Just finished up our EP. Hard rock.
Working on a new practice setup...could use input.
Trade for a Boss DD-7?
I'm thinking of using a Pedal Snake. Yay or Nay?
Hark, I would desire a chorus tone with a likeness to the intro of Paradise City!


Israel's army gathered at Gilgal while Philistia's army (called the Philistines) gathered at Michmash. Israel's soldiers received regular reports from the camp of the Philistines. These reports made Israel's soldiers very afraid.
King Saul of Israel already had 3000 men under his command (13:2). He had ordered every man from Israel who could fight to join them. Few of these men were skilled soldiers. Most of them were farm workers. They did not have any military equipment whatever; they did not even have swords (13:22). They intended to use knives and agricultural tools in the battle.
The Philistines, on the other hand, had a strong and capable army. There were too many soldiers for anyone to count. They had the proper military equipment. They even had chariots.
The chariot was a very powerful piece of military equipment. It was a carriage with wheels that two horses pulled. A soldier who was ready to fight stood next to its driver. It moved very quickly.
Saul had wanted all Israel's men to join his army at Gilgal. He thought that such a vast army could defeat the Philistines. In fact, however, Saul's army did not increase; it became smaller. The reports about Philistia's army and their chariots made Saul's men too afraid. They ran away. The camp at Gilgal was near the Jordan River. Some of Saul's soldiers even escaped across the river.
Clearly, Saul's plan to gather a vast army had failed. He began with 3000 men. He waited for 7 days for men to join him. At the end of that period, only 600 men remained in the camp (13:15).


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Kennedy Torch
About Torch
Chinese dragon comes to Kennedy
Torch Coverage
Kennedy Dragon Dance team performs at 2011 the homecoming parade
A lifelong interest in dragons has evolved into a major high school activity for Katie Boyle, sr. A Chinese Dragon has come to Kennedy High School as a result. "I've been in love with dragons ever since I was really young. The Chinese Dragon is a very beautiful, very powerful thing that I thought would be very cool to have here at Kennedy," Boyle said.
Boyle started a Dragon Dance Team at Kennedy. The team received a $10,000 grant from the Confucius Institute which transformed Katie's dream into a reality. With the grant money the Kennedy Dragon Dance Team was able to purchase a fabric dragon. The dragon is held up by poles and a bamboo center which they use in each of their routines. The group is now a dozen strong, but continues to look for more interested participants. The team's routines incorporate music, dance, and athletics as the members perform Chinese Dragon Dances.
The Kennedy Dragon Dance Team practices once a week for an hour. A practice consists of stretching, running, basic drills, pacing, follow the leader to synchronize everyone's movements, and similar activities to help the group mold into an team. "In the routine there is a lot of the dragon jumping over itself and requires a lot of running, so it's definitely considered a sport," Boyle said. As with all performance groups, the more the members work together the more comfortable they get with each other and with their routines. The team has a lot of fun but also is serious about their performances.
Boyle's fascination of dragons that started at age 4 is going stronger than ever through the Kennedy Dragon Dance Team. As she finishes out her four years at Kennedy, she hopes that the traditions she has started will continue and grow in the years to come.
Kennedy's Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Day
A Cautious Christmas Concert
Spread Cheer, Not Germs
The Dream of a Musician
Teachers Adapting to Online
A View of the Alphabet
Restoring Kennedy After Derecho Storm Damage
Pandemic Pastimes
Tweets by @KennedyTorch
Plans Change Again Due to COVID Numbers
Derecho Uncovers More Problems
CRCSD Returning to Remote Learning
Jefferson and Washington High School Reopening November 16
Show Choir Under the Lights of COVID-19
What's Going on with Homecoming?
Candlelight Vigil Held in Memory of Breonna Taylor
Academic Decathlon in a New Way
The student news site of John F. Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
The Swan Riders (Prisoners of Peace) (Hardcover)
Even better than Scorpion Rules, the first book in the series, The Swan Riders is gripping from beginning to end, with a fast, tight plot that keeps you wanting more. But what makes it unique among young adult science fiction novels is the relationship between Greta, royal heir of the Pan Polar Confederacy, and Talis, the AI who controls the fate of the world in his spider's web. When one of his incarnations breaks away from the central mastermind, he starts to experience what enforced peace, free will, and emotional attachment mean on the human level. Even an AI can have doubts in this utterly fascinating dystopian novel. Ages 13 & up.
— Tera
Treacherous twists await Greta as the stakes get even higher in this stunning follow-up to the "masterful" (School Library Journal, starred review) novel, The Scorpion Rules.
Greta Stuart has become AI. New transmitters have silvered her fingerprints. New receptors have transformed her vision. And the whole of her memory has become one book in a vast library of instant knowledge. Greta is ready to rule the world.
But the new technology is also killing her.
Greta is only sixteen years old, but her new enhancements are burning through her mortal body at an alarming rate. Of course the leader of the AIs, an ancient and compelling artificial intelligence named Talis, has a plan. Greta can simply do what he's done when the time comes, and take over the body of one of the Swan Riders, the utterly loyal humans who serve the AIs as part army, part cult.
First though, Greta will have to find a way to stay sane inside her new self. Talis's plan for that involves a road trip. Escorted by Swan Riders, Greta and Talis set out on a horseback journey across the strange and not-quite-deserted landscape of Saskatchewan. But there are other people interested in Greta, people who want to change the world…and the Swan Riders might not be as loyal as they appear…
Erin Bow is the author of The Scorpion Rules, which received three starred reviews and was a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year and it's sequel, The Swan Riders, which received two starred reviews. She also wrote the acclaimed Russian-flavored fantasy Plain Kate, which received two starred reviews and was a YALSA Best Book of the Year, and the terrifying YA ghost story Sorrow's Knot, which received five starred reviews and was a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year. Visit her at ErinBow.com.
*"Slyly humorous, starkly thought-provoking, passionate, and compassionate—and impeccably written to boot: not to be missed."
*"Bow continually yanks the rug out from under readers, defying expectations as she crafts a masterly story with a diverse cast, shocking twists, and gut-punching emotional moments."
*"Masterful, electric prose... Bow delivers a knockout dystopian novel that readers will devour with their hearts in their mouths."
"Bow has crafted a true sci-fi narrative around the AI premise, utilizing an imaginative world and well-developed characters. Through Greta's conflicts, the author explores what it means to be human."
" This is a smart, compelling read that explores the complicated nature of love, family, peace, war, and technology; fans of Johnson's Summer Prince and Collins's Hunger Games who are searching for an empowering and intelligent read-alike need look no further."
"This is fearfully superlative storytelling- electrical tension crackles in every elegant word. The finest fiction I've read this year."
— Elizabeth Wein, author of Code Name Verity
"Bow's amoral artificial intelligence overlord is one of my favorite characters in a while."
"The Scorpion Rules is one of the most inventive, devious, exciting and thoroughly enjoyable books I've read in years. Very highly recommended!"
— Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of ROT & RUIN and THE NIGHTSIDERS
"Clever and unexpected, THE SCORPION RULES is a game-changing novel about the consequence of war and the brutality of peace. Unforgettable!"
"Elegant world-building, white-knuckle plot, and wonderful characters make The Scorpion Rules an extraordinary tale. I couldn't put it down."
"Bow's vision of our apocalypse is stark, beautiful and terrifying. This is my favourite book."
"I don't know which is more delicious, the storytelling or the villain."
"THE SCORPION RULES is a bloody, breath-taking, beautiful book… As a fellow craftsperson I'm leftin awe, and as a reader I'm left feeling transformed."
*"A fascinating follow-up and stunning story that is a must-read."
— School Library Journal *STARRED*
*"Brilliant and compelling: don't miss this."
— Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Series: Prisoners of Peace
Recommended Reading Level
Maximum Age: UP
Minimum Grade Level: 9
Maximum Grade Level: 12
Last Updated At: 11/9/2019 09:12pm
Young Adult Fiction / Science Fiction
Young Adult Fiction / LGBT
Young Adult Fiction / Action & Adventure / Survival Stories
Kobo eBook (September 19th, 2016): $8.99
Paperback (September 19th, 2017): $11.99


In this short play, Mansour Bushnaf turns his sharp eye and his searing critical mind to the vexed question of the interplay of the secular and the religious.
An Arab nightclub with male and female customers. The men are wearing black suits with red neckties, which look like official uniforms. The women are wearing tight pants. A waiter in a white suit and bow tie is handing out drinks.
A woman is singing—or rather lip-synching—the song Salimah ya salamah by the Greek-Egyptian singer Dalida.
Two other women contort their bodies in dance. The men cry out lustfully.
The women blow kisses to the air. The men pull dollar bills out of their pockets and throw them at the women's heads. The women give kisses to the men now, instead of to the air. Something goes wrong with the playback system, confusing the singer, whose lips come to a halt. The men's lips freeze on the women's lips.
The waiter heads backstage, and a few moments later the voice of an old man loudly exhorts about the torment of the grave.
The men remove their lips from the women's. Everyone lowers their heads.
Silence and people staring into the void.
All of them freeze in astonishment, staring into the void while the old man's voice drones on about the torment of the grave.
The old man's voice persists: It has grown louder and taken on the form of a threat.
The singer takes off her clothes piece by piece and flings them at the men's heads. They deeply breathe in the smell of the clothes, but they're somewhat distracted by the old man's voice. The singer has taken off her entire outfit, but we discover that a black gown had been concealed beneath her clothes—she remains completely covered.
The singer stands there on stage, shy and pious.
Silence and astonishment and everyone's mouths agape.
The other women take off their dancing outfits piece by piece and throw them at the men's faces. The men tremble, as if the clothes were snakes.
Shy and pious, the women stand there in black gowns that had been concealed beneath their dancing attire.
The men take off their suits piece by piece and throw them at the women's heads.
The women groan in disapproval.
The men stand there, shy and pious, in black robes that had been concealed beneath the suits.
An outpouring of tears and grief from all the customers.
The waiter in his white suit pushes a trolley with small whips on it.
He gives a whip to every man and a veil to every woman.
The men raise the whips. The women bow their heads to the men, and to the whips.
All the angry men freeze.
The voice of the old man continues to flow.
Things slowly grow dark, turning to black.
© Mansour Bushnaf. Translation © 2017 by Kareem James Abu-Zeid. All rights reserved.
Dissident Libyan playwright and novelist Mansour Bushnaf started his literary career in the 1970s; his twenty plays have been performed and read across Libya. He was imprisoned for twelve years by the Gaddafi regime for his play When the Rats Govern. His first novel, Chewing Gum, was published in Cairo in 2008 and translated into English in 2014 and French in 2017, but remains banned in Libya.


