text:
Tuesday, 12 January 2016 7.30 pm
To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Environment, Culture and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel held on 22 September 2015.
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 22 September 2015 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
There were no declarations of interest relating to any items on the agenda, nor any indication that Members would be participating under the party whip.
2016/17 Draft Budget Proposals PDF 259 KB
To consider key themes and priorities for Environment, Culture and Communities as outlined in the Council's Draft Budget Proposals for 2016/17.
06b ECC Combined Budget Report , item 85. PDF 1 MB
Although there was a need for further savings to be identified following notification of the Government grant settlement, the Panel was invited to scrutinise the firm budget proposals before it. The Director of Environment, Culture and Communities presented a report on the key themes and priorities for Environment, Culture and Communities as outlined in the draft budget proposals for 2016/17. The initial preparations for the budget had focussed on the Council's Commitment Budget for 2016/17 – 2020/21, bringing together existing expenditure plans, taking account of approved commitments and the ongoing effects of service developments and efficiencies that were agreed when the 2015/16 budget was set.
A number of changes were proposed to the Commitment Budget since it was last considered by the Executive, amounting in total to an increase for the Council of £1.032m. Of particular interest to the Panel were a departmental saving resulting from the Street Lighting Invest to Save Scheme (-£0.175m) and updated Waste Disposal projections based on the latest tonnages for recycling (£0.179m). The Panel also noted the draft revenue budget pressures for the Department totalling £263,000 for 2016/17, although these were more than outweighed by savings proposals amounting to £1,161,000.
Arising from questions and discussion, the Panel noted the following in relation to the budget pressures and savings proposals:
In response to the reduction in income at Bracknell Leisure Centre (due to competition from small scale local gyms), plans were in hand to enhance the offer included within the Platinum Card package through discounts on catering and other facilities and working with staff to improve the all round customer experience for users. Officers were recommended to publicise the new package as widely as possible, and particular mention was made of obtaining copy in 'Town & Country' and other local newssheets.
An outline of the duties of the posts of Strategic Planner (New Communities) and Development Engineer was given, together with reasons for continued funding for them.
The dispute in relation to the waste Contract had been settled and the additional recyclate income was now assured.
The additional income from increasing charges for brown bin emptying relied in part on continuing to sign up new customers for the service.
The increases in Cemetery and Crematorium fees and charges were felt to be reasonable and had been set taking into account the fees charged by neighbouring authorities and the quality of the service offered in Bracknell Forest which was valued and appreciated by users.
The e+card savings arose from lower running costs rather than any reduction in the discounts offered.
Turning to the Capital Programme, the Panel noted that total capital spending proposed for Environment, Culture and Communities in 2016/17 amounted to £20.185m (of which £4.733m was external funding). The most significant project was the Coral Reef Transformation at an estimated £8.358m in 2016/17. The tender process for the project had been reset with prices from contractors now due in by 8 March 2016. The acquisition of the former Magistrates Court building would increase the Council's landholding ... view the full minutes text for item 85.
A progress update report in respect of the Bracknell Forest Borough Local Plan is attached.
The Panel considered a report summarising the up to date position on the various documents comprising the Bracknell Forest Borough Local Plan (BFBLP).
The Issues and Options public consultation for the Comprehensive Local Plan (CLP) was due to take place in June/July 2016. The Member Working Group had been closely involved in steering the work on preparation of a wide range of evidence studies which would support the CLP. The studies included:
Strategic Housing Market Assessment – close to completion
Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment – additional work required to take account of further guidance
Functional Economic Market Area – the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) was leading this work
Landscape Character Study – first part completed
Green Belt Review – work to be carried out by consultants, commissioned jointly with Wokingham Borough Council
The Panel also noted that four neighbourhood plan areas had been designated in Bracknell Forest: Binfield, Bracknell Town, Warfield and Winkfield. Consultation was also under way on the designation of Sandhurst neighbourhood area. The Binfield neighbourhood plan had been examined and would be the first to go to a referendum in March.
The Waste Challenge PDF 148 KB
To consider a report in respect of the future challenges associated with the waste collection and disposal service.
The Panel received a report and presentation on the 'Waste Challenge', a review of the current provision of waste collection and disposal services together with an outline of the various challenges that lay ahead in meeting future recycling targets within available budgets and legislative constraints.
Having received details of the breakdown of waste collected and disposed of, the Panel noted the following key points:
The current recycling rate in Bracknell Forest was 39.3% (compared to 44.7% nationally).
EU recycling targets were 50% by 2020, 60% by 2025 and 65% by 2030. The country faced substantial fines from the EU if targets were not met, which may be passed onto underperforming Authorities.
Pre AWC the council were sending 40,000 tonnes to landfill. It had reduced to 12,600 tonnes which gives rise to a significant saving not least in respect of landfill tax now running at £82.60t.
The council were having to pay and estimated £600,000 a year more than it needed to due to waste was going into the green bin that could either be recycled via the current arrangements or home composted
If half the recoverable materials from landfill bins could be captured (1,967 tonnes) and 1,564 tonnes could be diverted by home composting/encouraging less food wastage, the recycling rate could be raised to 44.5%.
The Panel received answers to a number of questions on matters of detail. It was noted that the Re3 contract set a limit of 20,000 tonnes on the amount that could go for energy from waste (EfW) treatment. If there was a change to how recyclate rates were calculated so as to allow for bottom ash from EfW that was recycled to be included, this would make a significant contribution toward reaching the 50% target. Reference was made to the parts of the Borough with a higher proportion of flats and smaller properties which were less well-suited to accommodating bins and containers for more convenient kerbside collection of recyclable materials. The value of learning from other Councils and stepping up efforts to educate residents to encourage better and more responsible recycling habits were commented on.
The Council would need to formulate its proposals for change by around 2017 so that these could be incorporated in a new collection contract due to start in 2019.
To receive an update in respect of the Working Group of the Panel reviewing Planning Processes and Procedures.
The Panel received a progress report of the Working Group reviewing the Council's planning function. The Working Group had met eight times and was due to consider its draft report (containing a number of recommendations for the Executive) at its next meeting in February.
Work Programme 2016/17 PDF 209 KB
To consider the Panel's Work Programme for 2016/17.
The Panel considered its Work Programme for 2016/17. There were two future possible review topics remaining in the 2016/17 programme:
A review of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in terms of the Council's involvement.
To review Parks and Open Spaces.
The Panel agreed to continue reviews in the order as set out in the Work Programme, but not to rule out other suggestions that may come forward during the year.
Overview and Scrutiny Progress Report PDF 461 KB
To note the Bi-annual Progress Report of the Assistant Chief Executive.
The Panel received the Overview and Scrutiny bi-annual progress report setting out the activity and developments over the period June to November 2015.
Quarterly Service Report - Information Item PDF 1 MB
To update the Panel in respect of the latest available departmental performance as reported in the Quarterly Service Report for the second quarter of 2015/16 (July to September 2015) relating to Environment, Culture and Communities. An overview of the third quarter of 2015/16 will also be provided.
The Chairman has asked that any detailed or procedural questions arising from the Quarterly Service Report should be referred to the Director of Environment, Culture and Communities in advance. Only issues of strategic importance or with wider implications need then be raised at the meeting.
Please bring the previously circulated Quarterly Service Report to the meeting. Copies are available on request and attached to this agenda if viewed online.
The Panel considered the latest trends, priorities and pressures in terms of departmental performance as reported in the QSR for the second quarter of 2015/16 (July to September 2015) relating to Environment, Culture and Communities. The report highlighted exceptional performance, remedial action being taken against under performance, significant changes in risk, significant customer feedback and inspections and significant changes in service use and the associated financial impact.
Arising from a question, the Panel was informed that there was approximately 5 years capacity remaining at the Easthampstead Cemetery. This meant that in order to continue to provide a service for the interment of remains, the Council would need to acquire land and make it suitable for burials.
Executive Key and Non-Key Decisions PDF 109 KB
Forward Plan Decisions , item 92. PDF 115 KB
The Panel received and noted the scheduled Key and Non-Key Executive Decisions relating to Environment, Culture and Communities.


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Q: How to use regular expression to format json file I want to write a text file to a json file using regular expressions with java.
Meaning I want a text file containing this:
5.2 Hello
Sentence 1. Sentence 2.
To become this:
{"Chapter": "5.2",
  "Title": "Hello",
  "Text": "Sentence 1. Sentence 2."}

I have some code to match certain fields in my text file and output it to json, however I'm not sure how to break the json into the sections I need using regex.
I'm attempting this:
 Pattern p = Pattern.compile((\d\.\d)(.*?)(?=\d\.\d|$));
 Matcher m = p.matcher(readFile(text));
 while(m.find()) {
 obj.put("Chapter", m.group());
 System.out.println(obj);}

But this only outputs the chapter field followed by the rest of the text. I'm not sure how to split this data into the chapter, title and text fields.
Input:
5.2 Hello
Sentence 1. Sentence 2.
Current Output is:
{"Chapter": "5.2 Hello Sentence 1. Sentence 2."}
But I need it to be this:
{"Chapter": "5.2",
   "Title": "Hello",
   "Text": "Sentence 1. Sentence 2."}
Any help?

