text:
The 2006 African U-20 Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament was the third edition of the African under-20 women's football World Cup qualification, and the first edition of this tournament new format which served as qualification to the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship. It was also the first time that Africa had two teams in the event. The two qualifiers were DR Congo and Nigeria.

First round

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Mozambique won 5−2 on aggregate and advanced to the second round.

DR Congo won 3−1 on aggregate and advanced to the second round.

Liberia won on walkover after Guinea did not appear for the first leg.

Kenya won on walkover after Congo did not appear for the first leg.

Egypt won on walkover after Ethiopia did not appear for the first leg.

Senegal won on walkover after Madagascar did not appear for the first leg.

Second round

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South Africa won 9−0 on aggregate and advanced to the third round.

Nigeria won 10−1 on aggregate and advanced to the third round.

Liberia won after Algeria did not appear for the second leg.

DR Congo won after Mali did not appear for the second leg.

Egypt won on walkover after Zimbabwe did not appear for the first leg.

Cameroon won on walkover after Senegal did not appear for the first leg.

Equatorial Guinea won on walkover after Morocco did not appear for the first leg.

Ghana won on walkover after Eritrea did not appear for the first leg.

Third round

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Nigeria won 10−2 on aggregate and advanced to the fourth round.

DR Congo won on away goals after 2−2 on aggregate and advanced to the fourth round.

Equatorial Guinea won on walkover after Egypt failed to appear for the first leg.

Cameroon and Ghana were both ejected from the competition after the first leg.

Fourth round
First legs were scheduled to be played on 27–28 May 2006, and the second legs on 10–11 June 2006.

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DR Congo won on walkover after Equatorial Guinea did not appear for the first leg, and qualified.

Nigeria were drawn to play the winner of Cameroon and Ghana, but both teams were ejected from the competition; therefore, Nigeria received a bye and qualified.

Qualified teams for FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship
The following two teams from CAF qualified for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship.

Notes and references

Notes

References

External links
African U-20 Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament 2006 – rsssf.com

African U-20 Women's World Cup qualification
African U-20 Cup of Nations for Women
African U-20 Cup of Nations for Women
2006 in youth association football

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Nearly two years after Pip Penny heroically travelled to St Andrews to deliver Day Courses in both Modules of the ITTS Scheme in a single intensive weekend, the Scottish Association began its training campaign in earnest, using lessons learned from that first Day Course to improve the learning experience and increase the long-term effectiveness of the training.
The first key to doing this was to build sufficient expertise locally to be able to run our own ITTS Day Courses, eliminating significant organisational overheads, and allowing us to run smaller courses more frequently. The first of these was a Module 1 Day Course held mid-September at the Tulloch Ringing Centre, run by Judith Frye (and assisted by Jonathan Frye, the SACR Ringing Master).
There were nine 'new' Teachers-in-training attending the Day Course, coming from Inverness, Glasgow, Dumfries and Alderney (a little know very southern branch of the SACR). One of our number had been ringing a little over a year and was using the Day Course to gain experience before returning to help train a novice band. The two ringers from Dumfries had had long breaks from ringing, but were also preparing for the time when their bells were in place. The remaining Delegates had a scary number of years accumulated of ringing and teaching ringing, and were, for the most part, already active in teaching handling.
This left Judith delivering her first ITTS Day Course to a highly critical, but also highly engaged audience, and the formal presentation included a certain amount of free discussion, as the ITTS principles and ideas were considered alongside previous assumptions and experience, tested, attempted in practical sessions, and reconsidered. Our own group from Glasgow were particularly interested in how well the training ideas would translate to our pretty challenging and non-ideal teaching environment.
The practical sessions were extremely enabling, and while probably everyone started off feeling odd 'teaching' handling to someone who already knew how to ring, it worked extremely well, and the ringers sparked off each other with feedback and ideas.
For those ringers who were able to stay an extra day, our host and fellow student Helen McGregor laid on some willing guinea pigs who were completely new to ringing, and we had a couple of hours trying out these new ideas while they were still very fresh. This was a very powerful enforcement tool for what we had learned the day before, and we'd recommend this follow-up to anyone else taking a Day Course. Each of us found different handling exercises useful or comfortable, and the pick-and-mix approach allowed all of us to create our own little course that suited our own and our 'guinea pigs's style. Comparing notes again after this was also extremely useful.
At the close of the Day Course, and at Judith's suggestion, we agreed a 'reunion' or follow-up meeting in order to help mitigate against the considerable geographic dispersal of our group, and to be able to support each other and discuss forward and backward progress. This is also a very good 'extra' element that should prove useful.
However, many benefits did not reveal themselves until after the Day Course had completed. For instance, at our very next tower practice, I could see fellow ITTS Delegates tackling persistent handling issues in the band by using some of the teaching tips, and applying some techniques to our existing learners. The concept of 'breaking things down' into simpler elements is very powerful, and we have been applying it to many other ringing situations than pure handling. In sharing our experience of the Scheme, and what we found useful and not so useful, we started a discussion amongst the local band about the different ways we approach learning new things in ringing, and this in turn will (with luck and application) make the whole practice night more responsive.
The opportunity to work together as a group significantly enhanced the learning experience, and is one of the more powerful aspects of the Day Course. While it is possible to 'read all about it' all by oneself, the interactive aspect is really crucial, and especially so for geographically dispersed areas.
The 'safe' environment of trying out new techniques on experienced ringers worked really well.
The idea of having a 'toolbox' of techniques and exercises, so that there was always something else to try if something wasn't working, is quite powerful.
The powerpoint presentation for the theory sessions contained more useful information. The real nuggets were in the accompanying notes, while the public-facing part of the presentation was a bit insipid. We would have benefitted just as much with a simple lecture and dispensed with the technology, which is a missed opportunity.


All arm muscles- pictures and cliparts, download free.
Arm Muscles, Arm? , Biceps Brachii? Muscles of Arm! Military Disability Ratings for Forearm and Hand Muscles: Muscles of the upper arm, Muscles of the rotator cuff.


The new Eco-Resort of Parque de Pedras Salgadas, Portugal, consists of a set of seven small houses in perfect harmony with the surrounding nature. Designed by Luís Rebelo de Andrade and Diogo Aguiar in a modular prefabrication system but flexible to adapt to the specific places within the park, these houses result in several different combinations of the same three modules (entrance/bathing – living – sleeping). They are creating different morphologies and different dialogues with the surrounding nature, wisely occupying the empty spaces between large trees. The pitched roofs redefine the contours of the park boundary and result, within the houses in comfortable but dynamic spaces.