A 27 Year old man in Zambia's capital of Lusaka has stormed social media with surprises after he posted a video of himself complaining that his teacher's deceived him.
In a nine minutes video clip, Robert Chikwanda says his teachers taught him things that do no apply in society.
He says he is shocked that teachers were busy teaching him X + Y = 23 when all the formulas are not applying in society.
"To all my teacher's who taught me I'm taking you to court for robbing my parents money. You were busy teaching me rewrites in English, Starch, X + Y = 23 when none of the above is applying in society. In banks we don't use rewrites. I feel you taught me things that you knew could not add value in society " complained Chikwanda.


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Q: Use same dependencies for 2 different library modules I have library module A that is used in a couple of app modules and a library module B that also gets used in a couple of other modules.
Both already each use api instead of implementation in their dependencies so the app modules don't need to declare the dependencies again. But they each define their own dependencies which overlap.
How can I get both library modules to share the same dependencies without declaring them twice?

A: Might not be optimal but what I did in the end (because it kind of worked in MY USE CASE):
Make one of the libraries depend on the other and then put all overlapping libraries on the one that is depended on using
api project("moduleName")

Also make sure you use api instead of implementation on the individual libraries to inherit them to sub modules

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Hoarding 'collecting life, not living it'
Sarah Wiedersehn
What if you had the inability to let go of objects?
You would be living in landfill, as many people with hoarding disorder do.
Sufferers of this complex psychological disorder are filled with intense fear at the thought of throwing something as simple as a milk bottle lid, which they see value in, away.
They also have this excessive sense of responsibility or duty to maximise an object's use – it's too wasteful to put it in the rubbish.
They end up collecting life without living it.
Randy Frost, a psychology professor and US author of the best-selling book Stuff, says hoarding is both a gift and a curse for the patient.
He says the recognition of an object's potential and not being wasteful are both good attributes.
The curse, however, is it causes people to live in squalor.
"It is aesthetics gone awry and it disturbs peoples lives," Prof Frost says.
Simply cleaning homes out is not the solution, as evident in the "Bondi hoarders" case in Sydney – where the family involved has prevented their home from being forcibly sold on four separate occasions due to unpaid clean-up costs.
Clearly, the approach in the Bondi case hasn't worked.
Prof Frost, who spoke at this week's National Hoarding & Squalor Conference, says there is a simple reason for this.
"We know that forced clean-outs will change the condition of the property temporarily but because they don't change the behaviour the property is going to go back to that level again."
After a forced clean-out animosity develops between the authorities and the hoarder, who views their home as refuge from the world.
He says the outcome of the Bondi case is understandable but was perhaps "inevitable".
He also believes the language used by the media and authorities about the family involved has been "very damaging".
Current interventions for hoarding disorder, caused in part by genetics or early life trauma, are cognitive behaviour therapy, harm reduction and family involvement.
While there is still a lot to learn about this complex disorder, what is vital is reducing the stigma.
"The one thing that keeps people from coming forward and seeking help is because they are stigmatised," says Prof Frost.
SYMPTOMS OF HOARDING DISORDER
* Inability to throw away possessions
* Severe anxiety when attempting to discard items
* Great difficulty organising objects
* Indecision about what to keep or where to put things
* Suspicion of other people touching items
* Obsessive thoughts and actions: fear of running out of an item or of needing it in the future
* Functional impairments, including loss of living space, social isolation, family discord, financial difficulties and health problems.
Categories: Health, Lifestyle


Eleanor Catton's Man Booker prize-winning novel is currently being made into a six-part TV mini-series.
Celebrated New Zealand writer Eleanor Catton has hinted she wants to hit pause on writing novels, and focus more on writing for the screen.
The Luminaries is well underway in Auckland.
The production has seen a small piece of industrial Penrose transformed into 1860s Otago.
The six-part mini-series, telling a story of love, murder and revenge, will screen on BBC Two in the UK and TVNZ1 in New Zealand once complete.
1 NEWS has been given a glimpse behind the star-studded scenes.
« It's a bit surreal actually to be on set and kind of looking at the characters, kind of seeing them bringing the world to life in a very literal way, » Eleanor Catton said.
But she's thriving in her transition from novelist to screenwriter.
« I've got the screenwriting bug a little bit.
« I'm having a lot of fun here so I think I probably will turn back to novels at some point, but I'm really enjoying being right here at the moment, » she told 1 NEWS.
In fact, Catton has now spent more time adapting her novel for the screen than what it took to write.
The outdoor set, looking like 19th century Dunedin when 1 NEWS visited, is a vast mix of large false buildings, mud, animals and seemingly endless actors and extras.
Those on-screen are in thick, heavy period-piece costumes in stifling summer heat, with hand-held fans out to try to keep them cool.
The props they handle range from the detailed and delicate, right through to huge horse-drawn carts.
It's all to give The Luminaries an on-screen presence – but the mini-series won't be a straight copy of the novel.
« It involves a transformation, we've always thought about this process as more of a re-invention of the book and a re-imagining of the book than an adaption, » Catton said.
It's the first New Zealand-shot production to be eligible for more help from the Screen Production Grant.
The cast is headlined by the likes of Eve Hewson from Ireland, France's Eva Green, Himesh Patel from the UK and New Zealand's Marton Csokas.
Other well-known New Zealanders feature too – and those at the helm say there's no mistaking it's New Zealand being put on screen.
« What has been so inspiring about this project is that it is a New Zealand story and it is a telling of our own piece of history, » producer Lisa Chatfield told 1 NEWS.
« Eleanor and the writing of her book really touched an international audience, » she said.
Eleanor Catton was the youngest person to win the Man Booker prize five years ago, aged 28.
But it's the screen she's found a new love for.


Home » Free Bets » Are Wagering Requirements a Scam?
Are Wagering Requirements a Scam?
The answer to this question is really subjective but from a legal perspective the answer is no.
Each gambling sites play-through requirements are listed in their terms & conditions – this is a legal requirement – so you it's your job to look at them and proceed accordingly.
The issue is that the general punter, the one who isn't experienced in online gaming, will probably not even be aware that wagering requirements exist. They will see the carrot of a £50 welcome bonus and think 'sweet: free money!' when all is not entirely clear.
What Are Fair Wagering Requirements?
Let's take a look at InterCasino as an example. Their particular welcome bonus (at the time of writing) is a 100% match up to £250. So they will essentially double your first deposit. Nice.
We'll deposit the full amount to get us started (£250), and InterCasino match this up to make a grand total of £500. Lovely stuff.
We have a look in the T's & C's (ordinarily we'd do this before signing up!), and find that their wagering requirement is x30. We take out our calculators and do the necessary sum: £500 x 30 = £15,000.
Who in their right mind would play through £15,000 in bets just to get a £500 bonus!? That's a profit yield of about 3%, and for such a large wagering requirement is disgraceful. The bonus is essentially impossible to clear profitably for the player.
Again this is subjective but when you look across the board at bonuses available, especially in sports betting, then anything with a wagering requirement of more than 3 x your deposit amount plus bonus amount would be considered unfair.
We must then meet a 3x requirement of our bonus amount + deposit amount so £200 + £200 = £400 x 3 = £1200 (before we can withdraw the bonus).
As you can see that's a lot less than £15,000.
Check out our free bets page to find some sports bonuses we consider to have fair (and even smaller than 3x) wagering requirements.
So is this fair or legit?
In games of random chance in online casinos it really is a huge gamble, as these calculations assume that you are going to make a profit from your £15,000 worth of betting. But you might not win a penny – and the consolation of a £500 bonus isn't going to help you sleep at night knowing you've just essentially lost £14,500.
I think you'll agree that the maths behind that bonus makes it pretty damn unfair.
It must be pointed out that InterCasino are not the only ones deploying such unscrupulous tactics to generate new business, and they probably aren't the worst of the bunch either.
It's your opinion on what's fair and isn't fair – read the T&C's before you go for any bonus.
Why Are Some Bets Exempt From Clearing Bonuses?
Hopefully you are aware of this already, but if not then this could come as a bit of a slap to the face: not all bets count when it comes to clearing your bonus.
Different casino games will differ in their contributory percentages to your bonus and usually bets that are placed with bookmakers under certain odds (1.50-2.00) won't count either.
Again read the bloody T&C's before you start with any bonus.
For example, blackjack is often banned because players who utilise perfect strategy will only lose a small amount (if any at all), and so when the bonus is finally cleared the player will find themselves well in profit. Naturally, casinos don't like this.
Or if you meet you wagering requirements by placing bets at odds of 100/1 on (1.01) then there's virtual no chance you'll lose – in that scenario it's actually not fair on the bookies.
Basically having these limitations in place is an attempt to stop abuse of the bonuses by the gambling sites. All sites differ in their T&C's with some more favorable to the player than others.
We can throw words like scam, swizz and con around until we're blue in the face, but it really isn't going to make much of a difference. Sites will still advertise big welcome offers with 'hidden' wagering requirements, and people will still fall for the trick.
The only way change ever really happens is that people boycott the worst culprits – but it's unlikely that will happen any time soon.
Remember, a gambling site is a business like any other.
Many industries use small print to hide the true cost of the product or service they are offering, and we just have to deal with it. Online gambling is so competitive – new casinos and sportsbooks crop up everyday – it can be hard for them to differentiate themselves from their rivals. This is one way; and the fact that it is a money-making scheme for them is of little concern to their shareholders.
So really we the punters have to remain vigilant, and before we are seduced by any glamorous looking welcome bonus or sign-up offer we must CHHECK THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS. That cannot be stressed enough.
Why Do Sites Have Wagering Requirements?


