Having seen and puzzled over many of her red carpet shots and previous interviews, I really, really didn't know what I was getting into when Bai Ling called me on the phone. The Chinese-born actress is known as much for her acting (in Southland Tales, one episode of Lost and many others) as her outrageous and fearless fashion sense. But all of that seems to come together perfectly in Crank 2, a movie that's about as over the top and out-there as outfits like this one.
And on the phone, her enthusiasm for what she calls "the most free, crazy experience I've ever had as an actress" carries the conversation along, as she tells me about doing all her own stunts, getting the part that was probably not intended for an Asian actress, and even her role in the upcoming Love Ranch, in which she plays a prostitute at a brothel run by Helen Mirren and Joe Pesci. Yup, sounds just about weird enough for Bai Ling.


TAşOVA, V et al. Evaluation of incidental thyroid cancer in patients with thyroidectomy. West Indian med. j. [online]. 2013, vol.62, n.9, pp. 844-848. ISSN 0043-3144.
OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to emphasize the necessity and significance of thyroidectomy by determining the prevalence of incidental thyroid cancer in the cases that underwent surgical intervention for the treatment of benign thyroid disease. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Thyroidectomy was performed in 443 cases including those with benign multinodular goitre (BMNG) or toxic adenoma or toxic multinodular goitre. Diagnosis was made based on routine physical examination, laboratory analyses, imaging methods and postoperative histopathological findings of the cases. RESULTS: The mean age of the cases was 45.5 (19-68) years and 72.5% (n = 321) were female. The most common clinical diagnosis prior to the surgery was BMNG (n = 428, 96.6%). While BMNG was determined to be the most common histopathological diagnosis after thyroidectomy at a rate of 81.7% (n = 362), the rate of thyroid cancer was found to be 14% (n = 81). The prevalence ofpapillary cancer was 84% (n = 56), whereas it was 4% (n = 4), 1% (n = 1) and 0.0% (n = 0) for medullary, follicular and anaplastic cancers, respectively. Papillary cancer was also the most common type of thyroid cancer between genders. As compared to gender, there was no statistically significant difference in terms of distribution of age among general, benign and malignant types of thyroid cancer (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: It is appropriate to prefer thyroidectomy for the treatment of benign thyroid diseases due to the high prevalence ofincidental thyroid cancer after thyroidectomy in such cases.
Palabras llave : Nodular goitre; thyroid cancer; thyroidectomy.


text:
Q: When handling an error in express where does next(err) lead? http://expressjs.com/guide/error-handling.html
function logErrors(err, req, res, next) {
    console.error(err.stack);
    next(err);
}

This code is in the expressJS documentation. I'm wondering what next(err) leads specifically. I know it's a callback function and you're passing in err, but what function will be called after an error?

A: It merely passes execution to the next error handler. So in the example you gave, the clientErrorHandler middleware would be executed and passed err.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Many house hunters are still keen on buying homes in Europe despite the eurozone crisis, with French property topping the list of the most popular among people in the UK.
According to the HiFX Property Hotspots report, around one in four prospective buyers (23%) are trying to buy something across the English Channel.
Tax increases on houses in France have done little to deter people, as the country remains top of the list as voted by adults living in the UK.
The second most popular country is Spain, targeted by a fifth of property hunters (19%).
Among the more experienced buyers considering purchasing another property, Spain is less popular but around one in 10 of them (9%) would still look to the Mediterranean nation.
HiFX director Mark Bodega said: "France remains a safe bet for Brits. It goes without saying that the sun and lifestyle are a big pull, but buyers can now get better value for their money and take advantage of the weakening euro."


text:
Centre for Culture and Ecology Quiané II
The municipality of Santa Catarina Quiané and the local organisation for the defense of land rights decided to build a center for culture and ecology to demonstrate their self-determination and self-esteem as a rural community and to strengthen their cultural identity, related to land-use and landscape, appreciating precolonial customs. The municipality provided a building plot. The Oaxaquenian cooperation-partner CAMPO a.c. supported the community in the development of this project. A first plaing and buildin-fase was implemented in 2018-2019 Quiané Centre for Cultre and Ecology. (link), providing an auditorium, a sanitation unit and a galery.
Based upon this first phase 1 and a dialog with the local stakeholders, the next construction phase started in October 2019 a new group of students of architecture and civil engineering at the Munich University of Applied Sciences designed and planed further buildings in coordination with the community and the local NGO CAMPO a.c., taking into account the existing buildings and the spatial concept of the master plan of phase 1. A large covered hall and the urgently needed rebuilding of the kitchen was executed in February 2020
Every day a family cooks about 80 meals for 20 families. The existing kitchen is a roofed open fireplace run with wood, It is a health hazard for the cooks and the children as there is no smoke outlet. Cooking (the Mexican kitchen has the status of an immaterial world cultural heritage) is the union of culture and nature, the material that is produced from nature is transformed and converted into a cultural asset. The new cuisine thus becomes the symbol of the Center for Culture and Ecology.
For the students, the project offers the opportunity to test their previously purely academic strategies in and against reality.
The predecessor project was erected as a sleeperless, modular timber-frame construction. The outer walls are filled with unfired clay bricks or window elements. In the region, massive clay block construction with 40 cm thick walls is typical, optimal for the semi-arid climate and the cold nights.
In the second phase it will be examined whether the system will be adopted or adapted or whether other types of construction based on the use of clay and wood, such as rammed earth, solid adobe building or bajareque will be chosen.
Decisions for the selection will be the appropriateness in relation to the concept, the time and cost frame, and the acceptance of the clients.
Bajareque
- clicking on the picture at the left, you can follow the process-
Walls comprising a woven lattice of wooden strips or branches daubed with a clay mixture are common in Latin America and, as a building technique, probably go further back than clay bricks. The technique is known as bahareque, bajareque, or quincha in Latin America, and as wattle and daub in English.
The technique used for the project in Quiané was a modified version of the bahareque technique and, because it was easy to learn and required little equipment, was also quick to implement. For the walls in Quiané, the students created a vertical structure made of recycled wooden slats taken from the formwork, and interlaced it horizontally with sections of giant reed (carrizo in Spanish).
The completed wattle panels were then filled with a mix of sandy clay, water and cutted pine needles until the reed sections were covered. On top of this came a two- to three-centimetre layer of clay render. After leaving the panels to dry for a few days, the students returned with sponges and trowels to apply the finishing coat and render the panels sufficiently water-resistant. Protection from the elements was afforded by the large roof overhangs on the buildings. An additional protective layer could have been achieved by coating the walls in a liquid made by cooking the leaves of the prickly pear cactus (nopal).
loadbearing structure of the hall
- more information by clicking on the left picture-
The structure supporting the auditorium roof comprises six double trusses and is a made entirely of wood. It was designed so as to allow the individual parts to be constructed and prepared on the ground so that only the assembly work needed to be performed up high.
The process of assembling the structure was nonetheless extremely challenging. The trusses at the front of the building are held in place by V-shaped supports, while those at the rear rest on a timber frame construction that houses the storage rooms. Because the two outer trusses have a far greater load to carry than the four in the middle, two different truss types were used. The outer trusses feature a lattice design while the middle trusses have no bottom chord (so as to offer greater ceiling height).
CCEQ how structure auditorium.pdf
foundation and formwork
With a project like this, you need to constantly monitor costs and sustainability.
In this context it was decided that the formwork elements for the plinths would be used multiple times. To this end, the students created detailed, formwork plans for the kitchen, auditorium and gallery plinths, outlining which elements could be used multiple times and in which areas.
They then constructed the formwork elements on site, brushing them with formwork oil (sunflower oil) to ensure that they could be easily detached from the concrete, and erected them as designated. After completing the concreting process, they carefully removed and cleaned the formwork. The formwork for the auditorium was constructed using the formwork elements used for the kitchen, plus a few additional elements. The moisture in the concrete had caused warping in a few of the already used boards, which the students rectified with the aid of additional nails. After oiling the boards, the students got the formwork ready for concreting the auditorium plinth.
After concreting the kitchen and auditorium, the students turned their attention to creating the spot footings for the gallery. For this, they again cleaned the formwork, then dismantled and rebuilt it, adapting it to the smaller column footings. By this point the condition of the boards had deteriorated significantly. While additional nails and screws initially counteracted the problem well, the students eventually had to resort to tensioning belts and screw clamps, and put in a night shift, to complete the final plinths.
CCEQ foundation and formworks.pdf
Choosen design
Merging three proposals from a second preliminary design round to a singel one, we are sure to follow a straight concept, interpreting the master plan and elaborating the kitchen-building, a new hall and the in-between spaces.
Preliminary design
Four proposals developed different approaches of the second phase of the Quiané Centre for Culture and Ecology based on the existing master plan and buildings and in communication with the local stakeholders.
Three different concepts were choosen to be developed further. One main concept will serve as master plan, incorporating solutions from the others. Based on this master plan, the buildings to be executed in February will be designed and calculated in the next weeks.
Fabian Menz
Braun, Anne-Maria; Chiriboga Ramirez, Maria Jose; Eichinger, Elena; Felber, Madlen; Ferreira Mangas,Mariana; Duarte Ferreira Pinto, Inês; Franzl, Kristna; Gutmann, Marcus; Hoelzel, Adrian; Menz, Fabian; Neubauer, Elisa;
Schuldt, Janina; Sedlmeier, Sedlmeir, Andreas; Vera Fernandez, Miguel_ Students of Civil Engineering: Hartel, Markus; Schwarz, Max; Völkner, Linda; Lins, Dio; Kayser, Sarah
Community of Santa Catarina Quiané, Oaxaca, Mexico
Funding, Logistics, Project Implementation, Research, Training on the jobC.A.M.P.O
Logistics, Project Implementation, Research, TeachingAtarraya Taller de Arquitectura; Lorena Burbano, Sebatsian Oviedo
Funding, Project Implementation, Research, TeachingFK 02 Civil Engineering, University of Applied Sciences Munich; Prof. Dr. Jörg Jungwirth
Project ImplementationUniversity of La Salle, Oaxaca
Karl Wagner (Craftsmen)Dr. Hilde Strobl (Expert, Teacher/Educator)Cesar Morales (Local Expert, Local NGO Member)Eduardo Torres (Local Expert, Local NGO Member)
Loans for co-teacher, students travel and printing costsHochschule München, ZUG Project
Financing of ConstructionTesdorpfsche Gemeinnützige Stiftung
Financing of ConstructionRotary Clubs München Blutenburg and München Martinsried
Financing of ConstructionSto Stiftung
Financing of DocumentationHans Sauer Stiftung
Architecture Hochschule München 14 Students
Civil Engineering Hochschule München 5 Students
Architecture + Engineering La Salle University Oaxaca 8 Students
Expected about 100 m2 covered space
Material21000
In Kind- Community of Santa Catarina Quiané: Food and accomodation, building activities and logistics - CAMPO: implementation and logistics, watermanagement + photovoltaik instalations, roofing material
Other Budgetin kind: - Festool, Hultfors, Sticker: tools, machines, equipment, safety-cloths - Spax, Rothoblaas: screws - Zimmerei Förg (carpentery workshop)
Planning Period3 month
Construction Period5,5 weeks
Earth/Clay/Adobe
Bienal Panamericana de Arquitectura 2020- finalista
Fritz Höger Preis Shortlist
ZUG project : enhancement of teaching

