It seems in the new decade after 2010 we are moving backwards not forward. We are not advancing in our attempt to provide equal rights for others. Case in Point; Florence Kentucky is making waves nation-wide when it was exposed that Female Police Officer Lyndi Trischler has filed a federal discrimination complaint against the City of Florence.
A change in policy, by some prick with a pen, is now forcing this young pregnant woman back out on the streets on full duty status or she can simply quit.
The city always had a policy that only employees injured on the job were eligible for modified duty, according to an internal memo. It had previously made exceptions to that policy, including for Trischler's first pregnancy last year.
In April 2013, the city stopped allowing those exceptions. The memo doesn't say why, just that employees with disabilities not incurred on the job must take sick, vacation or unpaid leave if they can't perform their jobs.
OK Alison Lundergan Grimes; where are you at miss equal rights? Where you at??? Nowhere to be found. It is typical that Officer Trischler is abandoned by those who proclaim to be champions of whatever cause they're blowing about. However, Officer Trischler's fellow Officers have donated 160 vacation time to her while she fights these backward bums in Florence.
This is infuriating and we call on Mayor Diane E. Whalen and Police Chief John McDermond to RESIGN IMMEDIATELY. No speeches, no excuses, just resign because they're clearly not fit for the positions they hold in the City government. How in the hell can you let this situation get to this level? Well, its Kentucky and anything is possible.
And we're not shutting up about this either, something will happen.


text:
Elaine K Ratner — Babe of the Day
GuySpeed Editors Published: October 27, 2017
elainekratner via Instagram
She may be recently married, but you don't have to buy the cow to look at the milk on Instagram. I think we messed that up, but you smell what we're cooking.
Elaine K Ratner (previously known as Elaine Kimm) designs all kinds of sexy outfits, and she's smart enough to model them herself. She's got a magnetic look, exotic yet inviting. She used to do mostly bikinis, but these days has expanded into all manner of clothing. But the key thing is that it's always her inside those costumes. Now if only we could find a way to get her outside those costumes...
Categories: Babe of the Day

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


This complex of rooms and apartments is situated on the beach of La Mata, near Torrevieja (Alicante), in the center of the Costa Blanca, and offers 3 double / twin rooms and 25 apartments.
This property is an ideal place to relax after a long day's work or to enjoy a quiet family stay. Guests enjoy wonderful views of the Mediterranean Sea from the window or balcony.
The rooms and apartments are spacious and comfortable. The property features a swimming pool and restaurant. Pets allowed.
Solarium duplex for 4/6 people.