Entering into a partnership with a lab means choosing to interact with them for many years of your career. As with all good relationships, the set up between you and your lab should be built on shared values and trust.
The way that a lab approaches learning, communication, and materials is specific to how they choose to do business and is representative of their values.
Lab technicians should be useful partners when you're working on a case and it should be easy to get in touch with the lab to discuss cases with them.
You should be able to call and talk to someone who is not only friendly and helpful, but is also knowledgeable about dentistry and dental techniques. They may not be a dentist, but they can speak the same language and understand how you think.
This goes hand in hand with responsible service. A lab you can trust will deliver predictable results. If anything interrupts this process, they'll do everything in their ability to get things back on track.
The quality of the materials a lab uses can make or break your cases. It's important you choose a lab that's utilizing brand name, top-notch materials you're familiar with. They should be industry-vetted and consistent.
A product that lasts longer and fits better makes your seat appointments more pleasant for both you and your patients.
You should hold your labs to the same standards you hold yourself. Just like you take the time to invest in your education, your lab should be doing so as well. Their technicians should be going through their own continuing education and training in the best techniques for their chosen materials. All of this helps them stay on top of their industry.
With the best materials and knowledgeable technicians, your lab can produce a product equal in quality, care, and service to what you're delivering to your patient.
And guess what? All three of these qualities exist at Gold Dust Dental Lab. We make each aspect a priority in our day-to-day efforts.
What do you value most in a lab? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!


Every wedding day is somewhat romantic and could read something like; handsome groom marry's pretty bride in beautiful gown in the church on the hill. Sounds sweet huh. Well read on because the story of Robby and Jacque goes well beyond "sweet" and enters the realm of incredible love story culminating in an emotion filled roller coaster of a day.
These guys faced distance, teenage years, romance, illness and true commitment to get where they are today… two of the happiest, most in-love couples I've ever had the pleasure of becoming friends with, let alone photographing.
What's the story behind the two of you, how and where did you meet?
Robby and I are 'high school sweethearts'. Just one week after our wedding was our 11 year anniversary!!
We met around 16yrs old, during the back end of year 9.
We wish we could say we've sailed through the last 11 years since then but life had other ideas. We've both spent a huge amount of time driving up and down NSW highways trying to maintain a long distance relationship while each of us pursued study only to graduate and have Robby diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma at age 23. So needless to say our commitment to each other has been tested time and time again but here we are now, Mr and Mrs Farrar, happy and healthy.
We get so many mixed reactions when we tell people how long we have been together. Our favourite of course is those who think it's wonderful and rare we have our own story and we love it.
On our 9 year Anniversary, Robby took me to dinner at Jonah's, Whale Beach where we had a delicious seafood meal. Robby popped the question on the clifftop balcony after dinner – I remember it being pitch black and a little chilly and we couldn't see the amazing view but we could hear the ocean and it was beautiful.
There were many joyful tears and me asking repeatedly ARE YOU SURE!?
…He ASKED and I said YES!
Our wedding ceremony took place at St Mary Star of the Sea, Newcastle. We knew we wanted to be married by a Catholic priest so we found this gorgeous Church after we found our reception venue.
The church itself is perched on top of a hill with gorgeous views of Newcastle and its beaches. We were also in awe of the high timber ceilings and sandstone features.
We chose our wedding reception to take place at Merewether Surf house. We searched high and low for our perfect venue, from the Southern Highlands, to the South coast; we even looked in Noosa and New Zealand, all our favourite places.
In the end the Surf house ticked all the boxes, especially the amazing uninterrupted outlook of the Pacific Ocean.
I used to live in Newcastle which is how we knew about this in the first place. I was there for roughly a year for work commitments while Robby was back home undergoing treatment for his Cancer. Robby would visit on the weekends he could and the surf house was one of the first places we came to be comfortable in and we spent many weekends in the cocktail bar enjoying dinner and the stunning views, dreaming about how beautiful it would be to hold a wedding here.
We didn't necessarily start with a theme or a style. We more or less knew the most important thing to us was going to be the feeling of the day and how our guests would remember our big day and of course how we would remember it.
We knew we wanted a warm, classic and romantic feel, with some rustic elements and a touch of glamour.
I found THE dress at Lisa Gowing's Boutique store in Double Bay. The fabric of the dress is what drew me to try it on in the first place, an Ivory satin underlay with layers and layers of soft Ivory tulle. What I loved most about the dress was the Ivory silk buckle belt; I thought it added a unique, modern touch.
So my advice for brides is be open minded and don't try too many on (they start to look the same after a while). I suggest making 4-5 appointments at different bridal stores and you're bound to find the one.
We kept our jewellery and accessories simple. I designed some bracelets for my bridesmaids with our Jeweller, Joakim, from Delphi Diamonds who made our wedding bands and at the last minute I ordered some earring's online to wear on the day.
I didn't carry a clutch or bag; my bridesmaids had everything I needed in their bags for me, which wasn't much, just a touch of lippy and some hairspray!
My mum did have an emergency kit for the day though which included bobby pins, tissues, pain killers, Band-Aids etc. Definitely a must do!
Gorgeous Bec and her team from Om Shalom Hair and Makeup in Newcastle did our hair.
They came to us on the day which was amazing and allowed us to relax all morning without any stresses of getting to and from the hair salon.
I loved having the 2 different hairstyles for the day! Having it up and romantic for the ceremony and then letting it out for the reception because I literally wanted to 'let my hair down' and party!
Michelle and the team from Om Shalom did our makeup! I had no idea what I was after! I didn't have any looks to show Michelle, I just wanted a natural finish for myself and the girls.
Robby had his heart set on a blue suit from the start. My Uncle and Aunty own and run 'Hugh Palmer Clothing for Men' in Nowra, so we were able to turn to them to supply the suits, bowties shoes, socks, belts and shirts for the groom and groomsmen.
We decide to purchase and not hire because we wanted them to have a nice suit, properly fitted that they could add to their wardrobe and wear again and again!
Can you tell me about your flowers/bouquets?
FRESH FRESH FRESH!! I just love fresh flowers and we used them everywhere! We had floral arrangements as our centrepieces on the reception tables as well as outside on the terrace. We also had a fresh flower garland draping over the Bride and Grooms Chair. We loved this as we didn't have the traditional long Bridal table at our reception so this was our something special for our table.
Our ceremony flowers and bouquets were big and wild yet elegant with natural whites and green. All the Flowers were put together by Ashleigh and her team from Piccolo and Poppi.
What led you to choose the wedding cake you did?
We decided not to go traditional with our wedding cake and we opted for a 2 tiered peach and white chocolate cake with a white chocolate ganache with a soft icing finish made by the team at Faye Cahill Cake Design. It was just delicious!
What did you have for your Bomboniere?
My friend and amazing chef from 'The Little Tarte' made our macaroons for our wedding favours. I sourced the clear boxes and designed the stickers to seal the boxes, so the day before the wedding all we had to do was pick up the fresh macaroons and then box them up ourselves, it didn't take long with 3 or 4 of us in a production line We had 2 flavours, Passionfruit and Chocolate Salted Caramel.
We tossed up lots of different ideas for the wedding favours but in the end the feedback we got was that people love edible gifts!! We thought macaroons are a nice delicacy, they look great and guests could throw them in their handbags and eat them the next day if they wish.
Andrew visited the boy's house as well as the girl's house to capture some photos of us getting ready before he went to the ceremony to get ready to capture our arrival at the church.
I didn't notice Andrew at the Church he was very discrete! Unfortunately we ran out of time to do family photos before we left to do the location shoot.
We had a couple of locations in mind but due to the timing restraints we just picked our favourite one and did our photos there. This part of the day was fun and I really enjoyed the time out with the bridal party and Robby. My favourite photos of the day are from our location shoot.
Believe it or not but Andrew was our first vendor that we booked for our wedding! We hadn't even found a reception venue yet and we weren't even sure we were going to get married on the central coast at this stage.
If I remember correctly I traced Andrew's photos back to his website when I was doing some wedding venue research one day. I had emailed a few different photographers however there was something calming about Andrews's correspondence. As soon as I got in contact with him I had a good feeling, he was extremely helpful and reassuring with all things wedding and his wealth of knowledge and experience were apparent from the get go.
In the end we ultimately chose Andrew because he made us laugh and we felt comfortable around him. We knew he wouldn't have any reservations about speaking up if he wanted a certain shot but also had an eye for capturing the candid ones.
Oh Gosh! It's too hard to just pick one!
The moments before entering the church and walking down the aisle was the only part of the day I felt those nerves mixed with excitement and sheer happiness. I was doing ok until my sister decided it was her turn to head into the church and left Dad and I standing there trying to work out which side of the aisle we were each supposed to be standing! It was very funny!
Walking into the reception as Mr & Mrs Farrar literally seconds after the hairdresser had let my hair down was another amazing moment for me. To have all our loved ones greeting us as one was overwhelming and seeing our reception planning come to life was just mind blowing, I remember thinking just how perfect it all was, how happy we were and how excited we were to party!
But we also loved the more private moments where we took a moment to soak it all up and spend some time with each other. We were able to do this on the drive to the location shoot and while everyone else was eating their dinner. It was only 10-15 mins each time but it was really worth it and something I would recommend to others.
We almost didn't have one straight after the wedding…. We are honeymooning in Europe later this year so had decided not to go anywhere straight after the wedding. However as the wedding got closer we began to realise we were going to need a break and some down time after the wedding festivities. We ended up going to Fiji for 6 nights and it was exactly what we needed!
I was hopeless with decision making when it came to planning this wedding! I changed my mind a million times!
My advice would be to put Pinterest down, put the magazines down and just create the wedding that you have always wanted.
We were so happy with every aspect of our wedding that we'd only be nit picking if we were to change something and we feel very lucky to feel this way. If anything, we'd be trying harder to make it go longer, or for time to go slower.


