text:
The Shashank Redemption: The BCCI's New Escape Plan
The new BCCI President, a lawyer by profession, has promised sweeping changes in the board within two months.
Updated: 05 Oct 2015, 12:29 PM IST
The proverbial winds of change are blowing hard through the BCCI.
Someone left the door open and invited them in. But it didn't matter if they hadn't, as this typhoon was knocking down the door, steadily over the past year.
Following on from a series of events remarkably started by the disgruntled state cricketing board of Bihar, Indian cricket has now discovered and potentially even embraced world class corporate governance.
In the last 24 hours, Shashank Manohar has been elected as the BCCI President for his second term.
He is making all the right noises.
At his press conference, he asked for two months to implement a suite of changes, all aimed at rebuilding faith in how the BCCI operates.
1. Regulating Conflict of Interest Issues
An independent agent will be established to investigate all conflicts of interest that may exist with administrators, players or staff. Almost shockingly, not one conflict of interest has ever been found to exist when the BCCI has investigated itself.
Manohar has even gone to the extraordinary step of asking his son to resign from his post as a BCCI employee. Perhaps unnecessary overkill, but a powerful message that points to the future.
Former BCCI President N Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan was banned from all cricket activities for 'indulging in corrupt practices'. (Photo: PTI)
2. Preventing On-field Corruption
Manohar has come to the conclusion that apart from the high level education of players, the BCCI lacks the requisite resources to do anything more, such as properly investigate on-field corruption.
This is a stark change from Srinivasan's position, where he used special committees headed by internal stooge Ravi Shastri to probe these issues. Unless we are blind to his history, he is not a formally trained detective.
The BCCI will now look to engage government for assistance in these matters.
BCCI members Jay Shah, Abhishek Dalmiya, Anurag Thakur, Rajiv Shukla and Sourav Ganguly outside the BCCI headquarters on Sunday. (Photo: PTI)
3. Getting Member Associations' Accounts in Order
Again, the walls of secrecy are crumbling.
It is proposed that independent auditors will examine the annual statements of member boards.
The associations are paid huge money by the BCCI to spend on cricketing or other activities. Their accounts are audited by auditors appointed by state associations. But I would like to have a system where Board appoints an auditor independent of state associations. Once their accounts are audited, they would get full money. BCCI is empowered to check whether the money is being properly utilised or not.
— Shashank Manohar
BCCI members during the election in Mumbai on Sunday. (Photo: PTI)
4. Making the BCCI's Financial Records Public
25 lakh (circa $35k) is not a large amount. However, Manohar is bringing public service best practice to the BCCI by publishing all procurement activity of this amount or greater.
Will it include player salaries?
He also states that the board's financial statements will also be made public. An amazing change that should have the benefit of providing insight into its fiscal relationship with the ICC and sponsors.
5. Women's Cricket
It is now on the record that women's cricket in India is about to become professional. The BCCI will enter into central contracts with the team. At what level of payment, we are still unclear. However, this move must be applauded.
Newly elected BCCI President Shashank Manohar during a Press Conference in Mumbai on Sunday.(Photo: PTI)
6. Curbing the President's Arbitrary Powers
There are two powers which are vested with me under the constitution. One, at the AGM, there is a chairman's vote and a casting vote to which I do not agree that the chairman should have a vote because the person should not be equated with the association. The casting vote is fine. Therefore I would assure you all that I would not exercise the right of the chairman's vote at the AGM till the constitution is amended.
— Shashank Manohar, BCCI President
In the ultimate slap in the face to Srinivasan's style of leadership, Manohar is almost refusing the powers bestowed on him as President. Instead of an autocracy, we see the makings of a BCCI Cabinet, with a majority rules approach.
This is a massive change in the workings of the board.
While the next level of detail in this new approach is currently lacking, the intent appears on the surface to be pure.
However, it must be noted that Manohar was BCCI President when the board retrospectively changed the constitution to allow conflicts of interest in relation to IPL team ownership. In hindsight, it can be argued that this was the trigger that started the previously unfathomable events that have taken the BCCI to this point.
Do leopards change their spots? Is Manohar really the bastion of superior corporate governance?
And what now for warlord Srinivasan. The ICC Chairman now has no official post domestically. The BCCI can call in his ICC Chairmanship at a moment's notice.
Why haven't they? Is this the unspeakable final step in the cleansing cycle?
Manohar has asked for two months to make his mark.
The clock is ticking.
Published: 05 Oct 2015, 11:56 AM IST


text:
The Scorpio Races
The Scorpio Races Violence
By Maggie Stiefvater
It is the first day of November and so, today, someone will die. (Prologue.1)
The very first line of the novel does a cracking job of setting a grim tone. This book is definitely going to be more Gears of War than My Little Pony.
Last year a water horse trailing flowers and bells tore a man's arm half from his body. (Prologue.10)
It takes a whole ten paragraphs for Maggie Stiefvater to prove that she wasn't kidding with that first line. She's basically saying, "Boom. Dismemberment. This ain't your grandmother's Black Beauty."
Padgett is beginning to look improbably: something about him is starting to look less like a man and more like meat. (4.40)
Okay, this is a disgusting description, but it doesn't seem to unsettle Sean Kendrick at all. Must be because he's used to the violence of the island.
The mare crouches, shaking her dark quarry. She's ripping it, holding part down with a hoof. The sand pools blood. (8.13)
Not even puppies are safe from the bloodthirsty water horses. This quote isn't about a human casualty, but a dog that got a little too close to the horse's snapping jaws.
End of the first day, the endless first day. The beach has had its share of casualties. (9.3)
Some beaches shut down because of water pollution or the occasional shark attack. In Thisby, bloody bodies from water horse attacks are just the sign of another November.
"It's a war down there." (12.34)
Peg Gratton makes the Scorpio Races seem like the first few minutes of Saving Private Ryan—blood and body parts on the beach, and wondering "is this all worth it?"
There's a snap of blunt teeth, and just like that, his fingers are gone. (15.29)
The horse's teeth may snap, but now this guy won't. And in a book this bloody, he's one of the lucky ones.
"Tell me that again [...] two weeks from now when you've seen the dead bodies on the beach." (33.67)
Sean may not see God in a church, but unlike George Holly, he doesn't see God on the beach either... unless it's a vengeful God. Sean sees death and violence on a daily basis, and there's nothing holy about that to him.
Quick as a snake, Corr's flat teeth crush into his neck. (42.91)
Even Corr, who has been relatively tame for the majority of the novel, is susceptible to his violent nature. When ridden by someone who isn't Sean, he lashes out.
If [Malvern] has touched Corr, I will kill him. (53.28)
Violence begets violence on Thisby, it seems. Malvern uses violence to intimidate Sean by injuring the horses, and Sean plans to retaliate with violence if Mutt gets his angry paws on Corr. It's a vicious cycle.
Dreams, Hopes, and Plans

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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text:
\begin{ManPage}{\label{man-condor-status}\Condor{status}}{1}
{Display status of the HTCondor pool}
\Synopsis \SynProg{\Condor{status}}
\ToolDebugOption
\oArg{help options}
\oArg{query options}
\oArg{display options}
\oArg{custom options}
\oArg{name \Dots}

\index{HTCondor commands!condor\_status}
\index{condor\_status command}

\Description
\Condor{status} is a versatile tool that may be used to monitor and query the
HTCondor pool.  The \Condor{status} tool can be used to query resource
information, submitter information, checkpoint server information, and daemon
master information.  The specific query sent and the resulting information
display is controlled by the query options supplied.  Queries and display
formats can also be customized.

The options that may be supplied to \Condor{status} belong to five groups:
\begin{itemize}
	\item \textbf{Help options} provide information about the \Condor{status}
		tool.
	\item \textbf{Query options} control the content and presentation of status
		information.
	\item \textbf{Display options} control the display of the queried
		information.
	\item \textbf{Custom options} allow the user to customize query and
		display information.
	\item \textbf{Host options} specify specific machines to be queried
\end{itemize}

At any time, only one \Arg{help option}, one \Arg{query option} and one
\Arg{custom option} may be specified.  Any number of \Arg{custom} and \Arg{host
options} may be specified.