A: I assume your input is with format:
5.2 Hello \n
Whatever text...
Your way of thinking is correct. Since you want to divide the original text into three sections. You just need to make use of the border between the sections. For example, "5.2" and "Hello" have a space (\s) in bewteen, "Hello" has a new line (or maybe another space) before main text.
You can try:
    Pattern p = Pattern.compile("(\\d+\\.\\d+)\\s+(.*?)\\n(.*$)");
    Matcher m = p.matcher(text);
    if(m.find()) {
        obj.put("Chapter", m.group(1));
        obj.put("Title", m.group(2));
        obj.put("Text", m.group(3));
        System.out.println(obj);
    }

Your previous way of using group is incorrect, because the number of groups always depends on how many pairs of bracket you have for your pattern.compile(). Since you will have three groups in total, simply use the index to get their value.
Note: group(0) is the whole thing, so the first group is accessed by index 1.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Pets at Home created a pet centric loyalty scheme.
The Pets at Home loyalty scheme needed to: celebrate owners' unique relationship with their pets and deliver against challenging incremental revenue targets.
Pets are as different and diverse as their owners, so the loyalty programme was highly tailored and delivered relevant content. Mail was segmented to communicate the bond with their animal and personalised with pet names and tailored content.
As a results 88% of members have swiped their VIP card at checkout. Average transaction values are 37% higher than for non-members and boosted those spending by 20%.


text:
Ratings: 'Survivor' Season 37 Finale Sinks 21 Percent From Prior Year
But CBS still beats up a bunch of reruns
Tony Maglio | December 20, 2018 @ 8:17 AM	Last Updated: December 20, 2018 @ 9:13 AM
Wednesday's "Survivor" Season 37 finale may have dropped 21 percent in ratings from last year's comparable episode, but the CBS reality competition didn't really have anything to contend with last night. That made for an easy primetime win for the so-called Tiffany network.
Outside of CBS, which followed the finale with a reunion special, everything else on the English-language broadcast networks was a repeat.
CBS was first in ratings with a 1.4 rating/7 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and in total viewers with an average of 7.2 million, according to preliminary numbers. The "Survivor" finale at 8 p.m. put up a 1.5/7 and 7.6 million total viewers. That's actually fewer viewers than last week's episode, though this one ran for two and a half hours. The half-hour reunion special starting at 10:30 had a 1.0/5 and 5.1 million viewers.
Also Read: Ratings: 'The Voice' Finale Falls 15 Percent From December 2017
Find out who won "David vs. Goliath" here.
ABC was second in ratings with a 0.6/3 and third in viewers with 2.6 million.
NBC was third in ratings with a 0.5/2 and second in viewers with 2.8 million.
Also Read: NBC Wins Calendar Year in Viewers for First Time in 16 Years
Fox and Univision tied for fourth in ratings, both with a 0.4/2. Fox was fourth in total viewers with 1.6 million. Univision was fifth in viewers with 1.3 million.
Telemundo was sixth in ratings with a 0.3/2 and in viewers with 1.042 million.
The CW was seventh in ratings with a 0.2/1 and in viewers with exactly 1 million flat.
Here Are 2018's 15 Highest-Rated Broadcast Shows Among Millennials (Photos)
TV advertisers may be in love with adults 18-49, but within that demo is a more narrow group of tastemakers broadcasters covet: millennials. Yes, when the 22-37 range isn't streaming something, they are (occasionally) watching shows on CBS, NBC, Fox and ABC. Here TheWrap rounds up 2018's 15 highest-rated shows among that group, according to the "most current" data set from Nielsen through Dec. 9. This ranking excludes news, sports, repeats, specials and awards/pageants. It includes one week of delayed viewing where available
Also Read: 17 Lowest-Rated TV Shows of Summer 2018 (Photos)
Rank: 13 (tie)
Show: "New Amsterdam"
Net: NBC
Rating 22-37: 1.9
It's no "Manifest," but NBC's freshman medical drama still comes in high with those born between 1981 and 1996.
Also Read: 'NBC Nightly News' Suffers Lowest-Rated Year Ever
Show: "Ellen's Game of Games"
Who doesn't love Ellen? 'Cause millennials def do.
Also Read: 'America's Got Talent' to 'Celebrity Family Feud': 15 Highest-Rated TV Shows of Summer 2018 (Photos)
Show: "The Bachelorette"
Net: ABC
The female-led version of ABC's reality dating series is popular with the younger crew -- but not as popular as the one with a dude at the center of this love story.
Also Read: 12 Lowest-Rated TV Shows of 2017-18 Season (Photos)
Rank: 9 (tie)
Show: "Young Sheldon"
Net: CBS
Since "The Big Bang Theory" comes in high on this list, it's really no surprise the CBS comedy's spinoff lands a decent slot too.
Also Read: 11 Highest-Rated TV Shows of 2017-18 Season (Photos)
Show: "Modern Family"
Ten seasons in and the Dunphys are still hip -- at least in the eyes of millennial viewers.
Also Read: Here's Every TV Show We Lost in 2018, From 'I Love Dick' to 'Timeless' (Photos)
Show: "Empire"
Net: Fox
Oh, five seasons into "Empire," so is the Lyon family.
Also Read: 35 Top Cable News Shows of 2018: From 'Hannity' to 'The Situation Room'
Show: "America's Got Talent" (Tuesdays)
And NBC's got millennial love.
Also Read: 22 Most Shocking TV Character Deaths of 2018, From 'The Affair' to 'Westworld' (Photos)
Show: "Manifest"
And even more love for its new "Lost"-like series.
Also Read: 109 Cable Channels Ranked by 2018 Viewership, From Fox News to Comedy.TV
Show: "The Good Doctor"
Freddie Highmore, are we right?
Also Read: 16 Favorite New LGBTQ TV Characters in 2018, From 'Riverdale' to the Cast of 'Pose' (Photos)
Show: "The Bachelor"
See, the millennial residents of Bachelor nation are more into the man show -- or maybe the ladies trying to woo him?
Also Read: 18 Most-Watched TV Specials of 2018: Oscars, Emmys and Everyone Loves a Parade (Photos)
Show: "9-1-1"
Ryan Murphy. Enough said.
Also Read: Broadcast TV's Most-Watched Debuts Since 2013, From 'Blindspot' to 'Instinct' (Photos)
Show: "Grey's Anatomy"
Shonda Rhimes. Even more enough said.
Show: "The Big Bang Theory"
Kaley Cuoco + nerds + many, many comic book references = millennial ratings gold.
Also Read: 'Thursday Night Football' Sees Small Uptick in Viewers in First Fox Season
Show: "This Is Us"
The U.S.'s No. 1 scripted drama is also the No. 2 broadcast TV series among millennials. A hit is a hit is a hit.
Also Read: What Is 'On My Block'? Netflix's Most-Binged Show of 2018
Show: "Roseanne"
Also Read: 'Saturday Night Live,' 'Roseanne' Are 2018's Most-Tweeted-About TV Shows
Fun fact: Where this list cuts off, Thursday and Wednesday broadcasts of CBS' "Big Brother" tie for 16th place among millennials, with the Sunday night show landing the next highest-rated slot.
Also Read: Reddit's Most Popular TV Shows in 2018 (With No New 'Game of Thrones')
Give "Fortnite" a rest and read this on your phones, 22- to 37-year-olds
'CBS This Morning' Ratings Have Dropped Double Digits Since Charlie Rose's Ouster Last Year
By Tony Maglio | December 18, 2018 @ 5:30 AM
Ratings: 'Miss Universe' Sheds Viewers From 2017 Pageant, Fox Finishes Fourth
Ratings: Fox's Final 'Thursday Night Football' Game Is a Big One
TheWrap's up-to-the-minute daily, weekly ratings reports, trends and analysis

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Defines in required_once file not expaned php I've a config.php file and want to use the define()-es in my SessionManager.php
So after including config.php and SessionManager.php in index.php, my defines do not expand to strings in SessionManager.php.
My config/config.php:
if (!defined('CONFIG_LOADED')) {
  define('CONFIG_LOADED', true);
  define('DB_INFO', 'mysql:dbname=devvie;host=localhost');
  define('DB_USER', 'dev');
  define('DB_PASS', 'sosecret');
  define('APP_DOMAIN_NAME', 'donotclickhere.com');
  define('APP_BRANCH', 'dev');
}

My SessionManager.php:
<?php
final class SessionManager
{
  /* @var SessionManager $sessionManager */
  private static $sessionManager = null;
  /* @var Logger $logger */
  private static $logger = null;

  /**
   * @return bool
   */
  public function hasSession()
  {
    return session_status() === PHP_SESSION_ACTIVE;
  }

  public function checkSession()
  {
    if (session_status() === PHP_SESSION_DISABLED) {
      self::$logger->LogError('The current configuration of PHP has sessions disabled!');
    }
    // Assuming session_status() === PHP_SESSION_ACTIVE || session_status() === PHP_SESSION_NONE now
    self::startSession();
  }

  public function startSession()
  {
    session_set_cookie_params(3600, '/', '.' . APP_DOMAIN_NAME, ('master' === APP_BRANCH), true);
    session_start([
      'use_strict_mode' => true,
      'cookie_lifetime' => 3600,
      'cookie_secure' => ('master' === APP_BRANCH),
      'http_only' => true,
    ]);
  }

