text:
Home / Entertainment / Michael Jackson's Mother, Katherine Jackson, Reportedly Gravely Ill
Michael Jackson's Mother, Katherine Jackson, Reportedly Gravely Ill
January 05, 2019 Entertainment
Katherine Jackson, the matriarch of the famed Jackson family, is reportedly gravely ill, with family members already fighting over her share of the late Michael Jackson's estate.
Outlets like Radar Online, the National Enquirer and even Atlanta Black Star have reported that Jackson, 88, is facing brain surgery.
Previously, the outlets reported that Jackson has had several strokes and other ailments that have left her wheelchair-bound and dependent upon caretakers.
The latest reports also suggest that several of Jackson's children have engaged in a fierce battle to control their mother's share of the late King of Pop's vast estate – valued at more than $1 billion.
"Now everybody in the family is jockeying for position!" a source told the National Enquirer. Although a rep denied it, two family insiders claimed the great-grandmother has suffered from excruciating headaches, leading to a hospital visit in late summer, the tabloid reported.
"Katherine is in dire condition," another source told RadarOnline.com. "Now everybody in the family is jockeying for position."
"Her doctor thought she had a stroke," another unnamed source – described as an insider – told Radar. According to another source, Katherine remained hospitalized for about a week.
"More tests were conducted to see if her condition might be something even more serious – like a brain tumor," the source said.
The family insider said doctors discovered a golf ball-sized growth on Katherine's brain and declared she must undergo surgery as soon as possible.
While some doubt the veracity of unnamed sources, several members of the Jackson family are well-known for speaking off the record and requesting anonymity.
Michael Jackson, who died in 2009, provided stories about himself and his family to the National Enquirer, according to his former publicist and others around the Jacksons.
Earlier this year, family patriarch Joseph Jackson died at the age of 89 after a bout with cancer.
Multiple outlets had reported that Joseph had been alienated from the family after he publicly tried to cash in on Michael Jackson's 2009 death by employing look-a-likes and holding press conferences to push new music and other material while the family mourned the "Thriller" singer.
Battles over the King of Pop's fortune reportedly began moments after he was pronounced dead, with Katherine, Latoya and others searching his Los Angeles home and beseeching Jackson's former nanny to tell them where cash may have been stashed inside.
Now, sources have told news outlets that Katherine's children are elbowing each other to ensure they get their slice of the pie before — and after — Katherine dies.
She currently pays out a combined $37,000 a month to daughters La Toya, 62, and Rebbie, 68, a source told Radar.
Katherine also forks out $12,000 to son Jermaine, 64, and nearly $10,000 to pay the rent for some of Jermaine's and Randy's children.
"Some of those people want her to live so they can stay on the gravy train," a source told the tabloid. "Others would like to see her go, thinking they'll get even more from her estate!"
Born in Barbour County, Alabama, on May 4, 1930, Katherine and Joseph married in 1949 and had 10 children together including superstars Michael and Janet.
A musician and singer, Katherine, along with Joseph, encouraged the family to pursue a career in music. She's made very few recent public appearances – once at her grandson's concert in Los Angeles; later at another show featuring one of her granddaughters and at Joseph Jackson's funeral in August.
Katherine and Joseph Jackson had nearly 30 grandchildren and, despite varying media reports, the two never divorced.
On the latest news, a Jackson source told NNPA Newswire that "Katherine is in good hands. Don't believe the hype."
Michael Jackson's Mother, Katherine Jackson, Reportedly Gravely Ill Reviewed by Unknown on January 05, 2019 Rating: 5


Splendid village for sale with a view of the beautiful Piacentine hills, unique and important property located in a place of particular environmental landscape interest.
The property for sale is located on a hillside and looks at the landscape like a fiefdom in a dominant position.
From the mountain to the plain the territory of this property is furrowed by the parallel course of the Chero, Vezzeno and Riglio torrents, which give rise to the three valleys of the same name, the Riglio river marks the boundary between the Municipalities.
The property is located in Gropparello and boasts a strategic location from cities rich in international services, in fact it is 95 km from Milan and 110 km. from Liguria with less than 1.30 minutes you reach Portofino and the city of Genova.
Gropparello is a municipality in the province of Piacenza in Emilia-Romagna and is located just 26 km from Piacenza from the city in a southerly direction and 50 from Cremona.
The Borgo measures 2875.21 square meters. the large property was designed to accommodate the multiple needs of a large family but also designed to be able to perform receptive activities, the property is equipped with numerous rooms with respective services and mostly independent lounges, as well as rooms and / or lounges to be able to receive numerous guests both inside the complex and externally in the courtyard areas.
The residential part, immersed in the nature of a private park of about 30 hectares completely fenced, is divided into several buildings that have been the subject, over the last few years, of skilful renovation both externally with exposed stone / stones and internally with materials and high quality finishes.
1 very large gym and 1 spa with sauna and Turkish bath.
2 parking spaces: one outside and the other inside for about ten cars each, a garage for 4 cars.
2 apartments of about 50 and 70 square meters for service personnel.
The territory of the Municipality of Gropparello, compared to other Municipalities of the Piacenza Apennines, offers a great variety of landscapes since, having a narrow and elongated shape in a north-south direction, it occupies both properly mountainous areas (where the thousand meters are exceeded) above sea level) between vast wooded expanses, or the privileged viewpoint over the whole plain, where the countryside is dotted with numerous farms.
The road that goes up the Val Riglio actually passes on the natural terrace made up of these hills from where the view extends over the entire plain of Piacenza to reach, on clear days, the entire Alpine arc.
The Vezzeno stream originates from Monte Falò, in the heart of the Municipality of Gropparello and flows into the Riglio.
The Val Vezzeno is characterized by an area belonging to the Geological Reserve of the Piacenziano, a great value from the botanical and landscape point of view.
The whole hilly area of the Val Vezzeno is mainly cultivated with vineyards, as this crop finds ideal development conditions in these low hills.
On the side of the Val Chero included in the Municipality of Lugagnano there are the archaeological excavations of the Roman city of Veleia, brought to light thanks to the intervention of the Duke of Parma Filippo di Borbone in the mid-eighteenth century. The most important exhibits are exhibited at the Archaeological Museum of Parma, but the entire excavation area can be visited on site, with the forum, the baths and the small museum preserved in the Antiquarium.
The areas of the Reserve, physically separated from each other, cover a total area of 345 hectares. The nine stations are those of Rio Rosello (Gropparello), Badagnano (Carpaneto), Rio Stramonte, Rio Carbonaro, Montezago and Monte Giogo (Lugagnano), Mount Padua and the Arda stream (Castell'Arquato) and Monte La Ciocca (Vernasca). All areas refer to the Geological Museum of Castell'Arquato, which manages the Reserve from a technical-scientific point of view and collects some of the most precious finds that emerged from the outcrops of these hills.


Do you believe a balanced and fulfilling life as a working mom is impossible?
Self-care looks a little different now that I'm a working parent... but I can still fit it in. Here's how I do it.
It's true, being yourself can be one of your biggest time-savers.
Not every relationship is created equal. How are your relationships draining your time and energy?
How can a morning routine save you time?


Chicagoans and tourists are invited to explore Northerly Island, located at 1521 S. Linn White Dr., and engage in exciting winter activities, come face-to-face with live animals and create nature inspired crafts during the 14th annual Polar Adventure Days.
The annual winter series will treat visitors to a number of fun-filled activities that are both educational and fun for all ages. Participants will tour Northerly Island's Natural Area, either on foot or in snowshoes depending on weather, and learn about winter animals including Siberian huskies, wolves and birds of prey. Park patrons can also work together to create a nature inspired winter craft, while sipping on a cup of hot cocoa.
All Polar Adventure Days take place from 12 p.m. -4 p.m. The first 500 visitors will be treated to hot cocoa.


Northern Velebit National Park was proclaimed a Croatian national park in 1999 because of its karst and exceptionally rich flora and fauna.
The park consists of beautiful forests with numerous species of trees, lawns, botanical garden and harsh rocky terrain with endemic species of plants. One of the most recognizable endemic species is Velebitska degenija which is also a protected one.
In addition to rich flora and fauna, the park visitors can also enjoy the magnificent karst relief, preserves Hajdučki and Rožanski Kuk, as well as one of the world's deepest cave – Luke's pit.