\begin{Options}
    \ToolDebugDesc
    \OptItem{\Opt{-help}}{(Help option) Display usage information}
    \OptItem{\Opt{-diagnose}}{(Help option) Print out query ClassAd without
      performing query}
    \OptItem{\Opt{-absent}}{(Query option) Query for and display only
      absent resources.}
    \OptItem{\Opt{-any}}{(Query option) Query all ClassAds and display their type,
      target type, and name}
    \OptItem{\Opt{-avail}}{(Query option) Query \Condor{startd} ClassAds and identify
      resources which are available}
    \OptItem{\Opt{-ckptsrvr}}{(Query option) Query \Condor{ckpt\_server} ClassAds
      and display checkpoint server attributes}
    \OptItem{\Opt{-claimed}}{(Query option) Query \Condor{startd} ClassAds and print
      information about claimed resources}
    \OptItem{\Opt{-cod}}{(Query option) Display only machine ClassAds
      that have COD claims. Information displayed includes
      the claim ID, the owner of the claim, and the state
      of the COD claim.}
    \OptItem{\Opt{-collector}}{(Query option) Query \Condor{collector} ClassAds
      and display attributes}
    \OptItem{\OptArg{-direct}{hostname}}{(Query option) Go directly to
      the given host name to get the ClassAds to display.
      By default, returns the \Condor{startd} ClassAd.
      If \Opt{-schedd} is also given, return the \Condor{schedd} ClassAd
      on that host.}
    \OptItem{\Opt{-java}}{(Query option) Display only Java-capable resources.}
    \OptItem{\Opt{-license}}{(Query option) Display license attributes.}
    \OptItem{\Opt{-master}}{(Query option) Query \Condor{master} ClassAds
      and display daemon master attributes}
    \OptItem{\Opt{-negotiator}}{(Query option) Query \Condor{negotiator}
      ClassAds and display attributes}
    \OptItem{\OptArg{-pool}{centralmanagerhostname[:portnumber]}}
      {(Query option) Query the specified central manager using an
      optional port number.
      \Condor{status} queries the machine specified by the configuration
      variable \MacroNI{COLLECTOR\_HOST} by default.}
    \OptItem{\Opt{-run}}{(Query option) Display information about machines
      currently running jobs.}
    \OptItem{\Opt{-schedd}}{(Query option) Query \Condor{schedd} ClassAds and display
      attributes}
    \OptItem{\Opt{-server}}{(Query option) Query \Condor{startd} ClassAds and
      display resource attributes}
    \OptItem{\Opt{-startd}}{(Query option) Query \Condor{startd} ClassAds}
    \OptItem{\Opt{-state}}{(Query option) Query \Condor{startd} ClassAds and display
      resource state information}
    \OptItem{\OptArg{-statistics}{WhichStatistics}}{(Query option) Can only be
      used if the \Opt{-direct} option has been specified.
      Identifies which Statistics attributes to include in the ClassAd.
      \Arg{WhichStatistics} is specified using the same syntax as defined
      for \MacroNI{STATISTICS\_TO\_PUBLISH}.  See the definition at
      ~\ref{param:StatisticsToPublish} for details.}
    \OptItem{\Opt{-storage}}{(Query option) Display attributes of machines
      with network storage resources.}
    \OptItem{\Opt{-submitters}}{(Query option) Query ClassAds sent by submitters and
      display important submitter attributes}
    \OptItem{\OptArg{-subsystem}{type}}{(Query option) If \Arg{type} is
      one of \Arg{collector}, \Arg{negotiator}, \Arg{master},
      \Arg{schedd}, \Arg{startd}, or \Arg{quill},
      then behavior is the same as the query option without the
      \Opt{-subsystem} option.  For example,
      \OptArg{-subsystem}{collector} is the same as \Opt{-collector}.
      A value of \Arg{type} of \Arg{CkptServer},
      \Arg{Machine}, \Arg{DaemonMaster}, or \Arg{Scheduler}
      targets that type of ClassAd.  }
    \OptItem{\Opt{-vm}}{(Query option) Query \Condor{startd} ClassAds,
      and display only VM-enabled machines.  Information displayed includes
      the the machine name, the virtual machine software version,
      the state of machine, the virtual machine memory,
      and the type of networking.}

    \OptItem{\OptArg{-attributes}{Attr1[,Attr2 \Dots]}}{(Display option)
      Explicitly list the attributes in a comma separated list
      which should be displayed when using the \Opt{-xml} or \Opt{-long}
      options.  Limiting the number of attributes increases the efficiency
      of the query.}
    \OptItem{\Opt{-expert}}{(Display option) Display shortened error messages}
    \OptItem{\Opt{-long}}{(Display option) Display entire ClassAds
      (same as \Opt{-verbose})}
    \OptItem{\OptArg{-sort}{expr}}{(Display option) Change the display order
      to be based on ascending values of an evaluated expression
      given by \Arg{expr}.
      Evaluated expressions of a string type are in a case insensitive
      alphabetical order.
      If multiple \Opt{-sort} arguments appear on the command line,
      the primary sort will be on the leftmost one within the command line,
      and it is numbered 0.
      A secondary sort will be based on the second expression,
      and it is numbered 1.
      For informational or debugging purposes, the ClassAd output to be
      displayed will appear as if the ClassAd had two additional attributes.
      \AdAttr{CondorStatusSortKeyExpr<N>} is the expression,
      where \Expr{<N>} is replaced by the number of the sort.
      \AdAttr{CondorStatusSortKey<N>}
      gives the result of evaluating the sort expression that is numbered
      \Expr{<N>}.}
    \OptItem{\Opt{-total}}{(Display option) Display totals only}
    \OptItem{\Opt{-verbose}}{(Display option) Display entire ClassAds.  Implies
      that totals will not be displayed.}
    \OptItem{\Opt{-xml}}{(Display option) Display entire ClassAds,
      in XML format.  The XML format is fully defined at
      \URL{http://www.cs.wisc.edu/condor/classad/refman/}.}

    \OptItem{\OptArg{-constraint}{const}}{(Custom option) Add constraint
      expression.  See section~\ref{sec:classad-reference} and
      section~\ref{sec:classad-query-examples} for
      details on ClassAds and on writing expressions.}
    \OptItem{\OptArg{-format}{fmt attr}}{(Custom option) Display attribute
      or expression \Arg{attr} in format \Arg{fmt}.
      To display the attribute or expression the format must contain a single
      \Code{printf(3)}-style conversion specifier.
      Attributes must be from the resource ClassAd.
      Expressions are ClassAd expressions and may
      refer to attributes in the resource ClassAd.
      If the attribute is not present in a given ClassAd and cannot
      be parsed as an expression, then the
      format option will be silently skipped.
      The conversion specifier must match the type of the
      attribute or expression.
      \%s is suitable for strings such as \Attr{Name},
      \%d for integers such as \Attr{LastHeardFrom},
      and \%f for floating point numbers such as \Attr{LoadAvg}.
      \%v identifies the type of the attribute,
      and then prints the value in an appropriate format.
      \%V identifies the type of the attribute,
      and then prints the value in an appropriate format as it would
      appear in the \Opt{-long} format.
      As an example, strings used with \%V will have quote marks.
      An incorrect format will result in undefined behavior.
      Do not use more than one conversion specifier in a given
      format.  More than one conversion specifier will result
      in undefined behavior.  To output multiple attributes
      repeat the \Opt{-format} option once for each desired
      attribute.
      Like \Code{printf(3)}-style formats, one may include other
      text that will be reproduced directly.
      A format without any conversion specifiers may be specified,
      but an attribute is still required.
      Include \Bs n to specify a line break. }
    \OptItem{\OptArg{-autoformat[:tn,lVh]}{attr1 [attr2 ...]}} {
      (Custom option) Display machine ClassAd attribute values
      formatted in a default way according to their attribute types.
      This option takes an arbitrary number of attribute names as arguments,
      and prints out their values.  It is like the \Opt{-format} option,
      but no format strings are required.
      It is assumed that no attribute names begin with a dash character,
      so that the next word that begins with dash is the
      start of the next option.
      The \Opt{autoformat} option may be followed by a colon character
      and formatting qualifiers:

      \textbf{t} add a tab character before each field instead of
      the default space character,

      \textbf{n} add a newline character after each field,

      \textbf{,} add a comma character after each field,

      \textbf{l} label each field,

      \textbf{V} use \%V rather than \%v for formatting,

      \textbf{h} print headings before the first line of output.

      The newline and comma characters may \emph{not} be used together.
      }
\end{Options}

\GenRem
\begin{itemize}
	\item The default output from \Condor{status} is formatted to
	be human readable, not script readable.
	In an effort to make the output fit within 80 characters,
	values in some fields might be truncated.
	Furthermore, the HTCondor Project can (and does) change the
	formatting of this default output as we see fit.
	Therefore, any script that is attempting to parse data from
	\Condor{status} is strongly encouraged to use the
	\Opt{-format} option (described above).

	\item The information obtained from \Condor{startd} and \Condor{schedd}
	daemons
	may sometimes appear to be inconsistent.  This is normal since
	\Condor{startd}  and \Condor{schedd} daemons update the HTCondor
	manager at different rates, and since there is a
	delay as information propagates through the network and the system.

	\item Note that the \texttt{ActivityTime} in the \texttt{Idle} state is
	\emph{not} the amount of time that the machine has been idle.  See the
	section on \Condor{startd} states in the \emph{Administrator's Manual}
	for more information.

	\item When using \Condor{status} on a pool with SMP machines,
	you can either provide the host name, in which case you will
	get back information about all slots that are represented on
	that host, or you can list specific slots by name.
	See the examples below for details.

	\item If you specify host names, without domains, HTCondor will
	automatically try to resolve those host names into fully
	qualified host names for you.
	This also works when specifying specific nodes of an SMP
	machine.
	In this case, everything after the ``@'' sign is treated as a
	host name and that is what is resolved.

	\item You can use the \Opt{-direct} option in conjunction with
	almost any other set of options.
	However, at this time, the only daemon that will allow direct
	queries for its ad(s) is the \Condor{startd}.
	So, the only options currently not supported with
	\Opt{-direct} are \Opt{-schedd} and \Opt{-master}.
	Most other options use startd ads for their information, so
	they work seamlessly with \Opt{-direct}.
	The only other restriction on \Opt{-direct} is that you may
	only use 1 \Opt{-direct} option at a time.
	If you want to query information directly from multiple hosts,
	you must run \Condor{status} multiple times.

	\item Unless you use the local host name with \Opt{-direct},
	\Condor{status} will still have to contact a collector to find
	the address where the specified daemon is listening.
	So, using a \Opt{-pool} option in conjunction with
	\Opt{-direct} just tells \Condor{status} which collector to
	query to find the address of the daemon you want.
	The information actually displayed will still be retrieved
	directly from the daemon you specified as the argument to
	\Opt{-direct}.

\end{itemize}

\Examples

\underline{Example 1} To view information from all nodes of an SMP
machine, use only the host name.
For example, if you had a 4-CPU machine, named
\File{vulture.cs.wisc.edu}, you might see
\footnotesize
\begin{verbatim}
% condor_status vulture

Name               OpSys      Arch   State     Activity LoadAv Mem   ActvtyTime

slot1@vulture.cs.w LINUX      INTEL  Claimed   Busy     1.050   512  0+01:47:42
slot2@vulture.cs.w LINUX      INTEL  Claimed   Busy     1.000   512  0+01:48:19
slot3@vulture.cs.w LINUX      INTEL  Unclaimed Idle     0.070   512  1+11:05:32
slot4@vulture.cs.w LINUX      INTEL  Unclaimed Idle     0.000   512  1+11:05:34

                     Total Owner Claimed Unclaimed Matched Preempting Backfill

         INTEL/LINUX     4     0       2         2       0          0        0

               Total     4     0       2         2       0          0        0
\end{verbatim}
\normalsize

\underline{Example 2} To view information from a specific nodes of an
SMP machine, specify the node directly.
You do this by providing the name of the slot.
This has the form \texttt{slot\#@hostname}.
For example:
\footnotesize
\begin{verbatim}
% condor_status slot3@vulture

Name               OpSys      Arch   State     Activity LoadAv Mem   ActvtyTime

slot3@vulture.cs.w LINUX      INTEL  Unclaimed Idle     0.070   512  1+11:10:32

                     Total Owner Claimed Unclaimed Matched Preempting Backfill

         INTEL/LINUX     1     0       0         1       0          0        0

               Total     1     0       0         1       0          0        0
\end{verbatim}
\normalsize

\underline{Constraint option examples}

Further explanation and examples are in section~\ref{classad-query-examples}.

