"Perfect Set-Up for our Family Visit!"
The perfect place to make family memories.
Step away from all the demands of life into a time of lazy days filled with nostalgia. A time when ice cream cones, shuffleboard, and sand castles occupy your daily routine. Seaside Inn is your beachfront hotel on the Isle of Palms that combines fun and relaxation for a rejuvenating family getaway. Guests of Seaside Inn have seven miles of pristine beaches to explore. Step onto the beach and rent a chair and umbrella for the day or take one of our circa 1950s beach cruisers for a ride. Book a room today and come experience lodging on the beach the way it should be.
Step back to a simpler time when the sun and sand were all your family really wanted in their vacation. Experience the nostalgic atmosphere of the Seaside Inn without giving up any modern amenities. Enjoy high speed Internet, complimentary circa 1950s beach cruisers, complimentary light breakfast featuring our giant homestyle cinnamon rolls and grits station, vintage games, pool and sun deck, and complimentary beach towels. Check out our seasonal packages and specials. The Seaside Inn experience means the best in oceanfront lodging while providing couples and families with friendly service, modern amenities, fun activities, clean rooms and all of the history of Charleston, SC just minutes away.
Enjoy live music from our balcony or venture right next door to our hotel. The Windjammer is a premier Isle of Palms beach club that boasts live music, food and drink, and an all around fun time! You never know who will be performing. We were able to recently catch a Darius Rucker (from Hootie and the Blowfish) show from our front porch! Check out who is performing here.
Isle of Palms is ranked #5 on Southern Living's "The South's Best Beaches 2018" list, and it's not very hard to see why! Families, couples, or single travelers can all agree that nothing beats the relaxation of the sun, surf, and sand, especially in gorgeous South Carolina. And if you want to take a beach break, historic Charleston, SC is just minutes away.
With so much to do at our oceanfront hotel and around the Isle of Palms and Charleston, SC - you'll never want to vacation anywhere else.
Combining modern amenities like high-speed wifi, with a cool retro vibe, Seaside Inn is the best of both worlds. Find the best room type for your lodging needs and enjoy the experience that all Isle of Palms has to offer.
Clean rooms,great staff and good service. They even supply beach towels for you. Free breakfast Can't get any closer to the beach than this. Our 3rd stay here. We have enjoyed our stay every time. We will be back.
Perfect location right on the beach, rooms were very clean and the breakfast every morning was very nice. Hotel staff was friendly and accommodating. Even though there is some nightlife around the hotel you can't hear it once in your room. I went on a girls weekend but it would be a great place for families too! This is a great value based on the location. The sheets were a little lacking in thread count but that is my only "complaint."
We have always stayed at the Seaside Inn and have never been disappointed, The staff are very friendly and always helpful . A special shout out to Keisha, Tanya , and the head manager (sorry I cant remember her name at the moment) Nice clean rooms everytime, simply great and we will continue to stay there every trip. I cant say enough about the staff, so great. Anything comes up and its fixed immediately. We love that the workers are so professional , always smiling. We HIGHLY recommend staying here.
Spent three lovely days at this little resort that sits on the isle of palm right on an amazing stretch of beach. Beautiful sandy beach wasn't crowded and it was perfect for romping in the waves The staff were very helpful and efficient. The rooms were adequate and clean. I'd stay there again in a heart beat. It's location is right near so many restaurants that it is perfect for a new on each night. All 4-5 Star dining Across the street is a bar with live music that was a bonus Check it out Kid friendly too. It included breakfast The cinnamon rolls yum!!!
This was our first time at Isle of Palms and Seaside Inn was the first place that came up when we started looking for places to stay. The room was nice and clean. Within walking distance to several restaurants and shops and most importantly right on the beach. Staff was super friendly and helpful. Booked our next trip while we were there! Can't wait to go back.
The Best Weekend of My Life!!!!
At Seaside Inn we've got great amenities and group room blocks. We welcome wedding guests, coworkers, sports teams, family reunion attendees, and much more!
Make the most of your family vacation with our specials and hotel deals. Seaside Inn offers a wide range of options to extend your trip to Isle of Palms.


Have you ever considered a two-camera shoot of a live speech for your next video?
1. The camera angle picked up the "exit" sign at the rear of the stage. The framed photo made it look like you were speaking in a Howard Johnsons, not a convention center.
2. The camera angle picked up the white projection screen at the side of the stage. It wasn't a faux pas, but it made for bad composition. If the camera angled a bit differently, the background would have the been the drape, which was one color and blended into the background. Instead, the camera picked up something that would be distracting.
3. The room was divided into 3 sections, stage left, center and stage right. People sat in the first two sections. The camera was in the third section, which was empty, except for me and the camera man. The speaker spoke to people in the first two sections. This means that the speaker rarely face the camera. At best, the camera got side shots of the speaker's head. At worst, it shot the back of the speakers head.
4. The camera man wasn't tuned into the content of the speaker. At one critical point in the speech, as the speaker was hammering home his most important point, the camera man picked up his tripod and moved to a different angle.
1. Look at your backdrop and figure out where the camera should be so distracting backgrounds are never recorded.
2. Don't play to the camera, but don't shy away from it either.
3. Cue the camera people to your content so they know what is most important. That way they can move during your throwaway lines.


text:
package it.unibz.krdb.obda.quest.datatypes;

import junit.framework.Test;

public class OracleDatatypeTest extends QuestDatatypeParent {

	public OracleDatatypeTest(String testURI, String name, String queryFileURL, String resultFileURL,
			String owlFileURL, String obdaFileURL, String parameterFileURL) {
		super(testURI, name, queryFileURL, resultFileURL, owlFileURL, obdaFileURL, parameterFileURL);
	}

	public static Test suite() throws Exception {
		return QuestDatatypeTestUtils.suite(new Factory() {
			@Override
			public OracleDatatypeTest createQuestDatatypeTest(String testURI, String name, String queryFileURL,
					String resultFileURL, String owlFileURL, String obdaFileURL) {
				return new OracleDatatypeTest(testURI, name, queryFileURL, resultFileURL, owlFileURL, obdaFileURL, "");
			}
			@Override
			public OracleDatatypeTest createQuestDatatypeTest(String testURI, String name, String queryFileURL,
					String resultFileURL, String owlFileURL, String obdaFileURL, String parameterFileURL) {
				return new OracleDatatypeTest(testURI, name, queryFileURL, resultFileURL, owlFileURL, obdaFileURL, parameterFileURL);
			}
			@Override
			public String getMainManifestFile() {
				return "/testcases-datatypes/manifest-datatype-oracle.ttl";
			}
		});
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Our dramatic , five-storey bookshop holds Glasgow's greatest range of books, and is the premier venue for book events and signings in the city. Our breath-taking atrium retains the grandeur of our building's cinematic past, and our booksellers and customers have created a proud chapter in the Glasgow bookshop story.
We offer a Click & Collect service, and a range of beautiful Gifts and Stationery. Our book rooms are destination sections, with an enchanting Children's department, Scotland's finest line up of Crime and Literary Fiction, and an academic level with our account sales department.
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How to Pay a Sage. How to Run a Society.
This is the conclusion of Pṛthu's discussion with Sanāt Kumār.
Extremely grateful that the self-knowing young children of Brahmā had given him a clear vision his true self-interest, the King said, "Compassionate Hari must have felt compassionate towards me – for all of you blessed spiritualists have come to me. You, his devotees, are equally compassionate, so you have very thoroughly manifest his compassion to me. What can I give you in return?
This also illustrates the principle that a recipient of goods, services, or knowledge pays something in return.
"All I have are gifts handed down to me from sādhus. All of those gifts I then gave entirely to the teachers and philosophers. I gave them everything – my kingdom, forces, land, and treasury, as well as my own home, children and wife, and even my own self. I made them the commanders of my armies and the leaders and administrators of my kingdom. I did this because I believe that those who know Vedic śāstra are the only ones truly capable of leading society.
This is how to run a society, and I wish that many of the people trying to run "Vedic" and/or "Krishna Conscious" societies would pay attention to it. The true leader of the society is not the person with charisma or talents. The true leader is the person who very clearly and thoroughly understands Vedic śāstra.
All power and all parts of the society should be given to their care. King Pṛthu set an ideal example here, giving not only what was in his society, but even what was in his own home, and even what was in his own body. That is a true leader. Of course there can be only one King Pṛthu in history, but the rest of the leaders throughout history should look up to his example, emulate it, and feel embarassed when they fail to do so.
"They accepted everything I offered, but distributed it all wisely to the various members of society.
What do the brāhmaṇas (the really intelligent, learned, wise people who have realized knowledge in practice) do with all the power that should be given to them? They keep none of it!
Then what is the point of giving it to them?
Because they are wise and neutral and know exactly how to distribute that power to the right people. They put various people in charge of various things, according to their individual abilities and inclinations.
Just as I wish the kṣatriya's running our religious and "spiritual" institutions would pay attention to the fact that the brāhmaṇas should be running the show, so to do I wish that the people claiming the role of teachers and philosophers in these societies would pay attention to the fact that real brahmaṇas don't hold on to any power or wealth, but distribute it to the most appropriate people.