Virginia's River Realm are one of the best ways to unwind like a local.
Arts in the Middle, Inc.
Exploring HISTORY in a new, fun way will have you scanning QR codes, snapping photos and answering trivia questions on the Scavify phone app.
Each challenge earns you points and rewards you with a gift when you're complete!
Play the MOM Scavenger hunt anytime during August 1, 2018 through April 30, 2019.
Start at any of the 3 museums, go in any order you choose and take as long as you need. Visit all 3 locations to complete all the challenges – approximately 10+ questions at each museum. You have one chance to get the answer correct; they are multiple choice questions. All participants will receive a gift upon completion of the hunt. The gift can be picked up at any of the museums. Your email will be put into a drawing for the cash prize drawings of $100, $50 and $25. Drawing will be on May 1, 2019.
Friends of the Dragon Run will open reservations for their limited Spring Paddle kayak tour on March 1st, 2019.
Spring Paddle Season is a rare few weeks from April 13-May 20, 2019.
Experience the pristine swampland's natural beauty that is the headwaters of the Piankatank River. The Dragon wilderness is a unique ecosystem which has been ranked second in ecological significance among 232 areas investigated in a Smithsonian Institution study which covered 12,600 square miles of the Chesapeake Bay region. The unique character of the Dragon wilderness and its awesome natural beauty exist primarily because it is remote. Several highway bridges cross its 40 mile run to the Piankatank River. Most access points are, however, only reached by way of nearly a mile trek over rugged back country. This natural protection of the million year old swamp has contributed to its abundance of wild life. Concerned land owners, who over the years have exercised good land use judgment, can be credited with the conservation of this threatened gem.
The tour is not too strenuous, but for the beginner maneuvering can be a bit tricky. A donation of $50 is requested to benefit the conservation of the Dragon Run – this is the cost of the trip. You must be 18 years old. Single person kayaks, paddles and life vests are provided free of charge. The 3.5 mile tour on the water last approximately 3 hours. Sign-up is online at the link below. Meet up is at the Foodlion at 12532 Tidewater Trail, Saluda, VA 23149, at 9:00 am returning about 2:00 pm. Tour guides will point out flora and fauna and creatures that live in the swamp ecosystem.
Come wine down at GLC by the fire or on the wrap-around porch; listen to live music by Bob Wilson who always fills the dance floor; and order some great food from Byrd's Seafood (food truck).
Good Luck Cellars has resurrected an old sand and gravel mine into a marvel of ecologic recovery: a vineyard and winery site of magical beauty and serenity. Come join us to celebrate hand crafted estate grown wines of superb quality.Our 2019 Governor's Cup Award-winning wines (R-L): Chardonnay 2017, Vignoles 2015, Traminette 2017, Chambourcin 2015, Inheritage 2015, and Rip Rap Rose 2017.
Paul and Katie's passion for the chemistry of winemaking stems from their first career in medicine. They began making wine in small batches from their home in Virginia Beach out of fruits grown in their own backyard. When they discovered the Good Luck land, just outside of Kilmarnock, they saw a perfect location to expand their hobby into a business.
Come check out the superb new lineup of your favorite local reggae band! New drummer, new vibes, new heights, new year!
Help us start off our 2019 touring season with a bang at Willaby's!
Reggae band from Urbanna, VA!
It started in the early summer of 2009 in a practice space previously used by two of the original members years ago.. this thing has evolved immensely in the past years (in regards to the sound and the lineup). We hope you enjoy what you hear.
It was a close vote, and we think it was a hanging chad that was the decisive vote.
Anyway….this is us. Come see us. We'll love to see you and give you a reason to get out of the house. We may take requests from time to time, but we'd mostly keep playing anyway!
Virginia Motor Speedway will open it's 50th anniversary season with Thursday Night Thunder presented by Tirex and WhosYourDriver.org on Thursday, April 11th. The event will feature the return of 410 Sprint Cars with the Ollie's Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions in a $10,000 to win – $1000 to start event. Tony Stewart will be competing in his #14 Rush Truck Centers, Sage Fruit, Ford Motor Company Sprint Car.
The event will also feature race #1 of the Dirt Cup Challenge for UMP Modifieds. The $3000 to win race will be a UMP National Point Event.
Spectator gates open at 5pm; practice will start at 6:30pm; qualifying at 7:30pm and racing beginning at 8:30pm.
Adult general admission $35; Senior (60+) and Military (w/ID) $30; Students (13-17) $15 and children 12 and under FREE. Pit Passes (Regardless of Age) $40.
Plenty of FREE dry camping locations and parking.
Rock this oyster party! The Shuckapalooza ticket is your backstage pass to the hottest new oyster scene. Check out private oyster farms, harvest methods, ecology with a real life waterman, samplings of oysters, plus wine and beer pairings. You'll feel smarter when you leave this insanely intimate event with our awesome partner, Friends of the Rappahannock.
This is a self guided tour-tour as many as you like. Oyster sampling at many of the stops also wine and beer tastings paired with oysters.
Get more information at www.shuckapalooza.com.
Tom Euler is an award-winning singer/songwriter and accomplished guitarist, whose powerful and thoughtful playing style has quickly led to him becoming known as "the young guy with the old soul." The blues/rock musician from Virginia, is making a name for himself as lead guitarist for the Bobby Blackhat Band, as well as front man of the Tom Euler Trio and Tom Euler Band. Euler, whose progressive blues sound and high energy performances has people talking, has had the good fortune to share the stage with such great blues artists as Tas Cru, Memphis Gold, Jackie Scott, Bobby Messano, and Sherman Holmes. He counts playing the 2016 Finals of the IBC at the Orpheum Theater in Memphis as a highlight of his young blues career.
More recently, Euler has enjoyed opening for Delbert McClinton, Ramsey Lewis and Patty LaBelle, as well as Thompson Square and DNCE. He traveled to Nashville, Tennessee to attend the Josie Music Awards in the fall of 2017, where he was named the winner of the 2017 "Multi-Genre Musician of the Year" Josie Music Award for the U.S. and Canada. Euler received three 2018 nominations and was invited to perform at the 2018 Josie Music Awards which was held at Dollywood's Celebrity Theater in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Euler was also named "Male Artist of the Year in Jazz/Blues/Soul" at the 2018 JMA's. The Josie Music Award program is the world's largest music awards show for independent artists. Earlier in 2018, the Tom Euler Band earned a spot in the semi-finals of the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee. Euler's music can be heard on Pandora and Spotify. After the success of his 2016 EP, he plans to release his first full length CD in 2018. For more information, go to www.tomeuler.com.
Purchase now, tickets are only $35 each for over 21. Get ready for a day full of great music, delicious food, Virginia wines, and craft beer tastings, plus artisans, gifts, clothing, jewelry, fresh produce and so much more! Your over 21 ticket includes unlimited craft beer tastings, a commemorative tasting glass, Virginia wine tastings and "Try Sailing" from Premier Sailing. Under 21 tickets will receive complimentary soft drinks and water.
Angela Blue, with Coastal Virginia magazine, documents her experience at the 2016 event and provides recommendations for those interested in attending the festival this year. See what the buzz is all about!
Tickets are $35 for over 21, $20 for under 21.
The singer/songwriter was born and raised in the Anthracite Coal Region of Northeast Pennsylvania. The blue-collar towns of the once vibrant valley nestled in Pennsylvania's slice of the Appalachian Mountains was a compelling backdrop for the young artist's narrative and poetic songwriting style. An old soul at heart, Jacob found a sense of comfort in performing and writing. Learning to play blues and Folk with his father while being influenced by classic rock and grunge made for a unique evolution in writing, composition and storytelling. Touching on observational themes from first-hand experiences brings a distinct intimacy to the songs audiences relate to and appreciate.
Friday, April 19: Opening Weekend Dinner "Shrimp n' Crepes" and Dance. The Fabulous 'Flat Tones' will be performing on stage from 7-9pm.
Friday, April 19: Opening Weekend Dinner "Shrimp n' Crepes" and Dance. The Fabulous 'Flat Tones' will be performing on stage from 7-9pm.
"Bobby Kyle … released his debut recording "After The Storm" in October of '97. Guest artists included Kirkland, Copeland and Copeland's daughter, a young background vocalist, named Shemekia.
Kyle appeared at The Pennsylvania Blues Festival in both 2015 and 2016. On Friday night he and The Administers helped to open the festivities by performing with Shemekia as she recreated many of her father's songs.
Live demonstrations, talk with artists and buy local art.
Gallery Exhibit of the works created during the 3 days runs through May 26th.
April 27th Maria Reardon will conduct a Soft Pastel workshop Plein Air. For more information see that event on our FB page or email.
Artists interested in being a part of the event email info@allureartcenter.com with your information and work samples.
Hank Williams Jr & Sr, Waylon Jennings, Conway Twitty, Merle Haggard, George Jones, Johnny Paycheck, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Freddy King, BB King, Willie Nelson, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Allman Brothers Band, Gary Stewart, Gene Watson, Goerge Strait, Alan Jackson….
Join us for a beautiful Spring weekend of wine & oyster pairings throughout the Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail. Virginia is quickly becoming known as the "Oyster Capital of the East Coast." And a great way to enjoy the experience is with local wines & oyster pairings along the Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail – voted the #1 Wine Trail in Eastern VA by the readers of Virginia Living Magazine.
When spring is in the air, it is the perfect time of year for getting outdoors and painting on location. Students of all levels of experience are welcome to enjoy the fun of plein air painting using the vibrant colors of soft pastels to create dramatic and expressive paintings. Learn how to make water look wet and reflective. Paint the feeling of atmosphere in skies and clouds. Learn how to put variation in the multitude of greens in a landscape. Students will gain a deeper understanding of the benefits of plein air painting and how working from life can improve their work. Maria will present a demonstration and offer lots of personal attention. There will be lots of painting time and comradery with other artists.
The class will meet at the Allure Art Center and then go to the designated painting site.
This Landscape painting workshop using soft pastels by Maria Reardon will be spent painting on location in White Stone VA. This class is designed around using soft pastels and no other medium.
Several topics will be covered…the importance of how to start a painting , gathering essential information and editing in the field in order to create a finished painting while on location or for use for studio paintings. Exercises will be used to help simplify the painting process and to establish design, drawing, values and color.
Students should come prepared with supplies for possibly doing a couple of paintings. Maria will create a demonstration painting and work with students individually on their paintings throughout the day.
A materials list will be sent with the registration email.
The 2017 season begins Saturday, 27 April 2019 from 12:00-16:00! This is sure to be a fun educational day for our visitors. Free tours galore – Boat, Museum, Village. Please read the flyer for all the details. Subject to change. The Morattico Waterfront Museum is in the quaint fishing village of Morattico, along the northern shores of the Rappahannock River. The museum is located in the village's old country store and is a treasure trove about life on the Rappahannock River in the 1900's. Come, its fun and you'll love this step back in time.


Affordable housing is currently in short supply in many European cities. Persuasive models and outlooks for the future are needed if demand is to be met. Yet how can costs be reduced without restricting the quality of housing? This book documents current outstanding housing developments from all over Europe, which are distinguished by their quality but also by the fact that they were realised with reduced construction costs. Design solutions, deliberate material selection, specific building processes and explicit planning requirements all contributed to this result. The projects are documented in depth with photos, texts, floor plans and detailed drawings. The introduction includes three essays that examine the topic from different perspectives.
2018, 1. Auflage, 192 Seiten, numerous illustrations, Englisch, Reihe: DETAIL Special.