text:
PETER HYNDMAN
_POSTCARDS FROM THE ROAD
_SUNSHINE COAST DAILY PHOTO
_A bit rocky to write
_CITY DAILY PHOTO
_THE BOATS OF BITING MIDGE
Fading Memories
Legends from our own lunchtimes
One of us has developed symptoms.
Tuesday 31 March - Australia - 4557 cases - 179 per million population
It's definitely not the virus we are sheltering from that has her in its clutches, but a no less dangerous longer term addiction that has caused her to work feverishly all day and into the night.
After sewing a gazillion quilts (and sails, which are after all just a quilt with bigger blocks) over the years, and even our boat covers one of us announced not so long ago that she was going to direct her creative energy in other directions. She explained that she'd done enough, that there were other roads less trod on which she would like to travel.
Yet the symptoms of her disease remained, mostly invisible but lurking somewhere within. It is a matter of record that what seemed like much of the writer's last day out before being confined in voluntary isolation was spent standing outside a fabric shop, waiting, while within she did whatever it is one does for hours in a fabric shop only to emerge empty handed. Shortly after that she began shuffling through her boxes of what is the fabric hoarder's equivalent of timber offcuts, laying out bits, standing back, looking with that familiar tilt of the head, eyes squinted to better gauge the position of colour tones in the pattern, and it was clear that some sort of relapse was well underway.
"I think I'll make a quilt as a farewell gift" she announced. "But they are leaving the day after tomorrow" the other replied, his words falling on entirely deaf ears, she was already a woman on a mission, barely looking up, stopping only to feed us both once or twice, not even to make the bed, for crying out loud!
By the time we waved our choking farewells to Chris and Phil this afternoon (from a safe distance), they had a new throw rug for their van to remind them of our decade in close proximity, and we had a house that was doing a fair imitation of a bomb site. They'll only be a few hundred kilometres away so it's not as if we are losing them for ever. No doubt the urge to visit one another will arise from time to time just like the urge to make just one more quilt.
at 5:22 pm 1 comment
When nature fails us.
Monday 30 March - Australia - 4163 cases - 163 per million population
When we collected the worn rocks that would become counterweights for our clothes line, we were delighted to have a souvenir from "our" foreshore, just a few hundred metres from" home. Each day we'd carry one or two home, until we had a neatly graded collection carefully matched in ascending order of weight and size.
They'd been rumbled into shape by the actions of the waves over centuries we figured, or quite possibly somewhat longer. As a bonus the sandstone toned perfectly with the colour of the nasty eighties brick of our house.
Sandstone...
Perhaps the very name should have sounded alarms in our heads, but it didn't. It turns out that our sandstone was not very ancient at all as these things go, and was actually comprised of a lot more sand and a lot less stone than is required if one is to have a stone hanging in the rain for any period of time,. It wasn't too long at all before cracks began to appear in our plan, and in our stones, some of which started to dissolve before our eyes. Eventually a couple of them disappeared entirely leaving saggy lines, and that will never do.
Perhaps the only thing I dislike in life more than a saggy line, is throwing away a piece of timber, no matter how improbable it might be that a use will be found for it in the future.
Therefore it was with great joy that I discovered some short offcuts of treated fence post in my stash, which I was pretty sure contained a water-worn stone shape within their scruffy exterior and I set to work to find that inner rock.
Perhaps Michelangelo might not approve, but I reckon they'd pass for a Henry Moore on a dark night.
Solastalgia.
Sunday 29 March - Australia - 3969 cases - 156 per million population
It's odd. The world is in the same boat and there is undoubtedly a tide of concern for one's fellow man swelling from beneath a turbulent surface. There are certainly those who continue to row in the opposite direction, to be unhelpful, criticise and disobey because they can, but the most concerning is a growing feeling of displacement, dissatisfaction, or even anger which is also becoming evident, even among those for whom this is out of character.
We are not exempt in our house either, despite our comfort and even happiness with our situation, our angst is not directed at each other but usually rises against an inanimate object such as a television or computer screen, as each continues to pour the world's bile into our house. In our online worlds, little niggles that would normally go unnoticed between friends are turning into running battles. As Professor Julius Sumner Miller once would ask: "Why is this so?"
Ten years ago, when faced with significant uncertainty (our house was in the process of being resumed), we felt similar emotions. We weren't unhappy at all, yet there was something happening in our brains which left us less than content. It had a name as it turned out, and when we discovered that our irrational emotions weren't irrational after all, it was (mostly) easy to redirect them in a constructive way.
Let's go back in time to see what we discovered:
The pond is alive at the moment, another lotus flower will be at its glorious peak today. Their subtlety is an extraordinary contrast to the vivid blues and yellows of the water lilies on the surface, and our little native bees are going gangbusters flitting between them all.
I must buy the timber to build a new hive today, ours is now long overdue for a split.
As I sit and watch it all a cloud descends. It's not black or dark or the sort of cloud that makes one perpetually sad or melancholy, but it is none the less a cloud with the merest hint of those ingredients, a whiff of sadness round its edges perhaps.
While we were wondering about all that, and what picture to post for today, Sue phoned and said "solastalgia" was what we were feeling, and our world of hitherto inexplicable emotions suddenly had an explanation;
"It's the homesickness you feel when you're still at home."
… the distress caused by the lived experience of the transformation of one's home and sense of belonging and is experienced through the feeling of desolation about its change. [snip]
The diagnosis of solastalgia is based on the recognition of the distress within an individual or a community about the loss of 'endemic sense of place' and the loss of a sense of control of its destiny.
In essence, solastalgia is the sadness caused by environmental change.
The concept was created by Glenn Albrecht, a professor at the School of Environmental and Life Sciences at the University of Newcastle, after he noticed the depression amongst rural farmers in drought-stricken lands. The drought had caused increased workloads, debt, and fear about future security — and, interestingly, the small changes in their own front yards formed powerful triggers and metaphors for their despair. Albrecht's studies showed that farmer women would be enormously more upset over the loss of their gardens than their mortgage or income. ("Losing a garden is often quite dramatic," as a colleague noted. "It's often the only thing that's between them and a vast landscape of dust.")
That's exactly it! "The loss of a sense of control over its destiny".
It has a name, it's definitely how we feel, but I still don't understand how we have allowed ourselves to succumb to such an illogical malady. "Despair" is not how we feel admittedly, far from that, but we are acutely aware that we are seeing the last season of our frangipani blooms, and that the already vacant houses in our street and the next are starting to show the first signs of unkemptness as our community crumbles before our eyes.
Perhaps when someone actually makes a decision, removing our uncertainty, these feelings will pass.
2020 Footnote: They certainly did, as indeed will the ones that we are currently feeling.
Gold, Frankincense and Anti-Bacterial Wipes.
Saturday 28 March - Australia 3573 cases - 140 per million population
Some of our kids and their husbands are like many others, employed in industries deemed to be essential or support services. This is a bitter-sweet state of affairs, as their employment appears to be secure for as long as the current crisis endures, but at the same time they mix daily with a wide variety of people, greatly increasing their odds of actually coming into contact with someone who is carrying the invisible enemy.
As it happened a pair of them had to be in our neighbourhood today, so we all conferred as to what was the best way of seeing them without putting ourselves and our few weeks of isolation at risk. We settled on a quick lunch out of doors with a very conservative several metres between us, trying to cram weeks of conversation into an hour or so (despite being in almost daily telephone contact), followed by an emotionally awkward departure, devoid of hugs or kisses, and an even more awkward fully gloved disposal of all they had touched.
We'd had a wonderful time of course, but the strangeness of the times perhaps should be measured by the gifts they bore. Flowers are always a nice touch, especially just a few days after a birthday when they add icing to the metaphoric cake, but the most precious gift of all, certainly the most appreciated: a packet of anti bacterial wipes.
What a wonderful world.
Friday 27 March - 3050 cases - 120 per million population
For decades, based on the results of rigorous testing by our favourite consumer organisation we've washed at a low temperature and using around half the recommended amount of detergent. Our clothes have always come out of that process smelling fresh and clean and snowy white, or at least that's the case for one of us, the other's still have random paint spots, coffee stains and blobs of grease which he may have overlooked prior to trusting the machine to do its thing, but mostly people don't notice. Or if they do they don't mention it at any rate.
This morning one couldn't help but notice that the washing machine was exuding a less than savoury assault on the olfactory department. Such was the strength of the pong that we started to wonder if one of our wooden fish had died. Consoled only a little in the knowledge that a loss of smell is a symptom of Covid 19 infection and clearly we aren't infected, it was time to read the instruction book for the five year old machine.
Oh. Under the heading "Why does my machine smell?" were these words: "Washing on low temperatures for a prolonged period and/or with less than the recommended amount of detergent is likely to encourage bacterial growth in the machine." Well, well, well.
Having failed to persuade the company website to take our money for the prescribed cleaning solution, a quick phone call was in order. I cannot be sure why I was surprised to phone the Australian service number of a German company and find myself talking to a very helpful person working from their home in the UK, but there they were, accessing Australian warehouse records and arranging despatch, at the same time talking us through a couple of other things we could do to fix the problem. What a wonderful world.
With the machine now devoid of stink, perhaps it's time to begin the documentation of the last eight years of renovation work. Some description of that later, for now the laundry (or utility room now), after and before.
Signs that we are nearing the end of times.
Thursday 26 March - 2,676 cases - 105per million population
We've known each other for half a century, and in all that time she's never consumed anything sweeter for breakfast than the half-spoon of sugar that accompanies her first cup of tea. I've actually seen her shudder as I poured maple syrup on my breakfast pancakes (a rare treat) and in fairness I've actually seen a waiter shudder too when she put salt on her French toast, after asking them to hold the sugar coating.
Therefore when she suggested that we might like to try out our brand-new bowl-waffle gadget (and theres a story in itself) for her special breakfast, even though one of us was sore tempted to go the banana, nutella and ice cream route, he moderated his desire, and concocted a mix of fresh fruit, yoghurt and crushed nuts with a drizzle of honey which oddly enough given the habits of her lifetime, seemed to be entirely to her satisfaction.
Baby steps.
Crisis averted, not narrowly.
Wednesday 25 March - 2,317 cases - 91per million population
It had the makings of a difficult day.
Barely after breakfast or perhaps before, one can't be sure as time travels so quickly in times of crisis, one of us walked into the room barely able to disguise her trembling hands, carrying two pieces of plastic which until a few moments before had been disguised as the shiny "metal" handle on the lid to her little kettle. Life without her tea would be completely intolerable for us both, so with much haste and still clad in his night attire, or at least half of it, the other of us raced into his shed, searching for the box marked "things that might come in handy to use as a teapot handle".
Because his shed may be slightly more organised than others he's seen, almost no time at all transpired before the teapot was back in action, biding its time until he musters the energy to make something closer to the original, or until this one wears out, whichever comes first. In any case, no cups of tea were missed and a stray cupboard handle that has lived in hope for decades has now found a purpose to its existence, and we all basked for a time in the rosy glow that fixing something creates.
One suspects that as the dust settles from the current world crisis, financial pressures may well force a return to a world where things were repaired rather than discarded. Perhaps there is good to come from this after all!
at 5:02 pm No comments
Surely you jest!
Tuesday 24 March - 1,887 cases - 74 per million population
The world is full of experts, that is clear, and the amazing thing is that they've achieved that status not by study, but by reading "the letters to the editor" or watching morning television. Nothing the government is doing seems to meet their approval, despite the strong possibility that the government is undoubtedly doing its best to balance the interests of the country, taking on board the advice from so many differing specialities, perhaps even talking to people with years of actual study and experience.
In trying to balance the health management risks against the economic and emotional well being of the country as a whole, not everyone is going to be pleased with the outcome. Those whose income is not at risk (or, understandably those whose lives are) will always want the most radical solution and beggar the rest of them. In two days action has been taken that will result in more than a million lost jobs. It might be time for the self-taught experts to moderate their stance a little, and perhaps direct their energy in some more positive manner. (Like writing angry blog posts such as this!)
Having said that, one has to wonder at the quality of the expertise of those advising our state government. Three days from an election which will see every person over eighteen years of age turn out at a time when even weddings are limited to having five people present and we are still receiving reminders that VOTING IS COMPULSORY.
I wonder if, six days from now, when a quarter of the State starts to exhibit signs of Covid 19 infection contracted at the polling booths, our Premier will jump up and down on her dias shouting "April Fools"!
at 10:38 am No comments
It's out there, and it's coming.
Monday 23 March - 1,709 cases - 67 per million population
A week ago we shared a semi-nervous coffee with a dozen of our friends in a semi-outdoor cafe as a kind of a wake for the year we had planned. The realisation that we had all been with an acquaintance who had been rumoured to have returned from overseas in the past few days (he hadn't) had shaken each of us into a sense of reality.
Then, around three hundred people in our large barely inhabited country had contracted the disease and if as our authorities were predicting, twenty five percent of us were likely to follow, we figured we would do what we could to be in the other seventy five percent.
From that day on, we would limit our outings to one day a week for necessities, and a daily walk to the beach where we can scan the horizon for signs of our approaching doom, while keeping a safe distance from others.
Our family, apparently with even more concern for our mortality than even we, completely supported our thoughts. We were to discover in the days that followed that there are a lot of things that need tidying up if one is to voluntarily isolate oneself in the path of approaching pandemic.
A week ago we had a bit of a get together with a bunch of mates to chat about our plans for our collective European jaunts. Friday a week ago some were booked to leave this week, we had decided to hang back a while and make our decision at the end of the month.
By Monday our decision had been made for us, with the world doing a fairly good impression of being in total chaos, and all because of a tiny, invisible enemy and the disease it brings: Covid 19.
By Tuesday we had begun voluntarily distancing ourselves and making quite serious plans as to how we might actually go about doing that. We'd pop down to Brisbane we thought and bid farewell to our babies, their parents and their great grandmother for a time, return and put our feet up for a month with a good book.
Time and tide waits for no man though, and by Tuesday GG was already in protective "lockdown", some of the littlies had other ills that we really did not want to contract and we began to feel a bit like an Egret at surfers convention.
It may well take years for the depth of distress that this event will cause to be measured, and some wounds may never heal. We are gazing into the lights of an approaching train, not knowing if we are standing on the tracks or safely on the platform of the station. Many others around the world are documenting their own isolation adventure. This is ours
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Douglas Adams observed quite rightly that dishwashers wash tedious dishes for you, thus saving you the bother of washing them yourself, and video recorders watch tedious television for you, thus saving you the bother of looking at it yourself.
Had he still been among us, and for some inexplicable reason stumbled upon these pages he may quite rightly have observed that this blog is simply here to remember things for us, thereby saving us that particular bother and allowing us to get on with the next bit of our lives without distraction, our adventures safely tucked away for a time when we may well need to recall them.
visit Our other blogs
Sunshine Coast Daily Photo
A Sign of the Times?
Postcards from the Road
Postcard from a dirty boat
One of us has developed symptoms. Tuesday 31 Marc...
When nature fails us. Monday 30 March - Australia...
Solastalgia. Sunday 29 March - Australia - 3969 c...
Gold, Frankincense and Anti-Bacterial Wipes. Satu...
What a wonderful world. Friday 27 March - 3050 ca...
Signs that we are nearing the end of times. Thurs...
Crisis averted, not narrowly. Wednesday 25 March ...
Surely you jest! Tuesday 24 March - 1,887 cases -...
It's out there, and it's coming. Monday 23 March ...
Getting a message across
One advantage of being tall
Friday 3rd April - Australia - 5550 cases - 218 per million population
You shall have a fishy when the boat comes in.
Sunday 5th April - Australia - 5681 cases - 223 per million population
© Fading Memories