  /**
   * @return SessionManager
   */
  static function instance()
  {
    if (self::$sessionManager === null) {
      self::$logger = new Logger('../logs/' . date('y-m-d') . '.log', Logger::INFO);
      self::$sessionManager = new static();
    }
    return self::$sessionManager;
  }

  /**
   * Make constructor private, so nobody can call "new Class".
   */
  private function __construct()
  {
  }

  /**
   * Make clone magic method private, so nobody can clone instance.
   */
  private function __clone()
  {
  }

  /**
   * Make sleep magic method private, so nobody can serialize instance.
   */
  private function __sleep()
  {
  }

  /**
   * Make wakeup magic method private, so nobody can unserialize instance.
   */
  private function __wakeup()
  {
  }
}
define('SESSION_MANAGER', true);

My page.php:
<?php
require_once "../config/config.php";
require_once "../model/Login.class.php";

require_once '../shared/SessionManager.php';
SessionManager::instance()->checkSession();

$logFile = "../logs/" . date("y-m-d") . ".log";
$LOG = new Logger($logFile, Logger::INFO);

$userName = '';
if (isset($_SESSION['USER_ID'])) {
  $LOGIN = new Login($ERR, $LOG);
  $userName = $LOGIN->checkActiveSession() ? $_SESSION['user_name'] : '';
} else {
  header('Location: ../login.php');
}

echo <<< PAGE
<!DOCTYPE html>

    <meta charset="UTF8">
    <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../css/style.css">

Hello World!

PAGE;

At requesting mypage.php, I get a cookie but the domain name is '.APP_DOMAIN_NAME' instead of '.donotclickhere.com'. So goes for the 'Secure cookie' setting.
Why is it going wrong?


Tucson AZ 85750. That's near the northeast corner of Craycroft and River.
This class will be a condensed version of the eight-week Mindfulness-Based Wellness classes I usually offer.
Classes are free and open to the public. For further information see the library event listing. Advance reservations are requested. Please call 520-594-5345 to secure your place.


text:
Author pens literary adaptation of the videogame Ico
With the HD editions of Ico and Shadow Of The Colossus imminent, we learn that a novel based on the former is also on the way...
By Ryan Lambie | February 2, 2011 |
I'll make no secret of my admiration for Fumito Ueda's out-and-out classic PlayStation 2 videogame, Ico. Released in 2001, its surreal, spooky atmosphere made it a slow seller, and the game was a slow seller as a consequence.
Nevertheless, the legend of Ico's greatness – its challenging, environmental puzzles, extraordinary castle setting and touching central relationship – gradually spread, and within a couple of years, copies of the game were exchanging hands for extraordinary sums of money.
Regularly discussed and cited as a work of brilliance even a decade later, Ico has continued to endure, while videogames that sold several times as many copies have long since faded from memory. And with both Ico and its spiritual successor, Shadow Of The Colossus, being released in a new HD edition to tie in with Ueda's forthcoming game, The Last Guardian, interest in this ethereal adventure is as high as ever.
We've also learned that popular Japanese author, Miyuki Miyabe, has penned a novel based on Ico's premise. The book's been available in Japan for four years (which, I'm ashamed to say, was news to me), yet has only now received an English translation courtesy of Viz Novels.
While its story isn't a carbon copy of the game's events, it takes inspiration from the atmospheric setting and characters Ueda conjured up ten years ago.
Tie-in novels based on videogames aren't exactly unknown, of course. We've seen several Halo and Mass Effect novels in recent years, for example, while literary heavyweight Martin Amis expressed his love for Taito's seminal shooter in the now quite rare 1982 non-fiction book, Invasion Of The Space Invaders.
We're intrigued to see just how well Miyabe has captured the unforgettable mood and tone of Ico's soaring architecture. The delicate, ethereal story at its centre, of a small boy with horns and his relationship with a ghostly young girl called Yorda, may be gossamer thin, but the world of Ico is one we're happy to revisit, whether it's on the small screen or in the pages of a novel.
Miyabe's Ico novel is due for release this summer.
Follow Den Of Geek on Twitter right here.
Tags: IcoThor
Ryan Lambie
Read more from Ryan Lambie
More on Ico
The Ryan Lambie Column: The one game that would make me buy a PS3
December 18, 2008 | By Ryan Lambie
The Ryan Lambie column: antique video games?
June 19, 2008 | By Ryan Lambie
What's going on with Team Ico's The Last Guardian?
The 1983 videogame crash: Could it happen again?
February 20, 2013 | By Ryan Lambie


Competitive Edge not only understands media but also the numerous details involved in making a marketing campaign successful. Whether you are looking for a brand promotion plan, a direct-to-consumer sales strategy or a hybrid campaign that combines the best of both, think of Competitive Edge as your marketing partner. With services ranging from media planning and placement to full campaign management including financial reporting, Competitive Edge's team brings more than 100 years of combined experience to your campaign.
You talk. We listen. Together, we execute your strategy.


While the visuals offered by Minecraft can be considered basic, that doesn't mean that the game doesn't have the potential to wow players, especially once the power of modding has been added into the mix.
In a recent Twitter post, a SEUS (Sonic Ether's Unbelievable Shaders) mod user known as notglacier showcased a development build of the mod which featured path tracing, showcasing indirect lighting, reflections and other advanced visual effects. In short, the results are stunning.
In notglacier's tweets, videos showcase the impact of lighting through windows and glowstone lighting on a scene, revealing accurate illumination on his i9-9900K/GTX 1070 Ti-based gaming PC. At this time, the in-development version of SEUS mod with Path Tracing is only available to Patreon backers for the mod, though the feature will eventually make it into a free/general release of the mod.
Performance-wise, this mod ran at around 25-40FPS on notglacier's GTX 1070 Ti powered system, though the gamer did not specify the title's resolution. Even so, these are some impressive visual results, given the demands of path-tracing.
You can join the discussion on path traced Minecraft on the OC3D Forums.