The sun has gotten a bad rap; granted too much of it can cause sunburn and trigger those early signs of aging (wrinkles, sunspots, and sagging of the skin), but in its essence, the sun and the light (and heat) that it gives off are central to our existence—and to our health.
Sunlight can improve mood. There's no doubt about it, a little bit of sunshine can make a world of difference in our mood. When it's dreary and dark, we can feel depressed and lethargic; when it's a beautiful, sunlit day, we're happier and more energetic. This mood change isn't only in our imagination. When light enters the eye, it stimulates neurons in the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that influences mood. These nerve impulses travel to the pineal gland, which regulates serotonin, the so-called feel-good hormone that's linked to mood. On the other hand, when it's dark, the pineal gland secretes melatonin, a hormone that controls sleep patterns by causing drowsiness.
Sunshine may prevent us from eating too much. The same part of the brain responsible for mood is also responsible for appetite. A recent study published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences showed that eating in a dimly lit or dark environment may trigger us to eat more. "Darkness provides a high-risk environment for binge-eating for certain people," says study author Joseph Kasof, who adds that those people who eat in a darkened room may find they lose their inhibitions against eating. The bottom line: Eat in a well-lit environment and avoid eating late at night.
Sunlight helps stimulate the body's production of vitamin D. When the skin is exposed to the sun's ultraviolet rays, a cholesterol compound in the skin is transformed into a precursor of vitamin D. This fat-soluble vitamin is required for the absorption of calcium by the body. It's also necessary for growth and protects against muscle weakness. But that doesn't mean you should sit out in the sun all day; exposing your face and arms to the sun for fifteen minutes, three days a week is an effective way to ensure adequate amounts of vitamin D in the body.
Sunshine may help maintain the efficiency of the human eye. According to R. S. Agarwal, author of Yoga of Perfect Sight, "the human eye needs light in order to maintain its efficiency. Sunlight is as necessary to the normal eye as are rest and relaxation." Agarwal's suggestion: Start the day by exposing the eyes to the sun for just a few minutes with this treatment: sit comfortably facing the sun (morning or evening when the sun isn't as strong) with closed eyes, and sway the body from side to side gently. Continue for five to ten minutes. Then come into the shade and wash the eyes with cold water.
Don't get overheated. "During the summer, the strong sun evaporates the moisture of the earth," explain authors Gopi Warrier and Deepika Gunawant, M.D., in The Complete Illustrated Guide to Ayurveda (Element Books, 1997). That's why sweet, cold liquids and foods are important. Avoid excessive outdoor physical exercise, hot and dehydrating foods, and foods with pungent, acid tastes (particularly if you're a pitta type). And drink plenty of water (at least nine eight-ounce glasses daily).
Treat a burn. If you get too much sun, try these cooling suggestions from herbal beauty expert Stephanie Tourles, author of The Herbal Body Book (Storey Communications, 1994): Add two cups of apple cider vinegar to cool bathwater and soak for ten to twenty minutes; apply cold aloe vera gel directly to a sunburn several times per day or apply cold, strong, black tea directly to sunburn with soaked cotton pads several times per day. Ayurvedic beauty expert Monica Bharadwaj, author of Beauty Secrets from India (Ulysses Press, 2000), suggests this easy recipe: Mix one cup of mashed cucumber with one teaspoon of glycerine (available from any healthfood store) and refrigerate until chilled. Apply to affected areas, and rinse off after half an hour.
Valerie Contract is an editor and writer based in New Jersey.


text:
Scott Hunter
Dennis Cassidy
 Email
Begin protecting your rights today : 816-692-2926
Will we ever have accident-free roads?
On Behalf of Hunter & Cassidy Law | Apr 15, 2022 | Motor vehicle accidents
Every year, there are millions of car accidents. Around 40,000 people lose their lives annually. Hundreds of thousands suffer injuries, many of which are so serious that they will change the course of their lives.
It feels daunting when you look at these statistics and just consider the sheer amount of accidents in the United States. Is there ever going to be some sort of hypothetical future where we won't have to worry about this? Are we on course to ever have accident-free roads? Much has been done to get the accident rates down over the years, but does that mean driving will ever be safe?
It's unlikely, although the technology is helping
It seems impossible to get people to drive so perfectly that they don't crash, so much of the focus in regards to safety is simply on using technology. There are more monitoring systems on new cars than there ever have been in the past. They can watch the traffic ahead of you or in your blind spots. Your car can hit the brakes if it senses that an accident may happen ahead of you. It can alert you if you drift out of your lane. People are no longer reliant on their own senses, and this technology can help to reduce accident rates.
The most extreme example of this is automated driving. Autonomous cars are not yet to the point where they are in wide use, but human error leads to most car accidents, so self-driving cars will theoretically at least reduce crash levels. However, there are still many hurdles to go, even in this area. The fact that everyone won't have switched to self-driving cars is still a problem, so you're still going to have human drivers sharing the road.
As long as accidents continue to be so common, it's critical for the injured to know how to seek compensation for their losses.
How is fault determined in a Missouri car accident claim?
Why are the roads in Missouri less safe?
Who pays when a delivery driver causes a crash?
Are you suffering from chronic pain syndrome?
How do seat belts affect a car accident claim?
Begin Protecting Your Rights Today
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Ocean, Beach, Biking/Fitness Trail. Public Transport, Park Adjacent.
86 O St. UNIT 2 in Boston, MA has a WalkScore of . This property was listed 165 days ago and has been viewed 6 times.
Courtesy: Christopher Buono - ALL THINGS REAL ESTATE, INC.


that my mother owns the property of the father we lost in October.
what is a heirship certificate?
A certificate issued by the Tehsildar who certifies that this and this person are the legal heir of the assest or money deposited in a bank account of an expired person.
The local village officer should make a report saying his finding about us.Here a staff from the office helped in the format of the application.We got to write this and provide death certificate along with it.We carried id proofs of ourselves which was not needed.Again you got to provide couple of aged gentlemen who have been residing in the area and know our family for a long time.You got to give the identification proofs of these two gentlemen.
Now the village officer will sign the report and you got to give it to the Tehsildar who forwards it to the government press in Thiruvananthapuram to publish an advertisement in the government gazatte which is a boring magazine published by the government on poor quality notice paper.
Now the Tehsildar will give you a number regarding the ad.You got to go to thiruvananthapuram and meet the Government Press people and request them to publish the ad in the next government gazatte.If you do not request, it will take a long time to publish.Once it is published , the local taluk office recieves the gazatte but after a long time.So get a copy from the government press and present it at your taluk office.
anyone has any objection, they got to object it before 30 days.
quality paper and you got to get it signed by the Tehsildar and that is the damn certificate.
if you pay the money the bank won't give back the gold.They got a f**king procedure.You got to provide them death certificate, complete some forms about 15 pages and a document certified by a notary.
It was an old account of my father.Since it was old nomination was not done there.So you had to provide heirship certificate.Sign a letter the bank employee prints out on a 100 Rs non judicial stamp paper you provides him.Arrange a witness to sign some where in the form.Soon money gets transferred to your account.Even if you have 10 rupees you got to go through all such time wasting f**king procedures.The account was an old one renewed to work in tandem with a new DP account my father opened at a depository.
I attended this not because they are my close relatives but i didn;t know how an aethist marriage looked like.It was simple two chairs placed in the stage and the groom ties knot.No customary things like background music (nagaswaram and melam in nair marriages).But i saw pudavakoda (groom giving bride a garment) in a modified form there.And we got a card greeting the couple from the local CPM office.I am putting that here.Sorry guys for putting it online.If you didn't like the pic ,just call or mail me for removing the pic.
rich quick mantra of pyramid schemes and network marketing.Those guys spend hours trying to convince me and sign me up in there scheme.And at last they failed like three groups who tried in 2007 and 2008.


There was no real point in the old package. You still had to manually grab the file. Folks know how to unzip it. It's not worth the effort. If folks want to compile things on a git track, they can. Otherwise, they register and grab the binaries. If you want otherwise, start another package again since you disowned the prior package. The URL changes on their zip every week or so, and updating that that often is a pain.
@ewtoombs: Yes indeed, you can't use the forum login function, it doesn't work.
I'm disowning this, don't have time to play/follow dev anymore.
@electricprism: Yes, but they asked specifically to not post direct link anywhere. And no, it doesn't totally defeat the purpose of AUR, because the PKGBUILD does other things than just getting the tarball.
Ideally, Epic would provides us with a launcher, but it doesn't seem to be likely to happen any time soon.
Is it really necessary that we download the zip file? It sort of defeats the purpose of the AUR - not only that but the application when launched presents the same login and license agreement you get via the forums.
Windows & Mac get automatic updates because they have a launcher to do updates, doing a AUR or ZIP update that requires manual download seems quaint.


