text:
Kim Jae-Wook Krystal Jung for a New KDrama Entitled "Crazy Love"
Upcoming drama for Kim Jae-wook and Krystal (Jung Soo-jung)!
On July 27, an official from Management SOOP, Kim's agency, said, "Kim Jae-wook has received an offer to appear in the drama Crazy Love and is positively reviewing it. He has been offered the role of Noh Go-jin, a lecturer."
Meanwhile, a source from Krystal's agency H& Entertainment also said, "Krystal Jung has received an offer to play the role of Lee Ji-young, Noh Go-jin's secretary, and [she] is considering to appear in the drama Crazy Love."
Crazy Love will follow the story of a man pretending to have amnesia to escape death and a woman pretending to be his fiancee after finding out she has only a little time left to live.
Kim is being wooed to play Noh Go-jin, a company CEO and the best math instructor in Korea. If he accepts, this will mark Kim's small-screen comeback after two years, following his 2019 drama Her Private Life.
Meanwhile, Krystal is the potential actor for the role of Lee Ji-young, Go-jin's secretary who is so quiet and introverted, her presence cannot be felt by those around her. She is one of the company's top employees. Krystal last starred in the 2020 horror thriller Search. She is currently a part of the cast of the upcoming drama Police University, which is set to premiere next month.
Review1 week ago


Tean, Blythe Bridge, Cheadle, Uttoxeter, Leek and surrounding areas.
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Mailing List Archive: open(O_DIRECT) on a tmpfs?
backing store for this filesystem.
the stuff below equally applies to any database).
which receives alot of small updates to a battery-backed RAM.
which can not be distributed, becomes real bottleneck.
start a database. And it failed.
on it and placing my files there.
so it would seem misleading to support it.
direct, so O_DIRECT should be allowed as a no-op upon it.
metadata), would it be right for tmpfs to deceive it?
but could be persuaded by a chorus behind you.
flag do you think tmpfs should support which it does not?
> backing store for this filesystem.
partition in case I need the RAM instead of using it for a filesystem.
Therefore it will sometimes have a backing store.
so it would make sense to allow it at least there.
BTW: Maybe you could use a ramdisk instead of the loop-on-tmpfs.
> so it would seem misleading to support it.
> direct, so O_DIRECT should be allowed as a no-op upon it.
something which would currently work if allowed.
> metadata), would it be right for tmpfs to deceive it?
pattern or the data being much larger than physical memory.
> but could be persuaded by a chorus behind you.
restricting O_DIRECT, feel free to point it out.
> flag do you think tmpfs should support which it does not?
> much larger than physical memory.
which inevitably impacts cache, even if O_DIRECT were requested.
citizen, to fall back to going without O_DIRECT when it's not supported.
>> much larger than physical memory.
> which inevitably impacts cache, even if O_DIRECT were requested.
> citizen, to fall back to going without O_DIRECT when it's not supported.
is the memory itself and thus, O_DIRECT could or should be supported.
>>> much larger than physical memory.
>> which inevitably impacts cache, even if O_DIRECT were requested.
>> citizen, to fall back to going without O_DIRECT when it's not supported.
> is the memory itself and thus, O_DIRECT could or should be supported.
logic to tell "can't do it" from "could if you asked the right way."
they know better how the users should do things.
> when it's not supported.
caching. File I/O is done directly to/from user space buffers.
This says nothing about (probably disk based) persistent backing store. I don't see why tmpfs has to conflict with it.
So I'd argue that it makes more sense to support O_DIRECT on tmpfs as the memory IS the backing store.
And EINVAL isn't even a very specific error.
> on tmpfs as the memory IS the backing store.
I wouldn't want tmpfs to stand out now as a lone obstacle.
Christoph, what's your take on this?
>> on tmpfs as the memory IS the backing store.
> A few more voices in favour and I'll be persuaded.
I see no reason to restrict it as is currently done.
so long as the code impact is miniscule.
> pattern or the data being much larger than physical memory.
allocations. Why do you think it has that special alignment requirements?
Are they cache related? Not at all!
'do not pollute the cache'. Here's the patch".
not integrated into VM cache machinery that much).
But _conceptually_ "direct DMAing" and "do-not-cache-me"
_This_ is the proper way to say "do not cache me".
I think tmpfs should just ignore O_DIRECT bit.
That won't require much coding.
>>pattern or the data being much larger than physical memory.
> allocations. Why do you think it has that special alignment requirements?
> Are they cache related? Not at all!
there being no cache, there are alignment restrictions.
IO _and_ to bypass cache (ie. no splice-like tricks).
> 'do not pollute the cache'. Here's the patch".
another, dumber, cache of same or less size (the pagecache) is useless.
fadvise does not change that.
may not exactly be wrong.
> > on tmpfs as the memory IS the backing store.
> I wouldn't want tmpfs to stand out now as a lone obstacle.
a cast of -1 or some sort (that is probably ugly as hell).
But that's it - looks like only O_DIRECT is "mishandled"
(which is not a big deal obviously).
Having tmpfs suppoting O_DIRECT makes sense.
the flag entirely, mask it away in open() or something like that.
addition to its tmpfs pages.
> > when it's not supported.
> Try to minimize cache effects of the I/O to and from this file.
> caching. File I/O is done directly to/from user space buffers.
> This says nothing about (probably disk based) persistent backing store. I don't see why tmpfs has to conflict with it.
> So I'd argue that it makes more sense to support O_DIRECT on tmpfs as the memory IS the backing store.
test apps that use O_DIRECT this way?
> > > when it's not supported.
> > Try to minimize cache effects of the I/O to and from this file.
> > caching. File I/O is done directly to/from user space buffers.
> > 512-byte boundaries suffices.
> > This says nothing about (probably disk based) persistent backing store. I don't see why tmpfs has to conflict with it.
> > So I'd argue that it makes more sense to support O_DIRECT on tmpfs as the memory IS the backing store.
>> pattern or the data being much larger than physical memory.
I'm not sure I can see how you find "don't use cache" not cache related.
write to cache as well as disk, since the data isn't needed in any buffer.
> not integrated into VM cache machinery that much).
> But _conceptually_ "direct DMAing" and "do-not-cache-me"
In the sense that you must do DMA or use cache, yes.
> _This_ is the proper way to say "do not cache me".
has a very bad effect on other i/o.
> I think tmpfs should just ignore O_DIRECT bit.
> That won't require much coding.
> > allocations. Why do you think it has that special alignment requirements?
> > Are they cache related? Not at all!
> I'm not sure I can see how you find "don't use cache" not cache related.
I feel that word "direct" has nothing to do with caching (or lack thereof).
even detect it - it works, it's just slow and eats a lot of RAM and CPU.
because I will write huge amounts of data in big blocks."
> > But _conceptually_ "direct DMAing" and "do-not-cache-me"
> > are orthogonal, right?
> In the sense that you must do DMA or use cache, yes.
and try to copy it using O_DIRECT i/o.
recursively, and then I run grep on that directory.
Can you explain why cp shouldn't cache the data it just wrote?
I *am* going to use it shortly thereafter!
> > _This_ is the proper way to say "do not cache me".
> it simply allows the system to make assumptions.
Exactly. If you don't need the data, Just let kernel know that.
for possible accesses in near future" == "do not cache"!.
cache that data - it _hasn't_ the data.
the file being written to? Not necessarily.
>>> allocations. Why do you think it has that special alignment requirements?
>>> Are they cache related? Not at all!
>> I'm not sure I can see how you find "don't use cache" not cache related.
> I feel that word "direct" has nothing to do with caching (or lack thereof).
> even detect it - it works, it's just slow and eats a lot of RAM and CPU.
> because I will write huge amounts of data in big blocks."
>>> But _conceptually_ "direct DMAing" and "do-not-cache-me"
>> In the sense that you must do DMA or use cache, yes.
> and try to copy it using O_DIRECT i/o.
> recursively, and then I run grep on that directory.
> Can you explain why cp shouldn't cache the data it just wrote?
> I *am* going to use it shortly thereafter!
>>> _This_ is the proper way to say "do not cache me".
>> it simply allows the system to make assumptions.
> Exactly. If you don't need the data, Just let kernel know that.
> for possible accesses in near future" == "do not cache"!.
interpretation of DONTNEED. Or O_DIRECT either, I agree.
> cache that data - it _hasn't_ the data.
bang. I have no problem with that.
> the file being written to? Not necessarily.
virtue, is its own reward.
tunable to do this, probably because the need isn't all that common.