text:
Loved by a Gentleman by Alizee Kay
This is an impressive debut by an author who has succeeded in creating memorable characters in a lovely readable novel. Focusing on a situation that she evidently knows while working in hospitality, she has produced a book that conveys something of the pride in a job. Alizee Kay has also been ambitious in setting her novel just before and during the 2020 lockdown, and managing to deal with a time that many other fiction writers have avoided. Her central character, Beatrice, is described with great sensitivity and understanding. The setting is lovely, swapping between a great house hotel and Beatrice's own home. Both are described so well that it is possible to visualise the grand view from the front of the big building and something of the change to a limited setting during lockdown. Kay handles the first whispers of danger in early 2020 very well. I was very pleased to have the opportunity to read and review this special book.
When the book begins, Beatrice acknowledges that she still has strong feelings for Logan, her previous boss. Not that she has seen him for over a year; she is now the boss of her own hotel. She is very successful, winning prizes within the industry. She understands her staff, willing to build them up in terms of confidence, in timely praise and much more. Across the hotel lobby she sees Arian, a young man who seizes her attention. She is more than keen to offer him a job: he is confident, effortlessly polite and keen to impress. He seems the perfect fit for a job at the hotel, always keen to help, they are soon having conversations that extend beyond work, and Beatrice's best friend notices a difference in her immediately. For all that they become close, the fact remains that he is married, with children. As news of a virus begins to come from China, Beatrice realises that her work, all that which gives her life meaning in many ways, may have to change, and that her reason for seeing Arian may disappear as well.
The style of the writing is extremely careful and readable. Kay raises some valid points about contemporary life through this story. The main one is the loneliness experienced by single people, especially women. This theme has been featured by writers over the last few years, specifically how women work hard and may well be extremely successful at work, but find it difficult to form relationships outside the office or wherever. Adult loneliness has been a problem for some time, but of course was exacerbated by lockdown when many people were confined to their homes, and not even able to work if it could not be completed remotely, like Beatrice. Many people found themselves without purpose or direction, and I think Kay has caught that concept well. This is a worthy debut and shows real promise in terms of its pace, overall composition and thoughtful response to the feelings of contemporary women in these difficult days.
Leave a comment Loved by a Gentleman by Alizee Kay – a special novel of a contemporary woman's life
At Death's Door by Anna Legat
This is a "cosy" murder mystery set in the traditional English village, but one that suddenly becomes much bigger as one character recalls the mysteries of her life which are on a far wider stage. Those who read the first book in this series will recognize some of the characters, but this novel stands alone in its narrative. Maggie, who sometimes takes over the otherwise third person narration to reveal what she thinks, is a wonderful character with a special talent, almost a burden, which helps with investigations in the village of Bishops Well. When combined with the restraining personality of Samuel Dee, neighbour, good friend and confidante who can bring his legal experience and knowledge to a situation, they form an impressive team. In this book he must introduce the strong character of his mother Deirdre for support and her cooking skills to back him up – as Maggie is thrown into confusion and some despair by events close to home and further away. There is still humour, a number of secrets and some interesting food options in this book of contemporary mystery and much more. I was so pleased to have the opportunity to read and review this very good novel.
The book opens with a somewhat fed-up Sam joining an archaeological dig in a local spot in unpromising weather. When a body is discovered, there is celebration as the assumption is that they have found the Celtic remains that they sought. It is, however, immediately apparent to an on-site pathologist that this is a much more recently buried body, and one that needs to be identified. Maggie for various reasons offers her ideas – and more – to the police in the form of a rather testy DI Gillian Marsh, as well as chatting with someone most concerned with the probable crime. As the various residents of the village discuss the potential wrongdoers, old memories emerge of secret departures and assumptions made about a young woman many years before. Maggie meanwhile must cope with the outcome of a situation that has been in the background for slightly less time. It is a welcome distraction when she is drafted in as a supply teacher to a local school and discovers a young man who has issues. Sam is meanwhile finding his feet in the village after leaving London. He has had a traumatic time, and it is to his credit that he tries so hard to help his friend Maggie, even when he wonders why when she behaves in such memorable ways.
This is a book which I found easy to immerse myself in, even when the narrative took a surprising direction. Legat is a sensitive writer as well as providing an element of humour, especially where Maggie is concerned. She is so good at giving us Maggie's slightly chaotic view of life throughout this book, as well as balancing a mystery which involves many local people and challenges to her family. The setting of her cottage and the other elements of Bishops Well is so effective that it is almost possible to visualise the buildings as well as the essence of village life. This is the second book that I have read in "The Shires Mysteries" series and I am certainly looking forward to the next one.
2 Comments At Death's Door by Anna Legat – A mystery in Bishops Well proves a challenge for Maggie and Sam
Resistance – Book 1 Liberty by Eilidh McGinness
This is a dramatic novel of a significant time and place in twentieth century history, Occupied France during the Second World War. The stories of resistance by "official" groups and determined individuals is told from the fictional experiences of two young people, and it is their bravery that this book largely celebrates against a background of brutality and betrayal. Sabine Faure works on the family farm outside a fictional village of Saint-Antoine-de Double in Dordogne in South-West France. As befits someone who has grown up in the area, she has an excellent knowledge of the people and places, the routes and secrets of the mainly wooded area. The same cannot be said for the charismatic Herisson, who has to learn how to cope in an environment that is at once bountiful in hiding places and food but is also filled with danger as various German groups seek to hunt down anyone who opposes them. The other characters that fill this book, whether quietly trying to resist the occupation or seemingly willing to accept the status quo, are also drawn as real people. The pace of the book is admirable, as the two young people encounter potentially life changing challenges. I was pleased to have the opportunity to read and review this impressive book.
The book opens in July 1941 when Herisson is being smuggled in a wine barrel by sympathetic men out of the Occupied Zone of France. He has abandoned his home and any family to find and join a Resistance group, being determined to fight for a free France and a Communist dream. He is joined by three friends, all young men determined to risk everything to fight. As they walk towards a village in which they have been told is a contact, they are a little frightened by the unusually dense woodland that surrounds the road. Meanwhile Sabine is working on the family farm, resenting her peasant status and wishing she could do more than prepare and deliver cheeses. Meeting a good friend, she is shocked to be given a mission for the local resistance which she is uniquely able to complete. While keen to take action, she is painfully aware that her overbearing father is keen to keep his head down and not endanger the family at whatever cost. She knows that her actions will endanger not only herself but many people around her, but she is still determined to embrace the opportunity. Her first meeting with Herisson is not a positive experience for either, as both realise that so much depends on absolute secrecy, and he and his friends have made a lot of assumptions about how easy it will be to become involved. Indeed, their first encounter in the woods with a group is not something that they could have predicted, and they are swiftly left in no doubt as to the realities of resisting the German forces.
This is a novel which is firmly anchored in the realities of communities largely at the mercy of occupying forces. It is not the world of British agents though there is a supporting role in the background; most of those who are active in the operations and deliveries are aware of the possible impact on their communities of discovery and reprisals. This is a well-paced novel of those who risked so much behind the lines, with a solid base of research which never intrudes into the narrative. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a fictionalized picture of the French people under occupation and all those who tried to make a difference, often at great personal cost.
3 Comments Resistance – Book 1, Liberty by Eilidh McGinness – A story of Occupied France
Posting on the first day of the tour!
Should I Tell You? by Jill Mansell
A contemporary view of a community, this well written, witty book is a genuine escapist gem. Set in a fictional town in Cornwall, it features some fascinating characters who find themselves in complicated situations, some of whom are searching for resolutions that may not exist. While three relatively young people are at the heart of the story in some respects, it is often their relationships with older characters that are also really satisfying. Very different people, brilliantly described, encounter challenges in this novel that are continually surprising and always interesting.
Amber, Lachlan and Raffaele were all fostered at some point by Teddy and May, and it is there that their relationship began. May has now died, and the three friends are worried about Teddy, who seems to have found a new friend in Olga, who is younger, more vibrant and perhaps more acquisitive than they would like. Meanwhile Raffaele is saddened by his recent break up with the dynamic Vee, who seems to have changed from the lovable woman he first met. Peggy is an amazing character, but is concerned about her shy son Benjie who seems to be finding life difficult. As Mansell describes the colours, clothes and setting of a few weeks by the sea, I was carried along in a wonderful haze of dialogue and events that I thoroughly enjoyed. I was so pleased to have the opportunity to read and review this book, and I would recommend it.
The book opens with an incident in the life of Lachlan, talented chef and known for his brief liaisons with women. It is one of the reasons that Amber, who has been attracted to him for years, will not mention her true feelings, not wanting to threaten their deep friendship over a brief affair. They are brought together by their concern over Teddy. After a period of mourning, Amber had succeeded in persuading him to go on a cruise. Lachlan is concerned because he seems to have found a person to spend time with who is the complete opposite of his late wife May, the dramatically dressed Olga. Lachlan particularly jumps to the conclusion that she is only attracted by Teddy's evident wealth and generosity. Amber then thinks back to her first encounter with Raffaele and Lachlan, the two boys brought together by their difficult backgrounds and experiences in the care system. It soon becomes evident that the relationship between the three of them means that they try to protect each other from all trouble, feeling deep sympathy for each other even though they are now successful adults. Their encounters with Teddy and the remarkable Olga, as well as the now challenging Vee, shows that they are a thoughtful group who value each other immensely. Peggy, wealthy and dynamic, has insisted in helping Lachlan set up his successful restaurant in Lanrock, is instrumental in improving Amber's stained glass business, and is convinced that her own art needs to find its true audience. Her son Benjie cannot always keep up with his mother's outrageous ideas, and finds that she will do many things in order to get her way.
Overall, this is a combination of stories and themes that provide a fascinating read. There are twists that I did not foresee, events that move everyone one along, experiences that are well described. I really enjoyed reading this well written book, and will definitely find others by this talented author.
1 Comment Should I Tell You? by Jill Mansell – an escapist gem of community, friendship and much more
Enter via the gardening section…
To find a bookshop!
Studying some of the stock! ( I was wearing a mask!)
There is also a garden…
Bookshop Tour on Four Wheels – Harlow Carr Garden Centre, Harrogate
Crag Lane Harrogate North Yorkshire HG3 1QB
EMAILSEND EMAIL
WEBSITEVISIT SITE
Open Daily: 09:30 – 18:00
For those of us who would list "visiting bookshops" as one of our hobbies, the last few years have been difficult. Even when restrictions have eased, and we may have felt confident to venture out, not all of us have been able to get into bookshops owing to mobility problems and challenging access. In this series I celebrate the shops that I can actually enter and get round on Morgan, my trusty powerchair.
Today I am featuring a shop within a shop – a garden centre at RHS Harlow Carr. We actually first discovered it in 2020, when meeting in the gardens for a legal, socially distanced picnic with our adult offspring who we had not seen for months. Venturing into the garden centre I expected the usual – piles of gardening books, maybe a few puzzle books, the usual thing. I entered via the Gardening section, only to discover that the area was in fact a small but well stocked bookshop, with new fiction and non fiction, an older collection of fiction with many interesting titles, biography, history and even specific crime fiction. After months of ordering books on the phone and online it was lovely to actually be able to handle and choose books in real life! As you can see from the photos, the books are well organised in a relatively spacious designated area so my more recent trip was very enjoyable. There are now several entrances to the building, all on the flat, – there is a slope at one side of the bookshop which is said not to be wheelchair friendly – I could manage it but it is mentioned in the accessibility statement.I am not sure who is in charge of book buying, but there is an excellent selection available whenever I visit. Thank you Harlow Carr!
3 Comments Bookshop Tour on Four Wheels – Harlow Carr Garden Centre Bookshop
5 Comments Katharine Parr – The Sixth Wife by Alison Weir – the final novel in the Six Tudor Queens series
Hotel Portofino by J. P. O'Connell
This is a tremendous historical novel which could well be the start of a very successful series based on multiple characters and various themes. Set in a select hotel on the Italian coast in 1924, every character has a backstory and motivations which are explored to a certain extent, and much is hinted at in this novel, labelled "Volume 1" in my copy. It has already been adapted for television, and certainly the writing is very visual. Much is made of the setting, from the beautifully decorated rooms in the hotel, the product of the taste and design of Bella, the owner, to the coastal scenery of beaches, caves, rocks and harbours. The hot weather is tempered by the storms that bring back memories to those who were at the Front eight years before, and the rainstorms that can make people seem defeated by the elements. The gathering storms of the rise of facism even in a small town is not just theoretical, but a personal danger to some individuals, and a danger of ruin to others. The relationships between the characters are not just romantic, though there are strong elements of that; there are also complex connections which are perhaps hinted at rather than made explicit. Nothing and no one is simple and straightforward, each character is complex and given real depth. Overall this is a multi – layered book which I was very pleased to have the opportunity to read and review.
As the book opens Bella is preparing the Epsom Suite for some important guests, but it is also important to note that all those staying have some special consideration. The Drummond – Wards' are of special importance to Bella and her family.The mother, Julia, is a ex – love of Cecil, Bella's aristocratic but feckless husband, while the daughter Rose is being considered as a potential husband for her son Lucian. Lucian is a scarred survivor from the recent War, a complex young man interested in but not dedicated to art. His friend Nish is a doctor who helped Lucian survive his grievous injuries suffered in battle; his physical wounds and his mental scars will continue to mark his life. Bella has brought her daughter Alice with her to Italy, a young widow with a daughter Lottie. Alice was influenced into a strong Christan faith when first confronted by grief, and it has affected her world view. Other characters emerge throughout the book as more guests arrive and become established. One of my favourites is the complex Lady Latchmere, whose true personality will only emerge with the gentle approach of a fascinated Bella.
Throughout the season which marks the main beginning of the hotel there are challenges which emerge among the characters who are established in their roles in the story. Lucian is not immediately convinced that he wishes to be with Rose to the exclusion of other people; he is connected to a local woman who is very different, and becomes attracted to a young woman with a difficult past and who is deceptively thoughtful. There is the dramatic element of demands from a local corrupt official on the very existence of the hotel, the danger of local politics in other ways, and other pressures on Bella from various sources. The writing is dramatic, but well balanced and never descends into melodrama. This is an account of the life of a community over a few weeks, which refers in itself to the works of Christie and others, and is truly enthralling. I found I was drawn in and struggled to put this novel down once engaged. I recommend it on many levels, and look forward to any possible future instalments.
3 Comments Hotel Portofino by J. P. O'Connell – a multi- layered enthralling historical novel of an Italian hotel in difficult times
The Chianti Flask by Marie Belloc Lowndes – an unusual 1934 novel reprinted in the British Library Crime Classics series
The type of bottle in question apparently!
The Chianti Flask by Marie Belloc Lowdnes
This intriguing novel was first published in 1934 from the prolific pen of a writer who has produced a "book (which is) in essence a psychological study written from a feminist perspective" as Martin Edwards points out in his informative Intoduction to this British Library Crime Classic reprint. It picks an unusual perspective for a crime novel. The poisoning is past, a man is dead, and the book opens with the trial of his quiet widow for murder. This book not only records the latter part of the trial, but also the aftermath for those who were most concerned in the matter. It combines a mystery which seems to revolve around a flask of wine and its whereabouts, a woman for whom life seems to be fated to constant interest despite or maybe because of her reserved nature, and the nature of friendship and love. I was very pleased to have the opportunity to read and review this unusual Golden Age of Crime novel.
The trial in which Laura Dousland stands accused of murdering her older husband Fordish seems to hang on the evidence of an Italian servant Angelo Terugi. Brought in as the latest whim of the exacting Fordish, he is unhappily closely questioned on what exactly happened to a Chianti flask which once held the wine that his master insisted on accompanying his evening meal on a tray. The servant admits that he had designs on the contents as enjoying the wine himself, but that he cannot account for what happened to the missing twenty fourth bottle that went unreturned to the supplier. The importance of the wine bottle is that it is generally supposed to have contained the poison that killed the man. Throughout the trial Laura has sat quietly, almost impassively, as if the very real danger of a guilty verdict and the gallows did not concern her. Fortunately she has an able and experienced representative in Sir Joseph Molloy, who has many skills in terms of strong cross questioning and selecting witnesses who are well prepared to say helpful things in the defence of his client. From the account of the trial Fordish emerges as a jealous man, aggressive towards any visitor, and of whom even his personal servant says "Yes, sir, for my master he love money very, very much". The first doctor on the scene at the discovery of the death is of no help to the defence, but a second doctor, a younger man of medical research, reveals how the deceased seemed to be fascinated with the nature of the poison which was in fact used. Thus the very real possibility of sucicide is raised. Further evidence is brought in support of Laura; her ex employer and great friend Alice Hayward speaks of Laura's character and how she had at first refused Fordish's offer of marriage despite her lonely situation and unexciting prospects. Alice in fact states that she had "strongly advised her to accept his offer of marriage", despite the fact that she admits him to be eccentric, and he had threatened suicide if Laura did not agree to marry him. The trial proceeds to its conclusion, and in some respects the novel begins from that point.
This book has much to say on the marriage at the centre of the mystery, but also other relationships which influence the eventual outcomes. I found the small details, like that Laura had to spend her own money on housekeeping in the early days of her marriage, and that subsequently was refused money even to pay her circulating library subscription, fascinating. The settings in which the characters find themselves in has much to offer in the tone of the novel, from the house and garden stuffed with auction finds by the miserly husband, to the opulence of a bedroom in which one of the characters fails to find sanctuary. This is an unusual novel which has much to say about women and their expectations of life at the time, while concealing the mystery of a vital piece of evidence. It is subtle, clever, and certainly an alternative to male dominated novels of detection of the time.
2 Comments The Chianti Flask by Marie Belloc Lowndes – an unusual 1934 novel reprinted in the British Library Crime Classics series
The Postmistress of Paris by Meg Waite Clayton – an historical novel of a brave woman in the Second World War
The Postmistress of Paris by Meg Waite Clayton
This is an absolutely enthralling historical novel based on a true heroine of the Second World War, an American heiress living in France. In this novel, Nanee is a young woman who enjoys flying her own plane, enjoying her substantial inherited fortune in France following the death of her much loved father, and the company of her dog Dagobert. She lives alone and has many friends, especially among the artistic community of Paris, which has recently increased owing to the political unrest in Germany as Hitler sweeps to power. Her choice to remain in France as the War comes closer reflects what many other foreign nationals did for various reasons, but it soon becomes obvious that she will stay to help, to make a difference to those who have real need and few if any choices. Based on the very real Mary Jayne Gold who worked with a journalist, Varian Fry, to smuggle refugees from France, this novel puts Nanee in a fictional context with others who are involved in the dangerous process, where discovery could lead to arrest and worse. Edouard Moss is a young photographer who has already escaped from Germany as an artist and a Jew, bringing his daughter, the remarkable Luki. Edouard has damaging memories to contend with, mainly relating to his late wife, and is hugely concerned with Luki's well being. Her child- like view of what is happening, shaped by her precious toy kangaroo, is a constant element of the book, and I thought it was very well written. This is a very atmospheric book, well written and involving, and I was very pleased to have the opportunity to read and review it.
The book opens in January 1938 with an incident when Nanee is flying; she risks an accident in order to save a black swan. This is an important theme, her willingness to risk everything to save others. When she attends a party she encounters Surrealist artists, but is especially moved by Edouard and his relationship with his small daughter. As the War draws nearer, Edouard and Luki travel to a quiet village, where he hopes to develop his negatives and keep well away from trouble. However, life is not that simple in the face of invasion and occupation, and it seems no one is safe. Nancee is soon aware of those around her who are in trouble for their nationality and creative record. While she hopes to stay in France, she makes every effort to help those who are trying to flee to safety. In time she feels challenged to use her money to help finance a rescue operation working on the edges of legality. It is far from easy or safe work, especially when she becomes the "Postmistress", delivering messages to those desperate for news. The people who she works with, whether real or fictional, are so well drawn, and the sense of threat permeates the narrative.
This book is so well researched that there is a firm basis for the book; it feels so firmly based yet never bogged down by details. The characters flow in their feeling of reality, sometimes negative, aggressive, dismissive, but also optimistic, thoughtful and resourceful. The character of Luki, a small girl physically but huge in her impact on the narrative, really lifts the book from beginning to end, as she struggles to understand what is going on in a situation which the adults around her are finding nearly impossible. I thoroughly recommend this book for its atmosphere, its story, and most of all its well established, consistent characters.
4 Comments The Postmistress of Paris by Meg Waite Clayton – an historical novel of a brave woman in the Second World War
Her Legendary Highlander by Nicole Locke – an atmospheric historical novel of two determined and damaged people
Her Legendary Highlander by Nicole Locke
This is a story of two people discovering things about themselves and each other. An historical romance set in the reign of Edward I, this is a book concerned with people far away from power and politics in many ways, though it does refer to some of families who have substantial wealth. Nicole Locke has written a number of books linked by the Warstone family, and a search for a particular Jewell which has enormous, if legendary, significance. This is very much a standalone book; nothing is mentioned of the previous novel until well into the book. It features a determined and resourceful young woman, Andreona, who has a plan to be reconciled with her family by an enormous act of bravery. There is a man, Malcolm, whose mission can not be ignored whatever the sacrifice it entails. The novel's setting is of a harsh countryside, a journey, and people who have to make decisions. The possessions and conditions faced by the characters are historically accurate, and there has been research into the life of people which never interrupts the narrative but gives it a pleasing solidarity. It is most effective at drawing the reader into the story, to establishing interest into the fate of the characters most involved. This is a tremendous read of real feeling which I was very glad to have the opportunity to read and review.
As the book opens Andreona is keeping watch from a tower she has constructed with a group of women. The purpose of the careful and difficult construction is far more than accommodation; she has always had a difficult relationship with her father owing to her illegitimacy and his practice of acquiring money and property by any means. As she discusses with her lifelong friend Uracca, she wants to obtain his good opinion by presenting him with prisoners and their property. She is therefore pleased to see two men approaching who may well fall into the traps they have carefully laid for unwary travellers. Not everything goes to plan, however, and the two men are revealed as Malcolm, a fighter of some standing and experience, and his associate Finlay. After some tough revelations, it seems that Andreona and Malcolm must make decisions about what to attempt next as both know that they are facing enormous risks, not just for themselves, but for others that they care about.
Both Malcolm and Andreona have had difficult, if not impossible, backgrounds. These seem to be brutal times, and there are horrific incidents in both of their past lives which make it so difficult for them to trust anyone ever again. Drawn together by circumstance, these are conflicted characters whose memories may never allow them to be truly at peace. Any physical attraction they may feel for each other must be weighed against the loss of trust they have both experienced. They are also at enormous risk from those who are desperate to obtain what they may carry, an item so precious that people have died to find and keep it. This is a well written mature book with no easy answers, but a lot of realistic atmosphere. I recommend this as well as Locke's other books as an enjoyable and enthralling read.
Leave a comment Her Legendary Highlander by Nicole Locke – an atmospheric historical novel of two determined and damaged people