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' Blu-ray Gift Set with Raphael Statue Revealed!
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Blu-ray Gift Set with Raphael Statue Revealed!
B. Alan Orange
After a stellar first weekend at the box office, and before it's second weekend in release, Amazon has announced that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is available for pre-order in a Blu-ray gift set edition that comes with an exclusive Raphael statue. No release date has been announced, and it is not known what type of special features are being included. It is known that there are plenty of deleted scenes, including one where Vern Fenwick has to fight an army of ninjas, and never before seen moments of Shredder in action. Will we see these when Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles hits the home market later this year?
This Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles gift set includes the Blu-ray, DVD and digital copy. The set is currently being offered for $79.99. To pre-order: CLICK HERE
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014) Limited Edition Gift Set includes a highly detailed collectible statue of Raphael, winner of the online contest to become the Amazon exclusive figure. Created using the digital character model that brought Raphael to life in the movie, the figure captures every detail perfectly, from his signature red bandana and sunglasses, to his scaled, muscular body and battle-worn shell. Raphael is posed in a battle-ready stance, with his twin sais outstretched. The figure stands 6.5 inches tall atop a detailed street scene display base, complete with sewer entrance, and spans over 7 inches wide and nearly 5 inches deep. This Raphael statue is a must-have for any TMNT fan, and the perfect addition to any collection.
The city needs heroes. Darkness has settled over New York City as Shredder and his evil Foot Clan have an iron grip on everything from the police to the politicians. The future is grim until four unlikely outcast brothers rise from the sewers and discover their destiny as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The Turtles must work with fearless reporter April and her wisecracking cameraman Vern Fenwick to save the city and unravel Shredder's diabolical plan.
Topics: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Contributing writer for Movieweb since 2001. Owns a dog who loves watching Milo and Otis on repeat.
First Batman Vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Clip Brings a Foot Clan Showdown
Batman Vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Trailer Delivers the Ultimate Action Crossover
Batman Vs. TMNT Latest Look Promises Epic Crossover Action
Nickelodeon Is Planning Ninja Turtles & Loud House Animated Movies for Netflix


A popular Waterloo Region festival is in jeopardy, and its organizers say they're worried about the fates of other events hosted by small communities.
St. Agatha StrawberryFest has been cancelled this year. Festival chair Val Johnson says a lack of interest in helping organize the event means it may not return.
"We did not have enough volunteers to fill the positions that we needed for the Strawberry Fest," she says.
Johnson is part of the St. Agatha Lions Club, which took over the operations of StrawberryFest in 2015 when nobody else in the community would.
Last year, the festival took in enough money to donate $3,000 to local charities after paying its expenses. Johnson calls that "a drop in the bucket" to the $20,000 it used to raise annually.
"When you scale things down, you get less response," she says.
Theresa Dietrich, who lives in St. Agatha and whose kids volunteered at StrawberryFest when they were teenagers, says she sees similar volunteer shortages at other events and services around the region.
"Unfortunately, our volunteers aren't there for us," she says.
Fifteen kilometres away in New Hamburg, a volunteer shortage is only of the two issues facing the Canada Day in Wilmot event.
Festival chair Angie Hallman says her organization is also dealing with a shortfall in sponsorships. While many local companies were willing to come on board for Canada's 150th birthday, bringing them back for the 151st is proving difficult.
Canada Day in Wilmot also solicits donations from its patrons. Last year, the more than 7,000 people in attendance combined to raise about $2,000. Hallman says the event takes approximately $30,000 to put on.
"I know times are tough for people, but … a little bit makes the day happen," she says.
This year, Canada Day in Wilmot organizers are asking for all adults who attend to donate $5.
A sign advertises the 2017 edition of the St. Agatha StrawberryFest.