These days, firms don't downsize, they "rightsize." Companies no longer make budget cuts, they "reduce to competitive levels."
The current downturn has ushered in a new wave of vocabulary for real estate firms that are trying to spin bad news.
Lenders may be asking for 25 percent or more of the purchase price on a new apartment up front, but rather than referring to it as a downpayment, many have recently started calling it an "investment." Meanwhile, that deed in lieu of foreclosure was really just a "loss mitigation technique." And no, that wasn't a price cut. It was a "price correction."
As the Web site Cityfile recently observed, restaurants across New York have been "closing for renovations," until, after a few weeks or months, they're finally ready to reveal what insiders knew all along: Reopening was never in the plans.
To some, euphemisms like these are a pointless exercise. "It doesn't matter what moniker you give these things," said David Schechtman, senior director of Eastern Consolidated's turnaround and distressed group. "We are in a down market, whether you call it what it is or candy-coat it."
"It means 'We're gonna make job cuts,'" said Howard Nottingham, executive managing director at Studley. So why not just say that? "Because no one's ever heard of some of these other terms, and maybe they can put a seemingly different spin on it."
Indeed, many PR-friendly terms for cost-cutting turn out not to be euphemisms so much as vague or esoteric.
Having one person do twice the work sounds somehow less stressful when labeled "increased utilization," "managed redundancy" or "productivity increases."
In the development sector, Steve Solomon, head of the real estate practice at the PR firm Rubenstein Associates, said one go-to phrase is "actively negotiating" if you have empty space to lease or sell. And "cash-flow issues" is a more palatable term than "bankrupt."
"Instead of saying, 'We're in deep trouble and going broke,' having 'cash-flow issues' makes the person reading it [feel] a little bit more comfortable," Solomon said.
Whether creative vocabulary makes a difference in the market is anyone's guess, but one thing's for sure: "When the markets change, a whole new wave of catchphrases and euphemisms comes in," Solomon said.


Looking for an affordable SUV rental in Westroads? Budget has some of the most budget-friendly rates and deals of any Westroads rental company. When it comes to low SUV rental prices, our name says it all! When it comes to quality and service, however, we never cut corners. We take the stress out of renting a spacious sport utility vehicle by offering affordable rates at multiple accessible locations. A rented luxury SUV would definitely make your next road trip or family vacation more comfortable. Whether you're an out-of-towner or a resident in Westroads, we have lots of short- and long-term rental plans from which to choose. Fill out your pick-up and drop-off times online to see Budget's great rates on car rentals in Westroads. If this location is not convenient for you, Budget has another 8 locations in Omaha, including a location at the Eppley Airfield Airport.


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Q: Batch file: Get yesterday's date in format: M_d_yyyy How does one get yesterday's date format in a batch file?
I'd like it to look like so: M_d_yyyy
Note that if there's a single digit day and month, I'd like it to be single digits.
Example: 8_5_2013 is August 5th, 2013.
I looked around for a few days but couldn't find a solution.. any lead is much appreciated.

A: Nothing wrong with free 3rd party executables, but some of us are not allowed to use them on our work machines.
I have written a powerful hybrid JScript/batch utility called getTimestamp.bat that can do nearly any date and time computation on a Windows machine.
There are a great many options for specifying the base date and time, many options for adding positive or negative offsets to the date and time, many options for formatting the result, and an option to capture the result in a variable. Both input and output can be directly expressed as local time, UTC, or any time zone of your choosing. Full documentation is embedded within the script.
The utility is pure script that will run on any modern Windows machine from XP forward - no 3rd party executable required.
Assuming getTimestamp.bat is in your current directory, or better yet, somewhere within your PATH, then the following simple call will define a dt variable containing yesterday's date in M_D_YYYY format:
call getTimestamp -od -1 -f {m}_{d}_{yyyy} -r dt

Note: when I put a date in a file name, I like to use YYYY_MM_DD format because that format will sort chronologically when getting a directory listing.

A: I think you should get date.exe from UnxUtils.
date.exe --date="1 day ago" "+%-m_%d_%Y"
Download: http://sourceforge.net/projects/unxutils/files/unxutils/current/
Man page: http://www.ss64.com/bash/date.html

@echo off
setlocal
set magic="c:\unx\usr\local\wbin\date.exe" --date="1 day ago" "+%%-m_%%d_%%Y"
for /f %%i in ('%magic%') do set yesterdate=%%i
echo yesterdate = %yesterdate%

If you want to do it with just batch language, you'll end up with nearly 100 lines of incomprehensible batch code.  UPDATE: or use dbenham's hybrid batch/JScript solution posted in the answer below, which at least uses sane Windows APIs.

See Also:
How to get current datetime on Windows command line, in a suitable format for using in a filename?


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Home > Auto > Auto News
Hyundai i30 unveiled with a long list of technology and safety features
null | 10 Sep 2016 4:00 PM GMT
Set to go on display at 2016 Paris Motor Show from 1 October to 16 October, third generation Hyundai i30 five-door hatchback has been redeveloped with a new range of engines that will also include turbocharged petrol engines.
Developed and designed at company's facilities in Europe, 2017 Hyundai i30 is 40mm longer, 15mm wider and 15mm shorter than its earlier counterpart while there is no change in wheelbase which stands at 2,650mm. Boot space have been enhanced to 395 liters which can be increased to 1,301 liters when rear seats are folded down.
Set to compete with VW Golf, Ford Focus, Renault Megane and Opel Astra, Hyundai i30 comes in with a long list of technology and safety features. These include an 8" touchscreen with media, navigation and connectivity features besides Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The new i30 is also seen with a 5" capacitive LCD touchscreen, integrated rear view camera and audio system along with Bluetooth, My Music and 7 year free subscription to TomTom Live services. The most outstanding list of safety features include Autonomous Emergency Braking, Front Collision Warning, Smart Cruise Control, Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Keeping Assist, Speed Limit Information Function and High Beam Assist.
Driver Attention Alert aids in the detection of tired or reckless drivers while the system takes into consideration steering angle, torque, lane position and driving time. In the event of inattentive driving being detected, the system sends sound or message through the instrument display.
Third generation Hyundai i30 is powered by three petrol and three diesel engine options. Entry-level petrol variant is via 1.4L MPI generating 100 PS, then is 1.0L 3 cyl generating 120 PS, while top of the line 1.4L petrol generates 140 PS. Diesel engine is in the form of 1.6L DOHC in 3 tunes, 95 PS (94 HP) & 280 Nm; 110 PS (108 HP) & 280 Nm, 136 PS (134 HP) & 300 Nm. Transmission options on offer are 6 speed MT and 7 speed DCT.
This article first appeared on Rushlane.com
Hyundai i30 Price
Hyundai i30 India


Looking for something more full featured than Apple's own Camera app on your iPhone? Then make sure to see how the top four camera replacement apps stack up in this week's App Showdown!
With App.net growing, what's the best way to keep up with the stream from your iPhone? We compare the top ADN apps in this week's App Showdown!
Need a quick way to jot down some text wherever you are? Find out which app is the best app for the job in this week's App Showdown.
Ever wonder what that new song is? These apps want to help you out! Find out which one is the best in our latest App Showdown!
Are you the type to keep tasks in a list rather than a complex GTD system? Then don't miss this App Showdown, where I compare some of the best list apps available.
App Showdown: Get Your Schedule In Gear With Calvetica, Agenda, And Week Calendar!
Looking for a great third party alternative for managing your schedule? Then don't miss this week's App Showdown, where the top three calendar apps face off!
RSS is definitely not dead, despite what most people say. This week, we compare the best Google Reader apps for your iOS devices! Is your favorite here?
In this week's App Showdown, we compare the top three GTD apps. It's time to get productive!
In this week's app showdown, I compare two note-taking apps that fill a need you may not have realized you needed.
There are so many minimalistic writing apps out there -- how do you choose the best? Fortunately, I've done the heavy lifting for you in this week's App Showdown.
Which read it later app is the best? Find out the pros and cons of each and see which one could fit your needs!


In 2015, the American Statistical Association (ASA) published the Statistical Education of Teachers (SET) Report (Franklin et al., 2015). The report, aimed at teacher educators, lays out specific content that teachers of different grade levels should know while relying heavily on the GAISE framework (Franklin et al., 2007). We view the statistical investigative process in GAISE as the model teachers need to adapt for successful statistical instruction to enable students to understand the importance of showing and collecting data to answer statistical questions. For teachers to gain fluency with this model, we propose using the eight Mathematical Practices (MPs) under a statistical lens described in the SET report. Based on the NCTM process standards (NCTM, 2000) and the strands of mathematical proficiency specified in the National Research Council's report Adding It Up (2001), the MPs are "processes math educators at all levels should seek to develop in their students" (NGA, 2010). In the SET report, these eight MPs are interpreted in ways that are relevant to the content domain of statistics and statistical thinking. The MP through a statistical lens provide teachers and students the tools to develop the statistical habits of mind necessary to practice statistical reasoning. We believe there is a connection between using the MP through a statistical lens and the self-efficacy of teachers. If we want to infuse data science ideas in K-12 education, teachers need to have a deep understanding of how people generate data every day, how data can be accessed and used to answer statistical questions. In this session, we discuss how the MPs through a statistical lens provide a roadmap to achieve the infusion of data science ideas into K-12. This session is part of multiple sessions on K-12 Teacher Development.