The Cordon Corps Club is two 12-bottle shipments per year. The team at the Bunnell Family Cellar creates four themed collections for you to choose from to fulfill your shipment. The collections often reflect a selection of new releases, food focused wines (with pairing suggestions or recipes), and wine club only offerings. Shipment times are March and October. The average cost per shipment is $360-$440, plus applicable shipping, handling and taxes.


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Case Studies & Research
Liberal Iceland? 76% Against Cannabis Legalisation
A recent poll conducted by MMR Market and Media Research discovered that over 3/4 of Iceland's population are against the legalisation of cannabis for personal use in any form.
987 people responded to the poll and 76% of these respondents answered "against", with 57% stating they were "very against" a move for legalisation.
Iceland do not have any laws which allow the use, cultivation, sale or transport of cannabis. In fact, the country's law on narcotic drugs suggests that even small amounts of cannabis found on a person/s can result in arrests and fines.
Despite its supposed representation as a liberal haven, it seems that Iceland has some rather conservative stances on certain social topics. In 2014, reports surfaced in mainland Europe suggesting that Iceland smokes the most cannabis per capita and that the police tend to turn a blind eye to recreational use. However, follow up reports from inside the country debunked this theory.
Iceland Magazine stated in a 2015 article, "The claim that the authorities turn a blind eye to cannabis smoking or possession of small amounts of the drug is also wrong. While people don't face time in prison for possession of small amounts for personal use, the Police will arrest anyone carrying or consuming cannabis."
In fact, VICE Magazine published an article following these erroneous reports titled, 'Why Iceland Doesn't Deserve its Liberal Reputation'.
While these reports are all anecdotal, there still seems to be a complexing division in Iceland's representation from within the country compared to coverage outside its borders.
Despite the comprehensive results of the MMR poll, there seems to be a slow rise in citizens ready to accept legalisation. A 2011 poll asking the same question had an incredible 87% of respondents stating that they were against cannabis legalisation in Iceland, a ten percent increase compared to the latest poll. It also appears that, like many other countries, the younger generation is far more accepting of the use of cannabis for medical and recreational purposes.
41.3% of those who belonged to the youngest age group (18-29 years) said they were in favour of the introduction of the consumption of cannabis, compared with 25.9% of those who belonged to the age group 30-49 years, 10.2% of them belonging to the age group 50-67 years and 4.8% of those who belonged to the oldest age group (68 years and older).
Though the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes is strictly prohibited in Iceland, a handful of cannabis-based pharmaceutical drugs are allowed into the country.
This includes Sativex, which can be prescribed to patients with muscular dystrophy. These pharmaceuticals can only be obtained on prescription from approved neurosurgeons.
MedicalMarijuana.eu
With an international team of writers and over a decade of experience in the industry, MedicalMarijuana.eu aim to bring you the very latest in Medical Cannabis news from across the globe.
khronosnk says:
Great article! It's crazy people will be against this. Won't change a thing though, people will always buy medical marijuana online from sites like http://med420center.com
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
1Given name
2Animals
3Arts, entertainment, and media
3.1.1Albums
3.1.2Songs
3.2Other uses in arts, entertainment, and media
4Other uses
Look up Jessica in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Jessica may refer to:
Given name[edit]
Jessica (given name), includes a list of people and fictional characters with this name
Jessica Folcker, a Swedish singer known by the mononym Jessica
Jessica Jung, a Korean-American singer known by the mononym Jessica, former member of the South Korean girl group Girls' Generation
Jessica (The Merchant of Venice), a character in Shakespeare's play
Animals[edit]
Jessica (spider), a genus of spiders
Catocala jessica, a moth of the Noctuidae superfamily, described from Arizona through Colorado to Illinois and California
Perrona jessica, a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Clavatulidae
Arts, entertainment, and media[edit]
Jessika (opera), 1905 opera by Josef Bohuslav Foerster
Albums[edit]
Jessica (Gerald Wilson album), 1983
Jessica (sv), 1998 debut album by Swedish singer Jessica Folcker
Songs[edit]
"Jessica" (instrumental), a 1973 song by the Allman Brothers Band
"Jessica" (Elliot Minor song), a 2007 song by English band Elliot Minor
"Jessica", a 2001 single by Dir En Grey from the album Kisō
"Jessica", a song by Adam Green
"Jessica", a song by Down with Webster
"Jessica", a song by Herbie Hancock originally on the album Fat Albert Rotunda
"Jessica", a song by Major Lazer featuring Ezra Koenig on the Major Lazer album Free the Universe
"Jessica", a song by The Beau Brummels on the album Bradley's Barn
"Jessica", a song by Seals and Crofts on the album Diamond Girl
"Jessica", a song by Israeli band Ethnix and Yevgeni Shapovalov
"Jessica", a song by Avi Buffalo on their self-titled debut album
"Jessica", a song by Regina Spektor
Other uses in arts, entertainment, and media[edit]
Jessica (film), a 1962 film with Maurice Chevalier and Angie Dickinson
Jessica (miniseries), based on the 1998 novel
Jessica (novel), by Bryce Courtenay 1998
Jessica, a 2004 Australian film directed by Peter Andrikidis and starring Natasha Wanganeen
Jessica (painting), an 1890 painting by Dennis Miller Bunker
Other uses[edit]
Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in City Areas, an initiative of the European Investment Bank
MV Jessica, an oil tanker that spilled 568 tons of oil off the coast of the Galapagos Islands
Baby Jessica case, a well-publicized custody battle in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the early 1990s
Jessica's Law, a Florida law to punish child predators
Iscah, daughter of Haran in the Bible (Genesis 11:27, 29), speculated to be the source of the name 'Jessica'
Jessicka (born 1975), American musician
Topics referred to by the same term
This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Jessica.
If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jessica&oldid=1124810949"
All article disambiguation pages
All disambiguation pages