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Review: Trapped: The Alex Cooper Story
Trapped: The Alex Cooper Story is a Lifetime movie based on a true story. It tells about fifteen year old Alex, who was coming into her sexuality and realizing she was gay. There are spoilers ahead, if you haven't seen the film yet.
Alex (Addison Holley) had the vague idea that she was gay. But when she met Frankie (Nicolette Pearse) and realized the depth of her feelings for another girl, she knew she was.
Her family was devotedly Mormon. Her parents, known only as Mrs. Cooper (Kate Drummond) and Mr. Cooper (Steve Cumyn), were horrified when she admitted to them that she liked girls.
They were so horrified they took her from their home in California to live with two strangers in Utah who promised to cure her of her homosexuality. The strangers were Johnny Simms (Ian Lake) and Tiana Simms (Sarah Booth).
Everyone knows conversion therapy doesn't work. But apparently not the Mormons, who still preach against homosexuality and encouraged the Coopers to do this to their daughter.
If you think Alex's parents were ignorant and blinded by religion, Johnny and Tiana were all that and cruel besides. They beat Alex. They made her stay inside the house for months. They made her stand in front of a wall from morning until night with a backpack of huge, heavy rocks on her back.
Alex fought for a long time. Months. She tried everything she could. Eventually they wore down and she started being obedient. Finally they let her go to school outside the home.
After 8 months being trapped with the Simms family, she earned a tiny amount of freedom. At school, she met a Jason (Stephen Joffe), a gay boy, and the teacher who was the head of the school's gay and lesbian alliance.
Alex was still only 16. Even if she ran from the Simms house, they could send the police after her. Jason put her in touch with an attorney (Wilson Cruz) who knew how to help her.
That's what saved her.
I actually watched this movie because Kate Drummond is in it. But I was impressed with the acting from Addison Holley. She made the story feel real.
The film is based on the book Saving Alex (affiliate link) by Alex Cooper. It was published in 2016.
According to the end credits of Trapped: The Alex Cooper Story , Alex and her parents eventually reconciled and they accepted her for who she is. If I were Alex, it would be very hard for me to forgive them.
Such rigid religiosity harms many young people. Alex tried to kill herself while she was with the Simms family. She failed, but many young people don't. The suicide rate among LGBTQ youth who are rejected by their families is very high. There are 33 states where conversion therapy is still legal. That needs to change. This film makes that clear.
Have a look at the trailer.
If this topic interests you, you should also check out The Miseducation of Cameron Post.
Addison Holley, Alex Cooper, Ian Lake, Kate Drummond, Nicolette Pearse, Sarah Booth, Saving Alex, Stephen Joffe, Steve Cumyn, Trapped: The Alex Cooper Story, Wilson Cruz
Review: Homecoming, season 2
Review: What Lies West, check the map
Review: The Lady in the Van
3 responses to "Review: Trapped: The Alex Cooper Story"
What ever happened to Johnny and Tiana Simms? Were they arrested for their abuse?
Virginia DeBolt says:
The film doesn't say. I can't find that information in a Google search either. That may not be their real names.
Pray Away, history of a damaging movement – Old Ain't Dead says:
[…] written about two fictionalized conversion therapy stories: The Miseducation of Cameron Post and Trapped: The Alex Cooper Story. This film is very different. It's a dispassionate look at the facts and the results of […]


Linda is a piano and violin teacher who resides in the city of Placentia, CA.
Began piano lessons at the age of 4 and was in competitions, recitals, the Certificate of Merit program and the Sherwood Music School prior to attending CSU in Fullerton and obtaining a BA degree in piano. In 2015 received a pedagogy certificate from Fullerton College.
At the age of 19 began violin and joined the symphony orchestra 6 months later at CSUF. Currently plays in Rio Hondo Symphony.
Has attended numerous master classes over the years to include Music Teachers Annual Conference (MTAC), Peter Marsh violin bowing workshop and Sassmannshaus teacher training.
Is committed to her own development and currently takes lessons on piano and violin.
Complimentary first lesson WUNDEKEYS method for ages 3-5 for piano-FIRST 4 WEEKS ARE FREE. No piano needed. ADULTS returning to lessons Students at my studio find music to be fun. When they are at home, they love to go sit and play their instrument. You will hear beautiful music and surprised your child can learn so quickly. My students: Learn sight reading and a steady rhythm from the first lesson to prepare them to play all types of music. Retain all their lesson materials through the use of games. Get all the benefits that researchers have shown piano instruction provides. I can do this in an encouraging and positive environment. I have them learn all of their music during their weekly piano class so they know exactly what to practice during the week. Weekly 30, 45 and 60 minute lessons are offered for beginning to advanced students of all ages. I have taught some special needs children.