The Tavan Group is made up of a team of dedicated individuals committed to quality, integrity and quality workmanship. Each member of the Team brings their wealth of knowledge and skills; and together, we ensure the success of each project.
Fill out the form for the latest information about the Tavan Group.


text:
Country Thailand
Time zone ICT (UTC+7)
Province Kanchanaburi Province
Elevation 100 ft (30 m)
Population 172,373 (2000)
District Amphoe Mueang Kanchanaburi
Weather 29°C, Wind SW at 3 km/h, 70% Humidity
Points of interest JEATH War Museum, Mueang Sing Historical, Thailand–Burma Railway Museum, Erawan National Park, Burma Railway
8 top attractions in kanchanaburi you should visit
Kanchanaburi (Thai: กาญจนบุรี (Pronunciation)) is a town municipality (thesaban mueang) in the west of Thailand and part of Kanchanaburi Province. In 2006 it had a population of 31,327. The town covers the complete tambon Ban Nuea and Ban Tai and parts of Pak Phraek and Tha Makham, all of Mueang Kanchanaburi district, and parts of the tambon Tha Lo of Tha Muang district. Kanchanaburi lies 123 km west of Bangkok.
Map of Kanchanaburi, Thailand
Kanchanaburi city video guide
In the late 18th century, Kanchanaburi was established by King Rama I as a defensive outpost against possible Burmese attacks in what is now Lat Ya subdistrict. In 1833, the town was moved about 16 km towards the south-east along the river to its present site during the reign of King Rama III.
Kanchanaburi has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw). Winters are dry and very warm. Temperatures rise until April, which is very hot with the average daily maximum at 38.2 °C (100.8 °F). The monsoon season runs from May through October, with heavy rain and somewhat cooler temperatures during the day, although nights remain warm.
Kanchanaburi, which is where the Khwae Noi and Khwae Yai Rivers converge into the Mae Klong River, spans the northern banks of the river and is a popular spot for travelers. Its location at the edge of a mountain range keeps it much cooler than the other provinces of central Thailand. The city has two major commercial districts: the downtown area consists of a grid of several streets with office buildings, shop fronts, and a shopping mall; and the riverfront area businesses are mostly further west along River Kwai Road. Once a year a carnival comes to town and is set up in the area next to the bridge. At night there is a small pyrotechnics display that re-enacts the wartime bombing of the bridge.
Kanchanaburi is the birthplace of the Buddhist monk Phrabhavanaviriyakhun. It is 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) SE of the Buddhist temple Wat Tham Phu Wa which features a series of grotto shrines within a large limestone cave system. Each grotto features a statue of the Buddha at a different stage of his life. It is the easiest access point to the nearby Tiger Temple and is also home to a Vipassana meditation center.
In 1942 Kanchanaburi was under Japanese control. It was here that Asian forced labourers and Allied POWs, building the infamous Burma Railway, constructed a bridge; an event immortalised in the films The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), Return from the River Kwai (1989) and The Railway Man (2013). Almost half of the prisoners working on the project died from disease, maltreatment, or accidents.
At Kanchanaburi, there is a memorial and two museums to commemorate the dead. In March 2003, the Thailand-Burma Railway Museum opened and the JEATH (Japanese-English-American-Australian-Thai-Holland) War Museum dedicated to the bridge and the Death Railway. The city is also home to the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery.
The Chong Kai Allies Cemetery is near Kanchanaburi, about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from Wat Tham Phu Wa.
Kanchanaburi Wikipedia
Kanchanaburi Province
The Neptune Factor
Michael Arias

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Home/ Planning/Our Thank You to Disney for a Magical 2022
PlanningThe ParksTips
Our Thank You to Disney for a Magical 2022
With 2023 right around the corner, we decided to look back at all the magic we enjoyed in 2022 at Walt Disney World. One of the reasons we continue to head back to Walt Disney World each year is because of all the new and exciting magical experiences that come every year.
From delicious new dining options to thrilling new rides, the magic continues to come to Walt Disney World every year, and 2022 once again showed us that. Let's take a trip down memory lane by looking at all that showed up in 2022 at Walt Disney World.
The most considerable excitement of 2022 for Guests traveling to Walt Disney World was the opening of the new thrilling coaster Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. This indoor coaster was highly anticipated by Guests and lived up to the hype.
Featuring the first-ever reverse launch in Disney, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind takes Guests on a high-speed race through space. Featuring the new omicoaster ride vehicles, Guests are constantly in the middle of the action.
Guests love the excitement and thrill of this new coaster. Even more exciting for Guests is that it is just the beginning of the changes coming to EPCOT.
Credit: Disney Park Blog
Connections Cafe and Eatery
Another exciting opening in EPCOT during 2022 was Connections Cafe & Eatery. With the closing of the Electic Umbrella, EPCOT needed a prominent quick service location at the front of the Park. Luckily Connections Cafe & Eatery was a perfect solution.
Offering both comfort foods for kids and flavorful options for adventurous eaters, this new quick-service location has quickly become a top dining location for Guests visiting EPCOT.
All-Star Sports Opens
At the end of March, we finally saw the opening of All-Star Sports. This was the last Disney Resort to open following the shutdown of 2020. After two years of being closed, Guests finally had all their beloved Disney Resorts opened again.
All-Star Sports continues to get refurbishment throughout the rooms. If you are planning on staying here in 2023, make sure to request a newly updated room.
Credit: DLP Report
Character Hugs Return
Throughout the phased reopening, we were impressed with how Disney adjusted. We appreciated how they could get characters out and about in the Disney Parks for Guests to see during their vacations.
Although we appreciate this effort by Disney, tears came when we were again able to hug our favorite characters. In April, Guests could again embrace their beloved Disney characters and get autographs.
As you can imagine, many tears were shed as these magical hugs returned throughout Walt Disney World.
Return of Holiday Parties
2022 saw the return of the favorite holiday parties. Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party returned to Magic Kingdom in full magic.
With full fireworks, parades, and stage shows, Guests were thrilled to have these magical experiences back for the holiday season. Even with the increase in the price of the ticket, these holiday parties booked up quickly. Guests were thrilled to see the headless horseman, grave diggers, toy soldiers, and of course, Santa!
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party started at the end of August and ran on select evenings through October. Magic Kingdom quickly switched into winter mode with Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party starting in early November and running through December. We saw most parties sell out, showing how excited Guests were to have these parties back again.
character_winniepooh
Characters Return to Dining
During 2022 we saw our favorite character meals return throughout Walt Disney World. Crystal Palace welcomed back Winnie the Pooh and his friends. Ohana saw the return of Lilo and Stitch, and just recently, we saw the princesses return to Akershus in Norway.
Having these character meals again throughout the Walt Disney World Resort has brought magic back to these dining locations.
Buffets Offered Once Again
Many dining locations known for their buffets were adjusted with the reopening. Some offered family-style meals, whereas others provided a prie-fix menu. As 2022 continued, we saw many of these locations return to offering buffets.
Tusker House at Disney's Animal Kingdom and Boma at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge are both back to buffets. Over at Disney's Hollywood Studios, Hollywood and Vine saw the return of buffets as Guests enjoy the Disney Junior characters for breakfast or Minnie and friends for lunch and dinner.
Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom transitioned back to a buffet as Winnie the Pooh and his friends returned. And we were told that Chef Mickey's would be back to a buffet to start the new year.
Although some might have mixed feelings about buffets, it is a sign of moving forward following the shutdown.
Little Mermaid Rooms
Over at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, we have seen the transition of the pirate-themed rooms into Little Mermaid-themed rooms. Although the work continues, the rooms that are complete look fantastic.
With a bright, fresh look, these rooms offer a lot more storage for Guests and a nice, welcomed update to rooms that needed it.
We can't wait to see more of these rooms in 2023.
2022 brought many changes for Walt Disney World, just like most years. It was exciting to experience thrills on the new Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind while enjoying some old favorites.
We were happy to have character hugs, buffets, and multiple dining areas back to normal in 2022. It brought us such joy and happiness. We can't wait to see what 2023 will bring.
Top Disney Rides for Your Little One
Being Prepared for Hurricane Season at Disney
10 Tips For Beating The Crowds At Walt Disney World Parks
How To Pack For Disney In 10 Easy Steps
What To Do When Kids Get Worn Down In Disney


The Simpsons notoriety will be hard to keep under wraps with a collection of comic stories that will catapult them once again onto the world stage. Bart and Lisa write to their new pen pals across the globe, but their humanitarian efforts only lead to an international incident. Ned Flanders goes on a road trip of self-discovery, and while he's away, Cletus and his kinfolk set-up housekeepin' at the Flanderosa. The Olmec Indian head in the Simpsons' basement reveals some mysteries of it own, and Bart's destiny may be changed forever.


The STATS interface currently needs admin previleges. If you want to give an external entity access to the STATS interface you have to give them your admin password and therefore the control over the whole server. Requiring just e.g. relay previleges for the STATS interface would solve this.


California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Section 14300.44. Retention and Updating of Old Forms.
§ 14300.44. Retention and Updating of Old Forms.
You must save your copies of the Cal/OSHA 200 forms and supplementary records for each occupational injury or illness for five years following the year to which they relate and continue to provide access to the data as though these forms were the Cal/OSHA 300 and 301 forms, as provided for in Section 14300.35 and Section 14300.40. You are not required to update your old Cal/OSHA 200 forms and supplementary records.
1. New section filed 1-15-2002; operative 1-15-2002 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2002, No. 3).


text:
Q: Why can a method be declared to throw many exceptions even if none of them are thrown? I was merging my source code with that of a colleague and I saw he had added an exception to be thrown in the declaration of a method; however, I knew, that exception would never be really thrown from that method.
I wonder why the compiler did not warn me about a "non-thrown exception declared" (or something like that). I realize that you can declare a method throwing N exceptions, even if none of those exceptions is thrown by the code in the method.
Why is that?
public void foo() throws IOException, IntrospectionException,  BadStringOperationException, ... {
    //do nothing
}

A: *

*Subclasses that override the method may throw the exception, even if its superclass doesn't.