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Australian Bush Fires Donations for People and Wildlife
Posted on January 7th, 2020 by Ted Healey
If you would like to help the people and wildlife that have been affected by the devastating bush fires in Australia please read the following, submitted by Goway's Sydney office on 7 January 2020.
This is one source of information about how to best donate as of today:
There have been incredible outpourings of support and donations from all around the country, and the world, so we can definitely say that the community has responded in the best way possible already. Truckloads of clothing, food, animal feed and other donations have been heading into affected regions from all over Australia. The Red Cross and other agencies have now said please stop sending goods and start sending only money as they are better able to distribute that than other physical goods.
Donations to the various Fire Services will reach not only the fire service and their volunteers, but also families affected by loss in the fire regions. Celeste Barber's Facebook campaign was originally for NSW fire service but now that it's over $40 million she's advised it will go out to fire services across the country.
If you want to donate to the families and the communities in immediate need, we would suggest the Australian Red Cross as they are probably the primary agency along with Salvation Army
SUPPORTING THE CRITTERS OF THE CRISIS:
The NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service (WIRES) is taking donations https://www.wires.org.au/donate/emergency-fund
The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital also has a fundraising page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-thirsty-koalas-devastated-by-recent-fires
Our understanding is that both these agencies will share funds across state borders to others in need, but we are not certain that is true.
The Koala Clancy Foundation is taking donations to plant trees for the koala habitat: https://www.echidnawalkabout.com.au/koalas-bushfires-how-you-can-help/
We like the idea of supporting not only the koalas but all the other creatures which get less exciting media coverage. Here's an article about the wildlife on Kangaroo Island:
We suspect we'll hear of vulnerable very delicate populations of less known creatures like Dunnarts, lizards, frogs etc. which may have been in a very small area and are probably wiped out or devastated by the fires, which is where we think WIRES suits nicely.
DON'T PUT OFF YOUR TRIP
Whilst it seems all of Australia has "gone up in smoke" that is not true. The country is as big as mainland USA, and most of the country's touring highlights are still available.
With the help of Goway's Australia office and our inside knowledge we are able to design and organize an ultimate touring experience. When travelling Downunder we offer 24/7 support and advice.
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Karattupalayam is a village in Nambiyur block in Gobichettipalayam taluk of Erode District in Tamil Nadu State in India. Karattupalayam is 11 km distance from Nambiyur. It is situated about 10 km from Gobichettipalayam and 43.8 km distance from Erode. The total population of Karattupalayam is 7835 with 3935 male and 3900 female according to census 2011.

References

Villages in Erode district

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Lifestyle / Entertainment
David Mitchell: No lies, life can be a serious business
by Hannah Stephenson
Undated handout of David Mitchell. See PA Feature BOOK Mitchell. Picture credit should read: Mark Harrison/PA. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature BOOK Mitchell.
As the posh team captain on TV panel show Would I Lie To You?, David Mitchell's only worry is getting away with telling a few porkies to quickfire opponent Lee Mack.
But away from the spotlight, Mitchell admits that having a family of his own – he's married to TV presenter, writer and professional poker player Victoria Coren Mitchell, with whom he has a four-year-old daughter, Barbara – has increased his fears for the future.
"I'm probably more fearful in middle age," the 45-year-old comedian confesses.
"I now have a wife and a child, so in terms of society breaking down and the world collapsing, it's more frightening than when there's just you."
His priorities have changed hugely since his daughter was born, he admits.
"When it was just me on my own, things being probably fine was just good enough. But probably fine isn't good enough when I'm thinking about my child.
"Suddenly you need things to be definitely fine – and things are never definitely fine, and that's frightening.
"Your focus completely changes. You stay in a lot more and sleep a lot less. But I still do the same job and I love my job in the same way and Victoria similarly, but there's always something in your mind which is a different priority, a home you have to keep safe and supplied, and make sure our daughter is happy and seeing us a lot."
His latest book, Dishonesty Is The Second-Best Policy, is a collection of his columns written for the Observer between 2015 and 2019, tackling a plethora of subjects – from politics, the Olympics and terrorism, to rude street names, exercise and the commercialisation of Christmas.
Of course, Trump in the White House and the Brexit shambles have given him plenty of material.
"I wanted to reflect on Brexit and Trump and the way discourse is changing and the end of truth. But I also wanted to make sure there was stuff about chocolate bars and adverts and films, because I am a comedian and it should be a funny take on things."
There are plenty of comedic rants and clearly an underlying anger at many of the subjects he tackles. How difficult is it to be amusing while suppressing such ire?
"I find it's easier to be funnier when I've got something I want to say," says Mitchell.
"I find it hard to make neutral jokes. Jokes are what come when you are trying to argue a line, when you are trying to say that something is ridiculous or daft, fairly or unfairly criticised."
But his anger hasn't intensified with the onset of middle age, he stresses.
"I think I've always been quite irritable about politics.
"From the first days when I was doing panel shows, I got myself going through an energised irritability."
Born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, Mitchell is the son of a couple who ran a West Country pub in the '70s, and then moved to Oxford where they became lecturers in hotel management.
He began to tread the boards at New College prep school in Oxford, but never thought he had a real talent for comedy.
He failed to get into Oxford University but was offered a place at Cambridge to study history, becoming president of Cambridge Footlights, where he met Robert Webb.
The pair formed a double act which lasted more than 20 years, and he went on to win Baftas for Peep Show and That Mitchell And Webb Look, became the regular team captain on WILTY? and recently starred as William Shakespeare in Ben Elton's BBC2 sitcom, Upstart Crow.
His path to love was slightly more rocky. Mitchell met Coren in 2007 at a film premiere party and they went out on a few dates, before she emailed him to say that she didn't think the timing was right.
She went on to find another boyfriend. Mitchell went out and got drunk a lot. He was smitten and didn't want to date anyone else.
"I didn't tell my closest friends or my parents of the enormous sadness that overshadowed my life," he wrote in his 2012 memoir, Back Story.
"I was ashamed and I knew what they'd say, 'Stop indulging yourself in these hopeless feelings. Snap out of it. She doesn't want to go out with you – she said so.'"
He waited three years for her to ditch her boyfriend before making his move – and they've now been happily married for seven years.
"She's clever, funny, beautiful," he has said. "I think she's amazing."
Today, it sounds like she was well worth the wait.
"We laugh a lot at home. I love making my wife and my daughter laugh and they make me laugh a lot.
"Victoria is as obsessed with humour as I am and that's how we're bringing up our child.
"She may react strongly against it and get massively into Ibsen, I don't know."
Yet he hadn't always yearned for a family of his own. "I hadn't seen myself as someone who would necessarily get married or have a family," he says.
"It was very much meeting Victoria which made me think, 'Oh, now if I don't spend my life with her it would be awful', and then having a child came from that."
Dishonesty Is The Second-Best Policy by David Mitchell is published by Guardian Faber, priced £20. Available now.
Would I Lie To You?
Harry Maguire: Man Utd are on the up but there is much more work to do
Can Emma Hayes deliver back-to-back WSL titles for Chelsea?
Concern over care home staff receiving 'targeted misinformation' about vaccine
Meghan and Harry buy lunch for US veterans volunteering for charity


In light of the recent Umpqua Community College shootings in Oregon, I wish to express my heartfelt sympathy for the victims and their families.
Sadly, active shooter incidents are becoming more frequent. Having a preparedness plan for workplace violence could help save lives.
Run: If there is an accessible escape path, attempt to evacuate the premises. Call 911 when you are safe.
Hide: If evacuation is not possible, find a place to hide where the active shooter is less likely to find you. Lock and blockade the door, hide behind or under large items like file cabinets or desks, and remain quiet (mute your cell phone). If possible, call 911 to alert police to the shooter's location.
Fight: As a last resort, and only when your life is in imminent danger, attempt to disrupt and/or incapacitate the active shooter.
It's just as important to react appropriately to law enforcement when they arrive, so they know you are not the threat.
For further resources, consult the extensive DHS Active Shooter preparedness list. The U.S. Department of Labor plan covers the broader scope of workplace violence, including early warning signs of violence from an employee.
Readers: Does your company include Active Shooter Response in its Emergency Action Plan?