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Cycling Tech That Can Improve Safety and Performance
Cycling technology can be used to measure your metrics, guide you on your route and much more. Photo by Pebble Technology // CC BY-SA 1.0
Traditional cyclists may opt out of using too much technology, yet there's no denying that it's useful for both safety and performance. Cycling gadgets can help you to understand your own vitals, optimize your bike and your output and motivate you to ride to the best of your ability. Even if you are trying to keep the weight down on your lovely carbon fibre bike, the odd bit of extra gear is barely noticeable, especially given that a lot of the gear is designed to be exceptionally lightweight. Let's take a look at a few recommendations.
Cycling Apps
There's an app for everything these days and cycling is no different. There's plenty of choice here. Strava is easily the most popular, with around 11 million workouts uploaded per week and 8.5 billion kilometres clocked in 2018. It's free to download the basic version. It measures stuff like speed, distance, heart rate, power and cadence. Plus, if you have a fitness tracker like a Garmin Vivo fit (you can check out the list of specs for one of the models of this tracker here), you can easily link this up to Strava in order to really get the most out of your ride.
Strava also records your routes (if you want it to), so that you can share them with the growing community. You can find nearby routes and races and try to beat other user's times, or your own personal bests. The premium version has additional features, such as fitness and training plans and live beacon.
It doesn't have to be Strava, there are plenty of others that could work for you. For many casual riders, a cycling app will be pretty much all you need for basic metrics.
Cycling computers are the technological bread and butter for competitive cyclists, whilst hobbyists and casual riders will also see the benefits of getting a less expensive model. A decent cycling computer will be your faithful companion and trusty interface, be it a on day trip with friends, or a serious Scottish cycling sportif.
Top and bottom of it is, you will get much more out of a dedicated cycling computer than you will an app, with full tracking, metrics and insights available for all of your rides. With a top-end model like the Garmin Edge 1030, you can send pre-written messages to other riders in your group, connect to your smartphone to see notifications and get directions via GPS. The 20 hour battery life lasts long enough that it's unlikely you will be caught out and left lost or confused. A decent cycling computer can keep you out of trouble on a long distance route.
Metrics and Measurements
Serious competitors and sports coaches also take measurements and metrics seriously. The big change recently is that technology has made it much easier and more accurate to take vital measurements and performance data, as well as helping to make sense of it using meaningful analysis.
Sports coach and poker player, Wen Sime uses a heartrate monitor to ensure optimal decision-making. Cyclists also use a heartrate monitor to check on their own safety and to record intervals. There are also performance metrics that can be measured using hardware such as power meters to measure torque and effectiveness, and cadence meters to measure speed and efficiency.
To make the most out of a pro-level cycling computer, you can link it up with your metrics and measurements hardware. In any case, competitive cyclists or those looking to best themselves can use the data gathered to make changes to their own training and performance, and also to tweak their bike for optimal performance.
Smarter Helmets and Lights
Every cyclist needs a helmet and lights… just how 'smart' they are is up to you. Photo by unknown // CC0 1.0
Helmets and lights are essential pieces of safety technology in their own right. Every cyclist should own a decent helmet for protection; and equip their bikes with plenty of lights and indicators to negate risks of incompetency from drivers on the road.
Smart helmets can now offer even more safety, with extra LED lights and indicators. Some even have the ability to detect when an accident has happened and can send GPS co-ordinates to loved ones or the emergency services. The Livall BH60SE helmet is packed full of additional features, such as hands-free calls and music.
LED lights can perform similar functions, shining more brightly at junctions, detecting accidents and sending messages to contacts. The most advanced lights send a visual warning to your cycling computer alerting you to when traffic is coming up the rear.
It's up to you how much cycling technology you use in your own life. Some will love it, but others may enjoy getting away from all of that when they go on a cycle through the quiet Scottish countryside. Love it or hate it, there's no denying that it can be useful for both casual and competitive riders alike.
This thirteenth century mass of formidable stone once guarded the sea approach to the heart of Scotland. One of Scotland's most famous historical figures, Flora McDonald, was imprisoned here. It was captured by Robert the Bruce in 1308. Dunstaffnage Castle is around 5 miles north of Oban. A cycle route, mostly on dedicated bike paths, makes it easy to visit.
How to Get Here
Glasgow to Oban takes around 3 hours by train.
Leaving the station you head north along the Corran Esplanade with the bay on your left side. This road can be very busy, but once you reach the roundabout it gets quieter. This roundabout is only 0.5 mile (3 minute cycle) from the station, so you could just walk and push the bike if you prefer.
Oban's Esplanade. It can be a busy road for cycling, but you can always push your bike along the pavement to the point where the roads get quieter
After the roundabout continue to follow the bay. You will pass a line of grand Victorian villas, many of which are hotels and guest houses. There might be the occasional car, but it is otherwise quiet.
The view of the coastline is magnificent. You can see the islands of Lismore and Mull. This is also a great place from where to watch the Caledonian MacBrayne ferries departing and arriving.
The road towards Ganavan Sands in Oban has wonderful coastal views and at this spot you can grab a bench to soak up the vista
A Calmac ferry making its approach to Oban
On a curve of the bay you will see the ruins of Dunollie Castle peeking up from a hillside surrounded by thick woods. If you have taken a ferry to Oban this castle is one of the most notable landmarks to be seen as you glide towards the harbour.
The castle is the ancestral home of the Clan MacDougall and it can be visited, along with a museum and cafe. If you like the bagpipes then coincide your visit with the times that they have the piper playing. I stopped here for lunch on the way back- a smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwich, sitting outside in the sun.
Dunollie Castle
The outside cafe of Dunollie Castle. A great place for a lunch stop
Alongside the road there is an incredible piece of rock called the Dog Stone. It looks like it should be in the sea, instead of stranded on a piece of grass with trees growing out the top of it. 12,000 years ago this had been surrounded by sea and its weathered shape is the result of centuries of wave action. In the Ice Age the area around the rock was forced upwards by tectonic forces and became part of the land.
That's the scientific explanation of this stone, but there is a much more interesting legend. The rock was where the Celtic warrior, Fingal, tied up his dog. The dog, Bran, was tied with a massive chain that wore away the base of the stone as he paced about and struggled to get free. Apparently you can still hear a dog howling in this location!
The Dog Stone, Oban
The road leads to Ganavan Sands, which is Oban's beach and about 2.4 miles from the train station.
Ganavan Sands, near Oban
It is at the beach that you will find a dedicated tarmac cycle path. This takes you north to Dunbeg. It starts with a steep hill.
The cycle path leaving Ganavan Sands
The steep hill near the beginning of the cycle path between Ganavan Sands and Dunbeg
The path is only about 1 and a quarter miles long, but it is superb for avoiding the busy A85. Taking this A-road to reach the castle would be a horrible nightmare and if it wasn't for this cycle path I don't think I would have tried it.
Although a short distance the path winds its way through a variety of woodland and moorland that is rich in wildlife. Here, among oak, birch and hazel trees red squirrels, tawny owls and roe deer live.
A woodland section of the cycle path between Ganavan Sands and Dunbeg
There is a bench called the "Heartbeat Seat" alongside the cycle path. This is a great spot to take a rest and take in the view.
The Heartbeat Seat on the cycle path between Ganavan Sands and Dunbeg
The cycle path ends in a housing estate of Dunbeg village. You make your way through the estate to reach Kirk Road which takes you to the castle.
A close up of the natural rock that Dunstaffnage Castle sits upon
Dunstaffnage is one of the oldest stone castles in Scotland. The mass of stone wall is incredible, deliberately constructed to be impregnable to protect this strategic location.
The castle has a base of natural rock that looks almost unreal because it is surrounded by flat ground. I love the way that the building has been moulded to fit onto this rock. By the way, this rock is 400 million years old, so the thirteenth century castle is a mere youngster in comparison.
Inside Dunstaffnage Castle
The brief history of this place is that it was built by Duncan MacDougall, Lord of Lorn. In 1308 the castle was beseiged by Robert the Bruce. It was later granted to the Campbells by James III in the 1460s. The most famous person to be associated with the castle is Flora MacDonald. She helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape after his defeat at the Battle of Culloden. She dressed him up as a woman and took him in a boat to the Island of Skye. Flora was later arrested and brought to Dunstaffnage for a few days prior to being sent to the Tower of London.
Inside The Gatehouse of Dunstaffnage Castle
Entry to the castle is by means of a steep staircase. Inside is mainly a ruin with The Gatehouse being the only intact building. There is not much to see apart from fireplaces and a well. This is a place to let your imagination have a bit of a workout. Think of a Great Hall where the Lord and Lady of Lorn feasted on the finest food and wine, attended to by servants, with a roaring fire and tapestries hung on the walls. The Great Hall was also a court where justice for the local area was dispensed.
The well at Dunstaffnage Castle
A pigeon at Dunstaffnage Castle
Spiral staircase in Dunstaffnage Castle
An arrow slit in Dunstaffnage Castle
The best thing about the castle interior is that you can walk along the walls where the views over the bay are stunning. There are several boats moored here and I could hear their rigging gently blowing in the wind.
The view of Dunstaffnage Bay from Dunstaffnage Castle
The view from Dunstaffnage Castle
Even better, once you leave the castle you will find paths through the woods behind the castle that take you to pebble beaches and gorgeous views of the coast and islands.
Incredible views from the shore at Dunstaffnage Castle
Views from the shore of Dunstaffnage Castle
Also in the grounds you will find the ruins of Dunstaffnage Chapel, built in the early 1200s.
Dunstaffnage Chapel
Window details on Dunstaffnage Chapel
Dunstaffnage might not be the largest and most interesting of Scottish castles, but there are few castles that have such an incredible mass of defensive wall. The coastal location is stunning. The cycle path makes it easy to visit and the short distance makes it ideal as something to do if you are waiting for a train or ferry in Oban. There is an entry fee and you can find current prices and opening hours on the Historic Environment Scotland website.
Why not combine your castle visit with a coffee and sweet treat at the Oban Chocolate Company? Read my blog about this amazing cafe.
Waffles at Oban Chocolate Company
Essential Items to Take on a Cycle Tour Around Scotland
If you're planning a multi-day tour around Scotland, you'll need to think ahead and get prepared. Scotland is one of the most beautiful countries in the world to cycle around, but the terrain can be tricky, and the weather unpredictable.
With that in mind, here's a list of absolute essentials you need to take.
Things to take on a Scottish cycle tour
Repair kit. Before you leave, it's well worth making sure you know some basic bicycle maintenance. If you're going cycling on rough ground, for example, you're at greater risk of getting a puncture, so knowing how to repair it is a necessity. Invest in a good repair kit to take with you.
Padded shorts. If you're planning on cycling non-stop around Scotland, padded shorts are vital. Even on the easiest roads, your backside can take a bit of a beating; and if you're bumping down a steep descent, you'll appreciate the cushioning!
Map. Whatever you do, don't rely on your phone. While phone maps can be really useful, technological devices have a habit of losing signal or running out of battery. You don't want to be stranded in the Highlands without any means of finding your way to the nearest village or town.
Waterproofs and bin-liners. When you come to Scotland, you'll need to be prepared for a bit of rain, not to mention wind and possibly snow. A waterproof layer is a wise idea, and preferably something to cover your face while you're cycling along. Also, remember to take something to cover your rucksack with – a humble bin-liner does the job nicely, but make sure you secure it properly.
A well-researched list. You'll be doing a lot of hard physical work on this trip, and as such, you'll want to have a list of places to sleep, and great eateries to enjoy a solid meal. There are plenty of great guesthouses and independent hotels in Scotland (some with fantastic views of lochs or craggy mountains), and some first-class restaurants and cafes.
First aid kit. If you're careful, it's unlikely that you'll come off your bike. But in unfamiliar, challenging terrain, it is a possibility. Always make sure you have a first aid kit with you; even a small wound in the wrong place can put a dampener on your trip.
Smarter clothes. If you're planning to go out and about in the evenings, remember to pack some non-cycling clothes too; though nothing too bulky, as you don't want to weigh yourself down. Some easy-to-pack personal grooming items are advisable too, like shampoo and a bottle of Bleu de Chanel, or whatever aftershave takes your fancy.
Food and water. Carrying enough water is an absolute must – dehydration while cycling can be a serious problem. Hopefully, your rucksack will have pockets or loops to store your water-bottles – if not, look for a belt with water-bottle holders attached. It's also a good idea to pack ample high-energy snacks too, just in case your journey takes longer than you'd planned.
Thirlestane Castle, Lauder and Stow.
Ceilings that will take your breath away. A room slept in by Bonnie Prince Charlie. One of the largest collections of family portraits in Scotland. A vintage toy collection. Home baking in a traditional tea room. This is the Thirlestane Castle experience. It is located on the outskirts of Lauder in the Scottish Borders. A 6 mile cycle from Stow station on the Borders Railway is the best way to reach the castle.
How to get there
Take the Borders Railway from Edinburgh to Stow (45 minutes). The approach into Stow is one of the prettiest sections of this railway line with views of the Gala Water and the church, Saint Mary of Wedale, dominating the village. When I arrived nobody got off or on the train. This feels like a very rural place and yet it is only a short distance from the bustle of Edinburgh.
Stow train station with the Saint Mary of Wedale church in the background
Stow's original 1848 station building survives. It is not currently in use, but I read of exciting plans to turn it into a bistro and cycle hire business.
Stow station building
Stow station
Leaving the station you should cross the bridge that goes over the Gala Water.
Bridge over the Gala Water at Stow
As you make your way through the village it is impossible not to be charmed by it. Idyllic, tranquil, pretty- these are the sort of words that spring to mind. There is not much to see in the village. There is a Post Office and a cafe and that's about it.
To get to Thirlestane Castle you take the B6362. Beware! It begins with a 15% ascent as soon as you leave the village. The road curves upwards and enters woodland. It is a lot of work to reach the top, but you are rewarded with great views over Stow.
Views over Stow from the B6362
When the road levels off you are in a world of lush countryside. There are fields, copses of trees, undulating hills, livestock, birdsong and even Heather moor. This road is only about 5 miles, but has an incredible variety of scenery. It was also very quiet during my cycle with hardly any other road users. This turned out to be a perfect place to find solitude within a short train ride of Edinburgh.
The B6362 between Stow and Lauder in the Scottish Borders
Sign on the B6362
Farm sign on the B6362
The B6362 between Stow and Lauder
Views from the road between Stow and Lauder
I came across sheep walking on the road at one point:
Sheep on the B6362
The descent into Lauder was magnificent. I hardly used the pedals and just sat there and rolled along with the horizon of hills unfolding before me.
When you arrive into Lauder take a right turn along the high street which is also the A68. The castle is only 1 mile away, so although this is a main road you are not on it for very long and there is a pavement if you feel the road is too busy. During my visit the traffic was fairly light.
The gates into Thirlestane Castle
The gates into the castle grounds are guarded by a pair of proud stone eagles. The panorama of the castle is imposing. It makes you wonder what riches await inside.
The doorway into the castle appears more Georgian country house than medieval castle with its Doric pilasters and sash and cash windows. This reflects the many alterations and additions that the building has undergone.
Entrance to Thirlestane Castle
Thirlestane can be dated back to the late sixteenth century when it was a fortified keep. In 1670 the 2nd Earl of Lauderdale's vision was for the castle to be turned into a palace- he employed the architect William Bruce to make this a reality. This explains the different architectural styles that you can see today.
The oldest part of Thirlestane Castle looks more like your 'classic' castle
The oldest part of Thirlestane Castle
After the hill climb to get here my first priority was to restore my energy levels. I ordered a Colombian filter coffee and raspberry and chocolate tray bake in the tea room. There was a gently ticking clock and show tunes on a radio. The wooden dresser had cakes stands with the names of the cakes handwritten on card. The windows looked out to the grounds where sheep strolled and ate grass.
The woman working in the tearoom was impressed that I had cycled the hilly road. "Hat's off to you," she said and made the gesture of removing a hat. She had not thought of the Borders Railway opening up access to Lauder and Thirlestane Castle and said it was "clever" using train and bike to come here.
Tearoom at Thirlestane Castle
Explore the Castle
You tour the castle on your own, but there are guides in the rooms who have incredible knowledge about the place.
Look out for the windows cut into the original keep walls. The thickness of these 13 foot walls is easily seen and it must have taken a lot of work to make these window holes.
Chiming clocks was about the only sound inside the house. I loved the Billiards Room with its enormous windows to let the light flood in. There are lovely brass oil lamps that had been converted to electricity. The room has an unusual screen decorated with salmon flies that were probably used to catch fish on the River Tweed.
On the theme of fish I read about a path across the Lammermuir Hills to Dunbar called Herring Road. It got its name because of an occasion where the Duke of Lauderdale ordered a messenger to collect herring for dinner. It was 50 miles by foot to Dunbar and the messenger made it back in time for dinner!
Thirlestane Castle with the stairs up to the front door
I passed through the library that had books on law, politics and religion. There was a massive family bible on a gilded stand, dated 1772.
I made my way up the spiral staircase that has more of those lovely gas lanterns that I spotted earlier in the Billiards Room.
Thirlestane is the family home of the Maitlands who still occupy the castle today. John Maitland, 2nd Earl of Lauderdale was made a Duke by Charles II. There is a charter conferring this on the wall of the Duke's Room. He was the Secretary of State of Scotland, so the most influential man in Scotland at this time.
This power is clearly in evidence when the Duke diverted labour from Holyrood Palace to work on his plaster ceilings. They took around 4 years to complete and date from around 1670. It is these ceilings in the upstairs rooms that are the standout feature of Thirlestane. In a room that had been used by Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745 the ceiling features three dimensional foliage and lions that appear to gallop out of the roof.
An urn at Thirlestane Castle
My favourite room was the drawing room. The plaster work features musical instruments and 4 eagles. The guide in this room informed me that one of the eagles had previously fallen off, but was restored. He also showed me a wall panel that concealed a secret staircase.
In the Grand Bed Chamber there is 1870s wallpaper in perfect condition. The guide pointed out that it has traces of arsenic in it, a normal component of wallpaper from this era. "Don't rub your finger on it and lick it!"
Lion crest on the wall of Thirlestane Castle
The dinning room has one of the largest family portrait collections in Scotland. There was a curious object in this room- a Butler's Chair. This was used when someone was eating on their own and it did not make sense to use the huge dinning table. They could sit here and be served with a tray that slots into the chair. This room also has a ram's head snuff mill with a Cairngorm gemstone found only in Scotland.
The children's nursery rooms have wonderful toys from the Edwardian and Victorian era, including a Noah's Ark with individually carved wooden animals. Toys from this time were not mass produced and passed from generation to generation.
The gardens at Thirlestane Castle
Gardens and Grounds
I was surprised at how small the grounds and gardens are compared to other grand houses. They are very pretty. There is a short woodland walk with wildflowers and birdsong.
Small and beautiful flowers in the grounds of Thirlestane Castle
The grounds of Thirlestane Castle
A Stroll Around Lauder
Lauder is an attractive town with a long street lined with characterful cottages of different sizes and ages.
Cottages in Lauder
Black Bull Hotel, Lauder
Lauder Town Hall
Lauder Church
Soup and Art
I stopped in the Fat Cat Gallery thjat showcases the work of Scottish Borders artists. It's a great place to browse and there is also a cafe where I took the window seat that had a beautiful natural wood table. I ordered the carrot and courgette soup. It came with salad and crusty bread. I couldn't resist trying the chocolate and oranage jaffa cake. The food was delicious and the friendly ambiance made me want to linger.
I leafed through some magazines and an interesting book about local history, Through Time and Place. It told an interesting WWII story when there was a call for people to lend their dogs to the army to use them as guard dogs at military prisons. The author had loaned his dog, Tweed, who was given a military serial number and he received regular written reports of how well Tweed was doing.
Fat Cat Gallery in Lauder
Chocolate and jaffa orange cake at the Fat Cat Gallery in Lauder
More Cake!
I went into the bakery and asked about one of the cakes. The baker said, "It's pure sugar! Are you in need?" Admittedly I wasn't, based on what I had already consumed in the course of this blog, but I would put it aside for tomorrow. "Macaroon, melt in the mouth." I can confirm that this was a very accurate description.
Macaroon from Lauder bakery
The return cycle to Stow meant the tough ascent, but once it leveled out the tranquil countryside was the most perfect place to ride a bike. The castle, the bike ride and the pretty town make for a brilliant day trip from Edinburgh.
There is an entry fee to Thirlestane Castle. Current charges and opening hours can be found on the castle website
For more ideas of places to visit in the Scottish Borders visit my Borders page.