The Unix command
to use the constraint option to see all machines with the \Attr{OpSys}
of \AdStr{LINUX}:
\begin{verbatim}
% condor_status -constraint OpSys==\"LINUX\"
\end{verbatim}
Note that quotation marks must be escaped with the backslash characters
for most shells.

The Windows command to do the same thing:
\begin{verbatim}
>condor_status -constraint " OpSys==""LINUX"" "
\end{verbatim}
Note that quotation marks are used to delimit the single argument which
is the expression, and the quotation marks that identify the string
must be escaped by using a set of two double quote marks without
any intervening spaces.

To see all machines that are currently in the Idle state,
the Unix command is
\begin{verbatim}
% condor_status -constraint State==\"Idle\"
\end{verbatim}

To see all machines that are bench marked to have a MIPS rating
of more than 750, the Unix command is
\begin{verbatim}
% condor_status -constraint 'Mips>750'
\end{verbatim}

\underline{-cod option example}

The \Opt{-cod} option displays the status of COD
claims within a given HTCondor pool.

\footnotesize
\begin{verbatim}
Name        ID   ClaimState TimeInState RemoteUser JobId Keyword
astro.cs.wi COD1 Idle        0+00:00:04 wright
chopin.cs.w COD1 Running     0+00:02:05 wright     3.0   fractgen
chopin.cs.w COD2 Suspended   0+00:10:21 wright     4.0   fractgen

               Total  Idle  Running  Suspended  Vacating  Killing
 INTEL/LINUX       3     1        1          1         0        0
       Total       3     1        1          1         0        0
\end{verbatim}
\normalsize

\underline{-format option example}
To display the name and memory attributes of each job ClassAd in a format
that is easily parsable by other tools:
\begin{verbatim}
% condor_status -format "%s " Name -format "%d\n" Memory
\end{verbatim}
To do the same with the \Opt{autoformat} option, run
\begin{verbatim}
% condor_status -autoformat Name Memory
\end{verbatim}

\ExitStatus

\Condor{status} will exit with a status value of 0 (zero) upon success,
and it will exit with the value 1 (one) upon failure.

\end{ManPage}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
The Renaissance nature of Florence lends a timeless enchantment to evening strolls along the Arno, candle-lit dinners in tiny trattorias, and stolen kisses at sunset from Ponte Vecchio. If you're lucky enough to visit with your sweetheart, here are a few suggestions to add a romantic twist.
See the City from Above
Dominated by Brunelleschi's famous dome, the skyline of Florence is one of the most unique in Italy and especially captivating when seen from above. Take a panoramic tour of the city by Vespa that includes stops at scenic overlooks, gaze out over the rooftops from the Duomo's rooftop terraces, or savor a bird's-eye view of the city and Tuscan countryside on a hot-air balloon ride.
Float down the Arno River
For a different view of the city, join a river cruise by traditional wooden boat and float down the placid waters of the Arno. You travel through the heart of Florence, passing under the Ponte Vecchio and along the pastel-tinged palazzi lining the river banks in the historic center, all while sip a glass of prosecco.
AdmireDavid in Peace
Michelangelo'sDavid is one of the biggest draws in Florence, and the throngs of visitors that fill the Accademia each day make it hard to enjoy its majesty. Join an exclusive early access tour and stand serenely in front of this masterpiece before the crowds arrive.
Fall in Love...with Tuscan Food and Wine
Tuscan cuisine is among the most beloved in the world, and a sunset food or wine tour is ideal for romantic gourmands who want to explore its classic dishes and labels. For a special evening, opt for dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant overlooking Florence or a traditional Tuscan dinner followed by an opera performance.
8 Tours and Activities | All Florence Tours
Skip the line: Duomo Skywalk - Florence Heaven
Visit Florence Duomo with a skip-the-line ticket, and enjoy exclusive access to the terraces for panoramic views of the city. After touring the cathedral, you'll make your way up the staircase and along corridors that have been closed to the public for centuries. Stand on the terraces as you learn about Brunelleschi, the dome's architect, then continue to the top of Brunelleschi's Dome, if you wish.
Tuscany Hot Air Balloon Flight
Get a bird's-eye view of the Tuscan countryside on this hot air balloon flight. Departing from San Casciano in Val di Pesa, an expert captain will lift you 2,000 feet (609 meters) into the air. Soak up unparalleled views of Tuscany's olive groves and vineyards spread out below, as well as quaint villages and stunning castles. Then toast your adventure with a complimentary glass of sparkling wine after descending back down into the countryside.
Exclusive: Accademia Gallery Early Access & Italian Breakfast - Small Group Tour
Be one of the first of the day to tour Florence's Accademia Gallery, and finish with an Italian breakfast in a local cafe. It's a Viator Exclusive tour that can't be booked anywhere else! In a small group, limited to just 19, explore the famous gallery without the crowds, and learn about Michelangelo's works from an art-historian guide. Swoon at the sculpture of 'David,' hear the history of 'San Matteo' and gain insight into the influential art of the Renaissance.
Florence River Cruise on a Traditional Barchetto
Glide under the iconic Ponte Vecchio bridge and across the Arno River on a Florence river cruise. Hop aboard your barchetto—a small traditional boat that is one of only four still operating in the city. As you see the sights like the famous Uffizi Gallery from the water, toast your fellow mates with a glass of Prosecco.
Vespa Panoramic Tour of Florence
Zip through Florence in true Italian fashion on a 3-hour Vespa tour. Ride on your own scooter while a guide leads you to some of the best panoramic views in and around the city, including Piazzale Michelangelo, the convent of San Miniato, and the ancient Roman hill town of Fiesole. Stop often to take photos and enjoy the thrill of riding through the city streets.
Florence Dinner with Concert or Opera: authentic Italian Evening Experience
Soak up Florentine food and culture during a traditional dinner and concert experience. Settle into a charming restaurant in Florence's Oltrarno district and feast on a Tuscan meal, with your choice of an à la carte menu including traditional dishes or a set menu served with Chianti wine. After satiating your taste buds, head to St Mark's Anglican Church for an opera performance or concert, and enjoy a reserved front-row seat.
Florence Sunset Wine Tour
Experience the magic of a Tuscan sunset in Florence with a traditional Italian aperitivo on this evening tour. Soak up the atmosphere of the Renaissance capital after dark as you follow your guide on a walking tour around the historic center and the districts of Oltrarno and San Frediano. Admire illuminated landmarks like the Ponte Vecchio, Santo Spirito church, and the Duomo as you explore the city, and stop along the way to sip Chianti wine and nibble on delicious Tuscan 'crostini'.
Romantic Michelin-Starred Dinner at Villa Bardini Museum with Views of Florence
Take a seat for a 5-course tasting dinner at an elegant local restaurant and museum, a 17th-century villa restaurant. After the meal, which is prepared by a Michelin-starred chef, you'll have time to browse a temporary exhibit displayed in the on-site museum. Your evening then finishes on a high note with a trip to the restaurant's private top terrace for an exclusive viewing of nighttime Florence.


