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Home > Blog > 2020-21 Washington Capitals Season Preview, Odds & Predictions
2020-21 Washington Capitals Season Preview, Odds & Predictions
By Brenton Kemp in Hockey — Nov 30th, 2020 1:11pm PST
11 Min. Read
For the fifth straight season, the Washington Capitals finished the regular season as Metropolitan Division champs, this time by virtue of their division-leading .652 winning percentage.
For the second straight season, however, the Washington Capitals were disposed of the in the first round of the playoffs, this time in rather listless fashion at the hands of the New York Islanders who took out their division rival in five games.
Since winning their first Stanley Cup in franchise history in the spring of 2018, the Capitals have failed to win a postseason series in back-to-back years, falling to another division rival in the Carolina Hurricanes in seven games two years ago.
Look, we've come pretty darn close to writing off these Capitals before. After failing to get past the second round in the Alex Ovechkin area, many had grown tired of the Capitals' postseason woes and fell off the radar of many in that Cup-winning 2017-18 season. After two subsequent first-round exits, do we dare write them off again?
Keep in mind the core remains in place, at least amongst the forward group and the blueline. While we have an interesting situation developing in the Washington goal crease, this is largely the same club that won a difficult Metro a season ago despite falling well short of expectations upon the league's return-to-play postseason.
All that said, let's dive into the 2020-21 Washington Capitals and their season preview and odds before rolling out some predictions on how this season should work out in D.C.
*Odds courtesy of MyBookie
**Salary cap figures courtesy of CapFriendly
***Advanced metrics courtesy of Natural Stat Trick
2020-21 Washington Capitals Season Preview & Odds
Last Season: 41-20-8 (1st in Metropolitan Division)
Key Additions: G Henrik Lundqvist, D Justin Schultz, D Trevor van Riemsdyk, RW Daniel Sprong
Projected Salary Cap Space: $0 (Currently $1,024,877 over the cap)
2021 Stanley Cup Odds: +1800
2021 Eastern Conference Odds: +800
One area the Capitals haven't needed to worry themselves about since they drafted Ovechkin with the first overall pick of the 2004 draft is the offense. That's what you get when arguably the best goal-scorer in league history resides on your top line, and overwhelmingly healthy for the duration of his career.
Only the Tampa Bay Lightning scored at a higher per-game clip than the Capitals did a season ago as Washington ranked second with 3.42 goals per game last season, narrowly falling short of the Bolts who averaged a league-high 3.47 tallies per contest.
I'm not so sure we should expect a ton of regression. Of course, remaining a top-two offense is not an easy task, but the forward group is pretty much identical this season than it was last. In fact, nearly the entire team is. The top 14 points-getters from last season's Capitals are with the team again this time around.
Defenseman John Carlson actually paced the Caps with 75 points last season, but it was all top-six forwards from there on out with Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Jakub Vrana, Evgeny Kuznetsov, T.J. Oshie and Tom Wilson coming in behind, in that order.
Now, the Capitals did benefit from the league's third-best shooting rate at 5v5 play with their 9.36% mark. That said, the Lightning also led the league in 5v5 shooting percentage at 9.71%. When you have the offensive weapons that the Caps and Lightning boast, high shooting rates are expected.
What's interesting is that the Caps actually slipped all the way to 17th with a 19.4% clip on the power play last season, meaning they were one of the league's best offenses at 5v5.
At 5v5, their goals for per 60 minutes ranked third and their expected goals for/60, scoring chances for/60 and high-danger chances for/60 all ranked sixth. They capitalized on those high-danger chances as well, ranking third with a 20.36% shooting rate at 5v5 action in that department.
The emergence of Vrana on a line alongside veterans Backstrom and Oshie has certainly helped keep that line as production any second-line unit in the NHL while the evolvement of Wilson's offensive game has afforded him the opportunity to remain on the top line with Ovechkin and Kuznetsov, although the latter and Backstrom tend to interchange at times.
ALEX OVECHKIN WITH THE NATURAL HAT TRICK IN THE FINAL SIX MINUTES OF THE GAME! GOALS 696, 697, AND 698!
🎩🎩🎩#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/6yffF19ABx
— Hockey Daily 365 (@HockeyDaily365) February 5, 2020
The line change is way down at the bottom line right wing spot. Someone such as Daniel Sprong could fill that void – and that will likely be a training-camp battle, as the team's most notable free-agent departure was right winger Ilya Kovalchuk. Fourth-liner Travis Boyd also departed for the Toronto Maple Leafs on the open market.
That said, this team is all about the top six while a third line anchored by veteran pivot Lars Eller should provide a quality amount of secondary scoring after Eller notched 16 goals and 39 points in 69 games a season ago.
There is a little bit of turnover on the Capitals' back end, but it's not due to trade or free agency, but rather injury.
Michal Kempny, a valued member of the team's blueline since they acquired him from the Chicago Blackhawks prior to the 2018 trade deadline, tore his Achilles tendon while training in his native Czech Republic after the Caps' first-round exit. An ensuing six-to-eight month recovery timeline puts him in line for a mid-April return, at best, so his status for next season is very much up in the air.
As a result, the Capitals went out and added some help on the right side of their blueline in the form of former Pittsburgh Penguin Justin Schultz and former Hurricane Trevor van Riemsdyk.
Schultz will certainly get the first crack at earning a top-six spot after he notched three goals and 12 points in 46 games a season ago. Certainly, that production is well below par for the 30-year-old as he also posted a career-best 51 points in 78 games with the Penguins in the 2017-18 season.
For van Riemsdyk's part, he was largely a regular on the Hurricanes' blueline over the last three seasons, but tallied just eight points in 49 games last season, but played in all but seven Hurricanes games over the previous two seasons. Barring injury or trade, he'll likely begin the season as the club's seventh defenseman.
After they acquired him prior to the 2020 trade deadline, the Capitals re-signed defenseman Brendan Dillon to a four-year deal in early October, keeping him off the free-agent market in the process. He'll likely form the top pair with Carlson while longtime top-four blueliner Dmitry Orlov likely lines up beside Schultz.
John Carlson (@JohnCarlson74), batter of pucks, scorer of goals.
Don't forget to vote for him in the #NHLAllStar Fan Vote. Just visit https://t.co/IwTEcEhlBp 😉 pic.twitter.com/5cgXVsiGd7
— NHL (@NHL) December 21, 2019
Twenty-three-year-old Jonas Siegenthaler and Nick Jensen should form the bottom pair, although van Riemsdyk should certainly nip at Jensen's heels after Jensen failed to score a goal and tallied just eight helpers in 68 regular-season games last season. In fact, aside from a two-goal game with the 2018-19 Red Wings, Jensen has gone goalless over his last three seasons, spanning 228 games.
All told, the Capitals ranked 18th with 3.07 goals against per game last season despite ranking sixth with an 82.6% mark on the penalty kill.
At 5v5, they ranked 23rd in terms of goals against/60, 19th in expected goals against/60, 15th in scoring chances against/60 and 26th when it came to high-danger chanced against/60.
Certainly, their defense at 5v5 certainly had its holes, and losing what had been a wildly reliable, top-four presence in Kempny does not help the cause. Certainly, Schultz's defensive game has come into question on more than one occasion, something that could lead to worsened results this time around.
It's not the worst group of defenders in the league, but this Capitals blueline doesn't inspire a ton of confidence with Kempny's injury quietly looming large at the moment.
The most intriguing aspect of the Capitals' 2020-21 season could very well be between the pipes where a changing of the guard is at hand.
Gone is long-time No.1 netminder Braden Holtby who signed with the Vancouver Canucks as a free agent after three consecutive disappointing regular seasons in the nation's capital. He course, he recovered quite well in the postseason, but Holtby posted a 2.99 GAA and .907 Sv% in the team's Stanley Cup-winning season and fell as low as a 3.11 GAA and .897 Sv% last season.
While he's still only 31 years old, the regression made the decision to roll with youngster Ilya Samsonov all the easier for the team's brass.
Samsonov enjoyed an excellent rookie season with the Capitals, working to a 2.55 GAA and .913 Sv% across 22 starts and 26 appearances. He struggled in five February appearances and allowed six goals in his lone March start, but Samsonov certainly lived up to his first-round billing (2015) in year one.
Samsonov was 🔥 on fire 🔥 in net last night vs New Jersey, earning @ARSRescueRooter's Save of the Week pic.twitter.com/VJIu5rYalS
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) January 17, 2020
Of course, while the 23-year-old looked up to the part of the team's goaltender of the future, he's likely to split time with a future Hall of Famer in longtime New York Ranger Henrik Lundqvist.
After 15 years on Broadway, the Rangers' crowded goal crease resulted in Lundqvist being bought out and becoming a free agent, signing with the Capitals shortly thereafter.
While Lundqvist has seen his game decline in recent years, I would expect him to be a 1B option for this Rangers team rather than a strict backup. The late start to the season is going to results in a crowded schedule regardless of the number of games, and we'll see more goaltending timeshares across the league than we've ever seen before.
His 3.16 GAA and .905 Sv% from last season were the worst numbers of his career, but that Rangers team also sported some of the worst defensive metrics in the league, ranking 28th in scoring chances against/60 and 29th in high-danger chances against/60 while ranking 30th in shots against per game (34).
It should be a more favorable situation in this Capitals crease despite some iffy metrics from last season and an uninspiring group of defenders in front of him.
I mean, it can't get much worse. Despite Samsonov's fine work from a season ago, the duo combined for just a .903 Sv% last season.
While the mentorship of Lundqvist will certainly be a help to Samsonov, there is no longer any form of goaltender controversy in Washington while Samsonov certainly look the part of one of the better young netminders in the NHL.
2020-21 Washington Capitals Predictions
The core of this team has kept the Capitals competitive for a long, long time. The last time the Caps missed the playoffs was the 2013-14 campaign. In total, they have made the playoffs 12 times in the last 13 seasons.
Should we expect that to change any time soon? I'm not so sure. The top-six forward group remains a top-tier group league wide, and while maintaining the second-best offense in the league is going to be a tall order, there's little doubt this is a top-10 offense in this league and with some more help from their power play there are as good a shot as finishing as a top-five offense as just about any other group in the league.
I would expect the goaltending to be fine, but it's far from a sure thing. Samsonov had an excellent first few months to the 2019-20 season, but faded badly down the stretch and has zero NHL postseason experience. Lundqvist's leadership is invaluable to the young Russian, but his own game has slipped severely in recent years. If Samsonov falters, there's no guarantee Lundqvist can stop the bleeding.
It's going to be an even more difficult scenario if the Caps' blueline can't prevent chances at a better clip than they did last season. They were certainly a bottom-half defensive club at 5v5 action last season, and their top two right-handed defensemen in Carlson and Schultz are known more for their offensive games than their defensive play.
Truth be told, I don't think this is a great back end. Dillon and Orlov are fine defenders on the left side, but the right side concerns me, and generally speaking, this defense is going to need to be better in preventing chances if their situation between the pipes is to show any sort of significant improvement.
The forward group will carry this team. These Washington Capitals are a playoff team to be sure. That said, I think their five-year run atop the Metropolitan ends as I have the Penguins ahead of them, but not many else.
I'll put the Capitals in a top-three spot in the Metro, but it won't be easy. I think they can get into the dance to be sure, but I'm not sure much playoff success awaits given the monster that is this Eastern Conference. I don't like this back end and goaltending situation heading into the postseason – compared to some other teams – and while that's a dynamite offense, winning one playoff round is about as far as I see the 2020-21 Washington Capitals going next season.
READ: 2020-21 Pittsburgh Penguins Season Preview, Odds & Predictions
2021 Stanley Cup Odds, Alex Ovechkin, Ilya Samsonov, NHL, Washington Capitals
Brenton Kemp / Author
Brenton is a lifelong sports fan who resides in Ontario, Canada. Brenton is a fan of most all sports but specializes in hockey, baseball, football, basketball, and golf. He's a fierce researcher with a strong appetite to deliver accurate and relevant facts that in turn have led to past success with picks and DFS advice across the board. Brenton's biggest goal is to deliver readers with the picks and advice that can build their bankroll. He takes great pride in his success and loves nothing more than to share that success for the benefit of everyone involved.