George V. Higgins's seminal crime novel is a down-and-dirty tale of thieves, mobsters, and cops on the mean streets of Boston. When small-time gunrunner Eddie Coyle is convicted on a felony, he's looking at three years in the pen--that is, unless he sells out one of his big-fish clients to the DA. But which of the many hoods, gunmen, and executioners whom he calls his friends should he send up the river? Told almost entirely in crackling dialogue by a vivid cast of lowlifes and detectives, The Friends of Eddie Coyle is one of the greatest crime novels ever written.


Mawlamyine (also spelled Mawlamyaing; Mon: မတ်မလီု pronounced [mo̤t məlɜ̤m]; Burmese: မော်လမြိုင်မြို့; MLCTS: mau la. mruing mrui.; pronounced [mɔ̀ləmjàiɴ mjo̰]), formerly Moulmein, is the fourth largest city of Myanmar (Burma), 300 km south east of Yangon and 70 km south of Thaton, at the mouth of Thanlwin (Salween) River. The city is the capital and largest city of Mon State, Myanmar and is the main trading center and seaport in south eastern Myanmar.


GApps Browser is a sandboxed browser for Google sites. What this means is that you can browse Google mobile websites securely within the app, but any external links will open in your default browser or other app. It is not much more than an embedded browser (please don't rate this app badly because of this), but it has many uses.
The main use for GApps Browser is that you can stay logged out of Google on your main browser (for privacy and security - it is recommended that you disable cookies and flash local storage). This way, you cannot easily be tracked by Google or have your Google session hijacked when on public Wifi. GApps Browser automatically uses HTTPS for all requests to Google.
GApps Browser is a great way to access your Google data and services on someone else's device (when borrowed, for example). Also, if you value your privacy and want to avoid leaking location, phone book, photos, and other data on your Android device to surveillance systems like PRISM, XKeyscore, Tempora, etc., then you can install CyanogenMod or other AOSP-based ROM on your device *without* GApps, and instead use this app to access Google's services in a sandboxed and controllable way (your Google data is already compromised by PRISM).
Lastly, Google's web apps are well-written - with this app you can start to question the gap between HTML5 apps and native apps. Google's web apps are mobile-enabled, load fast, have rich functionality, and generally use less bandwidth than native apps. Give it a try!
- Works like Mozilla Prism on the desktop. This is a mostly chrome-less browser that gets out of your way.
- Uses much less bandwidth than native apps (like Google+ app). No background sync'ing.
- Google's sites scale beautifully to most screen sizes, and are fast (usually faster than apps).
- Features local data storage and caching for reduced bandwidth usage and better speed.
Sites enabled: Google Plus, News, Groups, Ingress Intel, GMail, Calendar, Tasks, Drive, Maps, Search. Other Google sites (e.g. Android developer Console) are also accessible via the links within the apps or via Search.


Just like the buff window, where time is displayed to the closest minute (except on mouseover) I simply would like to put that functionality into the target window buffs. It's bound to be something simple that I'm just not seeing.
I have searched high and low, and either I'm not using the right terms, or it just can't be found by me. So I'm asking you guys for help, as a person with a very limited knowledge of xml. I understand the basics behind it from dabbling with html back in the day, but that's about it.
Last edited by bcf4life : 08-07-2018 at 03:12 PM.
As far as I know that is not able to be done. If day break hasn't enabled that ( and I assume they haven't or it would be in the default UI) it can't be done. And if it is enabled in default ( I have no clue as I don't play anymore) look at their window to see how they did it.
damn, was afraid you'd say that. i just figured since the info pops up on mouseover that it was at least being fed to the target window and that it would just be a matter of making something "show".
Ok quick class..if it has an Eqtype it can be moved to any window ...if it doesn't it can't go anywhere other then it's home window. More later I'm at the bar.


Kane County police agencies will work with the Kane County State's Attorney's Office on a No-Refusal operation this coming St. Patrick's Day.
"My goal is to have zero DUIs on a night we do a No-Refusal. Although that hasn't happened yet, maybe the luck of the Irish will strike," McMahon said.
The initiative is designed to expedite police efforts to obtain a search warrant for individuals who refuse to submit to chemical testing after a DUI arrest. Assistant state's attorneys are on hand to assist police officers through the search warrant process to ultimately compel a DUI suspect to submit to a lawfully requested blood, breath or urine test as required by Illinois' Implied Consent statute.
Illinois courts have consistently held that there is no right to refuse chemical testing when probable cause exists. Anyone who declines to submit to chemical testing after a search warrant has been obtained could face additional charges.
The operation will be the 20th No-Refusal since the Kane County State's Attorney's Office began the program in 2008. In the 19 prior No-Refusals, 131 drivers have been charged. Most have pleaded guilty to DUI, although many cases are pending.
It will be the sixth No-Refusal held in conjunction with St. Patrick's Day. Others were in 2009, 2012 and 2013, 2014 and 2015. A total of 40 drivers have been charged with DUI or DUI-related offenses in St. Patrick's Day operations.


Jump Start your days with a lemon boost. Our lemon verbena body butter hydrates and stimulates the cell renewal of skin. This aromatherapy goodness works on a cellular level to refresh your entire being.


How to obtain a paper catalogue.
There is no information in the paper catalogue which is not on this website. Indeed, this site is (or certainly should be as I know it's not at the moment!) more up to date as I can mark plants as sold out as appropriate. There are, increasingly, also pictures here, which are not in the paper version. However, from our own experience I know how convenient it is to have a hard copy to study in a more conducive environment than the computer screen.
Additionally, things have changed over the last few years. As our plant range steadily increases, with our various "collections" becoming more and more exhaustive, available in an increasing range of sizes, so the descriptive catalogue was becoming increasingly thick and disproportionably expensive to produce and post. I had started to leave out items available only in small quantities which was somewhat counter-productive! Hence I am not currently producing a written catalogue.
I can however email you a list of plants that I hope and expect to have available over the course of the coming season. Bear in mind that not everything may be available at any one time. My intention is that it is used in conjunction with the descriptions on the website, though I have allowed lots of space within it for your own personal notes.
You can also download it here as a pdf file, which should print off onto A4 paper regardless of what software etc you are running.