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THE BIG PICTURE: Cost of Power Comparison
by Tracey Lilly
Energy Resilience Demands Action—Just Not This One
Analytical Tool Helps HRSG Operators Compare Equipment Reliability
Using Infrared Drone Technology to Inspect Solar Panels and Wind Turbines
States Seek Financial Tools to Replace Coal with Clean Energy
Flexible Operation of Nuclear Power Plants Ramps Up
India Installs Its First Grid-Scale Battery Storage System
IIOT Power
Autonomous Power Plant Takes Shape in Japan
Off-Grid Microgrid: Solar + Batteries + Thermal Generation
POWER Digest (April 2019): News Briefs from Around the World
Replacing Retirees and Improving Reliability High on To-Do Lists
What keeps you up at night? The question has become cliché as panel moderators now routinely ask it as a "thought-provoking" final query to close out executive roundtable sessions at industry conferences. The answers given at such events are rarely the off-the-cuff responses that are truly desired. Yet, when the question is asked as part of an anonymous survey in which a guarded response is unnecessary, the results can be enlightening.
Siemens recently commissioned Longitude, a Financial Times company that provides thought leadership and research services to corporate and institutional clients, to conduct a study on challenges facing the power industry. Researchers quizzed more than 100 U.S. power plant executives and directors, and one of the questions they asked the leaders was: "What keeps you up at night?"
Aging Workforce a Big Concern
Heading the list was "attracting and retaining a talented workforce." When a person considers workforce trends, it's easy to see why the chore leaves power executives restless. The average age of utility sector employees has steadily increased to 50, according to Siemens' report. It says 25% of the workforce will retire in the next five years, and up to half of the workforce could retire within the next 10 years. That's pretty alarming.
Replenishing such a high percentage of staff members with prime applicants will undoubtedly be difficult, but technology could help bridge the gap. The report says advanced digital technologies such as augmented and virtual reality could enable more-effective training of new workers in simulated environments. However, that leads to the next-highest fear cited in the survey, which is "adopting new digital technologies." To overcome the difficulty, the report suggests replacing retirees with "digital-savvy workers or those with specific digital expertise." Yet, it falls short in providing techniques for identifying and enticing such candidates into the workforce.
Are Renewables a Threat or Opportunity?
Another threat that could cause lost sleep for traditional power generators is the growth in renewables. The February-released BP Energy Outlook: 2019 edition says, "Renewable energy is the fastest growing source of energy, contributing half of the growth in global energy supplies and becoming the largest source of power by 2040." Yet, the Siemens study found that surprisingly few power executives are worried about it. In fact, only 26% of respondents said the rise of renewables is a major challenge, which put it in seventh place on the list of worries.
The researchers, however, believe the threat is understated, specifically as it relates to coal and gas-fired plants. The report says, "32% of surveyed generators have renewables assets in their portfolio, which means these generators also see renewables as an opportunity. Nonetheless, the rise of renewables directly threatens the profitability of existing fossil fuel plants because it lowers wholesale prices, increases the number of low-pricing hours, reduces the number of high-pricing hours, and makes the timing of these periods harder to predict."
"We are seeing the utilization rates for some customers' combined cycle power plants fall from between 60% and 70%, to less than 20% due to a number of factors, including the aggressive integration of renewables into the grid," Connie Klimko, head of Marketing at Siemens Power Generation Services, Controls & Digitalization, said in the report. "If the [independent system operator] can purchase renewable energy at an equal or lesser cost to coal or gas, they will do that. The rise of renewables poses unique challenges to the profitability and even the existence of some plants in certain states," she added.
Planning Ahead for Reliability Improvements
When questions turned to capital investments, many respondents said they plan to focus on improving plant reliability over the next two years. The report says, "Reliability has become so important because the growth in renewables generation has caused a reduction in the number of high-price hours and an increase in the magnitude of pricing during these hours. Generators therefore need to ensure that their assets can operate during these short periods of ultra-high prices."
"In the current market, plants have very narrow windows for making money—maybe just a few hundred hours per year. So, plants need to be operating when there are opportunities to make money," said Galen George, director of Business Development and Marketing at Siemens Energy.
And gas turbines are where U.S. power generators are putting their money. More than nine out of 10 respondents said they have already invested in gas turbines or plan to do so in the next two years. Furthermore, many of the executives (45%) plan to invest in heat recovery steam generators (HRSGs) during the period. Upgrades to HRSGs can improve flexibility, reliability, and efficiency of combined cycle power plants, enabling them to operate at higher temperatures and pressures, and for longer periods of time.
Investments, however, don't always lead to successful outcomes. Fewer than 50% of respondents reported that recent projects—those undertaken in the past three years—delivered the planned operational objectives. Fewer than one in four said projects were a "complete success." The reason? "Planning too late in the schedule" was at the top of the list. The most-effective way to ensure investment success is to plan early and involve all stakeholders right from the outset.
The study also found that having access to the right data can improve results. Yet, less than half of the executives surveyed reported having full access to information on the performance of similar plants. The report says investing in this type of data is an important way to avoid failure. To obtain a copy of the Siemens study, visit: www.siemens.com/redefine-performance-ebook. ■
—Aaron Larson is POWER's executive editor.
#gas turbine #Siemens #Renewable energy #aging workforce #power plant reliability
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Q: Jquery mouse onclick inside angularjs I am working with a page where both JQuery and AngularJS are used. Using jQuery taggable-text.js plugin I am able to select "Share-with" items by mouse click and keyboard.
But when I try to select elements inside table (in scope of AngularJS), I am able to do that only with keyboard buttons.
Can anyone say why the 'onclick' event does not fire in scope of AngularJS, but others are ?
The following events were attached (lines 296-303 in JSFiddle JS block):
this.listView = new ListView($list, this);
this.strategies = strategies;
this.$el.on('keyup', bind(this.onKeyup, this));
this.$el.on('keydown', bind(this.listView.onKeydown, this.listView));
this.$el.on('mousedown', bind(this.listView.onKeydown, this.listView));
this.$el.on('keydown', bind(this.onKeydown, this));
this.$el.on('keydown', 'button', bind(this.onButtonKeydown, this));
this.$el.on(fireChangeOn, bind(this.onChange, this));

