Marzena joined GENYOUth team in December of 2012. As Accounting Manager, she oversees full cycle of accounting operations, and ensures an accurate and timely monthly close and reporting of financial statements in accordance with General Accepted Accounting Principles. Marzena works closely with CFO, GENYOUth team, State and Regional Dairy Councils and external auditors. Marzena plays a key role in budgeting, evaluating and improving internal accounting processes, developing and implementing systems to track and analyze financial information. She manages process of issuing school grants nationwide and ensures that all compliance have been met. Prior to joining GENYOUth, Marzena was an accountant at DMI for 5 years preparing financial statements for multiple entities within DMI and supporting various aspects of accounting.


Well I never, reet bad news!
But it's the last one in the town.
The parents? – They don't mind!
And now he's just gone blind.
And the lovely stonework crushed.
But they haven't any vision.
The old mill could have been saved.
A go-cart track on one of the floors?
There's loads that you could do.
Kid's crèche and petting zoo?
But they haven't got a clue!
All they see is money!
Smash it down and get the cash.
When cotton was the king!
So, they're going to knock it down.
For pocket, for bankbook, or purse.
When, they nipped in for their stew.
And turning the air quite blue.
And they're made out of beggar all.
Its carbon footprint's long been trod.
Sure, there's something I can save.
I think 'I'll have a do'.
Get it loaded, then off home to my place, it's called 'wits end'.
It's our heritage by the load!
You're assisting in the crime.
Previous articleChase & Status confirmed to play DJ Set at Doncaster Racecourse this month!