Agnee Prem is a 1996 Indian Bollywood drama film released on 1996. The film is directed by S. Rukun. Check out this page for more updates on Agnee Prem.
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text:
Civilian deaths up in 2010, Afghan commission says
Tom Little, top center in blue shirt with baseball cap, optometrist and team leader with the International Assistance Mission, joins villagers in Afghanistan. Members of a medical team, including Little, were shot and killed by militants.Anonymous / AP
Aug. 8, 2010, 4:36 PM UTC / Source: The Associated Press
By HEIDI VOGT, RAHIM FAIEZ
Civilian war deaths in the first seven months of 2010 rose by 6 percent over the same period last year, Afghanistan's human rights commission said Sunday. The modest increase suggested that U.S. and NATO efforts to hold down civilian casualties were having some success.
Also Sunday, the bodies of 10 members of a medical team — six Americans, two Afghans, one German and a Briton — were flown to Kabul from the northern province of Badakhshan, where they were gunned down three days ago at the end of a humanitarian mission. The Taliban claimed responsibility and accused the group of spying and seeking to convert Muslims to Christianity.
The Taliban and their allies were responsible for 68 percent of the at least 1,325 civilian deaths recorded by the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission, the organization said in a report. Twenty-three percent were ascribed to NATO or Afghan government forces.
Responsibility for the remaining 9 percent could not be determined because they occurred in areas that were too dangerous for a thorough investigation, the commission said.
NATO and Afghan government forces have accelerated military operations in the Taliban's southern heartland, a move that brought a sharp increase in allied casualties. Last month a record 66 American troops were killed, compared with 44 in July last year. A record total of 103 international troops, including Americans, died in June, more than triple the figure for the same month in 2009.
The top U.S. and NATO commander, Gen. David Petraeus, has maintained strict curbs on air power and heavy weapons implemented last year by his predecessor, Gen. Stanley McChrystal. Those measures have tamped down the number of civilian deaths but have raised complaints from the ranks that they put soldiers' lives at risk and give an advantage to the Taliban.
Still, a daily drumbeat of violence continues. Three Afghan civilians were killed by insurgent attacks or bombs Saturday, while five NATO service members — three Americans and two Danes — were killed the same day, the military coalition said.
Most of this year's civilian deaths occurred in the Taliban's southern heartland with bombs the biggest single killer, the commission said.
Insurgent bombs were responsible for 425 civilian deaths, with more than 200 of them in June and July. Fighting in Afghanistan traditionally increases during summer months.
Another 122 people were killed in suicide attacks and 197 either directly assassinated or caught in the crossfire of assassination attempts, according to the report.
In the first seven months of 2009, 1,252 civilians were killed — 67 percent of them by insurgents and 23 percent by government-allied forces, the group said.
The U.N. is expected to release its own figures on civilian casualties for the first six months of the year in coming days. In all of 2009, at least 2,412 Afghan civilians were killed in fighting, according to the U.N. That was up 14 percent from 2008.
In northern Kunduz province, meanwhile, gunmen attacked the home of a local police commander, killing the commander, a bodyguard and five other people who were guests at his house, according to provincial government chief Abdul Rahman Aqtash.
In the west, a suicide car bomber killed two police officers Sunday outside Herat city when he struck their vehicle on the road, according to Raouf Ahmadi, a police spokesman. And in southern Kandahar province, another police officer died when a minibus carrying officers back from training hit a bomb, provincial spokesman Zalmai Ayubi said.
HEIDI VOGT, RAHIM FAIEZ


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Award winning Director Michael Ramova has been a professional filmmaker for the past 19 years. As creator/owner of Redvolver Studios Ramova wears many hats, but is most recognized for directing, writing, cinematography, and editing.
Born and raised in Chicago, Michael Studied at Loyola University and Columbia College, and in an effort to branch out, Ramova moved to Mexico City to work with Televisa and TV Azteca as writer/screenwriter from 2000-2001.
In 2007, Ramova reached the Top 100 semi-finalists in the filmmaking reality series "On The Lot," produced by Steven Spielberg and Mark Burnett. Short film Don't go in the Endor Woods won Best Parody by George Lucas/Atom Films in 2008 and Audience Choice at Polygrind in 2010. Other notable works include the Short film Sound of Glory, which won Best Director and Best Story at Gorilla Tango Film Festival in 2010 and Axel Crow, which won 3rd Place in Horrorbid's 2011 Slasher Film Contest.
The work of Redvolver Studios has been broadcast on networks like Spike TV, Comedy Central and WTTW, as well as screened in theaters around the world.


text:
jest.dontMock('../../components/EducationItem.js');

var React = require('react');
var TestUtils = require('react-addons-test-utils');

var educationItemComponent = React.createFactory(require('../../components/EducationItem'));

describe('EducationItem component test suite', function () {

	var component;

	describe('for valid data', function () {

		var itemData = {
			institution: 'University of Technology, Sydney',
			area: 'Science in Computing Science',
			studyType: 'Bachelor',
			startDate: '1998',
			endDate: '2002',
			gpa: 'Honors',
			courses: ['a', 'b', 'c']
		};

		beforeEach(function () {
			component = TestUtils.renderIntoDocument(
				educationItemComponent(itemData)
			);
		});

		it('renders institution', function () {
			var domCom = TestUtils.findRenderedDOMComponentWithClass(component, 'educationItem__institution');
			expect(domCom).toBeDefined();
		});

		it('renders area', function () {
			var domCom = TestUtils.findRenderedDOMComponentWithClass(component, 'educationItem__area');
			expect(domCom).toBeDefined();
		});

		it('renders studyType', function () {
			var domCom = TestUtils.findRenderedDOMComponentWithClass(component, 'educationItem__studyType');
			expect(domCom).toBeDefined();
		});

		it('renders startDate', function () {
			var domCom = TestUtils.findRenderedDOMComponentWithClass(component, 'educationItem__startDate');
			expect(domCom).toBeDefined();
		});

		it('renders endDate', function () {
			var domCom = TestUtils.findRenderedDOMComponentWithClass(component, 'educationItem__endDate');
			expect(domCom).toBeDefined();
		});

		it('renders courses', function () {
			var domCom = TestUtils.scryRenderedDOMComponentsWithClass(component, 'educationItem__course');
			expect(domCom.length).toBe(3);
		});

	});

});