Here is a link on JSFiddle where you can see the full code.
http://jsfiddle.net/sahak_k/k455Lx3f/5/

A: Here is one of possible workarounds to solve mouse click issue.
You can manually bind and handle OnMouseDown event.
The code is available in JSFiddle :
http://jsfiddle.net/k455Lx3f/7/
I have added isAngularJS variable in code. When this variable is set 'true' the onClickAngularJS function will be attached, otherwise - the source onClick function (lines 602-613) :
var ListView = (function() {
    function ListView($el, completer, isAngularJS) {
        this.$el = $el;
        this.index = 0;
        this.completer = completer;
        if (!isAngularJS) {
            this.$el.on('click', 'li.textcomplete-item', bind(this.onClick, this));
        } else {
            this.$el.on('mousedown', 'li.textcomplete-item > a', bind(this.onClickAngularJS, this));
        }
    }
...

plus you will need own click handling function (on anchor element) (lines 721-730):
onClickAngularJS : function(e) {
    var $e = $(e.target);
    e.originalEvent.keepTextCompleteDropdown = true;
    if(!$e.hasClass('textcomplete-item')) {
        $e = $e.parents('li.textcomplete-item');
    }
    var selectedIndex = parseInt($e.data('index'));
    this.completer.onSelect(this.data[selectedIndex]);
    e.preventDefault();
}

...

and, finally, you need to specify 'isAngularJS' parameter in config (lines 766-770):
...
var isAngularJS = false;
if (config.isAngularJS && config.isAngularJS === true) {
    isAngularJS = true;
}
new Completer(this, config.strategies, fireChangeOn, isAngularJS);
...