Premier League: Advantage Liverpool for the title after Chelsea win?
Betting News > Football > Premier League: Advantage Liverpool for the title after Chelsea win?
Andrew Robertson recreated Steven Gerrard's slip moment against Chelsea on Sunday. Only this time it didn't cost Liverpool as the Reds cruised to a comfortable 2-0 victory at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp's men now have a two-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League. Our traders have cut their title odds to just 11/10 as a result.
Can they now complete the job and claim their first top-flight crown since 1990? Here's why we think it could be advantage Liverpool at the summit.
Whose run-in would you rather have? Liverpool will face Cardiff City, Huddersfield Town, Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers in their final four fixtures of the season.
Man City face tougher tests against Tottenham Hotspur, Man United, Burnley, Leicester City and Brighton & Hove Albion. On paper, it's pretty clear which of the two has the easier set of fixtures.
There's no guarantee Pep Guardiola's men will drop any points, of course. But if they do then the Reds look well-placed to maintain that two-point gap with both sides having played an equal amount of matches.
Goal difference could also come into play. Currently City have a seven-goal swing on the Reds. With fixtures against Cardiff and Huddersfield to come for the league leaders, that looks set to change.
Mo Salah went eight matches without a goal between February 19th and April 5th. Two goals in two matches in the Premier League since suggest the Egyptian King has rediscovered his touch.
Anyone watching yesterday wouldn't disagree. The ex-Roma man produced a strike right out of the top drawer to all but guarantee Liverpool's 2-0 victory following Sadio Mane's opener.
Liverpool have goals running throughout the team even without the contribution of Salah. But with the third member of the fab three up-front back amongst the goals, it can only be a good thing.
View the latest Premier League title odds at Ladbrokes.


Whilst we have tried to include as much information as possible on our website, please contact us using the form below if there is something else we can help you with.
If you have purchased a product through one of our distributors, it is likely they will be best placed to help you in the first instance.
Volt Loudspeakers welcome all enquiries from potential OEM customers. We are extremely well placed to create bespoke solutions.
We are always looking to expand our distribution network so if you are interested in selling our products, contact us and include a link to your website.


The Schumin Web » Now let's talk about this… for a very small amount of oil, you're producing three times more greenhouse gases than conventional methods, and destroying one of our natural treasures? Um… NO!
And of course, I got photos.
Polar bears and humans alike hold signs recommending strongly against extracting oil from the tar sands.
Meghan from RCDC led the chants with a bullhorn, which included a few passages from the "Hot In Here" and "Ugly" cheers.
RCDC as well as my regular protest buddies, minus Luke.
And of course, at the end, thanking everyone for showing up.
Meanwhile, afterwards, Jeff, Luke, Maddy, Olga, and myself headed out. We headed up 7th Street to the Verizon Center entrance to Gallery Pl-Chinatown station, and then hung a left on F Street until around 11th Street, I want to say, when we headed a block north to go into Metro Center station. There, we bid goodbye to Luke, who had other places to go. Then in Metro Center, we bid Jeff goodbye as he went to the Shady Grove platform, and then I parted company with Maddy and Olga when my Red Line train to Glenmont came, as they were headed down to take the Blue or Orange Line to Foggy Bottom.
And next up? The consulta in Frederick! Don't expect to see any photos from that, though, because this is primarily activist training, as we're learning about combating gentrification, street blockading, legal aid, street safety, police tactics, and more. The consulta is being presented in the context of preparation for the DNC and RNC this summer, but a number of us are going to the consulta more with the intent of taking what we learned there and applying it to the numerous political demonstrations that we have in DC. After all, for many of us in the DC area, at least in the circles I run with, the DNC in Denver and the RNC in St. Paul are well out of range for us as far as time, funds, and endurance goes. Still, I think we'll be able to get a lot out of it. And it should be fun as well.
Web site: Forest Ethics and Oil Change, co-sponsors of this demonstration.
Song: "U-G-L-Y, corporate scum, you cheat, you lie, you ugly, yeah, yeah, you ugly!"
Quote: "I believe this demonstration is 'official' now!" - Me to Brendan upon Luke's arrival, as Luke is at just about every DC area demonstration.


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Rising demand for language skills drives Tampa Chinese school to offer summer program
Students include people planning to travel to China, children whose parents want them to learn Chinese, even a karate instructor who wants to communicate better with students and parents.
Penny Yang teaches Chinese at the Florida Chinese Cultural Center in Tampa. [OCTAVIO JONES | Times]
Sophia Cui 9, right, studies Chinese at the Florida Chinese Cultural Center in Tampa. [OCTAVIO JONES | Times]
For the first time, the Tampa Bay Chinese School is offering summer sessions at the Florida Chinese Cultural Center in Tampa. [OCTAVIO JONES | Times]
By Amanda Zhou
TAMPA — Penny Yang uses a jumping game during the school year to help her 6-year-old students learn Chinese vocabulary.
She sets a path of words on the ground and the students compete to reach the end. The movement keeps them engaged.
This summer, for the first time, Yang and the Tampa Bay Chinese School will keep their students leaping forward with the language by offering classes twice a week through August.
A growing demand to learn Chinese is extending the school year for an institution founded more than two decades ago with just 10 students. The Chinese School now has more than 200 students, classes for every grade level and extracurriculars such as dance and art. The operators of the not-for-proft school say it's the largest in the Tampa Bay area.
The focus this summer is on the spoken language of the world's most populous country.
"They have to talk," said principal Xingang Cai. "The only way to learn how to speak is to open your mouth."
There was a time when most students at the school were of Chinese heritage, but now, they include people planning to travel to China, children whose parents want them to learn Chinese, even a karate instructor who wants to communicate better with students and parents, Cai said.
There is no suggested skill level or age limit for the summer program, but Cai expects most come with at least a minimal experience in the Chinese language. The program will also offer some cultural education. Teacher Yang will introduce students to Beijing, where she once lived, and to Shanghai, as well as to tourist attractions like the Great Wall and the funerary collection known as the terracotta warriors. Cai, the school's new principal, spearheaded the new summer program. He takes over from his wife, Liusha Li.
The school serves as a community for many of those involved. Several of the teachers have their own children attending.
"It's my first language," Yang said. "When you go to the Chinese school and you're teaching Chinese, you feel like it's kind of your home."
The summer classes started Monday and run through Aug. 16, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. each Monday and Wednesday at the Florida Chinese Culture Center, 13367 56th St. North in Tampa. The cost of the summer program is $20 to $30 per week.
During the school year, the Chinese School offers two 90-minute classes each Sunday at the University of South Florida.
Reading and writing Chinese requires mastering its characters. Unlike English, Chinese isn't phonetic, meaning the written form of the language isn't based on the way words sound. The writing system also presents a challenge for students. First grade is especially difficult, Yang said, because students must use two books.
But Chinese School isn't all about studying.
During Chinese New Year, for example, the class follows traditions like making lanterns and handing out red envelopes. Hong Wang just finished her first year of teaching third and fifth grade at the school. Her son Aaron is learning Chinese — not always with enthusiasm, but at least with the knowledge he can study among friends at the school.
One highlight for Wang was seeing her students perform a song, complete with choreography, called "learn to meow."
Yang has noticed that as the number of students has grown at the school, they also seem more disciplined.
"I think the parents encourage their kids to learn," she said, "which makes a big difference."
Contact Amanda Zhou at azhou@tampabay.com. Follow @amondozhou.
Proposed Pasco policy clarifies school guardian rule
School Board members have opposed allowing teachers to participate by carrying guns in classrooms.
Florida to focus on improving teacher pay, commissioner Richard Corcoran says
Bonuses alone aren't enough, State Board member Michael Olenick suggests.
Gradebook podcast: How to improve Hillsborough County schools?
The Florida Board of Education will discuss turnaround plans for several district schools that have continued to struggle.
Florida education news: Teacher bonuses, summer camp, student vaccinations and more
A roundup of stories from around the state.
New principals at Adams, Turner-Bartels
Two promotions were approved at Tuesday's meeting of the Hillsborough County School Board
Hillsborough School Board continues to wrestle with mascot issue
The members took political heat even though they were not consulted in changes at six schools.