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Overnight news roundup: 1-2 October
By Don Reisinger (TechRadar ) 2007-09-30T23:00:00.272Z Computing
Everything you missed while you were sleeping
Happy October! And now that it's here, it's time we get ready for the deluge of tech news that will hit us as we get closer to the Holidays. But until then, check out some of the stories that broke while you were sleeping.
New Zune on Tuesday?
Although it wasn't the iPhone killer that some were expecting, the Zune did poorly considering its rival was the iPod. And after enduring very little to be happy about, Microsoft may be announcing an update to the device as soon as Tuesday.
Will we be seeing millions of Macs being sold all over the world in 2009? At least one market analysis firm believes so. Caris & Co. has gone on record claiming Mac sales could top 12 million in 2009 and continue upward from there. Amazingly, this is a jump of a little over 2 million units on previous estimates. It looks like Apple is doing something right.
Joost, the brainchild of former Skype and Kazaa founders, has finally shed its invite-only status and is available to the public. For those who haven't heard of the service, Joost is a peer-to-peer video service that some believe could revolutionize the entire online video industry. Time will tell.
Skype in trouble
Is Skype, the venerable (and free) VOiP service in trouble? According to reports, the service, which was purchased by Yahoo for $2.6 billion is in desperate need of cash and without a CEO. Could this spell the end of Skype? Let's hope not.
In a move that could have serious implications on the BBC, the entertainment arm of the media giant has entered into an agreement to buyLonely Planet to extend its online content offerings. Amazingly, the deal is valued at 100 million pounds.
Pentax, best known for its budget digital cameras, has announced a new 12.1-megapixel point-and-shoot that will set you back $299.95 when it ships in October. The Optio A40 may be an ideal solution for those looking for a cheap camera and adequate image quality.
A new wireless technology has emerged that could help reduce health care costs and improve medical efficiency. Introduced with the help of IBM, the new medical technology removes the need for wires in the operating room and could eventually reduce medical costs to an all-time low.
See more Computing news
Amazon Prime Day 2019: the best deals listed
England vs New Zealand live stream: how to watch Cricket World Cup final 2019 from anywhere
The best cheap laptop deals on Amazon Prime Day 2019: prices start at just $129


text:
TURN's attorneys and analysts are happy to comment on news involving telecommunications and the gas and electric power industries. If you need a quote or background for a story, call our media department at (415) 929-8876 ext. 306 and ask for our communications director, Mindy Spatt. Her direct extension is 306. She'll see that you get the right source in a timely manner. If you would like to receive our news releases, please add your name to our media list.
CPUC Judge Agrees With TURN: PG&E's Decommissioning Costs for Diablo Too High
Friday, April 21, San Francisco–While PG&E has finally agreed to close the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant, it wants customers to pay an enormous price for the necessary nuclear decommissioning; a
PG&E Customers to Receive $63.5 M in Gas Bill Credits to Settle Corruption Allegations
On the heels of its felony criminal conviction, PG&E has agreed to pay a total of $86.5 million in penalties to settle accusations of unreported and prohibited back door communications
TURN Wins CPUC Investigation Into Rural Call Quality
Thursday, December 15, 2016, San Francisco--TURN and a coalition of community groups representing rural customers statewide today applauded the CPUC's decision to order an investigation into service problems that
PG&E's Risky Business Reined in on TURN's Recommendation
Thursday, December 15, 2016, San Francisco– The CPUC is set to vote to authorize only a fraction of the 25,000 electric vehicle charging stations that PG&E wants to build on
SoCal Gas & SDG&E Customers Dodge a Bullet: Regressive Rate Scheme Defeated
California has long recognized that tiered rates keep an essential amount of gas affordable, and requires a lower "baseline" rate that serves to protect consumers who use relatively less gas.
Consumer Advocates Seek Stronger Protections, ask FCC to Reconsider Tech Transitions Order
Oct. 11, 2016, Washington, D.C. — The National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates ("NASUCA") today filed a Petition for Reconsideration asking the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to reconsider certain
TURN WINS REFORM OF SCANDAL-RIDDEN CPUC
September 29, 2016, San Francisco—Public outrage over back room deals at the California Public Utilities Commission culminated today in the approval of legislation that limits meetings between utilities and regulators,
TURN Wins New Green Energy Consumer Protections
Monday, Sept. 26, 2016, San Francisco–With Governor Jerry Brown's signature on AB 1110 (Phil Ting, D-San Francisco) consumers concerned about the environment will be able to make more informed choices
TURN CPUC Reform Bill Headed Toward Approval
For Immediate Release From TURN, The Utility Reform Network Monday, June 27, 2016, San Francisco–The Utility Reform Network (TURN) today applauded Senators Mark Leno and Ben Hueso for winning
Costs of PG&E Pipeline Neglect To Be Paid By Customers
For Immediate Release from TURN, The Utility Reform Network Contact: Mindy Spatt, TURN, 415.929.8876, ext. 306 Thursday, June 23, 2016–Today, as PG&E faced criminal charges for years of


NeNe Leakes and Khloe Kardashian are reportedly the frontrunners under consideration to fill the spot on Fashion Police vacated last week by Kelly Osbourne. Osbourne left the E! show due in part to the disrespectful comment Giuliana Rancic made about Zendaya's hair last weekend at the Oscars.
"Fashion Police will return, as scheduled, on Friday, March 30 at 9 p.m. and no decisions have been made on her replacement," a statement from E! reads.
NeNe Leakes appeared on Fashion Police back in 2013, as a guest co-host. She is best known for being on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. In 2011 she was a contestant on Donald Trump's Celebrity Apprentice.
Khloe Kardashian has been asked before to serve as a host on Fashion Police, but turned the offer down.
Reps for both NeNe Leakes and Khloe Kardashian were contacted and asked for confirmation that each is under consideration by Fashion Police. Neither rep replied.
Who would you prefer to see take Kelly Osbourne's spot on Fashion Police? Do you think NeNe Leakes or Khloe Kardashian is better suited for the job?
Or is there someone else besides Khloe Kardashian or NeNe Leakes whom you think could step up and do even better?