text:
Nihil perspiciatis
Odio voluptatem volu.
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Culture Liverpool
In 2008 Liverpool was European Capital of Culture and the city took centre stage when a series of inspirational and awe-inspiring events took place throughout the year showing the world what we were capable of when it came to showcasing the city. Since then, we've…
St Margaret's Church of England Academy
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St Michael-in-the-Hamlet Breakfast Club
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Twinkle Toes Dance Club
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Grammy-nominated Luke Combs will kick off the run of events with his sold out "Beer Never Broke My Heart Tour." The show, which starts at 7:00 p.m. with doors opening at 6:00 p.m., will mark his first headlining appearance at INTRUST Bank Arena.
Winter Jam, featuring Newsboys United, Danny Gokey, Mandisa, Rend Collective, Ledger, Newsong and Hollyn, returns to Wichita Friday, Feb. 8. Winter Jam is a ticketless event with a suggested donation of $15 at-the-door. The concert starts at 6:50 p.m. with doors opening at 5:45 p.m.
Record-breaking, global comedy superstar, Jeff Dunham and his cast of characters return to INTRUST Bank Arena Saturday, Feb. 9 as part of Dunham's Passively Aggressive Tour. The show kicks off at 5:00 p.m. with doors opening at 4:00 p.m.
The Harlem Globetrotters will cap off the busy weekend with their brand of ultimate family entertainment that will bring smiles and fan interaction to people of all ages. Tickets are still available for the 2:00 p.m. show on Sunday, Feb. 10.