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JANUARY SPAIN BOOK REVIEW: 'Boadilla' by Esmond Romilly
Published on January 22, 2017 January 22, 2017 by Caroline Angus
In 1936 Esmond Romilly, nephew of Great Britain's 'War Chancellor' Winston Churchill and outspoken pacifist, went to fight with the International Brigades for the democratically elected Spanish government against the insurgent fascist general Francisco Franco. This is the unheroic, unsentimental account he wrote immediately after the fighting, fresh and personal like no other, spiced with dry English humor.
There have been other records of the part played by the British members of the International Brigade at the siege of Madrid. But Mr. Romilly's is the most full. He is one of the two survivors of the original ten British volunteers attached to the Thaelmann Battalion in the early days of the war. So his book has its place in the annals of the contemporary struggle for liberty. He writes easily and simply. There are occasional breaths of Hemingway, but in the later chapters especially he displays a detached casualness—unusual in so young a writer (Mr. Romilly is nineteen)—that is genuinely dramatic and moving. Without heroics he conveys the feelings of those untrained enthusiasts (the author's military experience was confined to refusing to join his school O.T.C.) suddenly plunged into a battle fought apparently at random. Caught between a cross-fire, the little group was almost wiped out. Their bodies were never found.
cover art and blurb via amazon and spectator
As mentioned a few weeks in ago in This Week in Spanish Civil War History – Week 25: 1 -7 January 1937, the battles for Corunna Road and the fight to take the town of Boadilla del Monte, just outside Madrid, were chronicled by 19-year-old English volunteer Esmond Romilly.
The book starts off by promising to account the battle of Boadilla in a straight-forward fashion, as that it does. It tells a very simple story of what happened, all written while fresh in the author's mind in 1937, as he holidays on honeymoon in France. Romilly came from a rich family, married in another rich family, but for a few months in late 1936 and early 1937, he fought to make 'Madrid the grave of fascism.' He had little stamina for the war, but he was an excellent example of unprepared men thrown into a poorly planned battle, so typical of volunteers in Spain.
The book starts with a background of all the main characters that Romilly met on the trip – Joe Gough, Harry Audley, Aussie Whateley, Jerry Fontana, Lorimer Birch, Arnold Jeans, Bill Scott, Tom Mann and Martin Messer. It seems in this short time, Romilly got to know these men very well. After the battle to claim Boadilla, he would go home alone.
The early chapters show him working to get by in France as he makes his way south, arriving in Spain by ship at Valencia. The Albacete training bases had been set up by this time. Romilly describes this as playing at soldiers. He had no idea how to use a rifle, couldn't speak any Spanish and was constantly suffering dysentery. He met many Germans, Latvians and French men, as well as his fellow Englishmen, and the story tells of the usual difficulties marching with supplies and being hot, of the whole thing having a 'field day' atmosphere while away from the front. Romilly has given some people assumed names, most those who were German or went to Germany after the war (it was illegal for Germans to aid the Republicans. Those returning home were jailed).
One thing that stood out was Romilly being told by French communist André Marty that the Republicans needed three things to win the war – political unity, military leaders with experience, and discipline. They had none of these.
Romilly uses assumed names for the towns of his initial battles. Battle starts in chapter 5 when out of nowhere, Romilly finds himself under fire, his first reality in the civil war just south of Madrid. As soon as they hit the front at 'Noreno', Romilly gets lost under darkness, and ends up walking miles the wrong way, meeting up with others, and eventually making their way to 'Melilla' (thought to be Villaconejos. No one know why Romilly changed the town names). Though as dawn air raids strike, the men are lucky to have gotten lost and in the wrong town.
Romilly seems to run around, never really having a clue what is going on, where they are heading or what to do. Dysentery is the one thing everyone shares, and the bitter cold of being up on the plain around Madrid really hits home, with only those prepped by anarchists in Barcelona are ready for it, as the rest of the Thaelmann Battalion have to struggle on.
The battalion team up with the Garibaldi battalion and thrown into fighting in University City on the northern tip of Madrid. Romilly recalls seeing Moorish soldiers shooting into trenches were his comrades were, their bayonets slashing at those trapped but not killed. He details his time fighting in University City very well, saying the night smelled night 'dead men, crackling flames and drizzle'.
Romilly soon is in Madrid at the Ritz, swirling brandy and bathing again. He gets eight days' training in the town (now suburb) of Fuencarral north of Madrid, before heading back to Majadahonda, a village (now suburb) west of Madrid. Now the battles for Corunna Road and the surrounding towns are all on, and Romilly is sent to hold the tiny town of Boadilla. Under the air raids and against the well-prepped Nationalists, the whole battle falls into total chaos, of watching close friends die and running away in blind panic. One by one, as they retreat, Romilly's friends are killed, not by the Moorish soldiers that anticipated, but by uniformed Spaniards.
Romilly is one of only a couple who survived Boadilla. He speaks of meeting English poet John Cornford along the way, another young Englishman, with his head bandaged. Cornford never made it out alive either. The few remaining living foreigners (just over a dozen volunteers from a combined Spanish and volunteer group of 15,000 at Corunna Road battles) made it to El Pardo (just outside Madrid) where they came to grips with the brutal losses.
Romilly was diagnosed with neuralgia, damaging nerves causing excessive pain, and was sent home, where he married Jessica Mitford, and then wrote the fresh accounts of the men left in the mud at Boadilla. Romilly went on to fight in WWII but died in 1941.
Gallery•Categories 2017 SPAIN BOOK REVIEWS•Tags André Marty, Boadilla, Boadilla del Monte, book review, Esmond Romilly, John Cornford, Madrid, Spain, Spanish Civil War, villaconejos
Previous This Week in Spanish Civil War History – Week 28: 22 – 29 January 1937
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Fruit is a great way to start eating more nutrition and eating at least five to nine servings can make a big difference in the way you feel. Some fruits are more nutritionally valuable than others. We will discuss some of the most nutritious fruits and why they are so good for you. A is for Apple We have all heard the expression, "an apple a day keeps the doctor away". This might not be entirely true, but eating apples is a great way for you to get the fiber you need in your diet. They are delicious and readily available all year around.
Apples also contain pectin and that aids in lowering the bad cholesterol. They are also known to contain flavenoids that are beneficial to fighting cancer. It is better to eat a fresh apple rather than drink apple juice. The reason behind this is that some of the nutrients and important minerals may be lost during the processing. A is also for Apricots Apricots are chock full of zinc, folic acid, vitamins A and K, calcium and protein.
They are also very high in beta carotene, fiber and potassium. Apricots are often found on the top ten lists for fruits and you can purchase them fresh, canned or dried. Eating dried apricots will give you an excellent source of essential nutrients. If you are going to purchase dried apricots, it is good to read the label. You will want to avoid those dried apricots that are laden with chemicals and preservatives. The best place to purchase dried apricots or any other dried fruit is from a health food store or a natural market. You will find a large selection of tasty treats that contain no additives; just the valuable nutrients you need in order for your body to perform in peak condition. An Avocado is a Fruit Too Many people mistakenly think of avocados as a vegetable when in reality they are a fruit. An avocado is considered a "super fruit" and is loaded with zinc, riboflavin, thiamin and niacin to name just a few of the important nutrients that an avocado has. Avocados are great for growing kids.
Those who are conscious of their weight may want to forgo avocados because of their high calorie content. They also have a high fat count, but it is the heart healthy monounsaturated fats such as the Omega 3 fatty acid, an important brain food. Avocados can be eaten fresh after they have been peeled, or can be made into guacamole by adding garlic, onions and tomatoes. Start Monkeying Around Bananas are high in potassium and can aid in those people who take such medications as diuretics which are known to deplete the potassium from your body. They are easily mashed for easy consumption for babies and toddlers and because you have to peel one before you eat it, they will not contain pesticides that many other fruits are vulnerable to. A banana is a handy snack for eating on the go and keeping a supply of them in your home will make snack time a snap. Blueberries For many years, blueberries have been thought of as a tasty summertime treat. We now know that blueberries can pack a lot of punch because of the anthocyanin, a cancer fighting antioxidant that can be found in the skin. They are a tasty addition to any health conscious person's diet and can make many other foods even tastier with their addition. You can add blueberries to a salad, cereal or ice cream or use them to make your fruit smoothie even more delicious.
Adding blueberries to your diet whether fresh or frozen is a great nutritional step for you to take. Cantaloupe Tonight, My Father is Using the Ladder Cantaloupes are not only juicy and delicious; they are high in potassium, vitamin C and beta carotene. Melon that is fresh can be enjoyed in a variety of ways and is nutrition that is tasty as well as good for you. There are other varieties of melon, but cantaloupe is a melon that you can trust to give you the healthy nutrients you need. Grapefruit Eating grapefruit has long been a staple of dieters. It is a fruit that is high in fiber yet low in calories. The best grapefruit for you are the red or pink type. So if you have a choice, opt for these instead of the white variety. There is a lot of fiber packed into the strings that attach the grapefruit segments, so do yourself a favor and don't use a spoon to scoop out the tasty flesh.


Vietnamese Dong (VND) is the official currency. Foreign currencies and tourist cheques can be exchanged into Vietnamese Dong at banks or foreign exchange agencies.
Credit cards are popularly used, especially in cities and big tourist centers. For everyday expenses, we advise you to carry a mix of Vietnam Dong and US Dollar in cash. For larger item or when the exchange rate works in your favor, use US Dollar. For cyclo, local food staffs or small purchase, use Vietnam Dong.
ATM: ATMs for withdrawing Vietnam Dong are available at the airports, many hotels, major towns or capitals of provinces throughout Vietnam. Ask you tour guide or your hotel's reception when you need to locate an ATM.
You can find several kinds of souvenirs in Vietnam including lacquerware, silk, conical hat, woodcarvings, hill tribe fabrics and handicrafts, embroidery, marble, silver jelwery, ceramics and paintings. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh are good places for shopping where there is variety of choices but HoiAn is also a good place for shopping, especially for instant tailor made clothes.
Bargaining: In shopping malls, the prices are usually fixed. However, try to bargain if you shop in the street or in the market.
Tipping for service is not compulsory but it is highly appreciated in a country where average annual income is quite low.
The dress code is fairly casual in the country. Visitors should not wear shorts, short skirts or other revealing clothing when visiting pagodas, temples and monasteries. Shoes must be removed before entering some religious building or a private home. Evening in the North and the Center might be quite chilly so bring a sweater and a warm jacket especially from November to March.
Vietnamese food is a pleasant surprise to visitors. The ingredients are usually bought fresh in the market in the morning and used for the dishes right after. The dishes not to be missed are "bun cha", "pho" or "cha ca". The sanitary conditions are good in restaurants. If you would like to taste street food, try to avoid raw vegetables and herbs.
It is not advisable to drink tap water but mineral water in bottles are safe and available everywhere. Ice cubes in drinks are safe in good restaurants and hotels but you should not take it in street stalls or in the countryside area.
- Governmental agencies work 8 hours/day from 8h to 17h (excluding one-hour lunch). Working days are from Monday to Friday. Saturday and Sunday are close.
- Banks are open from 7.30h or 8h to 16h30. Some banks are open on Saturday morning from 8h to 11h30. Sunday is close.
- Almost shops are open from 8h or 8h30 to 21h or 22h.
Major hotels have Business Center with PCs connected to Internet. Many of them have wireless broadband access to rooms or in public area. Internet cafés are everywhere and easily found in major cities. Prices are very reasonable, usually under 1USD/hour.
Vietnam uses 220V. A mixture of flat and round 2-pin outlets are used throughout the country.


There is no doubt that Marijuana is a growing industry. But should you invest in marijuana ETFs?
This video talks about whether or not you should go green.
To learn more check out: Golden State Could be Golden for Marijuana ETF and Whats Holding Back Marijuana ETFs?


How to Backup Photos from Mac to Picasa Web using iPhoto?
Picasa is a digital photo & video organizer which allows you to upload, organize and edit digital photos and videos. If you want upload photos from Mac to Picasa web, then you need to download and install Picasa Web Albums Uploader for iPhoto. iPhoto is the built-in photo manager in Mac. iPhoto allows you to import, organize and edit photos in mac. When you download Picasa Web Albums Uploader on your Mac, it will add Picasa export option in iPhoto. By using this feature, you can easily upload photos from Mac to Picasa Web.
Download "Picasa Web Albums Uploader" & launch it.
Open iPhoto and select the photos which you wish to upload.
A "Export" window opens-up. Click "Picasa Web Albums" located at the top of the window.
If prompted, sign in with your Picasa Web Albums username and password.
You will see 2 options i.e "New album" or "Existing album".
If you choose "New Album" then enter a name and description. Or If you choose "Existing album" then choose an album from the pop-up menu.
Click "Export" to upload your photos.
This is how you can upload photos from Mac to Picasa web using iPhoto.