text:
Wednesday Weed – White Comfrey
White Comfrey (Symphytum orientale)
Dear Readers, I am often surprised by what 'pops up' in the gardens of East Finchley. White comfrey is not a rare plant, but this individual, leaning through the fence of my friend A's garden, is the only one that I've come across in my half-mile 'territory', and it has no friends nearby. Where do these plants come from? Has it been lurking in the soil for ages, just waiting for its chance? Or did the seed (described rather rudely in my Harraps Guide to Wildflowers as being 'dull, with minute warts' ) blow in from some distance? Which ever is the case, there it stands, as lonely as a cloud.
I have talked about Common Comfrey and Creeping Comfrey in previous posts, and as you might have gathered, I have rather a 'thing' for the whole Boraginaceae, a group that includes everything from lungwort to forget-me-nots. Who could resist these plants, with their plentiful food for bees and their varied medicinal uses? Clive Stace describes white comfrey as being 'surely the most beautiful of it's genus', and notes that it is well distributed due to its 'persistent roots and fertile nutlets'. Who could resist a plant with fertile nutlets, I ask myself, it sounds like just the thing for a vegetarian brunch, maybe with some fried tomatoes and mushrooms.However, some of the sites that I have looked at that sell white comfrey refer to it 'not spreading, but gently self-seeding', which could be weasel words in my view: I suspect that once you have one white comfrey, you might find yourself with nutlets to spare.
And in case you wondered, each comfrey flower has four nutlets (seeds), which are heart-shaped and dark-brown in colour.
White comfrey (also known as 'soft comfrey') was introduced into cultivation in this country in 1752, and was found in the wild by 1849. It comes originally from north western Turkey, Russia and the Causcasus. White Comfrey can be told from common comfrey by its snowy white flowers (those of common comfrey are creamy-coloured). The flowers discolour rather quickly, unfortunately, as in the plant above.
White Comfrey growing at Hadrian's Wall (Photo One – see credit below)
Symphytum, the genus name for comfrey, and the name comfrey itself (from the Latin verb confevere), both mean 'to grow together', a reference to the plant's long use in poultices for fractured and broken bones – an old country name for the plant is 'knit-bone'. However, as far as I can ascertain, white comfrey is not one of the species best suited for medicinal work – for that, we need common comfrey. It's a case of a rather 'weedier' plant having the edge when it comes to healing.
White comfrey, from Curtis's Botanical Magazine, published in 1912 (Photo Two – credit below)
As you know, I like to weave in some poetry when possible for my Wednesday Weeds, and this week it's the turn of Walter de la Mare. I was brought up with some of his poetry for children, and although some of it now makes my teeth ache, I rather like this one, both for its pun on the word 'weeds' and for the contented present life of the widow. I would love to make a garden like this one.
A Widow's Weeds
A poor old Widow in her weeds
Sowed her garden with wild-flower seeds;
Not too shallow, and not too deep,
And down came April — drip — drip — drip.
Up shone May, like gold, and soon
Green as an arbour grew leafy June.
And now all summer she sits and sews
Where willow herb, comfrey, bugloss blows,
Teasle and pansy, meadowsweet,
Campion, toadflax, and rough hawksbit;
Brown bee orchis, and Peals of Bells;
Clover, burnet, and thyme she smells;
Like Oberon's meadows her garden is
Drowsy from dawn to dusk with bees.
Weeps she never, but sometimes sighs,
And peeps at her garden with bright brown eyes;
And all she has is all she needs–
A poor Old Widow in her weeds.
Queen Victoria with John Brown by Edwin Landseer, late 1860's (Photo Three – Credit below)
Well, not exactly a poor old widow, but a fine example of mourning dress nonetheless. And the phrase 'widow's weeds' got me thinking. Is there any etymological relationship between the weeds of a widow, and the weeds that pop up here every Wednesday?
Well, sadly, no. 'Weeds' as in 'Widow's Weeds' comes from the Old English word waed, meaning garment. It was first recorded in 888, but by 1297 it referred to the clothing of a particular kind of occupation or station in life: you could talk about a priest's 'weeds' or a beggar's 'weeds' for example. By 1595 it is used only for the dark mourning clothing of widows, and this is the only sense in English in which we still use the phrase.
'Weed' as in 'plant' comes from Old English 'weod', meaning herb or grass, and only later becoming pejorative.
I sometimes think we should restore the old habit of mourning clothing, because it provided some indication that the person wearing them might be feeling vulnerable, and I like to think that people would behave accordingly. I do remember, however, my mother remarking that when she was wearing black after her mother died back in the 1970's, some idiot still told her to 'smile' when she walked past. I believe she 'cleaned him' as they say these days. Don't get me started on blokes who believe they should have dominion over women's faces as well as everything else.
A fine crop of white comfrey (Photo Four – see credit below)
And talking of my mother reminds me that, when I was a child, she used to recite the poetry that she had learned by heart to me. She had many favourites, but since we were talking about Walter de la Mare earlier, I shall share with you a rather eerie poem, which still makes a little shiver run down my back.
The Listeners
"Is there anybody there?" said the Traveller,
Knocking on the moonlit door;
And his horse in the silence champed the grass
Of the forest's ferny floor;
And a bird flew up out of the turret,
Above the Traveller's head:
And he smote upon the door again a second time;
"Is there anybody there?" he said.
But no one descended to the Traveller;
No head from the leaf-fringed sill
Leaned over and looked into his grey eyes,
Where he stood perplexed and still.
But only a host of phantom listeners
That dwelt in the lone house then
Stood listening in the quiet of the moonlight
To that voice from the world of men:
Stood thronging the faint moonbeams on the dark stair,
That goes down to the empty hall,
Hearkening in an air stirred and shaken
By the lonely Traveller's call.
And he felt in his heart their strangeness,
Their stillness answering his cry,
While his horse moved, cropping the dark turf,
'Neath the starred and leafy sky;
For he suddenly smote on the door, even
Louder, and lifted his head:–
"Tell them I came, and no one answered,
That I kept my word," he said.
Never the least stir made the listeners,
Though every word he spake
Fell echoing through the shadowiness of the still house
Photo One (white comfrey at Hadrian's Wall) – © Copyright Andrew Curtis and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
Photo Two (white comfrey plate) – By Denis.prévôt [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo Three (Queen Victoria) – by Lisby (https://www.flickr.com/photos/60861613@N00/14504797801)
Photo Four (White Comfrey) – By Cwmhiraeth (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons
This entry was posted in London Plants on March 29, 2017 by Bug Woman.
Deep in Their Roots All Flowers Keep the Light (Theodore Roethke)
Spring in the County Roads
Dear Readers, I was at the National Theatre on London's South Bank on Wednesday, watching a production of Twelfth Night. My first inkling that something was wrong was when I switched on my phone during the interval. As soon as the screen burst into life, I was inundated with messages from my husband and friends.
'Are you all right?'
Of course, what could possibly go wrong at Twelfth Night (apart from some rather weak comedy of course)?
But soon it became clear that a terrorist attack had taken place on Westminster Bridge and at Westminster itself. People were dead. Someone was in the Thames. Parliament was in lock down.
When I left the theatre, Waterloo Bridge was a chain of red double-decker buses, bumper to bumper, and a crocodile of commuters trudged past, trying to find an alternative way home. Overhead, the helicopters droned like heavy bees.
It all felt all too familiar. I had been visiting the Tower of London with my sister-in-law and her eight-year old daughter when the tube bombings of 7th July 2005 happened. The whole transport network, tubes and buses, was closed down, and the working population of London took to the streets to walk home, blinking like moles above ground. I remember the wail of sirens as ambulances screeched past, the women walking in their stockinged feet, high-heels in hand.
And years earlier, picking my way through barricades in the City of London after the IRA bombs, the crunch of broken glass underfoot and the window blinds in the Nat West tower flapping like sails.
And later, leaving the station and feeling a juddering through my feet and up into my stomach that could only be an explosion, and hearing that a bomb had been set off at Canary Wharf, five miles away as the raven flies.
And when it feels as if the ground has moved, there is nothing for it but to slow down, to breathe, to return to the familiar. And so today, the day after the Westminster attacks, I walk around my local streets to see what can be seen. I need to move at the pace of a small child, and allow myself to be intrigued.