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text:
Ngomalala: Woman behind street guides
SUNDAY PROFILE with KAPALA CHISUNKA, Lusaka
GROWING up, her dream was to become a teacher or at least a journalist. But as they say, things happen in life. She changed course and ended up in banking before finally deciding that entrepreneurship was the way to go.
But it is not your idea of entrepreneurship that she picked on.
Chileshe Josephine Mpuku Ngomalala picked on the production of street guides.
She has no regrets despite the challenges she has faced.
"My interest in maps started when I joined my late husband in Manchester [United Kingdom] after leaving my job at Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO). Maps are very important, so, slowly, I began to take an interest and I realised we don't have such here. I think that's where I got my business idea," she says.
"I got married while I was at ZANACO. So, when my late husband went to Manchester, I left my job and followed him with our son. While in Manchester, I decided to pursue studies in computer programming."
After three years in Manchester, the family moved back to Zambia but her idea of pursuing a business in production of street guides still stuck with her. She decided to take steps into the realisation of her idea by seeking guidance from the Ministry of Lands among others.
"While I was looking for a job, I was also following up on how I could set up my street guide business. Eventually, I got a job with Stanbic Bank but I only worked for six months because I had twins at the time, so I was difficult for me to balance," Ms Ngomalala said.
After she left Stanbic Bank, she decided to start tailoring and designing instead of just staying home doing nothing. However, street guides and maps were still at the back of her mind and the idea at this stage was taking shape.
But later, she got another a job with Airtel in the customer care department. At that time, she was also working on her street guide which she had registered as a company as Streetwise Limited.
The maps and guides serve as critical information for investors, tourists, new residents and Zambians in general.
"There was a lot a work involved for it to take off because we needed advertisers as well," Ms Ngomalala says. "Ordinary Zambians did not know much about it or its importance because they know they already know places here but outsiders appreciated it."
The company was eventually launched and the first publication was Street Guide of Lusaka followed by Street Guide of Lusaka and Livingstone. She said the publication is always alert and taking into account new developments and updating the publication.
She said with permission from the surveyor general, the maps are updated and perfected periodically.
"From Street Guide of Lusaka and Livingstone, we did the Zambia Travel Map. We now make customised maps for companies. We have done specialised maps for many companies and organisations including Link Zambia 8000 map, Lusaka 400 map, the Road Development Agency map," Ms Ngomalala says.
Others are educational maps for schools, wall maps for Zambia and towns, newly-created district maps for Ministry of Works and Supply, constituency map of Zambia, communication map for the Ministry of Transport and Communication and African Development Bank (AfDB) annual meetings delegate map and E link map for Zamtel.
Others are Inter-Parliamentary Conference delegate map for the National Assembly, communication map for the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) and the City of Lusaka which provides important information about Lusaka with a map insert.
Ms Ngomalala, who employees three people, says she does the drawing of the maps with a colleague. A mother of three, Ms Ngomalala said her company is home grown and not a franchise and thus there is need for stakeholders to support the initiative because it is one of its kind in Zambia.
Despite the successes the company has scored, Ms Ngomalala says there are some challenges with regards to piracy, especially last year. She says people have been pirating the street guides a lot although the trend has reduced.
"There are some challenges that we face along the way but we have also scored successes which by far outweigh the negatives," she says. 'Our plan now is to map out areas in Zambia and expand to other towns to include national parks as well. That is the reason we need partnerships."
Her advice to women intending to venture into business is that it is not for the faint hearted. She says one needs to be disciplined because results are not instant.
"Any business has its own challenges and it takes a while sometimes for it to get off the ground," she says. "Sometimes you cannot even draw a salary especially in the beginning and it's difficult to find and keep clients but the secret is not to give up."
Ms Ngomalala says her faith in God has helped her live through some of the challenges she faces.
Romans 8: 28 rings true for Ms Ngomalala, who was born in Solwezi in a family of nine and moved with her parents to Lusaka where she started her primary education at Lusaka Girls' before proceeding to Kabulonga Girl Secondary School.
The verse reads: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Tagsguides Ngomalala street woman
War veteran gets Free Man of Luanshya
Where in Chilanga is Mtendere?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Over 1,000 schools across the country take part in 'mini Paralympic' multi-sport competitions for secondary or primary school children, along with dedicated football, boccia and swimming programmes. This has been extended further this year with 16+ competitions for College students. Panathlon has in the last few years trained thousands of young leaders (3,931 in 2018) aged 14-19, who act as sports officials for Panathlon competitions. If you are new to Panathlon, please take a look at the video (at the bottom of the page) to get a flavour of what we are all about.
All the latest results, competition dates and training dates.
Caroline Constable, head of P.E at Barking Abbey School, talks about the impact Panathlon has had on her Young Leaders.
St Clere's School from Thurrock delighted by gold in Southern England Deaf Boccia Championship.
This is one of the best experiences of my life. My favourite is the table top cricket because you get to really smash the ball. Panathlon has lifted my confidence and skills.
The thing that we like about Panathlon the most, and our staff and parents always comment on, is that Panathlon levels the playing field. That's the key for them to be able to perform equally against their peers.
It feels amazing to be representing the borough. It's an amazing experience to even be here. We're so lucky to get this opportunity I think. I really enjoy being part of Panathlon and I think I'd like to be a young Panathlon coach in the future.
Before I started Panathlon, I wouldn't even go away from home on my own, but now I'll do it easily. Panathlon has made me feel a lot more confident. I think it's brilliant.
I've really enjoyed myself, taking part in all the different activities. It feels brilliant to be representing my school. When I get back, I'll show the teachers and everyone in school my medals. They'll be proud of me and all my family will be proud.
It is the first time our kids have been able to compete at a sporting event; in the past they have only had the opportunity to watch.
At the end of a Panathlon event I feel like it's a big achievement for me, because I can't really do many sports. This is one I can do, and I love it!
We've got lots of smiling children. It's fantastic because it links with a lot of the class curriculum at the moment which is around the Olympics. It gives them a great sense of wider achievement. It's been a really positive experience for them.


text:
CDK Global to Acquire CRM Firm ELead1One
CDK Global will announce Monday morning it is acquiring the auto retail industry's leading customer relationship management firm ELead1One, according to several sources familiar with the deal.
The acquisition checks off several boxes for CDK while filling a big product hole — a viable integrated CRM platform with significant market share. ELead's call center business is also a big plus along with its service scheduling and marketing solution. Also important is the fact CDK is getting a company with revenue of well over $100 million that is growing.
TBR has predicted the move several times since January 2015 because of the many synergies. The companies began talking officially about a year ago and finally closed it last week. Investment banking firm Portico Capital advised ELEAD1ONE on the sale.
The deal, which was submitted to the Federal Commission several days ago, should close within a month following the regulatory review. Unlike the desired acquisition of competitor AutoMate, which the FTC stopped in March due to anti-competitive reasons, the ELEAD1ONE deal should not have any issues.
Financial terms of the deal likely will be announced once the review is completed. TBR estimates CDK likely is paying in the $550 million range for the Valdosta, GA – based technology firm. It will be the biggest deal in the automotive retail vendor space over the last couple of years.
ELEAD1ONE is the biggest privately-owned technology company in the auto retail space that is still owned by the original founders, Hugh and Judy Hathcock. (Reynolds and Reynolds, with more than $1.7 billion in annual revenue is also privately-owned, but has had numerous owners, including a stint as a public company prior to current owner Bob Brockman taking it private.)
The Hathcocks started the company in 1985 making cookies for dealers as a tool to help them retain customers. In a 2006 interview with Ward's Dealer Business, they recounted how they spent hours driving throughout the Southeast pitching the concept to dealers. Their first customer was the Coggin Group in Florida.
They pivoted in the 1990's to becoming a leading call center provider for dealers wanting to outsource their business development centers. That move took the company from $3 million in annual revenue to more than $20 million a year. A second pivot in the late 90's turned the company into a full-fledged technology provider. A name change to ELEAD1ONE reflected the new focus.
Over the years, the company expanded to Destin, FL while building a fully integrated customer relationship management platform that includes a newly-developed service scheduling and marketing solution that has put a charge into ELead's revenue growth the last couple of years.
As word of the acquisition began leaking out late Friday night, one question being asked is whether ELead's culture will survive ownership from a publicly traded company. Sources say Hugh is staying with ELead and that CDK has taken steps to make sure it's not the typical arrangement where the founder stays for a year or two to help with the transition, but rather, is a long-term partnership.
CDK likely will not change much in how ELEAD1ONE operates for the near future. The branding will remain as will most of the employees. The culture the Hathcocks built is a big part of ELead's success with its more than 3,000 dealership customers, including seven of the top 10 dealer groups. Whether CDK can truly maintain that will be interesting to watch.
Hugh Hathcock Makes A Bold Move in Auto Retail with the Launch of ReconVelocity — CBT Automotive Network
After selling his wildly popular CRM and BDC software solutions company eLead1One to CDK Global for over…
Black Book Integrates with ReconVelocity's New ReconMatch
Black Book data now powers the algorithm being used to determine the vehicle's value and…
ReconVelocity Acquires Competitive Firm Recon Ninjas
February 6, 2020 – ReconVelocity, the fastest growing company in the auto industry, announced today…
Removing Roadblocks for Faster Approvals and Used Car Sales
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Dealership Recon Culture
Higher Gross Profits
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Recon | COVID-19
Reduce Recon Expenses
next post: CDK Global to Acquire ELEAD1ONE