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 Government of Ireland Act (1914)
 Government of Ireland Act (1920)

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Free Press Engine
Alphabet, Amazon helped India's Parag Parikh mutual fund deliver —
December 7, 2020 - by Jacob - Leave a Comment
Earlier this year, when the Indian stock markets were grappling with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdowns, one local mutual fund became the talk of the town for managing to remain in the black despite all the doomsday predictions.
In July, the Parag Parikh Long Term Equity Fund (PPLTEF) delivered a year-on-year return of 17% in comparison to the average 0.56% by its peers.
Its secret? The PPLTEF invests around 35% of its assets in global markets and 65% in Indian equities. This meant that even as Indian stock markets were recovering, US equities—particularly the shares of American tech giants such as Amazon and Alphabet—were keeping the fund in good health.
"At any given time frame, no one country or market does well all the time…Investing a portion of the portfolio abroad gives additional opportunities and reduces country-specific risk and volatility," Rajeev Thakkar, chief investment officer at Mumbai-based Parag Parikh Financial Advisory Services (PPFAS) told in an interview.
From the rise of tech stocks to value investing and diversification, Thakkar shared the fund house's investment strategy, which has made it popular among investors. Edited excerpts:
What is your investment strategy, and how did it lead to PPLTEF beating all its competitors?
Our investment approach has remained the same over the years of buying quality companies at reasonably attractive prices. We like to partner with minority shareholder-friendly managements, and that remains a rigorous filter at the time of selecting our investment universe. We try and avoid companies with large amounts of debt or those that are highly leveraged and we typically ride through the businesses along with the promoters for an extended period.
Why did you decide to have exposure to global equities?
At any given time frame, no one country or market does well all the time. In any case, most large caps in India have very significant global exposure. Our Information technology and pharma companies export to overseas markets. Corporates like Tata Motors (Jaguar Land Rover) and Hindalco (Novelis) have made acquisitions abroad, and a lot of their income comes from overseas markets. Indian commodity-related companies are also dependent on global prices for their profitability. Investing a portion of the portfolio abroad gives additional opportunities and reduces country-specific risk and volatility.
With the tech stocks valuations extremely high, will you continue to hold in your portfolio? Is the tech bubble about to burst?
There can be severe volatility in stock prices, and the technology-related shares have had their fair share and more of this volatility. Even though all these companies are labelled as tech, they are very well diversified companies operating across different sub-sectors. For instance, Amazon is present across e-commerce, logistics, cloud computing, retail marketplace and you need to evaluate each of these segments separately.
Will it tech bubble burst? I do not know but what I do know is that the companies which we hold in our portfolio look reasonable in terms of valuations and have a huge headroom to grow in the future.
Going forward, will the US equities continue to outperform their Indian counterparts?
It is futile to predict which market will do well over the next few years. The whole purpose of having global exposure in our fund is that different markets perform at different points in time and having a diversified portfolio reduces the volatility in returns.
The automobile sector has had a cyclical downturn over the last 2-3 years, and we could see a bounce back there due to a shift towards personal mobility.
Which businesses or sectors will come out of the Covid-19 slump stronger globally and in India?
There are many sectors that have been severely impacted due to Covid-19 like aviation, hotels, hospitality, etc. The easiest thing to do is to eliminate all highly leveraged companies in these sectors since most of the capacities in these sectors are perishable.
There are some specific sectors where the stronger players, with their supply chains being effective, have been able to take market shares from relatively weaker or unorganised players. Also, most of us were working from home during the lockdowns without any hassles thanks to the technology that we have today.
IT and pharma are sectors that could come out stronger. The automobile sector has had a cyclical downturn over the last 2-3 years, and we could see a bounce back there due to a shift towards personal mobility. Financial services companies may face some issues due to higher provisioning and bad loans in the shorter term.
Do you have any plans to announce new funds in the near future?
Not in the near term, but there has been demand from our unitholders and partners for a relatively safer debt product from our fund house. We have started work on this, but it is too early for me to comment anything on this.
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The story does, at least, not claim this is specifically representative of anything, but the very fact it is reported carries the implication that it is in some way meaningful or representative of BMJ readers or people involved in the medical profession (in that sense the Guardian's report is less bad than the PA copy, which presented the figures as being representative of BMJ readers). This was not, however, a poll in any meaningful sense, but an open access click button question on their website.
As ever, such open access polls are not properly weighted or sampled and are very easily fixed by people distributing the link to others to encourage them to vote… such as, erm, Guardian star-columnist Polly Toynbee here.
If you are a journalist reading this I again implore you to read this guidance from the British Polling Council on how journalists should report polls, particularly Q.13 on how to tell whether a poll is worth taking seriously or not.
In this particular circumstance the finding isn't grossly misleading as there is good evidence to suggest NHS employees do indeed oppose the reforms (see, for example, this YouGov poll of NHS employees for 38 Degrees), but in a way that makes it even worse – reporting worthless findings when there are properly conducted ones out there.
Well I guess it's not polldrums at least.
In fact, you might say it's more of a pollercoaster.
It could also be that the "people" are all over the place.
You are on form tonight!
Is this an example of a voodoo poll – since that is the topic under this heading?
Lol. With Plaid Cymru running them a close second, I expect!!
You've been waiting for a chance to use that, have'nt you.
Ha! Nope, I just thought of it.
But I will confess to suffering to severe neologism-envy of Ms Amber.
Clearly yesterday was an outlier, and this probably looks to have lab a little lower, but the last few days have been a good reminder about MoE.
It will be interesting to watch party discipline at Westminster. We know there are various rumblings over Ed, but (without wishing to stir up a hornets nest on AW's least favourite subject) according to most commentators he has now produce three good PMQs performances on the trot and a good performance in the commons debate on the Euro summit. Labour MPs seem to be more comfortable now.
By contrast, Cameron's persona in the house has looked much less assured and discomfited, and today's PMQ's was characterized in large parts by very little vocal support from his backbenchers. The Euro summit produced a good deal of negative comment from his backbenchers, and there are suggestions of a major rebellion over the IMF contributions.
This isn't affecting VI, but party discipline can make or break parties electoral prospects. I've joined others in suggesting that NHS changes could prove problematic for the Tories. If Cameron's performances continue to fall flat, there is a dust up over the IMF and serious doubts in Tory ranks about the NHS begin to show publicly, I can a scenario where Labour might start to creep up in the polls for more than 24hrs.


