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I'm delighted to discover that a faithful reader of this blog is a neighbor in the city, chair of our co-op lobby decorating committee, with whom I am privileged to serve on the board.
I just wanted to tell you (and I bet your wonderful decorator knows this, too, and probably better than I) those 'acorn' lamps as you call them are either electrified originals or electrified copies of 18th century night lights.
Originally, they were hung at the bottom of stair cases or in hallways leading to bedrooms. They were hung on chains so the lamp could be raised and lowered which made them accessible for cleaning and filling them partially with lamp or whale oil which would almost burn away by dawn. There would be a floating wick which would be lit. They were meant to be both decorative and practical.
The most famous of these night lights in the Hudson River Valley is at Boscobel. It is cobalt blue, and hung at the foot of the stairs. A photo is attached.


At Northpoint Church we are striving to become the kind of church described in the Bible, where there is Biblical, Christ-focused teaching, passionate worship, compassionate care for one another, constant prayer, joy and laughter as we connect with our community through the love and hope of Christ.
We GATHER to worship, to pray, to develop community and to be equipped for service.
We GROW through the teaching of the Word of God.
We GO out of the church doors to proclaim the love and hope of Christ to those we rub shoulders with from day to day in our community and also with those He sends us to across the world.
We are so glad you found us and we look forward to meeting you.
Brian, Sallie & the NPC Team.


I'm not sure there's anyone who'd turn down getting six-pack abs. The main reason we don't all have rippling muscles though is that most of us can't be bothered by putting in the effort. It's not easy getting abs; if it was we'd all be models!
Here are 5 smart hacks to getting six-pack abs quickly. Trust me, it'll be worth it!
You might be thinking that your body is in fine shape, and no way do you need to diet, but hear me out. Your diet will be responsible for 80% of your six-pack success.
I'm not saying you need to be opting for the salad rather than a hearty meal, but if you want those abs to show you're going to need to think a bit more about what you're putting into your body.
First off, if you want a six-pack, you need your abs to show. You might want to lay off the beer and alcohol a bit as they contain a whole load of calories and not ones your body is going to use.
The last thing you want is a beer belly covering your six-pack. But then you'll be pleased to hear, your diet should include a lot of protein, which if you're a meat lover, is good news.
Steer clear of processed meats though, as they're full of bad fats and will ultimately sabotage your progress. Good quality cuts of meat are what you want. Think of it as an excuse to eat like a King.
Your body needs protein and fat to fuel your muscles; it's not all about carbs. If you're a vegetarian or just not a big fan of meat, there are lots of other ways you can include protein in your diet. Eggs are a good source.
You might have seen Rocky Balboa downing a cup of raw eggs, something a lot of athletes partake in, but you don't have to go quite that far. However you like them, eggs are sure to give you a good amount of protein. Or there's always soy products for the vegans. Or even a classic protein shake.
Carbs are important too of course, but in moderation. You want to make sure you're eating enough carbs to give you energy for activity, but not so much that they weigh you down.
Only eat what you feel you need, and be careful because it's easy to overindulge. So pasta, rice, bread, they're all great for your journey to a six-pack, but only in moderation.
Remember a balanced diet is what you want. Throw in some fruit and vegetables for vitamins and antioxidants. If you want to look good, you've got to feel good and have your body and health in top shape.
Six-packs are essentially a sign of fitness, so if you want one, you can't really get away without doing any exercise. A lot of people tend to focus on core workouts and weight lifting, which of course build up your muscles, but there's a better way of doing it.
Cardio workouts increase your overall fitness, stamina and work a bunch of muscles at the same time. Things like running, hopping onto a rowing machine for 10 minutes every now and then, swimming and even circuits are all better options than simply weight lifting.
You'll be working everything at once. Some people find cardio harder, and to be fair, it can be challenging. But it's worth every second of pushing yourself for the outcome.
You'll have great abs in no time. But at this point, it's not even just about the six-pack. You'll feel great about yourself, finding a sense of achievement from your efforts, and you're bound to become more confident.
This tip isn't so much about your body, but more your mind. There are a few different ways you can track your progress. There are apps that can help you see how far you've come and even help you along the way.
It can be as simple as typing 'six-pack' into the app store and finding an app that suits you. Or if you want a more visual record of your progress, you could take pictures every now and then of how your abs are looking.
It might sound a bit strange to have a lot of pictures of yourself, but you'll definitely be able to see yourself and your body improving. You'll also then have a before and after shot to show people if you feel like sharing! Like I said, this doesn't directly help you get great abs, but by being able to see progress, and have evidence of your improvements, you'll feel more motivated to carry on with your efforts.
One of the biggest reasons people give up with fitness goals is because they don't feel like they're getting anywhere. By having evidence of how far you've come, you'll see that it is actually worth the effort you're putting in. You'll notice progress that might otherwise have gone unnoticed, and you'll be more likely to stick with it.
Water is easily forgotten when focusing on your diet and exercise, but it's actually one of the most important things you need to remember. However well you're eating, and however much exercise you're doing, you're not going to get anywhere (apart from perhaps the hospital) if you don't drink enough water.
Our bodies are made up of 60% water, so it's a vital part of our well-being. Even more so when you're actively trying to improve your fitness. What most people forget is that we're supposed to drink 8 cups of water each day.
Admittedly most of us don't, but if you're training your body to get those abs, then you're going to need to be drinking a lot. By making sure you're hydrated, you'll be able to perform to your full potential.
When we exercise we sweat out a lot of water, so it's important to make sure we replace that water. Otherwise the results are an inability to carry on progressing towards your goal, and dehydration, which really isn't pleasant.
It's even been found that those that drink more water have a higher metabolism, and as a result, lose weight more easily. The less fat you have gathering around your waist line, the more defined your six-pack is likely to become.
Sounds like a ridiculous subheading to have in an article about six-packs right? But this is another one that's more about being in a good state of mind. Some days you just can't find the motivation to get out there and do the exercise you need to reach your six-pack goal, or the will power to lay off that candy bar or beer you've got in the fridge.
Put on your sporty clothes and I guarantee that in no time you'll be feeling a bit more optimistic about that run in the park. Sometimes, to feel the part, you've got to look the part!
If you spend all weekend in your pajamas or cozy clothes (which let's face it, is easy to do), the chances are that you're not going to feel like getting up and doing anything.
A huge part of getting yourself a six-pack is being in the right mindset. You've got to want it, and you've got to want to put the effort in. There's no shame in having days where you just don't feel like it, but the challenge is persuading yourself to get moving anyway.
A good set of gym clothes, or pair of running shoes, can really help motivate you. You might think I'm just coming up with any old excuse to go shopping, but think of it this way, if you've just bought yourself a new pair of shoes, you'll feel guilty if you don't use them.
Something we all have in common is that if we buy something, we want to get our money's worth. Put that to good use, and let your new shoes, or gym outfit, persuade you to do a workout. Your PJs will always be waiting for you when you get back!


