010.
The Nashville boots have fast become my go to boot, not just for riding but also when heading out somewhere for a non biking social outing. They are that comfortable.
They are available in two colour finishes, either the brown which I purchased, or black if you prefer. I'm saving my pennies now to buy another pair in black. I can see them getting a lot of use this winter both on and off the bike. The Nashville boots retail at $369.95 which I reckon is great value given the quality, comfort and looks of these boots.
For further product information, visit www.spidi.com.au (link) and Spidi stockists can be found by visiting www.motonational.com.au (link).


text:
Traps N Trunks's Blog (1,648)
Lil Richye - "I Want The Bag" (Video)
Meet Lil Richye.
A 15-year-old new sensation coming out of Charlotte, best known for his young, fly and flashy attitude mixed with limitless potential which has received co-signs for several of the industry's biggest names like superproducer Zaytoven (Gucci Mane). Ready to be in the forefront of the new era with the release of his new video called "I Want The…
Added by Traps N Trunks on December 11, 2019 at 4:07pm — No Comments
@mjgrizz_ - "Outside Looking In"
Coming straight outta the Chi, comes a MJ Grizz, who carries a smooth flow and demeanor with the lyricism to match.
Mj Grizz just released an introspective and reflective track, "Outside Lookin In" produced by A DOT that touches on working towards your dreams even when it's tough remembering why you started on your…
Added by Traps N Trunks on December 11, 2019 at 1:10am — No Comments
Elijah The Young Prophit - Prophit Season (LP)
Elijah The Young Prophit is a 17-year-old South Bronx uprising recording artist known for his youthful banter, street mentality and witty raps. Today, the new artist makes his presence felt with the release of his anticipated new project called Prophit Season.
An eight-track introduction, The Young Prophit earns respect with clever wordplay, great…
Kris Jewelers: Blueface, Swae Lee, Desiigners Go-To Jeweler
In today's Hip Hop, jewelry is as essential as the raps. Artists have to always shine bright and what better way to do that than with a never-before-seen piece of jewelry that catches everyone's attention. This is where Mississippi jeweler, Kris Jewelers comes in. Kris is one of the hottest new jewelers in today's Hip Hop who has become a most-sought-after industry…
Mo Money - "Feelings" (Video)
Meet Detroit's own new star Mo Money.
The Eastside rhymeslayer finds a way to use her surroundings, lifestyle, charisma, cunning and free-spirit to emerge as one of the most talented artists to come out of the city. Ready to evolve, we get the release of the visual for the new track called "Feelings".
The new song feed fans with the humblest of honesty…
LuKING - "Dotted Line"
Following his previous effort, "Maxx," up-and-coming New York recording artist LuKING continues to rise among the ranks of today's new artists with another breakout hit, titled, "Dotted Line". With a visual presentation on the way, the new song delivers a smooth and vibrant sound that will intrigue newfound fans…
Bonnie 1100 - "Arch Yo Back" (Video)
Chicago's Bonnie 1100 is slated to be the next big thing coming out of the Midwest in 2020. Known for her seductive rhymes, sultry sex appeal and progressive attitude, Bonnie prepares us for the future with the release of her new video, "Arch Yo Back".
Born Darnia Dunbar, the new visual is a feel-good, song for the ladies, who feel like letting loose and…
Vevo and Swae Lee Release Performance Videos for "Sextasy" and "Won't Be Late"
Vevo announces Swae Lee as the next artist in their Ctrl series with performances of "Sextasy" and "Won't Be Late" premiering today.
Vevo's Ctrl series highlights the work of hard-hitting, cutting-edge musicians making an impact in today's music scene - both emerging and established. These artists demand attention, and Vevo's Ctrl shines a deserving spotlight. Shot in Vevo's Brooklyn studio, Swae Lee's performance follow sessions from Fabolous, Rick Ross, Common, Rapsody, Jeezy,…
Added by Traps N Trunks on December 9, 2019 at 10:21pm — No Comments
Coming straight outta the Chi, is MJ Grizz, who carries a smooth flow and demeanor with the lyricism to match.
Mj Grizz just released an introspective and reflective track, "Outside…
Added by Traps N Trunks on December 9, 2019 at 9:09pm — No Comments
Kokane – "Fantasy Island" (Video)
West Coast legend Kokane continues to prove the immortality that music has to offer with the release of his latest project, titled, Finger Roll. In the promotion of new project, Kokane releases a visual for the breakout track, "Fantasy Island".
Equipped with his signature soulful vocals, the longtime hitmaker links up with Vivid Visuals for a…
Frank Vocals - "You"
Prepping for a big 2020, established Boston based R&B artist Frank Vocals unveils his impactful new single for "You". A follow-up to his previous release, "100 Vibez," the GxWay-produced ballad is a futuristic soul hit.
Showcasing endless creativity, the new tracks stays up to par with the likes of previous efforts, "Lucky For You" and "Swerve." As…
TM4L - "Nascar"
Returning today is Florida rap group TM4L as they continue their campaign into the new year with another new single.
With their last release being their biggest to date, the recently released and acquitted group looks to follow up with another impactful single titled, "Nascar". The new offering is a smooth ride and leads for much anticipation in the new…
Added by Traps N Trunks on December 6, 2019 at 2:22am — No Comments
TMac5200 - "I'm So Fly"
TMac5200 officially begins his campaign today with his new single "I'm So Fly".
The new single is a glimpse into the life of the young Philly artist as he looks to embark on his campaign and make a name for himself in 2020. "I'm So Fly" serves as the first official single release from TMac5200 upcoming self-titled project. The artist looks to close out 2019…
Added by Traps N Trunks on December 6, 2019 at 12:43am — No Comments
Vevo and Fabolous Release Performance Video for "B.O.M.B.S."
Vevo announces Fabolous as the next artist in their Ctrl series with a performance "B.O.M.B.S." premiering today.
Vevo's Ctrl series highlights the work of hard-hitting, cutting-edge musicians making an impact in today's music scene - both emerging and established. These artists demand attention, and Vevo's Ctrl shines a deserving spotlight. Shot in Vevo's Brooklyn studio, Fabolous' performance follow sessions from Rick Ross, Common, Rapsody, Jeezy, Jadakiss, A$AP Ferg and…
MD $crilla - I Do
When Atlanta rapper MD$crilla says that he's a street artist, he means that literally. As a matter of fact, he is the streets. Growing up on the city's southwest side, hustling was a way of life, which is how he copped his stage moniker. While stacking paper was always the motive, making music was the only other passion that got and kept his attention.
MD$crilla was first introduced to rap through his older cousin, who was also an aspiring… Continue
Sphinx II8 - "The Journey" (Video)
DMV based rapper Sphinx II8 is destined to make an unforgettable mark in today's Hip Hop in 2020. Today, the rising rhyme slayer prepares fans for his takeover with the release of his controversial lead single, entitled, "The Journey". An in-house effort, Sphinx delivers a thought-provoking visual presentation that indulges into the past horrors of American…
HoodStarz Ft. Sharky Montana & Yung Skrew - "Homicide" (Video)
The HoodStarz is among the mainstay acts that brought the signature Bay Area sound to the forefront of today's Hip Hop. Known for Hyphy anthems like "Ya B*tch," "Kush Clouds" and "Theif in the Night," the duo continues to thrive with the release of their latest visual for The Mekanix-produced hit song, "Homicide".
Directed by the talented Cassius King, in…
Added by Traps N Trunks on November 29, 2019 at 7:31pm — No Comments
R8TED$R Ft. FOrty38 - "Rodeo Drive"
Hailing from East Oakland, meet the next big thing to come out of the Yay Area in new artist R8TED$R. Known for his high energy, stylish wordplay and trending lingo, today, the promising new star prepares us for his star-studded forthcoming project with the unveiling of new song, "Rodeo Drive".
Ju$$ Wave - Big Backends
South Carolina rapper Ju$$ Wave returns this week with a new single titled "Big Backends" produced by Haz Futcha. Listen below and stay tuned for the video to drop in the near future.…
Added by Traps N Trunks on November 29, 2019 at 7:42am — No Comments
pre kai ro - "Ten Outa Ten" (Video)
With PartyNextDoor and Drake dropping some new music, pre kai ro decides he wanted to join in on the fun as well. Today the rising star from Egypt officially delivers his powerful debut video & single "Ten Outa Ten".
Having offered an exploration into the more vulnerable sides of his persona with his last 2 singles 'Baby Boy' and… Continue
PUKU - "Move Right Past"
TATIANA SCOTT - "IDCU (I DON'T CHOOSE U)"
Moneybagg Yo Live Vevo Performance - "All Dat" and "Toxic"
Rafayel - DaVinci
Video: Casino Gwaup - Waited 4 This
Lil Rick Blood - Locker Room Talk [Mixtape]
Video: King Shy - Where I'm From
Video: Low Keezy Ft. Mykko Montana - Stay Back
RiFF RAFF - BRiNG iT BACK TO ME BABY (VIDEO)
Fern (of Social Club) Ft. Cap 1 - No Love
SoloSam - Plated (EP)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Nederlands Français Deutsch Italiano Español
Park Plaza Victoria Amsterdam
Damrak 1-5, Amsterdam,1012 LG,Netherlands
ppvainfo@pphe.com
Explore everything Amsterdam has to offer in a superb location
Park Plaza blends historic architecture and modern amenities in Amsterdam
A clever combination of antique and modern, Park Plaza Victoria Amsterdam boasts historic architecture and contemporary accommodation in the city centre, just a five-minute walk from Amsterdam Central Station. Check in to a room in our eye-catching building constructed in the 1890s. Hotel amenities include free Wi-Fi, flavourful on-site dining, a fitness centre, an indoor pool, a sauna and a solarium.
Business travellers return to Park Plaza Victoria Amsterdam for its professional meeting facilities, and leisure travellers choose this impressive hotel for its proximity to area attractions. Cross the IJ river to visit A'DAM LOOKOUT, a popular tourist spot offering spectacular views of the city, or spend an afternoon in quiet reflection at the Anne Frank House. Guests also enjoy the many nearby museums and parks. Book today and start exploring beautiful Amsterdam.
100% non-smoking facility
Superior King - Iconic View
Executive Twin Room
Executive King - Iconic View
Experience the modern design of our Amsterdam hotel
Park Plaza Victoria Amsterdam offers 298 contemporary hotel rooms in the heart of the city, just a short walk from Central Station and the Anne Frank House. Choose one of our Superior rooms, or upgrade to a spacious Executive King. No matter which accommodation you select, you can enjoy modern amenities like free Wi-Fi, a flat-screen TV with on-demand movies, a spacious work desk and a coffeemaker.
Choose our sleek Superior Rooms with twin beds to enjoy a comfortable and luxurious stay
Superior Twin - Iconic View
Wake up with the beautiful views of Amsterdam Central Station from the comfort of your Superior room
Designed to maximise your comfort, these rooms are ideal for a short excursion to the city or a romantic getaway.
Upgrade to an Executive Room for additional space and amenities, including a lounge chair, a plush bathrobe plus slippers as well as free access to the health centre and indoor pool.
Experience the recently renovated rooms at Park Plaza Victoria Amsterdam. In all of our rooms, design meets comfort. Enjoy luxurious amenities, like the iconic views on Centraal Station, access to the health centre and indoor pool.
Executive Twin - Iconic View
Guests love our spacious One-Bedroom Suites, which comfortably sleep two adults and one child aged 12 years or younger.
Upgrade to an Executive Room for additional space, iconic views of the city and amenities, including a lounge chair, a plush bathrobe plus slippers as well as free access to the health centre and indoor pool.
Experience the recently renovated rooms at Park Plaza Victoria Amsterdam. In all of our rooms, design meets comfort. Enjoy luxurious amenities including access to the health centre and indoor pool.
Wheelchair Accessible Room
Feel like the festive season whizzed past in the blink of an eye? If so, don't worry, there's still plenty to celebrate thanks to our special Winter Escape offer. Book a stay from now until 9th February for stays up to 31st March 2020 and enjoy up to 20% off.
Carstens Amsterdam
Carstens Amsterdam is a brasserie with the main focus on quality Dutch products. The menu showcases a long list Dutch ingredients naturally grown on these very shores. Experience the surprising flavours of the Veluwe region as well as the catch of the day from the North Sea. It is, in essence, Dutch with a twist.
Accommodate up to 130 meeting delegates in the historic centre of Amsterdam
Located in the heart of Amsterdam's city centre, Park Plaza Victoria Amsterdam offers modern meeting rooms with some high tech extras. The meeting rooms consist of a high quality sound system, Samsung LED LCD displays of 82 inch with a resolution of 1920x1080 and barrisol coloured lighting ceilings. This way you can give beautiful presentations with an optimal sound experience and create your own atmosphere by changing the colour of the ceiling. Impress your colleagues by hosting business meetings in one of the 9 on-site event spaces, or celebrate with a private party for up to 110 delegates. Our impressive bar can also be used for private events. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel. With an iconic 1890s façade next to Amsterdam Central Station, our elegant hotel can't be missed.
Explore Amsterdam from the 20-storey A'DAM LOOKOUT
Situated close to Amsterdam Central Station, Park Plaza Victoria Amsterdam boasts an ideal location near the best attractions in Amsterdam's city centre. Several bustling business districts lie only minutes away, making our hotel perfect for corporate travellers as well. Families who are enjoying a weekend break love to visit the educational Amsterdam Museum and the historical Anne Frank House, both just one kilometre away. For a one-of-a-kind Amsterdam experience, take the 10-minute walk south to the infamous Red Light District or get a bird's-eye view of the city at A'DAM LOOKOUT.
Special tip—This hotel is close to the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Amsterdam Museum, making it perfect for a cultural city trip.
A'dam Lookout
0.5 mi / 0.8 km from the hotel
Get a stunning view of Amsterdam from atop this 135-meter tower. If you're feeling especially adventurous, try Europe's highest swing, 100 meters above the ground.
Anne Frank and her family hid in this house during the Nazi occupation of 1942. It is preserved as a testament to her life and the stories conveyed in her world-famous diary.
Every year, this music venue hosts as many as 300 concerts that reflect the diversity of Dutch culture.
De 9 Straatjes
Bursting with shops, cafes, and galleries, this neighborhood in the Canal District is the perfect spot for a day out.
Leidseplein
A bustling town square noted for its vibrant nightlife, Leidseplein is home to street performers, nightclubs, restaurants, theaters, and boutique shops.
1.3 mi / 2.09 km from the hotel
The most visited museum in the Netherlands, the Rijksmuseum displays 8,000 objects of both artistic and historical significance.
How to find Park Plaza Victoria Amsterdam
Damrak 1-5, Amsterdam1012 LG, Netherlands
Park Plaza Victoria Amsterdam is located in the city centre - opposite Amsterdam Central Station, therefore the hotel is easily accessible from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. As the hotel is surrounded by public transport options, you can easily visit all neighbourhoods in the city. But with the superb location, main attractions as the Dam Square and the Anne Frank Museum are within walking distance as well.
From Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
Walk to the train station, which is situated in the hall of the airport. Take the escalator down to the train platforms. Get onto a regional train heading to Amsterdam Central Station. Get off at Central Station (travel time is approximately 20 minutes). The hotel is right in front of the station (about a five-minute walk).
From Amsterdam Central Station
Get off the train at Amsterdam Central Station. Walk toward the centre of Amsterdam. The hotel is right in front of the station (about a five-minute walk). *These are just sample travel directions using public transport. For travel directions from other locations in Amsterdam or alternative travel options, please visit www.9292ov.nl.
By Car/ Taxi
For detailed driving directions, please enter your starting point and follow the instructions given by Google Maps.
By taxi
The hotel can arrange a "meet and greet" (pickup at the airport by taxi) from Schiphol Airport to Park Plaza Victoria Amsterdam for €60. From the hotel to the airport, the taxi will cost €45. Ask our concierge for arrangements.
Park Plaza Eindhoven
Park Plaza Amsterdam Airport
Park Plaza Vondelpark, Amsterdam
art'otel amsterdam