September already..? It feels like it was only yesterday that the new year began.
On another note though, it's technically Autumn now which is my favourite season ever!
I love it when it starts to get colder, so I have every excuse to whip the big jumpers and cosy socks out!
Anyway, I was originally hoping to do a favourites last month, but turns out I have had so much to do that when I eventually do have time to sit down and post, my body is too exhausted to even think! Once again, I'm late to the party, but I've saved why I've haven't been blogging as much for a separate post. I hope you can forgive me!
So I thought I'd roll 2 months into one, as I would hate to miss out any must haves from July!
I love this stuff! It is honestly one of my favourite things to remove make up and lazily cleanse my face with. Yep, I do fall into that habit quite a lot.. Still better than face wipes though, right? I love that 1 or 2 cotton pads remove all my make-up and cleanse my face at the same time, all without needing to rinse anything off afterwards.
I have such an erratic skin type, which means I really struggle to find any decent skin care products which don't make my T-Zone blow up in oil after 5 minutes. This keeps it at bay and certainly works a treat! It doesn't irritate your eyes either, which is a huge bonus because there's nothing I hate more than rubbish eye make up removers which send you partially blind for a while. Needless to say, this doesn't do that or sting your eyes.
I hope they never discontinue this because it's so affordable and you can get up to 200 uses out of it. As this has lasted me such a long time, I'd just like to point out that they have changed their packaging slightly so I've linked above to the new one!
Some of you may be aware that I recently got balayage hair. This was a pretty big thing for me as I've never really been THAT daring with my hair. For those of you who don't know what balayage is, it's just a more random, gradual version of ombre/ dip dye. I had to have this done in 2 processes because my hair has so much build up of colour on the ends, the bleach struggled to take the first time around. This resulted in me having a lot of brass/copper tones to my hair. I was expecting this to happen anyway, as where I'd previously died my hair red, my ends went very orange where they had faded out over time!
This is a purple shampoo (yes, it is literally purple) If you've never heard of it before it basically takes out copper tones to your hair, so if the blonde went slightly orange, it will gradually fade that out to a more ash blonde. Rejoice!
I'm really getting along with it at the moment and noticing a difference each time I wash my hair. I definitely recommend this to anyone with similar dilemmas, it's worked wonders so far!
I already own the Zoella 'Blissful Mistful' Body Mist and it's such a great smell, but the new Tutti Frutti scent really blew my socks off!
I have been reaching for body mists a lot more in the last few months, as they are much more subtle than perfume, and a lot more suitable for me to wear on a daily basis.
I've said before I don't always want to waste perfume if it's not a special occasion, especially when you can use a much cheaper alternative. You know me, love a good bargain!
I love the whole Zoella Beauty range as it's so affordable and any scent lovers dream! I have worn this every day since buying it and I don't intend to stop anytime soon! You did good, Zoe!
I purchased this not too long ago, after reading numerous good reviews on it. I did actually write about this in my most recent drugstore haul, which you can find here!
I wasn't keen on the consistency to start with, as it was quite wet but the more I've used it, the better it has become. It really does hook and curl your lashes, and the more you build the better volume & false lash effect you have. It's perfect for your bottom lashes, as the shape of the brush picks them up and effortlessly coats them. Another great thing about the applicator is it's not too big, so it's easier to avoid your getting blobs of mascara on your skin.
I will definitely be re-buying this gem!
Dark under eye circles? No problem! One day a few months back, I decided I was fed up of looking constantly dull and tired, so I turned to my local Benefit counter. I've always known Benefit as a trusty brand, so I was willing to pay a little bit more than my normal £4.19 (specific I know) for a concealer! When I got chatting to one of the lovely girls, she recommended this. I can tell you now, she was not wrong. I thought I'd really struggle to get along with the fact this is a paste concealer, but honestly, I have been completely converted!
Not only does this hide any dark imperfections, you can use it on spots or blemishes too.
The packaging is perfect because it's so compact, meaning I don't struggle to fit this in my make-up bag. Now I know what you're thinking, it's so small? Surely that won't last 5 minutes? Wrong! A little bit goes a long way, considering I got this back at the start of the year, it looks pretty much untouched!
Needless to say, I no longer suffer with dark circles and it really brightens up my face when I wear it! Absolutely worth the money and I love love love it!
I really wasn't sure on this brush when I first got it. I couldn't get used to the fact it was so big and virtually poked me in the eye whenever I tried to apply foundation.
This also isn't very dense, unlike my Real Techniques brushes, so I was finding myself pinching the hairs to save my foundation from slipping down into the brush!
This aside though, I have really grown to love it!
I find it effortlessly blends my foundation onto my face and leaves a really nice, subtle coverage! It takes me half the time it would if I used my RT Expert Face Brush, which is great because me being me, always in a rush- it's a great quick fix!
I wouldn't limit this brush to just foundation, I'd say it's easy to pinch into a different shape for a bit of rough contour or even blush if you fancy it!
Maybe it's not for everyone, but I definitely love it!
I've come to realise, that I haven't actually done a product review in AGES. I've been in love with The Body Shop products for as far as I can remember, so what better than for me to review something in one of their newer ranges. The fondest memory I have growing up, is going round the whole shop and smelling every single soap/smellable product there was available to my senses. To be honest, I still do the same now!
Bouncy Sleeping Mask comes with a tiny little spatula, as you only need a small bit on your face for maximum coverage. Scoop a small bit out onto your hand, warm it up around your palms, then massage in and around the face - just like you would with a moisturiser.
The consistency is quite thick, so you don't need a lot upon application. The only thing I will say is that after you've applied the mask, it does leave your face feeling a little bit sticky until it's fully absorbed into the skin. Just a small price to pay for having glowing looking skin the next day!
I like that less is more with this product, because at a price of £22 - I wanted make sure I was getting my monies worth. For something I'd never delved into before, it is definitely worth it. One of the main reasons is that I've had this for 3 months and it looks virtually untouched! Plus it works a treat for my complexion!
This product is enriched with Edelweisss Stem Cells, which is new and upcoming ingredient, used for slowing down the ageing process and smooth out any lines. I mean, I know I don't really need to worry about wrinkles only being 21, but I do get a lot of unwanted lines on my face so I thought this would be perfect to try.
Now, I was very intrigued by the word bouncy. I thought it was just a word to make the product sound more appealing, but no word of a lie, it actually is! You press your finger into the pot and it just bounces back with little, to no product residue at all - you can imagine the effect it has on your face!
This can be used on any skin type, especially sensitive skin, as it locks in all the moisture your face needs and works really well whilst you sleep. Make sure you apply it at the very end of your skin care routine, that way it gives it the full effect. When you wake up the next day, your skin feels hydrated, awake and so silky smooth!
This has a very subtle, yet overly satisfying smell. It's not too harsh or sweet, it's just very energizing and clean. The packaging is gorgeous, as it sits in a lovely green pot - anything that looks like this is almost guaranteed to smell super refreshing!
So once again, The Body Shop have not let me down. I thought I'd share my opinions with you on this, just incase any of you were thinking about buying it, or looking for something new to try.
Stating the obvious, but as you can probably tell.. I love perfume! Who doesn't?!
It's amazing how powerful one smell can bring back so much nostalgia of a place or person. I feel like each smell has a different story to tell. Does anyone else get that?
I like to wear it more on special occasions, or when I'm feeling my best, that way it makes more of an impression to the people around you. Let's face it, who wants to waste a spritz or two on a cba day?!
I also think there's nothing better when someone walks into a room and their perfume hits you instantly. If I was ever a fairytale character, I'd be a person who collects nice smells in cute miniature bottles. Those you would expect to see on Alice In Wonderland!
Here's what scents I have been loving throughout this and last summer!
This has to be the most sophisticated looking and smelling perfume that I own.
Although they say Eau De Toilette isn't as strong as a regular perfume, I find this lasts a fairly long time. The smell is quite intense, but not too overwhelming.
It's very musky with orange and floral tones. I feel like if you're looking for something that makes a statement, then this is the one for you.
Okay, maybe I'm cheating. This isn't a perfume as such, but the bottle just looks so lovely in my collection! I reach for it so much, especially when I want quite a subtle smell to wear out. This is the one I wear most to work, because I don't want to stand out too much, but I do want to smell nice & fresh. I recently wrote more about this in my 'May Favourites' post which you can find here!
This has to be my go-to summer scent. The Marc Jacobs bottles are always the most creative ones to look at on the shelves, because they are so eye catching. I find the bigger the bottles get, the cuter the packaging!
'Dot' has to be my favourite of the range because of it's bold design, and delicious scent! The smell is very girly, which can only be described as it's floral, yet sweet!
My main memory of wearing this is going on holiday to Tenerife with my boyfriend, and spending lots of summer days out with him. Unfortunately, this has been quite a rarity for the last year. Thnx 4 The Mmmrs though, Marc.
There is absolutely no doubt that Avon perfumes are my guilty pleasure. There's nothing I enjoy more than endlessly flicking through the book when it lands on the doormat.
I mean, who doesn't love a good perfume scented page? ;) I swear that is still the main reason I even pick it up!
I love Avon because there is always, without fail a product I like, at an incredibly affordable price.
The packaging is so adorable on this perfume, it looks like a little present - almost like it could be a really classy, expensive perfume. Needless to say, this definitely not a high end product!
Personally, I'd say it has a really similar scent to YSL Black Opium. A fairly good dupe, for WAY over half the price.
The only downfall is that some of the perfumes are seasonal, so you could grow to love one and it will be non existent for ages, then come back 6 months later!
This is my most trusted perfume brand. Not only are the apple shaped bottles beautiful, they all smell incredible. DKNY Green Apple was probably one of the first perfumes I ever got and I instantly fell in love.
If I want to wear a girly scent, then this is the one I will pick up. It's a happy smell, but also very fruity.
If you're not really already familiar with DKNY perfume & you're not a fan of sweet smells, then you will probably this range quite sickly.
I have owned pretty much all of them, but this definitely one of the tamer, floral ones.
I have loved this brand from as far as I can remember, and I don't think I'll be stopping any time soon!
'La Tentation De Nina' By Nina Ricci Ltd Edition in 2014.
I swear I am just attracted to colourful, apple looking bottle when it comes to perfume. Notice a pattern forming here?! I have no idea where this obsession has sprung from.. I don't even eat apples!
This perfume has raspberry, citrus and vanilla tones to it. I really like it when someone throws a bit of vanilla in the mix, that way it doesn't smell as sharp.
Although this was limited edition last year, Nina Ricci has actually brought out a pretty much identical bottle. Whether it smells the same I'm not too sure, but I think it's based from the previous scents.
I am so excited to give it a smell & see if it's a match! If anyone has smelt it let me know in the comments? I'd love your opinions!
Ooooh, the temptation of how I really want this first sentence to go.
I'm not even going to say it. I'm guilty of saying it every month!
I'm sure you can all relate on the generic intro to a monthly favourites post haha.
Anywaaaaaaaayy.. Here are some of my most used products and items I used in June!
1. Pomegranate & Pineapple Fragranced Tin Candle.
I have recently rekindled my love for fruity smelling candles, as I have grown to love the more relaxing sort of smells over the last 6 months. But whilst browsing Clintons, this one took my fancy and it smells bloomin' delicious. It is a very sweet, fresh scent and what can only be described as something that would take you away into a holiday dream land!
So a few weeks ago, I was just about at my wits end with my skin. The constant change in the British climate means that I have some really bad days where my skin goes haywire, when others when it's not so bad. Having a combination skin type, I suffer with a very oily forehead which is always much worse when I don't actually wear foundation?!
I have experimented with loads of different products and skin care routines and nothing seemed to work.
I have heard a million and one good reviews on Liz Earle products, and I knew my local Boots had a counter & pay day was fast approaching - as was my meltdown!
I was very sceptical about forking out a ton of money on skin care. I always thought it's probably a waste, as they most likely all do the same thing but some just have bigger a label. Turns out, I was wrong.
I trusted the good reviews and had a chat with a lovely lady who persuaded me to buy the whole set.. I totally caved!
I tried it as soon as I got home, and no joke I saw & felt the difference as soon as I'd used it. It is a cream based cleanser and all of the ingredients are natural, which won't react badly with your skin . It removes any face/eye make-up and wipes off like a dream.
The cloth that it comes with shifts any dead skin cells that you may have, leaving your skin radiant with a lovely, natural glow. This product alone stands at £15.50 and it has showed no signs of running out yet, so definitely a great purchase!
This hand cream has to be an angel sent from heaven. It smells incredibly amazing and every time I use it, I always get compliments from people saying it smells great! I picked this up because 1. It sounded amazing & 2. Shea Butter is one of the main ingredients, which makes my hands so soft & moisturised.
If you are ever lucky enough to go to the US, you absolutely have to visit this shop!
Now, I'm not normally a big fan of pink. So as you can imagine, I've had a very love/hate relationship with this lipstick up until recently. I originally purchased it back in the winter, wanting a more daring colour to wear. I would say it's a very Spring/Summer shade, hence why I am reaching for it a lot more now than I did initially.
I find it really brightens up my face and compliments the rest of my make-up well. It's a very bubblegum pink shade, which I like as it's so pretty. I find it very hard to tan on my face, so this definitely gives me a bit of colour when I need it most. Being a satin lipstick, it leaves a really nice finish to the lip and isn't as drying as the matte collection.
I am definitely going to be more adventurous when it comes to pinky coloured lips from now on!
As you can see from the state of the palette, I am obsessed.
It's my absolute go-to summer eye look. I love the gold/bronze shades at the moment, and these leave a really lovely shimmer to the lid. They are easily blendable and the pigmentation is pretty good. All of the shades compliment each other so well, no matter how you decide to use them. I also love how compact it is, and it fits perfectly into my make up bag. It's exclusive to Superdrug at a price of only £6.99, so bargain is you ask me!
First off, I love L'Oreal products! I previously had the 'True Match Foundation' so once that had rapidly run out, I went searching for a new one. I had seen really good reviews scattered around the blogosphere, and I just could't resist picking it up!
I love L'Oreal foundations because I am quite pale, so I know what shades suit me and know they will sit nicely on my skin. The tube looks quite limiting, like you wouldn't get much use out of it, but it's lasted me a good 3 months and counting! It leaves a brilliant coverage, without making your face feel cakey and dewy, which is what ultimately had me sold. There's nothing worse when I feel like my skin can't breathe! It's perfect for my skin type and shows you don't need a big budget for a decent foundation!
What were your favourite products in June?
Blimey, it's already July! It feels like only yesterday I was going on about how it was June. Oh time, you devious little creation.
Anyway, I thought I'd try something I haven't done before. No-one actually tagged me in this, but I saw this floating around the internet whilst on the lookout for tags, so I thought I'd give it a whirl.
Eeeek, so despite my URL (it's actually relevant to the first and last initial of my name for those wondering) I don't actually like tea. I think I was born into the wrong country..
The meat and stuffing! I always save those two until the end of the meal, because y'know best until last and all. I love roast potatoes too, depending on who makes them!
My least favourite part of a roast are the vegetables.. *voms* I used to love them as a kid but as I've got older, my healthy eating habits are on the decline, where the likes of broccoli makes me gag! The only veg you will see on my plate are the odd few carrots now and again.. Goodbye summer body!
Most probably a plain digestive! I know not many people like a soggy biscuit, but for some reason I do. I find it makes the whole hot drink experience more fun!
4. Most Quintessentially British Pastime?
Probably just cute walks on the South Downs or having picnics whilst watching sunsets.
I'm not very hard to please haha!
Wanderlust. I love exploring new places and seeing different parts of the world. The travel bug is following me around like a lost sheep at the moment!
Pffft.. I'm absolutely not a cockney, but the only one I know off the top of my head is probably ''Oi oi saveloy''. Random, I know!
My Grandad used to say it to me all the time. I never actually knew what it meant until I recently looked it up! For those interested, I've used the definition below from good old Urban Dictionary!
It has to be Percy Pigs without a shadow of a doubt! I don't know how I could live without those beautiful pink delights. Definitely my ultimate craving sweet & no.1 stocking filler at Christmas.
Chocolate wise, my favourite is probably Dairy Milk Caramel or Toffee Crisp.
The Giggling Goose. I have quite a unintentional loud voice at times and I am constantly laughing. So why the heck not?!
JK Rowling is a pretty swish human. I know mine and many other childhoods would have been empty without the Harry Potter books/films. Am I right?
My favourite restaurant is Miller & Carter - For those who haven't heard of it, it's an amazing steak house! If you are lucky enough to have one nearby, I wouldn't pass up on the opportunity! The meals are just delicious!
I have many of favourite shops. Anything that is bath, body or candle related I enjoy very much! Also cute little gift shops, especially ones full of pointless things no-one ever needs in their homes who ultimately end up buying them anyway? Yep, those.
11. What is the first British song that pops into your head?
Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. That song will always be a tune & a great sing-a-long classic! Reminds me of many drunken nights.
Hmmm.. I used to love it but now I could definitely go without!
What's your favourite British thing?