text:
State House meeting impresses EABC
EDWARD QORRO in Arusha
EAST Africa's private sector has commended President John Magufuli's decision to meet businesspeople from all districts and regions to jointly deliberate on business impediments in the country.
East African Business Council (EABC) Executive Director Peter Mathuki, in an interview with 'Daily News' here yesterday, applauded President Magufuli for his efforts to engage the private sector in improving the country's business environment.
"The move is worth emulating, it shows his determination to eliminate the obstacles and frustrations that businesspeople face in the region," Mr Mathuki observed, challenging other East African Community (EAC) member states to imitate their Tanzanian counterpart.
He said there is still more to do to improve the business climate in the region.
"With non-tariff barriers and other obstacles proving hard to crack, other presidents in the EAC need to emulate Dr Magufuli's initiative," he said.
At his meeting with the businessmen and women at the State House last Friday, President Magufuli pointed out a number of key issues that he said were derailing efforts to improve the country's business environment.
He lambasted both stateowned institutions and the business community for creating an unfavorable business climate.
Meanwhile, the apex body of private sector associations and corporates in the East African region said it will effective next fiscal year visit all border points to address hurdles at the entries and exit points.
The EABC admitted to be aware of the challenges that small and big businesses were grappling with, saying the visits aim at addressing them.
The Arusha-based EABC was established with a single purpose of driving the EAC integration process through trade and investment.
The council, to achieve the goal, works with the public sector, EAC institutions, the academia and the business community to unlock economic potentials through increased physical access to markets, enhanced trade environment and improved business competitiveness.
Author: EDWARD QORRO in Arusha


text:
PewDiePie has attracted his share of controversy, but you can't deny that he has made the world a better place. | Source: PewDiePie/YouTube
10 Ways PewDiePie Made the World a Little Less Sucky
September 23, 2020 UTC: 1:34 PM. February 16, 2020 UTC: 1:30 AM. by W. E. Messamore
This is an opinion.
A fellow YouTuber recently spoke about how negative press affects PewDiePie personally.
While Felix continues his YouTube hiatus, JackSepticEye says, "I would have lost my mind by now."
So here are ten very admirable ways Felix Kjellberg has made the world a much better place. Or at least made it suck a little bit less.
PewDiePie continues to enjoy his time off after years of uploading new videos to YouTube every day. And his fans are starving for new PewDiePie content.
But his good friend Seán McLoughlin, the creator behind the popular YouTube moniker JackSepticEye, has stepped into the silence to speak up for Pewds.
PewDiePie's Friend Exposes Toll of Media Scrutiny
McLoughlin tells "Metro" that media scrutiny over Felix's past controversies has "affected him a lot." He says the unforgiving glare of the media spotlight has been rough:
Some things have affected him a lot but I think he has a strong head on his shoulders and he kind of deals with it as it comes up.
I don't know how he does it, with that many people on you and that much scrutiny on you constantly. I think I would have lost my mind by now.
So here is some news that will hopefully lighten Felix's burden a little.
Here are ten ways PewDiePie has made the world a much better place.
How Felix Made YouTube A Better Place
1. Promoting Minecraft
Minecraft teaches kids creativity and computer skills. The game has actual 5-year-olds learning how to use the command line to modify the game.
It's also a great way for families to spend quality time playing together.
PewDiePie has been at the vanguard of YouTubers promoting this movement.
2. Giving Friendship to Lonely YouTubers
Loneliness is a terrible affliction. Studies show it is both widespread in the modern world, and as bad for your health as smoking cigarettes.
The appeal of PewDiePie's channel is that watching feels so much like playing video games with your friend in the room next to you. Felix somehow makes it so amazingly friendly and intimate. That's why his fans love him.
3. Promoting Indie Video Games
It's tough making indie content of any kind.
But a plug from PewDiePie has made a big difference in a lot of indie game developers' fortunes.
And it makes his channel fun to watch. You'll see games you would never have seen anywhere else.
4. Giving Wise Advice to Others YouTubers
Felix keeps it real about what it's like to succeed and fail on YouTube. He has often given very sage advice to young people wanting to start a YouTube career.
He's been through all the ups and downs while making it all the way to the top. And he shares his map with others to help them know what they're really getting into.
5. Sticking Up for Other YouTubers on the Platform
And PewDiePie hasn't forgotten what it was like to be a smaller channel just starting out.
Over the years, he's called out YouTube for policies that hurt smaller channels.
He also gives great channels a boost. That's actually how JackSepticEye catapulted to fame – with a big shout-out from Felix.
How PewDiePie Made Real Life Suck a Little Less
PewDiePie made real life a better place too. | Source: PewDiePie/YouTube
6. Supporting Charities
The press has a sort of gawking, tabloid fascination with PewDiePie's wealth. You can detect the jealousy in some of these journalists' articles. There's a hint of suggestion that it's obscene someone can become a millionaire from playing video games.
But Felix has given so much of his wealth and rallied the Bro Army to raise even more to bring clean water, education, health care, and financial support to poor children around the world.
7. Literally Planting Trees
He's also made the world greener by supporting initiatives to plant 20 million trees.
8. Teaching Humility by Example
JackSepticEye said in the Metro interview that in real life, Kjellberg isn't like PewDiePie on his YouTube channel. He says Felix is very down to earth.
But he's actually very down to earth on his YouTube channel too. People can tell that about him. He's a great role model because he's so successful, and it obviously hasn't made him self-absorbed or arrogant.
9. Refusing to Play the Politics Game
Despite the corporate media's attempts to turn PewDiePie into a political figure, he has resisted that temptation completely, unlike other entertainment celebrities who've descended into the political mudslinging.
Even the New York Times admits he's an intensely apolitical person.
Felix is in it for the laughs, not the fights.
10. Making You Laugh
Is there any balm for the stress and tragedy of life so sweet as laughter? Doctors agree laughter is literal medicine.
Laughter is good for us. It's one of the great rewards of life.
PewDiePie has single-handedly produced billions of laughs that wouldn't have existed without his YouTube channel.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of CCN.com.
BodyPainter Forkgirl Followed Twitch Rules. Twitch Still Banned Her
It's No Accident That We're Obsessed with Parasite & BTS


It's Eye Safety Month and Lehmann Eye Center wants you to take care of one of your greatest assets — your vision.
More than one million people suffer eye injuries each year. Cuts to the eye, chemical burns and foreign bodies in the eye are among the most frequently seen cases in hospital emergency rooms. Many of these incidents can result in serious injuries or loss of vision. When proper safety measures are followed, most eye injuries can be prevented. The ability to give proper first aid for an eye injury can be an important step in saving sight.
What can I do and What should I do?
First aid treatment is not a substitute for professional care. Proper treatment by an eye doctor or emergency medical professional after an eye injury is most important to prevent permanent damage and loss of sight.
If you experience an eye injury or other vision problem, call us for a complete eye examination.


text:
Cumberland, Maryland City Hall & Academy of Music
The Academy of Music (1874-1910) was a civic theater and the first city hall for the city of Cumberland, Allegany County, Maryland. It was a grand building with 18-inch (460 mm) thick walls, 78 feet (24 m) high from street to roof crest, and was 140 feet (43 m) high to the top of the tower. At the time, the building was built for a cost of $127,000 (approximately 2 million dollars in 2006 dollars). Construction began in 1874 and was finished in 1876.
The entire south portion of the building was devoted to entertainment and was referred to as the Academy of Music. The Academy of Music was opened Tuesday night, March 7, 1876 under the auspices of John T. Ford, when his company presented "The Big Bonanza." The academy featured a 30x30 foot stage, four VIP theater boxes, and a seating capacity of 1,300. At various times it was packed to the walls with over 2,000 people. The ground floor was occupied by a Market House, and above were located the beautiful frescoed mayor's office and council chamber.
In 1878, Lowermilk describes the interior of the Academy of Music as "one of the most beautiful interiors to be found in any place of amusement in the country." The ceiling work of art, upon which was expended the skill of the best painters in the employment of Emmart & Quarterly, of Baltimore. The lower floor of the Academy was divided into the "Orchestra," and "Orchestra Circle," and was supplied with nearly 500 patent folding chairs. The next floor was the "Dress Circle," and above this the "Balcony." The balconies were supported by handsome iron columns, and the fronts were of iron open ornamental work, in soft colors, picked with gold, and a vermilion background. The "Sunlight" reflector in the centre of the ceiling illumined the house, but was supplemented by handsome brackets on the wall. The drop curtain was a handsome painting, representing the "Decline of Carthage." On the apron border was a faithful portrait of Shakespeare, with suitable surroundings. Dressing rooms, with water, heat, and all conveniences occupy a portion of the space under the stage, and a door leads directly from the stage to a comfortable room for the "stars."
The Academy of Music was ultimately destroyed by fire on March 14, 1910. The remaining structure was razed and construction of a smaller replacement city hall was built during 1911-1912 at a cost of $87,000 (approximately 1.8 million dollars in 2006 dollars). The replacement city hall stands upon the site of the old City Hall and Academy of Music. Plans called for a dome on the new building, but at $6,000 it was considered too expensive. The circular foundation for the canceled dome is still visible on the roof. the interior rotunda features a mural by artist Gertude Dubrau depicting the city's early history, Fort Cumberland, General Edward Braddock, and George Washington.
Will H. Lowdermilk, "History of Cumberland", first published 1878, reprinted by Clearfield Co., October 1997, Paperback, ISBN 0-8063-7983-9.
Albert L. Feldstein, "Allegany County (Images of America: Maryland)", Arcadia Publishing, 2006, ISBN 0-7385-4381-0
History of Cumberland, MD-WV-PA
City and town halls in Maryland
Theatres in Maryland
Buildings and structures in Cumberland, Maryland
Clock towers in the United States
Santhanagopalapuram
Marcos Galperin
National Register of Historic Places listings in Middlesex County, New Jersey — List of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Middlesex County, New Jersey Contents: Counties in New Jersey Atlantic Bergen Burlington Camden Cape May Cumberland Essex Gloucester Hudson Hunterdon Mercer Middlesex Monmouth… … Wikipedia
National Register of Historic Places listings in western Washington, D.C. — Main article: National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington, D.C. This is a list of properties and districts that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the Northwest quadrant of Washington, D.C. which are west of … Wikipedia
Liste de musées aux États-Unis par État — Cet article a pour objet d établir une liste (non exhaustive) de musées aux États Unis classée par État. Sommaire 1 État de Californie 1.1 Los Angeles 1.2 Mountain View 1.3 Oakland … Wikipédia en Français
National Register of Historic Places listings in Hunterdon County, New Jersey — List of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Hunterdon County, New Jersey Contents: Counties in New Jersey Atlantic Bergen Burlington Camden Cape May Cumberland Essex Gloucester Hudson Hunterdon Mercer Middlesex Monmouth… … Wikipedia


text:
General North may refer to:

Gary L. North (born 1954), U.S. Air Force four-star general
Kenneth North (1930–2010), U.S. Air Force brigadier general
William North (1755–1836), U.S. Army brigadier general
William North, 6th Baron North (1678–1734), British Army lieutenant general and Spanish Army general