text:
Background:

In the Ethereum environment, functions don't return anything. In order to compensate for that limitation,  Solidity offers a way to log state changes which is called Event. The following explains how to track events using Nethereum.

## Prerequisites:

Download the test chain matching your environment from https://github.com/Nethereum/Testchains

Start a Geth chain ( **geth-clique-linux\_** **_geth-clique-windows_** **_geth-clique-mac_**) using startgeth.bat (Windows) or startgeth.sh (Mac/Linux). The chain is setup with the Proof of Authority consensus and will start the mining process immediately.

```csharp
using Nethereum.Web3;
using Nethereum.Web3.Accounts;
using System.Numerics;
using Nethereum.RPC.Eth.DTOs;
using Nethereum.ABI.FunctionEncoding.Attributes;
```

Here is the Smart Contract we are going to log using events:

![](./screenshots/testEventContract.jpg)

In order to deploy your Smart Contract, you will need first to compile it  (using the VS Code's "Solidity" extension, for instance), and declare your ABI and ByteCode in your CSharp class from the compilation output.

```csharp
public static string ABI = @"[{'constant':false,'inputs':[],'name':'addBid','outputs':[],'payable':true,'stateMutability':'payable','type':'function'},{'inputs':[],'payable':true,'stateMutability':'payable','type':'constructor'},{'payable':true,'stateMutability':'payable','type':'fallback'},{'anonymous':false,'inputs':[{'indexed':true,'name':'sender','type':'address'},{'indexed':false,'name':'amount','type':'uint256'},{'indexed':false,'name':'encryptedRate','type':'string'},{'indexed':false,'name':'time','type':'uint256'}],'name':'BidAdded','type':'event'},{'anonymous':false,'inputs':[{'indexed':false,'name':'currentState','type':'uint256'},{'indexed':false,'name':'newState','type':'uint256'},{'indexed':false,'name':'time','type':'uint256'}],'name':'StateChanged','type':'event'}]";

        public static string BYTE_CODE = "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";
```

Declare now two classes corresponding to the "event" logs so they can be deserialised into a DTO (data transfer object),

ps: VS Code's "Solidity" extension allows you to code generate those classes.

```csharp
[Event("BidAddedEventDTO")]
public class BidAddedEventDTO : IEventDTO
    {
        [Parameter("address", "sender", 1, true)]
        public string Sender { get; set; }

        [Parameter("uint256", "amount", 2, false)]
        public BigInteger Amount { get; set; }

        [Parameter("string", "encryptedRate", 3, false)]
        public string EncryptedRate { get; set; }

        [Parameter("uint256", "time", 4, false)]
        public BigInteger Time { get; set; }

    }

[Event("StateChangedEventDTO")]
    public class StateChangedEventDTO : IEventDTO
    {
        [Parameter("uint256", "currentState", 1, false)]
        public BigInteger CurrentState { get; set; }

        [Parameter("uint256", "newState", 2, false)]
        public BigInteger NewState { get; set; }

        [Parameter("uint256", "time", 3, false)]
        public BigInteger Time { get; set; }

    }
```

To send transactions, you will need to create a new Ethereum account and an instance of web3 using the account's private key:

```csharp
var account = new Account("0xb5b1870957d373ef0eeffecc6e4812c0fd08f554b37b233526acc331bf1544f7");
var web3 = new Web3(account);
```

You are now ready to deploy your contract, using the DeployContract method and the compiled versions of your contract as payload.

```csharp
 var transactionReceipt = await web3.Eth.DeployContract.SendRequestAndWaitForReceiptAsync(ABI, BYTE_CODE, account.Address, new Nethereum.Hex.HexTypes.HexBigInteger(900000));
```

Using the "contract address" parameter returned by the transactionReceipt, you can now declare a **_contract_** variable that points to an instance of a contract object.

```csharp
var contract  = web3.Eth.GetContract(ABI, transactionReceipt.ContractAddress);
```

It's now possible to call functions within your contract using the GetFunction method.

```csharp
var addBidFunction = contract.GetFunction("addBid");
```

Before calling an Ethereum function, it's good practice to evaluate the gas cost incurred by the call by using the **_EstimateGasAsync method_**.

```csharp
var gas = await addBidFunction.EstimateGasAsync(account.Address,new Nethereum.Hex.HexTypes.HexBigInteger(90000), null);
```

Finally, you can call your function, the **_transaction receipt_** will return information regarding the transaction that was sent.

```csharp
var addBidReceipt = await addBidFunction.SendTransactionAndWaitForReceiptAsync(account.Address,gas, null);
```

Calling a contract function on Ethereum won't return the result. But you can use events to log state changes or function call results. In the case of our example, you can select the event "BidAdded" by calling the contract function **_GetEvent_**.

Event logs can be filtered for a specific block range or topics, in the example we are creating a filter that will return all the event logs for our recently deployed smart contract from the BlockNumber of adding the bid to the latest.

```csharp
var bidAddedEventLog = contract.GetEvent("BidAdded");
var filterInput =
                bidAddedEventLog.CreateFilterInput(new BlockParameter(addBidReceipt.BlockNumber), BlockParameter.CreateLatest());
var logs = await bidAddedEventLog.GetAllChanges<BidAddedEventDTO>(filterInput);
```

The same can be done with State Changes:

```csharp
 var stateChangedEventLog = contract.GetEvent("StateChanged");
            var filterInput2 =
                stateChangedEventLog.CreateFilterInput(new BlockParameter(addBidReceipt.BlockNumber), BlockParameter.CreateLatest());
            var logs2 = await stateChangedEventLog.GetAllChanges<StateChangedEventDTO>(filterInput2);
```