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Home » News » Sports » Major League Baseball team to drop "Indians" from its name
Major League Baseball team to drop "Indians" from its name
1:44 PM EST, Tue December 15, 2020
CLEVELAND, Oh. / CNN — A Major League Baseball team in Cleveland, Ohio will drop "Indians" from its name, the New York Times reported.
The team declined to comment on the situation, but said it did not dispute the Times report, which cites sources familiar with the decision.
The decision to change the team name could be announced as soon as this week, the Times reported.
The "Indians" name dates back to 1915 when it was chosen by the team and a group of baseball newspaper writers. Though its exact origin story is unclear, the name was partly based on the contemporary success of the Boston Braves, who won the 1914 World Series, as well as on Louis Sockalexis, a former Native American baseball star in Cleveland who died in 1913, according to Cleveland Magazine.
After the 2018 season, the team removed its "Chief Wahoo" logo, a caricature of a Native American character, from its team uniforms.
"I think it's time to move forward," Terry Francona, the manager of Cleveland's baseball team, said in July when discussing the team's name. "It's a very difficult subject. It's also delicate."
Sports teams with names based on Native Americans, including MLB's Cleveland Indians and Atlanta Braves, and the NFL's Washington Redskins and Kansas City Chiefs, are facing pressure to reexamine their names.
Mother and 2-year-old son fall to their deaths at San Diego Padres baseball stadium
JetBlue Park & Hammond Stadium inspected for defects ahead of Spring Baseball
Washington's NFL team — formerly the Redskins — did away with their name in July and are now the Washington Football Team.
Tags: baseballMajor League Baseball
Tampa nurse one of the first to receive COVID-19 vaccine in Florida
Family accidentally bakes 'Elf on the Shelf,' warns others of parenting fail
Family accidentally bakes 'Elf on the Shelf,' warns others of parenting fail


/sub kat"euh gawr'ee, -gohr'ee/ , n. , pl. subcategories .
a subordinate category or a division of a category.
Еще значения слова и перевод SUBCATEGORY с английского на русский язык в англо-русских словарях.
Что такое и перевод SUBCATEGORY с русского на английский язык в русско-английских словарях.
More meanings of this word and English-Russian, Russian-English translations for SUBCATEGORY in dictionaries.
SUBCATEGORY — n. (pl. -ies) a secondary or subordinate category. øøsubcategorize v.tr. (also -ise). subcategorization n.
SUBCATEGORY — n. (pl. -ies) a secondary or subordinate category. subcategorize v.tr. (also -ise). subcategorization n.
SUBCATEGORY — n. (pl. -ies) a secondary or subordinate category. Derivatives: subcategorize v.tr. (also -ise). subcategorization n.


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James Maddison urges Leicester City to sign up Youri Tielemans
Both players were on target in the win over Huddersfield
Leicester City midfielder James Maddison has urged the club to sign up Youri Tielemans.
Belgium international Tielemans opened the scoring in City's 4-1 win over Huddersfield as they moved up to seventh place in the Premier League.
It was Tielemans' second goal for the club as he put in another appearance since joining on loan from Monaco in January.
City would like to sign him in the summer with the fee reported to be £40m.
Former Norwich star Maddison was also on target on Saturday and after the game he took to Twitter saying the club should 'sign him uppp'.
Leicester are rumoured to be among an increasing number of clubs keen to sign Tielemans, with other suitors including Tottenham and Mancester United.


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Ray Charles Returns to the White House
The blind king of soul once sat down with Richard Nixon, now his music will be performed by a host of musicians for Barack Obama
Jackson Landers
In 1972, Ray Charles visited Richard Nixon in the Oval Office Corbis
Ray Charles took his seat in the Oval Office. Richard Nixon, sitting beside him, instinctively tried to look him in the eyes. Charles did not look back. He wore chunky black sunglasses and an eye-catching paisley tie. The hair around his temples had just barely started to turn gray, lending a new touch of dignity to the musician. The President of the United States began a conversation with the blind king of soul music.
"I lived next door to a gentleman, who was a pianist," Charles said to Nixon as the now-infamous hidden tape recorder slowly turned, "and I loved to hear him play when I was three and four years old." He continued, telling Nixon about growing up in poverty as the son of a laundress in rural Florida and discovering a love for the piano before losing his sight at the age of seven.
The pair may not have been entirely an odd couple. They were both piano players, though of widely different talent. A few years earlier, Nixon had personally played "Happy Birthday" for Duke Ellington on a grand piano in the East Room of the White House. But Ellington's big-band jazz had become respectable in a way that soul music, for which Ray Charles was best known, had not.
Most black music, including blues, soul and certainly rock 'n' roll were not art forms that museums, politicians or cultural attachés took seriously. Forty-four years later, Ray Charles is gone but his music is finally coming to the White House. As part of an on-going concert series PBS has partnered with the Grammy Museum, TV One and the Smithsonian Institution, among others, to present "Smithsonian Salutes Ray Charles: In Performance at the White House." On February 26, the show—featuring a host of today's recording artists reinterpreting Charles' music and big-band arrangements—will air on PBS stations nationwide.
For most of his professional life, Charles toured relentlessly. Often traveling nine months out of each year, he managed something resembling a small army of musicians, singers and support staff that flew around the U.S. and abroad. "It does this country a lot of good for you to do that," Nixon said to Charles in the Oval Office. "The people [in Russia and in Czechoslovakia], the only way they can express themselves is to cheer for an artist."
But while Ray Charles personally took African American music around the world to new audiences, he was frustrated by the lack of institutional support from his own government, including official State Department goodwill tours. "As a rule, though, the kind of people who work for the State Department probably feel that the blues is beneath them," Charles said in a 1970 interview with Playboy magazine. "They wouldn't be caught dead listening to Little Milton or Howling Wolf. They don't even know these cats exist, so they couldn't be expected to ask them to go on tours. To the people in Washington, all this music—maybe with the exception of traditional jazz players like Louis Armstrong—is somehow in bad taste. But you know, two-thirds of the world is playing it and dancing to it, so I guess there's a hell of a lot of people with bad judgment, wouldn't you say?"
The new African American History Museum will feature a large collection devoted to music that includes one of Charles' classic single-button jackets. NMAAHC
A receipt signed by Ray Charles from the collections of the new National Museum of African American History and Culture. NMAAHC
Popular black music has finally found a permanent home in Washington, D.C. After over a decade of planning and collecting, the National Museum of African American History and Culture is expected to open its doors to the public September 24, 2016. It features a large collection devoted to music, which includes one of Charles' classic single-button jackets (The National Museum of American History has a pair of his signature black sunglasses).
The jacket is blue with a tangle of silver flowers embroidered into it. It is crafted of tactile fabric with a pattern that could be felt under the fingertips and recognized by a blind man, who believed in his own sense of style. He wore a simple light gray summer suit to meet with Nixon. The wide paisley tie looked as though it could have been made to match the flamboyant jacket in the new museum's collections.
Dwandalyn Reece is the curator of Music and Performing Arts at the African American History Museum (and is one of the organizers of the upcoming concert at the White House). For years, she has been curating a collection without a physical museum to display it in. "It's kind of scary," Reece says. "It's the opportunity to see all your hard work be put before the public for them to hopefully enjoy. It's also humbling. That this museum means so much to so many people, to actually be a part of it is really a humbling experience. They're going to be touched by things that I may be taking for granted at this point."
The Music and Performing Arts collection includes not only items from the histories of Jazz and early soul, but also material from current black artists. "We have a bass and an amplifier from Fishbone," Reece says. "We have stuff from Bad Brains, we try to be contemporary in all things. We've got some Public Enemy, we've got some stuff from J Dilla. Hip-hop artists, punk artists. We collect in all areas of African American music-making. . . we're looking at people in classical, we're looking at country. Even in rock and in punk rock."
One of the things that made Ray Charles noteworthy enough to merit a White House invitation was his ability to work across genres. While he is typically remembered as a soul singer and piano player, he also made several successful albums of country music covers. Many fans were unhappy with that direction until they actually heard him playing the music. Working in jazz, blues, country and rock 'n' roll, he excelled at selling black music to white audiences and white music to black audiences during the 1950's and 60s through the Civil Rights Movement.
"If I go out into a march, first of all, I can't see, number one," Charles told National Public Radio in 1984. "So somebody throws something at me, I can't even duck, you know, in time." A picket line in KKK country was no place for a blind man. But he supported the protest movement with money for lawyers and bail. His tour stops always boycotted segregated venues.
With his own record label, a Los Angeles recording studio, control over his master tapes, two airplanes and a staff of eighty-some people, he was the Jay-Z of his day; A powerful figure in music and in business who blossomed out of poverty to eventually do exactly as he pleased. "What makes Ray Charles unique was that he was in a position to be his own man in the deals he was able to make and in the economic power he had," says Reece. "He was a symbol of success but also someone who had his own sense of agency and operated in that way, just like any other person would want to do."
As Charles stood and prepared to leave the Oval Office, Nixon handed him the gift of a set of cufflinks bearing the seal of the President and complimented him on the tailoring of his shirt. "I like his style," the President remarked in his distinctive growl.
Twelve years after his death, Ray Charles is finally getting his due from the government with which he had a complicated relationship. Under its laws he was banished to the back of the bus that carried him from his native Florida to Seattle, where he would get his first big break. The same government arrested him on the tarmac at Logan International for bringing heroin into the U.S. from Canada. Now his glasses and jacket are about to be displayed at the Smithsonian and a concert of his signature songs is being prepared for the East Wing of the White House—under America's first black President.
On February 26, 2016 at 9 p.m., nationwide PBS stations will premiere "Smithsonian Salutes Ray Charles: In Performance at the White House." Check local listings.
Jackson Landers | | READ MORE
Jackson Landers is an author, science writer and adventurer based out of Charlottesville, Virginia, specializing in wildlife out of place. His most recent book, Eating Aliens, chronicles a year and a half spent hunting and fishing for invasive species and finding out whether we can eat our way out of some ecological disasters.
African American History African American History Museum Music