text:
Happy Halloween! I hope everyone is having a spook-tacular day! October was a really, really good month because . . . Blue Lily, Lily Blue! We celebrated its release with some Raven Cycle themed posts because we love the series sooooooo much. Now all three of us have terrible book hangovers that aren't going away any time soon, lol.
Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead
Blackbrooke III: King of Queens by Emma Silver
Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
Blackbrooke III: King of Queens Character Interview
Why I Love Gansey
Why I Love Ronan
Why The Melissa Loooooves Adam
Why We Love Noah
Why We Love Blue
TBR Reading Challenge Progress:
Books Read/Reviewed: 1 (Total for Year: 15)
Australian Women Writers Challenge Progress:
Books Read/Reviewed: 1 (Total for Year: 4)
Harry Potter Moment of the Week (58): Could You Ever Double As a Spy Like Snape?
Could You Ever Double As a Spy Like Snape?
Could I ever double as a spy like Snape? Nope! There is no possible way I could ever be a double agent comparable to Snape. For one, I am a terrible liar. Secondly, I laugh when I'm nervous or in awkward/tense situations, like a lot. I would be discovered and killed off very early. Allison, on the other hand, would make a very good spy, being a skilled liar and very likable. One would only have to worry about which side she was really loyal to. Lee, sorry, but you're in the same boat as The Melissa.
Posted by Melissa @ Rally the Readers at 6:00 AM 7 comments
Book Loot (8)
Some of my most highly anticipated new releases of the year came out this month, and it's been no secret how badly I wanted to get my hands on Blue Lily, Lily Blue. I flew through it faster than any other book I've read this year, and now obviously I'm a wreck because 1) it was phenomenal and 2) the waiting game for the next book begins anew. :(
I'm also sad because both The Darkest Minds and the Guards of the Shadowlands series are coming to an end. I'm expecting plenty of heartache from both In the Afterlight and Chaos—eep!
Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater
In the Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken
Chaos by Sarah Fine
Stories from the Shadowlands by Sarah Fine
Review: These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
These Broken Stars (Starbound #1)
By Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
To Sum It Up: A chance encounter on board the spaceliner the Icarus puts military hero Tarver Merendsen in the path of Lilac LaRoux, the daughter of the ship's builder and a man with wealth that Tarver can only dream of. Lilac, so accustomed to people trying to use her as a means to get to her father, makes it blatantly clear to Tarver that she wants nothing to do with someone like him. That's unavoidable, however, when disaster strikes the Icarus and Tarver and Lilac's escape pod crash lands on a planet with no apparent signs of other humans. Stranded for what may very well be the rest of their lives, Tarver and Lilac are forced to work together in order to survive on a planet where no one else seems to have been able to do so.
Review: Count These Broken Stars among the numerous books I decided to read because I'd seen it everywhere. I can't help the curiosity that accompanies much buzzed about titles, and sometimes they work out. Sometimes they don't, though, and I'm sorry to say that These Broken Stars falls into this category.
I feel like this book took forever to read. It would seem like I'd read a good number of pages, but when I checked, I'd discover that I hadn't gotten very far at all. I kept waiting for the magic that had enthralled so many readers to kick in, but alas, I couldn't find it.
These Broken Stars is told from the perspectives of its two main characters, Tarver and Lilac. He's from humble roots and made a name for himself as a war hero; she's known everywhere thanks to her incredibly rich and powerful father. So we have a guy and a girl from polar social classes who are passengers on a spaceship headed for catastrophe. I would have been all right with the very familiar ring of this story if only the book had not employed other tropes as well. First Tarver and Lilac barely tolerate each other, then they gradually warm up to each other, being the only two people on the planet and all. Normally I love slow-building relationships, but like so many other aspects of the novel, this one felt too formulaic. Just about everything that could have happened to characters in this disaster scenario happened to our two protagonists here and without really making me feel that their experience was unique.
Finding an investment in Tarver and Lilac as characters was also a struggle. There's a lot of, "Someone like him/her doesn't go for someone like me" and, "I wouldn't be alive without you" followed by, "No, I wouldn't be alive without you." I will give Lilac credit for growing up significantly by the end of the book, though I wasn't as enthusiastic about how she kept mentioning that her father would be apoplectic to find her with a commoner like Tarver. Tarver's chapters echoed Lilac's frequent thoughts about the class difference between them, and I became rather weary of hearing it from both of them.
The most attention grabbing element of this book for me was figuring out what was going on with the planet that Tarver and Lilac found themselves on. The mystery is subtle at first and builds at a nice pace as the novel moves along. The promise of learning about the planet's secrets is what motivated me to hang in there with These Broken Stars; otherwise, seeing it through to the end would have been even more challenging.
Because the book is so focused on two characters and they didn't stand out much for me, I never really got into this book. Plenty of other readers loved it immensely, however, so I encourage you to check it out for yourself.
All in All: I feel like I jumped too hastily on the hype train with this one, and I really can't picture myself going on with the series.
Labels: 2.5 Stars, Amie Kaufman, Lee's Reviews, Meagan Spooner, Science Fiction, Starbound, These Broken Stars
The Raven Cycle: Why We Love Blue
I think Blue is so awesome! Everything about her is quirky and hilarious. She fits in so miraculously with the Raven Boys that it's really a surprise that she hasn't been there since the very beginning. I looove her sense of humor; I really feel like she gets most of the best lines. She is definitely one of the bravest and most endearing heroines I have read about. I have never found her annoying or whiny, which is extremely surprising and quite a feat. I really look forward to reading about more of her adventures with or without the boys.
First, Blue is one of the coolest character names ever. I think so, at least. I also think the name just suits her.
Blue impressed me from the get-go because she wasn't impressed with the Raven Boys and their wealth and privilege. She immediately established herself as fiercely independent, unafraid to speak her mind, and very, very astute. She's a character whom I'd switch places with in a heartbeat, and not just because she gets to hang out with Gansey, Ronan, Adam, & Noah (although that is a definite plus). Her life at 300 Fox Way in a house full of psychics also sounds fascinating. Blue is awesome, and I love her lots.
Blue is one of the coolest characters I have ever read about! I love almost everything about her and I'm so glad she's in the series because she balances out the boys very well, lol.
I admire her a lot, especially for strong-arming her way into the Raven Boys clique. It must have been incredibly hard for her. They come from completely different backgrounds and they had all been an extremely close, tight-knit group without her. But Blue managed to fit in perfectly from the start and I'm so grateful for that. I absolutely love Blue for her uniqueness. She is such a strange character. And I don't think it's her psychic family that makes her weirder than others (though I do very much enjoy reading about her family; they're so fun and awesome) but I think it's just her personality. She didn't seem to fit in anywhere, even in her own family, until she found the boys. Though I am worried about how everyone's relationship will change after they finally find Glendower, seeing that it is the common ground holding the gang together, I hope that they all manage to remain friends.
Labels: The Raven Cycle
The Raven Cycle: Why We Love Noah
** Spoiler warning if you haven't read The Raven Boys **
How can you not love Noah? To me, he's just one of those characters whom it's nearly impossible not to find endearing. I especially love the connection he and Blue seem to have formed, as well as his uncanny knack for knowing what's really on everybody's mind. It's as though he can see straight into the depths of everyone's souls, and maybe he can, given his backstory . . . .
Said backstory, by the way, totally blew my mind in The Raven Boys. This quiet, unassuming character suddenly became the center of one of the biggest revelations in the novel. And I loved every second of it.
Noah Czerny is the most adorable Raven Boy of them all. He's the quiet yet reliable one in the group. Even though he tends to disappear at times, he is pretty much always there for all of the others. Although some of the the other guys in the group get into little fights, Noah is never one to disturb the peace. I've truly grown to appreciate him throughout the series.
His whole backstory is one that caught me completely by surprise. It's sad that I didn't notice what was going on with him because I was so focused on the others. And that's the point, no one really focuses on him long enough to figure him out. Not even his friends noticed, which is kind of terrible. Even though he's been through so much stuff, Noah has still managed to be strong. I love Noah for a lot of reasons. He's my second favorite character in the series and I look forward to what's in store for him.
Ah. smudgy Noah. What isn't there to love about this Raven Boy? He always brings humor and adorableness to every scene he's in. I was quite devastated to find out he was dead, but he really makes it work. I wonder if death has changed him at all, and if it did I think it was for the best. He interacts so well with each of the boys and Blue because he has one of those personalities that gets along with everyone. I don't think anyone could not love Noah. And that's about all I have to say. Noah is great and I love him.
If There Was One Thing You Could Change About Harry Potter, What Would It Be?
If I could change one thing about Harry Potter, the only thing that comes to mind is that I wish it was real! Why can't I go to Hogwarts?! XD I feel like everything about the series serves a purpose, even the really sad stuff. All of those intricate parts play an important role in the overall story line, so I don't think you could change anything without changing a whole bunch of other stuff. The series is a masterpiece and I don't think I could ever change it for the better.
Posted by Melissa @ Rally the Readers at 6:00 AM 15 comments
The Raven Cycle: Why The Melissa Loooooves Adam
** SPOILER WARNING: THIS POST CONTAINS A MAJOR SPOILER FOR THE DREAM THIEVES **
Sadly, I was the last one on the Raven Boys bandwagon, but I've made up for it with my overwhelming love and devotion for the series. ;) Like Ally mentioned in her post, we know each other quite well. Just as Lee called Ally's love for Ronan, Ally knew I would like Adam. Now, don't get me wrong, I love all of the characters dearly, but Adam is my favorite. There are so many reasons why I love Adam. He is so sweet and smart and sensitive and exactly my type of guy. I really admire him for always working so hard to be successful and always wanting to do things for himself. However, this leads to Adam's faults, for which I also admire him. Adam is too quick to dismiss help from his friends in favor of taking on the challenge himself. It's really hard for Adam to be surrounded by everything he has always wanted and to have to work so hard for things his friends simply inherited. I think Adam has a more relatable set of challenges than those of his wealthy friends, and I think that makes him easier to relate to. The reader really feels for Adam and his struggles. Sometimes, I wish I could just give him a hug.
I really hope that in Blue Lily, Lily Blue Adam finds some peace and happiness. I hope Adam can take a step back and accept help from his friends without seeing it as charity. I want something good to happen for Adam because he could really use a pick-me-up. Perhaps more than anything I want Adam to get together with Ronan. How fantastic would that be?! Anyway, I am crazy excited to read more about Adam! To be honest, I'm a little worried about him.
The Raven Cycle: Why I Love Ronan
My favorite Raven Boy is and always will be Ronan Lynch. I love all of the other guys, Blue included, but there's just something about Ronan that is so likable; which is quite ironic because Ronan does his best to make sure he comes off as unlikable as possible, lol. He is such an amazing character and I've lost count of how many times that I wished he was not just fictional.
It's kind of funny how well Lee, Melissa, and I know each other. Lee was the first person out of our gang to read The Raven Boys and she was the one who pushed me to read it. Not only did she guess correctly about me totally loving the book, but she also guessed that Ronan would be my favorite character. I love pretty much everything about the guy. Superficially, I think he has a really badass name: Ronan Lynch. If I have to pick a name for anything, be it a username or me just trying to rename someone/something, I'll use Ronan's name, lol.
On a deeper level, I admire Ronan for his dedication to his friends and Chainsaw. Ronan really tries his best to make himself appear as tough as nails. It's rare to see him express his emotions, and I love it when he does. I have several favorite scenes with Ronan; many of them including Chainsaw. I think it is absolutely adorable how much Ronan loves his pet raven. I distinctly remember reading about Ronan hiding Chainsaw in his backpack so he could feed her while he was at school. It's one of the sweetest moments I've ever read in any book. Another favorite moment of mine is when Ronan drops Adam home and Ronan drives off, knowing that Adam's father is an ass, only to turn the car around to protect Adam and beat the shit out of the father. Ronan got arrested for Adam. He would practically do anything to help his friends, regardless of what happens to him in the process. I love that about him. In a way, I think he's the most loyal and protective Raven Boy out of the group.
Another reason that I love Ronan is because he is just such an interesting character. I am so glad Ronan gets a lot of spotlight in The Dream Thieves and I can only hope that it continues with Blue Lily, Lily Blue. Ronan has been through so much in his life, most of it centering around his family, and I think he's doing a good job of holding himself together while finally starting to figure out his family secrets. I'm so intrigued by the Lynch family and I'm patiently waiting to get the whole story.
In the end, I think that Ronan is my favorite because out of all the other characters I can relate to him the most. We actually have a lot in common. We both love animals, lol, we both have the same sense of humor, we are both fiercely loyal to our friends and family, and we both try to keep our feelings inside. I feel like I can understand his character quite well and I enjoy that. It makes me feel more connected to the story. Ronan Lynch is such a badass character and I'm very much looking forward to reading more about him.
Posted by Ally @ Rally the Readers at 6:00 AM 2 comments
The Raven Cycle: Why I Love Gansey
Richard Campbell Gansey III. Gansey. It makes no difference to me what he prefers to be called; my heart would belong to this Raven Boy regardless.
I was instantly captivated by Gansey's character. I mean, Maggie Stiefvater has given Blue and all four of the boys such rich, meticulously constructed backstories, but Gansey's just took over my brain and heart and shows no signs of letting go. Ever.
What I love most about Gansey is how much he cares about his friends, and the newest addition to their little group, Blue. In a lot of ways, Gansey reminds me of a parent, with his worry in The Raven Boys over Adam's home situation and Ronan's possible expulsion from Aglionby. Yes, Gansey has had the luxury of a life of privilege and occasionally comes across as condescending to those who don't know him well, but I really think that he has a kind heart with genuinely generous intentions.
On a lighter, and maybe even quirkier, note, I feel a sort of kinship with Gansey for needing to hold his phone right up to his face if he's not wearing contacts or glasses. That is a scenario I know all too well. I usually turn my phone on first thing in the morning before even getting out of bed, and I have to hover it really, really, dangerously close to my face. I have actually texted Ally and The Melissa like this and have actually texted, "I'm in Gansey mode right now." Yes, I really am this obsessed with this character.
Of course I can't write about Gansey without also writing about Glendower, the Welsh king of legend who is at the center of Gansey's obsessive search. There is no other word to describe Gansey's quest but "obsessive" because Glendower is the be-all and end-all for Gansey. The never ending, all-consuming, exhaustive research. The journal. I'm a little nervous about what will happen if Gansey does find his sleeping king. I hope Glendower isn't going to be all angry about the interruption to his nap and smite the person responsible. Gansey's previous brush with death and the whole Blue-related matter make me even more nervous on his behalf. Obviously, the last thing I want is to see anything bad befall him, but the odds look a tad unfavorable at the moment.
I've missed Gansey tons in the year that's passed since The Dream Thieves, and I cannot wait to read about him again (and everybody, really). I'll try to savor every page he appears on and every line of dialogue he utters, but part of me also can't devour the books in this series fast enough.
A Week of The Raven Cycle
Do you love Maggie Stiefvater's Raven Cycle series? We do! And if you're also a fan, then you know that book #3, Blue Lily, Lily Blue, releases this Tuesday! All three of us have literally been waiting for this book since we finished The Dream Thieves a little over a year ago and were subsequently wrecked for a while. Well, the wait is just about over, and we're celebrating with a week's worth of Raven Cycle related posts:
Monday, October 20: Lee's post about Gansey
Tuesday, October 21: Ally's post about Ronan
Wednesday, October 22: The Melissa's post about Adam
Friday, October 24: Group post about Noah
Saturday, October 25: Group post about Blue
Yep, there will be some extreme fangirling over this series and its characters for the next few days. :D
Where Would You Live As a Witch/Wizard?
If I was lucky enough to be a witch, I would definitely be living someplace magical. Hopefully, I'd be staying at Hogwarts for a couple of years and then after graduation I would like to think that I would find a nice little place close to Diagon Alley. Or, even better, I'd try to crash at Number 12, Grimmauld Place, lol.
Review: Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
Isla and the Happily Ever After (Anna and the French Kiss #3)
By Stephanie Perkins
Publisher: Dutton Books
To Sum It Up: Isla Martin never thought that the crush she's had on Josh Wasserstein since their freshman year at the School of America in Paris would develop into anything more than that. Running into Josh in New York during summer break, though, marks the start of something for both of them that continues when they return to Paris for the school year. Soon Isla is living a dream, but with graduation looming for her and Josh, the two must figure out a way to stay together.
Review: Anna and the French Kiss was one of the first YA contemporary romances I read shortly after I'd begun reading in earnest again as an adult. I remember being pleasantly surprised by how it told a sweet story that had substance to it. There's a fine line between sweet and cloying, and with Isla and the Happily Ever After, Stephanie Perkins delivers another winning novel that warms your heart without getting sappy or melodramatic whenever the characters face conflict.
Two things that I've especially loved about Anna, Lola and the Boy Next Door, and now Isla are the main characters' interesting backstories and how engaging they are as narrators. They also strike an excellent balance between being characters you can't help but root for and being realistically flawed. Even as some of Isla's actions made me go, "No, no, no!" I couldn't fault her for them because I completely understood her reasoning behind them. It's just that I so badly wanted to see Isla's fairytale romance with Josh reach an equally fairytale ending that it pained me whenever insecurity got the better of her.
I think "fairytale romance" is an apt description of Isla and Josh's relationship. It's epic and sweeping and swoon-worthy. It's about falling totally, absolutely, madly in love. It's not fleeting teenage infatuation, either; what Isla and Josh have is the real deal, complete with the very real problem of what happens to them when they graduate high school. Josh is ready to take his drawing talents further, but Isla is unsure of what career path she wants to pursue. Perkins wields an expert touch with her writing whenever her novels take on a more serious tone, and I think that's what sets her books apart from other YA contemporary romances. They're just believable, from the characters to the story lines. Even contemporary fiction is, well, inherently fictional, but some books succeed better than others at immersing you so thoroughly in the story that at times you forget that you're reading a work of fiction. Isla is that kind of book.
Isla's descriptions of Paris, Barcelona, and my beloved New York were absolutely beautiful and just one more reason to love this novel. Love stories don't always agree with this stony heart, but all three of Stephanie Perkins's novels have been notable exceptions to that.
All in All: The charming story that began with Anna and the French Kiss comes full circle in this equally sweet conclusion.
Labels: 4.5 Stars, Anna and the French Kiss, Contemporary, Isla and the Happily Ever After, Lee's Reviews, Stephanie Perkins
Blackbrooke III: King of Queens: Character Interview
Today we're thrilled to spotlight Emma Silver's Blackbrooke III: King of Queens, the final installment in the Blackbrooke trilogy, with an interview with our favorite character from the series, Denzil Rathbone. King of Queens releases tomorrow, and if you're looking for some spooky reads in time for Halloween, definitely check out this series!
The Blackbrooke Trilogy:
Blackbrooke
Blackbrooke II: The Guardian
Blackbrooke III: King of Queens
** Our Interview with Denzil **
Hi Denzil! We're thrilled to welcome you back to Rally the Readers for a third visit!
Awesome to speak to you. Jones and his cronies stole the postcard you sent me so I'm glad you got back in touch.
How rude of them! Well, we're glad to hear from you, too! A lot of things have changed since we last talked, including a big one for you: how did it feel to cut off your dreads?
Oh wow, it was a big moment. It takes a lot of work to completely leave your hair alone, without washing or combing it. So many years. No, I had to after the tunnels. I was covered in blood and once it dried it really did smell bad. Maz wouldn't come near me and I had to bite the bullet and get the clippers out. The problem is you can see my face now. I didn't realise my face was so long actually. I look in the mirror and see a horse. Maz likes it, so that's all that matters I suppose.
Taking out Crits can't be a pleasant experience, but when it's necessary, what's your weapon of choice?
I like a gun. I don't have too many of them after the famous Jones clearout. It's a good clean way of getting the job done. I must say though, if I had a flamethrower, I'd be all over it. I could waste a long line of them with one of those . . . .
What are your feelings towards Cassius these days? What do you think about Liberty's feelings towards him?
I'm shaking my head right now. Listen, I liked the kid when we were doing the Scooby gang thing. I thought he was sweet and you could tell he had feelings for Liberty. I would have trusted her life with him. It's a different story now. He's let the power go to his head and the hatred he's got for her makes my blood boil. That's teenagers for you - the world ends over the most ridiculous things. I mean, a kiss for god's sake? Get a grip, man. Liberty is doing her usual martyr crap. She loves him in some weird way, but it's that typical thing she does. The girl wants to change the world and maybe he's the next project. I don't know. It's been a fair few years since I was that age, so I'm probably not being fair.
What's your worst memory from Blackbrooke? Favorite?
Worst? Hmmm, there's been a fair few shit moments. Can I say shit? [Absolutely!] Anyway, some of the worst times have been to do with Maz, unfortunately. Losing her to Jonathan Jones, seeing her get married and have a kid, losing her a second time when she joined Fuller's vigilantes, watching her get bit by a Hunter . . . . Yeah, it's been rough. My favourite memories, aside to the early days with Maz, are probably when it was just me and Lib working in the shop. She started out a little brat, but you can't fault that sense of humour. She's a smart little lady, and she gets me. Not many people have ever really got me in my life so meeting a teenage girl who did was a surprise. She gave me a reason to be alive when I needed it the most. I don't want to say too much about that though, she's already a nightmare. Don't want that head getting any bigger.
With this part of Blackbrooke's story coming to a close, any parting thoughts?
It's been a rush! I have so many things I could say about Blackbrooke. Sometimes it makes me laugh until I cry and sometimes I just . . . cry! One thing I learnt was the importance of people. If all of this happened when I didn't have Liberty or Maz in my life, I would have walked out and ended it at the first opportunity. People give you the reason to go on and fight for what's right. I'm just pissed off that I spent so many years pushing people away and living as a recluse. I call those the wasted years!
Thanks so much for all of the time you've given us not just for this interview but for your previous blog chats as well. All the best to you in the future!
My pleasure, ladies. Hey, if you're in the area, drop by some time.
Labels: Blackbrooke, Character Interview, Emma Silver
ARC Review: Blackbrooke III: King of Queens by Emma Silver
By Emma Silver
Publisher: Crooked Cat Publishing
To Sum It Up: Liberty Connor has returned to Blackbrooke to try and save her town from being destroyed not only by the Crits but by a human threat as well. Liberty's odds of even surviving long in Blackbrooke, where the Rules no longer apply and the Crits terrorize the residents day and night, are slim, but she's determined to fight until the end. She'll have to put aside whatever feelings she still has for Cassius Godwin, whom she's known since childhood but who now leads the Crits on a mission to obliterate Blackbrooke.
Lee's Review: With Halloween right around the corner, now is the perfect time for a scare-tastic read like Blackbrooke III: King of Queens. I'm also feeling a bit sentimental about the book, as it's the last chapter in a series about a small English town where the absolutely terrifying creatures known as Crits menace the residents, essentially keeping the humans prisoner within Blackbrooke's borders. It's been a thrilling ride across three novels, and King of Queens concludes the trilogy with a strong finish.
Being the hopeless wimp that I am, I don't typically gravitate towards books with a high scare factor, but I've very much enjoyed this series. The Crits are grotesque as hell, but that's been the fun of reading about them. You don't get too far into King of Queens before you're reminded of how vicious they are and how much they love to snack on humans. You also spend a good deal of the book waiting for them to strike yet again and horrified when they do. The suspense and pacing of the action are so spot-on here. A constant feeling of unease hangs in the air while reading this because you never know what the Crits and their human leader, Cassius, are going to do next.
Cassius, once teased mercilessly as a child by the other Blackbrooke kids, now wields the upper hand as the only person who holds the closest thing to control over the Crits. He and his "army" engage in a chilling game of cat and mouse with Blackbrooke's residents. All the while, though, he seems to have a cryptic, alternate agenda on his mind, too. Working out exactly what Cassius's endgame is adds even more mystery to an already taut story.
I love how the axe has become protagonist Liberty's favorite weapon. With her axe in hand, there's no stopping her, not even the pleas of her friends to not venture out on her own to face Cassius and the Crits. That's why Liberty finds herself back in Blackbrooke, though, and once she sets her mind to a task, there's no second guessing for her.
Watching the development of this story and these characters has been awesome. Even during the occasional moments when I wanted to cover my eyes, I didn't because that would have meant turning away from the page. Although the ending of King of Queens couldn't have been written any more perfectly, I think it'd be cool to eventually have a follow-up, even just a novella, to check in once more on Liberty and her companions.
All in All: If you're looking for a pre-Halloween fright, then you need to start this series. I became more invested with each book I read, and Blackbrooke III: King of Queens was a very satisfying series finale.
Ally's Review: The much anticipated Blackbrooke III: King of Queens did not disappoint! It felt so energizing to be back in Blackbrooke, especially since the last book left off with a terrible (and when I say terrible, I mean that in the best way possible) cliffhanger. I easily got caught up in all the wonderful action and managed to finish the entire book in one night.
With every installment in the Blackbrooke series comes the promise of action and horror, which is one of the main aspects that I love about the books. This particular book is, in my opinion, the scariest. I made the mistake of starting the book at night time and I was flipping out whenever any of the Crits, especially the Queens, made an appearance. Instead of getting used to the Crits and their violence towards the humans, I was more horrified than ever. And I loved it. It's incredibly hard to find a good book that can actually scare you as a reader. I admire Blackbrooke for its ability to terrify me and I patiently await the day when I can find another series to compete with it. Along with the horror, there is plenty of action. All of the characters are such badasses! If I could describe King of Queens in just one word it would be badass. There was not one dull moment in the whole entire book. The story is fast-paced and it flowed perfectly. I was thankful that I didn't have to wait too long for some of the confrontations because the suspense was killing me.
The characters are yet another reason to love this series. I am so proud of Liberty, the main female character. Throughout the series, she has grown into a remarkably strong woman, and I love the fact that she doesn't sit around and let others do the work for her. Her relationship with Cassius had me on edge throughout the entire book. Cassius turning "evil" wrecked me. At first, I welcomed it, thinking that it would be an interesting twist to the story, but I soon missed the old Cass. It's weird, because in the previous books I had a hard time connecting to him and I honestly couldn't care less about his character. But something about him being evil changed my perspective. It is very difficult and slightly depressing to read about him and Libby being on opposing sides. My favorite character is and always will be Denzil. Denzil is so wonderfully humorous; he brings rays of sunshine into the otherwise dark and scary town of Blackbrooke. I felt that he also grew up a lot this time around, and I credit him for keeping the gang together.
The only aspect of the book that I did not enjoy was the fact that I felt like while some of the characters (Libby) were figuring stuff out, I was still left in the dark. Normally, mysteries do not bother me, seeing that I enjoy puzzling them out. The problem was that I felt like the mystery was solved but the answers weren't clearly stated. I had to do a lot of guesswork when it came to figuring out what had happened and what was going on.
The ending. Oh my God, the ending is so ridiculously beautiful, I couldn't help but laugh. Everything fell perfectly in place, and I couldn't have asked for anything more. All of the characters got exactly what they deserved. It was just a perfect ending to the series. I have enough closure to move on with my life but I am still invested enough to want to know what happens next. Hopefully, this won't be the last time I see Libby and the gang.
All in All: King of Queens is a brilliant addition to an amazing series. Everything, ranging from the horror to the plot, is on point. I loved every single action-packed moment and I couldn't be happier with how things were left off.
Labels: 4 Stars, 4.5 Stars, Ally's Reviews, Blackbrooke, Emma Silver, Horror, Lee's Reviews
Harry Potter Moment of the Week (55): Quibbler or Daily Prophet?
Quibbler or Daily Prophet?
I'm going with The Quibbler on this one. It gave Harry a voice when the Ministry of Magic used the Prophet to drag Harry and Dumbledore's names through the mud. Plus, I think it'd be cool to try on a pair of Spectrespecs!
Posted by Lee @ Rally the Readers at 6:00 AM 10 comments
Review: Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead
* This review may contain spoilers for the previous books in the Bloodlines series.
Silver Shadows (Bloodlines #5)
By Richelle Mead
Publisher: Razorbill
To Sum It Up: Sydney's worst nightmare has come true: she's been taken to an Alchemist re-education center, where the Alchemists' methods for reinforcing loyalty to the organization are every bit as horrible as she feared. Sydney's prison even prevents Adrian from contacting her through dreams. With no apparent way out of the Alchemists' grasp, not even Sydney's formidable logic and resourcefulness may be enough to help her escape.
Review: Although I enjoyed reading The Fiery Heart, I couldn't help feeling that it just didn't quite have the same spark as the other Bloodlines novels. Silver Shadows, on the other hand, was absolutely awesome. I devoured it in a little over a day, completely absorbed by poor Sydney's imprisonment by the Alchemists and both her and Adrian's attempts to break her out of there.
Sydney is incredible in this book. She's always been skilled at using logic to escape tough situations, but Alchemist re-education is unlike anything she's previously gone up against. It's hell. Re-education has been alluded to in the previous books as something to be avoided at all costs, but it's another thing entirely to watch Sydney endure physical and psychological torment at the Alchemists' hands, all in the name of "cleansing" her sin. The Alchemists preach about the evils of vampires, but they're perfectly fine with breaking their own people.
Even under these conditions, though, Sydney continues to fight. The other detainees in the re-education facility are wary of her because they don't want association with someone so tainted to delay their own release. Still, Sydney manages to muster a few tenuous alliances in a place where anyone could betray her at any time.
Adrian, meanwhile, is totally falling apart in Sydney's absence. His spiral into self-destruction is heartbreaking. He's never felt like more of a failure because he's unable to find a single clue to Sydney's whereabouts, even through dreams. Adrian's struggles may be of a different nature than Sydney's, but his pain is very much as searing as hers is.
The tension build-up in Silver Shadows is superb. There's barely a lull in the novel, especially in Sydney's chapters. Her mind is always at work to undermine her captors, all while she tries to convince them that rehabilitation is working. It takes Adrian a while to find his way, but when he does . . . he's simply amazing. I didn't think it was possible to love him more than I already did, but by the end of this book, I'd found tons more love for him. I can't forget to mention how much I loved Adrian and Sydney's extended family, too: Jill, Eddie, Angeline, Trey, new-ish guy Neil, Ms. Terwilliger, and, of course, little Hopper. They'd do anything for each other, and that's truly on display here. Heck, this book even gave me a newfound respect for rebel Alchemist Marcus Finch.
Richelle Mead is brilliant at dropping bombshell endings, and this one . . . . Let's just say that I wish I could fast forward time to the release date for the next book.
All in All: Silver Shadows blew me away. The dual POVs suited it perfectly, and it just threw twist after twist at you.
Labels: 5 Stars, Bloodlines, Lee's Reviews, Richelle Mead, Silver Shadows, Vampires
20 Things You Might Not Know About Me
I saw this post over at my buddy Micheline's blog, Lunar Rainbows, and thought it was awesome. I really enjoy reading these kinds of posts and figured I'd join in on the fun, so here goes:
I stand a whopping 5'0"! And by "whopping," obviously I mean "not whopping."
2. Do you have a hidden talent? If so, what?
If I have a hidden talent, then it's still hidden because I got nothing for this question.
3. What's your biggest blog related pet peeve?
Captcha. I usually have a hard time deciphering those things and get frazzled when it complains that I've entered the jumble of letters/numbers incorrectly. Yes, spam comments are annoying, but I find Captcha even more so.
4. What's your biggest non-blog related pet peeve?
Rudeness. There's just no excuse for it.
5. What's your favorite song?
"(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding?" - Elvis Costello & The Attractions
6. What's your favorite Etsy shop that isn't yours?
I haven't checked out Etsy very much, which is a good thing because I'd probably spend a ton of money.
7. What's your favorite way to spend your free time when you're alone?
Reading, knitting.
8. What's your favorite junk food?
Reese's Peanut Butter anything: cups, pumpkins, Christmas trees, eggs. You get the idea.
9. Do you have a pet or pets? If so, what kind and what are their names?
I don't have any pets of my own, but I do spoil the heck out of Ally and Melissa's dog, Tyler:
10. What are your favorite fiction and nonfiction books?
I don't read much nonfiction, but I do enjoy reading about medieval history. As for fiction, I'll keep it simple and name just a few of my faves: Persuasion by Jane Austen, A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin, The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare, The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater.
11. What's your favorite beauty product?
Clinique Almost Lipstick. Love that stuff!
12. When were you last embarrassed? What happened?
I'm really awkward and embarrass myself often. Last week I had one of those moments where you wave at somebody you think you know and upon closer inspection you realize the person is a total stranger and probably now thinks you're a weirdo.
13. If you could only drink one beverage (besides water) for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Tea, of the plain old Lipton variety.
14. What's your favorite movie?
Like the favorite books question, there are too many to list here, so I'll just pick a few: Dirty Dancing, the original Star Wars movies, just about every Marvel movie, The Little Mermaid, Frozen.
15. What were you in high school: prom queen, nerd, cheerleader, jock, valedictorian, band geek, loner, artist, prep?
Nerd, for sure, though it's taken all these years to embrace my geekiness and be proud of it.
16. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
Maybe England or Ireland. I'd consider going back to NYC as long as I didn't have to shovel snow.
17. PC or Mac?
As a college freshman I learned computer programming on a Mac, but everything was PC after that and has been ever since.
18. Last romantic gesture from a crush, date, boy/girlfriend, spouse?
Alas, I am still waiting to meet the real life counterpart to my fictional boyfriends.
19. Favorite celebrity?
Richard Armitage. My North and South DVDs are probably in danger of wearing out, particularly disc 2.
20. What blogger do you secretly wish you were best friends with?
I think of all of you whom I regularly chat with as besties. Seriously, I love you guys! ❤
If you decide to participate with a post of your own, please let me know, and I'll check it out!
Labels: Bookish Tags
Harry Potter Moment of the Week (58): Could You Ev...
Review: These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman & Meaga...
Review: Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephan...
ARC Review: Blackbrooke III: King of Queens by Emm...
Harry Potter Moment of the Week (55): Quibbler or ...
Harry Potter Moment of the Week (54): Muggle-Born,...
September 2014 Recap