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Once again the news is full of stories about cutting sugar for a healthier, balanced lifestyle. This is something I'm totally on board with and one of my biggest bugbears is cereal and how some of the big brands can get away with advertising health, when in actual fact the products are full of sugar. I'm going to share with you a few healthy breakfast ideas.
I was the same as any other child; my parents bought Coco Pops, Special K, Crunchy Nut Cornflakes because, well, we wanted it and back then they were non-the-wiser about the sugar content. Plus, when you're feeding a whole family, it's one of the cheaper options. People can't be blamed when the boxes and adverts are reeling off the low calorie count etc. BUT these addictive boxes of the white stuff eaten first thing in the morning aren't the best option for our bodies. Per 100g Kellogs Crunchy Nut Cornflakes has 35g of sugar and that's not even the worse offender!
I totally appreciate that we all lead busy lives and the majority of people would rather an extra 15 minutes in bed, rather than feed their body something more nutritious. You don't need to be making a green smoothie that looks like baby poo every morning, maybe try one of the less-daunting following options to lower the sugar levels in your diet.
Blend it all together, using enough milk to get the consistency you require. I like quite a think smoothie.
P.S. Blenders are pretty cheap these days, so no excuses! 😉 Mine is a Russell Hobbs one for £25, but a friend of mine got one on Amazon for £14.99.
This is the next step up from normal bread, and when toasted with some delicious Meridian peanut butter it tastes so good. Rye bread is widely available now in most large supermarkets, although sometimes it's hard to find, so just ask. If you're feeling a little more adventurous, why not mash some avocado and have that on your toasted rye bread instead – it's my favourite!
If you've got more time, then eggs fried in coconut oil on toasted rye bread is an absolute winner. I could go on, but I won't bore you!
Porridge is such a nice winter warmer and is cheap, quick and easy to make. I've put nut milk in the title, as it's the best option, but like I said before if you're not ready to make the jump to the nutty side just yet then use skimmed milk. I use 1/3 mug of oats, with one full mug of milk.
You can simmer your porridge on the hob (approx 10 mins – using a heat diffuser to stop burning) while you continue getting ready for work, just be sure to stir it every so often. Add frozen berries a couple of minutes before the end and they'll be perfectly soft and gooey, ready for you to enjoy. Obviously you can add fresh berries if you prefer, I just say to use frozen as it's a cheaper way of doing it.
Friends of mine struggle to eat very early in the morning, so prefer something very small. If that's the case, try the Nakd Bars, available in numerous yummy flavours. I won't lie, the texture takes time to get used to, but your body will thank you for turning down the bowl of Special K.
…And if after these ideas you're still not ready to give up the cereal, then try something slightly less sugary. If I'm feeling lazy, then I might have a bowl of Dorset Cereals Nutty Muesli with almond milk and if I'm feeling like a bit of a health hero I'll make my own healthy granola – recipe here.
This is only a very teeny-tiny bundle of healthier breakfast choices, there are many more out there, you just need to do a bit of research. Some you'll like, some you won't, but that goes for any food (even the sugary ones), just give it a try and you'll be surprised how much better you feel for making the less sugary choice.


text:
UMD Establishes Sustainability Working Group of Students, Faculty
University of Maryland Dining Services has established a Sustainable Food Working Group consisting of students, faculty and staff that will act as advisors to find innovative, cost-effective ways to reach the department's goal of 20% local and sustainable food purchases by 2020.
University of Maryland Dining Services has established a Sustainable Food Working Group consisting of students, faculty and staff that will act as advisors to find innovative, cost-effective ways to reach the department's goal of 20% local and sustainable food purchases by 2020.
"Dining Services is committed to leading the campus' strategic initiative and becoming a showplace for environmental stewardship by serving sustainable and healthy food." says Dining Services Director Colleen Wright-Riva.
Working with campus stakeholders, Dining Services is launching a Farm-to-School Series. Planned activities include featuring local produce and offering seasonal special dinners in dining halls, sponsoring workshops, on-campus visits with local farmers and off-campus tours of local farms. In addition, Dining Services will continue its participation in four on-campus vegetable gardens and the Farmers Market at Maryland.
"Dining Services' goals for sustainable food are well aligned with the University's strategic plan and the President's Climate Commitment," says UMD President Wallace Loh. "The Sustainable Food Working Group is a wonderful example of innovative cross-campus collaboration."
This commitment is the latest venture by UMD Dining Services to focus on sustainability issues. Its Green Dining initiative originated with DS Facilities Maintenance several years ago, piloting recycle and compost programs in campus dish rooms and building gardens on the roofs of campus dining halls. Green Dining has expanded to a department-wide effort with a full-time Sustainability and Wellness Coordinator.
"The Sustainable Food Working Group is a great idea!" says Linda Clement, vice president for student affairs. "I am delighted to see Dining Services using the energy and commitment of Maryland students to effect changes that will bring more local, fair, humane and healthful food to campus."
"I am excited about the potential I see in Dining Services and the University of Maryland," says UMD Dining Sustainability and Wellness Coordinator Allison Lilly. "We are encouraging the campus to eat mindfully. Together we can impact today's environment and focus students to affect the environment for years to come. Any interested students, faculty and staff are encouraged to join the effort."
To see the complete UMD Dining Services Sustainable Food Commitment, go to dining.umd.edu/greendining.
TAGS: News & Trends
U-Maryland to Discourage Takeout
UMD discontinues Reusable Bottle Program Due to Lack of Interest
UMD Turns to Design Students for Marketing Boost


Short Sales: Review The Preliminary Title Reports, Don't Just Have Them Pulled.
A title is a legal document listing the history of ownership of a home. After the buyer and seller have reached mutual acceptance, an attorney or title company will pull title on the subject property and review it for any problems that might prevent the home from being legally sold. The results are written up in a preliminary title report.
Is Chase Actually Rolling Out Equator Now?
Bank of America disturbing newspaper article regarding modifications!!
Bank of America Corp, which is required by the settlement to provide the largest portion of the relief 8.6 billion, hadn't completed ANY modifications of first-lien mortgages or refinancings as of June 30, 2012, according to the report.
Anyone who has participated in a short sale knows that it can be highly stressful and that it is not always a quick process. The fact is processing a short sale efficiently takes a lot of experience and is continuously changing.
ARE THERE COMPANIES THAT CAN PROCESS MY SHORT SALE?
It's an unfortunate fact in today's Real Estate market, if you are looking for a home chances you will be buying a short sale.
I have met many weary buyers who are just sick of making offers on short sales and waiting and waiting and it doesn't go thru. Now, after months of waiting they have to start over again. Has this ever happened to you?
Have the circumstances in your life changed whereby you can't make the payments? Job layoffs, reduced hours which equates to reduce pay? Now, you can't afford your mortgage payments and you are desperate for a solution.
Has anyone worked with Amos Financial when working a short sale?
They are a junk loan buyer. They are a collection agency.
They asked me -- and this is a DIRECT quote..... "What is this HAFA think you speak ok?"
Yes, the blog title above is real, I am not joking. I just received a short sale approval letter for a HAFA approved short sale with SLS (specialized loan servicing) only allowing 3% in total realtor commissions. Both parties to the transaction are represented by different brokers and none of the agents are a party to the transaction. This is fully an Arms Length Transaction.
but I just received the approval from the 2nd lien holder!
The short sale negotiator from the 2nd lien holder advise me to submit a revised HUD-1 showing the seller paying the 15% of the balance owed them which is $31,252 and the already approved $8,000 from HAFA being paid to the 2nd.
It was approved but I thought a seller cannot contribute monies on a HAFA short sale?
Since 2007, homeowners whose banks have forgiven unpaid mortgage loan debt after a short sale, principal reduction or foreclosure have not had to count that money as income on their tax returns.
It's meant savings of thousands of dollars on the so-called "phantom income" depending on the amount of debt canceled and a person's tax bracket.
I absolutely feel for clients who are stressed out during the sale of their home. While I make the process about as smooth as possible, there are always high-stakes feelings on the table. Unfortunately, these mistakes can cost sellers thousands.


Development of biomotor characteristics and sprint and throw athletic abilities in six- to eight-year-old girls.
The aim of the study was to assess the effect of programmed physical education on biomotor changes in girls, and the impact of these changes on relations between the set of morphological and motor variables, and athletic variables evaluating the sprint and throw abilities. Study sample included 310 six- to eight-year-old girls, elementary school first-graders from the Split area, divided into control group (n = 138) attending regular physical education classes and experimental group (n = 172) attending programmed physical education classes based on the elements of athletics, apparatus gymnastics, games and general preparatory exercises. Relations between the predictor set of variables consisting of 4 morphological measures and 6 motor tests, and the sprint and ball throw criteria were determined by regression correlation analysis at the beginning and at the end of the academic year. Both groups achieved favorable quantitative result improvement between the two measurement points, however, the improvement was considerably more pronounced in experimental group, especially in the motor abilities of coordination, flexibility, movement frequency, and explosive, repetitive and static strength. On final measurement, the number of significant predictors for the criterion variables of sprint and ball throw increased from the initial measurement in both experimental and control group of subjects. In control group, trunk strength, explosive strength and movement frequency as motor abilities and body height as a morphological characteristic were found to be the best result predictors in sprint. In experimental group, coordination, flexibility, static arm strength and trunk strength as motor abilities were the best result predictors in sprint. In the study sample as a whole, explosive strength and trunk strength were identified as the best predictors of ball throw as a criterion variable. In experimental group, it was accompanied by muscle mass development and adipose tissue reduction. Based on comparison of these results and those obtained in previous studies, a new model of work in the athletics events of sprint and throw in elementary school physical education is proposed.
Previous Document: Impact of motor abilities on belly dance performance in female high school students.