text:
Using calcium carbonate whiskers as papermaking filler
Chen, X., Qian, X., and An, X. (2011). "Using calcium carbonate whiskers as papermaking filler," BioRes. 6(3), 2435-2447.
Whiskers, having large length/diameter ratio, are fiber-shaped single crystals. The technical possibility of using calcium carbonate whiskers as papermaking filler to replace conventional powder-like calcium carbonate was investigated. The results showed that it may be feasible to use calcium carbonate whisker as papermaking filler. Compared with conventional precipitated calcium carbonate, calcium carbonate whisker had higher retention efficiency. The use of calcium carbonate whisker also favorably affected the strength properties of paper sheets. A model was proposed to suggest the mechanism for paper strength improvement. The whiskers filled in paper sheets could increase the friction between fibers, thus increasing bonding strength. Moreover, the strength properties of paper were further improved because calcium carbonate whiskers were partly embedded in pulp fiber walls.
Xiaoyu Chen, Xueren Qian,* and Xianhui An
Keywords: Calcium carbonate whiskers; Fillers; Paper strength
Contact information: Key Laboratory of Bio-based Material Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150040, P. R China; *Corresponding author: qianxueren@yahoo.com.cn
Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) has become the dominant filler in the production of wood-free uncoated paper and coating base stock (Laufmann and Forsblom 2000). Substituting part of fibers in paper stock with CaCO3 fillers has been practiced for more than ten decades. Using calcium carbonate fillers has the following benefits (Zhao et al. 2005):
It protects the environment through supplementing virgin fibers.
It increases paper production capacity without the addition of extra pulping capacity.
It reduces operating costs associated with paper production.
It improves paper properties, such as brightness, opacity, gloss, porosity, and printability.
It enhances the quality of most paper grades.
However, two problems are usually associated with the use of fillers. First, filler particles added to fibers suspended in water are not easily retained in the forming sheet, because they are often too small to be entrapped mechanically and because filler particles and fibers are negatively charged, so they repel each other. Second, filler particles can interfere with the fiber-fiber bonding; therefore the tensile strength of the filled paper suffers (Al-Mehbad 2004).The addition of CaCO3 filler beyond a certain level will cause some problems, such as reduced paper strength and stiffness, increased size demand, abrasion, and dusting (Hu et al. 2009). So developing filler varieties that can overcome these problems has become a global interest.
Several approaches have been explored to increase CaCO3 filler content without obvious detriment to paper quality. Gill (1991) modified the surface of precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) filler to improve filler-fiber bonding using epichlorohydrin and polyamino-amide or polyamine. Middleton et al. (2003) loaded PCC particles into the lumens of softwood bleached kraft pulp fibers up to the level of 0.3 g filler/g fiber by pretreatment of the fibres with a cationic polyacrylamide retention aid followed by the use of elevated temperatures (75°C). The handsheet properties of pulps with lumens loaded with PCC were evaluated in terms of their potential applications in industry. Subramanian et al. (2005) prepared composites of PCC and pulp by co-precipitating calcium carbonate on pulp, and found the Scott bond strength of papers with composite filler addition was higher than that of the PCC reference paper. Zhao et al. (2005) used starch-modified PCC as papermaking filler to improve the strength of high filler content papers. Unfortunately, to date, none of these technologies have delivered a practical, broadly accepted solution for paper manufacturers.
In contrast to conventional CaCO3 fillers, calcium carbonate whiskers (CCW), have a large length/diameter ratio, consisting of fiber-shaped single crystals. Some patents disclosed that needle-like calcium carbonate filler might give better properties of paper with high bulk, brightness, opacity, and strength, as well as improved retention (Fairchild and Thatcher 2000; Kazuto et al. 2001). However, detailed studies are still scarce. In a very recent study, needle-like aragonite was synthesized using calcium hydroxide and carbon dioxide as reactants in the presence of magnesium chloride, and the physical and optical properties of the paper handsheets containing these needle-like aragonite fillers were evaluated (Hu et al. 2009). The results indicated that tensile strength, Z-direction tensile strength, and folding endurance of the paper were improved by the needle-like aragonite crystals compared to the paper using commercial PCC as filler. In this study, the retention of CCW fillers was measured, the physical and optical properties of the CCW filled paper were evaluated, and a model was proposed based on SEM, SEM-EDX analysis to suggest the mechanism of paper strength improvement.
The pulp used for making handsheets in this study was a commercial dry-lap bleached softwood kraft pulp with a beating degree of 17ºSR and an ISO brightness of 87%. Precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) fillers with an ISO brightness of 92.88% were provided by Guilin Wuhuan Industry development Co., Ltd. (Guangxi, China). Calcium carbonate whisker (CCW) fillers with an ISO brightness of 82.65% were obtained from Lucheng Jinsheng Mineral Fiber Technology Co., Ltd. (Shanghai, China). Cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM) with a molecular weight of more than 3 million and an ISO brightness of 82.57% used as retention aid was obtained from Tianjin Yongda Chemical Reagents Development Center (Tianjin, China).
Handsheets Preparation
First of all, a certain amount of commercial bleached softwood kraft pulpboard was soaked with water and beaten in a Valley beater to about 37oSR. Then, a pulp suspension was made by mixing beaten pulp with water. Next, a selected amount of filler (CCW or PCC) was added to the pulp suspension. Then 0.03% of CPAM (based on the total mass of oven-dry pulp and filler) was added to papermaking furnishes while continuing to stir. Finally, a handsheet with a pre-determined basis weight of 60g/m2 was made using tap water.
Measurement of Filler Retention
The filler retention (R) was determined by measuring the ash content of the handsheet. The determination of ash content was conducted in a muffle furnace at 575±25oC. The filler retention (R) was calculated as follows,
R (%) = [ (A-B) /{C× (1-D)}] ×100 (1)
where, A is the ash content of handsheet (%); B is the ash content of control handsheet (i.e. pulp fiber) (%); C is the amount of filler added (%); and D is the ignition loss of filler (%).
Measurement of the Physical Properties of Handsheets
The tensile and burst strengths of handsheets were measured according to the Chinese National Standards GB/T 453-2002 and GB/T 454-2002, respectively. The zero and short span (0.4 mm) tensile measurements of dry and wet strips were carried out using Pulmac's Z-Span 1000 according to TAPPI Test Methods T 231, T 273, T 276, and T 279, respectively. The brightness and opacity of handsheets were measured according to the Chinese National Standards GB/T 7974-2002 and GB/T 1543-2005 respectively. The air permeability of handsheets was measured according to the Chinese National Standard GB/T458-1989.
SEM and SEM-EDX Analysis
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and scanning electron microscope/energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDXA) was done with a FEI Quanta-200 environmental scanning electronic microscope. The specimens were coated with gold before observation and analysis.
Filler Retention
Figure 1 shows the variation of the retention of CCW and PCC fillers in paper sheets with increasing addition of filler. From Fig. 1 it is apparent that the retention of CCW was significantly higher than that of PCC at the same addition level, regardless of whether or not CPAM was being used as a retention aid. CPAM could obviously improve the retention of CCW and PCC, but was more effective for CCW. The retention of CCW and PCC increased with increasing the amount of filler added when CPAM was used as a retention aid. The peak values occurred when the fillers addition was equal to 20%. The values showed a decreasing trend beyond 20% filler addition.
Fig. 1. Relationship between filler retention and the amount of filler added
The retention of filler particles in the paper web is traditionally considered to be due to a combination of adsorption, filtration, sedimentation, and flocculation (Eklund and Lindstrom 1991). The filtration mechanism can partly explain the observed high retention of CCW. Figure 2, parts (a) and (b), shows the SEM images of PCC and CCW, respectively. The rice grain- or spindle-shaped scalenohedral PCC exhibited a major diameter of 1.5 to 1.8μm and a minor diameter of 0.2 to 0.5μm, while the needle- or rod-shaped CCW had an aspect ratio of 15 to 40 with a diameter of 0.5 to 3.0μm. Therefore, it seems reasonable that CCW showed higher retention efficiency than PCC.
Fig. 2. SEM images of PCC (a) and CCW (b)
Filler Distribution
Figure 3, parts (a) and (b), shows the SEM images of PCC and CCW in paper samples, respectively. From Fig. 3(a) it is apparent that the PCC particles in the paper sample were nearly round in shape, and they were distributed on the pulp fiber surface or filled into the gaps between pulp fibers. On the other hand, from Fig. 3(b) one can see that the CCW in the paper sample appeared as short, fine fibers, and they were distributed on the fiber surface or filled into the gap between pulp fibers or partly embedded into pulp fiber walls.
Fig. 3. SEM images of PCC-filled sample (a) and CCW sample (b)