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Event Program: 2021 Sebring SpeedTour
Trans Am Returns to ITS Roots, Opens 2021 Season at Sebring
The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli opens its 54th season of racing next weekend, headlining the Sebring SpeedTour Feb. 19-21 at Sebring International Raceway, the same historic venue where it debuted in 1966.
This will be Trans Am's 16th visit to the Sebring circuit, which was originally a training base for B-17 pilots during World War II. In 1950, several runways and adjoining roads were converted to a circuit to host international sports car racing. The track began hosting its trademark 12-hour race in 1952, and even hosted the first U.S. Grand Prix Formula One race in 1959.
The 17-turn, 3.74-mile airport-based circuit opens its season next weekend, when Trans Am highlights a weekend of SVRA vintage and historic competition.
The original Trans American Sedan Championship was a constructor-driven series showcasing Detroit's popular "pony car" sedans including the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Corvair, Dodge Dart and Plymouth Barracuda. Also eligible were foreign cars under two-liters, including the Alfa Romeo GTA, Ford Cortina Lotus, Mini Cooper, Saab and Opel Kadett.
Then two-time Indianapolis 500 winner A.J. Foyt led the opening lap of the 1966 four-hour Governor's Cup in a Ford Mustang. Jochen Rindt – the future 1970 F1 World Champion – took over at hour three and led the rest of the way on the bumpy 5.2-mile circuit. Meanwhile, Bob Tullius gritted his teeth and won the over two-liter class in a Dodge Dart. Instructed to follow its two lead Barracudas, Tullius decided to make his bid as Foyt was pulling away in the lead.
"I was instructed by our Chrysler team manager to follow the two Barracudas, because they wanted those cars to win and I was going to be a nice guy," Tullius said. "But they didn't count on A.J. Foyt, who went into the lead in a Mustang. I ran around for awhile, and then decided to pick it up. I passed both of the Barracudas, and then caught Foyt and passed him for the lead. Eventually, his car bailed [following a long pit stop] and I wound up winning the [Over-two liter] race."
The inaugural race was held the day before the annual 12-hour classic, attracting a 40-car field.
Trans Am returned in 1967 as the Four-Hour International, drawing a then record 61 entries. Jerry Titus won in a Ford Mustang, lapping the second-place Camaro Z-28 of Mark Donohue. Peter Gregg and Sam Posey took honors in the Under-two liter class, driving a Porsche.
For 1968, Trans Am ran concurrently with the 12-hours – similar to the race format at Daytona that year when TA was a class in the 24-hour race. Mark Donohue and Craig Fisher took Trans Am honors with a third-place overall finish, one position ahead of Roger Penske-entered Camaro teammates Joe Welch and Bob Johnson. With the series moving to shorter races, the next Trans Am race at Sebring was not until 1999, with a stand-alone weekend serving as the finale. Paul Gentilozzi capped his championship season by winning in a Ford Mustang. Trans Am ran in support of the Twelve Hours of Sebring the following two years. Brian Simo won the 2000 season opener in a Qvale Mangusta, while Boris Said won the following year in a Ford Mustang.
Since 2013, Trans Am has been a major component of the SVRA Sebring Vintage Classic, held several weekends prior to the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours. Doug Peterson won the 2013 and 2014 overall victories in a Corvette, while Cameron Lawrence began a three-year TA2® winning streak in a Camaro. The two drivers went on to win their respective titles in both seasons.
Other recent Sebring highlights include Amy Ruman winning the 2015 season opener to begin her successful bid to become Trans Am's first female champion. In 2019, Rafa Matos won TA2 in a Camaro, beating out Marc Miller's Dodge Challenger. That avenged Miller's dramatic triumph in 2018, when he passed Matos for the lead with only two laps remaining.
Last year, South Floridian Ernie Francis Jr. began his successful run for a seventh-straight Trans Am title – making it four-in-a-row in the premier TA class. Mike Skeen (TA2®) and Lakeland driver Lee Saunders (SGT) also kicked off championship seasons with victories.
For the 2021 opener, testing begins on Friday for the 55-car entry, with practice and qualifying on Saturday. Sunday includes the 27-lap TA2 feature race at 11:15 a.m. ET, followed by the TA/XGT/SGT/GT event at 1:35 p.m. Please visit http://gotransam.com for additional details.


What you believe is someday going to have some pretty significant consequences. If you don't think about hell, the Bible suggests that you should. What you think about it, furthermore, can determine whether you are rightly related to the only One who has the power and authority to save you from it.


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Why is Hillary Not Defending the Rights of Saudis to Protest?
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had been exhaustively in front of cameras promoting the right for people to protest in Egypt, Bahrain, Iran, and Libya. She's been touting the freedom to use social networking sites as a way for Arab people to organize against their oppressive regimes. Now, the Administration is even considering arming the opposition in Libya.
Clinton's perpetual propaganda efforts exposed her blatant hypocrisy when a silent peaceful protester was violently removed from one of her recent speeches on the very subject. However, the hypocrisy now seems to go much deeper in her deafening silence over the prospect for protests in Saudi Arabia.
This prohibition of popular dissent proves beyond a shadow of doubt that Saudi Arabia is indeed the most tyrannical authoritarian regime in the Arab world. Yet, U.S. Administration officials have been strangely silent about supporting the people's uprising there. Perhaps they think the protests won't be large enough to warrant a response. Well, that certainly didn't stop their best propaganda push to stoke the puny protests in Iran, so the size or ferocity of unrest shouldn't matter to their exploits of supposedly backing human freedom. And one would think that given what has happened to oil prices due to the unrest in Libya and Egypt, even a minor protest in the largest oil-producing dictatorship in the world would draw more public response from the White House.
These protests would seem to be very minor in comparison to the sea of people revolting in Cairo. However, the revolutionary whispers must clearly be getting louder as the Saudi stock market plummeted 11% in just two days of wild trading to its 7-year low on fears of civil unrest. It's noteworthy that the plunge was reportedly led by large banks and insurers.
If Clinton is to stand by her new-found rhetoric, certainly she'll call for restraint on the part of the Saudi government should a protest erupt, right? And surely she'll demand that the kings of Internet censorship in the Arab world, Saudi Arabia, will open communication channels so the people can freely unite, right? And if push comes to shove in Saudi Arabia, she'll definitely support arming the people's opposition to the royal family, right? Eh hum . . . don't count on it.
Regardless, many analysts believe the Saudi regime is the next to fall with or without the prodding of the U.S.
The wonder is that they don't choke on the words they speak, but then they are such seasoned liars I gues that the choking would come if they ever told the truth.


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My identical twin sons were born 8 minutes apart. They look alike, they've gone to the same schools all the way through college, they're both professional dancers, they're both gay. Personality-wise? They couldn't be more different. During the 2004 presidential race, some pundit referred to the vice-presidential candidates as "Mr. Sunshine and Mr. Twilight." That's the dynamic we've got with Darling Sons A and B, and the way they came out to us was completely consistent.
Mind you, we'd picked up clues for years that they might not be headed for a totally cis/hetero life. DS A's decided preference for the Snow White dress-up outfit springs to mind, as does the time his sister dressed him as a bride, with the announcement he was going to marry Frank. Or the fact that one of their favorite movies when they were in grade school was To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar.
Neither of them ever said anything, though. DS A (aka Mr. Sunshine) even had a girlfriend for a while in 8th and 9th grade -- although I think the relationship was more her idea, and he, being a kind and cheerful sort, went along with it.
But then, when they were sophomores, I witnessed a brief interaction between him and another boy at a dance convention -- as he passed by, DS A reached up and touched the other boy's cheek.
Still, he didn't mention anything to me, so when the two of us were driving home from a dance rehearsal one day, I brought it up myself.
Me: So. Are you dating Chase?
DS A: (brief pause) Yeah. Is that a problem?
With DS B (aka Mr. Twilight), it was a whole other story. My daughter and DS A weren't even sure about DS B's sexuality, and he'd certainly never said anything to any of us. They speculated that he might be asexual.
Then, in the summer after the boys' first year at NYU, DS B was finishing up the musical theater program at Jacob's Pillow Dance in Massachusetts. The final performance was on his birthday, so Curmudgeonly Husband and I (who still live in Oregon) couldn't call and talk to him. The following day he was traveling back to New York, but on Monday, I texted him.
Me: Can we Skype tonight?
DS B: No. I've got Jacob's Pillow people coming over for dinner.
Me: What about tomorrow? Dad and I would really like to talk to you.
Me: What Facebook status? We just want to talk to you because we didn't have a chance on your birthday.
The Facebook status in question? He'd changed it to being in a relationship with his first boyfriend.
I worried about that for quite a while, though. I mean, why wouldn't he have shared this with us earlier? Surely he couldn't imagine we would disapprove. His brother was out. We had friends who were out -- going all the way back to my best friend in high school. But I have a tendency to suffer from "experience blinders" -- simply because I didn't think coming out would be a big deal, didn't mean he didn't think so.
We talked about it recently. His first response when I asked whether he was afraid that we wouldn't have accepted him was, in the tone of deep disgust that DS B has raised to an art: "Mo-ther. Of course not."
But while DS B is genetically identical to his brother, he's spiritually identical to me, and we both loathe confrontation.
He said, "I didn't want to deal with it. I wasn't interested in a relationship at the time, and then, when I was, I figured I'd just put it on Facebook and you'd see it."
That's how the Big Gay Reveal happened in our family: in one brief, matter-of-fact conversation, and one social media side-step.
So although I'm an author who writes primarily gay romance, where angst-filled coming-out stories are a stock-in-trade, I'll probably never write one myself. Not because those stories aren't important, or meaningful, or sometimes heartbreaking for the people involved, but because I don't want to write about a world where it's a big deal. I want it to be a given -- you are who you are, you don't have to hide, and although there might still be idiots in the world who are living in the Dark Ages, you don't have to let them into your story.
I want confessing who you want to love to be as devoid of drama as it was for us -- if you don't count that 30 second text meltdown when DS B didn't understand the question.