text:
Game of Thrones Ep 9: Baelor
Just when you thought TV couldn't surprise you, along comes this week's episode. I'm still freaking out over it almost 24 hours later. And because of the nature of it, we decided we simply couldn't wait until Wednesday to post our thoughts on it. As always I'm joined by Christopher Lockett, who must have been bursting with anxiety knowing what he did about Ned, watching the n00bs like me talking about how maybe Ned will join with this camp or that one. He's reviewing the episodes from a reader's perspective, and as I joked with him on email this week, it would have been interesting to have watched the ep together to catch the look of shock and horror on my face, matched by the look of bemusement on his as he anticipates my reaction. Unbelievable. So, because he's been so patient and amazingly spoiler-free, I'll let Chris start us off this week. (And be sure to check out his blog, where he'll simulpost this blog post and host his own comments.)
Chris: So, kind of a boring episode, eh? Nothing really happened, just your usual run-of-the-mill stuff. Certainly nothing to shock the n00bs. ;-)
But seriously, folks … Ned's TOTALLY UNEXPECTED execution is the moment, in reading the novel, when you suddenly think "Holy shit, this guy plays for keeps." And that realization sort of comes in stages, as the actual beheading is described vaguely enough that you spend much of the rest of the novel waiting for the revelation that he's not actually dead. I've had several acquaintances finish A Game of Thrones and say, "OK, so this is a Gandalf thing, right? He 'died,' but is going to come back in the second book?" I'm pretty happy they didn't really leave anything to the imagination in the series—now I don't have to be all mysterious about whether or not Ned actually got it, or worry about having "Yep, he's dead" be a total spoiler.
Yep, he's dead. And just a word of warning for those embarking on reading the series: do NOT get too attached to any of your favourite characters. NO ONE IS SAFE.
But of course, the shocking finale of the episode threatens to eclipse everything else that happened, and, all things being equal, this was a pretty eventful episode. And also an episode that warrants another of my "what they changed" lists:
• Shae—in the novel she is not "foreign." I don't know what that change bothered me, but it did a little. I kept waiting for Tyrion to guess, in their drinking game, "that accent is fake!" and have her relent and start speaking like the Westeros girl she is in the novels.
• And yeah … that drinking game was not within ten city blocks of the novel. A nifty device to reveal stuff about Tyrion, but it totally screwed up the pacing of an otherwise gripping episode.
• Tyrion getting accidentally conked on the head and missing the battle. That bugged me a little—in the novel, he fights; and his hillmen aren't in the vanguard, they're on the left flank, as Tywin assumed they would collapse in battle and entice the northerners into a charge that would leave them enveloped.
• Also, they missed a chance to use one of my favourite of Bronn's lines: encouraging Tyrion before the battle, he says, "A little man like you with a large shield? You'll give the archers fits."
• In the novel, Robb did not sacrifice two thousand men, but sent a healthier host south to engage Tywin Lannister and then retreat, as a diversion, while they took on Jaime Lannister's force.
• Also, I don't know if this gripe fits under "what they changed," but—snow in the Riverlands? Seriously? That strikes me as a HUGE continuity error.
OK, I think that's enough for that list. What would you like to talk about, Nikki? :-)
Nikki: OK. Breathe, Nikki… BREATHE.
OHMYGODICANTBELIEVETHATJUSTHAPPENED!!!!!!!!
OK, I think that was a rather calm response, don't you??
I have been watching television for many years, as you all know. I have been WRITING about television and studying it for many years, as many of you know. In that time, there are certain things I know to be true: when a character pops up out of nowhere with a tiny role, but the part is played by a giant of film or television, that is going to become a recurring character (unless it's on 30 Rock and the cameo was touted in commercials for weeks leading up to it); when a character has been built up with such a rich history surrounding him, and a clear path of right and wrong drawn before him, where you can see how he could join forces with this camp or that one, you know he will remain a focal point of the show; you do NOT kill off your lead… you don't kill off Jack Shephard on Lost or Buffy on Buffy or Sydney Bristow on Alias because, as mentioned earlier, if much of the show's plot and mythology has been built around that character, you don't have much of a bloody show without him/her; when that lead is in terrible peril and you know there may be a way out, there is ALWAYS a way out, especially if people who side with that person are not immediately present in the scene… in which case they shall come swooping in at the last second, lopping off the executioner's head and saving the day; when you have SEAN BEAN in the lead, you don't kill him off!!!!!!!
OK, sorry… I'm kind of becoming hysterical again. I think I can say there hasn't been an ending of an episode that has shocked me the way that did. The end of Lost's season 5, when Jack dropped the bomb and they didn't show what the frak happened and just ended the season there… that made every fan scream in frustration. But the events themselves weren't a shock. I've seen characters get killed off, and that was upsetting, but that's reserved for the end of the series and not near the end of the FIRST BLOODY SEASON!!!
Simply put (in case all of this maniacal ranting wasn't clear) that ending shocked the hell out of me. My hands were tightly clasped over my mouth, my eyes were gaping open, and I screamed a crazy person's scream (thank goodness for those hands over the mouth). My husband and I gawped at each other, and I think he may have spoken first, saying, "They killed him!"
"No!" was all I could say once I let out that breath I'd been holding in.
"I can't believe they killed him!"
"That didn't just happen. Back it up and let's watch again."
"How is… what… why would… oh my GOD."
Honestly I don't know how I'm going to get through the rest of this week's post. So much for analysis. I'm just rambling on and on with my reaction. I'll turn it back over to Chris while I continue to try to get my head around this, because I still have SO much more to say but I'm bogarting the action with my shock and awe. (And by the way, for the record, I think it was a BRILLIANT move on the part of the writers, not a mistake, because I will never, ever forget that moment of television watching…)
Chris: Hee.
I think I speak for all (or most) GRRM fans when I say just how cathartic that moment of television was. Everyone I know who has read the novels invariably says something along the lines of "I can't wait to see people's reactions when they kill Ned." Because it really is something of a game-changing moment—as I said above, it's the moment when you realize GRRM ain't your grandma's fantasy writer. It is akin to the end of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd when you discover that the murderer is SPOILER (yeah, not going to give that one away here)—a brilliant moment of generic rule-breaking.
And as long as we're on the topic, can I gush for a moment over how well that scene was done? It was handled perfectly, from Arya's arrival to the emergence of Ned, to Joffrey's sickeningly self-satisfied grin when Ned calls him the true king, to Cersei's look of horror when she realizes what Joffrey is doing … and finally to that heartbreakingly long moment of muffled silence as Ned realizes that he is about to die. It was all more or less exactly as it is described in the novel, except for two things: Ned spotting Arya crouching at the base of the statue, and telling Yoren that she is there. (For those who didn't understand the communication, the statue is of Baelor the Blessed, the holiest of the Targaryen kings—Ned shouts "Baelor!" at Yoren, who then spots and rescues Arya). I must say, I loved this little change: it gives Arya and Ned one last moment of connection, and reinforces for Ned just why he's agreeing to this travesty of his honor. It plays as a beautiful foil to Maester Aemon's little lecture to Jon Snow on honor versus love; in the end, Ned chooses love, love of his children. Jon's stipulation that his father would "Do whatever is right, no matter what" then becomes an interesting philosophical question—did Ned do the right thing? Was it right to choose his daughters over his honor?
Whatever the answer, it was for naught, and Joffrey shows his autocratic, capricious ways. He will come to plague his family with his willfulness as the books proceed. I hope everyone has a stomach for his repulsiveness—it finds way more outlets for expression in book two.
Assuming, Nikki, that you've caught your breath by now, what did you think of the episode's other shocking moments? Which, admittedly, seem only mildly surprising next to Ned's decapitation.
Nikki: I think it will be several days before I've caught my breath. I think I need to watch it again, just to see the end part. (On a completely random side note, my daughter watches the excruciatingly awful "Suite Life on Deck" on Family, and the other day it had the first funny line I've seen, where one guy tells this group of environmentalists that the captain has capitulated to their demands, to which ditzy London — who always misunderstands big words — exclaims, "Oh my GOD, they cut off his head?!" Heh.) Anyway, what I found in this episode, now thinking back on it, was that many of the scenes were there to help bolster up the very expectation I was suggesting they tore asunder with Ned's death. Khal Drogo appears close to death, and I do NOT want him to die, and said to my husband, "They CAN'T kill him off, not after everything we've gone through with him and Dany"… and they seem to have found a way around that. Tyrion is knocked unconscious in battle, and the next thing you see is him appearing to be floating above the battlefield, tricking the viewer momentarily into thinking he's dead and having an out-of-body experience… one I didn't fall for simply because he's Tyrion, and you simply can't kill HIM off. We see Catelyn ride into the Walder (sp?) fortress, and we know she's probably not in any grave danger because, well, she's Catelyn, and they won't kill her, right?
Now I'll never rest easy. I'm thinking Drogo and Tyrion and Sam and Arya will be in a massive battle to the death next week at this rate. Cripes.
So that is perhaps why they added in the Tyrion scene. But as you say, I would have much rather seen him do battle, especially since we've seen him bludgeon a guy to death with a shield. :::shudder:::
But back to Ned (see, I just can't let it go… Lost has taught me nothing), aside from the shock that ending gave me, I'm really saddened by that final, terrible, beautiful few moments of his life, which at the time I didn't realize were his final ones. He sees Arya crouching on that statue (and THANK YOU for explaining the name of the statue, because my big question of the week was, why was the episode called Baelor? Is there any tie, by the way, to Baelish?). There's a look of pain and shame on her face, and of course, anger that her father is spouting such blatant lies. I kind of hated Sansa in this scene, who, on the one hand, is trying desperately to save her father's life, but on the other, is allowing him to compromise his very soul with those final words. Joffrey made his pronouncement, and Arya made her move. As she was weaving her way toward the stage, I began yelling, "Come on, Arya! Show us what those dancing lessons taught you!! Arya for the WIN!" I was so convinced she would be his savior. Silly me. But now, with a clearer head, I know she would have walked to her own death, and her father's and possibly Sansa's, too. Stopping her was the only thing that could have been done in this scene.
But my heart broke when Ned looked out to that statue one last time and she was gone. The one person who seemed to share his soul was gone, and he would never look at her again. Heartbreaking.
You remember what happened to Viserys a couple of episodes back? That's child's play compared to what I want to happen to Joffrey, that sniveling little toad excrement.
So… once word gets over to Ned's son and his army of bannermen, I'm wondering how long Jaime Lannister is for this world…
Chris: Speaking of that bit where Tyrion seems to be floating over the ground, can I call foul on the director for totally ripping that whole thing off of Gladiator?
I loved all the Drogo/Daenerys parts of this episode, just as I did in the novel. It's such a harrowing sequence as we realize that however powerful Dany has become, however much she has come into her own, her power as far as the Dothraki are concerned is entirely dependent on Drogo. Jorah's urgent entreaty for them to flee at first seems cowardly until he explains what is at stake: the khalasar is held together solely by Drogo's strength—once that strength ebbs, the whole house of cards threatens to come down. And yet Dany hangs on, desperate, willing even to trust to blood magic. And … well, we'll see how that works out next Sunday.
We also finally get to see Jorah's own skill with a sword, and he proves himself not as nimble as his Dothraki foe, but tougher—delivering the killing blow while his enemy's blade is literally stuck in his hip. It's an interesting little preview of what a war between the Dothraki and Westeros might look like.
But to return to Tyrion, what did you think of his confession during the drinking game? I reiterate my annoyance with the drinking game sequence, but it was really there to reveal one of the defining moments of Tyrion's life, and the root of his antipathy to his father: his short-lived marriage, and the horrifyingly cruel way in which Tywin ended it. Again, though I disliked the scene the story was embedded in, I thought Dinklage's retelling of it was heartbreaking.
(Also, now that Shae has made her appearance I can say without fear of spoilage that I had wondered if perhaps the ubiquitous Roz was going to show up as the whore whom Tyrion takes on in the field. But no—she stays in King's Landing, which means there's a more likely role for her in season two).
Nikki: Yes, that Dany/Drogo scene was rather disheartening. She'd come so far, and I've said in past weeks that she's gone from being this character who is the object of the story's misogyny, whether from her brother or husband, to one of extreme feminine toughness, rising above her outsiderness and becoming one of the Dothraki. The scene of her eating the heart was the peak of her power among them, and is the moment when Viserys noticed it and realized she has power because she is loved and respected, and he doesn't have what she does. But he was wrong. She's only powerful, as you say, as Drogo's wife. Nothing more. She means absolutely nothing without him, Dragon or no. I admired her strength in refusing to let the Dothraki rape and pillage, but by taking that away from them, they are certainly questioning their Khaleesi. I hope we see the Dragon emerge next week. ;)
I also want to say on a sidenote that I really enjoy listening to the way the Dothraki language is delivered. Dany says it with some ease, but with a very different accent than the Dothraki use. Drogo speaks it so quickly it's as if it was the actor's native language, and the man who challenged her in the episode over and over again (I can't remember his name) spoke it less gutterally, but with the same accent as Drogo. The way he said "Khaleesi" was entirely different from the way Dany says it, or the way that slave girl said it who worked for her (and who was English-speaking). What a nice, subtle touch.
While there are moments where Dinklage's English accent doesn't quite work for me (he seems to say so many of the words with an affectation and a sneer, but in a way that works for his character), I thought his retelling of that story was, as you say, heartbreaking. One wonders if Tyrion is such a sexual character – it's how we were first introduced to him, after all – because of the way he was treated when he was 16. Perhaps with that woman, his "wife," he felt like a whole man for the first time in his life, and he's been attempting to recreate that by cavorting with other whores. Or, could it be some sort of self-punishment, sleeping with so many whores because he's resigned himself to the belief that he will never find a woman who is not a whore who will actually love him? I just love this character, and that story added a much deeper layer to him this week.
Incidentally, I was reading this week's Rolling Stone magazine (a book I'd been editing for the past year was reviewed positively in it!) and there was a brief interview with Dinklage. My favourite part of the article was where they talked to Lena Headey, who plays Cersei, who said she'd been very aware of Dinklage's other roles, and when he walked in the room she was prepared to meet a man who was small. What she wasn't prepared for, she said, "Was that he would be THAT hot." Hahaha!
While it doesn't compare to the shock of the ending, I must say the other gasp moment in this episode was finding out the old blind man (notice how I don't use names because I simply can't keep track of them all) at the Wall was, in fact, a Targaryen! Another fascinating backstory!
So, with only one episode left to go, does it feel to you, a reader of the book and someone who's aware of what is still left to cover, that they are rushing things at all? While the pace is much quicker than it was earlier, and while I do believe there are a lot of things they may still have left to cover, I'm really enjoying the pace, but I wonder if fans of the books feel differently?
Chris: No, I actually think they've done an admirable job in pacing the story. When I first heard it would be ten episodes, I was a little concerned that it would be rushed … but I've never felt that it has been. I would in fact go so far as to hold up GoT as an example of how to adapt a novel to the screen—with the exception of one or two missteps (which, frankly, might just be me being cranky), the realization of GRRM's narrative in televisual format has been exceptionally well done. And really, the proof is in the pudding—the fact that so many people I know who haven't read the novels (like your own lovely self) are absolutely LOVING the series.
I will say nothing about what is in store for Dany next week, aside from saying—don't worry. All her growth and strength has not been for naught, and the sense that she relies absolutely on Drogo for her power is … well, again, I'll wait for next week. Suffice to say: the Daenerys we met in episode one would have fled with Jorah. The Daenerys we have now is an entirely different woman.
I agree with you entirely on how smart the writers have been with the Dothraki language. I can't recall if this has come up before, but they hired a linguistics professor to invent the language. A lot of GRRM's uber-fans—the type who teach themselves Klingon or Sindarin—asked him for Dothraki grammar and vocabularies so they could learn the language. To which he had to reply, with chagrin, that he had invented all of about seven words. So the achievement with the language in the series is astounding, and Jason Momoa in particular has been particularly impressive with how fluent he sounds. Not just a piece of beefcake, that fellow. It almost makes me want to go see Conan the Barbarian.
So … one more episode left. I am so going to miss this series when it is done, and will have to rewatch it from the start several times just to fill the hole it's going to leave (that the Seven for PVRs). I've been thinking through several article ideas that will give me an excuse to go back and rewatch it under the guise of "research" … there is, I think, certainly something to be done comparing this series to The Wire.
Any final thoughts, Nikki?
Nikki: Only that while waiting for your final missive to come back to me, I was doing an image search for pictures of this episode (they always seem to pop up a few days later, so the pickins were slim) but when I search for "Ned Stark execution" there was a photo of Ned holding the sword in that first episode, and I realized that's the parallel scene to this one. In that opening episode, the man runs into camp and claims to have seen the white walkers and the wights. Ned doesn't believe him, and in his black-and-white world, says the man must be executed if he's suspected as a traitor. Here the sword comes back around, taking Ned's head because he was too honest and told Cersei what he had discovered, and didn't act when he should have. Oh Ned…