A stay at Hotel Kanra Kyoto places you in the heart of Kyoto, minutes from Higashi Honganji Temple and close to Nijo Castle. This 4-star hotel is close to Kiyomizu Temple and Kyoto Imperial Palace.
Make yourself at home in one of the 68 individually decorated guestrooms, featuring refrigerators and iPod docking stations. Your memory foam bed comes with down comforters. Flat-screen televisions with digital programming provide entertainment, while complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected. Private bathrooms with separate bathtubs and showers feature deep soaking bathtubs and rainfall showerheads.
Relax and unwind with body treatments and facials. This hotel also features complimentary wireless Internet access and concierge services.
Enjoy a meal at one of the hotel's dining establishments, which include 2 restaurants and a coffee shop/café. From your room, you can also access room service (during limited hours). Quench your thirst with your favorite drink at a bar/lounge. Full breakfasts are available daily from 7 AM to 10 AM for a fee.
This hotel is pretty nice, but I think they should improve on the service, because they don't always change the bedsheets, and they don't clean your room unless you specially ask them to after 1 PM. But the good things about this hotels is the location, and the interior is very Japanese-like. Sightseeing around this place include the Higashihonganji Shrine and the view that you can see from the windows are quite nice as well.
I stayed here in December on my first trip to Kyoto. Its location is very convenient. You can walk from the train station in 10-15 minutes (quicker without luggage), and subway and convenience stores are also located nearby (<1-2 min). The service was kind and polite. When we had to make some changes to the online reservations, the staff replied timely and was very helpful.
My family and I booked two double rooms in the main building. The rooms are just like what we saw on the photo! There were windows, but are covered, as you can see in the picture - so we didn't really have a view. If you are on the second floor like myself, you can hear a bit of traffic at night. We only had two check-in size luggages (1 per room), so we had enough space. I do see what other reviewers mean about not having enough room for luggage. The rooms and bathroom were very clean. There's a wooden bathtub and a separate waterfall shower. I found the bed to be ok in comfort level; that is difficult to adjust I suppose since everyone has different bed preferences.
I think what I liked most about the hotel was their breakfast buffet. They come in two styles and comes with unlimited coffee/tea: western + Japanese; go for the Japanese. Just note their breakfast repeats itself every two days. Honestly, though, the food was so pretty and cute - I don't mind eating this every day.
So during our 2 week trip in Japan, this by far had one of the most stylish interiors out of all the hotels we stayed in. Its essentially a modern interpretation of the classic Japanese aesthetic. The hotel staff is very polite, and everything is very clean. It is about a 10-15 minute walk to Kyoto Station which is nice, but candidly it is a bit far from all the local train lines, Gion, and downtown Kyoto. We found ourselves walking farther than anticipated to all of the sites in Kyoto.
With so many options in Kyoto this is just OK.
A friend stayed here longer go win this was a small hotel and raved about everything. It is much larger now with two buildings side-by-side. The facility has obviously tried to modernize and looks good but is not holding up well.
The rooms are very stylized and modern but the layout is awkward. Large posts support the canopies around the platform beds that get in the way. Also the layout is very cramped and using the sinks in the hallway is Awkward. The water pressure Prevented us from using the oforu tub.
The location is great and staff are friendly. The breakfasts were great.
We were here at peak season and it was obvious that the rooms were dramatically marked up.
With so many great places to stay in Kyoto I would look for another option with more charm.
This hotel is lovely. Easily accessed from Kyoto station, next door to a huge temple. The rooms are very Japanese in style conveying peacefulness. The staff are wonderful. The breakfast is a choice of western or Japanese. Being frank, if you are western, that option is better unless you are very adventurous in your local food expectations. We had dinner in the hotel's Teppanyaki - fabulous experience. The bar has some interesting sake opportunities. All together we loved this hotel, and have to say three days in Kyoto is not enough.


Everyone is familiar with mass emailing options that are found these days. However, the majority of the email blast software usually finds its way into the spam folders instead of the inbox of the intended recipients. Sometimes this is due to the content or the subject of the message, but more often than not it is due to the large number of recipients on the list.
Using the right program can get your email opened and read by the person who it is intended for. Moreover, using the correct type of marketing will build your customer database and attract new clients. As a result you will find that your sales will begin to improve as well.
The internet offers a number of advantages to businesses for drawing in new customers and advertising. It is important that you use the correct process in order to avoid having any problems. When you are blasting email you have to be careful not to violate the rules that are in place.
As you look at the choices available, you want to be certain that you have budgeted for this activity. The use of email and other electronic advertising options can help you quickly improve your website traffic which in turn increases your sales. The goal of course is to improve your profit margin without spending too much to do so.
Finding the right program will require that you gather some information first. You need to have an idea about how many customers or potential customers you plan on reaching out to in this way. Some businesses use this activity to attract new customers whereas others will use it to promote special sales.
Email blast software can be found in many different forms as well as many different price ranges. When you plan to use an email blast program, you have to understand what it will do for you. If you are looking for a full service option that provides you with leads as well as the emails being sent, you will need to look a bit harder.
Blasting email is very common today. The goal is to get the word out to as many people as quickly as possible. However, this is often influenced by the customers who receive the information as well because they will actually need to read the communication from you to provide benefit to both of you.


You can now get Raspberry Ketones in Syddanmark Denmark and get Free containers for Syddanmark Denmark client and we will reveal you exactly how.
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Weight Loss- Professional researches were carried out on mice that reveal significant decrease in belly fat in those that were offered ketone quantities daily.
Weight loss is the key benefit of raspberry ketones when taken daily. Most consumers see visibly lead to within a week or more, depending upon their diet, existing weight and exercise levels.
Feedback for individuals who have taken ketones have mentioned weight loss of up to 10lbs, 20lbs and often also 30lbs+ within the first 3 months.
Lowers Bad Cholesterol- In human trial medical researches, analysts tested the cholesterol levels scores and located that ketones reduces superior LDL (Bad Cholesterol levels) levels while on the flip side enhanced HDL degrees (Excellent cholesterol levels).
Higher degrees of HDL have actually been shown to safeguard versus cardiovascular disease. Low degrees of HDL (less than 40 mg/dL) likewise raise the risk of heart disease.
Raspberry ketone has some of the most powerful antioxidants, which will certainly remove harmful free of cost radicals from the body. Free radicals decrease our physical bodies food digestion processes and harm our skin, so it is essential to remove them through cleaning.
Lowers Blood Tension - Professional studies carried out in the United States have shown that taking a raspberry ketone supplement can aid lesser blood pressure normally.
These research studies illustrate to that after concerning a month, users had fallen their blood pressure degrees by about 15 %. All the patients were borderline hypertensive prior to the research and were considered to be healthy at the end of the research study.
Enhanced Mind Feature- Newer studies now illustrate to that the use of raspberry ketone can help boost primary mind functions, consisting of memory.
A few of our raspberry ketone customers have actually told us that our supplement has improved their emphasis, concentration and memory loyalty.
Where to Buy Raspberry Ketone in Syddanmark Denmark?
Not all supplements are produced equivalent and below is just how you can tell the good ones from the bad raspberry ketone supplements.
Free Delivery Offers- Looks like a lot however fact is sellers can deliver for FREE considering that it's a lower high quality supplement. Normally low quality suggests a synthetic ketone created in a laboratory which set you back a great deal less to make.
High Dosage of Raspberry Ketone- This is a good way to locate grainy supplements. If you see offers for 200- 600mg of ketones each pill visit way. Once again they very well could be this superior of a dosage yet it's possibly not pure. If it really is then truth expense of the product would certainly be about $60- $120 a container. In this case the a lot more it cost the much better chance you have of getting a genuine Ketone supplement.
Right here's exactly what you can do to avoid acquiring low quality fat loss supplements. Searching for an ingredient label will not always help due to the fact that it's legal to place an artificial ketone on the tag although it's not pure or all-natural so you could go by rate as a starting factor. If it's under $35 it's most likely most ideal to keep away.
The best locations to buy Raspberry Ketone Supplements in Syddanmark Denmark is from a reputabled source with real and all-natural ingredients like Raspberry Ketone EvolutionSlimming.
Once in the morning to offer you an all-natural improvement to start the day and as soon as around twelve noon time to obtain you with the afternoon. Do not take this supplement in the evening because it may keep you awake with the night. Your metabolic process will decrease in the evening normally and you do not want to interrupt this process as the physical body gets ready for Fasting assumed the evening.
To take more then this advise raspberry ketone quantity can be a waste of money. The physical body merely can not refine more than this as it will certainly dispose of the remainder as waste meaning you'll be squandering your cash.
To become FREE bottles of our raspberry ketone supplement simply buy greater than two containers, below's the deal Syddanmark Denmark Customers can solve now.
Where To Buy The Best Garcinia Cambogia in Waitakere New Zealand?
Where To Buy The Best Garcinia Cambogia in Misiones Argentina?