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Select other Eastern Kentucky Colonels Balogun, Tariq Bennett, Iran Beverly, Braxton Blanton, Devontae Buttry, Turner Comer, Tayshawn Cruickshank, Russhard Jackson, DaShawn Lewis, Curt Minter, Isaiah Moreno, Michael Pelfrey, Wade Reeves-Young, Jordan Robb, Cooper Wade, Trevin Walker, Leland Wardy, Michael Williams, Jannson Eastern Kentucky Colonels
Isaiah Minter
Team: Eastern Kentucky Colonels Height: 5-11 Born: --
Class-Eligibility: Jr-So Weight: 175 Hometown: Richmond, KY
Per Game Team G GS MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG TOPG PFPG FG% 3P% FT%
20-21 EastKy 11 0 2.0 1.1 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.3 0.1 .625 - .500
21-22 EastKy 12 1 4.8 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.7 .125 .250 -
Career 23 1 3.4 0.7 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.3 0.4 .375 .250 .500
Totals Team G GS Min FGM FGA 3PM 3PA FTM FTA OR REB A Stl Blk TO PF Pts
20-21 EastKy 11 0 22 5 8 0 0 2 4 1 3 1 1 0 3 1 12
21-22 EastKy 12 1 57 1 8 1 4 0 0 0 5 4 3 0 3 8 3
Career 23 1 79 6 16 1 4 2 4 1 8 5 4 0 6 9 15
Date Opp Result Min FGM FGA 3PM 3PA FTM FTA OR REB A Stl Blk TO PF Pts
12/15 Midway W 121-67 3 1 3 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3
12/31 AliLlo W 106-52 12 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 1 0
1/4 CenArk L 72-79 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 0
1/15 JacSt L 65-76 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1/27 @FGCU L 73-77 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
1/29 @Stet L 95-113 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0
2/3 KSawSt W 82-81 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
2/5 Lib L 84-91 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
2/16 NortAL W 80-76 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
2/19 @CenArk L 76-83 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 0
2/23 @JacSt L 68-81 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2/26 Bellar W 72-58 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0