I, too, will miss this show… I can't believe we have to wait another year for the next season! I will also miss our discussions; this has been a lot of fun!
I cannot wait for next week's episode, because I want to know what will happen to Dany… to Sansa… to Ned's son and his army… to Cersei… to Jaime… to Drogo… and to Jon Snow. So many people revolved around Ned, so I'm interested to see what happens when the centre is gone.
Labels: Game of Thrones
Michele in NL said...
OH MY GOD!!!!!!!! I cannot believe that happened. I just watched it tonight and I am still in utter shock. I, too, was thinking that Ned was the star of the show and wouldn't be killed. My jaw is still on the floor somewhere.
With the shock passing, I do have to agree with you, Nikki. I think the killing of Ned was brilliant. I will be on edge every time that a character I like is in danger...and that's a good thing. There are few shows that have ever drawn me in like this and I will never forget that moment.
Chris: While they may have left out one of your favourite lines, I have to say I loved it when Bronn told Tyrion to "Stay low."
The Question Mark said...
No! NO NO NO NO, Ned, you beautiful bastard, you can't die!!!
All hysteria aside, I have to give major kudos to GRRM for making such a bold storytelling choice. There are very few writers who have the cojones to kill off characters. Especially MAIN characters. Especially THE main character. Especially one-seventh of the way through their story! It's a gutsy move, but it works like a charm; our hysterical reactions are living proof of that.
Once again, Dinklage knocks it out of the park when recounting Tyrion's sad back-story. Hearing it just makes me love him more, and makes me wish more gruesome fates on Jamie and Tywin.
Oh, and Nikki, your completely undoctored and totally natural picture of Joffrey sitting on the throne was delightful. Does it come on dartboards, as well?
Question for Chris: the blood magic performed on Drogo was intriguing to say the least. Does magic play a bigger role in the books to come, or does GRRM sort of leave it in the background as an enigma?
After the execution, I screamed, "What the f*#k?!!" Holy crap, I never thought they would kill Ned!!
Am I wrong, or was the guy who Catelyn went to see (I'm also bad with most of the names!) the guy who played Filch in the Harry Potter movies? It sure looked like him. If yes, then that will make 2 HP alums. I'll then wait for Draco Malfoy to appear and kick Joffrey's ass! :-)
If they kill off Tyrion, I will really be pissed!!
Christina B said...
Nikki--I'm sorry. I'm so sorry (that's a Doctor Who reference you'll get soon!).
It was killing me to read your hopes for Ned each week and not say anything. I knew you were about to get your heart broken (like I did with Doyle recently!) and I just couldn't fix it! :(
Like I mentioned on Facebook, I've read the books twice. I knew exactly what was about to happen...but seeing it actually play out on screen made it so much more powerful. I cried and cried.
I completely agree with Chris. The scene was just perfect.
I LOVED the added touch of Ned seeing Arya and shouting "Baelor!" at Yoren.
I also want to say that at the end, when Ned didn't see Arya on the statue, I like to think that was somewhat of a relief for him.
He knew Arya was safe, away from the Lannisters and wouldn't have to see her father beheaded.
Things I hated (and again, I agree with much of what Chris said!)--
Shae is ALL WRONG! I dislike the casting SO MUCH!
She should be much prettier and much softer and much more playful and yes, not foreign and just more believable in general.
I hope she grows on me but I doubt she will.
HATED that Tyrion got bashed in the head and was left out of the battle.
The drinking game was just silly. But I can see why they had that scene. It was perhaps the best way they could come up with for how to tell Tyrion's story.
I also want to reiterate in big, bold letters what Chris said...NO ONE IS SAFE when it comes to GRRM!
That character you love and can't live without?
Yeah, harden your heart and don't love any ONE of his characters!
As a lover of the book series, I'm very, very pleased at how well it plays out on the screen.
I'm so impressed with how they put it all together and left almost nothing out.
I have to say that this is one of the best book-to-screen adaptations I've ever seen.
I'll miss it when it's gone too!
Chris in NF said...
Andrea: THANK YOU! Yes, Walder Frey is played by David Bradley, who was also Argus Filch. It was driving me crazy when I was watching that scene, and checking IMDb didn't help, as they didn't have his reference posted yet.
Christina B: Yep. You, me ... we're sympatico on all this. Do you have July 12th circled on your calendar?
Zach said...
Nikki just want to point out that the execution that Ned performed on the man that fled the wall had nothing to do with whether or not he believed him but the fact that he left his duty and by law his life is now forfeit. The fact that he didn't believe him goes more with these "White Walker's" have not been seen in Westeros for some 8000 years. Though something did ring true as he mentions the dead man's repeated ramblings to his first ranger of the nights watch of a brother Benjen during the dinner for Robert and his royal party.
Just want to thank you and Chri for getting this up so early this week as your recap is along with Alan Sepinwall's recaps are my favorite to read and I really enjoy reliving these moments with a newbie while Chris helps remind me of the details of what I read...
Zach Z
Jon Stueve said...
RE: Ned's execution. The parallel there is how Ned explained to his youngest why He had to do the execution. It was His responsibility to carry out the sentence.
Contrast that with Jowlery's order to have the executioner bring him Ned's head. An abdication or responsibility, and the kind of thing you'd expect from a *spit* Lannister.
JJ said...
This is the moment we book readers have been waiting for, and it did not disappoint. I feel it's the right choice to have Ned lie and call Joffery the true king at the end. It proves he really is just a man, not some larger-than-life personification of Honour'n'Duty, which makes all the other decisions he made -- especially the mistakes -- more meaningful.
Also, can I give a shout-out to the wonderful child actors on this show? Maisie, Sophie, and Jack have been hitting their roles out of the park since day one, and the big scene in this episode wouldn't have been the same without them. Great job, everyone!
Collywobbles said...
Wow....just wow. Another amazing (and sad) episode! Funnily enough, Ned's execution reminded me of how the writers of Lost considered killing Jack in the Pilot. But...I never would've thought that such an integral character would be offed so early in the story, and I must commend GRRM's bold move. I'm getting quite sad that the season is already ending, I can't wait to see the reactions of the Stark family. I mean, even Cersei didn't see that one coming (am I right or did anyone else think otherwise?).
Does anyone know if each season is based on one book? I'm thinking of picking up Book 1, but I don't want to come across any spoilers for season 2...just because I'd love to keep the suspense going on!!
@Collywobbles: yes the first book and and first season line up extremely closely timeline wise, they are both shaping up on ending on the exact same scene...actually the show more spoils stuff for later books and or minor things that you only pick up on through study of the nuance and details of the writing, e.g. Renly and Loras's gay relationship, or who Arya hears plotting while hiding in the dragon skull, since the book gives you very little on who those two people are that are talking...
Batcabbage said...
Question: Should I get HBO just to watch this show?
I haven't spoiled myself by reading any reviews or comments or blogs. I've already missed out on the first 5 episodes of The Killing and will have to wait until it comes out on DVD.
So, worth $10 a month?
@JS: YES.
JS: I second Batty. YES YES YES. (OK, apparently I second and third it.)
Zach: Excellent catch. Am I right in remembering that Ned specifically called him a traitor? I do like your parallel a lot that Ned wielded the sword himself and forced Bran to watch, while Joffrey got someone else to do it for him.
Another thing I meant to mention in my post and completely forgot to: When Ned walks up to what is essentially his gallows, he walks past Littlefinger, who has a smirk on his face. It made me think that he figured he had Ned where he wanted him, and could use him later. But if Joffrey tricked both Cersei and Sansa, is it possible he tricked Baelish, too? I haven't rewatched the scene (I stupidly deleted it and now must wait for a repeat) but I wonder what his face looked like when Joffrey did the about-face.
EsDee said...
@JS - YES!!!
This episode was just brilliant.
So, (as I may have mentioned in an earlier post), I was attempting to read the book as the show progressed - reading after an episode and trying to stop where the episode stopped so as not to spoil myself. I did manage to not spoil myself for this SHOCKER...man, I looked at the book sitting there and almost didn't want to pick it back up and read what I had just witnessed. Darn that GRRM!!!
Unfortunately, once I did pick the book back up last night, I read straight through to the end...just could not stop. (the Ned scene truly was captured perfectly on screen.) As for the rest of it, I wish I hadn't have read it all (no suspense anymore)...but I can't wait to see how HBO pulls it off.
Nikki and Chris - Your recaps and analysis just keep getting better and better...I am sitting at work laughing aloud and my coworkers think I am nuts.
Chris - So, should I read the 2nd book before next season, wait, or try a "read along" as I did this year? I can't decide. Truthfully, I just don't think I can wait to see what happens next!
JS: Yes. That's what I did. :-)
Nikki: I think it's a stretch to say that Joffrey "tricked" anyone with his decision to execute Ned after all ... to say that would imply he had schemed it, and, really, that loathsome boy isn't that clever. He's just willful and autocratic and, as we shall see in season two, well nigh sociopathic.
EsDee: as the Old Gods are my witness, I couldn't tell you which would be better. Though I will say that I don't believe my enjoyment of this series has been less for having read the books. All I can say is that if you, having now read the first novel, actually can resist running immediately to the bookstore for A Clash of Kings, you have WAAAAAYYYYY more willpower than me.
Nikki--In the book, EVERYONE was shocked when Joff made the decision to kill Ned.
He told no one that he was going to go against what they had decided.
Chris---YES! It's been circled since they announced an actual, FIRM date! ;)
Jazzygirl said...
I am still REELING over this episode. In fact, I feel like I could still cry over it. I've had that little feeling in my stomach ever since...like true grief, I keep saying to myself, maybe if I watch it again, he really won't be dead. *sigh* But, like Nikki, LOST has taught me nothing. LOL
I also knew I had to get on HERE and join in. (Wasn't able to yesterday unfortunately). When it was over, my hands were clasped over my mouth as well, and I KNEW Nikki was having the same reaction. LOL
I loved both your recaps this week. I wish I could say I feel better but now that everyone is saying don't get attached to ANYONE, I feel extremely unsettled. See, I DO get attached. A LOT. Now I feel like when I watch any episode, I'll be on edge...which is clearly what the writers want...so kudos to them...but it also makes me want rant and scream!!!
UGH I have to go back to the last scene. WHY?!?!? I LOVE Sean Bean! And Nikki voiced it perfectly: you "can't" kill off the main character that is the center of many others?!?! OMG I felt for Aryia. Her face was so heartbreaking. And yes, when Ned looked up and she as gone. I felt simultaneously relieved that she would not witness this and sadness for Ned that he would not see her again.
I DO believe Joffrey tricked everyone. And I was a little surprised that his mother said "NO!" to him. She always seemed so ruthless. I'd like to think no one else knew. And Nikki, thank you for that picture of Joffrey! LMAO!!! The actor that plays him is amazing.
Anyway, that's enough for now. I can't wait for next Sunday and the only solace I'll have for losing this show is that my other favorite show is starting the following week!! :)
Chris: I'm sure in the books you get some more insight into Joffrey's thinking or not thinking, but purely going by the show itself, it did appear that he was tricking everyone. He watched Sansa grovel, he gave her hope and told her to get her dad to vow fealty to him, he watched as Ned climbed the gallows and made his pronouncement, and then he announced that, yeah, about that, screw him, I'm killing him. There was no sense that he'd just decided on the spot to have him offed. I think it was absolutely premeditated (but again, that's just based on the TV character and not the book one). In my eyes, he absolutely tricked everyone. He knew Cersei and Sansa would be shocked by his actions. (Unless, of course, Cersei is in on it, which is a very real possibility...)
humanebean said...
Fantastic episode. Having not read the books (yet), I sometimes get the specific feeling that I am missing something important in backstory or character development or atmosphere that has been more fully drawn in the novels. This episode, though (and the last) did not give rise to this feeling - I thought the action and the plot movement combined perfectly with the characterizations and performances to deliver the story in and of itself without further ado.
That being said, I have to take one step away from the pack here and say the unthinkable: I was not *shocked* at Ned's death. (I may be completely alone, here) Having watched Ned's struggles to understand and deal with the world at Court and react to the machinations of the Council and Cersei ... I had a sense that Ned was becoming the symbol for the Old Way, honor and fealty and faith in leadership and valor to carry the day. Given the constant allusions to Winter coming, the return of the White Walkers, the fall of the existing order and the failure of his efforts to "do the right thing" ... I wondered whether his death would be necessary to show the chaos that was coming.
Well, there's that and the fact that I've been watching too many episodes of The Wire! My favorite movies and shows of late have been those that defy convention and present unexpected outcomes for both good and bad characters. As a matter of fact, I just finished watching the penultimate episode of Season 4 of The Wire, the part of each season where writer George Pelecano delivers powerful and often fatal insight towards the fate of some of the series most central characters. As a matter of fact, around my house, the phrase "I've just been Pelecanoed!" is a popular expression of forehead-smacking dismay.
That being said, I thought the episode handled the set up for Ned's death brilliantly. "I learned how to die a long time ago." I was hoping against hope that he would stay true to his honor and damn the consequences but felt sure that he would put his daughters ahead of his honor in the end. I did particularly enjoy the dismay that Joffrey's cruel and impetuous proclamation brought to the faces of all around him. I was profoundly moved by the stillness of Ned's acceptance of death and grieved for his last glance towards the statue - where he was likely torn between his hope for a last look upon Arya's face and the desire to know that Yoren has spirited her away to safety. I have to say thanks to Chris and Nikki for explaining that bit - I didn't understand that Ned was communicating something to Yoren and thought with sadness that Yoren had just turned away from him on his march to his judgment.
So much else to comment on in this episode but I've gone on long enough for now. Can't wait for next week's stirring conclusion ... and to hit the library up for the first book in the weeks to follow. RIP Ned Stark and kudos to Sean Bean's season-long performance. Hee brought an unforgettable character to life with tremendous vitality, portraying Ned in all his noble and stubborn glory, ultimately undone by the ability of other, lesser men (& women) to work their evil designs on the good and true.
brooding gecko said...
I just have to point out the amazing work the kid that plays Joffrey is doing. I'm betting he isn't getting served at restaurants cause of what his character did to Ned. Also, the effect of him deciding to kill Ned to everyone by surprise, to such an extent one could almost imagine the crew in the set going wtf?? and we would get shots of camera men and sound engineers looking at each other like it was a live event. It was really really well done, is the point i'm trying to get across
About Joffrey and his trickery...well in the books at this point you don't really get all the reactions of the rest of the small council as it is told from Arya's perspective in the crowd, I thought it was interesting that Littlefinger was the only one in that didn't try to rush to Joff to change his mind even the Varys came running to plead with him. It is expected that everyone wanted Ned to go to the wall and the war to end and that Joff would just listen to his Mom but I wouldn't put it past Littlefinger to have planted the idea that a true King would never suffice a traitor to the realm to live even in exile...
I REALLY hope Sunday we get the scene where Cersei and Joffrey get the news that Jamie is now in the clutches of Ned's wife & son.
LOVIN THIS SHOW!!!!
-Tim Alan
Nikki and Chris - all I can say is how my husband, Justin - who Nikki knows - has been asking me since episode 2, the following: Who is my favourite character? and Don't get attached to anyone. :)
The man has read the first book, I know - not sure about the rest so he is using the show to remind himself of what he has read.
With this last episode, he had more than an idea of what was coming but did not spoil me for it.
I was not sure I was going to like, let alone love, this show after the first ep. Yes, great on exposition and more but boy, it just took off with the second episode and been running ever since.
I am head-over-heels in love with this show. And yes, I also screeched when the axe fell. I so could not believe that Ned/Sean Bean (the MAJOR character or so I thought) was dead! Wow...
I am of the belief that Joffrey decided this on his own (or did someone else influence him - I do not think it was his mother as I don't think she would have been able to keep from expressing her delight in such a thing) as everyone else seemed prepared for him to make the statement about Ned going to the Wall. As soon as Joffrey took a breathe after his initial proclamation, before beginning again, I had a sudden feeling that he was not going to stop there. I was so shocked at what happened next ... and I think everyone else was as well...maybe.
Can't wait for this Sunday. :)
Oh, in case you want a sneak peak at Jason in Conan the Barbarian ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptC_KlAP_Ko
Chris -
No willpower, no willpower at all...just bought Book 2...
EsDee: [best Mr. Burns voice] Ehhhx-cellent.
Advice to 15 days younger self -- um, duh, get it, get HBO NOW!!
I am just catching up, and have been reading your exchanges - thank you so much, Chris, for suffering us n00bs. It is great to have someone who understands the detail comment along with Nikki, who pretty much has the same reactions I do. I sat here for a couple of minutes after the sword came down because I really did not believe it. I THOUGHT LOST had trained me, but I have been lulled into complacency. I kept expecting some sort of intervention, but I guess we now know a little bit of the shock his family will go through.
Also, I ordered all four books and plan to read SoIaF over my holiday in a couple of weeks.
This show is really amazing. The ability to tell this complex a story this effectively is the difference between writing books, where you can plot everything out, and having much less control on a straight-to-TV show. (Yes, I am still pissed G.R.R.M. dissed the LOST finale)
Can I Ax You a Question??
Buffy Rewatch Week 26
Buffy Rewatch Week 26: Spoiler Forum
I Wanna Do Bad Things With You...
"Question..."
Game of Thrones Ep 10: Fire & Blood
TCA Award Nominations Announced...
Game of Thrones Ep 8: The Pointy End
Game of Thrones Ep 7: You Win or You Die