text:
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Adamu Garba: Tinubu Should Welcome Nnamani, Ohakim To APC
A chieftain and former presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adamu Garba has urged the party's presidential flagbearer, Bola Tinubu to welcome Chimaroke Nnamani and Ikedi Ohakim into the party ahead of next month's elections.
Garba made this assertion via Twitter on Saturday in reaction to the suspension of Nnamani by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
PDP suspended Nnamani among others over anti-party activities saying the decision was pursuant to the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017).
The APC chieftain said Nnamani and Ohakim, former governors of Enugu and Imo states respectively are "everlasting gentlemen and real political gladiators."
Defending his submission, Garba said the reason Tinubu should welcome the duo was that they are real Igbo men who have sterling political careers and structures.
"We should welcome the everlasting gentlemen and real political gladiators, Chimaroke Nnamani and Ikedi Ohakim into our Batified team. These are the real Ndigbo who have successful political careers and structures.
"Unlike the online Obidients who are tweeting votes from abroad," Garba tweeted.
Source:- Vanguard


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event in recorded history. In 186 AD a series of nine volcanic eruptions occurred. In a few short minutes 30 square km of poisonous ash, rocks, lava and pumice were emitted. Such was the extent of the volcanic fallout, even the ancient Romans and Chinese are reported to have experienced darkened skies.
A group of friends gathered weekly for a shared silent meditation. They were people sharing a common awareness of the immense capacity of the mind to create. It was decided that they would attempt to manifest a 'being' through their collective focused intention. Together they agreed on the form the being was to take, down to the type and colour of its hair and clothing and even its name.
Each week they sat in a circle in silence, each person focused on their goal. They were unwavering in their resolve. Months went by and nothing happened. Some frustration crept into their thoughts; but they were an experienced group of meditators. They persevered.
More months passed and still there were no results to show for their clear and focused intention. Approaching the end of one session they grew tired. Giddiness set in. One of them giggled, and that giggle, like a yawn, spread through the group. Soon they were all laughing uproariously. In that moment of levity, the being, exactly as they had imagined for all those months, appeared in the centre of the circle. There efforts had succeeded.
Are you taking life too seriously? Is it worth it? When you are joyful and relaxed and able to laugh at your foibles and the sometimes unexplainable, painful and bizarre nature of the human condition, all things are possible.
I am relaxed, confident and fulfilling my purpose. I am happy and at peace.


text:
Peter Cook's Lawyer Calls Out His 'Scorned' Ex-Wife Christie Brinkley For An 'Insatiable Need For Attention & Self Justification'
By:Dylan Howard
Feb. 3 2014, Published 4:41 p.m. ET
The War of the Roses between Christie Brinkley and Peter Cook continues, as Cook's longtime lawyer James R. Winkler comes forward to point out what he claims are a number of inconsistencies, fallacies and half-truths in the Uptown Girl's recent profile in a cover spread on PEOPLE magazine.
Winkler scoffs at the magazine's suggestion that Brinkley, 60, won a "large settlement after revelation of Cook's heavy hand on the three children," saying that if she is the parent she claims to be, she should shoot those untruths down "for her children's sake."
Winkler charged that in nearly four decades of practicing family law, he's never "witnessed such little regard for the wellbeing of children" than some of Brinkley's past actions in making public each detail of her messy breakup with Cook.
EXCLUSIVE: Read The Letter From Peter Cook's Lawyer Blasting His Ex-Wife Christie Brinkley
He added that Brinkley's frequently "hurt their three children because it makes her feel so good to hurt Mr. Cook in every public forum and at every opportunity," without regards to their feelings.
Calling Cook a good father, Winkler said that the well-intentioned "is no match for the anger of this very wealthy and scorned woman determined to trash the father of her children at every opportunity."
Here is the letter in its' entirety:
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press:
After several years of representing Peter Cook as his attorney on an array of legal issues created mostly by Christie Brinkley's insatiable need for attention and self justification, I am compelled to write to set the record straight.
Ms. Brinkley latest attack on Mr. Cook, falling on the eve of her 60th birthday celebration, suggests that she won a "large settlement after revelation of Cook's heavy hand on the three children". And PEOPLE magazine celebrates her swimsuit wearing good looks on its cover with an article touting her need to be a "pillar" for her children after her nasty divorce from Mr. Cook.
If she is the "pillar" that she claims to be then she will publicly repudiate the false statements that there was a "large settlement" in her favor and that Mr. Cook ever used a "heavy hand on the three children." She should do this for her children's sake.
I have been representing men and women in divorce proceedings for more than 35 years and have never, I repeat never, witnessed such little regard for the wellbeing of children as evidenced by Ms. Brinkley, beginning when she and her lawyers asked the trial Judge to open the courtroom and permit her to testify about every detail of the parties marital discord in front of scores of reporters, all for the world to witness and her children to experience. Moreover, she insisted on putting in the most personal testimony about her children's father which was wholly unnecessary because Mr. Cook had already acknowledged his mistakes and consented to the divorce.
But Ms. Brinkley required her pound of flesh even if her children had to be humiliated by the daily reporting of the most personal details of their family life. And the public trial was only the tip of the iceberg. Ms. Brinkley's public relations people, who have made millions from Ms. Brinkley generous use of them, have relentlessly peppered the media with untrue statements about Mr. Cook from the beginning of the legal difficulties until this very day. Ms. Brinkley herself continues to state publicly, among of things, that Mr. Cook was a "diagnosed narcissist", a statement that is completely false and no doubt actionable slander. Of course, Ms. Brinkley herself could be cited by most observers as a pretty good example of a narcissist.
She is willing to hurt her own children because it makes her feel so good to hurt Mr. Cook in every public forum and at every opportunity. To set the record straight, Mr. Cook is a great father. I have personally witnessed his anguish about what his children have gone through. He tries to shield them from the hurt of this personal family tragedy but he is no match for the anger of this very wealthy and scorned woman determined to trash the father of her children at every opportunity.
Hollywood Divorce Lawyers Tell All: Prostitutes, Cross Dressing, Drugs & More Shocking Split Secrets
Ms. Brinkley's need for revenge knows no bounds. Her subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, message to her children about their father is designed to cause them to question their own reality and the father they know, simply to exact revenge for herself. I have witnessed this behavior in my law practice over 35 years and the harm it has caused thousands of children.
It is shameful.
In the long run, Mr. Cook will be the "pillar" for his children because he is grounded and real. It is time for Christie Brinkley to stop trashing the father of her children and let them freely appreciate the gifts he has to offer them as a parent.
James R. Winkler, Attorney for Peter Cook
As Radar revealed, the turbulent war between Brinkley and Cook turned nuclear again last week, after her ex-husband sent a blistering letter to the model accusing her of "gross exaggerations, revisionist history and self-serving dishonesty."
In New York architect Cook's letter, he told his supermodel-actress ex that she had made "false and dishonest statements about the father of your children" and had made "every effort to alienate the children from their father."
"The sad reality is, almost eight years later, Christie is still mired in our divorce and hatred of me which has been irreparably damaging to our children," Cook added in an exclusive interview.
"She disposed of 10 good years of marriage because of my indiscretion and has had to vilify me ever since to excuse her own petty and self-indulgent behavior -- throwing our children under the bus, relentlessly vilifying their father and surrendering our lives to the media -- essentially capitalizing on my pain and by default our children's pain; all masked behind a fixed disingenuous smile.
"But the excuses for her behavior are dishonest, convenient and increasingly difficult to accept. She's simply using narcism to distract from the real conversation."