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Curated trips
The 3-day sports adventure
Choose an action-packed adventure in Abu Dhabi with three days of thrills and active experiences.
On day one, kayak through the lush mangroves at Mangrove National Park, home to a surprising variety of inhabitants, including crabs, herons, flamingos, fish, turtles, foraging foxes and marine mammals like dugong and dolphins.
Also on day one, defy gravity at the Bounce Abu Dhabi trampoline park at Marina Mall. Taking adventure airborne with aerial manoeuvres, slam-dunking, wall running and dodgeball warfare, this park has more than 100 interconnected trampolines housed in huge, vibrant spaces.
Finish day one with a cycle along the Abu Dhabi Corniche, stretching across an impressive eight kilometres of manicured waterfront including children's play areas, separate cycle and pedestrian pathways, cafés and restaurants, and the stunning Corniche Beach.
Swing into action on day two with a round of golf. Set among delicate mangrove plantations, Yas Links Abu Dhabi – designed by Kyle Phillips – is the Middle East's only true links course.
Finally, make a splash on day three with an impressive range of adventure experiences at Al Forsan International Sports Resort. Offering an array of sports and Olympic-standard activities, there's something to suit all tastes and ages.
3 daysLong transit
Bus, Car
Mangrove National Park
Day 1 highlights
Number of stops
Kayak through lush mangroves at Mangrove National Park, defy gravity at trampoline park Bounce Abu Dhabi, and capture impressive photographs along the Abu Dhabi Corniche.
Recommended Time: 2 hours
Just outside Abu Dhabi city centre, the sprawling Mangrove National Park is a jewel in the UAE capital's crown. An ideal place for families, bird watchers and photographers looking to escape the hustle of the city for a few hours, this beautiful and surprising park continues to be one of the emirate's most important ecological assets, protected by the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD). Mangrove National Park constitutes about 75 per cent of the total mangrove forest area in the UAE and is a biodiversity hotspot that includes mangrove forests, salt marshes, mudflats, and algal communities.
Most often found growing in the sea waters of tropical and sub-tropical coastal areas, the mangrove's indigenous trees act as natural windbreakers, protecting the region against tidal surges and purifying surrounding water. Mangroves are also highly effective at removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, trapping it in flooded soils for millennia.
A real haven for nature lovers, the mangroves are home to a surprising variety of inhabitants, including crabs, herons, flamingos and fish. They also provide a habitat for turtles, foraging foxes and marine mammals like dugong and dolphin. One of the best ways to discover this peaceful, beautiful landscape is by kayaking, with the park offering myriad channels to venture down. Don't forget your camera.
Bounce Abu Dhabi
Explore a world where the wall becomes the floor, a slam-dunk is within your grasp, and the rules of gravity no longer apply.
Located in the heart of the city at Marina Mall, Bounce Abu Dhabi takes adventure airborne with aerial manoeuvres, slam-dunking, wall running and dodgeball warfare. With more than 100 interconnected trampolines housed in huge, vibrant spaces, Bounce is a spring-loaded urban playground where hard surfaces are replaced with circus-grade sponge, giant airbags and springs.
Bounce Abu Dhabi has more than just trampolines, featuring an enormous 40-metre slide and 2 slacklines. In true Bounce style, a zip line runs across the venue with a dorsal harness, so you can go head-first, Superman style! The Bounce team have also created the ultimate adrenaline rush with the Quick Drop, a freefall experience for the brave. There's also an oversized Super Tramp, not one but two Dodgeball courts, two giant airbags, a large performance area with a 5.5-metre Infinity Wall for aspiring wall runners, a 19-metre fast-track trampoline for the ultimate tumbling kings, and five party rooms for birthdays or private events.
An indoor adrenaline universe, Bounce Abu Dhabi is the perfect family outing, getting kids active while burning energy in a fun and safe environment.
Corniche Beach
Looking to soak up Abu Dhabi's famous year-round sunshine? The immaculate Corniche Beach is one of the best places to do it. This beautiful beach isn't just home to turquoise water and soft, white sand, it also has a beautiful seaside boardwalk, with well-kept walkways home to manicured gardens and benches overlooking the picturesque Arabian Gulf. Sunset is a great time to capture a few photos, so don't forget to bring your phone.
The 2km beach is divided into three sections: Al Sahil (Gate 4, free entry) is perfect for singles and larger groups, Gate 2 is ideal for families and has its own quiet zone, with Gate 3 also being great for families and kids. The two latter beaches are shielded from view with a fence. Showers, changing rooms and cabanas are available, and sun loungers and umbrellas can be hired for a fee. A lifeguard is on duty until sunset.
Feel like getting active? Take a stroll to the nearby children's play area, or check out the cycle and pedestrian pathways and free sports facilities, including five volleyball courts, two football pitches and three playing fields. If you'd like to get out on the water, rent a speedboat off the Corniche and soak up majestic views of the Abu Dhabi skyline, or get into the blue with a snorkelling experience that lets you discover local aquatic life. If all that activity works up an appetite, you'll find several cafés and restaurants nearby.
The turquoise sea, view of Lulu Island, swaying palm trees and gardens make this spotlessly maintained Blue Flag public beach an unexpected gem in the heart of the UAE capital. Entrance is AED 10 for adults and AED 5 for children. Kids under five go free. You'll pay AED 25 per sun lounger.
0 KMs
Swing into action with a round of golf set among rolling hills and delicate mangrove plantations at the Kyle Phillips-designed Yas Links Abu Dhabi, the Middle East's only true links course.
Yas Links Abu Dhabi
Set among rolling hills and delicate mangrove plantations, Yas Links Abu Dhabi - designed by Kyle Phillips, the world-renowned course architect - is the Middle East's only true links course, in line with the traditional links golf commonly associated with the coastal towns of Scotland and Ireland.
Nestled on the western shores of Yas Island, Abu Dhabi's landmark entertainment destination, every daunting and dynamic Yas Links hole boasts sparkling Arabian Gulf views, with eight running right up along the coastline. A favourite with UAE-based players, the course has been recognised as one of The World's Top City Golf Clubs by CNN Travel and has also been named as one of the world's most beautiful courses by MSN UK.
Voted among the Top 10 New International Golf Courses by the USA's influential Golf Magazine, and named one of the world's top 25 by US publication Golf Digest, the Par 72 championship course stretches to a demanding 7,450 yards, while a nine-hole Par 3 academy course, floodlit practice facilities and luxurious clubhouse further complement the offering.
Served by seven nearby hotels, including the iconic five-star W Abu Dhabi - Yas Island - the only hotel in the world straddling a Formula 1™ track - Yas Links is distinguished by private boat mooring and a fine-dining restaurant, a private lawn for events and croquet, and stunning views of Abu Dhabi's 21st-century skyline thrown into the mix.
Launched in 2009 to host the Formula 1™ Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina Circuit is still one of the UAE's most epic motorsports, sporting and business venues. Created to elevate Abu Dhabi's status as a world-class sporting destination, this impressive mega-budget circuit draws travellers from around the world.
Make a splash and enjoy a range of adventure experiences, including watersports, shooting, equestrian pursuits, motorsports, paintball and more, at Al Forsan International Sports Resort.
Al Forsan International Sports Resort
The first-of-its-kind sporting resort in the Middle East, Al Forsan International Sports Resort offers fun activities and entertainment for all ages and skill levels, from toddlers and young kids to teens, parents and grandparents. As Abu Dhabi's reputation as one of the world's best international sporting destinations grows, the free-to-enter Al Forsan International Sports Resort continues to offer an impressive array of sports and Olympic-standard activities, including shooting, equestrian pursuits, motorsports, paintball, wakeboarding, water-skiing and more, all in one destination.
Whether you're training for an international sporting event, just looking for an exciting outing for the whole family, or even a fantastic team-building or corporate venue, Al Forsan International Sports Resort offers something for everyone. Book a fun one-day outing or, if you're staying in the emirate for longer, pick up a membership and enjoy a wide range of benefits available only to club members, including exclusive access to members-only areas and special rates.