Knox College's celebration of Founder's Day can be identified by the emergence of a large wooden cake that sits outside of Ferris Lounge and which glows with the light of artificial candles. For Associate Director of Alumni and Constituent Relations Jennifer Gallas the cake was a mysterious phenomenon she set out to uncover.
After doing her own research, Gallas found out that the wooden cake was first made in 1952, which was when the 115th Founder's Day was celebrated at Knox. A new candle is added each year, with 182 candles total on the cake this year. Gallas is unsure what made 1952 significant, but noted that the festivities that year were especially extravagant.
While Founder's Day has become routine in terms of the ways it is celebrated, organizers normally put together a more elaborate set of events every five years.
Gallas mentioned that on the 175th Founder's Day, large cutouts of George Washington Gale were made and placed around campus.
She says that, in the early parts of Knox's history, Founder's Day had served as dedication days for buildings such as Seymour Library.
"It's just kind of a nice time where you know probably a lot of people are going to be back and it's like, oh, this would be a really good time to celebrate this new addition to the campus," she said.
Gallas enjoys the annual ceremonies and handing out of cake, but hopes to make Founder's Day more informative for students. She mentioned that she and some of the student Alumni Ambassadors had set up an informational booth during homecoming weekend, and would like to do more of that for occasions like Founder's Day.
"We'd really like to do some more with Knox traditions and kind of educating people about traditions if we couldÉ talking about the college's history and explaining to the students who these people were," she said.
For Gallas, the culmination of Founder's Day, along with the wooden cake, is the Alumni Achievement Award ceremony that takes place each year during Founder's Day Convocation. This year, the ceremony will take place on Feb. 15 at 5 p.m. in the Muelder Room of Seymour Library and will honor Joe Cecchi '68, Mark McIntosh '72, Bridget Coughlin '94 and Joel Christensen '06.
Alumni Director Carol Brown is tasked with assembling a committee which works to select the four alumni who are honored each year. Nominations are sent in by faculty, staff and family and are then voted on by the committee. Each year, three alumni are recognized in the 'regular' category, and one young alum is recognized. For Brown, this ceremony has a multitude of functions. Not only does it honor Knox alumni, but it also provides motivation for current students.
Brown enjoys hearing what successful alumni find valuable in their Knox education. She noted that many discuss the accessible faculty, financial support and fast-paced curriculum as aspects that made their Knox education so valuable.


text:
Home Issue 65 Survey Shows Most Stapleton Parents in Denial about Growing Teen Bubble
Survey Shows Most Stapleton Parents in Denial about Growing Teen Bubble
admin October 8, 2013 October 8, 2013 Issue 65
As suspected for several years now, the bubble of elementary school-aged children is continuing to grow in the Stapleton community. We don't mean growing in number of kids, but AGE of kids. What was once a simple concern over the number of seats in existing elementary school classrooms, is now becoming an alarming new reality: Our little ones are growing into teenagers. At the same time. "There's no doubt about it." said resident and parent of twin tweens, Mike Herold. "Our boys are indeed getting older. I just knew this was going to happen." An informal survey* has shown what many Stapleton parents have failed to put on their worry list: The fact that hormone-driven actions will soon be seen all over the community. A few residents do share the growing concern. "Personally, I am scared to death. All these teens concentrated within just what – two square miles? Sounds like an accident waiting to happen to me," said resident Jennifer Weber. "Before we know it, there may even be twerking going on. We need to get on this now!" she added. An emergency task group is forming and an initial meeting was held last Friday. First order of business is to gather data on the number of teens aged 13-18 in the area and to determine when that number will peak. "Our next priority is to analyze ways to mitigate potential damage," said "Teen Watch" task force president Neil Logan. According to Logan, several ideas were brainstormed during that meeting. Possible tactics include:
Nightly patrols along Westerly Creek, a potential teen 'hot spot' and growing concern: Logan suggests creating a Facebook group – for parents only – where folks could sign up for watches after school and after dark. Lookout chairs similar to those used by lifeguards at our local pools could be installed discreetly along the paths. "Parents would have to coordinate their work schedules and vacations, but I think it would totally be worth it," Logan explained.
Install an enormous spotlight in the old Stapleton air traffic control tower: Since no one can agree on what to do with the tower, it was suggested that this would be an excellent use for it. The spotlight could zero in on any offending parties, thus putting an end to any potential wrong doing.
Institute a 9:30 p.m. curfew: According to Weber, "It's dark by then, and where I come from, no good ever happens after dark."
The task force hopes to get further input from the community, and encourages parents to join the Facebook group now to contribute to the conversation. "This situation is only going to get worse, so we'd like to move on mitigation plans ASAP," Logan urged. *Survey methodology included about a half-dozen parents or so, lamenting their uncertain futures after several well-deserved beers. The Stapletonion posted these hot spots to watch out for last August: Hot Spots: In about 5-10 years, Stapleton is going to be a teenage haven. With teenagers comes making out, fights, and underage drinking, you know, the things you did. The Stapletonion ranked the most likely spots in the Stapleton area where these things will happen.
Northfield Theater parking lot: Close enough to get to, but far away from parents that may know them.
Central Park: Yes, lots of kids will get caught by the po-po and late night runners and walkers, but it is just so convenient. Bridge to nowhere will be a big spot.
Anywhere along Westerly Creek Trail: This is obvious with the poor lighting, and the bridge on MLK that goes over the creek will be overrun with wine cooler bottles and beer cans. Let's just put a recycling can there now.
On the Green: The movies on the green will be a LOT different here soon, and after the movies, it just gets worse.
Bluff Lake & Trails: Not super convenient, but definitely a little off the beaten path. Plus the parents who own the houseboats will definitely be the parents that don't mind if kids are out drinking.
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Here you can download our automated or manual installers and all the add-ons that come FREE with Gemini. The current released version is 6.9.2.
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The largest and southernmost of the stunning Greek Isles, Crete is a vibrant mix of ancient ruins, sunny beaches, crystalline waters, and quaint, picture-perfect towns and villages. The island itself is imbued with an irresistible and lively spirit, which is reflected in the warmth and openness shown by its people, who are always happy to welcome visitors to their little paradise and share their delicious cuisine and local traditions. The ancient island of Crete is the perfect study in contrasts: white-washed walls and pale stone ruins sit starkly above the vibrant blue and emerald hues of the sea, and the northern coast is all unspoiled, sandy beaches, while to the south lie the rugged cliffs and extreme landscapes that the Grecian islands are known for.
Crete enjoys a history as rich as its culture; while the actual history of the island dates all the way back to the 7th millennium BC, it was most notably the birthplace of Europe's most ancient and advanced civilization, the Minoans. The Minoans were so advanced, in fact, that they built Europe's first palace on Crete, the famous Palace of Knossos. Throughout the centuries and due to countless invasions, Cretean architecture is a fascinating amalgam of styles, from Byzantine to Venetian Renaissance and everything in-between.
A day-long itinerary on Crete could be filled with endless irresistible possibilities. History buffs can visit ancient architectural wonders like Heraklion, the capital of Crete, where there is an exceptional Archaeological Museum that cannot be missed. Nearby is the famed Palace of Knossos, the first ever to be built in Europe. Spinalonga is a tiny island just across from the quaint fishing village of Plaka. Steeped in interesting history, this island was the last known leper colony in 1903, but first served as a fortress built by the Venetians.
For the sun-worshipers, beautiful beaches abound, ranging from hidden coves to large, sandy hot spots. While there is no shortage of stunning beaches to choose from on Crete, there are a few spots that are absolute must-visits for any sea, sun, and sand-loving visitor: Agia Fotia is a tiny picturesque gem and local favorite, with a small bay surrounded by stunning cliffs. Chrissi Island is a true showstopper and worth the short boat ride; take a glance at the stunning stretch of soft sand and crystalline waters and you'll understand why it's known as "The Caribbean of Crete". An oasis of calm in one of the more remote areas of Crete, Xerokambos is a well-kept local secret that is perfect for snorkeling. Vai Beach, though perhaps the busiest during high-season, lies at the very tip of the island's eastern side and boasts incredible white sand and perfectly clear waters.
If you need a break from the sun, get a true taste of Cretean culture by exploring one of the quaint rural towns or villages like Elounda, a small seaside town on the southeast side of the island. Enjoy a leisurely lunch at a tiny fish taverna and enjoy the catch of the day, fresh from the sea. Then, take a refreshing afternoon dip in the beautiful and secluded Kolokytha Bay. Tiny Krista, one of the oldest, and arguably, the most picturesque villages on Crete, is filled with lush olive groves and narrow streets lined with shops, perched up on a hill with amazing views. The charming village of Kroustas sits even higher (520 meters above sea level!) and has breathtaking views out onto the vast Agean Sea and the glistening Mirabello Bay below.
Spend some peaceful time reflecting and taking in the true spirit of the island at one of Crete's many ancient churches and Monasteries, which have stunning architecture and well-preserved artifacts and frescoes. Some, like Toplou Monastery, offer an intimate wine tasting from their own local winery. For an unforgettable view, visit Panagi Faneromeni, an all male monastery perched on a steep slope over the Aegean Sea. One of the most significant churches on the island, (a true must-visit spot) is Panagia Kera, where you will find some of the best-preserved frescoes from the Byzantine era.
A day in Crete would not be complete without a little time spent surrounded by the island's natural beauty. Avid hikers will love to explore Samaria Gorge, a registered National Park, and one of Europe's longest canyons. With soaring cliffs , exotic flowers and hidden passageways, this 16 km hike is a true testament to Crete's utterly jaw-dropping natural surroundings. Any traveler with a passion for Greek Mythology must visit Psychro Cave, the sacred Minoan spot believed to be the birthplace of Zeus. With its imposing stalagmites and stalactites and incredibly history, this cave is a fascinating natural wonder that fills one with a true sense of awe.
Because of its countless activities, cultural sites, and beautiful scenery, Crete is a perfect spot for pretty much all types of travelers, though it would help if you have a penchant for seafood. Beyond the fresh fish and octopus that you'll no doubt see hanging along the harbors, Crete is also known for its traditional village tavernas. The food on Crete is healthy and fresh, fresh, fresh: from the meat and fish, to the delicious olive oil, wine, and cheese, everything is locally grown. Try some of the traditional delicacies, including raki, a sweetened, anise-flavored spirit, myzithropita, Crete's famous sweet cheese pie, and Skioufihta, a Cretan traditional pasta made with local myzithra or graviera cheese.
The perfect home base for a fabulous Cretan vacation is Daios Cove- Luxury Resort & Villas, a chic hideaway that commands the perfect location on Crete, tucked away in a quiet bay on a secluded curve of the northern coastline. A sprawling property sculpted from rock into the hillside with lush gardens, spectacular views of the Aegean, and a stunning stretch of pristine sandy beach, the true draw of Daios Cove is the perfect blend of the resort's extravagance with the unspoiled, magnificent topography that frames it. While the property is grand in scale, the secluded location and private bay make for an intimate, peaceful ambience.
Daios Cove is easily accessible from Heraklion International Airport (50-minute drive). There are direct flights available from Europe (London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Milan, Brussels, Barcelona, Madrid, Vienna) throughout the week, as well as a private helicopter pad onsite.
Opened in 2010, the sprawling luxury oasis attracts well-heeled travelers of all types, from couples seeking a secluded romantic getaway, to families craving a fun yet luxurious holiday together. Daios Cove spans over 86 acres and offers a variety of accommodations, from 210 guest rooms, 41 suites, 39 villas, a presidential villa and 165 private seawater pools. Designed by the Greek 3SK Stylianidis Architects firm, the vibe of Daios Cove is minimalist-chic yet luxurious, set in calming neutral tones that perfectly reflect the relaxed aesthetic of the island of Crete itself.
Daios Cove also has six gourmet restaurants, as well as chic cocktail bars and lounges that often play host to renowned international DJs during high-season summer nights. The contemporary and airy Pangea boasts stunning views of the sea, with an international menu celebrating eclectic cuisine from around the world, while Taverna gives guests a more local flavor, with traditional Greek fare and a special Cretean ambiance, especially at night. Catch of the day is not to be missed here, with the seafood being brought in every morning by local fishermen's kaiki boats.
The Beach House is the newest open-air restaurant at Daios Cove, with a sustainable menu of fresh locally-grown and sourced ingredients. At night, the cocktails and music flow, and the stunning setting mixed with the live music (Latin, Funk, Soul, Jazz, Mediterranean, Cretean and DJ sets) has made for a winning combination: The Beach House was named #7 of The World's 50 Best Bars in 2018, with little wonder why.
Beyond the delectable cuisine, Daios Cove also boasts The GOCO Spa and Fitness Centre, complete with thermal and private spa suites. An serene and rejuvenating oasis, GOCO Spa tate-spans 26,910 square feet and has eight private treatment rooms, two facial studios, three body treatment rooms, two double suites and a beauty salon. Guests can also enjoy a variety of signature facial and body treatments by French spa specialist, Anne Semonin and Spa/Clinic by 111Skin as well as fully-equipped fitness center that offers yoga, pilates and personal training sessions upon request.
There is a plethora of on-land activities at the Cove for guests to enjoy, including a luxurious Residents' Club, Children's Club, and tennis courts. Guests can also private tours to archeological spots such as Knossos Palace, the village of Krista. Chrisi island and more, as well as day trips to Crete's most picturesque villages. Daios Cove also offers land and air tours: explore the rugged terrain by open-air Land Rover and see the rural beauty of Crete's mountain villages or take to the skies in a private helicopter for unparalleled views of the island and the surrounding seas.
But one would be remiss not to take advantage of any of Daios Cove's water activities. Through Daios Cove, guests can rent a private yacht, catamaran, or RIB boat and sail to secluded islands, beaches, and coves for an unforgettable day exploring Crete by sea. Scuba diving, snorkeling, canoeing, and kayaking are also available at the resort.
With stunning beaches and unbeatable views, spacious and comfortable accommodation, and abundant activities to choose from, Daios Cove is truly a destination unto itself on Crete, a secluded Grecian paradise just waiting to be discovered.
Because of its balmy European climate, Crete is a popular destination for visitors almost year-round. May—October is the ideal time to go to enjoy the warmest weather and make use of the stunning beaches, though spring is a good time to sightsee on Crete while the island's flora and fauna are on spectacular display. To get there, it is a long (12 hour) yet still relatively easy and scenic ferry ride from the bustling mainland, or alternatively, a short plane ride from Athens airport.