*You can later change the method to throw one of the listed exceptions while maintaining backwards compatibility.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The Senate will work on H.R. 6157, legislation combining the Defense Appropriations bill with the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bills. The bill spends $675 billion on "defense," an increase of $20.4 billion from FY 2018 levels. $607.1 billion is "base" funding, while $67.9 billion is the off-budget slush fund "Overseas Contingency Operations" funding.
The bill spends $179.3 billion on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, a $2.2 billion increase. The bills also spends an additional $711 million as authorized by the CURES Act for medical research.
Approximately $3.7 billion will be spent on programs related to the opioid epidemic, an increase of $135 million from last year.
It provides $3.4 billion, a $195 million increase, for mental health programs. Some of this money will go to "school safety" programs, meaning more money will be spent on labeling children as threats in need of professional help and put on drugs like Ritalin.
The bill increases spending on K-12 elementary education by $409 million.
The bill provides $12.1 billion for the Department of Labor, a $92 million decrease.
The bill provides $90.1 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services, a $2.3 billion increase.
The bill provides $98 million for global health security.
The bill does not provide any new funding for ObamaCare, but does require the ObamaCare exchange "risk corridors" program to be operated in a budget-neutral manner.
The bill also provides $71.4 billion for the Department of Education, a $55 million increase.
$93 million will be designated for school safety programs, a $5 million increase.
Senator Rand Paul will offer an amendment to prevent taxpayer dollars from going to abortion providers.


Greg and his wife Joan have been ministering at Calvary for over twenty years. Prior to their coming, Greg was a youth and education pastor in Huntsville, Alabama. He is an adjunct professor at Grace College and Seminary teaching courses in Bible, theology and Greek exegesis.
Initially graduating from Indiana University with a B.A. degree, he went on to graduate from Grace Seminary with an M. Div., and Columbia Evangelical Seminary with a research Doctorate in Theology. For fun he enjoys reviewing theology textbooks for Zondervan Publishers for use in the classroom, Evangelical Theological Society meetings, running (generally when the weather is nice), flying (now out of the business world ONLY when the weather is nice), rebuilding motorcycles, Greek Grammar, and those many Bible studies and discussions with people here at Calvary Baptist Church.
Greg has had the privilege of teaching in several countries in Africa and Europe, and even got to preach once or twice through an interpreter on one of Calvary Baptist's mission trips to Brazil. The Lord had Greg and Joan serving in the world of private and corporate investment finance for fifteen years all over the eastern United States when finally, after much prayer, He allowed them to settle in full time here at Calvary.
Joan was attending Grace College when she met Greg who was at the Seminary at the time. They were married, and now have three wonderful daughters who love the Lord. Erin is married to Aaron Wright and they reside in Minneapolis, MN, where Aaron is employed by Chik Fil A. Emily and Sarah are students at Purdue University in Lafayette, IN.


Welcome to the official website for Kristopher L. Campa, a one stop shop for all things related to the author. Please feel free to browse the site and learn about the many different aspects of Mr. Campa.
Topics for posts will range from book reviews and writing advice to raising a son and the crazy things he does to working in higher education and living in the increasingly global community our world is becoming. Oh, and expect a fair amount of discussion and pictures of tattoos as well, probably my favorite form of artistic expression. And St. Louis has so much wonderful artwork walking around on the street that I will be sharing with everyone.
Enjoy and thanks for visiting. Feel free to contact the author through his Facebook page.


Hello, Bridgwater! The Sound We: A Somerset County Symphony is about to begin!
I share excitement!!!! Cameras clear, films ready, spirits high!!
What a fantastic day-inspiring, exciting and inclusive. Tom and I are buzzing with ideas and only have 100 seconds of film – we need to plan!!!!


text:
How could all of the animals fit into Noah's ark?
The Bible describes Noah's ark as a gigantic vessel, about the size of today's super tankers. It was built to preserve the lives of eight persons and thousands of wildlife pairs against the onset of divine judgment upon human sinfulness and corruption. The flood was a historical event, global in scope, geologically supported and recounted in the stories of a hundred ancient cultures. That means that all the peoples, land animals and birds, on earth today originated from the families of Noah's sons: Shem, Japheth, and Ham (Genesis 6:10).
Some consider the Flood story to be a fairy tale and doubt the feasibility of such a floating zoo. But creation scientists have calculated the size of the ark and the square feet necessary to house the animals that God brought to Noah (Genesis 6:20). It is estimated that Noah had to house about 8.000 animal "kinds" or about 16,000 individual animals. Remember that you only need one "horse kind" to produce horses, zebras and donkeys. And you only need one "dog kind" to produce dogs, wolves and coyotes. This greatly diminishes the number of animals necessary to protect life during the Flood.
The space inside the Ark was large enough to hold 522 standard railroad stock cars, each of which can hold 240 sheep. Since only 11% of all land animals are larger than a sheep, we can see that 16,000-plus animals would have occupied much less than half the space in the Ark (even allowing them some moving-around space). This would include the fifty five "kinds" of very young dinosaurs that would have been part of the passenger list. It is conceivable that many of the animals could have "hibernated" for a considerable part of the year-long ordeal.
The God of creation has revealed himself in a book which he inspired ancient authors to record. We can trust the Bible as an accurate account of the historical past. Check out more sources on this subject at the answersingenesis.org website.


text:
Tag Archives: Municipal Arts Society
Skyscraper's Future up in The Air
Posted on March 18, 2019 by David Reiss
The New York Law Journal quoted me in Upper West Side Skyscraper's Future Uncertain After NY State Court Ruling. The story opens,
The development at 200 Amsterdam Ave. in Manhattan is slated to be the tallest building on the Upper West Side, with its 51 stories rivaling the skyscrapers located further downtown.
But whether this will ever happen has now become questionable, after a state court ruling that found city officials were wrong to follow an interpretation of city zoning law used by the developer to achieve the project's awesome height.
Supreme Court Justice Franc Perry of Manhattan sided with local community groups looking to halt the building underway at the site. The plaintiffs—the Committee for Environmentally Sound Development and the Municipal Arts Society of New York—were joined by numerous local state and city elected officials in opposing what they say is not only an out-of-character monster development in the Manhattan neighborhood, but one that relied on a faulty zoning law interpretation to move forward.
"It is finally a declaration that zoning law means something and developers can't make it up as they go along," said Emery Celli Brinckerhoff & Abady name attorney Richard Emery, who represented the plaintiffs.
Since 1978, developers and city buildings officials have relied on the so-called Minkin Memo, named after the former head of the city's Department of Buildings' Irving Minkin, for guidance on what experts call an ambiguity in the city's zoning law towards so-called tax lots. These are additional subdivisions of city real estate, which can overlap with or be included inside a zoning lot.
Under the Minkin memo, developers have been able to pull together extra vertical building rights that nearby property owners aren't using, offering the opportunity to boost the size of a project such as 200 Amsterdam beyond what would normally be allowed.
"The zoning resolution is ambiguous about when a zoning lot can be formed from partial tax lot; it never deals with that problem," said Stewart Sterk, the Mack Professor of Real Estate Law and director of the Center for Real Estate Law & Policy at the Cardozo School of Law.
Initially, city officials had no problem with the move. DOB issued a permit to the developers for a residential and community facility building at the site of the Lincoln Towers condos on the Upper West Side. The developers relied on the Minkin memo as the basis for the acquisition tax lots that combined partial and whole lots to provide the developers with the vertical building rights needed for their skyscraper.
Shortly after DOB green lighted the project, the Committee for Environmentally Sound Development challenged the DOB's decision. The challenge snowballed, and soon seemingly every local elected official, from state Assemblyman Richard Gottfried to borough president Gale Brewer, were opposed to the plan. The project's permit was appealed by both CESD and the Municipal Arts Society to the city's Board of Standards and Appeals.
In March 208, DOB made an official about-face on the project. In a letter from assistant general counsel to the BSA, the department said the Minkin memo provided an incorrect interpretation and that zoning regulations did not in fact intend for zoning lots to consist of partial tax lots.
The BSA was not persuaded by the arguments and in July 2018 voted 3-1 not to grant the appeal, with one board member abstaining. The plaintiffs soon after pursued a review of the BSA's decision in state Supreme Court.
In subjecting the developers' permit to further review, Perry pointedly took issue with BSA view of the process.
"BSA found that the Subject Zoning lot is 'unsubdivided,' within the meaning of the [New York City Zoning Resolution], simply because Developer has declared it to be so," the judge wrote.
Noting that the referenced law states that a zoning lot is defined by being "unsubdivided" within a single block, Perry said BSA's interpretation would render the term "superfluous," and run "afoul of elementary rules of statutory construction."
Since DOB saw the light on the Minkin memo during the appeal process, the court said the department's statutory basis for the issuance of the permit to begin with was undermined. BSA's decision was nullified and vacated, and the board was directed to review the project's permit application "in accordance with the plain language" of the zoning regulation and Perry's order.
As Cordozo's Sterk noted, the development at 200 Amsterdam was far from the first to use the Milkin memo to justify partial tax lot usage in a building plan. Perry's decision has the ability to throw uncertainty around zoning and building issues into a business sector highly adverse to such things, Sterk said.
But just as important for Sterk is the question now of when a government agency becomes estopped from changing its mind after it's already induced people to rely on its existing interpretation.
"That's a big problem in this case, because clearly developers have put millions of dollars into this project in reliance on an existing interpretation," he said.
Brooklyn Law School professor David Reiss, who is the research director of the school's Center for Urban Business Entrepreneurship, said he saw the case as less of a "good guy vs. bad guy" dynamic as much as one of whether the assurances of government officials can be binding.
"There's a reliance on government statements and government permissions," Reiss said, while noting the project has already commenced.
Should the case stand, he predicted it would serve to rattle developers' confidence in their dealings with the city going forward.
"It's more uncertainty in a process that's already pretty uncertain," he said.
Posted in Land Use, New York City	| Tagged 200 Amsterdam, 200 Amsterdam Ave, 200 Amsterdam Avenue, BAS, Board of Standards and Appeals, borough president, borough president Gale Brewer, Brooklyn Law School, Cardozo, Cardozo School of Law, Center for Real Estate Law & Policy, Center for Urban Business Entrepreneurship, CESD, Committee for Environmentally Sound Development, CUBE, declaration, Department of Buildings, DoB, Emery Celli Brinckerhoff & Abady, Franc Perry, Gale Brewer, good guy vs. bad guy, government permissions, government statements, Irving Minkin, Lincoln Towers, Mack Professor of Real Estate Law, Manhattan, MAS, Minkin Memo, Municipal Arts Society, Municipal Arts Society of New York, New York, New York City, New York City Zoning Resolution, New York Law Journal, nullified, NYLJ, partial tax lot, plain language, Reiss, reliance, Richard Emery, state Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, Stewart Sterk, subdivision, Supreme Court, Supreme Court Justice Franc Perry, tax lot, uncertainty, unsubdivided, Upper West Side, UWS, vacated, vertical building rights, zoning, zoning lot, zoning regulation, Zoning Resolution
Accidental Skyline
Posted on July 3, 2014 by David Reiss
This is the second great web resource for land use geeks that I have seen within the last week. The Municipal Arts Society has launched Accidental Skyline. MAS describes it as follows: "Too often, New Yorkers are caught off guard by new development in their neighborhoods. The Accidental Skyline offers tools to help demystify the city planning process and bring the public into the conversation."
Accidental Skyline shows "where new development could occur across New York City – allowing New Yorkers to assess how their neighborhoods could be impacted. These maps add to a body of work available on this site, including The Accidental Skyline, presentations and media coverage. Additional reports will highlight how other cities are responding to these challenges."
MAS created Accidental Skyline
in response to the super-tall towers rising along the southern border of Central Park. For the most part, these buildings are being built as-of-right, without public or environmental review. When completed, they will cast new shadows on the park and change views of the city. While MAS's work started in response to the buildings near Central Park, the issue is one that increasingly concerns neighborhoods across the city. Many New Yorkers feel left out of the planning process and are unaware of development proposals until shovels hit the ground.
MAS has four main goals for Accidental Skyline:
Ensure robust civic engagement as the city develops and grows
Bring greater transparency to the city's planning process
Highlight the impacts of development on NYC neighborhoods, including parks, open space, infrastructure and the skyline
Secure policy and regulatory changes that protect the city's vital open spaces and create a better balance between benefits received by private developers and impact on the public realm
This is a great resource for all New Yorkers, both those who favor preservation and those who favor development. It is also a useful tool to rely upon as New York embarks on its ambitious affordable housing plan. The housing plan will certainly require increased density in certain parts of the city and Accidental Skyline can help us develop that skyline with some intentionality.
Posted in Land Use	| Tagged Acidental Skyline, affordable housing, Central Park, Central Park South, civic engagement, Community Boards, de Blasio, developers, elected officials, FAR, floor area ratio, historic preservation, housing plan, land use, MAS, Municipal Arts Society, neighborhoods, New York City, NYC, open spaces, parks, planning, preservation, skyscrapers, super-tall buildings, transparency, Urban Reviewer, zoning lot merger