Operational Agility » Blog Archive » The future of payments in London?
The future of payments in London?
Had to laugh at this announcement from Barclaycard.
Barclaycard call this "the future of payments in London" which really falls short in ambition for me.
Why can't I import all that functionality (and more) onto my mobile phone so I don't need a card at all? That sounds like the future of global payments.
This entry was posted on Thursday, July 12th, 2007 at 5:01 pm	and is filed under Banking, Customer Service, Made me Smile. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.


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Directory / Faculty & Staff ¬
Dr. Jeffrey Gross
Associate Professor & Director of General Education, Department of Literature & Languages
Rosa Deal School of Arts 315H
Mailbox #77
jgross1@cbu.edu
Dr. Jeffrey Gross, Chair, Associate Professor, specializes in American literary and cultural studies, antebellum American literature, literature and democracy, the American novel, social theory, and composition theory. His work looks at the intersections of literature with political, historical, and social contexts that affected citizenship and civic identity in the antebellum period. At CBU, Dr. Gross teaches courses in American Literature, General Education literature, and first-year composition. Originally from Jamestown, NY, Dr. Gross received his B.A. in English from Canisius College, a Jesuit institution in Buffalo, NY. He holds an M.A. in English from Indiana State University, where he also received the College of Arts and Science's Dean's Educational Excellence Award for his teaching, and completed his Ph.D. at the University of Kentucky, focusing on 19th Century American Studies. At UK, he received numerous awards for his research and teaching, including the Graduate School's Dissertation Year Fellowship, the Provost's Outstanding Teaching Award, and the College of Arts and Science's Certificate for Outstanding Teaching. Gross researches democracy and legal personhood in the Antebellum U.S. His work has appeared in the South Atlantic Review, The CEA Forum, The CEA Critic, and Present Tense. Dr. Gross is also an RRCA (Road Runners Club of America) certified running coach and avid runner.


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Pseudiphimediella glabra is een vlokreeftensoort uit de familie van de Iphimediidae. De wetenschappelijke naam van de soort is voor het eerst geldig gepubliceerd in 1931 door Schellenberg.

Iphimediidae

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Published January 7, 2020 11:41 am
Lawmaker pushes for American Sign Language to be legally recognized language in Neb.
OMAHA, Ne (WOWT) — Imagine your state doesn't see the language you use as an actual language. That's the case for some in Nebraska. Nebraska is one of five states that doesn't recognize American sign language, also known as ASL. State Senator Anna Wishart is trying to change that with a bill she plans to introduce this legislative season.
The deaf community says once ASL is recognized, it can address issues from helping children who are deaf or hard of hearing learn there is a language for them to creating better employment opportunities.
For the Nebraska community, it's not only recognizing their language, it's also recognizing their culture.
"We're kind of overlooked here in Nebraska because some states they have a larger deaf community, a larger deaf population…Nebraska, we have people who are deaf here we have interpreters here but I just feel like we're overlooked," Nebraska Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing advocacy specialist Cody McEvoy said.
20% of Nebraskans have some form of hearing loss, and 1% is culturally deaf.
"People maybe don't realize that deaf people have a culture, their own values, their own beliefs a variety of things that are involved in being culturally deaf," McEvoy said.
ASL is the fourth most recognized language. But not legally recognizing it in Nebraska means a lack of resources and acceptance, so a bill is being introduced.
"Once it's passed it's important to get us accessibility, recognize the barriers, help us break down those barriers and help us on the legal side," Nebraska Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing advocacy specialist Dillon Curren said.
Iowa recognized ASL as a language a few years ago. Those at the Council Bluffs school for the Deaf say this decision for Nebraska is a big one.
"If you recognize A-S-L, then you recognize the deaf community. If we choose not to recognize A-S-L that means we are rejecting part of the deaf community," Iowa School of the Deaf assistant principal Bryce Hendricks said.
It's not known what chance this has of passing in the Nebraska legislature, but Six News is told it has strong support from the deaf, hard of hearing and allies in the hearing community.
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Assume that one day you become and adult and get a phone call from one of your nieces because she decided to have a small social evening at her house and she would like to invite you. You love her very much and don't want to disoblige her, so you accept the invitation and buy a bottle of qualitative wine to be ready to go. After a couple of minutes of travelling, you arrive at the apartment foremost, your niece lets you in, but she wants to be a good host and goes away to get you a drink. That's the reason why you got lost in the rearranged building of the red-hot Niece Home Escape! Best of luck with this challenge!


Fresh, fresh, fresh is our main goal. Our produce department is a natural work of art. We are very proud of the spectacular variety and freshness of our fruits and vegetables.
From crisp, green lettuce to vibrant red strawberries, you will always find the highest-quality fresh produce each and every time you walk through our front door. Aroma Market offers your favorite fruits and vegetables, as well as a wide variety of items that you won't find elsewhere. With a growing organic selection, and hundreds of items to choose from, we are sure you will find just what you are looking for … and then some! Stop in today to see what a difference "fresh" makes.


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Anheuser-Busch (BUD) Family Feud: CEO's Uncle, Adolphus Busch, Joins InBev Team
Corey Lorinsky
As InBev (slowly) puts the wheels in motion to remove Anheuser-Busch's (BUD) board, a new character in the drama is emerging: Adolphus Busch IV. Adolphus, BUD's founder's great grandson, is not to be confused with his nephew, Augustus Busch IV, the founder's great great grandson, who is BUD's much-ridiculed CEO (a.k.a. "The Fourth").
Adolphus is a nominee for InBev's new slate of directors and appears ready to sell BUD to InBev and say "good riddance." So who is this modern-day Benedict Arnold / shareholder hero, anyway? Here are some fun facts (MarketWatch):
Adolphus Busch IV has been a vocal proponent of the buyout from the start.
Adolphus thinks an InBev buyout could be "a blessing for everybody."
Adolphus hasn't spent much time directly involved in the company, but still has made a career working with beer makers.
Adolphus lives outside St. Louis on a 2,000-acre working farm and has generally stayed out of the public eye.
Adolphus is a generous contributor to wetlands conservation work and uses solar energy to power his home.
Adolphus gave the maximum allowed contribution to Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton during the Presidential primary
Since reports of the InBev offer first surfaced, Adolphus has been selling some of his stock, unloading about 20,000 shares, or roughly 10% of his total holdings.
No word on how Adolphus and Augustus get along at Busch family barbecues.
Complete BUD-InBev News and Analysis
Anheuser-Busch (BUD): InBev Goes Hostile, Will Try To Get Board Fired (BUD)
Anheuser-Busch (BUD): Who The Hell Is This InBev, Anyway? (BUD)
Picture from MarketWatch
clusterstock-us


text:
import os
import shlex
import signal
import subprocess
import time
import unittest

# 3p
from nose.plugins.attrib import attr

@attr(requires='core_integration')
class TestAutoRestart(unittest.TestCase):
    """ Test the auto-restart and forking of the agent """
    def setUp(self):
        self.agent_foreground = None
        self.agent_daemon = None

    def tearDown(self):
        if self.agent_foreground:
            self.agent_foreground.kill()
        if self.agent_daemon:
            args = shlex.split('python agent.py stop')
            subprocess.Popen(args).communicate()

    def _start_foreground(self):
        # Run the agent in the foreground with auto-restarting on.
        args = shlex.split('python agent.py foreground --autorestart')
        self.agent_foreground = subprocess.Popen(args)
        time.sleep(5)

    def _start_daemon(self):
        args = shlex.split('python agent.py start --autorestart')
        self.agent_daemon = subprocess.Popen(args)
        time.sleep(5)

    def _get_child_parent_pids(self, grep_str):
        args = shlex.split('pgrep -f "%s"' % grep_str)
        pgrep = subprocess.Popen(args, stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
                                 close_fds=True).communicate()[0]
        pids = pgrep.strip().split('\n')
        assert len(pids) == 2, pgrep

        return sorted([int(p) for p in pids], reverse=True)

    def test_foreground(self):
        self._start_foreground()

        grep_str = 'agent.py foreground'
        child_pid, parent_pid = self._get_child_parent_pids(grep_str)

        # Try killing the parent proc, confirm that the child is killed as well.
        os.kill(parent_pid, signal.SIGTERM)
        os.waitpid(parent_pid, 0)
        time.sleep(6)
        self.assertRaises(OSError, os.kill, child_pid, signal.SIGTERM)

        # Restart the foreground agent.
        self._start_foreground()
        child_pid, parent_pid = self._get_child_parent_pids(grep_str)

        # Set a SIGUSR1 to the child to force an auto-restart exit.
        os.kill(child_pid, signal.SIGUSR1)
        time.sleep(6)

        # Confirm that the child is still alive
        child_pid, parent_pid = self._get_child_parent_pids(grep_str)

        # Kill the foreground process.
        self.agent_foreground.terminate()
        self.agent_foreground = None

    def test_daemon(self):
        self._start_daemon()

        grep_str = 'agent.py start'
        child_pid, parent_pid = self._get_child_parent_pids(grep_str)

        # Try killing the parent proc, confirm that the child is killed as well.
        os.kill(parent_pid, signal.SIGTERM)
        time.sleep(6)
        self.assertRaises(OSError, os.kill, child_pid, signal.SIGTERM)

        # Restart the daemon agent.
        self._start_daemon()
        child_pid, parent_pid = self._get_child_parent_pids(grep_str)

        # Set a SIGUSR1 to the child to force an auto-restart exit.
        os.kill(child_pid, signal.SIGUSR1)
        time.sleep(6)