As I sit here trying to think of a good opening sentence for this blog post, my mind is in a blur. So much has happened in the past month, I am not quite sure where to start, nor end.
But hey, isn't every other month in one's life, it is as such?
Now that all my projects are up and running, I can take a breather.
August was also the month I tried new places for dinner. Armed with a stack of Groupons, I must have traveled the length of HK Island expecting new adventures.
Of adventures, I got it. But not necessarily of the kind I was looking forward to. Ah well, when it comes to food, you win some, you lose some.
So, August has not been entirely great, but it was also a month I realised some things have got to stop, some things need to be cherished more, and some things are better left to be. I like to think this wisdom has come with age, but it's more likely that I have grown accustomed not to care as much.
The only thing which I cared more for are when three of my closest friends from Singapore came to Hong Kong. All three came within the same two weeks. Juggling between the desire to spend time with them, the demand of work, and the commitment to my better half, I felt like a Superman. In a good way.
Oh yes, it was in August that I took one of the biggest financial decisions I have ever made in my life. All things considered, it was the most responsible decision to make, but it also means prudent and frugal months ahead.
Of that, my friends, I seek your understanding. You will know what I mean.
I would like to end of this somewhat random blog post with a photo of something I truly proud of.


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Visitors to Huainan, China, have one more exciting place to visit- the Piano House in An Hui province. Leaning against the Piano house is a Violin house that is entirely transparent. It is through this Violin house that one gets to enter the main Piano building. This unusual Piano and Violin shaped building built in 2007 is currently a major attraction and draws hordes of visitors' every day.
The Violin House is made wholly out of glass. The building is built entirely of black and transparent glass. At night it lights up and the scene is quite spectacular. The piano house stands on three concrete legs shaped just like a real Piano. There is a roof terrace beneath a canopy which is shaped like the piano's open top. It is interesting to note how glass has been used to create a unique structure and make it an entry point to the interiors of the building.
The building serves as an Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, it is also being used by city officials as a showroom to display plans for more innovative architectural projects in the city of Huainan in an attempt to draw interest to this area. The grand piano base of the building houses two concert halls as this house was originally constructed for music lovers. It is now being used by music students from a local college.
It was reportedly designed by architectural students of Hefei University of Technology. The houses are truly admirable, inspiring architects and music lovers alike.