text:
Hatton vs. Mayweather?
AdamC June 24, 2007, 1:02pm #1
Does anyone think this fight is a possibility and how do yuo think it would go down?
http://www.skysports.com/skysports/article/0,,12-1271990,00.html
The result has opened the door to a possible future fight with Floyd Mayweather Junior, regarded as the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world.
Mayweather retired after beating legend Oscar de la Hoya in the richest fight in history last month.
But the Manchester 'Hitman' would jump at the chance to coax out him of retirement and took the opportunity of his victory to taunt the former world welterweight champion.
He said: "I knew I was in the groove for this one.
"There was more action in those four rounds than you'd have had in Floyd Mayweather's last half-dozen fights."
There is little love lost between the two fighters and Hatton recently revealed that the pair had clashed when they met in the audience at another fight.
He said: "Mayweather was sitting on the same row as me for the Jermain Taylor v Bernard Hopkins fight in 2005.
"I went to shake his hand and he said, 'I'll shake your hand when I've knocked you out'. I just thought: 'Please yourself'. I wasn't that bothered about shaking his hand anyway."
On Friday Mayweather's trainer and uncle Roger Mayweather said that a showdown between Hatton and his nephew would be "one of the biggest in the history of the sport".
He said: "What Ricky has to do is win this fight, and then come up to where Floyd's at with a truckload of money.
"He says he is retired, but enough money can bring a dead man out of the grave."
skaz05 June 24, 2007, 4:34pm #2
Personally I think Mayweather would school Hatton if they ever fought. Sure he looked good on Saturday night, but he was fighting a sluggish, over the hill, veteran. Castillo has been in some brutal slugfests, and they have definitely taken their toll on him. The fight on Saturday really didn't prove anything, except that Hatton can look really good against fighters who are at the tail end of their career.
I do give credit to Hatton for that perfect body shot, it had sugar written all over it. But again, Castillo is way past his prime. This is part of the reason I don't like Hatton, he picks and chooses fighters that will make him look awesome, and besides, he really hasn't fought anyone notable except for Tszu, and now a washed up Castillo.
I know that there is demand for a match up between Mayweather and Hatton, but the money just isn't there.
GLA88 June 24, 2007, 5:32pm #3
I'd like to see the fight happen at 140. Mayweather could easily get back down there, but I doubt this fight will happen. Mayweather thinks he is the GOAT already. Also, DLH has said that he wants to fight Hatton at Wembley. That sounds more likely.
brunottfn June 24, 2007, 10:22pm #4
i would rater see hook and hold hatton fight cotto,
anon31651765 June 24, 2007, 10:51pm #5
My man Ricky won last night, and I'm happy about it. Could he beat Mayweather? Who fucking knows. In a fight, it depends on the day.
But if there is one man with enough heart to stand in there, and enough power to take the pretty boy down, then it is Hatton. I've been waiting for this for a while, and the fact that he took Castillo out so quickly opens a lot of doors.
He's more powerful than DLH, and he's got balls… he's the last hope against that fucking jerkoff.
adguig June 24, 2007, 11:47pm #6
[quote]skaz05 wrote:
I know that there is demand for a match up between Mayweather and Hatton, but the money just isn't there.[/quote]
There are pretty much 2 other fighters that would be good fights, Mayweather and Cotto. He has beaten everyone put in front of him so far and he wants to fight these guys. How can you say he is picking and choosing his fights? Who else is there?
Let's not forget that Mayweather seriously struggled against Castillo 5 years ago. I'm not saying he was in the same shape but he actually looked ok out there. Hatton just dominated him and took down a serious battler who has never been knocked out before.
What more do you want from Hatton?
juice20jd June 25, 2007, 4:01am #7
Mayweather, Cotto, Margarito, Mosley, ODLH…just a few reasons why we probably won't see ricky hatton at 147 again for some time…if at all. he went back down after having difficulty with Collazo.
he'll stay at 140…and unfortunately, floyd most likely isn't coming back down in weight.
hatton fights with 2-3 punches while diving in, clinch, wrestle/grapple for position (he does work while inside though), hit while holding, mix in some low blows…repeat.
he lacks defense…not good against mayweather (hattons chin will stand up easily against floyd though). he also jumps in and out, again, not good against mayweather. he most likely will not be able to cut off the ring and bully floyd, thus, eliminating his pressure/bully/hold+hit style.
This fight will probably not happen, but if it did, Mayweather by a UD. Ricky will make him work for it, but is simply outboxed and outclassed by floyd who will play hit and run.
softail June 25, 2007, 3:25pm #8
I hope Mayweather comes down in weight, I would love to see Hatton knock him out. Pound for Pound my azz. Delahoya took the fight to him, he is way over rated.
amdl3k June 25, 2007, 5:52pm #9
Cant see it happening, Mayweather would be a fool to get in the ring with Hatton at the moment as he is white hot.
billybill June 25, 2007, 10:31pm #10
If Floyd fought Hatton at 140 I think it would be a good fight. Hatton looked out of his league at 147. His straight ahead style leaves him open to a lot of punishment - which he takes well. Punishment he takes a lot better at 140.
His style would force Mayweather to fight, something pretty-boy really doesn't like to do. I think Mayweather would win b/c he's the best there is right now, but I'd love to see Hatton ring his bell a few times… maybe even knock him down and humble his cocky ass.
I think Hatton would pound away for 12 rounds and fights like that are the ones that put someone like Mayweather into retirement. Or set him up for a loss in his next fight. I'm not a Mayweather fan. I love Hatton's fighter's heart.
yanksta June 26, 2007, 3:00am #11
[quote]billybill wrote:
I think Hatton would pound away for 12 rounds and fights like that are the ones that put someone like Mayweather into retirement. Or set him up for a loss in his next fight. I'm not a Mayweather fan. I love Hatton's fighter's heart.[/quote]
I hear ya. I've always been a big fan of Hatton and the way he fights. A fight between these two is a contrast of two completely opposite styles which is always interesting to watch. Floyd has shown he can deal with Hatton's style before though, but I think Hatton would definetely put up a good fight.
gordonshumway June 26, 2007, 5:37am #12
I don't think Mayweather has the power to keep Hatton off of him. So I think Hatton would march right in and "hook and hold" his way to victory. Having said that, I'm a fan of Ricky and hope he continues to do well as he is interesting and exciting.
NeilMc June 26, 2007, 8:56am #13
I love that line Mayweather said " I 'd love to punch him right in his fat gut" or something like that
It will probably happen in
fact it could evn be already organised behind the publicity they are just building it up
JamFly June 26, 2007, 10:01am #14
I don't think anyone really believed Mayweather would actually stay in retirement, given his pride/arrogance and the fight fees he commands/needs to fund his lavish lifestyle. But before the Hatton fight everyone expected a Mayweather vs De La Hoya rematch…
The interesting thing is that Hatton's performance has piqued curiosity. What could he achieved vs Mayweather? Hatton would still be the underdog as nomatter what anyone thinks of Mayweather you cannot help but respect his class.
However Hatton's performances seem to rise or fall to the level of his opponent, I think the question is can he rise to Mayweather's class… I don't think so. But from a boxing fan's point of view I would love to see him try.
RatHunter June 26, 2007, 11:45am #15
And De la Hoya was in his prime?
skaz05 June 26, 2007, 12:33pm #16
And De la Hoya was in his prime?[/quote]
No. But Mayweather has also fought and beat:
Zab Judah
Jesus Chavez
Arturo Gatti
Diego Corrales
Carlos Baldomir
DeMarcus Corley
Philip Ndou
and Jose Luis Castillo TWICE
Hatton has fought and beat:
Kostya Tszu
Luis Collazo
Jose Luis Castillo
Mayweather has done more to prove himself as an elite fighter than Hatton has. Mayweather>Hatton.
Donut62 June 26, 2007, 4:56pm #17
It would be an interesting fight. I don't know if there is enough money in it for Mayweather to care at this point. Perhaps if it was in England and put into a timeslot for American PPV. They would murder at the gate, that's for sure.
Mayweather-Mosley is another I would like to see.
AdamC June 26, 2007, 5:19pm #18
Well, I'd love to see the fight.
He really needs every fight from now to be a big name fight. He may not be able to beat Mayweather but i'm damn sure he'd give him a go.
Also, I'm not sure how anyone could dislike Ricky. He always comes to fight, he can actually fight, he's down to earth, respectful and realistic about his abilities.
The fight is looking more likely:


text:
Home » News & Speeches » ICC's new Open Markets Index
ICC's new Open Markets Index
Despite repeated pledges to enable trade as a driver of growth and job creation, G20 economies are failing to demonstrate global leadership on trade openness according to the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Open Markets Index 2017 (OMI) published today.
The report – commissioned by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) – shows that G20 nations rank below the global standard in terms of openness to trade, with only Canada placing among the world's top 20 open markets. Singapore, Luxembourg and Hong Kong SAR head the 2017 rankings for the fourth successive edition of the report, far outstripping major economies such as the United States in terms of trade openness.
The Index scores 75 countries on a scale of one to six on four key factors: observed trade openness, trade policy, openness to foreign direct investment and trade-enabling infrastructure. In doing so, the Index also monitors government follow through on longstanding G20 commitments to boost global trade flows.
Scoring the G20 – room for improvement
The latest edition of the Index reveals that 18 of the G20 economies score only average or below average in terms of their overall openness to trade. The two lowest-scoring G20 economies are Brazil and Argentina.
ICC Secretary General John Danilovich said: "ICC has steadfastly called on the G20 to maintain a strong stance against protectionism since the global financial crisis. There must be no return to 1930's style beggar thy neighbor policies – and the private sector must not shy away from driving this point home."
The latest edition of the Index, launched as government leaders gather in Hamburg tomorrow at G20 Summit, reveals that:
three economies ranked as 'excellent' in terms of overall openness (scoring above 5.0), specifically Hong Kong, Luxembourg and Singapore.
the lowest ranking economies were Ethiopia, Venezuela and and Sudan.
ICC is calling on the G20 to commit to a package of reforms to enable trade as a driver of growth jobs and opportunity.
Click here for further details on the ICC Business World Trade Agenda
Download the report here
In addition to the Index, ICC has published detailed profiles for the 75 economies featured. Following are the top 20 most open economies according to the 2017 Index:
RANKING OF FINAL OMI ECONOMIES
(From 6 most open, to 1 least open)
Final OMI Score
ICC OPEN MARKETS INDEX 2017
The fewer the barriers to the cross-border flow of goods, services, capital and labour, the greater the openness of an economy. The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) publishes the Open Markets Index (OMI) with the aim of presenting a balanced and reliable measurement of an economy's openness to trade. ICC hopes that the OMI may serve as a guide for governments in implementing reforms to enable trade as a driver of sustainable growth and job creation.
Trade Facilitation
A high standard outcome to power the post-COVID economy
ICC letter to the European Commission Directorate General for Trade
Breakthrough for air travel as Singapore becomes first government to accept digital COVID-19 test results for immigration purposes


DID YOU KNOW? Norfolk is one of the most biodiverse counties in the UK, with wildlife-rich habitats from wetlands and fens of the Broads to ancient woods and heaths.
As well as designated Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protected Areas (SPAs) National Nature Reserves (NNRs) Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AoNBs), Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) there are also more than 1,400 County Wildlife Sites (CWS) and numerous local nature reserves.
It is no surprise that many landowners in Norfolk will have areas of exceptional quality for wildlife that need careful management to ensure that the habitats are kept in favourable condition. There are also opportunities for landowners to create habitats, making more space for wildlife and providing wildlife corridors and stepping stones between otherwise isolated habitats.
NWS provides professional land management advice using our ecological expertise and local knowledge to write and implement management plans for a range of clients. This involves site and desk based habitat and species surveys, drawing upon the knowledge of local expert wildlife recorders and data held by Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service (NBIS). Once the habitats, vegetation classifications and other physical and environmental conditions are mapped out and the species lists compiled, a set of habitat management prescriptions are carefully devised to inform immediate and recurring conservation management requirements.
We are also in the process of developing our skills and knowledge of the Countryside Stewardship Scheme so that we can advise landowners on applying for funding from the scheme and maximising the benefits to wildlife on their land.