        # Confirm that the child is still alive
        child_pid, parent_pid = self._get_child_parent_pids(grep_str)

        # Kill the daemon process.
        os.kill(parent_pid, signal.SIGTERM)
        self.agent_daemon = None


text:
Mercury Organic Espresso Bar, Toronto
Zoomer | March 5th, 2010
Screw the endless, day-to-day, nonsweetened, percolated home brew routine. Mercury Espresso Bar in Leslieville, a virtual hot spot of PMS survivors and lululemon-wearing locals, will have you out of your lethargic haze and into a caffeinated vigour before you can say Double French Roast. After four years at this location, the espresso bar and wifi spot shuttered for a significant nip-and-tuck – fighting off pesky rumours of its unexpected demise – only to resurface with a shiny new look and re-worked coffee blends.
While the changes are in abundance, co-owner Matthew Taylor and Doug Tiller say that they were quite easy to implement. "We just went into the paint store and picked the colour we liked." Old Mercury had a more cozy, warm neutral, almost autumn feel to it; new Mercury feels more open, with dark teal walls, black couches, tables, and quite cool burlap-sack bar-stools.
Dark-red tiles are out; polished hardwood flooring is in. The barista counter and cash register are now at the back of the room, making the customer seating area centre of attention. Keeping the exposed brick walls and ceiling tiles (complete with original random hanging wires as Taylor pointed out), the nostalgia of Mercury is still in the air.
Along with the renovations, the boys have another trick up their sleeves. Tiller and Taylor have been doing their research for three months now, playing around with different beans and blends, perfecting the taste of coffee. By blending Ethiopia Sidamo with Costa Rica Tarrazu , and cleverly naming it the Mercury Espresso , these mad caffeinistas have come out with one serious cup of coffee. If you drink coffee daily – and, really, you do – a taste like this is a treat. Well-balanced with a multi-dimensional flavour, you can taste the hard work that's been put into it.
With the new Mercury comes a pour-over bar brew system, so customers can get their traditional cup of coffee as opposed to an espresso-based Americano (though that's still available). They'll also be continuing coffee-tasting classes ($60 bucks, about 6 people/class), educating coffee lovers on new coffee beans, blends, methods, and how they can create their favourite blend at home.
Address: 915 Queen Street East, Toronto, Ontario
Cuisine: Cafe Fare
Area: Leslieville
Venue: Cafe
Hours: Mon-Fri 6:30am-7:30pm
Sat 7am-7:30pm
Sun 8am-7:30pm
Price Range: $$ (Affordable)
Payment: Cash
Visit MartiniBoys.com to find the best restaurants, clubs, bars, theatre and art galleries in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, Miami and New York City.


Following a professional retail review by John Prescott (funded by Round 1 of the AIM Sustainability Grant Scheme) it was decided that the entrance and retail area was in need of assistance; retail therapy you could say. The shop was one area that was not reaching its full potential in our efforts to remain sustainable in these dark times and so the time was ripe for change.
Using John's suggestions as a guide, we reviewed the retail area and settled on replacing the existing furniture with more contemporary fittings and looking more closely at the stock we sold. The old reception desk (which had served its purpose brilliantly for over 15 years) was dismantled and made way for a new streamlined desk, with drawers and display shelves and a bright glass fronted display. A new central display area was also brought in to replace the scarred pine furniture that had been standing there for so many years. Immediately the shop area took on a more contemporary feel. Existing dark wood bookcases were given a make-over, thanks to Ceri Pritchard's artistic eye, and instantly looked like new furniture; stock areas were boxed in behind cheerful doors to remove the sense of clutter; cube book cases (which did not make any real attempt to sell our books) were replaced by slat-walling and modern acrylic stands which show the books off to their best advantage. Bright graphics of children enjoying the museum and shop were added to encourage younger visitors. The entrance area was also renovated. Posters were removed from the front door and a notice board provided outside. The door then had a contemporary graphic attached to the glass which was more in keeping with what was on display and encouraged visitors to come through the door. More vibrant museum, much less mausoleum in feel. The windows of the coffee shop were then decorated with a landscape graphic, showing what you can see from the view and so it was informing as well as interesting.
There are loads of things for purchase in the shop. There are works by local artists Alec Lewis, Harry Gardiner and Andrea Kelland; a superb range of greetings cards; a vast range of books ranging from poetry, children's books, archaeology, photography and local history; a fine selection of postcards and prints including limited edition prints by Aneurin Jones and gifts galore! And with Christmas seemingly just around the corner (when did that happen?!?) why not call in and have a browse? You are always more than welcome.
HUGE thanks to the AIM Sustainability Grant Scheme funded by the Esmee Fairborn Foundation for their grant support with these projects.


Rabbits aren't the "starter-pet" that most people may assume they are. Not all rabbits are suitable around children, and all rabbits require extensive knowledge, time, and money. Do your research before deciding to adopt a rabbit. You can't just put a rabbit in an outside hutch by itself and expect it to be happy. Rabbits are very social creatures and usually do best in pairs or groupings. We endorse cage-free homes – rabbits are very intelligent and can be litter trained just like cats. We discourage impulse buys – especially around Easter when there seems to be the most "dumped" rabbits.
Check out our Sanctuary Rescue Design Criteria page for more info on how to house a large number of rabbits in a stress-free, safe, and natural environment.
Listed above are the veterinarians we work with most. For a complete list of rabbit friendly veterinary clinics please visit the House Rabbit Society's page.
However, please remember to do your own homework before visiting a new veterinarian. Not all vets know how to properly treat your rabbit.


text:
Cheshire broadband roadshow event
Cheshire East Council and BT Openreach are holding a public briefing about the new superfast broadband services rolling out across the borough as they prepare to switch to fibre exchanges in Alderley Edge and Lower Peover.
The event will be held on Wednesday 22 January at Alderley Edge Festival Hall, Talbot Road, Alderley Edge, SK9 7HR, between 4pm and 8pm.
People can find out more about the arrival of fibre broadband and the benefits for business and residents from switching to high-speed broadband.
Experts from BT Openreach will be on hand to explain the technical and logistical challenges, plus there will be information and maps showing where and when the new services will be arriving. Information on the free superfast business support programme will also be available.
Cllr David Brown, deputy leader of Cheshire East Council, on behalf of the Connecting Cheshire Partnership, said: "I urge everyone to attend this event to learn more about the benefits of faster broadband, which will transform how we work, how we learn, how we communicate with friends or family and how we entertain ourselves. The digital age is with us – so let's exploit it."
The telephone exchanges covering Alderley Edge and Lower Peover will be among the first to benefit from upgrades to fibre from the end of March onwards. This will be followed by exchanges in Mobberley, Chelford, Prestbury, Poynton, Disley and Sutton later in the year.
For more information on Connecting Cheshire and proposed fibre coverage visit: www.connectingcheshire.org.uk
Superfast Britain is a Government investment of £1.08bn in broadband and communication infrastructure across the UK, run by the Department of Culture, Media & Sport. The portfolio comprises three linked programmes: £780m to extend superfast broadband to 95% of the UK by 2017; £150m to provide high speed broadband to businesses in 22 cities; £150m to improve quality and coverage of mobile phone and data network services.
Connecting Cheshire was launched in April 2013, following the signing of the contract between four Cheshire councils (Cheshire East, Cheshire West & Chester, Halton and Warrington) and BT, which will see a total fibre broadband investment in the county of around £28.5m. The project is partly funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
A roadshow? People knowing what is going on? Connecting Devon & Somerset could learn from this – but no doubt won't. We get what we get full stop. Good to read about the progress in Cheshire. Yes the digital age is here for the some…
January 10, 2014 at 12:41 pm By Tavistock Superfast Broadband
Excellent update. Does anyone know if the capacity will be enought to stream Netflix and the premiership football foreign sites in Northwich?
January 10, 2014 at 3:20 pm By Andy G


There is no shortage of memorable things to see, taste and do in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The hard part will be doing it all as the options are quite simply endless!
Every BBA member has their own packages that can help you maximize the fun and savings. Be sure to enquire with your chosen property owner.


text:
7200 Wisconsin Ave
Suite 500 Bethesda MD 20814
Margie Halem Group
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Bethesda was nothing more than a country crossroads named after a local church...
Getting ahead in a relaxed fashion.
For much of the 19th Century, Bethesda was nothing more than a country crossroads named after a local church, but it grew steadily after the installation of a streetcar between the more prosperous towns of Georgetown and Rockville. After World War II, the National Naval Hospital and the National Institutes of Health were built in the area, and Bethesda flooded with federal workers, military personnel and contractors. Today it's grown into a vibrant community in its own right with several corporate headquarters and a high-density downtown.
Established residents and upwardly mobile professionals.
Bethesda is known to have a vibrant community and be a haven for many. The bustling suburb, with its wealth of businesses, government jobs and social outlets, is a natural destination for people from around the globe.
Idyllic residential living with downtown options.
Bethesda's wide side streets and large houses feel far away from the stress of Washington, while its downtown core has options for those who want a higher energy lifestyle. The whole town has a very efficient public transportation system with Metro and bus service, but traffic is still an issue along Wisconsin Avenue and Old Georgetown Road. From parking to shopping to an abundance of medical care and professional services, Bethesda combines the conveniences of the suburbs with the urbanity of a small city.
Adventurous with a focus on well being.
Residents take advantage of the numerous arts options like galleries and theater, and love eating out at a bevy of restaurants. Bethesda is also a very health-conscious community, and there are many businesses that cater to fitness and a healthy lifestyle. There is ample green space such as the Capital Crescent trail linking to Georgetown and Silver Spring as a popular route for runners and bikers.
A pulsing nightlife or the diverse dining options of the city.
Despite some international flair, Bethesda doesn't have the diversity that DC offers for places to eat. It also doesn't have the nightlife, with few bars open late during the week or weekend. Still, there is always evening activity at the restaurants and pubs along Woodmont and Bethesda Avenues.
Condominiums near downtown.
Bethesda is full of older homes have been refurbished or replaced with larger, modern housing. More modern, luxury condominiums have joined some of the older stock of apartments built downtown.
YOU'LL FALL IN LOVE WITH
Not needing to drive into the city to enjoy city life.
If you love eating out, you'll be at home here with a variety of outposts of DC restaurants as well as new places unique to Bethesda to try. You can be downtown boutique shopping one minute, and then back home enjoying the comforts of home the next. In Bethesda you move at your own pace, and enjoy the best that life has to offer.
We have the real estate experience, marketing prowess, and in-depth local knowledge to help you buy or sell your dream home.
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Margie Halem Group is a real estate agents affiliated with Compass. Compass is licensed real estate broker under the name "Compass Real Estate" in the District of Columbia and under the name "Compass" in Virginia and Maryland and abides by equal housing opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage.
Website designed and developed by Luxury Presence.