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I feel like I should apologize in advance. I know we're supposed to be all gawth and whatnot here at Haute Macabre, and looking it over, this following list is sort of …anything but? But hey–we are never just one thing, we contain multitudes, right?
So, first on the list, houseplants! Is it sort of a trendy thing to talk about your houseplants right now? Or am I just now finally taking notice of this perceived houseplant mania because I am only just at this moment in time becoming interested in them?
I was convinced for the longest time that I had a black thumb and that all of the botanicals in my immediate environs were in mortal danger. But it turns out that's not true at all! I was just a lazy caretaker. Which is a sad state of affairs because a lot of these guys really don't need all that much in the way of work and attention. I've always kept potted herbs on my porch to some degree of success or another–mint and rosemary, for example, are hearty greenies which seem to thrive eternally, whereas parsley and dill are delicate weenies that will swoon and expire if you look at them funny. When I recently realized I'd actually kept some parsley and dill alive for the last six months, I figured it was time to give indoor vegetation a try.
I've already lost the little paper tabs that tell you what sort of plant you got, however, I can share that the one in this photo is a Golden Pothos. Its name, however, is "lil Porthos" because that's how I misread several friends' recommendations. I did not invest in a botanical buddy, you see, but rather a member of the Three Musketeers.
I've heard all sorts of things about how plants purify your air, improve focus, enhance healing, etc. I guess those things could be true? I'm just as scattered and absent-minded as ever. But it does make me feel nice to look at them, so that must count for something.
P.S. I found some planters that I liked, and which were not terribly expensive here, here, and here.
P.P.S The candles are from Burke & Hare and DS & Durga
Cocorrina dream journal I kept a handwritten dream journal for the longest time, from my late teenage years, through my mid-30s. At which point in time I discovered Tumblr (which is so weird to say because I know for a lot of people it was a college discovery, and discarded post-graduation. I still keep up with my Tumblr, believe it or not! ) For a time I recorded my dreams over on my tumblr, and made a little ritual each morning to pair a piece of art with my nocturnal adventures from the evening before. I got pretty butthurt though, when a troll accused me of making things up, so I discontinued the practice on that platform, and instead moved my dreams over to a 140 character format on the twitters, where I share bon mots such as this:
Last night I dreamed of thwarted attempts at peeing in a massive gravy boat. 9/10 of my dreams are me trying to take a wee; it's a wonder I am not a chronic bed-wetter.
— Mlle Ghoul (@mlleghoul) December 10, 2017
When I saw that Cocorrina had a beautiful dream journal available for pre-order, I knew that it was time to take up my hand-written ramblings again. Hardcover with intricate, cosmic gold foil designs, it contains:
"150 pages of a clean, clutter-free layout that will help you record your dreams, keep a track, find similarities and hidden messages. The journal includes features as recording, date, time, title, moon phases, choosing from an extensive list of emotions and moods, space to write about your dream and so much more."
itsblitzzz ASMR massage videos this is gonna be a hard sell for a lot of people, I realize that. But in 2016 or so I discovered the world of ASMR videos and it was a little mind-boggling, for a lot of reasons, but first and foremost is that people actually make money on Youtube by eating noodles or brushing their hair, all mic'ed up so that you can hear every slurp, every brushstroke. And viewers go nuts for it! I mean, it's astonishingly ridiculous (AND I LOVE IT), and more power to anyone who can make their living that way, you know?
Initially I fell down the mukbang rabbit hole (mukbangs are eating shows, essentially, and a trend which originated in Korea; "a live online audiovisual broadcast in which a host eats large amounts of foods while interacting with their audience.") And okay, I don't blame you for thinking that's really gross. But I don't think it's gross! I have always loved looking at cookbooks and pictures of food, and then later, online food blogs and crowd-sourced recipe curation sites. When Instagram came along, I'd fall asleep at night looking at beautifully shot photos of lobster rolls and cheese fondue. And then I discovered the mukbang community and it was freaking amazing. Listen, I know you're not supposed to eat 50 dumplings in one sitting, or a dozen triple bacon cheeseburgers or whatever (though…sometimes…don't you want to?) so I get my kicks vicariously by watching someone else do it.
Fast forward to 2019 and I'm realizing that ok, maybe I am starting to get a little grossed out by these people dipping their king crab legs in Cheez Whiz and I need to find another vice, and that's when I came across itsblitzzz's channel. I believe Julia is a Youtuber who has been around a very long time, but it's only her videos in more recent years that have captured my fancy. She's got such a lovely personality and she's so wonderfully warm, candid, and engaging. In the videos I like to watch, she typically invites a friend over and faces them to us, the audience –and I will just say that all of her friends are gorgeous and look like they belong in a Roger Eggers or Ari Aster film about witches or family demons or Swedish cultists or somesuch–while she, slightly off-camera, lightly massages their scalps, or brushes their hair, or wafts homemade essential oil blends about their person. It's beautifully intimate without being the least bit sexualized, and watching these friends get gently and thoroughly pampered is just the most phenomenal way for me to unwind at the end of an evening. Julia also has "day in the life" or "what I ate today" videos and so on; sometimes I watch them, sometimes not. They're always really interesting because I am quite nosy and love to see how other people live! But it's the beautiful ASMR-scapes that really keep me coming back.
FYI: She incorporates lots of ASMR triggers into her content; finger tapping, hand fluttering, whispering, etc. If you dig that sort of thing, I think you will be pleased, but if you find that sort of thing foolish and irritating, then this definitely isn't the thing for you.
Lastly, three beauty/skincare/cosmetic products I have been obsessed with lately:
-Edith "Dream Awake" nail lacquer from Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab's Crimson Peak collection is part of a release from a few years back (but some products from the line are still available!) Described as, "gleaming metallic gold flares of a powerful imagination. The gilded sheen of a muse's kiss, the glimmering, vivid glow of a story burning to be told," this is a gorgeous golden shimmering shade which finally convinced me that black and silver are not the only claw colors I like.
–La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra Sensitive Skin Face Moisturizer Intense I recently had been trying out a few new products, which, to my horror, left me with some dull, rough patches on my cheeks. "To my horror," wow. Such melodrama! Well, when it's your face, you sure feel that way, I guess. In perusing the ingredients, I believe I pinpointed what was giving me a hard time (willow bark, maybe?) and though the product itself initially feels and smells lovely, I have come to the conclusion that it is probably not something I want to be using twice, daily. I'd heard good things about La Roche Posay products and this one, in particular, is supposedly nice for sensitive skin. And it is! A week later and my skin feels even better than it did initially, and I am back to my former, doll-faced self.
The Obliphica Seaberry Hair Mask was a recommendation from Jo, whom I'm pretty sure we mention frequently in these Needful Things posts because she basically knows all the best things. And this hair mask is, without a doubt, one of the very best. I have dry, coarse, incredibly thick, color-treated hair. It's a lot to deal with. And lately, I've been having even more to deal with in the form of a dry and itchy scalp ( I don't know if that's just body-problems or stress-problems) but the bottom line is I always just want to be scratching at my head, or preferably, asking friends with nice, long, fingernails to scratch at my head. Sadly, I can't get anyone enthused about that.
I've been using this hair mask as an intensive twice-weekly deep conditioner and not only does it make my hair feel glorious from root to tip, it smells phenomenal. Or, as one reviewer remarks with disgust, it's "highly perfumed." That's fine by me! I think it smells a quite a bit like the Revlon Outrageous shampoo that I used in the mid-to-late '90s, which some folks say was a combination of bergamot, vetiver, and sandalwood. It was good stuff. Probably totally stripped the crap out of our hair, but man, did it smell incredible.
• I swapped out several of my big, heavy, fluffy bath towels for these softly textured, light-weight cotton waffle weave towels, and they are just a million times better. They're much less cumbersome to work with when trying to dry my hair after a shower and maybe even more absorbent than the old ones, they dry more quickly in the humid Florida summers, and they take up so much less space on the shelf. I've got my eyes on this lovely waffle weave robe, as well, but that's going to be a celebratory gift for when I accomplish an important personal goal.
• This is going to sound silly, and maybe even a little boring, but while I have had multiple chargers for my iPhone (and lost most of them over the years) I have never had a docking station/charger stand for it. On a whim I grabbed one and have been keeping it in my office; I make a point of putting my phone to rest before I start getting ready to turn in for the evening, and I leave it there all night long. This ensures that I'm not laying in bed with a bright screen in my eyeballs for forty-five minutes every night. It's really amazing how much more quickly I fall asleep when I'm not looking at photos of people eating a platter full of Cheeto burritos.
• I was gifted with a swan-shaped chrome ring holder last Christmas, and while it's not something I would have purchased for myself, I hit on a brilliant idea to keep it near the kitchen sink so that I have a place to home my wayward rings when I've removed them before washing some dishes. I can't count the times I've knocked them into the soapy water, or down inside that wily old finger-mangler, the dish disposal. Now my shiny little swan keeps them safe and dry–and sure, I still forget about them sometimes, but at least I don't have to fish them out of the mucky, manky drain.
• Adorable new house slippers. Pictured here with a blanket that I started knitting for my baby sister to present as a "congrats on your divorce!" gift, but she got divorced three years ago so I'm obviously running a little behind on that particular project.
• This hairbrush which was stupidly expensive but I'm obsessed with it. I'd read it was good for scalp massaging and since it seems I can't count on my long-fingernailed friends, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.
Beyond the Totality: Alleviating the Darkness crystal collection is now available in the Haute Macabre Shop. This collection is a grouping of stones that I have been using to assist me in a season of anxiety and distress, which I discussed in this post.
Below you will find previews of today's update, and I truly hope that these selections will help you the way that they have helped me. As always, I have hand selected each crystal individually.
Activating your upper chakras, third eye, and connecting to Kether, light moves through in waves, Scolecite is cosmic and calming. I handle scolecite and feel as if I am floating on a sea of iridescent milk, a cooling touch, a safe cavern of ice. { slide }
Scolecite gives me a similar vibration as Lemurian Seed Crystals do, a sense of serenity and connection. It is not as inter-dimensional as Lemurians, I still feel as if I am within my own body, and not adrift in the cosmos, but connected and serene.
Obsidian tower (large and small available)
The great protector, the great purifier: Obsidian will rapidly get to the root of your trauma, no matter how deeply it is hidden, and will effectively release the blocks that have been placed in your way.