Children will adore this highly detailed farm train set! The cheerful red engine pulls three smart wagons containing different farm products, and it is compatible with other items in the range due to the magnetic coupling. Also comes with wooden track pieces and is ideal for use with any wooden railway system.


text:
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California Pear Advisory Board Wins Wide Support Among Pear Producers – California Pears
Exit International Section Link
EXIT INTERNATIONAL SECTION
Header Social Media
California Pears
America's First Pear
Selecting Fruit
Conditioning & Handling
Shippers & Sales Agents
Merchandising Tips 1
California Pear Advisory Board Wins Wide Support Among Pear Producers
The California Department of Food and Agriculture announced this week that 100 percent of the California pear producers who voted in a recent referendum to continue the California Pear Advisory Board are in support of the state marketing order.
The law governing California marketing order programs specifies that at least once every five years, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) must conduct a referendum among California pear growers to determine whether the program will be continued or terminated. The referendum was conducted between January 27 and February 27, 2017 with a total of 80 ballots received—all in support for continuation of the pear program. According to CDFA, the votes cast represent 59 percent of the state's pear farmers and over 52 percent of the volume produced.
"California pear growers are a close-knit group of competitors who have banded together under the pear board," said Richard Elliott, owner of Stillwater Orchards in Courtland, CA. "Ours is one of the many pear farming families who support the activities of the pear board and value the services it provides to the California pear industry."
News of the continuing support for the California Pear Advisory Board comes at a time when representatives are out visiting with California retailers to encourage support for locally-grown pears.
"California pears are produced by local, artisan, family farmers who have been growing pears for generations on trees that are over 100 years old. This is exactly the kind of farmer today's consumers want to be growing their food," said Chris Zanobini, Executive Director of the California Pear Board (CPAB). "We are going to be working hard to deliver this message to retailers and asking for their support of locally-grown pears."
The mission of CPAB is to provide programs, services and representation that deliver value to the California pear Industry. Services provided include work in the areas of domestic promotion and public relations, international trade and production research. CPAB recently produced an Impact Report which outlines the accomplishments of the program over the past five years.
The California Pear Advisory Board has been in existence since 1992. It represents all pear farmers in the state who grow for fresh and processed uses with production averaging 150,000 tons per year. The predominant variety grown in California is the Bartlett, but CPAB represents all other pear varieties including: Bosc, Comice, French Butter, Forelle, Seckel, Sunsprite and Red Pear varieties.
All California pears are produced near Sacramento and, thus, CPAB is a big supporter of the America's Farm-to-Fork and the California Grown programs. CPAB has a robust social media program which can be accessed via its website at www.calpear.com.
Welcome to the New Web Site
Welcome to the new California Pears web site. There are a few items still under construction, but we welcome you to explore and learn more about America's First Pear.
Explore Recipes Sidebar
Explore the California Pear recipe section >>
California Pears Logo
How to Select and Ripen
Copyright © 2021 California Pear Advisory Board. All Rights Reserved.