Youtube has added some new features to YouTube Live, all of which are designed to help creators connect with their audiences. The headline feature is the enabling of live automatic captioning, which should help make YouTube Live streams more accessible.
The first new feature is automatic captions for YouTube Live streams. YouTube has been auto-captioning regular videos since 2009, but live streamers have always had to provide the captioning themselves. Now, YouTube is stepping in to fill the void.
YouTube claims its live automatic speech recognition (LASR) technology enables "error rates and latency approaching industry standards". And after rolling this out in the coming weeks the company will endeavor to "improve [the] accuracy and latency".
YouTube is also introducing live chat replays, which enables people watching recorded live streams to also see the comments as they were sent in realtime. But don't worry if you hate reading YouTube comments, as live chat replays can still be hidden.
Also new is the option for creators to add location tags to mobile streams and uploads. Creators will be able to share their favorite locations with viewers, and viewers will be able to watch other videos from those same locations simply by clicking the tags.
Last but not least is IFTTT support for Super Chats. This enables creators to connect Super Chats to internet-connected devices, thus letting viewers trigger real-world interactions. Examples include turning a light on, doling out food from a pet feeder, or launching a confetti cannon.
Individually, these new YouTube Live features aren't much to write home about. However, collectively, they represent YouTube making a concerted effort to help YouTube Live compete with Facebook Live and Periscope. And it's about time too.
Are you a YouTube Live streamer? Or a regular viewer? What do you think of these new features? Will you be making use of automatic captioning? Or the Super Chat IFTTT integration? Or location tagging? Or live chat replays? Please let us know in the comments below!


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Shock Name Leads the Pack to Replace Pelosi as Speaker
Last week, we did an article projecting who the next Democrat leader in the House would be.
We dismissed the idea of Hoyer or Clyburn simply because they are so close to retirement.
Plus, we know the progressives in the House want someone younger that will allow their voice to be more prominent.
The consensus pointed to Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), but even I scoffed at the idea that Schiff could win enough support among progressives to take the leadership role.
It appears some major powers have been working behind the scenes to anoint someone else as the party head.
The New Leader
Make no mistake about it, Schiff has been maneuvering behind the scenes to gain support as the next leader in the House.
That, however, has led to Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) doing a bit of maneuvering on his own.
Jeffries reportedly met with Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) over the summer to get his blessing to make a move for leadership.
Jeffries is already the leader of the House Democratic Caucus, so there is little doubt that he will give Schiff a significant battle for the leadership role.
Clyburn gave him his blessing, stating, "There's nothing I would ever do to impede the progress of our up-and-coming young Democrats, and I see him as an up-and-coming young Democrat.
"He knows that, I didn't have to tell him that — but I did."
Democrats are looking for history to follow up Pelosi, who was the first woman to become Speaker of the House.
All this plays against Schiff, with Jeffries already having the support of numerous other minority and female leaders in the House.
Pelosi is expected to resign from her leadership role if the GOP takes the House, and she may even resign her seat, especially with what is now going on with her husband.
It looks like this drama will play out sooner rather than later.


A recent study of the residential patterns in the Detroit area and the availability of employment shed light on the contradictory claims being made by the corporate media saying that the majority African American city is undergoing an economic resurgence.
Present patterns of de facto segregated housing contributes immensely to the crisis but cannot explain the problems in their entirety. Racism in hiring practices as well as substandard educational opportunities is a direct result of the virtual outlawing of affirmative action and the disinvestment in schooling and public services.
Corporations that took jobs out of the city are heavily responsible for the present situation.
Successive administrations in Washington and Lansing, the state capitol, have refused to initiate jobs programs that could employ hundreds of thousands of people on a permanent basis.
With the decline in jobs, the outmigration of population groups and subsequent falling tax revenues, the city was forced to borrow from banks which ensnarled the municipality into predatory arrangements that drained Detroit further. All of this came to a head during the Great Recession of 2007-2009, precipitating disastrous consequences.
The City of Detroit was forced into emergency management and bankruptcy during 2013-2014 under the guise of the need for a major restructuring of its finances. Within the process of the suspension of bourgeois democratic rights, municipal employees, retirees and residents witnessed the wholesale theft of at least $7 billion in healthcare and pension benefits as well as the selling off and seizure by the state of public assets such as Belle Isle, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, Detroit Public Works, the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), etc.
In a controversial mayoral election in 2013, Mike Duggan, a then resident of Livonia, one of the most segregated cities in the United States, ostensibly won a write-in election against former police chief and Wayne County Sheriff Bennie Napoleon. Duggan had served as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Detroit Medical Center where it was privatized during his tenure.
At present hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks are being given to two leading billionaires whose businesses are based in the downtown area. Pizza magnate Mike Illitch, who owns the Detroit Tigers, and Dan Gilbert, CEO of Quicken Loans, have reaped the benefits of the restructuring through donated public land and real estate speculation funded through taxes.
None of this large-scale transferal of wealth and denial of civil and economic rights has trickled down to benefit the majority African American city. Poverty, joblessness, educational decline, water shut-offs, foreclosures and evictions continue unabated.
Despite the cheerleading for the rich carried out by the corporate newspapers, television and radio stations, there is still large scale unemployment and poverty in the city. Tens of thousands are facing foreclosure, evictions and utility shut-offs.
The largest property tax foreclosures will be carried out within weeks. Thousands of homes are threatened with auction to so-called "real estate developers", many of whom do not live in the city or its environs.
Dan Gilbert of Quicken Loans chairs the Detroit Blight Removal Task Force which targets properties throughout the city for seizure through the Detroit Land Bank Authority (DLBA). The principal focus of the Land Bank is residential properties and not the thousands of abandoned factories, warehouses, commercial structures and schools.
There has been no effort on the part of the Duggan administration or the Land Bank to take legal action against the financial institutions and corporations which looted the city for decades resulting in the current blight. Over $200 million remain in state coffers which were allocated under the federal Hardest Hit Fund in 2009, yet the Wayne County Treasurer or other public officials have not sought to file suit against the state and the U.S. Treasury Department for the failure of Lansing to utilize the funds to keep people in their homes.
Tens of millions of those dollars are being misused by Gilbert and his Task Force to tear down homes that could easily be rehabilitated for habitation creating thousands of jobs and revitalizing communities. Gilbert at present is being sued by the Department of Justice for mishandling Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans.
A state review of the finances of Wayne County in July has led to the adoption of a consent agreement aimed at avoiding emergency management and bankruptcy, as was experienced by the city government. Nonetheless, this agreement will undoubtedly result in vicious attacks on county workers and retirees.
Economic 'development projects' are geared towards the maximization of profits for the rich utilizing expropriated public assets and tax revenues. The people of Detroit are being denied the right to decide how public funds are being utilized in the city.
A petition drive is underway to place the proposed regionalization of the water system on a ballot initiative. Dispossessed retirees for the City have created an organization, The Detroit Active and Retirees Association (DAREA), which is spearheading the petition drive in addition to playing a leading role in other community activities.
This burgeoning struggle will be the focus of an upcoming People's Assembly and Speak Out on Aug. 29 in downtown Detroit. Thousands of pieces of literature have been distributed across the city calling on people to attend the public meeting at Grand Circus Park downtown.
The Moratorium NOW! Coalition made the call for the gathering which has been endorsed by several local and national organizations. Thousands of leaflets for the event were passed out at the African World Festival during Aug. 14-16 at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Midtown.
Issues which will be discussed includes the rise in police killings of civilians; the demand for a federal and bank-funded jobs program to rebuild the city; the restoration of public control of the Detroit Public Schools under emergency management in one form or another for the last decade-and-a-half; an end to foreclosures, evictions and utility shut-offs; the release of the hardest hit funds; freedom for Michigan political prisoner Rev. Edward Pinkney; support for African American shop owners and taxi drivers being driven out of downtown; among other related themes.