Copper and burgundy set the tone for the branding for Madison + Tim's Heinz History Center Wedding Celebration.
Photos by Eva Lin Photography. Event by Shayla Hawkins Events. Please scroll below to see the rest of the amazing vendor list.


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It was a strange day today.
Laurence, did you get up on the wrong side of the bed?
No railroading here, today. The Super Bowl kickoff is just three hours away and lot's of pre-game coverage during that time!
Actually the saying is "Did you get out of bed on the wrong side?" It may seem a small difference, but it refers to the side you were lying on, NOT the side of the bed. It's to do with sleeping half the night on one side and the other half on the other side. In between, there should be an hour of wakefulness, which might (just) involve having a cup of tea. It's to do with your heart and digestion, apparently.
The 'G2' and 'J26' look splendid, Laurence.
Welcome to the wonderful world of Union Mills!
I didn't get much done in the Train Shed today. We had a committee meeting in the morning and table tennis in the afternoon. In between, I have been wrestling with getting the contact pages working on the new Hessle U3A website. But I did manage a running session later in the afternoon and ran the next cycle (4a/b/c). The branch locos ran OK, but 45572, 'Eire', stopped on the way out of the UP loops and refused to leave the station, once it had arrived there. I checked the traction tyres, but they were OK. In the end, I gave its tyres the IPA treatment and it did get going and stopped in the right place, so I hope that the IPA will work its way down to the metal. Even worse, 46443 started playing up as well. Those two locos have, until now, been my best performing ones, neither having given a murmur for almost two years. Then the controller went walkabout again and the only way I could stop 92006 was to turn off the power. Once it was on again, everything settled down again. The branch ran well enough, with only a couple of hiccups during run-arounds and 4571 struggling to drop its train in the Norton loops. Perhaps tomorrow will be more fuitful.
Today we went to the gym and, as usual, I managed an early running session in the Train Shed, running the next cycle (5a/b/c). It ran so well that I decided my afternoon session would be another running session, given that both J26, 65761 and G2, 49368, the two new Union Mills locos, would be running in the next cycle. 46443, which, yesterday, ran so badly that I had to set its acceleration back to zero, ran very well on its out-run and I duly set its acceleration back to normal for its in-run, which was fine.
So, in the afternoon, I returned to the train shed to run the next cycle (6a/b/c). It was a pretty good session, although 49368 did have four stops, two when passing over points. I thought you might like to see some videos of the two Union Mills locos. Here's 49368 exiting Oakwood Tunnel.
And here it is again entering Gatsby Tunnel at the other end of the layout.
Then I filmed 65761 leaving the goods loop.
I hope you liked the videos and I hope to return to some scenic work tomorrow.
Today was another gym day and I had an early running session in the Train Shed (7a/b/c). I do enjoy running trains when everything is going well. Soon, I hope to be able to make a video demonstrating exactly what a running session is like, warts and all. Today's session would have been perfect but for three things. First, when Royal Ulster Rifleman first started from UP Loop1, it was clear that it had derailed. On inspection, I found that its rear drivers were clean off the rails. It's a few days since I last moved it and I suspect that I must have dislodged it while attending to something else on the UP loops board. So that one is down to operator clumsiness rather than a running problem.
Also, 6417 required the tiniest nudge to start from DOWN Loop 18. But apart from that, it would have been a really exhilarating session, except for the fact that the dumb operator kept watching the trains instead of concentrating on the job in hand (you're not here to watch trains, you're here to operate them!). So I had to make an emergency stop with 80119 because I failed to start deceleration until too late. I was pleased that 61664 'Liverpool' behaved impeccably after it's mishaps the other day. Also, 46443 is now back on song again. I had given the tyres of its drivers the IPA treatment when it played up two days ago, so perhaps it was the magic potion to return it to normal operation.
So, all in all, it was a very good session. I didn't get down to the Train Shed in the afternoon because I spent the time sorting out all the recycling items to take to the recycling centre. I had been accumulating them for over a year and there were batteries, lamps, fluorescent tubes, printer cartridges, various bits of small(ish) electrical gear (WEEE items), such as a blood pressure monitor, an old Sky box, an egg boiler, a cordless drill, etc, to sort out. I duly took them to the recycling centre and now there're gone forever. By the time that was done and we'd had a cup of tea, there was not time for another sortie to the Train Shed. So I apologise for the fact that there are no pictures today.
Thursday is our away day. We had planned to go to Fraisthorpe beach for a walk along the sands. Fortunately we had a bad weather contingency plan: to go into Hull on the train. In the event, it was a rainy day, so into Hull we went. I did have what would have been an excellent, early running session in the Train Shed, running the next cycle (8a/b/c). I say "what would have been" because all the trains behaved perfectly, exactly as directed. However, the directions were a complete nonsense. I kept stopping the train that I had just started instead of the one that should be stopped. The result was that I had to carry out emergency stops on some trains while having to wait for others to arrive because I had to restart them again. What an operator! I don't think I would be allowed into a real signal box or cab. We had a nice trip into Hull and returned home in the afternoon.
Yesterday my new specs video camera arrived. I put it on charge before we went out and thought I would try it out later this afternoon. I need to wear my reading glasses to read the dials and print, so I tried wearing the specs cam perched on top of them. I decided to record the whole of the next operating cycle (9a/b/c). I had a really good operating session and everything was almost perfect apart from one run-around. But, doom and gloom, wearing the specs that high meant I didn't actually get to record any trains. The session lasted twenty minutes, but I recorded twenty minutes of, mainly, backscene. I have cut out everything after the first minute, but you can see the problem.
I have since experimented and I can fit my reading glasses inside specs camera, so tomorrow, I should be able to make a proper recording, for your delectation. By the way, the date and time on the camera is, as you can see, wrong. I have tried to put it right, but it is impossible to set the year to 2019, so the next video will have a 2018 date. I have raised the issue with the manufacturer.
I'm sure that you'll get to grips with that camera very quickly Laurence.
Anyway, a nice little video of the backscene!
Great video's of the Union Mills arrivals, nice slow running - good luck with the spec-cam!
Today I had a bit of an upside down morning. Instead of an early session in the Train Shed, I concentrated on getting all the household chores done, including the monthly ones that have been hanging around for over for a week. In addition, there has been a lot to do for U3A, what with Charities Commission updates and sorting out changes to the bank mandate. So I didn't get out to the Train Shed until midday. This time, I took the specs camera and fitted it so that my reading specs were inside the lenses. Then I ran the next timetable cycle (10a/b/c).
I filmed the whole cycle and I had to make a couple of cuts, one because 'Eire' had overshot its DOWN loop and had to be shunted back, mainly by hand. The other was because 4571 refused to re-couple to its train after the run-around and, once again, had to be manually coupled. It's a pity, because yesterday's session was pretty well perfect, apart from the poor camera alignment which prevented me from showing any trains. Today, I have managed to show all the train movements, although I need to refine my filming technique considerably. Here is the result, warts and all.
The first lesson is that I must dwell on objects and scenes much longer. The second is that I must move my head more slowly to avoid blurring and an impression of giddiness. Also, when I look down at the controller, I need to move my head more, otherwise the controller doesn't come into full view. When I am manipulating locos in the run-arounds, I need to move further into the loops so that the full movement can be easily seen. Apart from that, I think it was OK (I don't think).
However, I hope the video gives an impression of what it is like to run an operational timetable cycle. The camera is a new toy and, probably, not the best in class, but I can have a go at improvement. It worked really well when demonstrated behind the wheel of a car, because the head is looking pretty well straight ahead most of the time. But following operations on a model railway is a whole new ball game.
There is another lesson, learned from processing and uploading. It would be better to split the cycle into three separate videos, one for each sub-cycle. That would reduce the time to process and upload each individual video and would make watching better, because you would not have to sit through the whole thing at a single sitting.
This morning was walking into Hessle day. My early shift in the Train Shed consisted of fiddling with the CVs (configuration variables) for Loco 9, Jubilee Class 'Eire'. This is because it overshot twice yesterday. After its previous run, I had increased the value of CV3 (the deceleration CV) from 27 to 30, but yesterday's run demonstrated that this was too much. So I began by reducing it back to 27 and then ran it together with 80119, to produce a clear circuit through Loops 2 and 15. As expected, 27 proved to be too low, with the loco stopping a little short. So I increased it to 28, which seemed to be about right, although it might stop a bit short in down Loop 15. I think I will have to make a note to check the loops after every sub-cycle, to ensure that all the trains are parked in a 'safe' position.
We didn't stop in town for coffee, but came straight home and I made coffee here. Then, I had a lot of U3A work to do. I spent quite a long time searching for the constitution and then it was difficult to make head or tail of it. It consisted of four different documents, all written in courier typeface. The reason for the search was that, at the last AGM, an amendment was passed and I needed to find out if it had been implemented. It hadn't. So I made a new document and reformatted the old one, adding the revision. Then, in the afternoon, I had to deliver a lot of single-sheet newsletters. The result is that, once again, I didn't get an afternoon session in the Train Shed.
Tomorrow, I will continue setting CVs while I'm on the case, so to speak. I have allocated CVs for the two new Union Mills loco, but I haven't recorded them. I need to do some experimentation to get the top speed and deceleration right for the sort of semi-automatic running that I showed in yesterday's video. It's really good when you can just say go to make the loco to glide away and then say stop for it to glide to a halt in the correct position. At some time in the future, I may consider fully automating everything, although I do enjoy taking the controls. The other drawback of full automation is that, when things go wrong, such as an unplanned loss of traction, it is much more difficult to get things back on track (?) again.
Today it was rather wet and not too warm so, instead of going for a walk, we went out to a garden centre for coffee and to buy some plants. In fact, our river walk is not going to be available for some months because of good old Railtrack's project that gave us a problem at New Year. They have secured the barriers in a more substantial way now, so it is very difficult to get past.
My early session in the Train Shed this morning involved running the first part of the next cycle (11a). I needed to run 11a before I could work on programming and testing G2 49368. That was due to run in the following sub-cycle (11b) and running 11a first let me set up the routes for it to run round in opposition to 46443. I had made up my mind to record 11a using my specs camera, to try and refine my filming technique. I made an effort to do things a little more slowly and keep the camera as steady as possible. Here's the result.
It's still not perfect, but I think I am improving. At the garden centre, we bought three plants and then called in at B&Q on the way home for a couple of bags of sharp sand, to use in the garden for the re-forming project that Celia is working on currently (with support from me for the heavy lifting and digging). In the afternoon and attacked all the climbers growing up the side wall of next door's garage, which took some time.
I thought I would film the programming and testing session with 49368 although, in the end, I have only submitted the initial programming demonstration to YouTube because I thought that it might be a little tedious to watch all the tests and modifications to the CVs. Here's the initial programming using my Gaugemaster Prodigy Advance DCC02 controller. CV6 is the mid-point setting for the speed curve. It is important because if it is set at half the Top Voltage setting, it gives a linear acceleration and deceleration, whereas, increasing or decreasing it produces a curved response.
After the initial programming, I spent quite a long time testing the deceleration into the loops but, as with 3846, there is no way to extend the deceleration sufficiently if the Top Voltage is set to the correct value for the top speed (about 10mph to scale). So, in the end, I had to set a high top speed and run it on throttle setting 5 (out of 28) in order to get it to run at the correct speed. The trick then, which I developed originally for 3846, is to wind up the speed setting to maximum once the brake van has disappeared into the tunnel and then, immediately, reduce it to zero. This gives the train a slingshot and it coasts into the loops, stopping at the correct place.
Tomorrow, when I get to 11c, I will do the same programming exercise with the J26, 65761. I think I will complete this whole timetable run before having another go at the scenery.
Monday is table tennis day. I managed a Train Shed session before we went. This time, I ran the remaining two sub-cycles of cycle 11 (11b/c). Sub-cycle 11b involved running the Union Mills G2, 49368 round from the UP loops to the DOWN loops, VERY slowly. I have established that there are four track joints on the 2.5 miles (to scale) of a complete circuit where 49368 comes to grief. They are all track joints and it appears that when the loco is running at low speed and the tender is over joint, the drive wheels lose traction. I can hear the motor running and if I give the tender a slight twist, off it goes again. At higher speeds, it seems to be able to pass the joint before it stops. Everything else ran perfectly.
In the afternoon, the weather being fine, I had some garden jobs to perform. Then I managed another session in the Train Shed. Another issue I had identified from the morning's session was that the run-in to the loops required more programming. With the Top Voltage set too high, when I turned up the speed, wagons were liable to derail at the points. So I spent the time carrying out some more programming to 49368. Eventually, I reached the point where it would trundle with a speed setting of 15 (out of 28) although there was still an issue over the track joints. I am loath to rip up track willy-nilly, but I may change a couple of points to Unifrog anyway, which will give me an opportunity to rectify a couple of the problems. As for the other two, they are both in the loops and so it will not be too difficult to lift the track and re-lay it.
This morning, the local school had a Founder's Day holiday. Alan Cooper, the son of the local Newsagent, took his notebook and Ian Allen combined volume, down to Marton Hinmarche station early to do some train spotting. He noted all the trains in his notebook.
First, he saw ex-GWR Small Prairie, 5572, running bunker first, arrive at 0749 with the 0725 from Norton, running into Platform 4. It waited in the station for two connecting trains. The first of these was BR standard 2-6-4 Tank, 80119, running bunker first, which arrived at 0751with the 0650 from Worcester, calling at Trubshaw and Evenbury, which stopped at Platform 3. Then, to his great excitement, 6847, Forthampton Grange, came into view at 0757 with the 0605 from Paddington, calling at Aylesbury on the way, coming to rest at Platform 2. After a brief stop, Forthampton Grange set off at 0759 for Leamington Spa and Birmingham. Then, at 0805, 80119 departed for Kingbury, Charlton, Long Martin and Aylesbury, followed by 5572, taking the 0808 branch passenger off to Shipton.
After nearly an hour, ex-GWR Small Prairie, 4571 arrived at 0855, pulling into Platform 4. Then, at 0900, Ivatt mogul, 46443, arrived with the 0829 from Aylesbury, calling at Long Martin, Charlton and Kingbury stopped at Platform 2. While both trains were waiting in the station, a return fish train, hauled by 92006, came thundering through Platform 3 on its way back to Hull for another load of fish. At 0908, 46443 set off for Worcester, calling at Evenbury and Trubshaw. Shortly afterwards, at 0912, 4571 departed for Norton.
Another hour passed before the branch goods arrived from Norton behind panier tank 6713 and stopped at the far end of Platform 4. At 1004, panier tank 6417 arrived at Platform 3 with a stopping train from Evenbury. Then, a few minutes later, a DOWN parcels train from Aylesbury arrived at the far end of Platform 2. After quite a time, the parcels train departed, on its way to Worcester. At 1025, 6417 set off for Kingbury. Finally, after what seemed a long time, 6713 left, taking the branch goods on to Shipton.
By that time, Alan decided that he would like to make his way home for dinner, although it was still quite early. He later heard that Forthampton Grange had derailed at the point complex on the approach to Birmingham Snow Hill.