The purpose of the Communication Strategy and Information Sharing Protocol is to support the messages that safeguarding is everyone's business, and that clear, timely communication is the responsibility of all partners of the Safeguarding Adults Board.
The purpose of the Board's Communication Strategy is to support the messages that safeguarding is everyone's business, and that good communication is the responsibility of all partners sitting on the Safeguarding Adults Board.
The Board has a responsibility to communicate with vulnerable people and the general public about Berkshire's Safeguarding Policy and Procedures and what each partner agency can do to support them through the safeguarding process.
The Information Sharing Protocol covers all of the agencies that form the Safeguarding Adults Board. It provides a framework for making decisions about sharing information in order to help protect vulnerable adults who may be at risk of abuse or neglect.
A person must supply information on request by the SAB if he/she is likely to have information relevant to the SAB's functions.
The information can be about the person, or a function or activity they engage in, or a person in respect of whom they exercise the function / activity.
The power to request information could be used when carrying out a Safeguarding Adults Review, but might also assist in the context of an on-going safeguarding investigation, particularly if issues are raised about the disclosure of relevant information. The request places the person it is made to under a duty to disclose. It is the Board rather than Adult Social Care or any other agency which has the power to request disclosure. The Board has agreed an arrangement for requesting information in urgent cases, as outlined in this document, Arrangements to Apply the SAB's Powers under S45 of the Care Act.