Figures 4(a) and 4(b) show the calcium cartographies of PCC- and CCW-filled paper samples, respectively. From Fig. 4, it is apparent that the PCC filler particles were granular, while CCW were short, fibrous and had a higher length/diameter ratio.
Fig. 4. Calcium mapping of PCC- (a) and CCW-filled (b) samples
However, from Fig. 4 it is also clear that the distributions of two fillers in the paper sheets were not very uniform, and some aggregated filler clusters were observed, especially in the case of CCW. The presence of such clusters was attributed to the use of a static sheet former. The dispersion of CCW will be further researched.
Table 1 shows the energy spectrum results of PCC- and CCW-filled paper sheets. Table 1 shows that the weight and atomic fractions of calcium element in the PCC-filled paper sheet were 8.02% and 2.90% respectively, while the weight and atomic fractions of calcium element in the CCW-filled paper sheet were 8.92% and 3.25%, respectively, and the values were higher than those in PCC-filled paper sheet. This was in agreement with the observed fact that the retention of CCW was higher than that of PCC.
Table 1. Energy Spectrum Results of PCC- and CCW-filled Samples
Strength Properties
Tensile index and burst index
Figures 5 and 6 show the relationships between tensile index, burst index, and the percentage of filler in paper respectively. Both the tensile index and burst index first increased and then decreased with increasing the percentage of filler in paper. When adding a small amount of fillers, the fillers could be more evenly distributed in the fiber network, and they have little effect on the formation of hydrogen bonds between fibers. When the paper sheet is under tension, the fillers increase entanglement friction between fibers, which is beneficial for paper strength properties. However, adding large amounts of fillers will reduce the paper strength properties due to the decrease of contact area between the fibers.
Fig. 5. Relationship between tensile index and percentage of filler in paper
The tensile index and burst index of CCW-filled paper were higher than those of PCC-filled paper at the same filling level. This means that more CCW fillers may be loaded while retaining the same strength level, compared with PCC fillers. The particle size and shape of fillers are important factors in determining the strength properties of the filled paper. In general, the smaller the filler particles, the greater their negative effect on strength (Bown 1998). Smaller particles are able to prevent inter-fiber contact over a larger fraction of the available surface area (Hubbe 2004).
Fig. 6. Relationship between burst index and percentage of filler in paper
Fiber bonding number and fiber strength number
The zero/short span tensile tests of dry and wet strips were measured according to the TAPPI Test Method. This is a fast and economical method for assessing the strength of various types of papermaking pulp (Cowan 1995; Somboon and Paulapuro 2009). According to these data, the fiber bonding number and the fiber strength number were calculated with the following equations:
Figures 7 and 8 show the relationships between fiber bonding number, fiber strength number, and the percentage of filler in paper, respectively. From Figs. 7 and 8 it is apparent that the fiber bonding number of CCW- and PCC-filled papers had a similar variation trend, and both first decreased and then increased with increasing the amount of filler. The fiber bonding number of CCW-filled paper was slightly higher than that of PCC-filled paper. However, both of them were lower than the fiber bonding number of blank paper samples. The fiber strength number of CCW- and PCC-filled papers also had a similar variation trend, and both decreased with increasing the amount of filler. The fiber strength number of CCW-filled paper was also higher than that of PCC-filled paper. So we can conclude that the adverse influence of CCW on the fiber bonding number and the fiber strength number was lower than that of PCC. This is accordance to the tensile and burst strength results.
Fig. 7. Relationship between fiber bonding number and percentage of filler in paper
Fig. 8. Relationship between fiber strength number and percentage of filler in paper
Tensile fracture morphology
The fracture SEM images of PCC- and CCW-filled samples were examined as shown in Fig. 9(a) and 9(b). From Fig. 9(a) it is apparent that some whole fibers were pulled out from the PCC-filled paper matrix, while fractured fibers were not observed. This indicated that the fracture of paper was mainly due to the rupture of fiber-to-fiber bonds, not mainly due to the rupture of fiber itself. PCC may reduce the friction between fibers. From Fig. 9(b), we could see some CCW were entangled with the paper fibers, or embedded in the paper fibers. This indicated that the entanglement between CCW and paper fibers could increase the friction and bonding between fibers.
Fig. 9. Fracture of PCC-filled sample (a) and CCW-filled sample (b)
From the above results it can be concluded that PCC would significantly reduce the paper tensile and burst strength because PCC particles in handsheets interfere with the fiber-fiber bonding. Although CCW also interferes with the formation of hydrogen bonds between fibers, resulting in decreasing strength, the rate of decline in paper strength is slower for the following reasons: (1) the size of CCW is larger than that of PCC, so the number of the isolated points generated among the fibers is greatly reduced; (2) CCW having needle-like structure can twine the paper fibers together. Like the mullite needle-like crystals of cement, this twining structure will improve strength of the materials (Hu et al. 2009).
Optical Properties
The relationship between paper brightness and the percentage of filler in paper is shown in Fig. 10.
Fig. 10. Relationship between brightness and percentage of filler in paper
Obviously, the brightness of PCC-filled paper was higher than that of CCW-filled paper. This was because the brightness of CCW was 82.65% ISO, much lower than that of PCC (92.88% ISO). The lower brightness of the CCW used in this study might be related to the production method and process. The addition of the CCW used in this study had an adverse effect on the brightness of paper.
The relationship between paper opacity and the percentage of filler in paper is shown in Fig. 11. The opacity of paper increased slowly with increasing the percentage of filler in paper, and the opacity of CCW-filled paper was a little bit lower than that of PCC-filled paper.
Fig. 11. Relationship between opacity and percentage of filler in paper
Figure 12 shows the relationship between air permeability of handsheets and percentage of filler in paper.
Fig. 12. Relationship between air permeability and percentage of filler in paper
From the figure it appears that the air permeability of handsheets increased with increasing the amount of filler, and the air permeability of CCW-filled handsheets was higher than that of PCC-filled handsheets. Two possible reasons to explain these observations are as follows:
• With increasing the amount of CCW, handsheets were "supported" by whisker fillers, and became "fluffy". However, the fact which the bulk of CCW-filled handsheets was lower than that of PCC-filled handsheets negated this viewpoint.
• Owing to the special construction of CCW, with large length/diameter ratio, more voids among cellulose fibers were created.
Mechanism Model
A model was proposed to suggest the mechanism of paper strength improvement, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14. The bonding forces between CCW, PCC, and paper fibers both belong to intermolecular absorption, but there are four types of orientation between CCW and fibers as shown in Fig. 13(a): (1) CCW is distributed among fibers, (2) one end of CCW is embedded in one fiber, the other end is embedded in another fiber, (3) one end of CCW is embedded in one fiber, the other end is distributed among fibers, and (4) CCW is entirely embedded in a fiber. Although the retention of CCW in handsheets was higher than that of PCC, the strength of CCW-filled handsheet was higher than that of PCC-filled handsheets. This indicates that the strength still increased without the formation of new chemical bonds, so we can conclude that some physical effects such as friction and entanglement, different from hydrogen bonding, must exist between CCW and fibers.
In the absence of fillers, when paper was subjected to sufficient tensile force, the bonding force of fibers was overcome, and the paper ruptured. When the CCW-filled paper was likewise subjected to tensile force, the bonding force of fibers decreased, but the strength of paper increased due to the friction between fibers and the entanglement between fibers and CCW fillers. In contrast to CCW, PCC with nearly round shape hindered fiber-fiber bonding (Xu et al. 2005; de Oliveira et al. 2009) and decreased fiber-fiber contact area, as shown in Fig. 14(a). Moreover, the flocculation of PCC led to smaller fiber-fiber contact area, as shown in Fig. 14(b). When the paper was subjected to sufficient tensile force, the friction between PCC fillers and fibers was far lower than that between CCW and fibers.
As shown in Fig. 13(b), owing to the oblate and short fiberous shape, even though CCW was flocculated, the influence on fiber-fiber contact area was far less than that of the flocculated PCC. In addition, the four orientations between CCW and fibers may still occur when CCW is flocculated. In such a case, friction exists not only between fiber and filler, but also between filler and filler when paper was subjected to the tensile force, which can counteract the negative effect of CCW flocculation. So the influence of CCW flocculation on paper strength is not serious. However, the dispersion of CCW should further be investigated.
Fig. 13. Orientation of CCW (a) and CCW flocculated (b) in sheet