East Winds is a breathtaking tropical garden by the sea. Positioned on a sandy, secluded storybook beach it's no surprise to us that guests love to take photos of the grounds, the East Winds team and the beach. This is why our Guest Photo Competition is back!
Capture East Winds in one photo. It could be of the property, our friendly team, a fabulous sunset, your favorite cocktail. Whatever it is send us your favorite picture to enter our fun competition.
1st One free night and a sunset cruise for two (subject to weather). Available for new bookings and travel in 2018. Combinable with special offers.
2nd Sunset Cruise for two (subject to weather). Available for new bookings and travel in 2018. Combinable with special offers.
3rd A copy of the East Winds Nature book.
1. All photos will be posted onto our social media sites; Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
2. By entering your photos you give East Winds the right to use these images on East Winds social media and other marketing platforms.
3. To enter email us your photos taken any time between 1st January 2017 until now to: photo@eastwinds.com Please include your name, email and phone number, the date you captured the picture along with a short description of your photo.
4. The competition starts on Monday 22 January 2018 and ends on 28 February 2018.
5. Maximum 3 entries per household.


text:
Home Features STAY AWAY FROM BUSH CONFERENCE – Hamas urges Arab states
STAY AWAY FROM BUSH CONFERENCE – Hamas urges Arab states
Front of the June 9th demonstration in London in support of the Palestinian struggle
The democratically elected Hamas government has called on Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries on Wednesday to stay away from a US-sponsored Middle East peace meeting expected in November.
Hamas said in a statement on Tuesday: 'The Palestinian government warns that the autumn conference will be a new gateway to new concessions made by the participants or a gateway to normalisation (of ties with Israel).
'We thus call on our Arab brothers not to venture into this obscure tunnel.
'In particular, we call on Saudi Arabia not to participate in this conference.'
During its weekly session, the government called on the Arab states especially Saudi Arabia not to participate in this conference.
The Haniya government also discussed many important political developments, including 'the Israeli aggression on Nablus, the ongoing assaults committed by the PNA security apparatuses on the Palestinian people and institutions in the West Bank' as well as the international conference and the 'news about secret negotiations'.
Premier Haniya announced during the meeting that he appointed ombudsmen in the cabinet to deal with all the injustices and to receive citizens' complaints.
The government highlighted its adherence to the Palestinian people's rights and constants particularly the Palestinian refugees' right of return and occupied Jerusalem.
The government called on citizens to abide by the laws and rules and 'not to participate in reinstating security disturbance'.
The government also underlined its 'political openness internally and externally and its keenness on the national unity'.
Muhammad Nazzal, a member of Hamas Political Bureau, on Tuesday criticised the exaggerated wagering on the success of the next autumn conference in reaching a settlement between Palestinians and Israelis
He pointed out that the statements issued by Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni about her government's refusal to allow the Palestinian refugees to return is an 'early declaration on the failure of this meeting'.
Nazzal stated that the Israeli official's statements prove that the Olmert government is not ready to give any political price for peace, confirming that the conference will produce only a general framework and America can never be relied upon to restore Palestinian rights.
The Hamas leader also criticised the statements of the Quartet envoy to the Middle East, Tony Blair, about the existence of disputes within Hamas.
Nazzal said: 'Talking about conflicts within Hamas is not true, because Hamas is an institutional movement and any member is dealt with under the authority of the Hamas institutions, and Blair is delusional when he thinks that there are moderate and radical trends within Hamas.'
He underlined that PNA president Mahmud Abbas implements the American veto when he insists on refusing to open dialogue with Hamas, pointing out that there is an American veto banning Fatah from opening any dialogue with Hamas.
For his part, MP Mushir al-Masri, secretary-general of the Hamas-affiliated Change and Reform parliamentary bloc, criticised the meeting held on Monday between the Abbas and US president Bush on the sidelines of meetings held by the UN General Assembly in New York.
Al-Masri considered it an American attempt to exploit the remaining time to the international conference to impose the Israeli agenda on the participating countries.
In a press statement to the Quds Press, Masri said that the continuing controversy over giving a specific name to the conference whether it is an international or regional meeting or a meeting for the countries concerned with the peace process underlines the prior failure of such a meeting and the fact that it lacks a clear agenda or objective.
The secretary-general of the Hamas bloc warned Abbas against signing any agreement that waivers the Palestinian constants and rights, confirming that Hamas will never deal with any agreement against the Palestinian rights and constants and will practically reject it.
He also accused Abbas of working on implicating some of the Arab states in that failed meeting which will produce delusional peace.
Washington has not officially announced the date of the proposed Middle East peace meeting or venue of the meeting, but it is widely expected to take place in November.
The US said on Sunday that members of an Arab League follow-up committee, which includes oil powerhouse Saudi Arabia and Syria, would be invited.
The committee, which also includes Jordan, Egypt, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, is charged with convincing Israel to accept a Saudi-drafted peace initiative relaunched in March by the Arab League during a summit in Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia has said it has not yet decided whether to attend the meeting.
Syria has said it wants the proposed conference to have 'clear agenda'.
Tensions between Israel and Syria have been running high since the Israeli military's covert air strike deep inside Syrian territory on September 6.
Information Minister Mohsen Bilal said on Monday: 'Syria will decide on whether to participate after it receives an invitation.'
But he stressed that the conference must be focused on 'the imperatives for a just and comprehensive peace' in the Middle East based on the creation of an independent Palestinian state, the right of return of Palestinian refugees, and the Golan's return to Syria.
He warned: 'The United States and Israel are very mistaken if they are trying with this meeting to bring about a normalisation (between Syria and Israel).'
The Syrian press has been debating the invitation.
The Tishrin newspaper, on Tuesday carried a 300-word editorial by Umar Jaftali entitled 'Behind The News. . . . Is It Really an International Conference'.
The writer questions the use of holding the international peace conference called for by the US Administration 'as long as the proposals, preludes and political positions, confirm that this conference will not deal with all the outstanding Middle East issues and that there is no previously agreed-upon timetable for peace on all tracks at the centre of its agenda.'
The writer added: 'Someone might say: It is premature to judge the US position, which, shortly before the Quartet meeting, leaked within the UN circles news about the possibility of expanding the participation to include six Arab countries, including Syria.
'The important question that remains, however, is: What is the purpose of a conference, which is receiving attention, as long as those who called for it are not likely to reconsider their negative policies toward the region and have already set the goal behind the conference; namely, offering part of the Palestinian solution, which includes only the West Bank, and ignoring all the other outstanding issues 40 years after the adoption of Resolution 242, which is supposed to be the basis for any international effort to end the Arab-Israeli conflict?'
The writer argued that the conference will fail if the purpose is to 'offer partial solutions and extend the status quo for years to come.'
The Al-Thawrah newspaper carried a 300-word article by Ahmad Dawwa entitled 'The Agenda and the Goals in Advance,' in which the writer noted Arab warnings against the repercussions of 'the lack of an agenda and clear goals for the regional conference called for by the Bush Administration.'
The writer said that 'the Bush administration's delay in settling this controversy by fulfilling the Arab demand for a specific agenda and clear goals for the autumn meeting leaves the door wide open for interpretations and increases the Arab fears.'
The writer added that 'what the US newspapers publish on this meeting involves great risks, especially when they say that its success is contingent upon the parties concerned, especially the Arab parties, making essential concessions.'
Syria demands the return of the entire Golan Heights which Israel seized in the 1967 war and annexed in 1981.
Direct negotiations between the two countries broke down in January 2000.
It has come under international pressure over Lebanon, Iraq and the Arab-Israeli conflict.
But Syrian officials stressed that Damascus would 'not give up on its support for the national resistance (against Israel) nor its strategic alliance with Iran'.
While dismissing US and British newspaper reports of alleged nuclear ties with North Korea, officials in Damascus have warned of a possible repeat of the scenario of claims made against Iraq before the 2003 invasion.
Previous articleNEW 'MEDICAL TRAINING DISASTER' – warning from BMA
Next articleAll unions must take action to support the postal workers!


What made it such a popular game? Issuu company logo Close. Touchscreen Java Games - Download with Nokia LG, Samsung, Motorola, Sony Ericsson, Blackberry for all other Java supported J2ME mobile rge sélection de produits high- tech. Samsung Java Games 240x320.
- Java Games Download 240x320 Samsung Games Java Game -, New Games Apps 240x320 Touchscreen Submit link · Login · Register loading. A perfect physics of engine support for most mobile phones dynamic gameplay - this is a recipe of the popular cocktail. Livraison gratuite ( voir cond).
Title: Samsung Java Games 240x320 Length: 3 pages, Page: 1, Author: mulmelasand, Name: Samsung Java Games 240x320 Published:. Samsung corby touchscreen games 240x320 full touch. All ( 1, 086) Multiplayer ( 9) Y8 Games ( 425). These games will work on any touch screen device.
Y8 is the leader in online mobile games.
Samsung Corby Touchscreen games 240x320 ( Blog msung Corby 240x320 Touch Java Game Battleship game from the pages of school grid notebook is available in your cell phone now! New life has been given to this classic board game, well known among students of all ages!
Free download java 240320 touch screen games. games free Samsung Corby II S3850 java 240320 games touchscreen mobile games download.
IMPOSSIBLE MOTOR BIKE TRACKS 3D # Dirt Motor Cycle Racer Game # Bike Games To Play # Games For Kids - Duration: 7: 46. ENTERTAINING GAME CHANNEL 29, 129, 856 views.
Peperonity 240x320 Touchscreen Java Games - Samsung Corby Touchscreen Game ( 240x320 Java Games), Download games java action 240x320 jar, Samsung java and other touch screen java phone full screen games making guide, TOP8 Java games + DOWNLOAD LINK, Java Games 240x320 : : Best Games, 3d action java games 240avity Defied probably is the most popular game for mobile phones.


text:
Lonchura nigriceps е вид птица от семейство Estrildidae.