text:
Rights Groups Urge Council Of Europe To Keep Up Pressure On Azerbaijan
Berit Lindeman: "I think it is important to keep Azerbaijan high on the agenda."
International and local rights groups have issued an appeal to the Council of Europe urging it to take concrete measures to improve the human rights situation in Azerbaijan.
The appeal was signed by the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, the Polish Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, Article 19, Rafto Foundation for Human Rights, and a number of other regional watchdogs.
"From the Azerbaijani perspective, I understand perfectly that it might seem a total waste [of time] to have another statement on the situation in Azerbaijan," Berit Lindeman of the Norwegian Helsinki Commission told RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service. "But the counterquestion is: What is the alternative? I think it is important to keep Azerbaijan high on the agenda because it is very easily forgotten. There are so many crises in the world and so many burning issues"
The appeal calls upon the Council of Europe to push the Azerbaijani leadership to conduct crucial judicial reforms in order to ensure the independence of the courts and to remind the government of Azerbaijan about its international obligations in the sphere of human rights.
"We have to remember that the Azerbaijani government has signed onto a number of commitments to undertake dutiful reform to implement freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, democratic elections," Lindeman said. "And they haven't done it. So we need to use institutions to continue pressuring Azerbaijan."
Imprisoned bloggers Emin Milli (left) and Adnan Hajizada
The rights groups also urge the oldest European watchdog on human rights to call upon the Azerbaijani government to drop all the charges against activists and journalists who are behind bars for political reasons.
Among those arrested are two bloggers -- Adnan Hajizada and Emin Milli -- who were sentenced to two and 2 1/2 years in prison, respectively, on hooliganism charges for publicly criticizing the government. Their case made headlines around the world. Despite numerous calls by parliamentarians, rights watchdogs, and government officials to release the bloggers, they remain imprisoned.
But Lenur Kerimov, a representative of the Polish Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, believes it is worth continuing the calls, as raising awareness often translates into mounting pressure against the regime, which may eventually bring tangible results.
"We perfectly realize that one appeal will not solve the problems in Azerbaijan and won't stop the violation of human rights," Kerimov told RFE/RL. "But it is our role to constantly monitor the situation, and the appeal serves to [mobilize] international public opinion that human rights are constantly under threat in Azerbaijan.
"We won't achieve human rights without a struggle, and that is very long and arduous work."
-- Anna Zamejc
"Watchdog" is a blog with a singular mission -- to monitor the latest developments concerning human rights, civil society, and press freedom. We'll pay particular attention to reports concerning countries in RFE/RL's broadcast region.
Opposing Sides Lay Out Their Case In Trump Impeachment Trial
Iran Confirms Sending Downed Ukrainian Airliner's Black Boxes To Kyiv
RFE/RL journalists take risks, face threats, and make sacrifices every day in an effort to gather the news. Our "Journalists In Trouble" page recognizes their courage and conviction, and documents the high price that many have paid simply for doing their jobs. More


As the lifting and heavy transportation markets continue to evolve, operations are becoming more complex with increasing demands on operators and equipment. Cost-efficiency is also a driver, with growing pressure to deliver results faster and cheaper. Managing these conflicting demands is a major challenge for an industry faced with an ageing workforce and increasing safety regulations.
Addressing these issues requires significant changes in the way the lifting industry operates, says DSM Dyneema, a global supplier of Dyneema – which it proclaims as the world's strongest fibre. Synthetic lifting equipment made from Dyneema is up to eight times lighter than steel for the same strength, DSM says, meaning it can significantly reduce the equipment needed and the effort required by crews on a job site. In some cases, synthetic ropes and slings can even be handled by a single person throughout an entire shift, it claims. Another benefit of its light weight is that by reducing the weight of ropes and slings, cranes can lift significantly heavier loads, says DSM.
Additional properties of Dyneema are that it floats on water, it doesn't rust, and it doesn't kink or bird cage like steel does.
DSM points to a number of examples that illustrate its point: For example, when heavy lifting and transportation company ALE chose Dyneema synthetic slings for its 5000 tonne capacity AL.SK350, it says this freed up an extra 57 tonnes of lifting capacity which contributed to the crane making a record-beating lift of 3,000 tonnes in 2017.
German crane and mining rope manufacturer Casar reports that it has supplied around 30 Multi-Tasker rail-mounted cranes from German rail-mounted crane manufacturer Kirow Ardelt with hoist rope.
The Multi-Taskers are bound for the international market, says Casar, and have been fitted with Casar's rotation resistant Eurolift rope. Due to the Multi-Taskers' opposing double drum configurations, Lang lay right and left ropes were used, Casar says, with DIN 3091 solid thimbles as end connections.
There are currently seven different classes of Multi-Taskers capable of varying load capacities and, depending on the class, the cranes spool between one and four layers. The most common rope diameter on the Multi-Taskers is 24 mm while the length varies by crane type, reports Casar.
In addition to increasing payloads for lifting, DSM says synthetic lifting solutions offer several other benefits over steel. Their lighter weight makes them easier for crews to handle, speeding up operations while also reducing the number of personnel needed. Another difference, specifically for synthetic link chains and slings, is the reduced risk to damage cargo, DSM explains.
DSM points to trails conducted by heavy lift and transport specialist Mammoet to enforce its point. Mammoet trialled lifting solutions made with Dyneema and concluded synthetics made their work more manageable, DSM says. Using Green Pin Tycan Chain (which is made of Dyneema) from Dutch below-the-hook lifting and lashing fittings manufacturer Van Beest, Mammoet found that it not only allowed them to complete tasks faster and with smaller teams, but the lighter ropes and slings put less physical strain on personnel, an important factor with an ageing workforce, DSM points out. "The main benefit of Dyneema is the weight. It's more manageable. With steel, it's never manageable," says Bas Geerts, SPMT supervisor at Mammoet.
"At Mammoet, we pride ourselves on having the safety of our team as the safety of our team as our number one focus. Green Pin Tycan helps us acheive that," affirms Wouter van Noort, managing director of Mammoet Europe.
DSM believes the future for Dyneema is positive, with increasing numbers of companies utilising it. For example, US rope specialist Samson now offers the K-100 Dyneema based rope for mobile cranes while, offshore, Huisman and MacGregor also offer solutions using Dyneema ( see the ropes and winches feature in the February 2018 issue of ICST). In addition, a general trend towards increased health and safety in the workplace means that the appeal of a lighter, softer alternative to steel is clear.
Austrian fibre and steel wire rope specialist Teufelberger has launched a free app to help determine the discard status crane rope. Called SIDIS the app calculates the level of wear according to the discard criteria stipulated in ISO 4309. This makes it suitable for inspectors, maintenance managers and all those who inspect steel wire ropes, says Teufelberger.
In order for the app to make the point of discard calculation, users need to: enter basic rope data (such as rope length and design); enter the name of the company for which the rope inspection is being carried out; select the crane it was use on, including the specific rope application; and enter rope inspection data (such as the diameter of the rope, the number of wire breakages, whether there's any corrosion etc). Once this has been done, the app then makes the calculation.