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Q: How to encrypt and decrypt passwords for selenium testing? The context is testing of a web app with selenium while using a number of virtual user accounts we created for this very purpose.  And so the testing process needs to access our sites and log-on with the virtual user's id and password.
None of these accounts are critical and they are flagged as testing accounts so no damage can be done.  Still, it would probably be a good idea to encrypt the passwords and decrypt them prior to use.
If it matter, our test app is written in Python, Django and uses PostgreSQL for the database.  It runs on a small Linode instance.
What might best practices be for something like this?
EDIT 1
The other thought I had was to store the credentials on a second machine and access them through and API while only allowing that access to happen from a known server's non-public IP.  In other words, get two instances at Linode and create a private machine-to-machine connection within the data center.
In this scenario, access to the first machine would allow someone to potentially make requests to the second machine if they are able to de-obfuscate the API code.  If someone really wants the data they can certainly get it.
We could add two factor authentication as a way to gate the tests.  In other words, even if you had our unencrypted test_users table you couldn't do anything with them because of the 2FA mechanism in place just for these users.
Being that this is for testing purposes only I am starting to think the best solution might very well be to populate the test_users table with valid passwords only while running a test.  We could keep the data safe elsewhere and have a script that uploads the data to the test server when we want to run a test suite.  Someone with access to this table could not do thing with it because all  the passwords would be invalid.  In fact, we could probably use this fact to detect such a breach.
I just hate the idea of storing unencrypted passwords even if it is for test users that can't really do any damage to the actual app (their transactions being virtual).
EDIT 2
An improvement to that would be to go ahead and encrypt the data and keep it in the test server.  However, every time the tests are run the system would reach out to us for the crypto key.  And, perhaps, after the test is run the data is re-encrypted with a new key.  A little convoluted but it would allow for encrypted passwords (and even user id's, just to make it harder) on the test server.  The all-important key would be nowhere near the server and it would self-destruct after each use.

A: What is generally done in a case like this is to put the password through a cryptographic hash function, and store the hashed password.
To verify a login, hash the provided password and compare the calculated hash to the stored version.
The idea behind this is that it is considered impossible to reverse a good cryptographic hash function. So it doesn't matter if an attacker could read the hashed passwords.
Example in Python3:
In [1]: import hashlib

In [2]: hashlib.sha256('This is a test'.encode('utf8')).hexdigest()
Out[2]: 'c7be1ed902fb8dd4d48997c6452f5d7e509fbcdbe2808b16bcf4edce4c07d14e'

In [3]: hashlib.sha256('This is a tist'.encode('utf8')).hexdigest()
Out[3]: 'f80b4162fc28f1f67d1a566da60c6c5c165838a209e89f590986333d62162cba'

In [4]: hashlib.sha256('This is a tst.'.encode('utf8')).hexdigest()
Out[4]: '1133d07c24ef5f46196ff70026b68c4fa703d25a9f12405ff5384044db4e2adf'

(for Python2, just leave out the encode.)
As you can see, even one-letter changes lead to a big change in the hash value.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The location of the find has been logged though, so I doubt it will be long before the submarine's crew head back for another attempt to retrieve some of the gold/shiny metal objects.
During the Russian Revolution and subsequent Russian Civil War huge quantities of the former Tsar's fortune went missing across Russia. More than 1,600 tonnes of gold was allegedly in the possession of White leader Admiral Kolchak, and legend has it that the gold was lost as his men tried to transport it across a frozen Lake Baikal.
One version of the story is that his men lost their way as they tried to navigate the ice, and froze to death. When the ice melted, of course, the gold sank into the lake's deep waters.
The more widely accepted version of events is that the gold was being transported across the frozen lake in a train (after all, 1,600 tonnes is a lot to carry!). This isn't quite as fanciful an idea as it sounds – the ice on Baikal is very thick during the winter and it was quite common for temporary rail lines to be laid across the ice, particularly during times of war. However, occasionally, the ice would collapse under the weight of a train, leading to disaster, and it appears that this may be what happened to one of Kolchak's trains.
Until now, the stories of lost gold at the bottom of Lake Baikal have been little more than legends. Sceptics have been quite sensibly telling people for years that the gold was probably shipped over to Japan and used to buy military equipment to support the White armies in their Russian Civil War fight against the Red Army. But their version of the tale has been dealt a blow by the Mir submarine's discovery.
Next story BBC Russian to be closed?