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text:
Burning Down the House
Norman Behrendt's first published photobook "Burning Down the House" — subtitled "A photographic study of Berliner graffiti writers 2007—2012" — offers an intimate and unusual foray into the most secretive artists of the german metropolis.
Graffiti writers belong to a fast track, invisible legion of subway, train yards & street roamers who usually operate without anyone in sight, a nocturnal secret society shrouded in mystery and whose anonymity is vital for their self preservation. Their name travels widely across the whole city train lines but their identity is never revealed.
"To be a writer is a big secret. It's the biggest secret that I keep from my parents. You don't tell many people, you only tell people who you can trust. There's a big impulse to maintain secrecy."
– Duko.
Over a period of 5 years, Behrendt has gained a prime access to graffiti writers, train and rooftop burners, exposing now in his book the mundane portraits of the many anonymous writers of Berlin.
Behrendt's "tour de force" is to depict the inner face of this closed society without showing much of graffiti itself, staying away either from the usual adrenaline, action-driven iconography or the documentation process, but rather opting for the portrait, photographing young men in an environment and background that they have specifically chosen, taking out the excess and drama, leaving the quintessence of the writer.
Portraits come along sometimes with more scenic backgrounds, but mostly writers chose to expose something different, during the usual routine of daily life, in students' apartments, sometimes even in the countryside, probably not far from train lines, maybe where the writers started to paint for the first time. With the portrait, there is something deeper that can here be touched, where the background sometimes reveals more of the personality and drama of the writer than the portrait itself.
The book includes more than 80 portraits, long interviews, and a series of Polaroid portraits that were sent to the writers and returned to the author with some add-ons, drawings, interventions, cut-outs and whose series adds to the book the point of view of the writers themselves and offers a low fi "contrepoint" to the main portrait series.
Burning Down the House won the Dummy Award 2013 at the prestigious Kassel Fotobookfestival. The jury observed: "This dummy impressed the jury the most as it felt that not only had a great deal of work gone into photographing and compiling the extensive book as a whole, but that its »packaging« perfectly suited its subject matter on Berlin graffiti writers, i.e. in that the paper used for the cover was based on the design of the seating material used in Berlin S-Bahn trains. A well-conceived and striking object!" Notwithstanding that the cover is based on the infamous U-Bahn seat upholstery and not S-Bahn, the jury clearly awarded the dummy to a photographic work of considerable quality and commitment.
Released late December 2014 by the Berlin based publisher seltmann+söhne in a limited edition of only 700 copies (with a book cover made with exactly the same seat upholstery as the Berlin U-Bahn!), the book is available in the Urban Spree webstore and in the shop on Warschauer Str. (opened by appointment only until end of February).
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Simple To Build. Easy To Fly.
The Evans VP-1 Volksplane is an is an all-wood, strut-braced open-cockpit single-seatlow-wing aircraft designed for amateur construction. It is simple to build and safe and easy to fly. Designed by American aeronautical engineer William Evans of La Jolla, California.
the EAA SPORT AVIATION HALL OF FAME!


Danish dream pop duo Slowes have released their new single, 'Tell Me Why', a song about discovering a lying lover.
Much like their previous material, 'Tell Me Why' reflects in a melancholic hopeful kind of way, and is led by a strong hook, perfectly amalgamating alternative pop sounds with chillwave.
Our hearts go out to those in Mexico at the moment. This one is for them.
'Mexico' is a debut song by Seattle-born Rae Isla, who has a family interest in South America. It features guitarist Lito de la Isla and was produced by Gianluca Buccellati (Tei Shi, Yellerkin).
Rae is donating all of her profits from the sale of the song to Cruz Roja Mexicana (Mexican Red Cross).
Denver duo, Motion Trap (aka Kyle Williams and Nathan Rogers) release spirited new single, 'The Movement', and the synth-rock-pop number does just that. Make you move.
Expect their sophomore album 'Heavenly Bodies' out soon.
REFS is the project of Brooklyn-based producer, Zach Lipkins.
Pure emotion and intimacy oozes from his R&B hit 'Fool', all perfectly enveloped with fervorous production.
Wow, Nocturnal Tapes have arrived and aren't we happy they have!
Their new single 'All I Need' takes you on a spacial journey of floaty dreamscapes and psychedelia attitudes. It is about that moment when you realise you have everything you need and suddenly the pressure you've been putting on yourself can lift.
If Lorde decided to dabble in hip hop, this might be the result – 'Undertow' by Kendall Morgan.
Kendall grew up in Nashville, and started writing songs as early as she can remember. Her experience in songwriting has led her to working on tracks with Kendrick Lamar and Yo Gotti.
Belgian artist LIMITS shares 'Falling'.
Having recently signed to Different Recordings (Anna Of The North, Kllo, Claptone), LIMITS manages to perfectly blend slices of ethereal, tech-house with melodic pop-inspired vocals.
The track is out now.
Wayfarer// teams up with fellow Australian LANKS on 'Broken Wire'.
It has a great positive message, about not letting fear force you to waste opportunities, with a d'n'b undertone.
It's the third single off the upcoming 'Garden State' EP, due out later this year.
German-based Satin Jackets teams up with British singer, David Harks on 'Northern Lights'.
As with all of Satin Jackets' music, 'Northern Lights' has a distinct cosmic vibe, which is to be expected with the title of the song. Add to the mix, nostalgic vocal tones and reflective melodies, to create a breathtaking listening experience.
It's out today on Eskimo Recordings.
San Diego native, singer-songwriter and visual artist Alice Gray shares her debut single 'Pink Cadillac'.
Describing her music as "sad songs you want to dance to", Alice's sound has a bittersweet edge to it thanks to beautifully planned pop hooks and wistful lyrics.
'Pink Cadillac' is out now.
New song 'All I Need' is a collaboration between Brooklyn-based, bedroom producer Lissa Lo and Patrick Dunn.
On the duo's second encounter, 'All I Need' was born with its innocently played vocal loops and lashings of romanticised lyrics.
Love songs don't have to be all about the doom and gloom of a relationship, they can be about the music you adore. Brooklyn locals, Secret Weapons do just this with uplifting new single, 'Comeback Season'.
The twosome deliver a positive message about overcoming the odds (specifically the struggles they encountered whilst writing their album), which is further highlighted by the delightful addition of a gospel choir!
It's out now via Epic.
Talking of love songs…Atlantic artist/producer Seersha has written a gorgeous track called 'Typical' for her husband to listen to on his summertime drives.
Seersha's ethereal vocals immediately make you feel free, as if you are screaming with joy at the top of a mountain in the middle of nowhere.
Paving the way for the next generation of sound, AWAY likes to expose mixed feelings in his music, often touching on confusion, sadness, apathy, and anger.
We don't know very much about Wolf Saga, bar the fact his new song 'Crutches' is about growing out of giving into peer pressure.
We really enjoy the upbeat melody found throughout the track, which works well with the positive harmonies and catchy synths.
Taking more of a dance direction with the last release of his 'Vessels' EP, Rationale shares 'Reciprocate'.
A simple, yet punchy track, 'Reciprocate' shows how Rationale is really growing from strength to strength. It's a joy to watch.
NYC synth-rockers, VHS Collection, return with 'The Black'.
Channelling some Chris Isaak vibes (possibly as a result of only using analogue gear during the track's recording), the light electronic floor filler is paradoxically about the darkest and ugliest emotions you suffer during a breakup.
It's taken off their 'Stereo Hype' EP.