text:
Turkish government blocks care of Kurdish HDP's jailed ex-leader Demirtaş
By Ulas Atesci
Nearly two months after the beginning of the latest Turkish invasion into Syria to drive the Kurdish nationalist People's Protection Units (YPG) from the Turkish-Syrian border, reports have emerged that Ankara is denying medical care to jailed Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) leader Selahattin Demirtaş.
Last week, amid a growing crackdown on Kurdish politicians and newly-elected HDP mayors, Aygül Demirtaş, Demirtaş's sister and one of his lawyers, stated on social media that her brother had still not been taken to the hospital despite losing consciousness on November 26.
On December 2, she wrote on Twitter: "Our client and my brother Selahattin Demirtaş lost consciousness due to chest tightness and inability to breathe on Nov. 26 at 5:30 a.m. He was unconscious for a long time and he received first response from his cellmate Abdullah Zeydan."
According to Aygül Demirtaş, her brother asked to be dispatched to a clinic for a more extensive treatment instead of the emergency room. Moreover, "The prison doctor wanted Demirtaş to be sent to cardiology, neurology and gastroenterology departments. We, as his lawyers, asked for his immediate dispatch to a hospital."
Nonetheless, Demirtaş was not sent to hospital until his sister publicized his health condition on social media. That same evening, he was transferred to the hospital and all necessary tests were conducted. He was then brought back to the jail. According to his sister, "no life-threatening condition has been detected."
This comes amid the increased Turkish government crackdown on Kurdish nationalist politicians and newly elected mayors. Almost at the same time, HDP Viranşehir district executive Emine Aslan Aydoğan, aged 64, died in hospital. She had been in jail for 16 months.
Since the March 31 local elections, the total number of HDP-elected municipalities where trustees have been appointed has reached at least 24 out of 65, and 14 co-mayors have been arrested since. On Friday, the mayors of Muradiye, Özalp and Başkale districts in the eastern province of Van were detained over "membership in a terrorist organization" and "making terrorist propaganda." This is the usual pretext used by the government against its opponents without any evidence.
According to a party statement, over the last two weeks, "over 150 HDP administrators, members and sympathizers were taken into custody and many of them were later arrested and jailed."
This assault on democratic rights was admitted by Turkish presidential spokesperson İbrahim Kalın on November 27 in Berlin, during an interview by Deutsche Welle's Conflict Zone host Tim Sebastian. When he asked why the HDP mayors were removed from their posts although court trials are still underway and they have yet to be convicted, Kalın said: "They will be charged of course."
This is not the first time that elected Kurdish mayors have been dismissed. The HDP has long been a target of blatantly anti-democratic acts by the AKP government and state authorities, with many of its leaders jailed for supporting "terrorism." In 2016–17, during the state of emergency imposed by Ankara after the failed 2016 NATO-backed military coup, the government ousted more than 90 HDP-backed mayors elected in 2014, replacing them with "trustees."
This crackdown on Kurdish politicians has escalated especially since the end of the "peace process" between Ankara and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a strategy to use the PKK to strengthen Turkey's hand in Iraq and Syria. The "peace process" continued in fits and starts from 2009 to 2015.
After Washington made the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG)—an offshoot of the PKK—its main proxy army in Syria, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) government ended the process, fearing to lose its Kurdish region. It launched a bloody military assault in Kurdish towns.
Amid the AKP government's crackdown on Kurdish towns, 4,000 people were killed and 200,000 people forced to flee their homes. In 2016, the AKP passed a constitutional amendment stripping HDP deputies of parliamentary immunity, with Republican People's Party (CHP) support. As a result, today, the HDP's previous leaders, Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ, and its several ex-deputies are still political prisoners. According to the HDP, more than 16,000 party members have been detained and at least 3,500 jailed since 2015.
The defense of democratic rights requires a principled opposition to this state crackdown and support for the freeing all political prisoners.
It does not, however, entail any support to the political program and Kurdish bourgeois nationalists. The collaboration of Demirtaş and the HDP with Washington and its European imperialist allies in Syria exposes their own political bankruptcy and hostility to democratic rights.
It is impossible to oppose the jailing and persecution of Demirtaş on a principled basis without opposing the policy of the Kurdish nationalists in neighboring Syria. There, working closely with Washington and the European powers, they have operated mass detention camps in which tens of thousands of people are incarcerated in horrific conditions, denied sufficient food, simply on the charge of being Islamic State (IS) fighters. The Syrian Kurdish nationalists' use of their troops to serve as prison guards for such facilities is a devastating exposure of their own reactionary policy.
Inside Turkey, the HDP is politically complicit in this policy. The HDP's current co-leader Sezai Temelli declared on Thursday: "IS is still a big danger for world and the Middle East," and appealed for imperialist assistance against the IS: "If the international powers are a force, then they have to save the Middle East, the world and Syria from this scourge."
Within Turkey itself, the HDP has called for closer ties with the CHP, backed it in this year's local elections, and continued to call for an alliance with the Turkish bourgeoisie's traditional, anti-Kurdish party of government.
In a recent interview, Demirtaş said: "The HDP should be prepared to cooperate and ally with all sections without exception within the framework of the principles of democracy and to demonstrate that it is a candidate for the administration of the country."
This record is a further exposure of the pro-imperialist and pro-war orientation of bourgeois nationalism, and the necessity of the political unification of the working class of all nationalities in a common socialist and revolutionary struggle against imperialist war.
US assassination of Suleimani staggers Turkish government
Wider war over Libya looms as France, Egypt denounce Turkish intervention
Erdogan vows to send Turkish troops into Libya
War Drive in the Middle East
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
European powers move toward scrapping nuclear accord with Iran


text:
package org.codemucker.jmutate.pattern;

import java.util.Collection;

import org.codemucker.jfind.FindResult;
import org.codemucker.jmutate.DefaultMutateContext;
import org.codemucker.jmutate.JMutateContext;
import org.codemucker.jmutate.SourceFilter;
import org.codemucker.jmutate.SourceTemplate;
import org.codemucker.jmutate.TestSourceHelper;
import org.codemucker.jmutate.ast.JType;
import org.codemucker.jmutate.ast.matcher.AJType;
import org.codemucker.jmutate.util.SourceAsserts;
import org.codemucker.jpattern.generate.GenerateBuilder;
import org.junit.Test;

public class BeanBuilderTransformTest {

	JMutateContext ctxt = DefaultMutateContext.with().defaults().build();

	@Test
	public void test_apply_pattern(){
		FindResult<JType> types = findTypesToTransform();
		JType type = types.getFirst();

		whenTransformAppliedTo(type);

	    JType expected = generateExpect(ctxt);
	    SourceAsserts.assertAstsMatch(expected, type);
	}

	private void whenTransformAppliedTo(JType type) {
		ctxt.obtain(BeanBuilderTransform.class)
			.setTarget(type)
			.transform();
	}

	public JType generateExpect(JMutateContext ctxt){
		SourceTemplate t=ctxt.newSourceTemplate();
		t.pl("@" + GenerateBuilder.class.getSimpleName());
		t.pl("public static class TestBuilderBean {");
		t.pl("	private String myString;");
		t.pl("	private int myInt;");
		t.pl("	private Collection<String> col;");

		t.pl("	public TestBuilderBean(String myString,int myInt,Collection<String> col){this.myString = myString;this.myInt=myInt;this.col=col;}");
		t.pl("	public static class Builder {");
		t.pl("		private String myString;");
		t.pl("		private int myInt;");
		t.pl("		private Collection<String> col;");

		t.pl("		public TestBuilderBean build(){");
		t.pl("			return new TestBuilderBean(myString,myInt,col);");
		t.pl("		}");

		t.pl("		public Builder setCol(Collection<String> col){");
		t.pl("			this.col = col;");
		t.pl("			return this;");
		t.pl("		}");

		t.pl("		public Builder setMyInt(int myInt){");
		t.pl("			this.myInt = myInt;");
		t.pl("			return this;");
		t.pl("		}");

		t.pl("		public Builder setMyString(String myString){");
		t.pl("			this.myString = myString;");
		t.pl("			return this;");
		t.pl("		}");

		t.pl("	}");
		t.pl("}");
		return t.asResolvedJTypeNamed("TestBuilderBean");
	}

	private FindResult<JType> findTypesToTransform() {
	    FindResult<JType> found = TestSourceHelper.newSourceScannerAllSrcs()
			.filter(SourceFilter.with()
				//.addIncludeTypes(JTypeMatchers.withAnnotation(GenerateBuilder.class))
				.typeMatches(AJType.with().name(TestBuilderBean.class))
			)
			.build()
			.findTypes();
	    return found;
    }