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
package org.spongycastle.openssl.test;

import java.io.ByteArrayOutputStream;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.io.OutputStreamWriter;
import java.io.StringReader;
import java.io.StringWriter;
import java.math.BigInteger;
import java.security.KeyFactory;
import java.security.KeyPair;
import java.security.KeyPairGenerator;
import java.security.PrivateKey;
import java.security.SecureRandom;
import java.security.Security;
import java.security.spec.DSAParameterSpec;
import java.security.spec.PKCS8EncodedKeySpec;
import java.security.spec.RSAPrivateCrtKeySpec;
import java.util.List;

import org.spongycastle.jce.provider.BouncyCastleProvider;
import org.spongycastle.openssl.PEMEncryptedKeyPair;
import org.spongycastle.openssl.PEMKeyPair;
import org.spongycastle.openssl.PEMParser;
import org.spongycastle.openssl.PasswordFinder;
import org.spongycastle.openssl.bc.BcPEMDecryptorProvider;
import org.spongycastle.openssl.jcajce.JcaMiscPEMGenerator;
import org.spongycastle.openssl.jcajce.JcaPEMKeyConverter;
import org.spongycastle.openssl.jcajce.JcaPEMWriter;
import org.spongycastle.openssl.jcajce.JcePEMDecryptorProviderBuilder;
import org.spongycastle.openssl.jcajce.JcePEMEncryptorBuilder;
import org.spongycastle.util.encoders.Base64;
import org.spongycastle.util.io.pem.PemHeader;
import org.spongycastle.util.io.pem.PemObject;
import org.spongycastle.util.test.SimpleTest;

public class WriterTest
    extends SimpleTest
{
    private static final SecureRandom random = new SecureRandom();

    // TODO Replace with a randomly generated key each test run?
    private static final RSAPrivateCrtKeySpec testRsaKeySpec = new RSAPrivateCrtKeySpec(
        new BigInteger("b4a7e46170574f16a97082b22be58b6a2a629798419be12872a4bdba626cfae9900f76abfb12139dce5de56564fab2b6543165a040c606887420e33d91ed7ed7", 16),
        new BigInteger("11", 16),
        new BigInteger("9f66f6b05410cd503b2709e88115d55daced94d1a34d4e32bf824d0dde6028ae79c5f07b580f5dce240d7111f7ddb130a7945cd7d957d1920994da389f490c89", 16),
        new BigInteger("c0a0758cdf14256f78d4708c86becdead1b50ad4ad6c5c703e2168fbf37884cb", 16),
        new BigInteger("f01734d7960ea60070f1b06f2bb81bfac48ff192ae18451d5e56c734a5aab8a5", 16),
        new BigInteger("b54bb9edff22051d9ee60f9351a48591b6500a319429c069a3e335a1d6171391", 16),
        new BigInteger("d3d83daf2a0cecd3367ae6f8ae1aeb82e9ac2f816c6fc483533d8297dd7884cd", 16),
        new BigInteger("b8f52fc6f38593dabb661d3f50f8897f8106eee68b1bce78a95b132b4e5b5d19", 16));

    private static final DSAParameterSpec testDsaParams = new DSAParameterSpec(
        new BigInteger("7434410770759874867539421675728577177024889699586189000788950934679315164676852047058354758883833299702695428196962057871264685291775577130504050839126673"),
        new BigInteger("1138656671590261728308283492178581223478058193247"),
        new BigInteger("4182906737723181805517018315469082619513954319976782448649747742951189003482834321192692620856488639629011570381138542789803819092529658402611668375788410"));

    private static final PKCS8EncodedKeySpec testEcDsaKeySpec = new PKCS8EncodedKeySpec(
        Base64.decode("MIG/AgEAMBAGByqGSM49AgEGBSuBBAAiBIGnMIGkAgEBBDCSBU3vo7ieeKs0ABQamy/ynxlde7Ylr8HmyfLaNnMr" +
            "jAwPp9R+KMUEhB7zxSAXv9KgBwYFK4EEACKhZANiAQQyyolMpg+TyB4o9kPWqafHIOe8o9K1glus+w2sY8OIPQQWGb5i5LdAyi" +
            "/SscwU24rZM0yiL3BHodp9ccwyhLrFYgXJUOQcCN2dno1GMols5497in5gL5+zn0yMsRtyv5o=")
    );

    private static final char[] testPassword = "bouncy".toCharArray();

    private static final String[] algorithms = new String[]
    {
        "AES-128-CBC", "AES-128-CFB", "AES-128-ECB", "AES-128-OFB",
        "AES-192-CBC", "AES-192-CFB", "AES-192-ECB", "AES-192-OFB",
        "AES-256-CBC", "AES-256-CFB", "AES-256-ECB", "AES-256-OFB",
        "BF-CBC", "BF-CFB", "BF-ECB", "BF-OFB",
        "DES-CBC", "DES-CFB", "DES-ECB", "DES-OFB",
        "DES-EDE", "DES-EDE-CBC", "DES-EDE-CFB", "DES-EDE-ECB", "DES-EDE-OFB",
        "DES-EDE3", "DES-EDE3-CBC", "DES-EDE3-CFB", "DES-EDE3-ECB", "DES-EDE3-OFB",
        "RC2-CBC", "RC2-CFB", "RC2-ECB", "RC2-OFB",
        "RC2-40-CBC",
        "RC2-64-CBC",
    };

    private class Password
        implements PasswordFinder
    {
        private final char[] password;

        public Password(
            char[] word)
        {
            this.password = (char[]) word.clone();
        }

        public char[] getPassword()
        {
            return (char[]) password.clone();
        }
    }

    public String getName()
    {
        return "PEMWriterTest";
    }

    public void performTest()
        throws Exception
    {
        final String provider = "SC";

        KeyPairGenerator dsaKpg = KeyPairGenerator.getInstance("DSA", provider);
        dsaKpg.initialize(testDsaParams, random);

        KeyPair dsaKp = dsaKpg.generateKeyPair();
        PrivateKey testDsaKey = dsaKp.getPrivate();

        doWriteReadTest(testDsaKey, provider);
        doWriteReadTests(testDsaKey, provider, algorithms);

        KeyFactory fact = KeyFactory.getInstance("RSA", provider);
        PrivateKey testRsaKey = fact.generatePrivate(testRsaKeySpec);

        doWriteReadTest(testRsaKey, provider);
        doWriteReadTests(testRsaKey, provider, algorithms);

        fact = KeyFactory.getInstance("ECDSA", provider);
        PrivateKey testEcDsaKey = fact.generatePrivate(testEcDsaKeySpec);

        doWriteReadTest(testEcDsaKey, provider);
        doWriteReadTests(testEcDsaKey, provider, algorithms);

        KeyPairGenerator kpGen = KeyPairGenerator.getInstance("ECDSA", "SC");

        kpGen.initialize(239);

        PrivateKey privKey = kpGen.generateKeyPair().getPrivate();

        doWriteReadTest(privKey, provider);
        doWriteReadTests(privKey, "SC", algorithms);

        // override test
        JcaPEMWriter pWrt = new JcaPEMWriter(new OutputStreamWriter(new ByteArrayOutputStream()));

        Object o = new PemObject("FRED", new byte[100]);
        pWrt.writeObject(o);

        pWrt.close();
    }

    private void doWriteReadTests(
        PrivateKey  akp,
        String      provider,
        String[]    algorithms)
        throws IOException
    {
        for (int i = 0; i < algorithms.length; ++i)
        {
            doWriteReadTest(akp, provider, algorithms[i]);
        }
    }

    private void doWriteReadTest(
        PrivateKey  akp,
        String      provider)
        throws IOException
    {
        StringWriter sw = new StringWriter();
        JcaPEMWriter pw = new JcaPEMWriter(sw);

        pw.writeObject(akp);
        pw.close();

        String data = sw.toString();

        PEMParser pr = new PEMParser(new StringReader(data));

        Object o = pr.readObject();

        if (o == null || !(o instanceof PEMKeyPair))
        {
            fail("Didn't find OpenSSL key");
        }

        KeyPair kp = new JcaPEMKeyConverter().setProvider("SC").getKeyPair((PEMKeyPair)o);
        PrivateKey privKey = kp.getPrivate();

        if (!akp.equals(privKey))
        {
            fail("Failed to read back test");
        }
    }

    private void doWriteReadTest(
        PrivateKey  akp,
        String      provider,
        String      algorithm)
        throws IOException
    {
        StringWriter sw = new StringWriter();
        JcaPEMWriter pw = new JcaPEMWriter(sw);

        pw.writeObject(new JcaMiscPEMGenerator(akp, new JcePEMEncryptorBuilder(algorithm).setSecureRandom(random).build(testPassword)));
        pw.close();

        String data = sw.toString();

        PEMParser pRaw = new PEMParser(new StringReader(data));
        PemObject pemObject = pRaw.readPemObject();

        List headers = pemObject.getHeaders();

        for (int i = 0; i != headers.size(); i++)
        {
            PemHeader pemH = (PemHeader)headers.get(i);

            if (pemH.getName().equals("DEK-Info"))
            {
                String v = pemH.getValue();
                for (int j = 0; j != v.length(); j++)
                {
                    if (v.charAt(j) >= 'a' && v.charAt(j) <= 'f')
                    {
                        fail("lower case detected in DEK-Info: " + v);
                    }
                }
            }
        }

        PEMParser pr = new PEMParser(new StringReader(data));

        Object o = pr.readObject();

        if (o == null || !(o instanceof PEMEncryptedKeyPair))
        {
            fail("Didn't find OpenSSL key");
        }

        KeyPair kp = new JcaPEMKeyConverter().setProvider("SC").getKeyPair(((PEMEncryptedKeyPair)o).decryptKeyPair(new JcePEMDecryptorProviderBuilder().setProvider("SC").build(testPassword)));
        PrivateKey privKey = kp.getPrivate();

        if (!akp.equals(privKey))
        {
            fail("Failed to read back test key encoded with: " + algorithm);
        }

        kp = new JcaPEMKeyConverter().setProvider("SC").getKeyPair(((PEMEncryptedKeyPair)o).decryptKeyPair(new BcPEMDecryptorProvider(testPassword)));
        privKey = kp.getPrivate();

        if (!akp.equals(privKey))
        {
            fail("BC failed to read back test key encoded with: " + algorithm);
        }
    }

    public static void main(
        String[]    args)
    {
        Security.addProvider(new BouncyCastleProvider());

        runTest(new WriterTest());
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Roses are red…violets are blue…But what is #Green?!
January 31, 2017 January 26, 2018 Random Acts of Green™Leave a Comment on Roses are red…violets are blue…But what is #Green?!
Planning on buying a bouquet of roses this Valentine's Day for your loved one?
Have you ever considered the environmental costs of that small expression of love?
Sure, the gesture may warm hearts…But it also warms the planet!
Think about it; all the flying and trucking adds thousands of metric tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere – contributing to climate change.
And those roses aren't going to stay fresh by themselves.
They need water, (and lots of it!) to keep them looking plush.
They also need an exorbitant amount of pesticides to keep them fresh.
In fact, because flowers are not edible crops and are exempt from regulations on pesticides, they can carry significantly more pesticides than allowed on food. Pesticides can have a negative effect on air, soil, and water.
Would you like a side of poison with those flowers? Yech!!
And what about the wildlife and habitat that is destroyed to make room for floral plantations? 2000 hectares of agricultural land in Kenya is used for flower cultivation!
That Act of Love might not be the best Act of Green!
Check out our #green alternatives.