text:
Home » GST Impact » GST Impact on Mobiles, Telecom Industry, Mobile Bills and More
GST Impact on Mobiles, Telecom Industry, Mobile Bills and More
GST Impact
1 GST Impact on Mobiles
2 Latest GST News on Mobile Phones
2.1 A Take on Indirect Tax System
3 GST Impact on Telecom Industry, Mobile Bills & Tablets
GST Impact on Mobiles
Hate it or like it, but the bottom-line is, you just can't ignore GST. As Goods and Services Tax has now officially launched in India, it would not be wrong to say that this indirect tax regime is going to affect Roti, Kapda Aur Makaan, thus leaving a lasting impression on common man's monthly budget. But apart from these three basic necessities in life, GST is also going to affect your fourth most basic need. Well, it's none other than your Mobile phone. Yes, that's right! Under the new tax regime, most mobile phones may get costlier by 4%-5% with the government imposing the GST of 12%, taking away the benefit under duty differential. Thus, you can say that the mobile phone industry is set to witness a tectonic shift because GST will not only make locally manufactured phones expensive but the phone accessories will also be costlier as they currently operate under the lower tax rate due to the benefits provided under government's 'Make in India' policy.
However, one thing that needs to be mentioned here is the fact that phones Made in India will be more expensive as they currently pay around 7.5%-8%. If we talk more about government's Make in India push, reports suggest that Government is set to levy a customs duty of at least 10% on imported mobile phones as well as accessories under GST in order to safeguard the benefits passed on to the local manufacturing. However, you need to wait for an official announcement on the same but one thing is certain that this move would definitely encourage players to rather Make in India than elsewhere.
People Also Look For How Much Car Prices would Hike Post GST Cess?
Latest GST News on Mobile Phones
In the 39th meeting of the GST council headed by the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on March 14, 2020, several decisions were announced. But one of the major decisions that will impact a lot of people is the increase in the GST rates on Mobile Phones and a few allied parts to a whopping 18% from the earlier GST rate of 12%. The change in rates will be effective from April 1, 2020.
This change in rates will certainly make the prices of phones higher than now as this rate shift is quite substantial. One of the Managing Directors (MD) of a top mobile brand said in his statement that the smartphone industry is already struggling with profitability due to the depreciating value of the Indian Rupee against the US Dollar. And this sudden shift will only deteriorate the conditions. Due to increased GST rates, every company will have no other option than to increase the prices of their phones which will further dent the Make in India program of the industry.
Also, due to the ongoing pandemic caused by the COVID-19, the Indian suppliers are finding it hard to maintain the proper supplies. The reason behind it is the shutdown of various Chinese manufacturers. While many factories have reopened in China but are not operating at a full-fledged level as some of their workers haven't come back to work yet.
A Take on Indirect Tax System
If we go deep down into the subject, India has 36 VAT jurisdictions (29 States and 7 Union Territories) and out of that 29 have VAT rate on mobile phones of 5% along with 1% excise duty. As a result, the total incidence is 6% at present in many parts of the country. Talking about few states, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujrat may not witness the price drop even though they have VAT rates between 12.5% and 15%. Well, the reason being as they subsidize to avoid grey marketing. While on the other hand, States like Punjab, Chandigarh and Rajasthan that have rates of 8%-9%, the cost increase would be marginal there.
People Also Look For Will Loans Inflate with GST? Find Out Here
But the biggest news for all phone lover is that many smartphone brands such as Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, Gionee, Intex and Lava won't increase their prices as these companies plan to absorb the impact on cost from the new tax system that comes into effect today midnight. If industry insiders are to be believed, retailers have already stopped purchasing the stocks from the brands. In fact, some distributors have closed their warehouses for a week, till time process for invoicing and reclaiming credit on duties paid on the stocks and other aspects are clarified by the brands.
GST Impact on Telecom Industry, Mobile Bills & Tablets
Talking about mobile phones, how can telecom industry remain untouched by the GST impact. That's right! According to India's new unified tax regime, post-paid subscribers, who are currently paying ₹1,000, would have to pay ₹30 extra every month with the rollout of the GST. For prepaid subscribers, the talk time can reduce compared to the pre-GST period. The government post GST will levy 18% tax as opposed to the earlier rate of 15% on telecom services. The move, according to many, would have a cascading effect and mount the worries for the already struggling telecom sector.
For example, if you are on a ₹100 pack, you are likely to get around ₹82.20 talk-time as against ₹83.96 previously for the same price. Furthermore, according to experts, GST is coming at a time when tariffs for data usage have fallen to an all-time low across the board where voice calls are now free for not just Reliance Jio subscribers but also for many postpaid subscribers of Vodafone India, Airtel and Idea Cellular.
People Also Look For GST Impact on Laptops and Desktops
When it comes to phone bills, they will see the escalation as the states would be in charge of the determination of Service Tax. If we talk about the current scenario, on a bill of ₹1,000 an individual needs to pay 15% tax which further rounds off to ₹1,150. But now after the implementation of GST, an individual needs to pay 18% tax, for the same amount of services used , thus making his/her final bill to ₹1,180. So, from July onward, get ready to pay more for internet usage, phone calls and call rates.
Talking more about the same, GST is being executed to make the taxation simpler and to create a level playing field for everyone. When it comes to consumer durables such as tablets, PCs and accessories are expected to fall under a lower tax slab of either 12% and 18%, considering they will have a huge role to play towards government's vision of Digital India as well as Make in India.
To sum it up by considering the Digital India move, experts don't expect GST to majorly impact the smartphone prices. However, as many OEMs import components from countries like China and assemble in India, it is to be expected that the government may encourage them to manufacture as well as assemble in India only, which will further help in making the components and smartphones even cheaper. While on the other hand, few consumer electronic products such as digital cameras and televisions may not benefit as they are more of luxury products, tablets, laptops and computer are expected to reap the benefits from GST.
GST Impact On Indian Economy – Efficient Supply Chain, Reduced Cost & Gift of New Tax Sys...
GST Impact on Home Appliances
What will be the GST Impact on Bikes/Two Wheelers in India?
What Has GST in Store for Insurance Policy holders?
Will Loans Inflate with GST? Find Out Here


Last week I had a little day trip to Harmony, Minnesota for a couple photo sessions. Davis stole my heard as a newborn and he still has it! He is happy, cute and lovable all wrapped up in an addable package. I'm so happy my summer travels brought me to visit him and his momma to capture this precious stage.


text:
Photo by Rich Fury / Getty Images
Jhené Aiko releases a short film, entitled, "Trip (The Movie)"
MusicR&BSoul
November 6, 2017 0 1 min read
Jhené Aiko is an R&B singer-songwriter from Los Angeles, CA. Not too long ago, she released a new film, entitled, "Trip (The Movie)", in association with her "Trip" album.
Jhené Aiko – "Trip (The Movie)"
The film stars Aiko (Penny), a woman that's mourning the death of her brother. To cope with the pain, she goes to the beach to write. While there, she meets a man named Dante and he persuades her to take a trip with him.
In association with her short film, Aiko also released her second studio album and a poetry book. The album is part of a project, entitled, MAP, which is an acronym for Aiko's Movie: (Trip-the short film), her Album (Trip) and her Poetry book (2fish).
Aiko explained the story behind the title track to her album.
"Trip" is another song I worked on with [producer] Mali. I feel like he's someone who's very connected to a higher power. So, I customized the song to what I'd say, but, for the most part, it was like he literally channeled something that needed to be said to me. And it was just magic."
"Trip" album cover.
Aiko's "Trip" album
Contact us on social media via Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, or Facebook, and let us know what you think. Also, check out our Dope Music Video Showcase and vote for the dopest music video. Expect to watch exciting videos that are showcasing music in the popular genres of hip-hop, R&B, Soul, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Alternative, Electronic, etc. Also, don't forget to subscribe, purchase our merchandise, become a Patron of Bong Mines Entertainment, and support our sponsors.
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Jhené Aiko releases a music video for her "Happiness Over Everything (H.O.E.)" single featuring Future & Miguel
March 1, 2020 0 2 min read0
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text:
Download the photos you need in a few simple steps! Based on Python 3; uses EasyGui (http://easygui.sourceforge.net/sourceforge_site_as_of_2014_11_21/download/version_0.96/index.html) for selecting directories.

FB Photo Finder takes as input a list of user names and shows you a listing of all of your photos in which the user(s) is/are tagged. If you wish, you can proceed to download all of these to a directory of your choice.

Inspired by all the times I needed to find a good picture for a friend's birthday!

Download the .py file and run fb-photo-downloader.py. Remember to have an access token for the graph API ready (which you can get here: https://developers.facebook.com/tools/explorer)

Note:
* Finding the photos and downloading may take a while
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+ + +: Love this concept.
Would you consider changing your RSS reader settings so that we can see your whole entry instead of just the subject? It gets to be a pain and your subjects aren't always clear so I don't even know if I want to go and read it.


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Recap: Britain's Got Talent final 2014
Collabro came out on top winning the 2014 Britain's Got Talent final and beat 10 other talented acts to claim £250,000 prize money and a spot at the Royal Variety Show
Amy De-Keyzer
21:30, 7 JUN 2014
Updated 21:32, 7 JUN 2014
Britain's Got Talent judges Amanda Holden, David Walliams, Simon Cowell and Alesha Dixon (Image: ITV)
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Here's our latest installment of "From Head-to-Tome," featuring Mo Willems's Leonardo, the Terrible Monster. Got some fun photos of kidlit book/body blends? Send them to the Corpus Libris Blog, run by Emily Pullen of Skylight Books.
Greeting the Grunion on Green Day!
Save the Los Angeles Public Library System!