Darren Summors does not do things by halves, in fact, he does them to the power of three.
Exciting editorial hairstylist – leading AVEDA educator – sought-after stylist and colourist, Darren's diverse skill set, creative vision and passion are as in-demand on the runway as they are in print.
Darren, originally from Scotland, can often be found backstage at the hottest runway shows in the world, working alongside some of the biggest names in the industry. When he's not working miracles backstage, he's working part-time at Robertson & Kirkwood, Rozelle and bringing his own brand of creativity to editorial shoots.
His impressive portfolio includes work with celebrities and Editorial clients such as Harvey Nichols, David Jones, Witchery, Tash Efton, Elle Ferguson, Mimi Elashiry, Jessica Gomes, Jesinta Campbell, Samantha Harris, Robyn Lawley and Bridget Malcolm, to name but a few.
Described as passionate, genuine and humble by those who have worked with him, Darren uses his passion to inspire the next generation of stylists.
In short, when it comes to anything hair, he's an all 'round star who likes to give it 100% – or as they say in Scotland, gie it laldy.


The value of all land for sale in Louisiana's Cameron Parish recently nearly $3 million, representing almost 500 acres of land for sale in Cameron Parish. Cameron Parish is one of the ten biggest counties in Louisiana (1,285 square miles). Cameron Parish is in the state's Cajun Country region. To find more land, farms and other rural property for sale in Louisiana , sign up for the Land And Farm Louisiana land-for-sale email alerts to be notified when new listings matching your search criteria come onto the market in Cameron Parish! You can also search Land And Farm to find real estate agents in Louisiana who specialize in selling land, rural acreage and other recreational property in regions throughout Louisiana, including farms and ranches for sale in Cameron Parish.


The following posts have been tagged with "Aurora Borealis". Browse through these Aurora Borealis articles to gain insight into what you may or may not want to do on your trip if it includes Aurora Borealis.
The Northern Lights have been on my list for a long time. I originally had them down as a Canada thing, but recently a friend of mine (from Finland) showed me this video of the Northern Lights filmed earlier this year in Lapland, Finland. It's an amazing video of an amazing phenomenon, so I figured I'd share it here.


Tremendously nutritious and moisturizing serum that immediately revives puffy skin and brightens dark circles. Formulated with Blue Chamomile to calm and heal delicate skin, Helichrysum to reduce skin discoloration, and Pumpkin Seed to naturally exfoliate and encourage cell turnover for a youthful glow.
BLUE CHAMOMILE Calms and heals delicate skin reducing redness, dark circles and puffiness.
PUMPKIN SEED Abounding with natural nutrients, Zinc and Vitamin C, helping to slash signs of aging.
HELICHRYSUM Brightens, reducing skin discoloration and fine lines while stimulating tissue regeneration.
INSTRUCTIONS After cleansing the skin, apply two pumps, to entire face neck and décolleté. Can also be used as an under the eye serum by gently pressing into the under eye area with the ring finger.
INGREDIENTS Rosa rubiginosa (rosehip)* seed oil, Cucurbita pepo L.(pumpkin)* seed oil , Carthamus tinctorius (safflower)* seed oil, Ricinus communis(castor)*seed oil, Pelargonium graveolens(rose geranium)* oil, Matricaria recutita(blue chamomile)* oil, Helichrysum italicum (helichrysum)* oil. *certified organic.


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Jan. 9, 2019 / 11:17 AM
Japan steel firm assets in South Korea seized after court order
South Korean Lee Chun-sik (C, wheelchair), 94, a victim of Japan's forced labor during wartime, arrives at South Korea's Supreme Court in October. File Photo by Jeon Heon-kyun/EPA-EFE
Jan. 9 (UPI) -- The South Korea-based assets of Japanese firm Nippon Steel are being seized following a South Korean court order to confiscate more than $300,000 of the firm's assets in a joint venture.
The document received at joint venture firm PNR on Wednesday orders the firm to forfeit $356,000 in assets as compensation for its use of Korean forced laborers during wartime, Yonhap reported.
Nippon Steel and South Korean steel manufacturer POSCO established PNR, which under court orders must sell 81,075 shares of stock and transfer the sales proceeds to plaintiffs.
The court order and other issues have escalated tensions between South Korea and Japan, two key U.S. allies in the region.
RELATED Seoul hits back at Japan's claim in radar dispute
Controversies including a dispute over an incident involving a Japanese aircraft and a South Korean naval ship that took place in December are being taken seriously in Tokyo.
Katsuyuki Kawai, special adviser on foreign affairs for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, said Tuesday South Korean actions are unacceptable.
"Last month in the Sea of Japan a South Korean naval destroyer targeted a maritime self-defense force aircraft with its Signal Tracking and Illuminating Radar," Kawai said, according to NHK and TBS. "The Korean side is taking on action that is inconsistent with those of an ally."
RELATED Suspicious packages found at embassies in Australia
Japan has said the South Korean naval ship targeted the Japanese aircraft with fire-control radar and released a 13-minute video clip of the incident. Seoul has said the claim is false.
Kawai also said the court order on asset seizure is a "strange response" and the United States should make a statement on the issues.
South Korean news service Newsis reported Wednesday Japan has sent a request to Seoul's foreign ministry requesting "diplomatic negotiations" on the court order and other issues.
RELATED China, North Korea quiet after Kim visit to Chinese plant
Seoul said the request is "under review."


I'm thinking of travelling to Japan next year but can anyone tell me if any of Japanese Airlines are totally non-smoking ?
I have never seen a happier group of people than the Japanese tourists puffing away outside the terminal presumably after a long smoke free flight.
Which airlines offer non-smoking flights then ???
Any flight either originating or terminating in the United States by law must be 100% non smoking.
On a personal level, I have never understood why any airline would allow smoking. God forbid the oxygen masks come down with some nitwit puffing away on his or her cancer stick.
Smoking is totally incompatible with safety on airlines travelling at attitude above the point where pax could survive without oxygen.
I can't for the life of me figure out why they serve beer, wine and spirits on a flight - god forbid the oxygen masks come down and some nitwit is drunk and stupid and starts pulling them out of the dropshoot!
You might want to try looking up "analogous" in the dictionary - then try again.
Tell me smoker the last time alcohol spontaneously caused a fire when oxygen was present.
Same can't be said about smoking, now could it.
You can certainly do without that cancer stick for a couple of hours...it might help clear your lungs. It certainly will help keep my lungs clear.
OTOH, your drinking of alcohol will do nothing to my digestive or circulatory system so this bs about any relationship between the vice of drinking and the vice of smoking is imbeciic.
Hey, making flight non-smoking was the best thing that ever happened. If you want to smoke, just wait.......hope it is a really long flight.
Get this craft back on-course!
The question was "are any Japanese Airlines totally non-smoking?" - not "What is your opinion about smoking"
and no, I do not smoke, but get a bit tired of "non-replies" to questions in these forums.
Q quot;Where can I get a great hot chocolate near Rockerfeller Center?"
A#1 quot;You shouldn't drink it, it rots your teeth"
A#2 quot;You will get fat"
Just like actual questions ain't it?
Smoking isn't allowed on ANA airlines. I believe that JAL is also non-smoking, but I am not positive.


Step 1: Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees.
Step 2: With greased fingers, pat dough onto an ungreased 12-inch pizza pan or a 14" X 17" cookie sheet.
Step 3: In a large skillet, cook the sausage and green pepper over medium heat until sausage is no longer pink; drain.
Step 4: Spread pizza sauce over crust. Top with sausage mixture and sliced mushrooms; sprinkle with cheese.
Step 5: Bake at 450° for 12 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.