Posted by Freshwater Mermaid at 7:24 a.m.
Ye gods... Nanowrimo is hard enough for the likes of me. A novel in *three days*??
Good luck! (Also... have you *got* the unsuspecting goat? Those can be hard to find on short notice).


I've been reading The Compound by S.A. Bodeen this week and I'm finding it difficult to get into.
Forget the bunker. I'll just get one of these.
The gist: the story opens with Eli escaping into an elaborate underground bunker his father built to protect his family from nuclear holocaust. His father says they will not be able to leave the compound for at least 15 years. Initially, Eli thought his father had all bases covered for them to survive in the compound for 15 years until things start going seriously wrong with the food supply.
At this point, I've made it far enough that I might as well finish the book, but I'm not optimistic. I keep wanting to compare it to Paul Theroux's The Mosquito Coast , but that only makes it worse. I stop every few pages and think, I wish I was reading Paul Theroux right now. Oh well.


text:
Autostraddle Reader Data
15 LGBT Documentaries on Kanopy, Free Streaming Film Goldmine
As Al(aina) explained in their listing of some of the great queer films on Kanopy, Kanopy is for some reason one of the best-kept secrets in streaming. It has SO many rare, older, or otherwise hard-to-find films that you might think you'd need access to a university library to see, all in the privacy of your own home! Although it has lots of fun surprises, from recent films you saw in theaters (so much A24!) to niche archival footage from decades ago, one area it really shines is in your favorite genre and mine, DOCUMENTARIES. It has a vast and ever-changing LGBT Stories section within its documentaries genre (separate from its LGBT Cinema section, also robust and rewarding!), so much so that you could watch all of these 15 films that speak to queer womens' lives or experience in some way and still have so much more to watch. You don't need to pay a subscription fee for Kanopy, just use a library login! Not all libraries have Kanopy access, but if yours does, you are hot to trot, my friend. Much like the subjects of the documentary about same-sex ballroom dancing, Hot to Trot, discussed below! Just a little LGBT documentary humor for you.
Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart
This documentary sheds valuable light on all aspects of Lorraine Hansberry's play, A Raisin in the Sun, including the daunting challenge of securing investment and a venue for this production about a working class Black family, the casting process, artistic debates and finally its public reception. …Additionally the film reveals how central feminism was to her ideas and boldly acknowledges (using her diary entries) her same gender relationships and private lesbian identity before the appearance of the gay rights movement.
Changing Our Minds: The Story of Dr. Evelyn Hooker
During the repressive 1950s, Dr. Evelyn Hooker undertook groundbreaking research that led to a radical discovery: homosexuals were not, by definition, "sick." Dr. Hooker's finding sent shock waves through the psychiatric community and culminated in a major victory for gay rights – in 1974 the weight of her studies, along with gay activism, forced the American Psychiatric Association to remove homosexuality from its official manual of mental disorders.
Startling archival footage of the medical procedure used to "cure" homosexuality, images from the underground gay world of the McCarthy era and home movies of literary icon Christopher Isherwood bring to life history which we must never forget. Dr. Hooker's insights into gay marriage and the gay community (a term she coined), and the filmmakers' winning approach make this documentary education at its most exciting and enjoyable. This Academy Award nominated film is narrated by Patrick Stewart.
Eileen Myles: An Interview
http://www.vdb.org/sites/default/files/clips/EILEENMYLE.mp4
American writer, artist, performer Eileen Myles (b.1949) discusses the various philosophies that motivate her work, including the language of film, embodied performance, and the alienation evoked by bodily vulgarity. Myles links her wide range of artistic and literary practice with notions of abstraction, improvisation, and the mythology of gender, which she explores in relation to her own identity as a working, middle-class lesbian woman. She reflects on the significance of geographical locations, both New York City and San Diego, on her art, and shares how her past struggles with addiction have shaped her life and practice.
The Aggressives
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkr7vUQTAys
A favorite of the film festival circuit, THE AGGRESSIVES is an insightful look at the little explored, yet highly dramatic subculture of lesbian butches as well as their "femme" counterparts who toe the line between gender definitions. This fascinating documentary features intimate and revealing interviews with six subjects.
Agnes Martin, Before the Grid
Agnes Martin is one of the most important artists of the twentieth century. Before she died in 2004 at the age of ninety-two, her paintings sold for millions of dollars and were displayed in the world's greatest museums. Through interviews with friends, lovers and classmates who knew her well, insight is gained into Agnes Martin's personality and the development of her creative process before she became known for her grid paintings.
Hot to Trot: The World of Same-Sex Ballroom Dance
The music… the spectacle… the costumes…the grace. Ballroom dance is enjoying a renaissance here in America, as well as abroad. Set in the swinging world of same-sex competitive ballroom dancing, this entertaining documentary goes inside that little-known world, following four men and women on and off the dance floor over four years. Not only an immersive character study, HOT TO TROT is also an idiosyncratic attack on bigotry against LGBTQ people.
Fish Out of Water
Inspired by the experience of coming out as a lesbian to her sorority sisters during her senior year at Vanderbilt, filmmaker Ky Dickens explores the Biblical passages used to condemn homosexuality in this informative yet entertaining documentary. Interweaving whimsical animation with enlightening interviews from both within the lesbian and gay community and as well with theologians from across the country, Fish Out of Water breaks down seven key passages from the Old and New Testaments – from Adam and Eve to Sodom and Gomorrah and the Purity Codes – while confronting the debate over translation and historical context that affect today's interpretations of the Bible. Fish Out of Water is essential viewing for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of this contentious issue, or who is engaged in our national dialogue about faith, homosexuality and same-sex marriage.
Visible Silence: The Unspoken Lives of Thai Tomboys, Ladies and Lesbians
A rare glimpse into the unspoken lives of Thai toms, dees and lesbians striving for recognition, authenticity, and acceptance in a traditional Buddhist society. It is an intimate story of self and family, love and sexuality, and self-determination where conformity is prized. VISIBLE SILENCE highlights the experience of masculine women (toms) who visibly transgress gender norms, yet are bound to remain silent about who they really are. It gives voice to their unspoken truths.
Krudas
Krudas explores the lives and work of a Cuban lesbian couple who are hip hop singers and performers. The duo Krudas addresses issues such as women's liberation, lesbian rights, female solidarity and racism. Their work is deeply engaged with feminism and strong ties to their African roots. Their songs represent an effort to upset semantics and syntax. Krudas conceive language itself as the root of female exclusion and thus summons men to engage in dialogue refusing to engage in any hierarchical structures.
A Union in Wait
Ryan Butler's A Union In Wait takes a very personal look at Wake Forest Baptist Church members Susan Parker and Wendy Scotts, and the controversy that would make their private life anything but private. In 1997, the couple decided they wanted to have a union ceremony in Wake Forest University's Wait Chapel, but the university told them no. Susan Parker, Wendy Scott, their church, and many others joined together to fight the school's decision in what would become a controversy that divided a community in North Carolina and made national headlines.
Choosing Children: Launching the Lesbian Baby Boom
Hailed as a pioneering achievement when it was first released in 1984, Choosing Children dramatically challenged the assumption that being lesbian means you can't be a mom. Six lesbian-headed families make decisions about how to become pregnant, navigate the process of adoption, whether to involve men in parenting, and address reactions from relatives, doctors and schoolmates. In so doing, they helped redefine what "family" means and opened the door for everyone to consider parenting, regardless of sexual orientation.
The Revival: Black Lesbian Poets and Feminist Thinkers
This documentary chronicles the US tour of a group of Black lesbian poets and musicians, who become present-day stewards of a historical movement to build community among queer women of color. Their journey to strengthen their community is enriched by insightful interviews with leading Black feminist thinkers and historians. As the group tours the country, the film reveals their aspirations and triumphs, as well as the unique identity challenges they face encompassing gender, race, and sexuality. This is a rarely seen look into a special sisterhood – one where marginalized voices are both heard and respected.
The Same Difference
A compelling documentary about lesbians who discriminate against other lesbians based on gender roles. Director Nneka Onuorah takes an in-depth look at the internalized hetero-normative gender roles that have become all too familiar within the African American lesbian and bisexual community. This film features many queer celebrities, including actress Felicia "Snoop" Pearson from the critically acclaimed HBO drama The Wire, and Lea DeLaria from Orange Is the New Black, living daily with opinions about how identity should be portrayed. Onuorah's engaging documentary shines a light on the relationships and experiences within the queer black female community, intersecting race, gender and sexuality.
The Passionate Pursuits of Angela Bowen
Award-winning filmmaker Jennifer Abod provides a window into the life of Angela Bowen, a woman who grew up in inner city Boston during the Jim Crow era and went on to become a classical ballerina, legendary dance teacher, black lesbian feminist activist organizer, writer and professor. For six decades Bowen has influenced and inspired untold numbers, speaking out as strongly for the Arts, and Black and Women's Rights as she has for LGBT Rights. Candid, compelling, and inspiring, PASSIONATE PURSUITS depicts Bowen's life across the decades, with archival footage, timeless musical selections, photographs and interviews.
Regarding Susan Sontag
This is also on Al's original list, but how can you leave it off! You can't.
From her early infatuation with books to her first experience in a gay bar; from her early marriage to her 15-year relationship with legendary photographer Annie Leibovitz, REGARDING SUSAN SONTAG is a fascinating look at a towering cultural critic and writer whose works on photography, war, illness, and terrorism continue to resonate today.
Related:best ofdocumentariesLists/Top 10supdate
Originally from Boston, MA, Rachel now lives in the Midwest. Topics dear to her heart include bisexuality, The X-Files and tacos. Her favorite Ciara video is probably "Ride," but if you're only going to watch one, she recommends "Like A Boy." You can follow her on twitter and instagram.
Rachel has written 1142 articles for us.
Look At These Butch Heroes
Queer Women Truly Are More Likely to Be Tree-Hugging Hippies
Hasn't it come out that Eileen Myles is problematic?
Regarding Susan Sontag is so so good. I can't wait to watch the rest of these.
I visit my local library at least once a week and I didn't know this was an option. I keep being astonished by the resources libraries provide. So much love for the librarians in my life and the librarians out there doing the good work.
Ugh this was meant to be a standalone comment. Sleepy commenting fail lol
I'm looking but what I'm seeing is claims of trans erasure in a think piece about Hillary Clinton and the sexism directed at her during the campaign that contains a weird, poorly executed vagina metaphor about misogyny something-something my brain is too soupy to grasp possibly because I'm tired, but also possibly because my brain wants nothing to do with the 2016 presidential campaign ever again and is trying shut down.
Eileen does use they as pronoun seems to in favor of telling people who whine it's not proper grammar to shove it.
Oooohh…this is my wheelhouse, so here's some more docs you can watch on Kanopy:
The Strange History of Don't Ask, Don't Tell – A History of U.S. Military's Ban on Gays and Lesbians
Suited – A Custom-Suit Company in NYC Helping LGBTQ Clients Embrace Their Identities
Gendernauts: A Journey Through Shifting Identities
Tiny and Ruby: Hell Divin' Women
Framing Lesbian Fashion
Last Call at Maud's
T'Ain't Nobody's Bizness: Queer Blues Divas of the 1920s
Lavender Limelight: Spotlight on Lesbian Filmmakers
No Secret Anymore: Founders of the Modern Lesbian Civil Rights Movement
The Paper Mirror
* "in my wheelhouse"
Deli Twotone
I'm very happy to see this roundup, because we subscribe only to the documentaries on Kanopy at my institution !
I now have a very full watchlist. With a few added wheelhousy things from @bakoelsch LOL
I just found "Changing Our Minds: The Story of Dr. Evelyn Hooker" on Amazon Prime and have saved it for later viewing. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
Iarrann mé
Twenty minutes ago I'd never heard of Kanopy. Now I have a huge list. Thanks, @alarae, @internrachel & @bakoelsch
Is it weird that whenever I get my local-taxes breakdown and I see the line for our library, I get all happy? Not like happy that it's so small, because it's not that small and honestly I think it should be bigger, but actually delighted to be paying that particular tax? I frickin love our library.
Lefty Scissors
"Framing Lesbian Fashion" is…WooOOoWWw. Let's just say, I took a lot of screenshots.
Nobody mentioned that "Watermelon Woman" or "The Early Works of Cheryl Dunye" are also on Kanopy? C'mon.
"The Aggressives" was really interesting, especially if you were of age in/around NYC in the late 1990s/early 2000s and want to reminisce about that time and place.
I love Kanopy!
J. A. (One of the many Jennifers)
Anyone going to Cinema Systers, the only Lesbian Film Festival in the USA?
JsRocky
These movies are really great. From the list, I already watched 7 by using an application named Cinema HD. I am a movie lover and I love to watch movies every day. I think there are very few peoples who use the TV set to watch movies and TV shows as in the modern age we have lots of alternatives to a TV set. I have used a lot of apps to watch videos online but no one can fulfill my desire. Yesterday I find an app that is really great to watch any videos online. This is the ever best mobile apps for all movie lovers. you can also use the app on other devices. The full guide of Download and installed are posted on the home page if this website: https://cinemahdapkdownload.com/
Holigay Gift Guide: For Queer Radicals, Trans Revolutionaries, and Menacing Lesbians
Boobs on Your Tube: Lisbeth Made Her Triumphant Return to "Nancy Drew"!
If You're Not On Top of Your Email, It's Okay
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Pop Culture Fix: Tig Notaro and Dakota Johnson are Making That "Lesbian Falls for Her Best Friend" Rom-Com You've Been Waiting For