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Michael Jordan vs LeBron James | NBA GOAT Debate
SportyTell Editors Updated August 25, 2020 NBA No Comments
Photo credit: Photo Credit: Wikimedia / Flickr
This article is the ultimate greatest NBA player of all-time debate between Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James, with facts and stats. Let's settle the NBA GOAT debate.
As with every major sport, fans and pundits often embroil in the endless arguments about the greatest of all time (GOAT). In basketball, that argument was reignited following the release of the ESPN documentary series "The Last Dance."
The Last Dance gave young viewers an in-depth insight into the success of Michael Jordan. The documentary served as an eye-opener for those who knew Michael Jordan majorly for the success of the Air Jordan shoe brand.
Fanatics can't help but compare Michael Jordan, the legend of the 20th century to LeBron James who has dominated the league in recent years and has arguably been seen as an NBA greatest of all-time contender.
True there exist several players such as late NBA Legend, Kobe Bryant, who have been involved in the complicated argument, no pair dominates any GOAT conversation regarding the NBA more than the duo, Jordan and James.
Both stars who have earned impressive states, individual accomplishments, and incredible team successes, are great in their own ways. But for some reason, which boils down to personal preference, there has never been a universal agreement regarding an answer to the question, who is the NBA's Greatest of All Time?
We'll insightfully review the stats the two men have acquired in their careers. For LeBron James, the stats used are from his debut season to Mach 2020 (before the suspension of the league).
RELATED: Top-20 Best NBA Players Of All-Time
Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James Stats
Average Regular Season Stats
Total Regular Season Stats
Regular Season Advanced Stats
Playoff Stats
Playoff Advanced Stats
Why Michael Jordan is the Greatest of All-Time
Why LeBron James is the Greatest of All-Time
Did Michael Jordan play in a weak league?
Does LeBron James play in a weak conference?
Nature of Opponents
30.1 Points 27.1
6.2 Rebounds 7.4
5.3 Assits 7.4
2.3 Steals 1.6
0.8 Blocks 0.8
2.7 Turnovers 3.5
38.3 Minutes 38.4
49.7 Field Goal.% 50.4
32.7 3-point % 34.3
83.5 Free Throw % 73.5
1,072 Games 1,258
32,292 Points 34,087
6,672 Rebounds 9,353
5,633 Assists 9,298
2,514 Steals 2,011
893 Blocks 951
2,924 Turnovers 4,402
41,011 Minutes 48,329
27.9 Player Efficiency Rating 27.5
116.1 Value Over Replacement 133.2
9.2 Box Plus/Minus 8.9
214.0 Win Shares 236.1
56.9 True Shooting % 58.6
33.3 Usage % 31.5
Playoffs Per Game
5.7 Assists 7.1
48.7 Field Goal % 49.1
24.7 Value Over Replacement 30.8
11.1 Box Plus/Minus 10.2
39.8 Win Shares 51.0
6 Championships 3
5 MVPs 4
6 Final MVPs 3
11 All-NBA 15
9 All-Defense 6
14 All-Star 16
10 Scoring titles 1
Michael Jordan lay claim to the Greatest of All Time crown, thanks to the individual laurels he has achieved. Compared to LeBron James, Jordan has 6 NBA Championship rings and has claimed 6 NBA Finals MVP. Aside from the NBA All-star game appearance and All-NBA first-team selection, Michael Jordan leads LeBron James in every aspect in individual and team wins.
That is probably the most excellent argument pro-Jordan GOAT debaters will lay bare to anyone willing to listen to why Michael Jordan surpasses LeBron James.
ALSO READ: Michael Jordan Net Worth & Earnings
With no advantage over Michael Jordan in individual and team laurels, LeBron James' claim to the GOAT lies in his stats, which is impressive compared to Michael Jordan's.
In terms of scoring, LeBron James ranks higher than Michael Jordan as his field goal percentage shows he is a better scorer. The story is the same in the rebound as well. However, Michael Jordan's points per game average rank higher than that of James'. Still, when you consider his free throw percentage, which ranks significantly higher than that of LeBron, the argument becomes a bit shaky.
In steals, Jordan still comes first, but both players are at a stalemate in blocks. James also trails closely to Jordan, who ranks as the top player in NBA Efficiency ratings, with LeBron at second. That attests to LeBron James' dominance over Jordan in individual ability.
The argument gets even more impressive when considering NBA Finals stats. This time Michael Jordan, who appeared in 6 NBA Finals without losing any compared to LeBron James, who appeared in 9 consecutive NBA Finals, but tasted victory on just three occasions, ranks higher than James in shooting, rebounding and passing.
But LeBron's defensive abilities trump Jordan's. He leads Jordan in the block and nearly matches his steals stats. The bottom line of this argument is that LeBron James' skills place him at an advantage over Michael Jordan, as revealed by the stats.
ALSO READ: LeBron James Net Worth, Salary & Endorsements
During the period Jordan played in the NBA, new teams arrived in the NBA. Precisely between 1988 and 1995, six new teams entered the NBA. During this period, Michael Jordan won his first of six NBA championships.
By the time he won his other three championships, new teams were still flooding the league. Most of these teams were not as strong as you could imagine today, for instance, the 2019 NBA Championship winner, Toronto Raptors.
Jordan played against such inexperienced teams on his way to six NBA Championships. So yes, it could be said Jordan played in a weak league that was not as tough as it is today, but his talents are unquestionable. While this may seem as though LeBron trumps over Jordan, the three-time NBA Championship winner is not without criticism.
LeBron James, who plays in the Eastern Conference, can be said to play in a weak conference based on the fact that since he entered the NBA, the Eastern Conference has led the Western Conference in wins on just one occasion. That proves that Western Conference teams readily defeat their Eastern counterparts.
But LeBron himself has seen himself on the losing end against Western Conference teams in overall matches on two occasions; his rookie season and his first season with the Los Angeles Lakers. On one time, he drew. So while he plays in a weak conference, LeBron James has not had difficulty defeating Western Conference teams.
One aspect of Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James GOAT argument that needs consideration is the nature of opponents both have faced. Jordan played in a weak league compared to the current competition level in the NBA, but that league still produced some of the best Hall of Famers we know. In control, LeBron has faced more Hall of Famers/future Hall of Famers than Jordan, but the stats they earned against such opponents speaks for or against their GOAT title.
Michael Jordan: Jordan faced 24 Hall of Famers in the playoffs and NBA Finals on 48 occasions. In the playoffs, he faced 16 Hall of Famers. He defeated 6 of these Hall of Famers, tied with one while he lost to 9. He locked horns with these esteemed Hall of Famers 39 times, emerging victorious 17 times. In the total playoffs and finals, Michael Jordan has a postseason record of 26-22 or 54% win in his encounters against Hall of Famers.
LeBron James: James has faced more future and current Hall of Famers than Jordan. He has played against 25 Hall of Famers, both future and current, 65 times in the NBA Finals and playoffs. In the playoffs, James defeated 11 of the 14 current/future Hall of Famers, recorded a tie against 2, and has a sole losing record against one; Dwight Howard. 33 times, he faced current/future Hall of Famers in the playoffs and emerged victorious 24 times. In total, LeBron James has a postseason record of 34-31 of 52% against current and future Hall of Famers in the playoffs and Finals.
Another essential fact to consider in the Jordan vs. James GOAT argument is the teammates both had. That is important as it shows the support they both had.
Jordan: Throughout his time in the league, Jordan had one teammate appeared in the All-star (Scottie Pippen) and two teammates who received Hall of Fame honors (Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman).
James: So far, James accounts for more players who have been featured in the All-star than Michael Jordan. Six of his teammates (Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Mo Williams, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade) in the various franchises he has played have attained All-star honors. In contrast, just three (Shaquille O'Neal, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh) have earned Hall of Fame recognition. That proves that Michael Jordan had far less support than LeBron James in the times they spent in the league, thus giving Jordan an advantage.
RELATED: Top-10 Best NBA Players Right Now
Michael Jordan, who competed in a reasonably weak league compared to the current elevated standards of the NBA, faced few Hall of Fame opponents. Jordan also had little support from players who earned All-star and Hall of Fame glory lay claims to the most success in individual laurels and team wins.
In contrast, LeBron James, who competes in a weak conference, faced more opponents who have or will receive Hall of Fame glory and have been supported by more teammates who earned Hall of Fame honor, leads in individual skills as revealed by the stats above.
Undoubtedly, both Michael Jordan and LeBron James rank as the best of their time.
Ultimately, the title of GOAT can only be subject to the opinion of each fan and not a collective decision. Please feel free to share your thoughts in our comments section below.
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The US forum will be merged with this international forum on Friday. If you play on one of the US servers, you will be able to use the guild section right in this forum. Moreover, new users will join and raise the activity.
Moreover, I've added new user ranks!
Last edited by Leander; 19th September 2017 at 04:46 PM.
We have merged the US forim with this forum! Welcome US and Canadian players!


text:
package co.aurasphere.jyandex;

import java.util.List;

import javax.ws.rs.client.Client;
import javax.ws.rs.client.ClientBuilder;
import javax.ws.rs.client.WebTarget;

import co.aurasphere.jyandex.dto.DetectLanguageResponse;
import co.aurasphere.jyandex.dto.Language;
import co.aurasphere.jyandex.dto.SupportedLanguageResponse;
import co.aurasphere.jyandex.dto.TranslateTextResponse;
import co.aurasphere.jyandex.dto.TranslationFormat;

/**
 * Main class of the Jyandex library. It offers access to the Yandex translate
 * service API.
 *
 * @author Donato Rimenti
 */
public class Jyandex {

	/**
	 * The client used to issue requests to Yandex.
	 */
	private Client client;

	/**
	 * The Yandex API KEY. You can get one for free here.
	 */
	private String apiKey;

	/**
	 * The Yandex services base endpoint.
	 */
	private final static String BASE_ENDPOINT = "https://translate.yandex.net/api/v1.5/tr.json";

	/**
	 * Path of the supported languages service.
	 */
	private static final String SUPPORTED_LANGUAGES_PATH = "getLangs";

	/**
	 * Path of the translate text service.
	 */
	private static final String TRANSLATE_TEXT_PATH = "translate";

	/**
	 * Path of the detect language service.
	 */
	private static final String DETECT_LANGUAGE_PATH = "detect";

	/**
	 * Parameter used to send the API key to the Yandex API.
	 */
	private static final String API_KEY_PARAMETER = "key";

	/**
	 * Parameter used to specify in which language the detected languages should
	 * be returned by {@link #supportedLanguages(String)}.
	 */
	private static final String UI_PARAMETER = "ui";

	/**
	 * Parameter used to send a language to the Yandex API.
	 */
	private static final String LANGUAGE_PARAMETER = "lang";

	/**
	 * Parameter used to send text to the Yandex API.
	 */
	private static final String TEXT_PARAMETER = "text";

	/**
	 * Parameter used to send a list of probable text languages in detecting the
	 * language to the Yandex API.
	 */
	private static final String HINT_PARAMETER = "hint";

	/**
	 * Parameter used to send the translation format to the Yandex API.
	 */
	private static final String FORMAT_PARAMETER = "format";

	/**
	 * Instantiates a new Jyandex.
	 *
	 * @param apiKey
	 *            the {@link #apiKey}
	 */
	public Jyandex(String apiKey) {
		this.client = ClientBuilder.newClient();
		this.apiKey = apiKey;
	}

	/**
	 * Detects the language of the specified text.
	 *
	 * @param text
	 *            the text to detect the language for
	 * @return a response containing the detected language
	 */
	public DetectLanguageResponse detectLanguage(String text) {
		return detectLanguage(text, null);
	}

	/**
	 * Detects the language of the specified text.
	 *
	 * @param text
	 *            the text to detect the language for
	 * @param hint
	 *            list of the most likely languages (they will be given
	 *            preference when detecting the text language)
	 * @return a response containing the detected language. This parameter is
	 *         optional
	 * @see Language
	 */
	public DetectLanguageResponse detectLanguage(String text, List<String> hint) {
		WebTarget target = makeRequest(DETECT_LANGUAGE_PATH).queryParam(TEXT_PARAMETER, text);

		// Builds the hint string if any hint is passed.
		if (hint != null && !hint.isEmpty()) {
			String hintString = listToCommaSeparedString(hint);
			target.queryParam(HINT_PARAMETER, hintString);
		}

		return target.request().get().readEntity(DetectLanguageResponse.class);
	}

	/**
	 * Converts a list into a string with values separed by a comma.
	 *
	 * @param list
	 *            the list to convert
	 * @return a string with the values of the list separed by a comma
	 */
	private String listToCommaSeparedString(List<String> list) {
		StringBuilder hintBuilder = new StringBuilder();
		for (String s : list) {
			if (s != null && !s.isEmpty()) {
				hintBuilder.append(s).append(",");
			}
		}

		// Deletes the last comma and returns.
		hintBuilder.setLength(hintBuilder.length() - 1);
		return hintBuilder.toString();
	}

	/**
	 * Translates text to the specified language.
	 *
	 * @param text
	 *            the text to translate
	 * @param to
	 *            the translation direction. You can set it in either of the
	 *            following ways:
	 *
	 *

	 *
As a pair of language codes separated by a hyphen
	 *            (from-to). For example, en-ru indicates translating from
	 *            English to Russian.