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Suncatcher: the road to a solar powered global transport network – video
The world is covered in more than 40m miles of road networks. What if this network could act like solar panels, and what if we could power our vehicles with the energy generated by this? In 2009, these questions formed the beginning of a vision for the future for Sten De Wit at the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research in Delft, whose ideas are being put into practice with SolaRoad.
SolaRoad is a joint effort of TNO, The province of Noord-Holland, and two industrial partners Ooms Civiel and Dynniq
Banyak and Michael Tait, theguardian.com
Fri 10 Jun 2016 06.37 EDT Last modified on Tue 6 Jun 2017 13.35 EDT


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Life imitates art for 30-something writer Carrie Bradshaw, whose firsthand experiences on the New York singles scene serve as the inspiration for her newspaper column: Sex and the City. In the first season of HBO's hit comedy series, the struggles of finding a mate are seen through the eyes of Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) and her three best friends — Samantha (Kim Cattrall), a public-relations executive who's seen (and done) it all in the bedroom; Charlotte (Kristin Davis), a hard-luck art dealer who still believes that love will conquer all; and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), a cynical corporate lawyer who may (or may not) be a pushover for romance. Chris Noth co-stars as one of Carrie's lovers, the notorious Mr. Big.
Sex and the City, Season 1
In the pilot episode of this hit comedy series, New York City sex columnist Carrie Bradshaw and her friends vow to stop worrying about finding the perfect mate--and start having sex like men. Carrie meets Mr. Big, Miranda warms up to Skipper and Samantha has a one-night-stand with a man Charlotte wouldn't sleep with on the first date.
Models and Mortals
Miranda makes the mistake of going out with a 'modelizer' (someone who is obsessed with models); Samantha chooses to go out with a modelizer and has her sexual encounter videotaped; and Carrie experiments with Derek-the-model and flirts with Mr. Big.
Bay of Married Pigs
Carrie is invited to a couple's house in the Hamptons only to be flashed by the husband, Miranda's law firm thinks she's a lesbian and Samantha gets to know her doorman better. Meanwhile, Charlotte dumps an eligible guy with the wrong china pattern.
Valley of the Twenty-something Guys
Carrie discovers the limitations of going out with a twenty-something hunk, Charlotte's boyfriend has a sexual favor to ask, and Samantha comes to the sobering realization that she'll always be older than her boy toy.
The Power of Female Sex
Carrie goes on a date with a gorgeous French architect, who shows his 'thanks' with a thousand dollars. Meanwhile, a famous painter uses Charlotte as one of his models and Skipper becomes sexually obsessed with Miranda.
Secret Sex
Carrie thinks Mr. Big is keeping her a 'secret' while Miranda discovers a sex secret about her new boyfriend. Samantha has never been discreet with anyone she's ever slept with, and Charlotte divulges her past secret love affair with a Hasidic Jew.
The Monogamists
Carrie wants a monogamous relationship with Mr. Big, while Samantha refuses to have one with her realtor. Miranda's feelings for Skipper intensify, while Charlotte is faced with her new boyfriend's sexual demands.
Three's a Crowd
Carrie discovers not only that Mr. Big was married before, but that he and his ex participated in a threesome. Meanwhile, Charlotte's boyfriend wants to add another woman to their relationship, and Miranda feels left out. Samantha finds that she has unwittingly become too involved with a married couple.
The Turtle and the Hare
Mr. Big tells Carrie he will never marry again. After a harsh dumping, Samantha tries to turn 'The Turtle' (an investor with bad breath) into a Helmut Lang-wearing catch...but realizes he's still just The Turtle. Meanwhile, Miranda introduces Charlotte to 'The Rabbit' (a vibrator), which turns Charlotte into a recluse.
The Baby Shower
A baby shower for Laney -- a wild-child-turned-soccer-mom -- gets the girls thinking about their futures. Carrie is late for her period, but unsure whether she wants her pregnancy test to be positive or negative. Charlotte is fearful she may never have the daughter for which she has been preparing her whole life.
An accidental emission has Carrie certain that she and Mr. Big will never share a bed again. The last three months have Miranda convinced she will never share a bed with any man again. A foray into tantric celibacy leaves Samantha craving old-fashioned sex, and Charlotte's boyfriend would rather be mentally balanced than sexually active.
In the Season One finale, Mr. Big introduces Carrie to his mother as his friend, causing Carrie to ponder just where their relationship is headed. Miranda breaks up with Catholic Guy because of his sexual hang-ups. Charlotte is dismayed to discover that all the fortune-tellers in the city agree on one thing--her eternal status as a single woman.
© 1998 Home Box Office, Inc.
Sex and the City, Best of Samantha
Sex and the City, Best of Miranda
Sex and the City, Sarah Jessica's Top Picks
Sex and the City, Best of Charlotte
Friends, The One With All the Guest Stars, Vol. 1
Girls, The Complete Series
Modern Family, Season 11
Sex and the City, The Complete Series
Top Comedy Shows
The Office: The Complete Series
Superstore, Season 6
Futurama, Complete Series
Mr. Mayor, Season 1
The Office, Season 2