text:
IslamVideos
Islam's Kaaba in Mecca Exposed
David Wood December 8, 2013
For centuries, millions of people have wondered what's inside the Kaaba. In this video, David Wood takes you on a tour of Islam's holiest site.
The Kaaba, a large stone structure constituting a single room with a marble floor, lies at the heart of the Holy Mosque (al Masjid al Haram) in the Holy City of Makkah. The Kaaba is Islam's holiest building. It now stands some 60 feet high and each side is approximately 60 feet in length. The Kaaba is the focal point around which the Holy Mosque is built. The four walls of the Kaaba are covered with a black curtain (the Kiswah) which reaches to the ground and is fastened to the Shadharwan with copper rings.
From HajInformation.com:The door of the Kaaba is set in the south-east wall, about seven feet from the ground. Inside, there are pillars, which support the roof. The interior is furnished with many gold and silver lamps. On the inner walls, there are several bands of inscriptions which record the many repairs done to the Kaaba.
The Holy Qur'an makes it clear that Ibrahim (Abraham) and his son Ishmael were the true founders of the Kaaba, together building the holy shrine dedicated to the worship of the one true God. Five times each day more than a billion Muslims around the world turn to face the direction of the Kaaba to offer their prayers to the one true God. It is also, of course, the focal point of the Hajj when, once each year, some two million pilgrims converge on the Holy City of Makkah. Set in the eastern corner of the Kaaba is the Black Stone (al-Hajar al-Aswad).
The Black Stone predates the birth of Islam but now, set in gold, forms an integral part of the Kaaba. In the course of the pilgrimage, the Hajjis will kiss or touch the Black Stone, not because the Black Stone is holy in itself but because it was kissed by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). On the roof of the Kaaba is a gilt water spout (al-Masabb) which projects out from the north-west wall. Opposite the north-west wall of the Kaaba, but not joined to it, is a semi-circular wall (Al-Hateem) which is 5ft high and 3ft thick. This area is also known as Hijr Ishmael.
To the north-east side of the Kaaba is the Maqam Ibrahim, a small kiosk of glass and metal topped by a small dome. In it is kept the stone on which Ibrahim stood while building the Kaaba. Nearly opposite the Black Stone, near the Maqam Ibrahim, is the well of Zamzam.
Previous Godfrey Bloom: "The State is an Institution of Theft" (Except of Course for Politicians and their Escape Hatches)
Next 37 Reasons Why "The Economic Recovery Of 2013″ Is A Giant Lie
David is a Christian apologist and contributes at his website Answering Islam. He also has written on The Problem With Evil and is a contributor at Acts 17. Follow David on Twitter.


Rates for Narita Airport transfers and Yokohama Cruise Terminal transfers are available on request. Arrangement for larger vehicles such as a mid-size coach suitable for up to 20 passengers and large-size coaches for up to 38 passengers are available too. Please contact our vehicle hire booking section for rates and availability.


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text:
Baseball Archives
Blue Squad Takes Liberty Fall World Series with Extra-Inning Win
Rusty Lajoie scored the winning run in the top of the eighth inning, and then pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the frame, as the Blue team defeated the Red team, 8-7 in extra innings Sunday. The victory in game five of the Liberty Fall World Series enabled the Blue squad to capture the series three games to two.
Blue and Red Squads Split First Two Games of Liberty's Fall World Series
Senior David Giammaresi plated two runs with a two-out, 10th-inning single to push the Blue team past the Red team in game two of Liberty's Fall World Series,Wednesday afternoon, evening the five-game series at a game apiece. The Red team rallied with a four-run seventh inning Tuesday to capture game one, 5-4.
Liberty Baseball Releases 2008 Schedule
The Liberty Flames will begin their 2008 baseball campaign against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Clearwater Invitational, in a schedule released today by head coach Jim Toman.
Flames Baseball Social


Evolving maschine or ableton and effects with Maschine MK3 This has been bugging me all night…. I love hip-hop production, right? See this video, at exact 5: So I was thinking…. The newest version of Maschine MK3, with full-color screens, and no power supply needed is even better.
Start your internet radio career now — professional quality at a fraction of the price. Joinradio stations in countries! The multi-band processors contain a Compressor, Expander and Limiter for each band! Click Here! SAM Broadcaster PRO can optionally do the above and also at the same time stream directly to your own streaming servers.
You can cd key windows xp the list of working keys here. Morevover, uou will learn how to activate Windows XP with the key. Lastly, how to activate Windows XP without a key. Soon after its release, it became the most widely used personal operating system in the world.


This post begins investigating what goes on behind the scenes to implement a SODA collection in Oracle. Lets dive right in and create a SODA collection named CLCT and put a JSON document in it using the DBMS_SODA PLSQL package.
The CLCT table stores data for the CLCT collection. It has an index as well as a LOB and LOB index to store JSON data in a Binary Large Object (BLOB) field.
Here is what the CLCT table looks like.
The JSON_DOCUMENT field contains the JSON document. This means it can be queried using Oracle's SQL JSON functions such as JSON_VALUE shown here.
And since we are working in the meta-data crazy world of JSON there must be some meta-data for the collection as well! Here's how we access that.
Note the use of the JSON_QUERY SQL function to show the results.
And here is the meta-data for the collection.
I'll discuss details of the meta-data in a later post. For now just notice that the values for the name keys match the keys in the CLCT table.