So I plugged the second drive directly into my MacBook Pro. It showed up, I entered the encryption password, and then turned off the encryption. Finder showed no files on the drive, which I didn't think was correct, but couldn't remember for sure.
I ejected the drive and plugged it back into the hub plugged into the Extreme. It still didn't show up. So I again plugged it back into the MacBook Pro, and now it won't show up there either. When I plug the USB cable into the MacBook Pro, I can hear the drive spin up and the normal initial chatter, and its LED is on. So I believe the cable is good, and the drive is not broken in any gross way. I've shut down and restarted the MacBook Pro, which didn't solve the problem.
Does it show in Disk Utility?
Yes! It says the format is "Locked Logical Partion," unmounted. (The disk just has one partition, and the capacity shown is the full capacity of the disk.) When I click the "mount" button, it just blinks, and the new log entry says it is still a locked logical partition, unmounted.
Since at most the drive contained back-up copies of files I have safely backed up elsewhere, I decided I would just reformat it with a single pass erase. When I tried, I got the error, "Disk object invalid or unable to serialize." However, at the same time, I noticed a progress bar on the main Disk Utility window saying it was erasing, though the disk name it used (disk2s2, I think) was not one I had seen before. When I hit "ok" on the error window, the drive now appeared as mounted and showed up in Finder. DU says it has several folders and files, but they do not show up in Finder.
I ejected and plugged it back in, with no different results. So I reformatted again, this time with no erase, and it seemed to succeed, and the reported number of folders and files went down, but not to zero, and the used space only changed slightly. When I clicked on the drive itself, then back on the sole partition, the DU display went back to the original number of folders and files. Weird.
I was then able to plug it into my Extreme and everything seems to be working normally.
In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Terminal in the icon grid.
Paste into the Terminal window by pressing the key combination command-V. I've tested these instructions only with the Safari web browser. If you use another browser, you may have to press the return key after pasting.
Wait for a new line ending in a dollar sign ("$") to appear.
A TextEdit window will open with the output of the command. If the command produced no output, the window will be empty. Post the contents of the TextEdit window (not the Terminal window), if any - the text, please, not a screenshot. The title of the window doesn't matter, and you don't need to post that.
If any personal information appears in the output, anonymize before posting, but don't remove the context.