We're in the midst of some major configurations and should be back on the air Monday.
The president's twin daughters are celebrating their 25th birthday with a trip to Argentina. Apparently their trip has caused what's known as chaos, to the point where, according to ABCNews.com, the American embassy and many Argentinian officials have strongly suggested the twins return to America. Just to repeat: Argentina, former safe-haven for Nazi war criminals, is drawing the line at the Bush twins.
If you can't describe your position in eight words or less, you don't have a position.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- By keeping all U.S. paper currency the same size and texture, the government has denied blind people meaningful access to money, a federal judge said.
U.S. District Judge James Robertson said the Treasury Department has violated the law, and he ordered the government to come up with ways for the blind to tell bills apart. He ordered them to begin working on it within 10 days. The American Council of the Blind has proposed several options, including printing bills of differing sizes, adding embossed dots or foil to the paper or using raised ink.
"Of the more than 180 countries that issue paper currency, only the United States prints bills that are identical in size and color in all their denominations," Judge Robertson wrote. "More than 100 of the other issuers vary their bills in size according to denomination, and every other issuer includes at least some features that help the visually impaired."
Government attorneys argued that forcing the Treasury Department to change the size of the bills or add texture would make it harder to prevent counterfeiting.
Judge Robertson said the government was violating the Rehabilitation Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in government programs.
"It's a landmark decision. I believe it will benefit millions of people," said Jeffrey A. Lovitky, attorney for the plaintiffs.
A Treasury spokeswoman said the department had no comment.
While doing research related to the possible sale of the kgb.com domain name, I stumbled across the Internet Archive Wayback Machine and discovered they have samples of kgb.com dating back to 1997.
KGB Report in its current online incarnation is about four years old. It began after two years of inactivity, when either the writing bug caught me again or my solitary existence in Chicago forced me to find ways to kill time.
The Wayback Machine, fortuitously enough, happened to catch what I thought was one of the best weeks of the restarted Report. I have to confess one of the reasons the week had so much stuff was that I had recycled pieces I had written for other media in the intervening years.
Any any event, take a look here. Finding it was a pleasant surprise. I hope you also enjoy it.
I snagged the kgb.com domain name in 1993, about a month after CERN announced the World Wide Web would be free and when there were only about 130 web sites in existence. I used it for email; the kgb.com web site didn't really appear until 1997.
Over the years, I've been asked to sell the domain name countless times. During the internet boom years of the late 90s, the offers arrived almost daily. I still get about two or three e-mails a month, mostly from idiots offering $100. Really, guys. Even the most mundane three letter domain name deserves more than that. The few truly serious callers made offers of several thousand dollars or so, but not enough to exceed its appraised value or tempt me to sell it.
But about a week or so ago I started getting calls from a legitimate source who incrementally boosted their offer closer to my original stated price.
Well, yesterday they agreed to pay what I asked, and now I'm faced with a dilemma: do I really, really want to sell?
kgb.com has been around for a long time. It's an easy to remember name, and my email address- kgb@kgbreport.com- is well nigh unforgettable.
Still, the rational businessman part of me says to take the cash. It's significantly more than the appraisals I've received over the years, and it's not like "the" KGB is going to become more well-known. Sure, everytime someone like Alexander Litvinenko makes the news, I get a bump in traffic; but the KGB's been defunct now for 15 years and, frankly, I can do without the 300,000+ pieces of spam that land at kgb.com every year and all of the Boris and Natasha hoo-hah.
Truth be told, I've anticipated this for a while. I've had the kgbreport.com domain name in reserve and pointed at kgb.com for just such an event.
But it's still kind of hard to give it up. Perhaps, as my minister says, it's time to let go of the banana.
Your comments are appreciated. In the meantime, I need to get a couple hours' sleep.
I first suspected I was in trouble early Wednesday evening went I felt a slight twinge from the broken tooth. Early Thanksgiving morning the pain woke me up.
Let me tell you why dentists are generally not very popular. I spent most of Thursday morning calling dentists in the Yellow Pages who had special emergency phone numbers listed in their advertisements, generally beneath a quote along the lines of "We're here for you" and "We care!" Those phone numbers did not connect to caring humans who were there for me, but to answering machines which provided pager numbers to call. Those who did respond to my calls to their pagers informed me that it was Thanksgiving and that I should know they had better things to do and to call their offices Monday morning, when they would try to squeeze me in sometime during the week. I apologized for bothering each of them, offering as my only excuse that my otherwise sound judgment was impaired by excruciating pain.
At 2 am Friday morning I awoke with a face that was throbbing and beginning to swell.
The roots of the upper molar teeth are often located in the maxillary sinuses. If a tooth abscess generates pus, then a tooth abscess complication can be the sinus filling up with pus. Another serious problem is coma from septicemia of the brain. The brain is only about three inches from the tooth roots and a dental infection from a tooth abscess can spread to the brain through the veins in the head.
Endocarditis can also be a tooth abscess complication. Endocarditis is the inflammation of the inside of the heart and can be caused by bacteria from a tooth abscess. The bacteria attach to the inside of the heart, grow and can damage the heart permanently. If the bacteria enter the lungs, they can cause pneumonia.
The most serious worry is death. If a tooth abscess if left untreated it can grow and spread through the soft tissue of the face and cause dramatic outward facial swelling called cellulitis. If the swelling grows under the jaw it can cause Ludwig's angina, block off the airway and suffocate the patient.
Septicemia of the brain? Endocarditis?? Pneumonia??? Death????!
If you are concerned about tooth abscess complications and would like to consult with Dr. Xxxxx, make an appointment at xxxxxx.
Which, of course, was an answering machine wishing me a happy Thanksgiving weekend and suggesting I call Monday morning for an appointment. Death is serious, but so are four day weekends.
The oral surgeon then told me I shouldn't have let my condition proceed to such a severe state, and that I should have contacted a dentist. Emboldened by the dilaudid, I asked him, "And how many hours were you scheduled in your office between Wednesday night and Monday morning, Skippy?" Sanctimonious twit.
The balance of the weekend was spent watching the gradual reduction of the swelling. The oral surgeon didn't drain the abscess while I was in the hospital on Friday because that would have meant booking the OR, which, one assumes, would have been decidedly inconvenient.
So my record of not missing a KGB Report post since January 1, 2006 was broken, and there was no National Temperature Index on Friday, the first time since January 9, 2003, even though during that period I had travelled over 100,000 miles across two continents and nine time zones.


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Previous PostPrevious Big Details on Splash Mountain 'Princess and the Frog' Re-Theme Storyline
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Shanghai Disneyland
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BREAKING: Splash Mountain Gets a Closing DATE in Disney World
By Samantha Kendall
There are some MAJOR changes coming to Disney World and Disneyland over the next few years.
Splash Mountain in Magic Kingdom
EPCOT is currently going through a massive transformation, and over at Disneyland Resort, Mickey's ToonTown is going through renovations and will be "reimagined." One of the BIGGEST updates we've been waiting for is when Splash Mountain will close to be rethemed in Disney World and Disneyland — and now, we FINALLY have an answer!
Disney just announced that Splash Mountain will be closing in Disney World on January 23rd, 2023! That means your last day to ride in the current iteration will be January 22nd, 2023. Currently, there is no closing date for Disneyland. This closure will be a long one, as work will begin to make the ride into Tiana's Bayou Adventure, which is set to open in late 2024.
Back in 2020, Disney announced that Splash Mountain would be rethemed after The Princess and the Frog, and we later found out that the new attraction would be called Tiana's Bayou Adventure.
At a media event, we also got details on a new scene for the ride, including concept art! On the attraction, you'll join Princess Tiana and the alligator Louis in preparing to host a celebration for the people of New Orleans. The concept art is from the first drop into the bayou, where you'll encounter some new and recognizable critters. The scene will also feature zydeco music, a blend of rhythm and blues from Louisiana. You can read even MORE details on the new scene here!
A first look at a new scene and some of the brand-new characters coming to Tiana's Bayou Adventure. Tiana's Bayou Adventure, coming to Magic Kingdom Park, Lake Buena Vista, Fla. and Disneyland Park, Anaheim, Calif., in 2024, will take guests on a musical adventure inspired by the beloved story and characters from the fan-favorite film. (Disney)
So, be sure you head to Disney World before January 23rd, 2023 to ride Splash Mountain before it's gone.
Princess and the Frog Re-Theme Concept Art for Splash Mountain ©Disney
Be sure to stay tuned to AllEars for the latest Disney news and more!
Disney Insider Reveals Details on Splash Mountain Retheme
What do you think of the new details for Tiana's Bayou Adventure? Let us know in the comments!
Disclosure: We were invited by Disney to attend a media event for Tiana's Bayou Adventure. This did not affect our reporting of the event — our opinions are our own.
CategoriesDisneyland Resort, Magic Kingdom, News, Planning, Walt Disney World Tagsattractions, disney construction, disney news, disney world, Princess and the Frog, Splash Mountain, splash mountain closed, Splash Mountain Closure, splash mountain retheme, tiana's bayou adventure, wdw-featured


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Man killed in Aurora shooting
By Shelly Bradbury | sbradbury@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
A man was fatally shot early Sunday in Aurora.
Officers found the man, who has not been identified, lying in the street in the 11000 block of East Colfax Street shortly after midnight. The man had been shot in his upper body, according to Aurora police.
Hawaii shooting: Homes burn after shooter kills 2 Honolulu officers
Two shot at Hampden apartment complex in Denver
He was taken to a hospital and died at about 6 a.m. Police are investigating the incident as a homicide.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Aurora police at 303-739-6090.
Aurora Police Department
East Colfax
Shelly Bradbury
Shelly Bradbury is a breaking news reporter who joined The Denver Post in November 2019. She previously worked as a crime reporter at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in Pennsylvania and the Chattanooga Times Free Press in Tennessee. She's been a reporter since 2012, focused on criminal justice, breaking news and enterprise. In Pittsburgh, she helped the newspaper earn the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news after a mass shooting at a local synagogue.
Follow Shelly Bradbury	@shellybradbury