Obsidian is not a gentle healer. It is a primal void, a psychic purge. It may sound aggressive, but not all healing is to be done with hand holding and soothing tones. There are times when you are a raw, open wound, and need to be jolted out of your own self destruction. Think of obsidian as a psychic weapon: the ancients carved it into blades, use that to cut through your layers of hurt and shadows, to protect you through the darkness while you are guided to the light.
Obsidian towers, pyramids, spheres, and scrying mirrors are available.
Obsidian Spheres: the blackest crystal balls
Obsidian Scrying Mirrors: Magicians, practitioners, and priests have used obsidian for magical purposes for centuries, as a scrying tool to aid them through the shadow realms, used during your trance work to view your spirit self, versions of you that walk beyond the thresholds. Obsidian will allow you to see your dark reflections, and effectively navigate the shadows.
Obsidian Pyramids: I personally keep one of these on my Isis altar.
Lepidolite Sphere 1
This sphere is the darkest purple of the lepidolite I have to offer, with glittering specks and veins webbing throughout, measuring 8.75″ in circumference.
Agentle helper while easing through the trauma of anxiety. Rather than simply releasing it, it assist you in navigating the field of landmines, working through the tension and the fear.
In these months that I have been experiencing this tension and this anxiety, lepidolite has pulled me back down to here and now and out of my head. Having a high lithium content, it has sedative qualities, enough to smooth the sharp edges but not dull the mind. Dissolving obsessive thought patterns, lepidolite will quiet the mind, soothing you back to sleep during those insomnia hours.
This sphere is a beautiful dusty lavender with starry sparkles throughout, measuring 8.5″ in circumference.
This selection of anxiety calming tools is now available in the
Haute Macabre Crystal Shop
In regards to the recent eclipse, and the upcoming: I recently talked about the malefic effect of eclipses, despite their beauty and despite their rarity (although they do happen at minimum twice a year), they obscure the light. They physically darken the skies, cast a shadow over the earth, frightening our ancestors and were portents of ill fortune to many.
I have stood outside staring at the sky during them, awestruck by the red hue of the moon, and transfixed by the shadows cast on the ground – the leaves create crescent moon shadows here on earth during a solar eclipse. Rather than practicing a ritualized magic this week, I have thought of these moments, and then on a deeper internal journey, I have tried to explore what has obscured my light, and left me struggling in the dark.
Over the last year, I have developed and suffered from new levels of anxiety. It's difficult to discuss, especially in a public forum, where I already feel vulnerable and hyper examined, but it's important for me to start to mend these edges that have become frayed. Historically, I have always been extremely even: Yes, I become head over heels emphatic about things ( I am, if nothing else, an excitable Gemini at my deepest core), but The Panic wasn't really something I ever experienced. I had always done well under extreme stress, I remained sharpened and focused, and most importantly, kept my pieces stitched together. That has all changed over the last few seasons: a permanent knot had tightened in my stomach, my insomnia grew worse and worse, and my general sense of self worth diminished dramatically. The tension continued to grow, fed by a cycle of constant frustration and despair. The layer under my skin has felt ill contained, running too hot, a near constant state of the expectation of falling off a cliff. A shift in my psychic plane has occurred, a frightening new version of myself that I am not willing to invite into residence.
What has triggered these new reactions? Why have I walked away from this essay so many times, and made up so many small, unnecessary tasks that must be completed before returning to it? I am uncomfortable in it: a raw vulnerability. Writing this is a confrontation and an exposure.
In my efforts to rewire my newly rewired response system, to fill in the obsessive thought groves that have formed valleys in my mind, I have worked with certain stones. I haven't done all of this consciously – they are not all types of stones that I have actively set out sourcing, I realize now that my attraction to them has been a direct manifestation of the tools necessary to begin my recovery. They are assisting me in reaching the stage beyond the totality, to navigate me through the panic state darkness. Each has aided me in a different way, and on a different level, and I share them with you now not only as tools to hopefully help you through the darkest times, but as a reminder that you are not alone.
Feature image is the "Shadows" card from the "Road to Nowhere Oracle Deck"
Scolecite palm stones will be available, one of which shall be energetically selected for you. Each is smooth and fits perfectly within your hand.
A gentle helper while easing through the trauma of anxiety. Rather than simply releasing it, it assist you in navigating the field of landmines, working through the tension and the fear
Various sized lepidolite spheres and free forms will be in this collection, which will be previewed in a live sale on Instagram on Monday – time shall be determined once I have been able to confirm that the potential storm headed towards the New Orleans area is not going to cause any delay or destruction.
Obsidian towers, pyramids, spheres, and scrying mirrors will be available.
The Beyond the Totality: Alleviating the Darkness Collection will be available in the
Haute Macabre Shop on Monday, July 15, at 10AM CST.
Instagram Live Preview & Sale info TBA
Damien Echols' HIGH MAGICK: Priming Oneself to Cast Spells
Please welcome occult contributor Janaka Stucky to Haute Macabre team of writers.
You may know Damien Echols as one of the West Memphis Three—three men who were convicted as teenagers in 1994, of the 1993 murders of three boys in West Memphis, Arkansas. The case against them was circumstantial at best, and the prosecution pinned its case on the the fact that the three suspects were into the occult and heavy metal, and that murders were part of a satanic ritual (this was at the tail end of the country's "satanic panic" period). The case became a bit of a cause celebre, and for more on the trial itself you can check out one of the numerous documentaries out there. Echols was sentenced to death, and then—after 20 years on death row—he was somewhat suddenly and surprisingly released.
In High Magick, Echols has created "a guide to the spiritual practices that saved my life on death row." He means this quite literally, on two levels: for Echols attributes his ability to stay centered and survive the day-to-day brutality of the environment to these practices, and he also attributes his eventual freedom to the power of the practices as well. As someone who grew up in an ashram, exposed to chanting and meditation before I could even walk—and who started dabbling in occult and esoteric practices about 25 years ago—I am always curious to see how others organize and present these disciplines for general practice. I found Echols' book to be well-informed, lucidly accessible, and even unexpectedly funny at times.
Talisman of Tzadkiel: Original painting by Echols
Echols opens with a quick overview describing his own experience with magick, as well as defining what 'it is and isn't,' outlining its various usages for both theurgical and thaumaturgical ends. Part II opens with a chapter titled, "Why Spell Books Don't Work," in which he describes the power of intention and energy cultivated in the individual behind the spell—and the primacy of that over the spell itself. This really sets up the rest of the book, and lays the foundation for what I found especially poignant and valuable in High Magick overall—namely, Echols' street cred in mainstream culture as a goth / metal icon who is teaching serious fundamentals of ceremonial magick that go much deeper than the current zeitgeist of crystals, tarot, and astrology.
Magick saved my life. Magick was the only thing in prison that gave my life purpose and kept me sane. Magick was the only thing I had to protect myself with.
High Magick is a useful primer for anyone interested in learning some fundamental techniques for meditation, as well as for getting their feet wet with various traditions of ceremonial magick. Drawing from the Western Esoteric Tradition potpourri of Thelemic practices, Toaist techniques, and Kabbalistic structures, Echols lays out a variety of exercises to help individuals cultivate their attentive powers, and direct their intentions towards specific outcomes. Coming from Echols, and what he has survived, the efficacy of these exercises feels fairly credible from the outset. Even a veteran practitioner like myself found some of the content new and exciting. While the field of this material is vast, and I would encourage broader reading than Echols alone, I certainly recommend the book to anyone who's interested in a progressive introduction to magick.
You may find High Magick at your local independent bookseller, or online (and in store) at Ritual Cravt.
You may find Janaka's poetry collections in the Haute Macabre Library.
Haute Haunts: Building A Mystery (House)
My parents are divorced, so from elementary school to high-school I spent my holiday breaks flying in and out of the San Jose airport. Four times a year, I lived a life filled with California things: rollercoasters and hot dogs, road trips under the redwoods, oysters and sourdough and fog and saltwater. Yet despite spending so much of my growing up in the vicinity of San Jose, I didn't realize it was home to the Winchester Mystery House until just a few months ago.
This past weekend, I finally took a tour through the house's supposedly haunted halls. Better late than never!
The Winchester Mystery House sounds, well, mysterious. One might (and I did) imagine the sprawling mansion in the middle of nowhere because at one point it was. Now, it breathes the air of shopping malls and other sleek, modern buildings that crowd palm-tree-infested photos — at times more Disneyland than Haunted Overload. Once you get inside, however, you forget the fresh coats of paint and the gift shop.
Inside, the Winchester House truly is a mystery.
Standing since 1884, the Queen Anne Style Victorian was the home of Sarah Winchester, who purchased land in California after the death of her high school sweetheart, William Winchester. From 1884 until her own death in 1922, Sarah kept the house in a state of constant construction, with horizontal and vertical expansions happening alongside more esoteric projects: doors that lead to a twenty-foot drop, cupboards that open into living suites (rarely) and walls (more often), and narrow staircases with tiny steps. Though maintenance keeps much of this tourist attraction fitted with unsightly fire sprinkler systems and unnervingly fresh coats of paint, many rooms still show a world dreamt up on the edge between progress and decay, building and destroying.
Legend has it that Sarah Winchester, perhaps adhering to the Spiritualist fashions of the time, sought advice from a medium when tuberculosis claimed her beloved. This medium instructed Sarah to leave her East Coast home and begin constructing a mansion that could never stop growing. A mansion that could house the angry spirits of those who lost their lives to the Winchester rifle — and keep them from taking hers. It's this state of perpetuum mobile that makes the Winchester Mystery House what it is and saturates the anecdotes of its tour guides, which overflow with tales of ghost sightings and eager descriptions of where in the building the number thirteen repeats.
An interesting story, certainly. But is it true?
Frustratingly, there's no way to know. Maybe Sarah Winchester kept building in order to provide jobs and lodging for her many employees, who became a sort of family to her. Possibly it's lead exposure from the constant painting that made her "crazy," not a fear of ghosts. My favorite theory is that self-taught Sarah, an architect when women could not be architects, simply loved building. In her younger days, as she traveled with her husband, she regularly made notes of styles she liked and later imported pieces from all over the world. The house is a love letter to architecture, not a perversion of it.
Despite its idiosyncrasies, or because of them, the Winchester Mystery House is a marvel. It's survived multiple earthquakes better than other buildings in the area. What remains of the original fIxtures is gorgeous: ornate dust corners on the stairs, hand-painted silk wallpaper, and stunning stained-glass windows. And when these details contextualize the age and wildness of the house, something breathtaking happens.