If you know one or more words in an hotel name, type the word(s) in the "Name" box. For example, you might type "Oro" to find "Hotel Playa de Oro".
In a city, which indicates that you want to find an hotel located in or near a city. In the "Location" listbox select the city name. For smaller cities that not included in the list because don't have hotel listed in our database, you may want to type the name of a larger city nearby.
A hotel's star rating is an indicator of the general quality of a particular hotel. In the "Category" listbox select the start rating desired for your accommodation. Take note that star ratings do not necessarily reflect all the amenities or services that might be available at a hotel, and some amenities and features may not be available in every property with a particular star rating.
Set the dates you planned stay in the hotel. This information it's important for the booking process and allow us to display the reservation rates. Set the hotel arrival day in "Date-In" box and you hotel departure day in "Date-Out" box.
To book multiple hotel rooms, select the desired number of rooms from the "Rooms" dropdown box. You will be asked to specify the number of adults and children that will be staying in each room.
Select the check boxes for search only the hotels that have the features, facilities or services of your preference.
Click the accommodation name, photo, or "More details" to see additional information about a particular accommodation. If you have entered dates click "Book it" next to the option that interests you.
Modify your search with the help of the "Change results" table in the left side of the search results. Change information in this table and click "Search" button. If you have not entered dates and would like to check actual rates for specific dates fill the "Check-in" and "Check-out" boxes.
Some hotels may also include photographs, map location, attractions near to the hotel that you can visit, phone numbers, price range, check-in and check-out times and others.
This table show the hotel rooms and the reservation cost for the dates set by you. The days range is displayed at the top of the table, you can change this dates by click "Select new dates and/or travelers". For make the reservation click on "Book it" button.
Display information about the selected hotel. This information include: Hotel name, Category, Address, Chain and your checkin and checkout reservation dates.
Display information for you hotel reservation rates.
Here you can add the cancellation waiver. This option protects you from fees associated with cancelling hotel reservation. To add check "Hotel reservation + Cancellation waiver" option, at the right side will display the new price for reservation.
To make effective the hotel reservation you may supply your personal information for our reservation agents. The personal information collect in this page will be protect according to our Privacy Statement.