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Global trade wars: Mapping the impact on industrial companies
The introduction of trade tariffs on steel and aluminium imports by the United States government has caused unrest in global trade. The world's three biggest economies – US, EU and China – have been at the epicentre of this rift. After China, exemptions were lifted on 1 June on other trade allies – Canada, the EU, Mexico and South Korea –bringing them under the scope of import duties on steel and aluminium.
Trade tensions between the US and China had only just simmered down after months of negotiations and threats from both sides (the countries reached a "temporary truce" and the dragon nation agreed to "substantially reduce" its trade deficit with America). Now, the threats of a global trade war have resurfaced – with Canada, the EU and Mexico all in retaliatory mode. The EU has proposed imposing 25% tariffs on US motorcycles, denim, cigarettes, cranberry juice and peanut butter, among other products. It has told the WTO that it plans to impose countermeasures affecting goods worth almost $3.5 billion; and if approved by the 28 member states, the sanctions could come into effect this month. Canada, the largest steel and aluminium supplier to the US, has proposed tariffs which amount to $12.8 billion on US imports including whiskey, orange juice, steel and aluminium. Mexico has also said it will impose tariffs on US farm and industrial products.
"It's entirely up to US authorities whether they want to enter into a trade conflict with their biggest partner, Europe." Bruno Le Maire, Finance Minister, France
Regardless of whether it escalates into a full-scale global trade war or not, these trade tariffs will affect many industries. In this article, we analyse the impacts and suggest mitigation strategies for companies to reduce it.
The impact on industrials
The US has levied an import duty of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminium. Companies in the US that use steel and aluminium as a raw material, especially players that rely heavily on imports of these metals, will naturally be most affected. Based on our research, the following industries will feel the greatest impact:
The impact on companies in industrials can be clustered into three brackets:
The threat to supply chain
Trade tariffs would further increase supply chain complexity and ultimately, costs. Buyers will seek alternate steel and aluminium suppliers locally to avoid import tariffs, but will face the challenge of finding them at competitive costs. Procuring from outside the US would also result in an increased cost due to the newly imposed tariffs. With the US importing about 32.6% of steel last year and more than 90% of primary aluminium in 2016 (of the country's total consumption), buyers are certainly looking at cost escalations.
Companies also need to rationalise other costs, such as inventory holding, without impacting production and delivery schedules. While assessing suppliers from non-exempted countries, emphasis should be on the long-term supply chain risks. It is advisable to include the impact on manufacturing and operations in case of shortage of supply, as this adds to an organisation's operational costs.
Cost of the end product
An increase in the cost of raw materials has the potential to disrupt the complete supply chain. Cost rationalisation, in this case, becomes critical for procurement. For instance, the tariffs on steel and aluminium imported from China may increase raw material costs by 2%-5%. This may not be enough to disrupt the supply chain or increase product cost. But there are also circumstances when cost escalation is hard to avoid, and the end-consumer has to bear the brunt as the product prices increase. Motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson has warned its consumers of the possibility of price increases. Retaliation from the EU in the form of tariffs on motorcycle imports would further impact the company's sales, dealers and customers.
Risk of losing market share
Industrial companies also face the risk of losing market share to the competition if they pass cost increases on to customers; and if they don't, maintaining profitability will be challenging. Take a somewhat textbook example of the duopoly between Boeing and Airbus. If Boeing increases customer pricing given the increase in raw material costs, then it will certainly lose business to its European competitor. Procurement needs to work closely with commercial and finance teams to explore all available options.
Forecast for the future
Clouds of uncertainty have been looming over global trade for some time now – from protectionism in the US under Trump, and Europe affected by Brexit – and now proposed tariffs by the US and retaliation by the EU, Canada, Mexico and (possibly) Japan. Having observed the latest developments, it is difficult to forecast whether this will escalate into a global trade war, but the possibility cannot be ruled out – it is a volatile situation.
Given the uncertainty of the global trade landscape, it has now become critical for procurement organisations to monitor closely how this affects commodity prices and the further impact on sourcing, quality and supply continuity. Procurement teams need to be prepared to adapt their category strategies in accordance with how global trade shapes up in the coming future.
Shailesh Bhadauria
Shailesh is a supply chain and procurement expert in the industrials sector. In his eleven years of working in strategy and procurement domain, he has helped clients in market entry strategy, market opportunity assessment, competitive benchmarking, supply market analysis, supply chain analysis, due diligence and supplier identification. Outside work, Shailesh spends most of his time playing with his son, swimming and going on road trips.
Industrials – What made news in 2019?
Navigating the marine intelligence market: choosing the right solution for your assets
How industrial companies can digitally supercharge their supply chains


Customers expect an easy-to-use, customizable, reliable and performant experience. Together, we will deliver a seamless, simple and secure customer experience, every time.
See why as a NetFoundry partner, we can work together to bring digital transformation to worldwide enterprises.
Instant zero trust silicon-to-cloud secured connectivity via any IP network in the IIoT community.
Accelerate your cloud migration by connecting & scaling without complex VPNs or the burden of private circuits.
Instant, zero trust, software-only mesh networks between edge nodes for unmatched IIoT agility.
Utilize our online training courses to build and enhance your practice. Gain access to a multitude of resources to help you market and sell our partnered solution offering.
Director of Azure Stack Infrastructure, Microsoft Corp.
Founder and CEO, cleverDome, Inc.


Here in the Prairies, the sky is our mountains. The enormous open canvas expanding over the flat land allows us to gaze in awe as incredible colours, textures and moods are alive in the clear air above. Fields are rich in the hues of agriculture and nature. Together as one, we are blessed to live within an environment that is truly a stunning creation of wonder and art .


Here's a dandy location for your new home on the Chain of 28 lakes! The lot is heavily timbered and faces South, and is located near the end of a dead-end road! The lot features nice sand swimming and is not close to any boat traffic patterns. Take a look today!


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Activism Bias Politics
Harvard alumni freak out after university grants fellowships to former Trump aides
College Fix Staff •September 19, 2017
Hundreds of Harvard alumni have signed their names to a letter requesting the university revoke fellowship positions granted to two former aides of President Donald Trump.
The Harvard Crimson reports more than 600 alumni of the Ivy League institution have endorsed an open letter denouncing the university's decision to name Sean Spicer and Corey Lewandowski as visiting fellows for the university's Institute of Politics. Spicer served as Trump's press secretary in the White House before resigning this summer and Lewandowski served as a campaign manager during Trump's presidential campaign.
The open letter claims the appointments of Spicer and Lewandowski "betray" the Institute's values.
From The Crimson article:
The petition, delivered Monday to University President Drew G. Faust, Kennedy School of Government Dean Douglas W. Elmendorf, and IOP staff, argues that inviting Lewandowski and Spicer to be fellows gives "intellectual and moral legitimacy – in this case, to those who have done much to degrade public discourse in this country, re-ignite white nationalism, and further reactionary policies that harm millions."
"We thought that as Alumni, Harvard reflects on us, as well," said Talia B. Lavin '12, one of the organizers of the petition. "And I think we should have a voice, and an extra responsibility to raise our voices and say, 'You know, this is not an action that is fitting of the University that I got my degree from, and that I chose.'"
The letter alleges that Spicer served as the "mouthpiece for an administration that runs counter to the values Harvard purports to embody."
"What can undergraduates learn from a man whose brief tenure in national communications began with an unabashed lie about crowd sizes, continued with an ignorant minimization of the Holocaust, dabbled in unvarnished hostility to the free press, and ended in public ignominy," the letter states.
As for Lewandowski, the letter asserts he "managed a campaign that began with racist provocation and continued with rampant misogyny."
The petitioners state they believe the Institute of Politics should include fellows with diverse ideology but believe the two former Trump aides are the wrong choices.
"But there are many who advance conservative ideals, and can enlighten students about America's geographic and ideological diversity, without serving as mouthpieces for the worst our country has to offer," the letter states.
Lewandowski and Spicer are not the only Institute of Politics visiting fellows to face criticism for their positions. Last week, Harvard rescinded a visiting fellow position awarded to intelligence leaker Chelsea Manning after two CIA officials publicly spoke out against the appointment.
Read The Crimson article.
MORE: Harvard yanks Chelsea Manning out of fellowship after second CIA snub