	 *
As the target language code (for example, ru). In this
	 *            case, the service tries to detect the source language
	 *            automatically.

	 *

	 * @return the translated text
	 * @see Language
	 */
	public TranslateTextResponse translateText(String text, String to) {
		return translateText(text, null, to, TranslationFormat.PLAIN);
	}

	/**
	 * Translates text to the specified language.
	 *
	 * @param text
	 *            the text to translate
	 * @param from
	 *            the original language. This parameter is optional
	 * @param to
	 *            the translation direction. You can set it in either of the
	 *            following ways:
	 *
	 *

	 *
As a pair of language codes separated by a hyphen
	 *            (from-to). For example, en-ru indicates translating from
	 *            English to Russian. In this case, the
	 *            from parameter must be null.

	 *
As the target language code (for example, ru). In this
	 *            case, the service tries to detect the source language
	 *            automatically.

	 *

	 * @return the translated text
	 * @see Language
	 */
	public TranslateTextResponse translateText(String text, String from, String to) {
		return translateText(text, from, to, TranslationFormat.PLAIN);
	}

	/**
	 * Translates text to the specified language.
	 *
	 * @param text
	 *            the text to translate
	 * @param from
	 *            the original language. This parameter is optional
	 * @param to
	 *            the translation direction. You can set it in either of the
	 *            following ways:
	 *
	 *

	 *
As a pair of language codes separated by a hyphen
	 *            (from-to). For example, en-ru indicates translating from
	 *            English to Russian. In this case, the
	 *            from parameter must be null.

	 *
As the target language code (for example, ru). In this
	 *            case, the service tries to detect the source language
	 *            automatically.

	 *

	 * @param format
	 *            whether to return plain text or HTML
	 * @return the translated text
	 * @see Language
	 */
	public TranslateTextResponse translateText(String text, String from, String to, TranslationFormat format) {

		// Builds the translation direction if needed.
		String targetLanguage;
		if (from != null) {
			targetLanguage = Language.buildTranslationDirection(from, to);
		} else {
			targetLanguage = to;
		}

		return makeRequest(TRANSLATE_TEXT_PATH).queryParam(TEXT_PARAMETER, text)
				.queryParam(LANGUAGE_PARAMETER, targetLanguage)
				.queryParam(FORMAT_PARAMETER, format.name().toLowerCase()).request().get()
				.readEntity(TranslateTextResponse.class);
	}

	/**
	 * Gets a list of translation directions supported by the service. The
	 * returned languages names are in english.
	 *
	 * @return a list of supported languages
	 */
	public SupportedLanguageResponse supportedLanguages() {
		return supportedLanguages(Language.ENGLISH);
	}

	/**
	 * Gets a list of translation directions supported by the service. The
	 * returned languages names are in the language specified as argument.
	 *
	 * @param language
	 *            in the response, supported languages are listed in the langs
	 *            field with the definitions of the language codes. Language
	 *            names are output in the language corresponding to the code in
	 *            this parameter
	 * @return a list of supported languages
	 * @see Language
	 */
	public SupportedLanguageResponse supportedLanguages(String language) {
		return makeRequest(SUPPORTED_LANGUAGES_PATH).queryParam(UI_PARAMETER, language).request().get()
				.readEntity(SupportedLanguageResponse.class);
	}

	/**
	 * Creates a base request for the Yandex API.
	 *
	 * @param path
	 *            the service to invoke
	 * @return a base request for the Yandex API
	 */
	private WebTarget makeRequest(String path) {
		return client.target(BASE_ENDPOINT).path(path).queryParam(API_KEY_PARAMETER, apiKey);
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Investor Relations | Mayberry Jamaican Equities | Careers | Contact Us
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VMIL reports 32% decrease in six months net profit
Victoria Mutual Investments Limited (VMIL), for the six months ended June 30, 2020, reported total interest income of $461.86 million, an increase of 16% relative to the $398.40 million recorded for the corresponding period in 2019. Interest income for the quarter amounted to $219.99 million, up 11% on the $197.41 million reported for the corresponding period in 2019.
Interest expense for the period amounted to $322.30 million, a 25% increase relative to the $258.05 million recorded in 2019. As such, Net interest income closed the period at $139.56 million, a 1% down from $140.35 million recorded for the corresponding period in 2019. Net interest income for the quarter amounted to $59.71 million versus $65.17 million booked for the second quarter of 2019.
VMIL recorded gains from investment activities for the period of $120.21 million, a 28% decrease relative to the gain of $167.28 million recorded in 2019.
Net fees and commissions closed the period at $474.17 million, a decrease of 3% compared with the $489.51 million recorded for the comparable period in 2019.
Other expenses for the six months reflected a total of $15.78 million, relative to an income of $29.80 million recorded for last year.
VMIL noted, "This performance was predominantly driven by the following:
Our Capital Markets Unit had a strong second quarter performance with fee income of $174.55 million, representing an increase of $98.75 million when compared with the first quarter.
Gains from Investment activities has made a turnaround in the second quarter, reporting a gain of $3.71 million when compared to a loss of $100.84 million in the first quarter.
Continued strong performance of our Asset Management Unit, with our Classic Income and Property Portfolios generating market leading returns. Our Asset Management Unit will, in the future, benefit from the expanded distribution channels.
Our Bond Trading Desk continued its steady earnings, contributing revenues of $118.77 million for the June 2020 quarter.
Our HR Engagement Index, a key strategic metric, showed a 7% improvement to 79% year over year, as efforts continue towards executing on our Employee Value Proposition. Key Drivers showing an improvement were Culture, Opportunity, Rewards and Recognition, Work Life and Leadership.
In keeping with our commitment to empower our clients with knowledge for their financial well-being, this quarter we executed on various educational initiatives, including our flagship VM Wealth Talks series. Three webinars were executed themed 'Stock Markets Exposed', 'Coping Strategies for Children' and 'Business and Investment Strategies for a Pandemic Era'."
Other operating income for the period decreased 13% to $578.60 million relative to $686.59 million booked for the same period in 2019. Net interest income and other operating revenue closed at $718.16 million versus $826.94 million for the six month ended June 30, 2019. Net interest income and other operating revenue for the quarter totaled $449.78 million, 13% above the $397.58 million reported for the same period in 2019.
Staff cost and other operating expenses increased 20% and 17% respectively, to close the period at $294.71 million (2019: $245.26 million) and $281.59 million (2019: $240.72 million) respectively. Management noted, "The increase in expenses was primarily attributable to an increase in costs related to people development of $49.45 million or 20.16%. Other expenses related to impairment losses on financial assets, asset tax and support services required to grow our business." Provision for credit losses on financial assets rose 114% year over year to close at $35.26 million (2019: $16.44 million).
Operating Profit closed the period under review at $106.60 million (2019: $324.51 million), while the quarter operating profit amounted to $186.04 (2019: $163.84 million). Additionally, Share of loss in associate amounted to $16.16 million and $7.04 million for year to date and the second quarter, respectively.
Profit before taxation amounted to $90.43 million for the period, a 72% decrease relative to $324.51 million recorded for the prior financial year. Taxation credited amounted to $80.46 million versus taxation charge of $71.73 million booked in 2019.
Consequently, net profit for the six months totaled $170.89 million, a 32% or $81.89 million decrease relative to the $252.78 million booked for the same period of 2019. VMIL net profit for the quarter closed at $207.79 million compared to $134.94 million booked in 2019.
Total comprehensive loss for the period amounted to $74.19 million, relative to an income of 1.36 billion booked in 2019. As for the quarter, total comprehensive income amounted to $910.37 million, 17% increase when compared to income of $780.34 million recorded for the same quarter last year
Earnings per share totalled $0.11 (2019: $0.17) for the period under review. EPS for the quarter amounted to $0.14 (2019: $0.09) The twelve-month trailing earnings per share is $0.34. The number of shares used in our calculations 1,500,025,000 units. Notably, VMILs stock price closed the trading period on July 29, 2020 at a price of $6.88.
Balance Sheet at a glance:
As at June 30, 2020, The Company's asset base totaled $23.55 billion, 5% down from $24.66 billion as at June 30, 2019. The main contributor to the decrease in total assets was 'Investment Securities' which amounted to $15.05 billion relative to $17.24 billion for the prior year.
Total Stockholders' Equity as at June 30, 2020 was $4.21 billion (2019: $4.09 billion); resulting in a book value per share of $2.81 (2019: $2.73).
Analyst Certification -The views expressed in this research report accurately reflect the personal views of Mayberry Investments Limited Research Department about those issuer (s) or securities as at the date of this report. Each research analyst (s) also certify that no part of their compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendation (s) or view (s) expressed by that research analyst in this research report.
Company Disclosure -The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. You are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Mayberry may effect transactions or have positions in securities mentioned herein. In addition, employees of Mayberry may have positions and effect transactions in the securities mentioned here
Shinelle Rouldson 2020-07-30T12:06:14-05:00
Overseas Headlines – January 20, 2021
US advance monthly sales for retail and food services fell by 0.7%
Daily Market Summary – January 19, 2021
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