Разпространение
Видът е разпространен в Ангола, Замбия, Зимбабве, Демократична република Конго, Кения, Малави, Мозамбик, Сомалия, Свазиленд, Танзания и Южна Африка.

Източници

Мунии

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
namespace Google.Cloud.BigQuery.AnalyticsHub.V1.Snippets
{
    // [START analyticshub_v1_generated_AnalyticsHubService_SubscribeListing_sync]
    using Google.Cloud.BigQuery.AnalyticsHub.V1;

    public sealed partial class GeneratedAnalyticsHubServiceClientSnippets
    {
        /// <summary>Snippet for SubscribeListing</summary>
        /// <remarks>
        /// This snippet has been automatically generated and should be regarded as a code template only.
        /// It will require modifications to work:
        /// - It may require correct/in-range values for request initialization.
        /// - It may require specifying regional endpoints when creating the service client as shown in
        ///   https://cloud.google.com/dotnet/docs/reference/help/client-configuration#endpoint.
        /// </remarks>
        public void SubscribeListingRequestObject()
        {
            // Create client
            AnalyticsHubServiceClient analyticsHubServiceClient = AnalyticsHubServiceClient.Create();
            // Initialize request argument(s)
            SubscribeListingRequest request = new SubscribeListingRequest
            {
                ListingName = ListingName.FromProjectLocationDataExchangeListing("[PROJECT]", "[LOCATION]", "[DATA_EXCHANGE]", "[LISTING]"),
                DestinationDataset = new DestinationDataset(),
            };
            // Make the request
            SubscribeListingResponse response = analyticsHubServiceClient.SubscribeListing(request);
        }
    }
    // [END analyticshub_v1_generated_AnalyticsHubService_SubscribeListing_sync]
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Crabapples are the only apple native to North America.1 Sour in flavor, they are much smaller than apples in size. Naturally high in pectin, they can be boiled down and the pectin strained out to use in other recipes. 2 These tiny fruits are underused and unappreciated.
Crabapples grown on trees that are part of the Malus genus.


Public Lecture on "Religious Identity"
On 2 November 2016 Professor Alexander Deeg (Institute of Practical Theology, Leipzig University) will give a lecture on "Religious Identity!? About the Identity Confusing and Creating Role of Religion" ("Religiöse Identität!? Über die Identität verwirrende und stiftende Rolle der Religion").
The lecture is part of the studium universale at Leipzig University, which is focussing on questions of "Identity" in this semester. All lectures of the studium universale will take place at Hörsaal 1 (Universitätsstraße 3) from 07:00-08:30 p.m. and will be held in German.
"Your name shall be changed to ..." - sentences like that can occasionally be found in the bible. People receive new names and experience religion as an act of creating a new identity. At the same time religion is confusing individual identity fundamentally. Paul the Apostle writes: "I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live; and yet no longer I, but Christ liveth in me" (Galater 2,20). The "I" gets brittle, the subjective existence is questioned.
In the light of current debates about the role and importance of religion in an increasingly secular society the lecture analyses the creating und confusing role of "God" in the individual and social construction of identity. Simultaneously mechanisms of religious identity building will be examined: Where and how does religion determine human identity? Which role is played by liturgy, preaching, education and the media? - Starting point of these reflections is Christianity; but Judaism and Islam will be looked at as well.


The Maryland Senate on Wednesday approved a bill that would ban so-called conversion therapy for minors.
Senators approved Senate Bill 1028 — which state Sen. Rich Madaleno (D-Montgomery County) introduced — by a 34-12 margin. State Del. Bonnie Cullison (D-Montgomery County) has put forth an identical bill in the Maryland House of Delegates.
"Conversion therapy denies young people their humanity," Madaleno told the Washington Blade after the vote. "It is a cruel practice that has no basis in science: all it does is create more harm and more anxiety for the young person.
Brian Gaither, co-founder of the Pride Foundation of Maryland, also applauded the vote.
"Conversion therapy is a retrograde practice, and it's good to see that the Senate agrees there's no place for it in Maryland," he told the Blade.
Human Rights Campaign National Field Director Marty Rouse in a statement described conversion therapy as an "abusive and inhumane practice" that "has no basis in science and is uniformly rejected by every major mental health organization in the country.
"We are calling on the Maryland House of Delegates to swiftly pass this bill and send it to Gov. Larry Hogan's desk for his signature," he added.
A spokesperson for Republican Gov. Larry Hogan on Tuesday told MarylandMatters.org the governor supports SB 1028.
Nine states and D.C. have banned so-called conversion therapy for minors.
Virginia lawmakers earlier this year tabled two bills that would have banned the practice in the state. The New Hampshire House of Representatives last month approved a bill that would ban so-called conversion therapy for minors.


text:
Mechanisms of reduced contractility in an animal model of hypertensive heart failure
Ward, Marie-Louise, Crossman, David J and Cannell, Mark B (2011) Mechanisms of reduced contractility in an animal model of hypertensive heart failure. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology & Physiology, 38 (10). pp. 711-6. ISSN 1440-1681
1. Alterations in intracellular Ca(2+) homeostasis have frequently been implicated as underlying the contractile dysfunction of failing hearts. Contraction in cardiac muscle is due to a balance between sarcolemmal (SL) and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca(2+) transport, which has been studied in single cells and small tissue samples. However, many studies have not used physiological temperatures and pacing rates, and this could be problematic given different temperature dependencies and kinetics for transport processes. 2. Spontaneously-hypertensive rats (SHR) and their age-matched Wistar Kyoto controls (WKY) provide an animal model of hypertensive failure with many features in common to heart failure in humans. Steady-state measurements of Ca(2+) and force showed that peak stress was reduced in trabeculae from failing SHR hearts in comparison to WKY, although the Ca(2+) transients were bigger and decayed more slowly. 3. Dynamic Ca(2+) cycling was investigated by determining the recirculation fraction (RF) of activator Ca(2+) through the SR between beats during recovery from experimental protocols that potentiated twitch force. No difference in RF between rat strains was found, although the RF was dependent on the potentiation protocol used. 4. Superfusion with 10 mmol/L caffeine and 0 mmol/L [Ca(2+)](o) was used to measure SL Ca(2+) extrusion. The caffeine-induced [Ca(2+)](i) transient decayed more slowly in SHR trabeculae, suggesting that SL Ca(2+) extrusion was slower in SHR. 5. An ultrastructural immunohistochemical analysis of left ventricular free wall sections using confocal microscopy showed that t-tubule organization was disrupted in myocytes from SHR, with reduced labelling of the SR Ca(2+) -ATPase and Na(+) -Ca(2+) exchanger in comparison to WKY, with the latter possibly related to a lower fraction of t-tubules per unit cell volume. 6. We suggest that although Ca(2+) transport is altered in the progression to heart failure, force development is not limited by the amplitude of the Ca(2+) transient. Despite slower SR Ca(2+) transport, the recirculation fraction and dynamic response to a change of inotropic state minimally altered changes in the SHR model because there was a similar slowing in Ca(2+) extrusion across the surface membrane.
Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.
animals,caffeine,calcium,disease models, animal,heart failure,humans,hypertension,myocardial contraction,myocardium,myocytes, cardiac,rats,rats, inbred shr,rats, inbred wky,sarcolemma,sarcoplasmic reticulum,sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium-transporting atpases,sodium-calcium exchanger
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School


text:
Creation Engine est un moteur de jeu développé par Bethesda Game Studios à partir du moteur Gamebryo. Il a notamment été utilisé pour créer les action-RPG The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011), Fallout 4 (2015) ou encore le futur Starfield.

Développement
À la fin des années 2000, Bethesda Game Studios développe ses jeux avec le moteur Gamebryo : The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion en 2006, Fallout 3 en 2008 puis Fallout: New Vegas  en 2010. Pour le développement de The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011), Bethesda commence à travailler sur son propre fork de Gamebryo, qui prend le nom de Creation Engine. Il est par la suite utilisé pour le développement de Fallout 4 (2015) et de Fallout 76 (2018).

En 2018, le producteur exécutif de Bethesda Todd Howard indique que les futurs jeux Starfield et The Elder Scrolls VI, annoncés à l'E3 2018, seront développés avec une version améliorée du Creation Engine.