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events / saturday night author fever
Saturday Night Author Fever #8 with Jay E. Tria
July 15, 2017 August 15, 2017 Olivia ChanelLeave a comment
Hi everyone and welcome to my interview series Saturday Night Author Fever, where I interview authors with a bit of a 70s music and diversity theme. I personally love 70s music, especially disco music, and sometimes on Friday nights when no one is looking you can find me dancing to classic 70s songs such as September, Bennie and the Jets and We Are Family. However, books are my true passion and because of this, I thought it would be a great idea to mix my two loves and start this interview series. The questions will be similar every week, but with a new author every time, and I hope you'll enjoy the answers as much as I have. Now let's get this party started!
(gif source)*
This Saturday Night we welcome Jay E. Tria. Thank you so much for sitting down with me today in my galaxy of books.
Jay, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your books? What do you think about 70s music?
Hi, my name is Jay E. Tria. I'm an author born and bred and living in the Philippines. I like walking and flying (via plane, no wings), so I try to do those as often as I can. I am a proud and grateful member of #romanceclass, a community of Filipino authors and readers. I write contemporary romance, these days mostly about Pinoy indie rock boys and girls and a Japanese idol. I've written YA too, a Japanese high school romance where I poured out all my J-dorama/manga dork feels. Also YA urban fantasy, about a beautiful ghost haunting the best friend she left behind.
I think 70s music is funky and bright and edgy and is the perfect soundtrack to get people up and dancing. My parents are fans of this music era, so I have fond memories of waking up every Sunday hating that the radio is so loud and that the songs are so big but eventually getting into the vibe and learning all the lyrics.
When did you feel like this is it, I'm an author whose words are going to be read by, and have an impact on, others?
The feeling that my words were going to be read hit me the hardest when it actually happened. I published a book and people started reading it, and telling me they've read it, which is this strange, complex mixture of dread and excitement and fear and joy and panicky anticipation. The thought of having an impact on others is something I don't like to dwell on, at least while in the process of creating the thing. It will just crowd and mess up my already messy headspace. But I realize it is true, to a certain extent, to a wider extent than I want to think too much about, and in different ways. Because words are powerful, and I have a responsibility to them.
What do you want your readers to take with them after having read your books?
If they're not from where I am, I hope they get to see a glimpse of life in the Philippines as I know it, as I've seen and lived it, and as I idealize parts and pieces of it to be. I love where I come from, grit and history and present woes included, and it's great when someone from elsewhere reads and appreciates a few hundred pages of stories set here.
Generally though I just want readers to feel all the things, and maybe talk to me about these characters. Because that is essentially the first motivation. There are these characters talking and living inside my head and telling me things and making me look closely into issues I need to dive into and try and make sense of—personal ones or bigger—and I need to let them out and maybe discuss them with others lest I go crazy haha.
What does the future look like for you, Jay? Future projects, releases etc.?
I have two completed manuscripts. One is younger boy in his 20s-older girl in her 30s, I-just-met-you, travel-themed romance. They cross Philippine cities and walk around the colorful streets of Seoul. I wrote it for a #romanceclass workshop and I'm waiting for what happens next. Hopefully I'll have news to share soon.
The other is set in the universe I am continually building, and this one is mine, and it is important to me in a different way than the other books. Which is probably why I'm having trouble letting it go haha. But I will really really soon. In the meantime, maybe read what I have so far of the Playlist series? Thank you.
If one (or several) of your characters got invited to a 70s-themed party, what would they wear and what song and/or person would bring them to the dance floor?
Kim is a character in my Playlist series. He is the de facto leader of indie rock band Trainman, so he's the big brother of the group and therefore is a bit serious and sometimes grumpy because he keeps the music and his bandmates and all their crazy grounded. He likes to dance though, especially when drunk. He'd come to the party in dressed low key like 70s era George Harrison, a suit jacket over a turtleneck with properly fitting pants. Then he'd make a party of everything from Stayin' Alive to Bohemian Rhapsody to You're So Vain to Killing Me Softly. He'd rock all those hits out, shifts in tempo and sing-alongs included. You'd want to be part of that party, I promise you.
You can easily look back at the 70s and see how the times have changed. If you look at the book community and publishing world today, what changes would you like to see for the future?
We say this a lot, but more representation, definitely. There are still so, so many stories to write and from so many different perspectives. It's overwhelming and outstanding and just really amazing. Given that, I hope these diverse reads will get a wider reach, which is very possible given e-books and how the world is interconnected though the barriers to entry are still there, the gate keepers still stand guard. But I think we're getting there. We're just not going to stop writing and reading and talking about these books, and we're going to keep watching out for people like you, and blogs like yours that support what we do.
Jay, can you recommend two already published diverse books you've read and loved and one you can't wait to read?
Feels Like Summer by Six delos Reyes and Before I Lose My Nerve—a poetry book—by Layla Tanjutco. I can't wait to finally finally read Waiting in the Wings by Tara Frejas. It was live read by three talented, beautiful theater actors just recently in one of our #romanceclass events, and well, sharing the links here so I can share the feels.
Lastly, to end this interview, do you have a favorite 70s song to recommend your readers?
I can never pick just the one song. I got it down to three, okay? Hotel California by Eagles, for when you want to karaoke rock out. My Sharona by the Knack, for when you want to dance like you don't care who sees (and you really shouldn't). How Deep is Your Love by the BeeGees, for everything else, because that song feels like a summer sunset or a hug or a molten lava cake; it's just some kind of perfect.
Thank you so much, Jay, for answering my questions. I hope you readers enjoyed this interview, I know I did! Eager to find out more about Jay E. Tria? All information about her and her books can be found on her website. You can also find her on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Goodreads and buy her books on Amazon.
Jay E. Tria is inspired by daydreams, celebrity crushes, a childhood fascination of Japanese drama and manga, and an incessant itch to travel. She writes contemporary young adult and new adult romance. Sometimes, paranormal fantasy too. Visit her website at www.jayetria.com.
Since I promised a very 70s music-themed interview series, I have one last surprise, a favorite 70s song of mine (and there will be a new one every week yay). Now let's get those dance moves on, here's He's The Greatest Dancer by Sister Sledge.
Do you want to listen to all of the songs from my Saturday Night Author Fever interview series?
To make things easier I have created a Spotify playlist that features all of the songs mentioned in my Saturday Night Author Fever posts. You can check out the playlist below or go here. Every time a new interview is published new songs will be added to it.
Thank you so much for tuning in this Saturday, what did you think of the interview and the music? Let me know in the comments below or on my Twitter!
*Thank you to the lovely Claribel Ortega for the gifs used in this blog series. You have to follow her on Twitter and check out her website here.
author interview, book bloggers, book blogs, bookish, books, diverse book bloggers, diversity, interview, Interviews, jay e. tria, romance, saturday night author fever, we need diverse books
ARC Review of Fragile Chaos by Amber R. Duell
ARC Review of Bearly a Lady by Cassandra Khaw


Facilitates the payroll authorization for policy deduction and/or changes for government employees and retirees.
Approved time off to have a baby.
To provide college and university students with the opportunity to take part in a structured work-to-learn programme for a period of up to five (5) weeks to translate academic training in a working environment.
Persons seeking employment within the Government of the Virgin Islands.
The Department of Human Resources aims to bring human resources management closer to you. As a dynamic, facilitative organisation, we remain dedicated to delivering the highest quality services to both our internal and external customers to ensure your service needs are met in a fair, just, equitable and consistent manner.