Using Looper is not simple as other Pedal work in Guitar. New Guitarist gets confused about how it work and how we can use this. The main thing is Looper pedal you have t o use strategies while using this. You have to learn how to adjust Looper pedal. You have to think like you are using an Entire brand rather than a pedal and Let the Loop station handle all the performances rather than try to control it If you did not purchase your first Looper pedal. Before buying you must have needed to know all about best Looper pedal. You must need to choose one pedal, which have everything you want and other important part is, it should be simple to use and easy to plug and play. Don't be blind while choosing and Research before buying your first Loop pedal.
The Looper pedal is a best Device which helps you to boost Your Performance. Guitarist Show lots of interest when they buy their first Looper pedal making Good Music. Give a try and Compose Your Music with the help of Looper pedal. Learn from musicians check their techniques they use while using Looper pedal. Learn the effect of Looper pedal on your dynamics and volume levels, which help you boost your music. Never try Your Looper pedal on live performance until you perfectly know how to use it to boost your music. You just have to wait before all. Learn all technique, try it and record some music and show it to your friend if they found your used Looping station in it. Then you need more improvements.
How to choose the best karaoke machines?


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Sounding Board Interview: Duo Scorpio
Kathryn Andrews and Kristi Shade formed Duo Scorpio in 2010, drawn together by a shared interest in revitalizing the conversation around harp music. Today, with a growing body of new works—many commissioned by the duo itself—and a number of diverse cross-genre appearances and collaborations, they've made very tangible progress toward that goal. Among the duo's recent and upcoming commissions are new works by Andy Akiho, Paul Patterson, and, via a CMA Classical Commissioning grant, Nico Muhly—works that the duo says each play a part toward debunking the stereotype of the harp as a "delicate, fluffy instrument."
CMA spoke with Andrews and Shade about the current state of the repertoire, working with Nico Muhly on their CMA commission, and what lies ahead for Duo Scorpio and harp music in general.
Chamber Music America: Maybe you can begin by talking a bit about the history of the duo? How long have you been performing together? What drew you to each other's work?
Duo Scorpio: We met shortly after finishing grad school in New York City. Years later, after several discussions of the possibility of forming a harp duo, we realized that we were born on the exact same day! It was all too much of a coincidence. We were two harpists, from different parts of the country, starting their musical careers at the same time in New York City with similar goals in mind, born just hours apart. So in 2010, we gave an astrological nod to our birthday of November 5th and made Duo Scorpio official.
We feel there is a real need for this new music, not only in the harp community, but in the contemporary classical community in general.
CMA: Can you describe the current repertoire for the harp duo? Does it present challenges for you? How would you like to see it evolve in coming years?
DS: When we began working together, the majority of the harp duo repertoire we found were just arrangements of pre-existing works—Ravel's Mother Goose Suite, Bach's Sixth French Suite, etc. As a duo, we are more focused on playing new works written specifically for harp duo, not arrangements. So, most of the repertoire we now perform is exclusively by living composers, and a majority are works that we have commissioned. New works always present challenges because they are often written in a way that takes full advantage of the capability of the modern harp, but that is what we find exciting. We also love that we are getting to help create a new chapter in the history of the harp, by expanding the relatively uncharted territory of harp duo repertoire currently out there. We would like to see it evolve simply by growing the repertoire and having it available for other harpists to perform. In the past 5 years, we have seen this process begin, and we are excited to see where it goes.
CMA: How would you characterize Fast Dances, the Nico Muhly composition you'll be performing at Bryant Park?
DS: Nico Muhly's Fast Dances is a very fresh and exciting new sound for the duo harp repertoire. It's extremely virtuosic and showcases the instruments in a new light. He really manages to push the harps to their limits with extremely complex rhythms. There are many instances when the two harps are playing in completely different meters, but he somehow still manages to make each movement feel like a dance.
CMA: What led you to work with Nico? Was there something specific that drew you to him?
DS: We love the unique sound world that Nico Muhly lives in. You can hear his influences of Glass and Britten, but there's also a newness to his sound. We had been fans of his music for awhile and loved the fact that he seemed to cross into musical worlds other than just the classical world. His collaborations with current pop and rock bands was very exciting to us, and it gives his own music a great energy and unique colors.
CMA: What are you listening to that might surprise your audience? How does that music influence your work as artists?
DS: We both are extremely interested in other musical genres. Both of us perform regularly on Broadway, we individually have performed and recorded with jazz musicians, and we performed together with Florence + the Machine. All of these different worlds that we expose ourselves to influence our work as artists, and push our desire to make music that is not just for classical listeners to enjoy. We hope that everyone can relate to and like this music.
CMA: What's next for the duo? What do you have planned for the coming year and beyond?
DS: We are currently working on collaborations with several composers, including Paul Patterson. We plan to premiere the Patterson commission at the 2017 World Harp Congress in Hong Kong. Next year, we will record that piece along with our other recent commissions for our next album, including Nico Muhly's Fast Dances and Andy Akiho's Two Bridges and more! We continue to regularly perform in NYC and around the country. Our long term goals include expanding this repertoire even more by commissioning and collaborating with top composers. We want to break the stereotype of the harp being a delicate, fluffy instrument and want to showcase its ability to be taken seriously.
CMA: How do you make time for and balance the administrative and creative sides of your work?
DS: It helps that we are both very passionate about what we are doing. We feel there is a real need for this new music, not only in the harp community, but in the contemporary classical community in general. Commissioning new works is a full time job outside of the actual rehearsing and performing part of our duo. We have to budget time to write grants, have meetings with composers, and all of the other business aspects that are involved with running an ensemble. Because we both love what we are doing, it makes the "work" a lot easier. We both have prioritized this ensemble in our careers, and we believe that this is only the beginning of a very interesting and rewarding journey.
2015 Chamber Music America
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Q: Avoid exception when trying to add a entry with a duplicate index in rails I have 3 models:

*

*User

*Puzzle

*Solution

A solution represents the first time that a user solved a given puzzle. I only want to record the first time - subsequent attempts don't count. The solution has an index on the user-puzzle combination.
My migration looks like this:
class CreateSolutions < ActiveRecord::Migration[6.0]
  def change
    create_table :solutions do |t|
      t.integer :time
      t.integer :attempts
      t.references :user
      t.references :puzzle

      t.timestamps
    end
    add_index :solutions, [:user_id, :puzzle_id], unique: true
  end
end

I'm using MySQL. The Puzzle and User models both have: has_many :solutions.
In the solutions_controller.rb, I have:
  def create
    @solution = Solution.new(solution_params)
    @solution.user = current_user
    @solution.puzzle = Puzzle.find(params["puzzle"])

    respond_to do |format|
      if @solution.save
        format.json { render :show, status: :created }
      else
        format.json { render json: @solution.errors, status: :unprocessable_entity }
      end
    end
  end

The problem is that the second time I try to save a puzzle, I get an exception:

ActiveRecord::RecordNotUnique in SolutionsController#create
Mysql2::Error: Duplicate entry '28-13' for key 'index_solutions_on_user_id_and_puzzle_id'

Goal: I would like for it to just silently ignore subsequent saves, rather than throw an exception.
Here's what I've tried - all in the solutions_controller.rb:

*

*if @solution.save(validate: false)...

*if @solution.save(:validate => false)...

*if @solution.save(false)...
Ideally, I only want to skip validation for the duplicate index - I would want to catch other errors.

A: In the Solution model, you could add
validates_uniqueness_of :user_id, scope: :puzzle_id

It will run a select query every time you try to save a solution record. If a record exists for the select query solution.save will give error.
Or you could use first_or_initialize
Solution.where(user_id: current_user.id, puzzle_id: params[:puzzle][:id]).first_or_initialize(solution_params)

This will check if a record exists for the given query if it doesn't exist, it will assign the attributes in the where condition and the solution_params.
update
def create
    @solution = Solution.where(user_id: current_user.id, puzzle_id: params[:puzzle][:id]).first_or_initialize(solution_params)

    respond_to do |format|
      if @solution.save
        format.json { render :show, status: :created }
      else
        format.json { render json: @solution.errors, status: :unprocessable_entity }
      end
    end
  end

if you do it this way no need to check for the error message, if the record already exists in the table it will be assigned to the @solution and the data in solution params won't be assigned. If the record does not exist @solution will be assigned with the data in where condition and solution_params(user_id and puzzle_id values will be taken from what is given in where condition and others from solution_params). If for an attribute data is given in where condition and solution_params, then solution_params value will be taken.

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