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Archive for May 2007
4 abducted in North Cotabato freed
By Joel Guinto, Jeoffrey Maitem, Edwin Fernandez
INQUIRER.net, Mindanao Bureau
Last updated 07:17pm (Mla time) 05/31/2007
COTABATO CITY — The biggest Muslim rebel group in Mindanao has announced the rescue of four people — one foreigner and three Filipinos — who were seized by unidentified armed group in a remote village in the province of North Cotabato earlier in the day.
The military reported initially that the four victims were all "Caucasians," which Major General Ben Dolorfino, chairman of the government side of the Ad-Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG), corrected later in the day.
Eid Kabalu, spokesman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said the suspects, believed to be members of a local kidnap-for-ransom gang, were cornered by MILF forces under Commander Moti in the interior of Barangay (village) Batolawan in Pikit town around 3 p.m.
"Because of our order to neutralize the suspects, they were forced to abandon the victims," Kabalu said.
Dolorfino said "cattle rustlers", led by a certain Datucan, were behind the abduction.
Dolorfino said the bandits tried to charge "board and lodging" from their victims, but eventually agreed to release them after MILF forces fired an RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) at them.
The four will stay at an MILF camp in Parang town, Maguindanao province overnight, Dolorfino said.
On Friday, the MILF's Bangsamoro Islamic Forces would turn over the group to the International Monitoring Team (IMT), who will later turn them over to government security forces, the official added.
Kabalu said it was good that the kidnappers entered an MILF territory because it became easier for their forces to launch the rescue operation.
"They erred in entering our area of responsibility," Kabalu said.
Kabalu did not identify the victims but the owner of the van they rented out from Davao City said the male Caucasian was Thomas Wallraf, a German national.
Roselyn Timbal, owner of the Nissan van with plate number YDN 826, said Wallraf rented the van on Wednesday and told her he was going to Cotabato.
She said Wallraf was with two other persons, both Indian nationals.
But Colonel Pedro Soria, commander of the Army's 602nd Infantry Brigade, the main military unit who pursued the kidnappers, said Wallraf, whom he identified first as Thomas Wallrat, was with another Caucasian identified as Sharon Jackson. It was not clear what Jackson's nationality was.
Dolorfino, who works with the government peace panel, said there was only one Caucasian and that was Wallraf.
He said the three others were Filipino, including Walraf's wife, whom he did not identify.
Soria gave the names of the other victims as Consuela San Juan and a Diego Delfin.
Timbal said the Delfin in the report was Diego Narisma, who drove the van.
Police and military authorities said investigation was still being conducted to determine what Wallraf's business was in going to Pikit.
But Timbal said Wallraf told them that he was going to meet somebody about treasure hunting.
"He was a treasure hunter," she told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone.
A military official also told the Inquirer, parent company of INQUIRER.net, that Wallraf went to Pikit to look for nickel babbitt, which reportedly fetches a high price in the international blackmarket.
Timbal has initially said that Wallraf and his companions left Davao City on Wednesday evening but said later that they went to Pikit on Thursday morning.
Authorities initially reported that the victims were all foreigners and that they were seized in Barangay Batolawan.
"The suspects tied up the victims before forcing them away," Major Randolph Cabangbang, spokesman of the military's Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom), said.
Lieutenant Colonel Julieto Ando, spokesman of the Army's 6th Infantry Division, said the armed men were aboard several motorcycles.
"Police and military personnel were dispatched to the area to look for the victims," Ando said.
Mayor Sumulong Sultan said he was happy that the victims had been rescued.
The victims will be handed over to the government by the MILF peace panel today after spending the night in an MILF camp near this city.
He said it could have been a major headache for officials had the victims remained in the hands of the kidnappers.
But Kabalu said they became positive that the victims would be freed when they learned that the kidnappers were entering an MILF territory.
"The MILF chair [Murad Ebrahim] has ordered our troops on the ground to help track down the suspects," Kabalu had told DXMS radio.
The MILF, which is talking peace with the government, has pledged to cooperate with the government in anti-terror and anti-crime operation.
Kabalu said the MILF wanted to prevent any situation from becoming complicated because it would put the peace process in jeopardy.
In past kidnapping incidents, the military had linked the MILF and launched operation against the rebels.
"Things like this one will destroy the peace process, we will not allow this to happen under our noses," Kabalu said.
Aside from the MILF, other Moro armed groups blamed for incidents of kidnapping in Central Mindanao also included the Pentagon kidnap gang.
The Pentagon gang, composed of former Moro rebels, gained notoriety when it started abducting Italian missionaries in the early '90s.
The group, collectively controlled by at least five leaders including Alonto Tahir, was also involved in the 2001 abduction of five Chinese engineers from a government irrigation project in Carmen, North Cotabato.
Four of the engineers were killed during a botched military operation, while the Pentagon continued its activities.
Originally posted at 1:24pm
Thu+00:002007-05-31T09:01:24+00:00+00:0005b+00:00Thu, 31 May 2007 09:01:24 +0000 22, 2006 at 12:45 am05
Ex-Garcillano aides moved to anti-narcotics agency–sources
MANILA, Philippines — Army Captain Valentino Lopez, a former aide of ex-elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano, one of the alleged architects of fraud that marred the 2004 elections, has been given a new assignment at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), three independent sources have confirmed.
One of the three officials, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity, said another ex-Garcillano aide, Captain Marlon Mendoza, has also been transferred to PDEA although the two other officials could not confirm this.
Lopez had allegedly tried to bribe a Commission on Elections (Comelec) official in Western Mindanao with P50 million to ensure the victories of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and a Zamboanga mayoralty bet.
A military fact-finding board that looked into the alleged involvement of its officials into the 2004 cheating controversy recommended that Lopez undergo "further investigation."
Mendoza had testified before a Senate investigation in August 2005 that Garcillano had bragged during a drinking spree that an alleged operator of the illegal numbers game "jueteng" contributed P300 million to Arroyo's campaign kitty.
Mendoza is facing court martial for allegedly faking P8 million worth of Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) identification cards.
The first source said Lopez was assigned with the PDEA's complaint reaction unit. The second source confirmed this, saying Lopez was involved in "information gathering." Both officials are from the PDEA, a composite team of soldiers, policemen, and intelligence agents.
"We are all facing cases. The charges have not been proven and no punishment has been imposed," the second source said, when asked why Lopez was given a post at the PDEA despite allegations linking him to election fraud.
The first source said Lopez was detailed at the PDEA shortly after former military chief Dionisio Santiago took over from ex-PDEA director general Anselmo Avenido a few months back.
Wed+00:002007-05-30T08:51:19+00:00+00:0005b+00:00Wed, 30 May 2007 08:51:19 +0000 22, 2006 at 12:45 am05
Redeployment of troops in Metro Manila sought
MANILA, Philippines — Armed Forces National Capital Region Command (NCRCom) Chief Major General Ben Dolorfino said he has recommended the redeployment of troops to urban poor communities to the Chief of Staff, General Hermogenes Esperon Jr.
In an after operations report submitted to Esperon's office on Tuesday, Dolorfino said he enumerated the many "accomplishments" of the 260 civil military operations (CMO) soldiers in their six-month stay in Metro Manila communities, including the surrender of eight self-confessed members of a terrorist "sleeper cell" last May 1.
"As far as we concerned, we see to it that we will continue or CMO activities," Dolorfino told reporters Wednesday. "Our view is we should continue our peacetime role as an active partner of local government units."
The soldiers were pulled out from 19 villages in Manila, Quezon City, and Caloocan City on the eve of the May 14 elections to erase speculations that they would be used for partisan political activities.
Dolorfino said the CMO troops have finished their refresher training and were awaiting Esperon's decision on whether they would be redeployed to the poor communities.
He said that if troops would be redeployed, they would continue the "gun-less approach" against security threats, winning the support of the people through community service projects and dialogues.
"The National Capital Region is not spared from the threats of insurgency, the terrorism so we have to do something in order to be proactive in confronting the threats," Dolorfino said.