THIS AWE-inspiring 1930s postcard shows the entrance to the Beniczky House, one of the most beautiful structures in Banská Bystrica. The gate is adorned with the coat of arms of the Szentiványi family, which incorporates into its design two miners, illustrating the important role mining played in the city.
In the past, most of the houses in the city square were owned by so-called ringburgers, or waldburgers, many of whom owned or operated the city's mines and steelworks. Banská Bystrica's mines were located eight to 18 kilometres away from the city itself, unlike Banská Štiavnica or Kremnica, whose mines were beneath the city. Thus, owners of the mining enterprises spent most working days in the forests of the surrounding hills. This is where the word "wald", i.e. forest, comes from, while the second part of the name stems from the fact that their families lived in the middle of town, as "burger", or burgher, means city dweller.
For mining towns, meat supplies were crucial: it was important to secure food for the large number of miners and their families, but some of the animal by-products were also necessary for the operation of the mills and mines. For example tallow was used to make candles for lighting, fat for preserving bags and ropes, and ox skins for the production of blowpipes, transport bags and buckets.
neighbourhood gradually developed there, and the closest bastion of the city's fortifications bears the name Mäsiarska, which means butcher.
Apart from the coat of arms and the sign "Thomas Beniczky de Miczina", period advertisements on the house's wall are also of interest.


The Cultural Capital of the Riviera Nayarit invites everyone to view Cuaderno de artista by Rodrigo Ballester, on display at Bodega 3.
In step with its title of Cultural Capital of the Riviera Nayarit, San Pancho is extending an invitation to view a new art exhibit to be displayed at Bodega 3, an exhibition space that recently opened its doors to presentations by artists not belonging to the San Pancho Collective.
The current expo is titled Cuaderno de artista: Guorquin proces, created by self-taught plastic artist, Rodrigo Ballester, originally from Xalapa, Veracruz.
The inauguration of this particular gallery will be on April 30th at 8 p.m., a date that falls on Mexico's celebration of Children's Day. The artwork produced by Ballester will occupy the entire Bodega 3 gallery floor in order to fully display his splendid pieces.
"These journals compile a part of the intimate life and day-to-day thoughts of someone who tries to create a life from everything he knows how to do and does it in a conscious manner. An installation of bamboo, a bamboo treatment machine, a metallic mural, monotypes, a video and a serious of random objects emerge from the notes and materialize, little by little, until they become the exhibit itself," concludes the description.
The first exhibit recently held in this cultural/artistic space was a success; with this second expo San Pancho continues to expand its frontiers through art.
The unique way the Cultural Capital of the Riviera Nayarit presents itself to tourists with cultural pursuits is commendable. Presentations like these work in sync to continue to position Mexico's Pacific Treasure with this particular segment of visitors.
The town also maintains its commitment to bring culture to the local population, helping to raise awareness through its art of the different ways to benefit the region.


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Case Process in the Virginia Court of Appeals
The case process when a case goes to the Virginia Court of Appeals varies widely. Oftentimes, cases that are brought before the Court of Appeals are denied, and in that case there is no further step to take. When appeals are granted, then there is another process of getting the trial judgement overturned and potentially trying the case again with the Court of Appeals.
Speak with a Virginia appeals lawyer to learn more about the potentially complicated and long-lasting life cycle of a criminal appeal.
Possible Outcomes of Virginia Appeals
The most common outcome is that an appeal to the Virginia Court of Appeals will be denied. The majority of them are. However, if the petition for appeal is granted and the appeal is upheld, then it can result in overturning of the trial court judgment and most often remanding the case back to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with the opinion of the Court of Appeals.
In rare cases, the judgment can be overturned and an alternate judgment can be entered, such as judgment of acquittal, but this is, again, very rare.
If an appeal is denied in the Court of Appeals and if it involves a defendant who has been sentenced to incarceration or who has a claim that their constitutional rights were violated, then it can be appealed to the Virginia Supreme Court.
The process will then continue, where the Virginia Supreme Court can also either deny the petition for appeal, grant it and hear it, and then either affirm the judgment of the Court of Appeals or overturn the judgment and remand the case.
Duration of Cases in the Virginia Court of Appeals
The duration of an appeal varies. It will likely take less than a year. The Virginia Court of Appeals process begins with the filing of a petition for appeal from the Circuit Court judgment. If the petition is denied, the appellant has the option to seek a reconsideration by what's called a "writ panel."
This is a panel of the court that can determine whether or not to grant the petition. It will be comprised of three judges. If any of the three determines that the petition should be granted, then it will be and the appeal will be heard. If all three agree to deny it, then the petition is denied.
Once the petition is granted, the parties will have to, over the course of a matter of months, submit briefs for and against the appeal to the Virginia Court of Appeals. This will be done in order. The appellant will present their brief first.
The appellee will then present their opposition and then the appellant again will have the option to file a reply to the appellee's argument. Once this happens, the court and the clerk of the Court of Appeals will docket the case for oral argument.
Criminal cases in the Court of Appeals are generally given precedence on the docket. They are more likely to be heard sooner than family law matters, administrative law matters, and other similar cases. At the oral argument both sides will present, the panel of the court will recess and will then, within some period of time, issue an opinion about what their judgment is.
At this point, each party will have the option to either petition for an en banc re-hearing, reviewed by the entire court, which is most likely to occur if there is a dissent by one of the three judges in the opinion, or to petition for an appeal to the Virginia Supreme Court.
Virginia Appeals Lawyer
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Appellate Process
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Indonesia's national health insurance scheme (Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional or JKN) is a key element of the Government of Indonesia's (GOI) commitment to ensuring equitable access to healthcare, especially for the poor and the near-poor. JKN's contracting with private providers was expected to expand reach faster than simply working through the public sector. The single-payer agency for JKN, Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Sosial-Kesehatan (BPJS-K), contracts private clinics under capitation and pays hospitals through case-based groups. In September 2017, 60 percent of BPJS-K-contracted hospitals were private. How has the single payer and its associated policies impacted these private hospitals?
This analysis, conducted by the U.S. Agency for International Development-funded Health Policy Plus (HP+) project and the National Team for the Acceleration of Poverty Reduction (TNP2K), asked how private hospital capacity, utilization, and finances have changed since JKN implementation. We also assessed whether providers perceive reimbursement processes to be fair.


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Families being made homeless 'every five minutes'
A new family in England was found to be homeless, on average, every five minutes over a recent six-month period, analysis of government data has found.
Data released by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government today shows "frightening levels of homelessness in England", according to the homelessness charity Shelter.
The figures, recorded between July and December in 2018, found that 58,120 households were found to be homeless and a further 70,250 were threatened with homelessness. Shelter calculated that this equated to a new household every five minutes.
Shelter chief executive Polly Neate said: "It's impossible to ignore the frightening levels of homelessness in England right now.
"It is clear that this is a national emergency that won't go away on its own – real change must happen now."
In April 2018 the government introduced the Homelessness Reduction Act, which gave local housing authorities new duties to assess, prevent and relieve homelessness for anyone who is homeless or threatened with homelessness.
Despite this, there was a 21% rise in the number of households in temporary accommodation between October 2018 and December 2018, compared with the same period the year before, according to separate analysis by the charity Crisis.
There were 6,980 households living in bed and breakfasts across England in that period, which Crisis chief executive Jon Sparkes called "shocking and heartbreaking".
"B&Bs are no place to call home. They're often cramped or sub-standard and sometimes even dangerous. What's worse is more and more people are becoming trapped in these B&Bs for months or even years at a time with no hope of moving on, in part because Local Housing Allowance no longer covers the true cost of renting in large parts of the country," he said.
Sparkes called for the LHA to be brought back in line with market rents.
Neate echoed this plea to increase housing benefit but also demanded the government build a "new generation" of social homes totalling 3.1 million.
Homelessness latest
Rapid increase in homelessness a 'national shame'
Funding cuts blamed for homeless people's rising need for NHS
Shelter: Highest number of homeless children in more than 10 years
Lib Dems promise to end rough sleeping in five years
Homelessness Reduction Act
Housing scheme failing to help enough families
Experts call for speedy reforms to the HRA
Banks refuse mortgages on low-cost homes