	@GenerateBuilder
	public static class TestBuilderBean {
		private String myString;
		private int myInt;
		private Collection<String> col;
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Permits & Inspection Division
http://www.garrettcounty.org/permits-inspections
permitsandinspections@garrettcounty.org
Courthouse Administrative Building
203 South Fourth Street-Room 208
Building Info & Guides
Energy Conservation Code
Grading Permits
2010 Stormwater Ordinance
Erosion and Sediment Control
2013 Erosion & Sediment Control Ordinance
Garrett County Floodplain Management Ordinance
Floodplain Purpose, Authority, and Jurisdiction
Floodplain Zones
Development Regulations in Floodplain Zones
Development - Floodplain
Development - Floodway
Floodplain Permit Process
EPA Lead-Safe Certification
Public Facilities Locator
County and State Agencies
Revised Floodplain Management Ordinance - August 20, 2013
Last Updated on Aug 7, 2013 at 11:01am | Permits & Inspection Division
The Garrett County Commissioners will conduct a public hearing on August 20, 2013 at 4:15 p.m. in the Commissioner's Meeting Room, Room 209, 203 S. Fourth Street, Courthouse, Oakland, MD. The purpose of the meeting is to review and take public comment on a proposal to update and re-adopt the County's Floodplain Management Ordinance to assure compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program.
Pursuant to the Code of Federal Regulations – 44 C.F.R. Section 59.22, this action is necessary to update the County's current Flood Management Regulations to reflect the adoption of a revised "Flood Insurance Study for Garrett County, Maryland and Incorporated Areas" effective October 2, 2013. The update will include adoption of all accompanying updated Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) effective October 2, 2013 and amendments to the current Ordinance.
Local amendments include the designation of a Floodplain Administrator, specifying the duties and responsibilities for the administration of the regulations, specifying procedures for the variance process, adding new definitions and adopting the revised Flood Study and updated Flood Insurance Rate Maps.
Copies of the draft ordinance and updated Study and Mapping are available for review at the County Permits & Inspections Office, 2008 Maryland Highway, Suite 3, Mtn. Lake Park, MD, Monday thru Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. and at the County's website, www.garrettcounty.org, under Planning and Land Development – Permits and Inspections. Interested citizens are welcome to attend.
Revised Floodplain Management Ordinance - DRAFT
Flood Insurance Study & Flood Insurance Rate Maps - Revised
(Study & Maps Compatible with Internet Explorer Only)


Australia outclassed Malaysia 8-3 to lift their eigth title at the Azlan Shah Cup tonight. It was short of a master class performance but Australia punished Malaysia in the penalty corner department with Chris Cirello netting four of the goals.
Malaysia were at sea in the opening first quarter as the Aussies ran rings around them. It could however be attributed to final jitters as most players were playing in a major final for the first time.
Chris Cirello opened scoring off a penalty corner in the 6th minute before Eddie Okenden doubled the advantage in the 11th minute. Cirello then made it 3-0 in the 17th minute before Malaysia woke up to play hockey.
and Malaysia reduced the deficit as Ahmad Kazamiril shot was saved by keeper Andrew Charter but Shahril Saabah slammed home the rebound.
The Aussies were then given anxious moments by the Malaysians but both teams could not find the mark despite being awarded penalty corners.
Malaysia got their second in the 42nd minute via a Rashid bahrom deflection but Cirelo scored two minutes later to make it 4-2.
Nicholas Budgeon made it 5-2 in the 46th minute before Cirello scored his fourth and Australia's sixth in the 53rd minute.
Matt Ghodes made it 7-2 in the 65th minute before Fitri Saaari made it 7-3 two minutes later.
tristan White scored his first senior international goal in the 68th minute to make it 8-3, a most one sided final in recent times.


text:
AR - Trusts - Trust for care of animal. This statute represents Arkansas' pet trust law. The law provides that a trust may be created to provide for the care of an animal alive during the settlor's lifetime. The trust terminates upon the death of the animal or, if the trust was created to provide for the care of more than one animal alive during the settlor's lifetime, upon the death of the last surviving animal.
AR - Veterinary - Veterinary Practice Code These are the state's veterinary practice laws. Among the provisions include licensing requirements, laws concerning the state veterinary board, veterinary records laws, and the laws governing disciplinary actions for impaired or incompetent practitioners.
AR - Wildlife, captive - Chapter 09.00. Captive Wildlife/Hunting Resort Regulations These Arkansas regulations provide the rules for possession of captive wildlife. It is unlawful to possess, hold captive, confine or enclose any live wildlife, whether native or non-native, migratory or imported, unless otherwise specified in the chapter. Exceptions include members of American Zoo and Aquarium Association, bona fide scientific research that significantly benefits wildlife (with a permit), USDA licensed AWA exhibitors, and others. The regulations also state that "[i]t is unlawful to keep non-native wildlife under inhumane or unhealthy conditions." The release and hunting of captive wildlife is also prohibited, subject to certain exceptions.
Ash v. State
Police raided defendant's home and found an area converted into an arena for dog fighting. Defendant was found guilty of promoting or engaging in dog fighting or possessing a dog for that purpose. On appeal, the court found that the based on the evidence a jury could have reasonably concluded that defendant was aware that on property owned by her and her husband an arena had been built for the purpose of clandestine dog fighting and that she was aware it was so being used.
Detailed Discussion of Arkansas Great Ape Laws In Arkansas, gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans, and gibbons are protected because of their status as "endangered species" under state law. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (GFC) prohibits the importation, transportation, sale, purchase, and possession of endangered species unless the animals were legally acquired and are held under a permit.The following discussion begins with a general overview of the various state statutes and regulations affecting Great Apes. It then analyzes the applicability of those laws to the possession and use of apes for specific purposes, including their possession as pets, for scientific research, for commercial purposes, and in sanctuaries.
Elliot v. Hurst
This tort case involves appellee's suit against appellant for appellant's conversion of appellee's wolf hybrid dog named Rambo. The appellee in this case had placed an ad stating that he had a certain breed of dogs for sale. When appellant went to see the dogs, she noticed a serious leg infection. After consulting with the local prosecutor's office and an animal organization, she returned to the owner's home to take the dog in for treatment. The consulting veterinarian determined that the leg had to be amputated. The court held that the recovery was limited to the market value at the time prior to the amputation.
Free v. Jordan
In a replevin action to recover possession of a lost dog from its finder, the court reversed and remanded the case so a jury could determine whether the statute of limitations was tolled due to the defendant's alleged fraudulent concealment of his possession of the dog.
Grise v. State
The Defendant was charged under the Arkansas cruelty to animal statute for the killing of a hog that had tresspass into his field. The Defendant was found guilty and appealed. The Supreme Court found that the lower court commited error by instructing the jury that all killing is needless. The Court reveresed the judgment and remanded it for further consideration.
JONES v. ST. LOUIS, I. M. & S. RY. CO.
This involved an action by R. D. Jones against the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway Company, claiming $2,000 damages,--$1,000 for the value of a colt killed by defendant's train, and $1,000 damages for not posting notice of the killing as required by the statute. The court looked at areas in the market outside of the locality since local information on the colt's market value was not available. The court affirmed the lower court's judgment due to a lack in plaintiff's proofs at trial.
Kankey v. State
A district court found the appellant's animals had been lawfully seized, and then divested appellant of ownership of the animals and vested custody to the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). The appellant filed an appeal in the civil division of the circuit court, but the circuit court dismissed the appeal as untimely and not properly perfected. Upon another appeal, the Arkansas Court of Appeals found it had no jurisdiction and therefore dismissed the case.


text:
Big Poppa's
Updated: June 23rd, 2019
96 Oxford Street Darlinghurst 2010
Photography: Kimberley Low
Main-dessertView Menu
Received on May 31, 2017. Subject to change.
notable cocktails
Mates Lewis Jaffrey (ex-Shady Pines, The Baxter Inn) and Jared Merlino (Lobo Plantation) were spending too much on cheese. Every time they hung out, they'd find themselves sitting around eating, wine glasses in hand and hip-hop on the stereo.
They opened Big Poppa's in 2016 – in part for better access to cheap cheese. The main menu has about a dozen dinner options. More than half contain cheese, but none of them are cheese platters – there's a separate menu for that.
Upstairs, chefs Liam O'Driscoll and Jase Barron (both ex-Pendolino and Glebe Street Diner) preside over a mostly Italian restaurant. It has a classic look – black-and-white with a few Chianti bottles for character.
Downstairs has more of a cocktail-bar vibe, enhanced by dim lighting, leather booths and velvety carpet. The list includes a fizzy Fiore Collins which combines hibiscus and rosehip mezcal with Dubonnet, tequila and lime. Amazingly, the cocktails and Big Poppa's multinational wine list can be consumed (with or without food) until 3am.
But eating is a good choice. Gnocchi is made with semolina, cut into big discs (an old-school Roman thing) and served with beef cheeks; vongole come with crispy pig-jowl bacon; and hand-cut pappardelle is flavoured with a lamb ragu.
Fair warning: you'd better like hip-hop. That's all that's ever played at Big Poppa's, which is named after The Notorious B.I.G. track of the same name.
A recipe from Big Poppa's is featured in The Broadsheet Italian Cookbook. Buy your copy at shop.broadsheet.com.au.
Phone:0499 052 201
Website:bigpoppa.com.au


text:
This Is Why You NEVER Tap On A Glass Shark Tank [WATCH]
A video recorded at the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. will make you jump out of your seat…
At one of the interactive exhibits, a family decided to play a trick on their grandmother that very nearly gave her a heart attack.
The International Spy Museum features the largest collection of international espionage artifacts ever placed on public display.
The International Spy Museum, a museum exploring the craft, practice, history, and contemporary role of espionage, opened in Washington, DC on July 19, 2002. The International Spy Museum is the only public museum in the United States solely dedicated to espionage and the only one in the world to provide a global perspective on an all-but-invisible profession that has shaped history and continues to have a significant impact on world events.
The International Spy Museum features the largest collection of international espionage artifacts ever placed on public display. Many of these objects are being seen by the public for the first time. These artifacts illuminate the work of famous spies and pivotal espionage actions as well as help bring to life the strategies and techniques of the men and women behind some of the most secretive espionage missions in world history.
In development for more than seven years, the Museum drew upon the knowledge of leading experts and practitioners in the Intelligence Community. The International Spy Museum's Advisory Board of Directors and Advisory Council include, among others:
Judge William Webster Former Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Director of Central Intelligence
R. James Woolsey Former Director of Central Intelligence
Major General Oleg Kalugin Former Chief, KGB Foreign Counterintelligence
Antonio Joseph Mendez Former Chief, Graphics and Authentication Division, Central Intelligence Agency
Jonna Hiestand Mendez Former Chief of Disguise, Central Intelligence Agency
Dame Stella Rimington Former Director General, British Security Service (MI5)
The mission of the International Spy Museum is to educate the public about espionage and intelligence in an engaging way and to provide a context that fosters understanding of their important role in and impact on current and historic events. The Museum focuses on human intelligence and reveals the role spies have played in world events throughout history. It is committed to the apolitical presentation of the history of espionage in order to provide visitors with impartial, accurate information.
H/T: SpyMuseum/ Wimp
Chicago Celebrates Bloody Memorial Day With 52 People Shot In Violent Holiday Weekend
Mother Notices Stroller Upside Down In Rushing Water, Then Realizes The Toddler Is Still Inside