Dolorfino said his recommendation would be reviewed by Esperon's deputies for intelligence, operations, and CMO, Rear Admiral Leonardo Calderon, Major General Jogy Fojas, and Major General Jaime Buenaflor respectively.
The six-month long deployment came under fire from left-wing militants and partylist groups, who accused soldiers of harassing their supporters.
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) also criticized the deployment, saying the deployment was reminiscent of martial law and soldiers encroached on the functions of the police and local government units.
Australia to give Philippine Army $4-M worth of airboats
MANILA, Philippines — Australia will donate 28 brand new airboats worth $4 million to the Philippine Army for use in internal security operations, as part of the new defense cooperation agreement between the two countries, which will be signed this week, officials said.
The high-speed, global positioning system-equipped watercraft, which can seat seven people, are "highly maneuverable" in shallow waters, said defense undersecretary Antonio Santos, adding that the first batch of deliveries are due September.
"[The airboats] can penetrate shallow bodies of water. It can be best used in small unit operations," Santos told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo, though he declined to say where the watercraft would be used.
"These are all brand new and this will definitely boost the capability of the army," said Ma. Joji Aragon, defense assistant secretary for strategic assessment.
The Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOFVA) will be signed during President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's two-day visit to Australia starting Wednesday, said defense undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor.
The delivery of the airboats will push through whether or not the Senate ratifies the SOFVA, as required under the Constitution, Aragon said.
Australia has also pledged to continue its training assistance for Filipino troops, worth AUS$4 million annually, Aragon said.
The post-graduate studies for the Filipino military officers are held in Canberra, Darwin, and Perth, she added.
At a joint news conference with the Philippine defense officials, Australian Ministry of Defense assistant secretary Ben Coleman said the SOVFA would pave the way for joint exercises between Filipino and Australian forces but refused to elaborate on their scale and location.
"The defense relationship we have with the Philippines is very much focused on the training, education and exchanges and the concluding of SOVFA, when that occurs, would admit us then to have exercises," Coleman said.
Coleman and the Philippine officials also refused to say whether the upcoming exercises would be held in the southern Philippines, like the Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) war games with American troops.
Asked if the SOVFA has improved on the Philippines' Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the US, particularly on the issue on the jurisdiction of foreign troops charged before local courts, Santos was evasive, saying, "I don't want to compare agreements."
In December 2006, US Marine Daniel Smith was sentenced to life imprisonment after a Makati City court convicted him of raping a Filipina at the former Subic Naval Base a year earlier.
Calls have been made to review the VFA after Smith was detained at the US Embassy in Manila, instead of a city jail, as called for under the agreement.
Aside from Australia, the Philippines is also negotiating similar defense cooperation agreements with Singapore, Brunei, and Malaysia.
($1= P45.90)
Tue+00:002007-05-29T08:58:46+00:00+00:0005b+00:00Tue, 29 May 2007 08:58:46 +0000 22, 2006 at 12:45 am05
8 soldiers wounded in NPA ambush in Aurora
MANILA, Philippines — Eight Army soldiers were wounded in an ambush by suspected communist guerillas in the northern province of Aurora on Monday evening, a regional military commander said Tuesday.
At around 6:30 p.m. Monday, some 40 soldiers on board an M35 truck were on security patrol in Dimateset village, Dilasag town, when an undetermined number of New People's Army (NPA) fighters fired at them, said Colonel Jose Kakilala, chief of the 48th Infantry Battalion.
The attack triggered a 30-minute firefight, Kakilala said in a phone interview on Tuesday, adding that the rebels suffered an undetermined number of casualties.
Five of the eight casualties on the Army side suffered minor injuries. Three others were seriously hurt and were brought to the hospital for treatment, Kakilala said.
The rebels, who have been fighting for almost four decades and walked out of peace talks with the government in 2004, launched a string of attacks in the region over the weekend.
They blew up a cell phone transmission tower in Masbate island province Saturday, and killed three soldiers and wounded three others on Sunday. Another soldier was killed and three wounded in nearby Camarines Norte province on Friday, authorities said.
The guerrillas claim to have a presence in 71 out of the Philippines' 81 provinces. A sharp rise in attacks has prompted President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to order security forces to cut the 7,000-strong guerrillas force in half by 2010.
The rebels walked away from Norwegian-brokered peace talks in 2004 after accusing the government of instigating their inclusion on US and European lists of terrorist groups.
With a report from AP; Originally posted at 12:02pm
RP-Australia finalize defense pact, 'ready for signing'
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and Australia have finalized their first ever defense cooperation agreement, that will pave the way for joint training between the two countries' military forces.
The Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) is "ready for signing," according to a statement from the Department of National Defense (DND). The department did not say exactly when the agreement would be signed.
The DND said the SOVFA would provide a "comprehensive legal framework" for cooperation between the Australian Defense Forces (ADF) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in combating "common threats."
"This agreement contains key elements such as the basis of visits, entry and departure conditions, how training and exercises are to be conducted, carriage of arms, security and criminal jurisdiction, importation and exportation regulations and environmental protection," the DND statement said.
"The SOVFA offers opportunities and benefits to the AFP in terms of education, capacity-building, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response," the statement added.
The SOVFA will be submitted to the Philippine Senate for concurrence, as prescribed in the Constitution, the DND said, adding that the pact was "fair, balanced, reciprocal, and promotes our national interests."
The Philippines is negotiating similar military pacts with neighbor countries including Singapore, Brunei, and Malaysia.
Mon+00:002007-05-28T13:32:12+00:00+00:0005b+00:00Mon, 28 May 2007 13:32:12 +0000 22, 2006 at 12:45 pm05
Sison says he's CPP chief no more, wants terror tag lifted
MANILA, Philippines — Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison has asked the Council of the European Union to remove him from its list of foreign terrorists, saying he was no longer the leader of the party and its armed wing after 20 years in exile.
Through his lawyer, Jan Fermon, the Netherlands-based Sison made the request to the council in a letter dated May 23.
Sison was responding to an Aril 23 letter by the EU council, which allegedly renewed allegations that he was a terrorist.
"I am surprised why the Council writes to me a letter recycling blatantly false allegations, which have been extensively discussed and answered in the aforesaid court," Sison said in a short note that accompanied Fermon's letter.
"I believe that the Council and member-states of the European Union are absurd for making it appear that I am a terrorist and for construing that social benefits from the Dutch government for my essential human needs [living allowance, housing, health insurance, civil liability insurance and old age pension] are financing for terrorism," he said.
The Council of the European Union placed Sison on its list of foreign terrorists in 2002, after the United States placed him in a similar list earlier that year. Sison has appealed the listing before the European Court of First Instance.
The EU listing has resulted in the freezing of Sison's joint account with his wife and the suspension of his "social living allowance" and other social benefits.
Fermon said in his letter that Sison was requesting the council to "not include or retain" his client on its terror list, and to "declare itself incompetent" to decide whether Sison should be on the list.
Sison's lawyer said he could not be the leader of the CPP, and its armed wing, the New People's Army (NPA), since he has been "separated" as its leader for a "continuous period of 29 years" following his arrest in 1977, during the Marcos dictatorship, and subsequent exile in 1988 during the Aquino presidency.
"Jose Maria Sison cannot be the leader or the head of the CPP because it is materially impossible to direct a political party in his situation of exile for more than 20 years," Fermon said.
"Jose Maria Sison denies that he is in charge of the NPA or that the NPA is linked to him," he added.
The lawyer also scored the council for "misrepresenting" Sison as an "advocate of violence," saying this was a "flagrant contradiction" to his client's role in peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the CPP's political arm, the National Democratic Front (NDF), for which Sison has served as chief political consultant.
Mon+00:002007-05-28T09:58:11+00:00+00:0005b+00:00Mon, 28 May 2007 09:58:11 +0000 22, 2006 at 12:45 am05