I can't say it enough darlings, mixing high and low pieces is the key to a killer wardrobe. Investing in quality classic pieces and mixing them with more wallet friendly trendy items makes for outfits that are both fashionable and budget friendly. Cashmere is one area that is worth investing in. A cashmere sweater is always chic but it's also comfy and cozy for the cold winter months. A good tip for buying cashmere and not breaking the bank is to snap up sweaters at the end of the season when stores start clearing out winter merchandise. Now is the perfect time to make your cashmere wish list so that come the end of the season, you can try and scoop up some of your wish-listed pieces.


text:
Periscope: Rajeevan Thachom Poyil
Rajeevan THACHOM POYIL writes in English and Malayalam, the language of the Indian state of Kerala, where he lives. In English, he has published Kannaki (Crux Publishers, Vermont, USA, 2003) and the collection He Who was Gone Thus (Yeti Books, Calicut, India, 2004). With the Croatian poet Lana Derkac he edited Third Word: Post Socialist Poetry (Monsoon Editions, Calicut, 2007). In Malayalam his publications include Vathil (The Door, 1991), Rashtratantram (Political Strategies, 2004) and Koritharichanal (The Day when I was Horripilated, 2005), in addition to a collection of literary and cultural essays, Athe Akasam and Athe Bhoomi (The Same Sky, The same Earth, 2001) and a travelogue, Purappettu Poya Vakku (On the Trial of the Lost Word, 2006). He has also edited an anthology of world poetry, Virunnuvanna Vakuu (The Guest Words). Presently he is working on a novel Undying Echoes of Silence.. A 2004 alumnus of the IWP, he held a Ledig House International Writer-in-Residence Fellowship in 2008.
IWP: What or whom do you read to recharge your writerly batteries?
RTP: Why doubt? It's always the Indian classics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Originally these works are in Sanskrit. But, Thunchat Ramanujan Ezuthchan, a seventeenth century Malayalam poet rendered them freely into Malayalam. The very word Ezuthchan, in Malayalam means the father of writing. And we consider him as the Father of our language, Malayalam. Sometimes, I go to Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy and Jorge Amado. Brothers Karamazov, Crime and Punishment, War and Peace, Anna Karenina and The Violent Land. My way is to open them closing my eyes and begin reading from the page that turns out as if from nowhere. It's like a meditation. In poetry, I get charged from the vacana poets and Haiku.
IWP: What personal characteristic do you care most about in your life as a writer?
RTP: The undying disquiet that is always within, making me restless, sleepless, and fidgety. The reason and source of which remain unknown to me.
IWP: No matter what IWP organizes, writers seem to take away impressions of Iowa City that defy prediction. After all this time, is there something about your stay in the US that has remained particularly memorable?
RTP: Surely. Mainly it's the writerly ambience. A writer can't be lazy at Iowa because he or she is always in the community of writers, where all acts and talks finally end up in a talk bout the work one is doing. I don't think this atmosphere is available anywhere in the world. The very ambience of Iowa leads a writer onto his or hers next work. There's no way out but to write.
IWP: Is there music that complements or stimulates your writing?
RTP: Yes, this a brilliant question because I always write with a tune in the background and I follow this when I drive also. The background more or less keeps me undeviated on the road I am navigating along, be it in thought or in real act. Music is the spinal cord of all artistic works. I mean the music unpolluted by words.
IWP: What are you working on right now?
RTP: I am giving the final touch to my first novel.
IWP: What are the effects of the many digital and web-based literary activities in your region/language/literary circuits? Are you interested in, or affected by, these changes in the texture of language and modes of writing?
RTP: The advent of internet and web-based literary activities has helped a lot in democratizing literature. The print media is capital-based and therefore there's hegemony in it. Now, anyone with a computer and an internet connection can launch a website or a blog. This is very positive. In that, it reminds me of the invention of printing which revolutionized and made people-oriented the process of writing. At the same time one has to be very critical and sensitive about the quality.
IWP: What writers, or what works, are in your opinion in need of more translation and attention? What literary neighborhood excites you at the present moment?
RTP: I can answer this question only by taking into consideration the writers who write in Indian regional languages like Hindi, Malayalam, Bengali, Tamil, etc, and comparing them with the Indian English writers. Take for example the Latin American writers or the Chinese writers. Their reputation is not because they write in English. We read the translation. But when it comes to India the Indian writers who are known outside Indian are only the ones who write in English, be it Arundhathi Roy, Vikram Seth or Amitav Gosh. I am not underestimating the quality of their works. But, at the same time, there are equally good, perhaps more outstanding writers in the regional languages, like Mahaswata Devi in Bengali, Asokamitran in Tamil and Uroob in Malayalam. I think there ought to be conscious initiative to translate such writers into English and other international languages.
IWP: From your vantage point, should the state be involved in supporting literary creativity or literary institutions, and if so, in what ways?
RTP: I don't think so. When there's a state, there's a power. The position of a writer is always oppositional. When the state interferes, its policy and ideology come into play.
IWP: What—if anything--mdash; has given you a cause for political optimism in the last decade?
RTP: The survival of democracy all over the world.
1: Mohamed Magani
2: Michal Hvorecký
3: Tony Eprile
4: Rajeevan Thachom Poyil
5: Helon Habila
6: Yvonne Owuor
7: Edi Shukriu
8: Ameena Hussein
9: Medy Loekito
10: Farhad Khoyratty
11: Hu Xudong
12: Alan Cherchesov
13: Feroz Ahmed-ud-din
14: Bina Shah
15: Carlos Gamerro
IWP Media Gallery
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text:
Apple puts the Genius Bar in your Pocket with new Support app
Apple has some exciting news for people who use its line of iPhone or iPad products. The company has taken the wraps off a new app, simply called 'Support.' The app helps iOS device users find links to support articles, and allows them to schedule appointments with Apple's authorized service providers, like ComputerCare, and not just at Genius Bars, if they have more serious issues.
The Support app has access to your Apple ID and information about your registered products, making it a snap to find support for the right device. This also makes it possible for the service provider to access warranty information about the specific device, making the whole process faster and more convenient.
For more technical questions, users also have the option to visit Apple's dedicated Twitter account (@AppleSupport) where they can find product tips, tricks and customer support.
Here's how Apple describes the new app:
Need help? Apple Support app is your personalized guide to the best options from Apple. Find answers with articles tailored to your products and questions. Call, chat or email with an expert right away, or schedule a callback when it's convenient. Get a repair at an Apple Store or a nearby Apple Authorized Service Provider. Apple Support is here to help.
Employee of the Month – Jason De Los Reyes
To buy or not to buy (an extended warranty) – that is the question


This is a nice curry for a weeknight since it doesn't involve too much heavy lifting. There are many versions in India, of course, but this one makes a substantial vegetarian meal.
The official name for this dish is "shahi" cauliflower curry. The word shahi roughly translates as "royal," and it is indeed a royal dish!
Turmeric is the lead spice in this curry. It's what gives the curry its sunny yellow color, and is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties. It's the superfood of spices.
By the way, here's a good trick for cutting apart the cauliflower, which I learned on the job at my first restaurant near Woodstock, New York. Our friendly neighbor, chef, and mentor taught us to cut a deep cross at the base and then separate the head into quarters. Slice away the core and outer leaves. Then, with a paring knife, cut between the little "branches" to make florets.
Serve this easy vegetarian curry with naan bread, cucumber raita, and a salad, and dinner is done!


text:
Q: Getting information inside double quotes I am trying to get information inside quotes in node.js
For example:
var information = 'Hello "beautiful and amazing" world.'

How can I log the content written inside the of the " "?
I want to get this as result: beautiful and amazing

A: Using regex:

var information = 'Hello "beautiful and amazing" world.'
var regex = /".+"/
var match = information.match(regex)
var res = match?.[0].slice(1, match[0].length - 1)
console.log("Result: " + res)