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Q: Archive Page Template returns posts instead of page content on Polylang second language I have an issue with Polylang and custom archive page template. On my main language my archive page shows page content but on second language it starts looping trough posts.
<?php
/* Template Name: Archive Page Custom */
get_header();

while (have_posts()) : the_post();
    the_content();
endwhile;

?>

<?php
 get_footer(); ?>

What causes this?
Cheers

A: I have solved this. It turns out that under Polylang settings I had to uncheck my custom taxonomies because it completely breaks the site.
EDIT: Never mind this doesn't work because as I turn it off it shows posts from all languages on my archive first page. So it still has to be turned off to filter posts between languages.
So the issue remains. Archive page with default language loads content in from the page and secondary language shows posts for some reason instead of content.
EDIT: It was a conflict with archive-portfolio.php template and also I had custom post type slug named same as my secondary translation so the page broke. I had to rename my archive-portfolio.php template to portfoliotemplate.php and it works now.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Home > News > Former Burke Mountain/Jay Peak, VT Owner Ariel Quiros Pleads Guilty
Former Burke Mountain/Jay Peak, VT Owner Ariel Quiros Pleads Guilty
Ariel Quiros, known for pulling one of the largest Ponzi-like schemes ever in the state of Vermont, has pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and the concealment of material information, according to a report from the Associated Press.
Quiros and three of his associates were indicted over a failed plan to build a 134,000 square foot biotech lab to the town of Newport, located in the Northeast Kingdom area of the state. The entirety of the invested money came through the EB-5 visa program, which allows foreign investors the opportunity to put money into domestic projects in exchange at a chance for permanent U.S. residency.
However, the money raised through the program allegedly went directly to Quiros' personal accounts, leaving the town of Newport without the new facility, which would have brought a large number of jobs to the area, and left investors out several million dollars.
Though having pled not guilty in May of 2019 to 12 federal charges, Quiros entered his new plea at the beginning of August. With this new plea entered, nine of the charges against him have been dropped.
Related Story: Burke Mountain & Jay Peak Resorts In VT OK'ed For Pandemic-Relief Loan
Quiros is the former owner of Northeast Kingdom ski areas Burke Mountain and Jay Peak, both of which he had to let go as part of the ongoing legal actions and settlements. Both mountains are currently operating under the watch of Michael Goldberg, the appointed federal receiver who was recently able to secure the go-ahead for both mountains to take advantage of a $3.2 million Payroll Protection Loan due to COVID-19 issues. Goldberg is also overseeing attempts at selling both of the mountains.
Photo: The Sherburne Express quad chair at Burke Mountain - Credit: Tim Meyer for Ski Rex Media


05/10/2018 by Justine Aubin What are Caveats?
29/06/2018 by Justine Aubin Why make a Will if it can be contested?
Thank you Justine for everything that you have done for both of us throughout this whole legal case. I sincerely appreciate the way you handled everything and the genuine care and support that you provided.
Hello Justine. Thank you for your efforts to date. It's greatly appreciated.
Hi Adrian, Personal thanks to yourself and your team and of course, Justine too, for a job well done.


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You are here: Home › See › Art Exhibitions › May in Rome: A Preview of the Best Events in the Eternal City.
Art Exhibitions, By Night, City Parks, Contemporary & Modern Art, Free Visits, Sport, Theatre/Dance/Cinema, With Kids	 April 29, 2012 0 BuzzInRome
May is probably the best month of the year to visit Rome. Long, sunny days with warm temperatures – hot weather only starts in June here – and absolutely everything open and running.
Except the very first day of the month, the chaotic May 1, this is a perfect moment of the year to be here!
Let's then have a quick glance at Rome's top events and activites in May:
This month's symbol is the rose flower, therefore, nature lovers, shouldn't miss the Roseto Comunale, the Rose Garden. May is the only month of the year when it is always open (except May 18-19 for an international flower contest). And it's free!
The cinema event of May seems to be the first edition of the Nordic Film Festival. Free movies in original languages with Italian subtitles on May 3-6.
But two major night openings mark this month. The Vatican Museums will start their 7pm-11pm visits on May 4 every Friday, while the Colosseum will also be open in the evening with guided tours in English and Italian at 8:30pm on Thursday and Saturdays, from May 5 to October 6. 8pm-midnight.
Open House Roma on May 5/6 will open the doors of so many houses, offices, buildings to show you the best architecture of Rome for free.
Another key event for Rome in May is the Internazionali d'Italia, the country's most important tennis tournament, hosting many top world players every year, that will start on May 12 and run through May 20.
May 12 will also feature the Italian hip-hop dance championship qualifications for the MTV international show.
The European initiative Museums at Night will also involve Rome on May 19 with free guided tours, concerts and events in some of the city's countless museums which will be open from 8pm to 2 am.
While contemporary art collectors and lovers should hit Roma Contemporary, the capital's biggest contemporay art event with galleries from other Italian cities and from abroad show-casing their best artworks on May 25-27.
Finally, on the very last day of the month, Italy's most important track & field happening, the Golden Gala. Usain Bolt should be there this year, too! On May 31.
If you want to take advantage of these great events, airfares to Rome both domestic and international can be found on all major airlines for great prices.
De Lillo, Talese, W.Smith, Sedaris, Skarmeta To Attend Rome Literature Festival From May 19
Roman Folklore: Customs, Events and Places of the Eternal City's Traditional Culture
The Best Concerts, Circus and Dance Shows of your 2012 Christmas Holidays in Rome!
Halloween in Rome: Parties, Dinners, Shows & Events for Kids
Bolt, Powell To Sprint for Rome's Golden Gala Track & Field Event On May 26
Concerts, Events, Parties and Clubs for An Unforgettable New Year's Eve in Rome
New Railway Company Connects Rome to Florence, Milan, Naples & Bologna From April 28!
Great 2012 Music Summer in Rome: Madonna, Radiohead, the Cure & Many More in Concert!
BuzzInRome > See > Art Exhibitions > May in Rome: A Preview of the Best Events in the Eternal City.