Location: Athens, the capital of Greece and a European capital that is both rich in history and a contemporary hub for art, international business and relations, and debate on economic, political, and migration issues.
Study-Travel: Students visit sites relevant to contemporary and historical Greece during 3 faculty-led trips each semester to the Peloponnese, Central Greece, and either Crete or Northern Greece (Thessoloniki). When students are not traveling, courses are taught at the CYA academic center in Athens or on-site.
Student Body: Approximately 100 students per semester. Since 1962, over 7,500 students from more than 370 North American colleges and universities have studied at CYA!
Faculty: Over 70 percent of CYA faculty hold doctorate degrees, and many are considered global leaders in their fields. See a complete list of our faculty, including bios and CVs, at this link.
Class Size: Language classes average around 10 students; all other classes average 15 students.
Housing: Students live in CYA apartments in the Pangrati neighborhood of central Athens. Apartments have WiFi and A/C, are furnished, and come with a common area, double and/or single rooms, an outdoor balcony, and an equipped kitchen. The safe and highly desirable neighborhood in which students live has grocery stores, cafes, bakeries, restaurants, banks, dry cleaning shops, and a weekly farmer's market, as well as many other amenities nearby. Apartments are a 2-10 minute walk from CYA classroom buildings and are centrally located to sites, monuments, and museums as well as bus, trolley and metro stops.
Meals: Lunch is provided Monday through Friday (except on field trips, holidays, and during recess).


text:
Reading & Reviewing Diverse YA Books
8 Books to Start September
Posted on 31 August, 2020 AuthorAudrey
We have eight books on our calendar that are releasing tomorrow, and there's something for everyone! Which ones are on your radar?
We Are Not Free by Traci Chee
HMH Books for Young Readers
"All around me, my friends are talking, joking, laughing. Outside is the camp, the barbed wire, the guard towers, the city, the country that hates us.
We are not free.
But we are not alone."
Fourteen teens who have grown up together in Japantown, San Francisco.
Fourteen teens who form a community and a family, as interconnected as they are conflicted.
Fourteen teens whose lives are turned upside down when over 100,000 people of Japanese ancestry are removed from their homes and forced into desolate incarceration camps.
In a world that seems determined to hate them, these young Nisei must rally together as racism and injustice threaten to pull them apart. [Image and summary via Goodreads]
Like Spilled Water by Jennie Liu
Carolrhoda Books
Nineteen-year-old Na has always lived in the shadow of her younger brother, Bao-bao, her parents' cherished son. Years ago, Na's parents left her in the countryside and went to work in the city, bringing Bao-bao along and committing everything to his education.
But when Bao-bao dies suddenly, Na realizes how little she knew him. Did he really kill himself because of a low score on China's all-important college entrance exam? Na learns that Bao-bao had many secrets and that his death may not be what it seems. Na's parents expect her to quit her vocational school and go to work, forcing Na to confront traditional expectations for and pressures on young women. — Cover image and summary via Goodreads
Wayward Witch (Brooklyn Brujas #3) by Zoraida Córdova
Rose Mortiz has always been a fixer, but lately she's been feeling lost. She has brand-new powers she doesn't understand, and her family is still trying to figure out how to function in the wake of her amnesiac father's return home. Then, on the night of her Deathday party, Rose discovers her father's memory loss has been a lie.
As she rushes to his side, the two are ambushed and pulled through a portal to the land of Adas, a fairy realm hidden in the Caribbean Sea. There, Rose is forced to work with a group of others to save Adas. Soon, she begins to discover the scope of her powers, the troubling truth about her father's past, and the sacrifices he made to save her sisters.
But if Rose wants to return home so she can repair her broken family, she must figure out how to heal Adas first. –Image and summary via Goodreads
Never Look Back by Liliam Rivera
Bloomsbury YA
Eury comes to the Bronx as a girl haunted. Haunted by losing everything in Hurricane Maria–and by an evil spirit, Ato. She fully expects the tragedy that befell her and her family in Puerto Rico to catch up with her in New York. Yet, for a time, she can almost set this fear aside, because there's this boy . . .
Pheus is a golden-voiced, bachata-singing charmer, ready to spend the summer on the beach with his friends, serenading his on-again, off-again flame. That changes when he meets Eury. All he wants is to put a smile on her face and fight off her demons. But some dangers are too powerful for even the strongest love, and as the world threatens to tear them apart, Eury and Pheus must fight for each other and their lives. — Cover image and summary via Bookshop.org
Micah: The Good Girl (Flyy Girls #2) by Ashley Woodfolk
Penguin Workshop
Micah Dupree had always liked being the "good girl." She was happy painting, going to church, and acing her school projects. After all, she had a perfect older brother to live up to. But when he unexpectedly dies, Micah's world is turned upside-down. With her anxiety growing, a serious boyfriend in the picture, and new feelings emerging, Micah begins to question what being the "good girl" really means…and if it's worth it, anyway.
With simply stated text and compelling characters, Flyy Girls is a series that's perfect for readers of any level. — Cover image and summary via Bookshop.org
Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam
Balzer & Bray/Harperteen
The story that I thought
was my life
didn't start on the day
I was born
Amal Shahid has always been an artist and a poet. But even in a diverse art school, he's seen as disruptive and unmotivated by a biased system. Then one fateful night, an altercation in a gentrifying neighborhood escalates into tragedy. "Boys just being boys" turns out to be true only when those boys are white.
The story that I think
will be my life
starts today
Suddenly, at just sixteen years old, Amal's bright future is upended: he is convicted of a crime he didn't commit and sent to prison. Despair and rage almost sink him until he turns to the refuge of his words, his art. This never should have been his story. But can he change it?
With spellbinding lyricism, award-winning author Ibi Zoboi and prison reform activist Yusef Salaam tell a moving and deeply profound story about how one boy is able to maintain his humanity and fight for the truth, in a system designed to strip him of both. — Cover image and summary via Bookshop.org
Lux: The New Girl (Flyy Girls #1) by Ashley Woodfolk
Meet the Flyy Girls. The group of girls who seem like they can get away with anything. Veteran author Ashley Woodfolk pens a gorgeous and dynamic series of four Harlem highschoolers, each facing a crossroads of friendship, family, and love.
Lux Lawson is on a spree. Ever since her dad left, she's been kicked out of every school that would take her, and this is her last chance: Harlem's Augusta Savage School of the Arts. If this doesn't work, Lux is off to military school, no questions asked. That means no more acting out, no more fights, and definitely no boyfriends. Focus on her photography, and make nice friends. That's the deal.
Enter the Flyy Girls, three students who have it all together. The type of girls Lux needs to be friends with to stay out of trouble. And after charming her way into the group, Lux feels she's on the right track. But every group has their secrets, including Lux. And when the past starts catching up with her, can she keep her place as a Flyy Girl?
In this searing series opener, Lux takes center stage as she figures out just how hard it can be to start over.
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
A trans boy determined to prove his gender to his traditional Latinx family summons a ghost who refuses to leave in Aiden Thomas's paranormal YA debut Cemetery Boys, described by Entertainment Weekly as groundbreaking.
Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can't get rid of him.
When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his true gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free.
However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school's resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. He's determined to find out what happened and tie off some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian, so that they can both get what they want. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants to let him leave. — Cover image and summary via Bookshop.org
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