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The Ormsby Review
The books and culture of British Columbia
Graduate Liberal Studies Journal
GLS Journal: Letters from the Pandemic
History (B.C.)
Natural history & science
TRU reviews
#359 From Punjab to Williams Lake
First published August 29, 2018.
An Uncommon Road: How Canadian Sikhs Struggled out of the Fringes and into the Mainstream
by Gian Singh Sandhu
Vancouver: Echo Storytelling, 2018. Available though Heritage Group Distribution
$29.95 / 9781987900163
Reviewed by Gurpreet Singh
Gian Singh Sandhu came to Canada in 1970 and settled in Williams Lake, where he founded Jackpine Forest Products in 1987. Reviewer Gurpreet Singh notes that An Uncommon Road "is not just his personal story but an important historical document for anyone looking for an authentic source of information on the history of the Sikh Diaspora in Canada." — Ed.
Gian Singh Sandhu's memoir, An Uncommon Road, will come in handy for anyone inquisitive about the success story of Sikhs in Canada.
Despite being two per cent of the Canadian population, the community has made a place for itself in the top echelons of the country's politics. The book acknowledges the appointment of Vancouver South M.P. Harjit Singh Sajjan as the first Sikh Defence Minister, in Justin Trudeau's government, and the election of Ontario M.P.P. Jagmeet Singh of the N.D.P. as the first Sikh leader of any major political party of the country.
But as Sandhu's subtitle title suggests, the community's journey has not been easy, especially given the blatant racism that prevailed during early twentieth century when Sikh immigrants started arriving from India to earn a better livelihood.
One of the founders of the World Sikh Organization (WSO), a powerful lobby group, Sandhu provides background to the Sikh struggle against racial discrimination. He came from India in 1970 to Williams Lake, where he went into the lumber industry and started Jackpine Forest Products in 1987.
Gian Singh Sandhu, aged 17
When he reached B.C., he and his family had to endure prejudice. To become a part of the Canadian mainstream and fit in, he had to cut his hair — a painful experience for a devout Sikh, for whom cutting long hair is unthinkable. However, he grew his hair back when the situation changed and his community started showing signs of openness. In fact, he credits a Canadian friend for encouraging him to follow his religion honestly.
He also mentions how his daughter was harassed at school because of her ethnicity. In a way, the book is not just his personal story but an important historical document for anyone looking for an authentic source of information on the history of the Sikh Diaspora in Canada.
Sandhu also helps us understand controversial and complex issues such as Sikh extremism and the Air India tragedy from a Sikh standpoint. The movement to carve a separate and independent Sikh homeland (Khalistan) out of India has its roots in the ugly political events of the early 1980s. The mainstream Sikh leadership was fighting for concessions for their minority community as well as political autonomy for the state of Punjab, which remains the home for the followers of Sikhism through democratic means.
The situation escalated with the emergence of Babbar Khalsa, an extremist group formed in 1978 that believed in armed resistance against injustice. Gradually, the movement turned violent and death squads began killing innocent Hindus in Punjab.
Sikh shops burn in Chandni Chowk market, Old Delhi, November 1984. Sondeep Shankar photo.
All this culminated in an army invasion on the Golden Temple Complex, the holiest shrine of the Sikhs in Amritsar, in June 1984. Accusing the militants of stockpiling arms and ammunition in this place of worship, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi ordered a military attack on the shrine.
The infamous army operation left many innocent pilgrims dead and buildings heavily damaged. This enraged Sikhs all over the world, including Canada.
On October 31, 1984, Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards at her official residence in New Delhi. This was followed by anti-Sikh massacres engineered by the supporters of Gandhi's Congress party in connivance with the police.
These ugly political developments fuelled the struggle for Khalistan. But the movement had ended by the mid-1990s, partly because the militants lost public sympathy due to excesses committed by them on ordinary civilians.
In the meantime, Air India Flight 182 from Vancouver to London was bombed mid-air above the Irish Sea in June 1985, killing all 329 people aboard.
Fuselage of Air India Flight 182 from 2,000 metres below the Atlantic.
The crime was blamed on Vancouver-based Sikh separatists associated with Babbar Khalsa, now a designated terror group.
Sandhu points out in his book how the incident brought the entire community under the microscope. He himself became a target of racial taunts and came under surveillance merely because of his advocacy for the Sikhs, even though the WSO denounced violence and defended the rights, through dialogue, of Sikhs in the aftermath of the events of 1984.
Sandhu goes in depth into how Indian agents have been trying to malign the WSO and link it with violent groups such as Babbar Khalsa, even though the WSO never endorsed extremism and encouraged its members to stay away from violence and to keep a safe distance from state provocateurs.
Gian Singh Sandhu (left) at a WSO function in 1985.
Not only was the WSO dubbed as an extremist group, but Indian diplomats discouraged Canadian politicians from mingling with its leaders.
So much so that Sandhu and some of the people close to him, including one his neighbours in Williams Lake, were denied visas by the Indian government.
Sandhu clarifies in An Uncommon Road that he had arguments with extremists, including the late Talwinder Singh Parmar, the Babbar Khalsa leader who was the alleged mastermind in the Air India conspiracy. He also denounced a hate speech made by another Babbar Khalsa activist and former Air India suspect, Ajaib Singh Bagri.
In a public speech at New York's Madison Square Garden, Bagri had threatened to kill 50,000 Hindus. Though Bagri represented Babbar Khalsa, Sandhu writes that the media continued to drag the WSO's name into the controversy, as the speech was made at a conference attended by its members.
Gian Singh Sandhu receives Order of British Columbia, 2002. B.C. Government photo
Sandhu believes that the Air India bombing could be part of a larger conspiracy involving Indian spies to discredit the Sikh activists and weaken their cause. He writes that the Sikhs, including himself, were equally disturbed by the deaths of innocents aboard the ill-fated flight and would never condone such action by anyone.
The book also sheds light on the WSO's advocacy for the rights of non-Sikhs. Significantly, it has tried to build bridges with other communities and faith groups, such as Indigenous peoples, Jews, Muslims, and LGBT groups. It is pertinent to mention that the founders of the Sikh faith taught their followers to stand up for everyone.
In a progressive move, the WSO supported the demand for allowing same-sex marriage and same sex education in schools in the face of criticism from many orthodox Sikhs.
As well as pointing to the challenges and hardships he and others like him faced after making Canada their home, Sandhu lists the many contributions and achievements of Sikhs in British Columbia.
An Uncommon Road gives hope to minority groups who continue to grapple with racism and bigotry in a Trump era when alt-right movements have gained traction.
Gurpreet Singh
Gurpreet Singh is an independent journalist and a broadcaster with Spice Radio (1200 AM) in Burnaby. He is also a newscaster and talk show host. He publishes Radical Desi, a monthly online magazine based in Vancouver that covers alternative politics, and he writes frequently for The Georgia Straight. He has published four books, all non-fiction, and has also published fiction. He is a grassroots-level activist involved in various human rights and social justice campaigns.
The Ormsby Review. More Books. More Reviews. More Often.
Editor/Designer/Writer: Richard Mackie
Publisher/Writer: Alan Twigg
The Ormsby Review is a journal service for serious coverage of B.C. books and authors, hosted by Simon Fraser University. The Advisory Board consists of Jean Barman, Robin Fisher, Cole Harris, Wade Davis, Hugh Johnston, Patricia Roy, David Stouck, and Graeme Wynn. Scholarly Patron: SFU Graduate Liberal Studies. Honorary Patron: Yosef Wosk. As of September, 2018, Provincial Government Patron: Creative BC
"Only connect." – E.M. Forster
Gian Singh Sandhu, with wife Surinder, wearing "Dogwood" medallion (Order of British Columbia).
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Movie Review: Entertainment – This One Can Make Humshakals Look Like A Blockbuster
BOLLYWOOD, Latest News
9:26 pm August 8, 2014
It lacks vision, it lacks clarity, it lacks content and last but shockingly not the least it last entertainment. Yes, that's what Akshay Kumar starrer Entertainment is all about. The film has been poorly written and is a juvinile attempt at direction. To watch Entertainment, one needs to have a lot of patience.
Akshay Kumar is Akhil Lokhande, a down-on-his luck struggler who discovers he's the illegitimate son of a recently deceased Bangkok billionaire. Now the only thing that stands between him and his old man's Rs 3,000 crore legacy is a pooch named Entertainment, who's inherited that fortune. Encouraged by his friend Jugnu (Krushna Abhishek), he spends the first half of the film plotting to kill his daddy's faithful four-legged friend, but finds himself repeatedly outwitted. When a pair of criminal uncles (Prakah Raj and Sonu Sood) show up with designs on the money, Akhil turns over a new leaf, and decides to protect the mutt instead.
Mithun Chakraborty is the cash-obsessed father of Akshay's girlfriend (Tamannah), who, at one point advises his daughter to marry the dog because all men turn into dogs after marriage anyway. Wow what a cool advice to give to your daughter.
The humour isn't just slapstick, it's also repetitive and has the power to make Sajid Khan humour look cool. I still cannot get over the sight of an overweight Akshay Kumar breastfeeding a baby in the first five minutes of the film. Krushna's jokes are crass and very below the belt.
Only Johnny Lever succeeds in delivering genuine laughs as Habibullah, the dead billionaire's manager. He's the single saving grace and the only Entertainment in the entire film.
Sajid-Farhad, have scripted films like Golmaal 3, Singham, Himmatwala, Chennai Express, Singham Returns and many more. Now to have them direct such a immature script written by them is unbelievable.
Post seeing this film I am wounding why did Akshay Kumar actually do Entertainment as it can make Humshakals look like a blockbuster!!!
Summary: To watch Entertainment, one needs to have a lot of patience as this one can make Humshakals look like a blockbuster.
Movie Review: Entertainment – This One Can Make Humshakals Look Like A Blockbuster Kinky Little Boots News Network August 8, 2014 To watch Entertainment, one needs to have a lot of patience as this one can make Humshakals look like a blockbuster.
It lacks vision, it lacks clarity, it lacks content and last but shockingly not the least it last entertainment. Yes, that's what Akshay Kumar starrer...
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You're Not Hallucinating: 'Chex Quest' Was a Very Real Video Game
BY Colleen Nerney ON July 5, 2022
Everyone remembers their first. Whether it be your first live concert (the A-Teens), your first car (a dented Honda CR-V), or your first kiss (sorry Dillon), the inaugural "thing" tends to stick out in one's mind. A lot of people my age have an enduring fondness for Pokemon, as it was very likely their first video game. Mine was Chex Quest — a first-person-shooter made for kids.
Well, kind of. It's not as simple as a "shooter for kids," though that is technically accurate in terms of the intended audience and style of gameplay. Chex Quest has a pseudo-mythical status for a lot of reasons. Despite its origins and concept, it managed to not only maintain an active fanbase since its debut, but become such a cult classic that it got a full remaster and multiple re-releases as recently as March 2022.
My personal interpretation of "mythical" has to do with the fact that I spent most of my life convinced I made this game up, and that my memories of it were either completely fabricated or totally inaccurate. Yet, it is very real. And it came back into my life after two decades in the strangest of ways.
Let me back up.
Chex Quest is a 1996 family-friendly, first-person-shooter PC game that was included, for free, in boxes of Chex cereal for a 6-week timeframe. It is also a straight-up Doom clone. Yes, that Doom, the game often cited with fueling the "violent video games" suburban panic of the '90s. If this combination of competing ideas — corporate advertising targeted at kids mixed with the most notorious game of the decade — feels unhinged to you, it's because it is.
Why the hell did this get made?
Simply speaking, money. The entire goal of Chex Quest was to "reinvigorate" the Chex brand, which is marketing speak for "sell more stuff." The promotional agency tasked with this decided that putting 6 million copies of a free CD-ROM into cereal boxes would show consumers that the company was cool and hip with the youth, and therefore bolster sales. It actually worked, and '90s kids everywhere got their hands on this cult-classic in the making.
The game's development was unsurprisingly weird. Since the budget was low (half a million) and the turnaround was tight (half a year), the team opted to seek out an existing game engine, pay pretty much nothing to license it, and tweak it for their purposes. Fucking insanely, they chose Id Software's Doom, the revolutionary and controversial first-person-shooter that was most well-known for its graphic violence and Satanic imagery, and would later be stained by its association with the Columbine shooting.
Chex Quest is a re-skin of Doom with new music and textures; the gameplay and levels are identical. Guns were replaced with remote-looking things, blood with slime, and bullets with vegetables. To put it into perspective, this would be like taking Resident Evil 7 and turning Ethan Winters into a Kinder Egg who kills the Molded with chocolate.
The modding of the engine was done by a literal 17-year-old programmer in the evenings (you know, after he was done with school). The full 6 million release copies were burned from a single demo disc–before it was even bug-tested. It all sounds like some schoolyard rumor that was warped by a game of telephone, but it's real.
I was first introduced to Chex Quest when I was in kindergarten. The boys responsible for showing it to me were Brad and Jason, the sons of my parents' closest friends. Brad and Jason were 3 and 5 years older than me, but they never made me feel like a tag-along or an annoyance–I was like a little sister who came to visit a few times a year.
The two of them would take turns playing Chex Quest on their family PC while I sat either next to or on top of them like a horrible monkey child and watched. It was the first real video game I had ever seen, save for a few "educational" point-and-clicks and dress-up games. I was mesmerized. It was like entering one of the Windows 95 pipe screensavers — totally 3D, but you were in control.
Most importantly, you, a giant piece of Chex cereal, could fight aliens. Sick.
I'm sure we only played it a handful of times. We all grew up. I became convinced that I must have imagined Chex Quest — it was way too weird to actually exist. I didn't think about it much at all after childhood.
That is, until the autumn of 2017, when Jason was killed by a drunk driver. His death was devastating and I felt deeply alone in the aftermath, as I had no mutual friends with whom to remember him. Only my family and his.
A few months after Jason's passing, his mother asked for friends to share fond memories of him. I had plenty: trips to the lake, bad sumo-wrestling home videos that in hindsight were probably super racist. I agonized over what to tell her, what story would be so perfect that it would alleviate her grief.
Suddenly, I knew — I had to find out what that fucking cereal game was, if it was even real.
It took only moments of Googling to discover that holy shit, not only was this game legit, but it had a serious following. I called Jason's mother and managed to explain, through laughter and tears, that Jason showed me my first video game ever, uh, where you're a piece of cereal killing aliens with vegetables? She was bemused and a little perplexed. But I could tell she was smiling.
I am well aware of how nostalgia goggles work, especially on my generation, but some part of me is truly thankful for this whack-ass little game and the spot it holds in my heart. It's a perfect reflection of how the innocuous things – the ones you don't expect to have any lasting meaning — are often the things that stick with you. A backwards marketing ploy that became a legend among kids that became a core memory of a lost friend.
I genuinely do not know who thought it was appropriate to take perhaps the most graphic game of the era and redo it for children, or how the fuck they wound up succeeding. But at the end of the day, part of that utter strangeness is what makes Chex Quest so fascinating — it shouldn't exist. And I can't imagine life without it.
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