This checks for " then any text, then another ". Then it removes the "s

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
My Biggest Investing Quarter Ever
March 31, 2021 By Richard C. Young
Dick Young, Paris, France
Originally posted February 24, 2021.
Due to a convergence in timing, I was able to make by far the biggest commitment to the stock market in my life during late March and into the second quarter of 2020.
On 31 March 2020, I posted My Three Week-Long Investing Program.
It led off, "I am ramping it up over the month of April and into May."
I also posted the exact areas I was investing in and why. No way I could have expected such quick and massive returns.
As recently reported in the Financial Times, "the S&P 500, the broad US equity benchmark that holds the nation's largest publicly traded companies, rose 74.9 percent between March 23 last year and the same date in 2021. That, according to strategists at Deutsche Bank, was the index's most vigorous rise over any 12-month period since 1936."
My Three-Week-Long Investing Program
Investing in Water
Successful Investing Is a Mindset
What to Do about China?
Progressive Liberalism Has Dragged America near Ruination
Can Ginger Combat Heart Disease and Improve Circulation?
Is It All Coming Apart in the Government's Face?
Richard Feynman Solved the Space Shuttle Disaster Mystery
Tom Brady Is Proof You Shouldn't Retire if You Still Love Your Work


text:
We are working with our wide business membership on recommendations that will keep Britain's tourism industry thriving. We're currently focused on five key issues:
Making the case for Tourism's role in the economy
As the gateway for the majority of tourists exploring the UK, London First has worked with Visit Britain and the Department for Digital Media Culture and Sport to develop a Tourism Sector Deal proposal. The proposal defends and enhances London's role as a connected, open and welcoming destination for both business and leisure visitors.
We also supported the development and delivery of London & Partners' Tourism Vision, and are working with our members to turn the vision into reality.
We have produced new, borough-by-borough analysis that shows the positive impact of tourism right across London. International tourists contributed £3bn and supported 70,000 jobs in boroughs outside London's tourism core in 2017. There is huge potential in this halo zone, and growing tourism here by just 10% would create an extra £268m.
Enabling access for tourists
In recent World Economic Forum rankings, the UK has maintained 5th place in terms of its overall competitiveness as a tourist destination. But we have dropped hugely in the competitiveness of our visa requirements, slipping from 22nd to 108th over the past six years. Competitor destinations are doing better at forging relationships with the new, high value tourism markets, such as China.
As part of the UK China Visitor Alliance, London First has consistently called for an enabling approach to visitor visas from key emerging tourist markets with huge growth potential, including exploring better use of multi-entry visas and visa waivers. The campaign has seen the government adopt all of our major policy recommendations including:
Accepting a Schengen application form to apply for a UK visa (halving the paperwork), and a Visa Application Centre sharing pilot with Belgium.
The introduction of a 2 year visa as standard (replacing the standard 6 month visa), and a commitment to introducing a 10 year visa
Having ensured that the forthcoming Tourism Sector Deal includes commitments to enhance the visa system further, London First and UKCVA continue to work with government to identify further practical moves to increase demand from China and remove barriers to travel.
Improved airport capacity and a review of airport charging
London still lacks direct air connections to 128 of the biggest cities in the world, and their tourist markets. London First led the three-year Let Britain Fly campaign to expand the south-east's airport capacity, culminating in the government announcing its clear support for a third runway at Heathrow Airport. We now work to ensure that the Airports National Policy Statement delivers a long-term aviation framework enabling new runway capacity at Heathrow and other airports in the South East.
The World Economic Forum's latest competitiveness rankings place the UK last for airport charges, largely due to air passenger duty. Such high charges for leaving the country are at odds with a goal of attracting more visitors. London First feels strongly that this must be revisited, and in the Tourism Sector Deal called for APD to be reduced to a competitive level with near neighbours, to increase viability of new routes to growth markets.
A modern and welcoming border
In the past, long queues at border control have been the greeting that visitors receive when stepping off the plane. Significant progress has been made at the UK Border Force in recent years, with measures like E‑gates speeding up border processes, freeing up resource to provide a friendlier, customer-focused welcome.
But London First believes the immigration authority should be given the necessary resource, including the ability to get more and better data quickly, combined with a flexible operating culture to hit tough queue targets, at the same time as keeping out those who should not be here.
As the government considers measures like Electronic Travel Authority, London First continues to make the case for intelligent use of technology for approving and recording visits, as well as enhancing security. Especially where this allows the UK to improve visitor experience, enable a more competitive visa offer to emerging markets, and the flexibility to respond to visitor demand and major events.
Attracting and retaining talent
London's hospitality industry is built on talented, hardworking people from all over the EU. According to research in our Facing Facts report, with PwC around 30% of London's entire hospitality workforce (250,000) are from the EU. The British Hospitality Association has also estimated that without new migration into the hospitality workforce from outside the UK, the industry faces a shortfall of 60,000 recruits a year. Enabling business to fill that skills gap with both domestic and international talent is a key priority for London First.
Read our latest report, the first borough-by-borough analysis of the impact of international visitor spending in London
More Tourism and Retail news, blogs and events
Bring back dancing bears!...…and other ways to revitalise our town centres
Planning Reform: supporting the high street and increasing the delivery of new homes
Night tube boost to 24 hour economy
Read our latest publications on Tourism and Retail


SEMA Show Exhibitors are eligible for a free listing in the widely distributed International Buyers' Guide.
SEMA Show exhibitors looking to export should sign up for a free listing in the 2012 SEMA International Buyers' Guide. Promote your company in this directory, which is provided to all international buyers at the 2012 SEMA Show and year-round at major overseas trade shows. The deadline to secure your complimentary company listing is September 8. This benefit is available only to 2012 SEMA Show exhibitors.


Local policies alone are often not sufficient to bring land and home prices within reach for many residents. It is important to understand how to use local public financing tools to facilitate private development as well as to leverage state, county, regional and non-profit financial resources.
Municipalities increasingly use tax increment financing to fund community development initiatives, including production of affordable homes. Improvements are paid for by borrowing against the anticipated increase in property tax revenue or rebating the increment to the developer.
Tax abatements involve freezing or lowering property taxes on a specified lot for a designated period of time. Abatements can be offered to encourage construction or rehab of rental homes, or to help homeowners stay in their homes.
Cities and Counties have the local authority to establish a Housing and Redevelopment Authority with the ability to levy a special tax specifically in support of providing affordable, safe and decent housing as well as to remove community blight.
Housing trust funds are flexible sources of financing for affordable homes, and work best when supported by a stable, dedicated funding source. Trust funds can be a useful tool for supplementing other housing programs.
The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program helps developers access capital for the construction and rehabilitation of homes for working families. Greater use of this resource can help communities expand the amount of federal dollars available for affordable homes.
Up-front expenses, including the costs associated with purchasing land, can present a barrier to small, community- based nonprofits and other developers of affordable homes. Pre-development and acquisition financing helps organizations obtain the resources to keep development on track.
Tax exempt housing revenue bonds or general obligation bonds may be issued by local or state governments to support affordable housing. They may be repaid by project revenues or through tax levies or appropriations authorized by the legislature.
In communities lacking an adequate supply of homes affordable to working families, employers can have difficulty maintaining a qualified workforce. Growing numbers of employers are getting involved in efforts to increase the availability of homes for their workers and the broader community.
In strong housing markets, non-profit or mission-driven developers can use profits from the sale or rental of market-rate homes to subsidize the development cost of affordable homes.


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Q: apply patch when asked `File to patch`, what should I do? I have a system freeze issue and I found this discusion on github, one of them suggest to add 5 patches:

When I type:
patch p1 < 0001-PM-autocomplet.patch

It asked File to patch, I don't know what to fill. How can I proceed and apply these patches.

A: To apply a patch of this form:
diff --git a/include/linux/pm_qos.h b/include/linux/pm_qos.h
index 0f65d36..ff59753 100644
--- a/include/linux/pm_qos.h

with patch -p1, several conditions have to be met.

*

*You have to be in the top-level directory of a kernel source tree. The -p1 option will strip one path component from the file names, so that a/include/linux/pm_qos.h will be treated as include/linux/pm_qos.h. This is a relative path which has to resolve from your current working directory.

*The file include/linux/pm_qos.h has to exist in the version of the kernel that you're trying to patch.
If 1 and 2 are not met, then patch will not find the file to apply and interactively ask you to supply the path name.
Then of course:

*The include/linux/pm_qos.h file has to be "sufficiently similar" to the one from which the patch was produced, otherwise the patch will fail to apply.

The same remarks apply separately to all other files that are mentioned in the patch.
If you're trying to patch a different version of the kernel from the one against which the patch was produced, I'm afraid you're "in over your head"; that requires some level of understanding of kernel development (depending on how complex are the adjustments required in the patch for it to apply).
Sometimes we find that kernel files have just been renamed; a patch will apply fairly cleanly if the files mentioned in it are renamed to the new names. On the opposite end, in the worst cases, you have to actually understand what the patch is doing (possibly by looking at the original kernel where it was made), and then implement the same logic from scratch in the target kernel.  In cases of "intermediate difficulty", you just have to deal with issues like variable names, function names and struct member names having been renamed; the patch will apply if it just follows new names.


This is an estimated closing statement that shows the sales price you expect to receive and the costs of sale, closing costs, state stamps, real estate commissions, any unpaid taxes or HOA dues, etc. Your title agent can prepare this for you.
This statement of facts describes how you got into this financial bind and makes a plea to the lender to accept less than full payment.
Lenders will want to balances of savings accounts, money market accounts, stocks or bonds, negotiable instruments, cash or other real estate or assets of tangible value.
Typically Lenders require a 3 month review of all bank accounts.
Your real estate agent can provide this to you.
When you reach an agreement to sell, the lender will want a copy of the offer. The lender may renegotiate terms of contract, such as commissions, fees, and refuse to pay for items such as home warranties and home and termite inspections.
Each lender typically has their own documents and forms required for short sale. Contact any of our offices – We know what each individual lender requires.
We encourage you to consult an attorney and tax professional in regards to the possibility of a deficiency judgment or possible tax obligations. Some lenders pursue deficiency judgments after closings, and can issue you a 1099 based on the amount of the loan that was forgiven. It is important you understand all aspects of a short sale before moving forward.
Contact Hillsborough Title to make sure your short sale proceeds as smoothly and stress-free as possible.
We Provide the Lender and You with a Complete Preliminary HUD 1 Settlement Statement Including all Taxes, Prorations, HOA Fees, ETC.
All this at no additional costs to you or your buyer!


and actually invest money into costly upgrades, do your homework. Make sure that the additions or updates you make have a high return on investment. It doesn't make sense to install new granite counters if you stand to break even or even lose money at sale.
e a photo shoot to capture its best side. A professional photographer, with a strong portfolio, knows how to make rooms appear bigger, brighter and more attractive. The same goes for your lawn and outdoor area.