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Information Doesn't Want to Be Free by Cory Doctorow
March 23, 2015 March 23, 2015 Jenny1 Comment
Cory Doctorow is one of the most articulate and outspoken advocates for online privacy and sensible copyright laws; he is staunchly opposed to Digital Rights Management (DRM). As "Doctorow's First Law" states, Any time someone puts a lock on something that belongs to you and won't give you the key, that lock isn't there for your benefit. His newest book, Information Doesn't Want to Be Free: Laws for the Internet Age, is organized into three sections, one for each of his laws.
Doctorow's First Law has been illustrated neatly by two excellent webcomics: "Steal This Comic" (xkcd, a.k.a. Randall Munroe) and "I tried to watch Game of Thrones and this is what happened" (The Oatmeal, a.k.a. Matthew Inman). Both comics make the point that buying digital content through official online platforms (a) can be difficult-to-impossible, and (b) means you can't take it with you, whereas illegally downloaded content can be used on any device or platform.
Plenty of consumers want to pay creators for their work, but also want control over that content once they've bought it. (As Amanda Palmer writes in her foreword to the book, "People actually like supporting the artists whose work they like. It makes them feel happy. You don't have to force them. And if you force them, they don't feel as good.") Digital locks – DRM – tie up our digital purchases in ways that make them complicated to use and sometimes make them outright obsolete. This is frustrating for law-abiding people who just want to be able to bring an audiobook from computer to car to digital media player of choice, or who want to read an e-book on any device they happen to have, no matter what operating system it's running. There's no reason an e-book file from Amazon should be incompatible with a Kobo device, except of course that Amazon – not the author, not the publishers (anymore) – wants it that way.
Doctorow's Second Law applies more to creators than consumers: Fame won't make you rich, but you can't get paid without it. He's not talking Lady Gaga levels of fame; simply, if you're an artist, no one can buy your work if they don't know it exists. The Internet can work to connect content creators with a potential audience. However, Cory writes, "The fewer channels there are, the worse the deal for creators will be. Any choke point between the creator and the audience will turn into a tollbooth, where someone will charge whatever the market will bear for the privilege of facilitating the buying and selling of creative work." The publisher Hachette realized this belatedly with Amazon last year; by requiring DRM on all the e-books they sold, publishers handed over control to the retailers, who aren't about to give it up. Authors – the creators – were caught in the middle.
I marked more pages in the third section of the book than in the previous two combined. Doctorow's Third Law states, Information doesn't want to be free, people do. As a creator himself, Cory isn't against copyright, but he points out the difference between industrial regulation and regulation on an individual level: "Copyright is alive and well – as an industrial regulation. Copyright as a means of regulating cultural activities among private individuals isn't dead, because it's never been alive."
The entertainment industry – particularly Hollywood movie studios and record companies – want to be able to regulate copies on the individual level, at the expense of personal privacy. However, their arguments that piracy is destroying the industry have been neatly shot down by none other than the GAO, who said that it would be "difficult, if not impossible, to quantify the net effect of counterfeiting and piracy on the economy as a whole." YouTube is a particular thorn in the entertainment industry's side, even though, mathematically, only a tiny fraction of content on YouTube is potentially copyright-infringing. (To calculate this, Cory multiplied every entry in IMDB by 90 minutes per program (low for movies, high for episodes of TV shows), which comes to only about 28 days' worth of YouTube uploads.)
When movie studios and record companies attempt to place artificial restrictions on individuals by adding DRM and other kinds of digital locks on their media and media players, they are attempting (unsuccessfully) to protect their content, but "You can't 'protect' devices from their owners unless you can update them without their owners' knowledge or consent." This is a dangerous area. As Cory writes, "when technology changes, it's usually the case that copyright has to change, too.…[but] the purpose of copyright shouldn't be to ensure that whoever got lucky with last year's business model gets to stay on top forever."
Cory argues that we need a new system of copyright, one that "that enables the largest diversity of creators making the largest diversity of works to please the largest diversity of audiences." The Internet allows the kind of direct connection between creators and audience that hasn't been possible before, and copyright must adapt so that it continues to protect content, not middlemen.
Information Doesn't Want to Be Free is familiar ground for longtime Doctorow readers and those who follow the "copyfight" in general, but it's also a good introduction for those who haven't thought much about the issue.
See also: "4 Ways Copyright Law Actually Controls Your Whole Digital Life" by Kate Cox at Consumerist (January 22, 2015)
Lynne Truss at the library
March 18, 2015 JennyLeave a comment
Late last year, I saw that Lynne Truss (author of Eats, Shoots & Leaves; cue grammatically justified string of exclamation points) was publishing a novel this spring. I requested the e-galley, and received not only the galley itself, but a note from an acquaintance asking if I'd be willing to write a blurb for it. (Claire and I met in 2007 at the Columbia Publishing Course; after a stint at Knopf, she'd landed at the excellent Melville House, whereas I had left publishing after a few years and gone into libraries instead.)
I wrote the blurb, and then I asked if, by any chance, Lynne would be doing a U.S. book tour, and if so, would she like to come speak at the library where I work? Indeed, as it happened, Lynne would be coming to the States, and incredibly, she did make a special trip to the library. And I have to say, Lynne is one of the loveliest authors I've ever had the pleasure to meet, as well as one of the funniest. Below is a little summary of the event.
Cross-posted at the Robbins Library blog.
Lynne Truss read to an audience of more than twenty people at the Robbins Library this past Monday night, inspiring much laughter and a few book purchases. Lynne read from her new novel, Cat Out of Hell, and she read from two sections near the beginning, "So you don't have to know quite so much."
Lynne told us that the novel was commissioned by Hammer, a publisher of horror in the U.K. "I only wrote it because someone wanted it….Anything I'm asked to [write], I'm more likely to [write]….I like to write for a person." She had never written in the horror genre before, but knew right away she wanted to write a comic gothic novel exploring the origin of the common phrase "cats have nine lives." (Originally, her idea was for a story called Nine Lives, about a cat who had killed nine people. That's not quite what happens in Cat Out of Hell.)
She knew from the beginning she wanted to use a pastiche structure, as she has long been a fan of "the phony documentary element of gothic novels," which are often represented as a collection of letters and other documents (or, in the case of Bram Stoker's Dracula, typewritten – a new technology at the time).
One concerned potential reader asked Lynne, "Does the cat die?" to which Lynne replied, "You'll be much more worried about the dog." (The dog is called Watson, so that his owners, Alec and Mary, can use Lynne's favorite Sherlock Holmes line: "Come at once, if convenient. If not convenient, come all the same.")
Lynne's American publisher, Melville House, made a video for the book's release. What do the cats think of all this?
As for humor – Cat Out of Hell is quite funny – one audience member asked if Lynne laughed at her own jokes as she is writing. "Yes!" But humor is "high-risk: if people don't find it funny then you've failed completely. And humor is very subjective."
Structure aside, Lynne didn't have the content of the story plotted out before she began writing. "If I don't know where it's going, the reader can't possibly be ahead of me!" I've read a fair few mysteries in my time, and I'd agree with the author here – it would be rather difficult to guess where the story is going. You'll just have to read it for yourself!
Other Lynne Truss books:
Eats, Shoots & Leaves: the zero-tolerance approach to punctuation
Talk to the Hand: the utter bloody rudeness of the world today, or, six good reasons to stay home and bolt the door
Making the Cat Laugh: one woman's journal of life on the margins
The Lynne Truss Treasury: columns and three gothic novels
The passing of Terry Pratchett
March 13, 2015 April 13, 2015 Jenny1 Comment
Yesterday, the prolific and beloved fantasy author Terry Pratchett passed away. I found out late in the afternoon, and scrambled to put up a display of his bio and books before I left the library. Despite the fact that I've never read a whole Terry Pratchett book, I felt the loss, in that distant but no less real way one feels the loss of people one knows of but doesn't know.
Except, with authors, we do know them: we know the output of their minds, their imaginations, their thoughts and ideas and convictions and feelings. Pratchett wrote some 40 Discworld books, as well as about 30 others, for adults and for teens. Readers will be discovering and re-visiting Pratchett's writing for years to come, and even though he will not be writing any more, there is still a significant wealth of material to read and re-read. The existence of Pratchett's books may or may not console his family and friends in their grief, but for readers, he still exists in thousands upon thousands of pages.
I am trying to think of writers that I have loved who have passed away, but, fortunately for me, many of them are still alive and writing (or were dead long before I came to their books). I remember hearing that Barbara Robinson (author of The Best School Year Ever) passed away in 2013, and of course there was Maya Angelou last spring. Musicians come to mind more readily: George Harrison in 2001, DeeDee Ramone in 2002 (I remember this only because I was supposed to see him in concert two days later), Levon Helm in 2012.
But like authors, musicians leave a legacy behind. The mind and talent that created a book or an album may be gone, but the words and the music remain.
So although, when a friend lent me a copy of a Discworld novel* during my second year of college, I didn't get into it, I'm going to try again: perhaps with Good Omens, perhaps with Dodger. If you have a favorite Terry Pratchett book to recommend, let me know in the comments.
*The same friend lent me Neil Gaiman's American Gods right around the same time, setting me on course to enjoy many more of Gaiman's books since then: Neverwhere; Stardust; Fragile Things; Coraline; The Graveyard Book; The Ocean at the End of the Lane; Fortunately, the Milk; Instructions, and, currently, Trigger Warnings.
3/14/15, edited to add these additional tributes:
"What to Do When Authors Die," Swiss Army Librarian (Brian Herzog)
"On the Passing of Terry Pratchett," Gavia Libraria, the Library Loon
"Terry Pratchett," xkcd (Randall Munroe)
4/13/15, edited to add: I have now read Good Omens and enjoyed its blend of fantasy and British humor immensely. Not sure what the next Terry Pratchett book will be but I'm open to suggestions.
Dead Wake by Erik Larson
March 9, 2015 Jenny4 Comments
Of the now three Larson books I've read, I believe this was my favorite. The two main narratives – that of the Lusitania's passengers and crew, and that of U-20's captain, Walther Schwieger – are more closely intertwined than the two parallel (but never intersecting) narratives of Devil in the White City. The story itself was more compelling and clear than that in In the Garden of Beasts (in that book, I remember being frustrated with the main characters' inability or unwillingness to read the writing on the wall).
As in many disaster narratives, there are so many "what if" moments and missed opportunities, from seemingly small ones like a two-hour delay leaving New York on May 1, 1915 (which would have meant sailing through the dangerous area off the Irish coast in the fog, when the U-boat couldn't have attacked the ship, instead of in clear weather), to truly staggering ones like the information that the Admiralty withheld from Captain Turner and the Cunard line, and the protection they denied the Lusitania.
The additional story threads – that of President Wilson's ultimately successful wooing of Edith Galt and his reluctance to enter the war, and the existence and activity of the secret Room 40 in the UK (a sort of Bletchley-before-Bletchley) – were relevant additions, particularly the latter. The Lusitania disaster could have been avoided had the Admiralty acted on any one of several pieces of knowledge; the fact that they didn't does seem, in hindsight at least, to implicate them as attempting to bring the U.S. into the war on the Allied side, even as they tried to keep the Germans from knowing they had obtained their code books.
Late in the book, there is a damning quote from naval historian Patrick Beesly: "On the basis of the considerable volume of information which is now available, I am reluctantly compelled to state that on balance, the most likely explanation is that there was indeed a plot, however imperfect, to endanger the Lusitania in order to involve the United States in the war." If this was the British intention, it didn't work, at least not right away; the U.S. didn't join the war until 1917.
Well-researched as always, Dead Wake should please Larson fans, as well as Titanic and WWI buffs. My ARC didn't include the map at the beginning that the final copy is meant to have, and some images would have added to the story, but it was still quite satisfying.
I received an Advance Reader's Edition through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program. I was not compensated for this review in any way, unless you count the free book.


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The Thalassa. A moon of the planet Neptune.
The Thalassa mala is made of predominantly pale-blue beads, with saffron yellow and white beads near the tassel. Its guru bead is slate blue, and its tassel is navy blue.