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The swimming and diving coaches at Ocean State University want to provide winter coats to their student-athletes as this year's participation award. Is it permissible for the coaches to provide the coats during the season or do they have to wait until the after the final competition of the regular season?
The coaches may provide the participation award prior to the last regular season competition. With the adoption of RWG-16-1, the legislation has been deregulated with regard to the timing of a student-athlete's receipt of an award.
The soccer coaches at Ocean State University (OSU) would like to go watch a first round game in the NCAA soccer tournament. An institution in the area is hosting a team that OSU will be playing this spring during the non-championship segment.
Is it permissible for the OSU coaches to attend the NCAA tournament game since they will be playing one of the teams in the spring?
Yes. NCAA Staff Interpretation- 8/13/13- Scouting Restrictions not Applicable to NCAA Championships (I) – states that the off-campus, in-person scouting prohibition does not preclude an institution's coaching staff from attending an NCAA championship contest in which a future opponent participates (e.g., an opponent on the institution's nonchampionship segment schedule participates in a fall NCAA championship).
The NCAA announced Thursday in a news release that it will consider altering current recruiting rules.
The Division I membership will look at the option of changing some recruiting rules and the idea of allowing schools to provide more meals and unlimited snacks to student-athletes.
In an effort to address the membership's uneasiness regarding recruiting rules, the Division I Legislative Council agreed this week to sponsor several proposed rules changes in the 2013-14 legislative cycle. The proposals will be published in an official notice by Nov. 15 and will be made available to the membership for review. The Council will cast its first votes on the proposals at the 2014 NCAA Convention in January.
— Change some rules related to financial aid, personnel and benefits student-athletes can receive. These proposals would create a more workable definition of countable coach, allow schools to provide the maximum meal plan for student-athletes that is available to all students — even if the plan exceeds three meals a day, permit athletics directors to delegate the responsibility for signing squad lists and eliminate certification requirements related to institutional financial aid.
— Allow schools to give unlimited snacks and additional meals to student-athletes, outside of what they receive through their traditional scholarship. The first proposal would allow schools to provide meals in conjunction with practice during the playing season and other noncompetitive events. Another similar proposal would allow schools to provide meals "incidental with participation" both in and out of season.
— Allow recruiting communication to start Sept. 1 of a recruit's junior year, except in basketball, football, men's ice hockey, swimming and diving, cross country and track. Basketball already adopted its own recruiting contact rules, and changes in football will be considered over the next week by the Leadership Council and Board of Directors. Recruiting communication now can begin July 1 following the junior year. Off-campus recruiting dates would not change for any sport. The proposal would also lift restrictions in these sports on the frequency and types of communication. For example, text messaging would be allowed.
Ima Dope is a basketball student-athlete at Ocean State University. Ima competed during the 2012-13 academic year but tested positive for an NCAA banned substance after completion of the season. Which of the following is true?
A. Ima is ineligible for a minimum 365 day period.
B. Ima utilized two seasons of competition during the 2012-13 academic year– one for competing and one for testing positive for an NCAA banned substance.
C. Ima must test negative prior to being eligible to compete again.
The answer is D. NCAA Educational Column- 10/21/13- Seasons of Competition and Banned Drugs (I)- states that NCAA Division I institutions are reminded that the loss of a season of competition due to a student-athlete testing positive for a banned substance as part of the NCAA testing program is separate from and in addition to any seasons of competition that may have been used by engaging in competition. Therefore, it is possible for a student-athlete to be charged with two seasons of competition during the same academic year.
The following scenarios are intended to assist the membership with the application of the ineligibility for use of banned drugs legislation and its interaction with the seasons of competition legislation.
Scenario 1 (Positive Test Prior to Start of Season).
Year 1: Student-athlete competed and used a season of competition pursuant to the minimum amount of competition legislation (Season No. 1).
Year 2: Student-athlete tested positive for a banned substance prior to the start of the season and is ineligible for a minimum 365-day period. Student-athlete did not participate in any amount of competition during Year 2. Student athlete is charged with a season of competition pursuant to the banned drugs legislation (Season No. 2).
Year 3: Student-athlete competed and used a season of competition pursuant to the minimum amount of competition legislation (Season No. 3).
Year 4: Student-athlete competed and used a season of competition pursuant to the minimum amount of competition legislation (Season No. 4).
Scenario 2 (Positive Test Post Completion of Season).
Year 2: Student-athlete competed and used a season of competition pursuant to minimum amount of competition legislation (Season No. 2). Student-athlete tested positive for a banned substance after completion of the season. Student athlete is ineligible for a minimum 365-day period and is charged with a season of competition pursuant to the banned drugs legislation (Season No. 3).
Year 3: Student-athlete did not compete during Year 3.
Year 4: Student-athlete competed and used a season of competition pursuant to minimum amount of competition legislation (Season No. 4).
Scenario 3 (Positive Test In Season and Competition Directly Post Reinstatement).
Year 1: Student-athlete competed and used a season of competition pursuant to minimum amount of competition legislation (Season No. 1).
Year 2: Student-athlete competed in the first four contests of Year 2 and used a season of competition pursuant to minimum amount of competition legislation (Season No. 2) before testing positive for a banned substance. Two of the contests in which the student-athlete competed occurred after the time of collection but prior to confirmation of the positive result. Student-athlete is ineligible for a minimum 365-day period and must be withheld from two additional contests after the conclusion of the period of ineligibility. Further, student-athlete is charged with a season of competition pursuant to the banned drugs legislation (Season No. 3).
Year 3: Student-athlete is reinstated during Year 3 after conclusion of the 365-day period and is withheld from two additional contests Student-athlete competed during the remainder of Year 3 and used a season of competition pursuant to the minimum amount of competition legislation (Season No. 4).
Year 4: Student-athlete does not have any seasons of competition remaining.
Scenario 4 (Positive Test In Season and Competition Delayed Post Reinstatement).
Year 2: Student-athlete competed in the first four contests of Year 2 and used a season of competition pursuant to minimum amount of competition legislation (Season No. 2) before testing positive for a banned substance. Student-athlete is ineligible for a minimum 365-day period and is charged with a season of competition pursuant to the banned drugs legislation (Season No. 3).
Year 3: Student-athlete is reinstated during Year 3 after conclusion of the 365-day period but does not compete in any of the remaining contests. Therefore, student-athlete does not use a season of competition during Year 3.
Ima Baller is a former basketball student-athlete at Ocean State University (OSU). Ima exhausted his eligibility three years ago and has been playing in the NBA. Ima will be in town visiting with the coaches next week and would like to participate in a few practices with the team. Is it permissible for Ima to practice?
Held Ball is a senior in high school. Held is going to graduate in December and will enroll at Ocean State University (OSU) in January and join the basketball team. OSU would like to proivde Held an athletic scholarship, so last week the coaches sent him a financial aid agreement to sign.
Is it permissible for Held to sign a financial aid agreement with OSU now?
Yes with conditions. NCAA Staff Interpretation- 10/17/13- Awarding Athletics Aid to a Senior Prospective Student-Athlete who will Graduate and Enroll Midyear (I) – states that a prospective student-athlete who intends to graduate from high school midyear and enroll at a member institution midyear during the same academic year (e.g., spring semester) may sign an institutional financial aid agreement on or after August 1 of his or her senior year, provided the institution issuing the financial aid agreement establishes, prior to issuing the agreement, that the prospective student-athlete is enrolled in all coursework necessary to graduate from high school at midyear.
MORAGA, Calif. (AP) — Saint Mary's men's basketball coach Randy Bennett must serve a five-game suspension and won't be allowed to recruit off campus this season as the NCAA has upheld penalties against the successful West Coast Conference program for recruiting violations.
In making the announcement Monday from the NCAA's infractions appeals committee, the athletics governing body denied Bennett's appeal that included the claim of a procedural error involved. The school said Bennett's penalty would begin Dec. 30 at midnight for five games, including one non-conference contest.
In March, the NCAA put Saint Mary's on four years of probation for a "failure to monitor its men's basketball program," reducing scholarships by two for the 2014-15 and '15-16 seasons.
Saint Mary's will still be allowed to participate in the league tournament and the NCAA tournament but can't play in preseason or in-season tournaments not already contractually obligated to attend.
The Gaels, seeded 11th, lost 54-52 to sixth-seeded Memphis in the 2013 NCAA tournament and finished the season 28-7.


Welcome to the fourth installment of our six-week Influence Interview Series!
I'm glad you're here, whether you're a first-timer or you've been following along from the beginning of our series on Influence: Building a Platform that Elevates Jesus (Not Me).
Just so you know: an affiliate link is used here, at no extra cost to you.
Quick recap: Our online book discussion started February 4th and I'm posting two interviews each week (on Monday and Wednesday) until March 13th.
Sign up here to get the interviews delivered to your inbox!
This week I'm excited to host Quantrilla Ard for an interview on the importance of a foreword: looking at the past (or what came before) that led you to your calling as a writer.
If you have ever lacked confidence in your calling, your work as a writer, or the gifts you've been given, this conversation is for you.
Quanny shares a wealth of wisdom and encouragement in this interview.
No matter where you are in your writing journey, God has been writing your story from the very beginning, and He will continue to provide places and opportunities to use the gifts He has given you.
All we have to do is place our trust and confidence in Him, not our own abilities.
Quantrilla (affectionately known as Quanny), hails from the DC metropolitan area. A passionate creative at heart, she has answered the call to encourage women in all stages of life and of various backgrounds through empathy, transparency, and love.
Because she leads a full life as a wife, stay-at-home mom, doctoral student, and entrepreneur, Quanny often finds herself in the thick of problem solving at any given moment. Her spiritual goals and her love for Christ propel her quest to share her journey with other women- to walk alongside them and encourage them with words, deeds, and wisdom. Quanny believes in the power in collective strength, community and fellowship. You will find her wherever people are sharing stories of triumph.
Learn more about Quantrilla Ard on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
The online FlourishWriters Conference is happening NOW through March 5th, 2019 . . . and it's free!
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Thanks for joining us on our book discussion journey through Influence: Building a Platform that Elevates Jesus (Not Me)!
Hope to see you again on Monday, when we hear from Asheritah Ciuciu on Chapter 5: Strategy.
Thank you Kate for sharing Quanny with us. And Quanny, just the encouragement I needed today!