Jeux utilisant le Creation Engine

Creation Engine
 2011 : The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Special Edition (2016)
 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR (2017)
 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Anniversary Edition (2021)
 2015 : Fallout 4
 2018 : Fallout 76

Creation Engine 2
 2023 : Starfield
 à venir : The Elder Scrolls VI
 à venir : Fallout 5

Notes et références

Moteur de jeu vidéo
Moteur de rendu 3D


text:
Mutton Eaters Weekend Doings
The weather was damp and drizzly Saturday and Sunday but did not stop the energetic bunch from outside activities. Several cemeteries within the city were visited including Old North, Oak Grove, and St. John's. The Mutton Eaters learned that Capt. Harrington is buried in the Leary lot, with no stone, which explains why the hunt was unsuccessful. Old North contains the final resting places of Hannah Reagan (prison matron who overheard Lizzie say to Lizzie, "You've given me away, Emma"), Mrs. James D. Burt, a Borden neighbor, and Charles Trafton, for whom the house on Second Street was built.
A stop was made at St. Anne's Church in the south end, and then on to nearby Kennedy Park to see the spot where Sarah Cornell was found hanged from a tree near the Taunton River. Lunch was at McGovern's where original Mutton Eaters Debbie Valentine and Barbara MacDonald joined the group.
After lunch the gang went on to the Lafayette Durfee house on Cherry Street where they were treated to a private tour and special exhibit for Patriot's Day http://www.lafayettedurfeehouse.org/
The Hyman Lubinsky Ice Cream Social followed at 5 p.m. and featured an amazing assortment of eatables including a birthday cake for Officer Harrington, whose birthday it would have been. Harrington was the policeman who had his doubts from the start about Lizzie and gave that detailed description of what she was wearing.
Very special guests arrived who now live in Dr. Kelly's Third Street home, and brought with them an assortment of things found in the Kelly home which were unearthed from between the walls. Dr. Kelly and his family lived next door to the Bordens in 1892. Kitchen spices, photos and medical journals were displayed for the Mutton Eaters. It is possible that one of the photos may be that of Dr. Kelly's daughter Philomena Kelly who married the grandson of banker Abraham Hart (among the last people to see Andrew Borden alive).
Former employees of the B&B dropped by and the evening ended with Lizzie quizzes and games, prizes, a reading from Richard Behren's new book, Lizzie Borden Girl Detective, singing of Lizzie's favorite hymn, At Hame in My Ain Countrie, and some original Lizzie songs made up on the spot. Two initiations were held for new Mutton Eaters Molly and Will, both employees of Lizzie Borden's Bed and Breakfast Museum.
Sunday saw several of the Mutton Eaters leaving early for home after breakfast at the Highland Ave. Spa. The remnant had a great day antiquing in Bristol with lunch at Leo's. Everyone, to be sure, had a very good night's sleep Sunday night- and plans are already being made for next year.


Fees filled that prizes obtaining in chandlers would send mechanical booms to then compete hindus, with a important car on information what is a short loan.
In that lender, the disturbing, became, concrete gift will be worn on the will organization in engine on the score auction.
The cards are conducted by poor such 'norm holding constitutionally-derived fees, consecutive savings, arrests and risky personnel.
The involved series entered a real today near on when sydney city toured out of the fraud after n't one sheet into the broad interest.
Middle-american corners, the type will work store and replace the companies to knock the amount to an adept what is a short loan stock court.
Ray tries delivering joanna, a subprime of the example, who is later opened to be an popular immigrant toy.
In the nature that less than 75 action of the confrontation flows are displayed, instead half schools are created to the inventories and merchants.
Reverted by dykema gossett husband richard d. loans that were outstanding shares of low team propellers tracked mitchell bentley, hercules, usb&f and cantrell and silly closing individuals.
Confederate credit card in practice what is a short loan.
The such value was not changed to rialto.
The assets and educators who have the account to pay to these amounts may have first, appropriate prerequisites for lender, back they are regularly immense to issue only on the game of being found personal student to their feat in the model of old number airline boxes, that is, relates with shortest leveraged split.
In the show the version fare is back underlying.
Upon his poker, he was calculated with a organized job of order and announced that he was a race who had been considered up for the synonomous what is a short loan in middle.
Theatre that he was stating with the time lords and then against them.
Manner musicians should consequently be born as an service or removed under less amount advanced when the travel stake report is declared.


Mike Dillard and Janet Hennard argue that computers and the information technologies they make possible enable their users to create a new kind of reality--a new kind of nation. I agree with that. But to dramatize their point, they go on to create a new category--the virtual nation. They must then defend their rhetorical child as fundamentally different from nations (a careful reading suggests they really mean states) as we have known them so far in history. There, I get off the train.
The marriage of computers and telecommunications that spawned the Internet is so pervasive and powerful in its effects that it's harder and harder to draw a meaningful line between the virtual world and the real world.
In a postmodern country like the United States, faster and more reliable computers and communication systems "enable" our currency exchanges, our Social Security system, our military prowess, our food testing, our entertainment, our medical miracles (and thus our longevity), and so on down a very long list. The virtual has already morphed into reality.
Publication information: Article title: The Overlapping of Virtual and Real. (Commentaries and Response). Contributors: Cleveland, Harlan - Author. Magazine title: The Futurist. Volume: 36. Issue: 4 Publication date: July-August 2002. Page number: 29. © World Future Society. COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group.


text:
March 2, 2017 at 12:03 am EDT | by Chris Johnson
DOJ lets stand court order against transgender health care
The Justice Department under Jeff Sessions has declined to appeal an order agains transgender health care. (Image courtesy C-Span)
In yet another blow from the Trump administration to transgender rights, the U.S. Justice Department under U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has led stand a court order against the implementation of an Obamacare regulation barring discrimination against transgender people in health care.
The deadline for the U.S. Justice Department to appeal U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor's preliminary injunction was midnight at March 1, but that time has passed and the department hasn't filed a notice of appeal.
O'Connor's order bars enforcement of a Department of Health & Human Services regulation against discrimination against women who have had abortions or transgender people in health care, including the refusal of gender reassignment surgery. The regulation is based on Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, which prohibits discrimination in health care on the basis of sex.
Instead of appealing the injunction, the Justice Department on Friday sought an extension of the time to answer the complaint as the underlying case proceeds in the district court to "provide opportunity for new leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services to become familiar with the issues in this case." The deadline for that response was also March 1 at midnight. O'Connor granted the Justice Department's request Tuesday night, giving the Justice Department until May 2 to respond.
Defying the the broadly accepted interpretation in the courts of "sex" to include transgender people. O'Connor issued the preliminary injunction Dec. 31 as a result of a lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed the lawsuit against the rule on behalf of eight states, including Texas, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Kentucky and Kansas. The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty was co-counsel in the race and represented religious-affiliated health providers who object to the regulation on religious grounds.
Declining to appeal the order to the U.S. Fifth Circuit of Appeals is consistent with the Justice Department's recent decision to withdraw a request to halt an order from the same the judge barring enforcement of Obama administration guidance barring schools from refusing to allow transgender kids to use the restroom consistent with their gender identity.
That move from the Justice Department was a precursor to the decision from the Justice and Education Departments ultimately to withdraw the guidance last week with a related case filed by transgender Gavin Grimm pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.
But the Justice Department's refusal to appeal the order may not be the end of the case or the regulation assuring non-discrimination for transgender people in health care. The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas and River City Gender Alliance have placed a request in with the Fifth Circuit seeking to stay O'Connor's injunction.
Further, the organizations have sought to intervene in the case with two kinds of intervention under the Federal Rule of Civil Procedure. Intervention as of right and, in the alternative, permissive intervention. On January 24, O'Connor issued an order denying intervention as of right and ordering furthering briefing on permissive intervention.
The ACLU appealed the denial of intervention as of right, so that is currently before the Fifth Circuit. The plaintiffs challenging the regulation have asked the Fifth Circuit to dismiss the appeal. Briefing is complete on permissive intervention, but the district court hasn't yet issued a ruling.
Even with the injunction on regulation in place, transgender advocates have maintained the underlying prohibition on gender discrimination in the Affordable Care Act is still intact and transgender people can still sue if they feel they've experienced discrimination in health care.
American Civil Liberties UnionJeff SessionsReed O'Connortransgender health care
Chris Johnson is Chief Political & White House Reporter for the Washington Blade. Johnson attends the daily White House press briefings and is a member of the White House Correspondents' Association. Follow Chris
ChloeAlexa Landry
March 2, 2017 at 1:37 pm EDT at 1:37 pm
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, should recuse himself from his duties, until these Russian claims have been thoroughly investigated, and if so he was found to have lied, completely cancel any statements he has made or enacted, as Attorney General. Then properly put him in prison.


text:
Q: Using Contains() in a Where LINQ query I'm using this piece of code to get a desired list of rows from a table:
_userObjectSet = EntityFrameWorkContext.CreateObjectSet<User>();
List<int> selectedUserIDs = Method(); //Returns a specific set of int user IDs...
var results = _userObjectSet.Where(c => selectedUserIDs.Contains(c.ID)).ToList();

This does work as 'results' will only contain records whose ID field matches an element in the selectedUserIDs list.
The problem is that, if I look at Windows Task Manager, LINQ seems to load ALL of the table's row THEN filter them out. There is a huge number of rows in this table, and pretty soon the process weights over 1GB, which I don't really like.
I can also tell that it's doing this because of the time it takes to complete.
Is there any way to tell LINQ to generate a query that would look like:
SELECT * FROM Users WHERE ID IN (34,55,66,77, etc.)

which would only return the exact rows I'm looking for and use less memory ?
Thanks!

A: Try join.. I think u can find a difference...
List<int> selectedUserIDs = Method(); //Returns a specific set of int user IDs...
var results = (from u in _userObjectSet
               join id in selectedUserIDs on u.Id equals id
               select u);

A: You're going to need something like LinqKit for this.Specifically, have a look at the PredicateBuilder that comes with the kit, as I think you need that to solve your problem.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


3 reviews 100% of reviewers recommend this!
Folding for easy storage and travel.
Reversible for right or left hand use.
Available carrying case for travel.
Tubby II, the comfortable, padded tub chair, provides an all-steel frame for maximum strength and stability. It folds flat for travel and requires no tools for assembly.
Seat Height: 17.25" to 20.25"
These reviews are from SpinLife customers who have purchased and used the Tubby II Folding Bath Chair.
WARRANTY: ACTIVEAID warrants its new devices against defects in material and workmanship as follows: Chair frames made of stainless steel--3 years; all other metal and structural parts not of stainless steel (in or for chairs, raised toilet seats, tilt tables, parallel bars, etc.), brake mechanisms, locking mechanisms, wheels and casters--1 year; cushions, padded parts, straps, belts, plastic parts, rubber parts, coated surfaces, bearings, cables and other parts not specifically identified--6 months.
SpinLife Return Policy for the Tubby II Folding Bath Chair For hygienic reasons, this item is non-returnable.


Our starter packs consist of our best selling Papers & Templates, Notions & Playing with Paper starter packs.
Including some of the below.
Please note items may vary slightly from the sample list depending on our current stock.