There were already two live-action movies made about Tintin. Has anyone else seen them? I have them on DVD. One is fairly rubbish (The Blue Oranges) but The Golden Fleece was great.
There's something very nostalgic about the films. I like watching them before bed because they're so simple and cute. Also, JP gets his kit off in Fleece. Mmmm, JP 50 years ago.
I haven't seen Blue Oranges but Golden Fleece was rather average. I can see why the new Tintin wasn't made live-action, it just looks silly and quaint here. JP looks the part but is not a good actor. On the plus side, he pulls off the physical action side of Tintin and the localities are interesting and detailed. It's charming but not the least bit suspenseful.
There's something about both films that I admire. Sure, they're alien stories like a certain Lake of Sharks but they do have a Herge feel to them in the story premise and film style with their own quirks just like any album in the canon.


This is a 3.98 mi Other in St Louis, MO, United States. The Other has a total ascent of 72.4 ft and has a maximum elevation of 620.7 ft. This route was created by nmschmittlach on 04/09/2012. View other Others that nmschmittlach has done or find similar maps in Richmond Heights.


An App or portal can be built which provides the clients to easily check-In to the hotels and help them avoid the long lines, thereby saving them time and energy. This also ensures that your staff can concentrate on other ways of pleasing the clients instead of wasting time on the repetitive job of check-ins.
An app that can publish all the dishes prepared by your restaurant. You can customize it to show a variety of dishes and also keep updating it as and when required. The app can also help the customers plan their order even before coming to the restaurant so that they can save time in thinking of what to order when they come to the restaurant. This will also ensure that tables are cleared more often so that more clients can be attended.The app can also rate the food so that you can understand the favorites of the consumers and concentrate more on such dishes.
People no more like to wait! With the invention of smartphones of internet of things almost everything and anything can now be automated or control from a remote location. This can be made use for the hospitality sector too. Build an app for your restaurant that enables your clients to book the table of their choice when they visit your place.
We have developed mobiles apps and websites enabling online food ordering, rating dishes online, Searching for food menus of different hotels and providers right from the applications and so on. Our domain expertise and our skills for designing elegant UI / UX for this business domain make us a perfect fit for building any custom app solution needs.


CES 2017 has now come and gone and while there was not exactly a lot in the way of Android TV news coming through, there was one specific announcement which not only caught the attention of Android TV-focused consumers, but the tech industry as a whole. This was of course, the introduction of the next-generation SHIELD Android TV console, the New SHIELD.
On first impressions, many would be forgiven for thinking that not much has changed between the old and new versions. After all, they do look largely identical. But there are some notable differences. For instance, while the new one does pack in exactly what you get with the old one, it does so in a much smaller form factor. So you are getting everything that is good about the old SHIELD wrapped up in a more compact and space-saving size. Likewise, the SHIELD Controller has undergone a makeover. One which is seemingly designed with the gamer in mind, so you should expect a controller which offers a much better grip than before. Another big change is that while the price of the two units (16GB and 500GB) have remained the same, there is an addition which makes the new version significantly better value. The SHIELD Remote is now included in the box. With the old SHIELD, you were paying for this as a separate accessory which did mean that some users might have only had access to the SHIELD Controller. Now you can pick up the new SHIELD in its smaller form, with redesigned SHIELD Controller, and with the SHIELD Remote for the same price you would have paid for the old SHIELD(s). Namely, $199.99 for the 16GB model and $299.99 for the 500GB model. If you would like to be one of the first to own either of the two new SHIELD models, then it is probably worth noting that they are both already available to pre-order.
Of course, much of the real magic is going to happen at the user interface level. First and foremost, the new version of the SHIELD comes running on Android 7.0 (Nougat) out of the box. While the old SHIELD is almost guaranteed to be receiving the Nougat update, it has yet to receive it. So you can be sure that you are running the very latest version of Android TV on the new SHIELD from day one. Likewise, the new SHIELD will gain access to the Google Assistant. Again, this is something that will make its way to the old SHIELD (as well as other Nougat-running Android TV devices), but the difference is that the new SHIELD comes with a hands-free level of usage. Which means that you will be able to make use of the Google Assistant by voice alone. Something that will not be available on most of the other Android TV devices, including the older SHIELD. For those devices, you will need to activate the Google Assistant first, before it starts to 'listen'.
Moving past the SHIELD, and while this was largely the sum of the Android TV announcements that came out of CES 2017, it was not the only TV-related announcement to come through. In fact, TV played a big role in this year's CES event and for those looking for a new smart TV in the coming months, there will be plenty of choices to pick from. TCL are certainly aiming to be one you will consider as they announced that no less than 25 new Roku OS-powered TVs would be hitting the market in 2017. These will come in varying sizes and will form three specific ranges, the TCL C-Series, P-Series and S-Series. So if Roku OS is your TV OS of choice, then you will have a number of options and price-points to consider as the months roll on.
Then there was Xiaomi who announced the launch of their Mi TV 4, which is not only super-thin, but also comes with some intelligence built-in. This TV is based upon Android and looks to learn from your habits so that it can provide a greater ability to recommend content that you might actually be interested in. In addition to its intelligence, this is also a TV set which comes with all the various supports that you might expect, including support for 4K, HDR, Dolby Atmos, and more. While also making use of a modular design where parts can more easily be removed, replaced and/or repaired as and when needed. So this is looking like a really good option. Although, the downside is that it is not going to be available everywhere and likely won't be available to consumers in the US. Likewise, there are no firm details on the price as of yet, with Xiaomi simply confirming at the event that the most premium version will not be priced any higher than $2000.
However, if you are interested in the best viewing experience possible then you might want to check out what Samsung has to offer with their new QLED TVs or LG with their new Super UHD TVs which are apparently extremely rich in color due to LG's use of Nano Cell technology. In fact, it seems a debate has already started raging as to whether LG's or Samsung's approach to 2017 TVs is better. A debate which will no doubt continue as the year goes on. You can see both of the South Korean offerings below and for reference, Samsung is on the left and LG is on the right.


The ZoomTelephonics 5345 is another 8x4 cable modem from the brand that runs download speeds in excess of 343Mbps and is certified by most cable service providers. The 5345 is a slight upgrade from the 5341J model by having a full-band capture digital tuner which can deliver the fastest downstream frequency speeds. Continuing to have high ratings, this is a great cost-effective solution for a rental replacement and has a two-year warranty.


Are you just beginning to homebrew? Joining your local homebrew club is probably the single most important step you can take toward making really great beer.
Let's face it, unless you know how to assimilate a lot of information from a lot of varied sources, you will be all alone in your homebrewing endeavors. You may make OK beer, but when you want to take your homebrew to the next level, join a club.
Local clubs offer a wealth of experience and information in the form of their membership. These guys and gals have been perfecting their brewing craft for many many years and are brewing truly great beer. Many will be award winning homebrewers.
Just think of the mistakes you could avoid by asking for their help...and they will be glad to help in any way they can. Many will come over to your house and walk you through your first all grain brew from recipe formulation through the fermentation and bottling or kegging operations.
I can't vouch for all clubs, The Dead Yeast Society in Lafayette, Louisiana, only charges $25 per year for an individual membership and that includes three yeast starters from our club's yeast library. That alone just about covers the membership fees.
Even if your club is new, you will find like-minded individuals with many years of brewing experience just waiting to help young brewers and advanced brewers. Many homebrew clubs have facebook pages for their members to ask questions and receive answers back quickly about any topic on their mind, as well as receive updates on club activities.
Come on over and check us out. Ask a question or just lurk and see what homebrewing is all about. Our club just finished volunteering 145 gallons of home brewed beer to our local beer festival called Gulf Brew which benefits the Acadiana Center For the Arts. We volunteered our beer and our time to benefit this great organization and possibly even recruited some new homebrewers in the process.
Many homebrew competitions are sponsored by local clubs and the proceeds from entry fees etc. generally go to support a local charity. How else can you learn how to judge beers in a competition setting, taste some of the best beers you have ever drank, and support a great cause at the same time?
I can't overemphasize the importance of having a mentor to help you through the beginning phases of your brewing experience. If you don't have a local club, see if you have a source for homebrew supplies locally. Put up a sign in the store requesting all interested brewers to show up to the first meeting. If you get some interest, start a club in your local area, click here to see how it's done. This is a link to an article on the AHA website. If you have a club, but it's not registered with the AHA, click here.
Along with joining your local brewing club, always support your local homebrew supply store. Get to know the guys working there. They will be great helps in finding equipment, ingredients, and learning about beer.