What, for example, is eating my nettles and green alkanet? It seems too early for a caterpillar but there he is, not sure whether to curl up or not. I am glad that I showed mercy to the nettles, and will leave them now for this creature to feed on.
I turn left, and notice the violets scattered amongst the broken Victorian paths and popping up at the bottom of walls. I love their strange, five-petalled faces, the purple stripes against the lilac throat, like landing lights for bees. Where have the violets come from? I cannot remember seeing them last year, but today they are everywhere. There is one particularly big patch a few houses up, and I wonder if this is the motherlode, and all the others are downwind, the seed scattered and taking root.
I turn into Bedford Road. There is a particularly fine double-fronted house with two massive trees outside, and the steep, tiered garden is full of woodplants: green hellebore and lungwort, and a bush covered in yellow flowers that look like the blooms of miniature daffodils.
Across the way is some green alkanet coming into bloom. For the first time, I notice that the early flowers are purple or even pink, turning blue as they age, just as the flowers of lungwort do, and I am reminded that green alkanet and lungwort are closely related. In fact, there will be many things on this walk that remind me of the borage family, and what a boon it is.
I'm feeling steadier already.
Some asplenium ferns are growing from a wall further up the road, and I am reminded of the ones that I saw in Somerset, and had never seen in London before. Another thing about walking slowly is that it enables me to make connections, in time and place. For a second I can see a tiny part of the complex web that holds all of us together, for, deny it or not, we are all much more closely related than we think.
The Camellias are in full bloom, and how glorious they look! But the rain will mar their perfection, and never was a flower more easily ripped from its stem. They are a brief glory, but a glory nonetheless.
One house has an enormous plaster pineapple as a gate post. I have always loved it, while having no idea at all what it means. It looks a little big for this particular house, and I would love to know if it was originally on the gatepost of some local mansion. But for now, I just admire it and move on.
The white comfrey outside my friend A's house is doing very nicely – the flowers are such a brilliant white that I have to turn down the exposure on my camera to get any kind of photo. That whiteness only lasts for a brief time, though, before it's stained with brown.
The waxy blossoms of the magnolia are just about to erupt and one house has a magenta magnolia with buds that look like elegant hands.
Some twittering on Durham Road makes me look up, and there are a pair of blue tits working their way along a gutter, along with a goldfinch. I suspect that little insects sometimes turn up here, maybe trapped with the dead leaves. At this time of year the tits are so busy. One has taken to pecking at the blossoms on my skimmia, though whether for nectar or invertebrates I have no idea.
The lesser celandine is popping up everywhere.
Outside the church on Durham Road there is a big patch of creeping comfrey. A few years ago this was almost completely eradicated, but here it is again. The blooms start off with a red throat, which goes blue as the flower matures, and they are a magnet for hairy-footed bees and bee flies and bumblebees, even on a cold, breezy day like today.
I always look at the little microhabitats at the bottom of trees. The chickweed is in full bloom already, with its flowers like little stars. The blossom from the early-flowering cherry trees blows along the pavement.
There is one magnificent twisted cherry tree on Leicester Road, that looks as if it could have come from a Japanese vase. It arches over the garage and out over the road as if in a complex yoga pose. I nearly get run down taking a picture from the middle of the road. Such are the dangers of trying to be intrepid in East Finchley.
There is a particularly fine forsythia bush, too.
I am rather taken by the early flowers of yellow corydalis, when they are cream-coloured with a kiss of pale green. Later, they turn sunshine yellow, which is not quite so elegant.
And for the first time I notice the tiny flowers of a laurel, erupting from bunched fists into four tiny chocolate petals.
I turn for home, and can't resist a final photo of the moss on a nearby wall, the capsules reminding me of the head and neck of a swan, a world in miniature.
And my final, final picture, of rosemary in flower, each bloom a little homunculus, orchid-like in their beauty.
When Death's trumpet blares from every headline, I need to remember that this is only part of the story. We get so caught up in our own stories, our tragedies and our triumphs, that we forget that there are different stories to be told. Other living things are getting on with their lives, preparing for the next cycle of seeds and eggs and frantic gaping mouths, just as they always have. There is such tenderness in the soft shoot of a violet, and yet it has pushed through concrete to get to the light. Life is ferocious and it will not be denied, and I do believe that our urge towards the light is much stronger than our need for the darkness, however much it might sometimes seem otherwise. In the words of Theodore Roethke, that great, vulnerable, brave poet:
'Nothing would give up life:
Even the dirt keeps breathing a small breath.'
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This entry was posted in London Birds, London Invertebrates, London Places, London Plants on March 25, 2017 by Bug Woman.
Wednesday Weed – Forsythia
Forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia)
Dear Readers, at this time of year the gardens of East Finchley are graced with great bursts of gaudy custard-yellow flowers, borne on bare stems. This is forsythia, the early-flowering shrub of choice in large areas of London, because of its reliability and its love for the capital's claggy clay soil. It can be pruned into a neat shrub, allowed to grow into a tree 3-4 metres high, or can be cut into a bush. It is tolerant of more or less anything. Viewed from my upstairs window, it looks as if there are little patches of sunshine breaking out everywhere. I welcome forsythia's boisterous good spirits at this time of year, but it is a plant that seems to polarise people: here, for example, is a piece by James Alexander Sinclair on the Gardeners' World website. It seems he doesn't like it much (and there is some British understatement for you):
Spring is in the air. Birds are tweeting. Comfortable nests are being flung together. Plants are sprouting. Frogs are croaking lasciviously. Daffodils are flowering away with nothing less than gusto and the gloom of February fades into distant memory.
There is however one big fat buzzing fly in the ointment. A plant that I have come to dislike with an almost irrational fervour. A plant that glares forth from innumerable gardens throughout the land. A plant whose impact is the equivalent of being socked hard round both ears with a large salami. A plant which sets my teeth on edge and sucks the joys of spring right out of my soul.
I have confessed to this before and have tried to work on this character defect, but to no avail. I think that forsythia (no matter how beautifully photographed) is just about the most horrible shrub in the world. There. I've said it…….
The flowers do not last long (which is a mixed blessing) and are succeeded by really, really, really boring foliage.
I will, if pushed, 'hug a hoodie' or even 'snuggle a snail' but I just cannot learn to 'love a forsythia'.
Well, now we all know where Mr Alexander Sinclair stands. What do you think?
Forsythia on the left, mimosa on the right
Forsythia is a member of the Olearaceae or Olive family, and the hybrid that is most grown in British gardens was discovered in the Gottingen Botanical Gardens in Germany in 1898. The plant is sometimes found naturalised in the UK, and spreads by creating new plants when the roots touch the ground.
Forsythia growing in the wild in Heidelberg, Germany (Photo One – see credit below)
Forsythia was named after the Scottish botanist William Forsyth, who created the first rock garden in England and who is also the great grandfather of Bruce Forsyth, formerly host of The Generation Game and latterly Strictly Come Dancing. The Generation Game was a Saturday evening must-see when I was growing up, and featured two families doing battle via using a potter's wheel, Irish dancing or some other talent. At the end, the winning family would get everything that they could remember from a parade of consumer goods that passed them on a conveyor belt in 30 seconds. It always included a 'cuddly toy'. What innocent days! I can never get over the strange alleyways through which this blog leads me.
William Forsyth (Public Domain)
Bruce Forsyth (Photo Two – see credit below)
I was rather surprised to discover that the pretty flowers of forsythia have been used in a variety of culinary ways: here, for example, is a recipe for forsythia syrup from the Pure Traditions website. As I can detect almost no scent from the plant, and a nibble at the petals doesn't reveal any particular flavour, I wonder what the syrup tastes of? If you make some, do let me know.
And even though this is not a cat blog I couldn't resist the picture below, mainly because the picture reminds me of Felix, one of my very favourite foster cats. You're welcome, cat lovers.
Forsythia and a very fine cat indeed (Public Domain)
One story that I have been chasing round and round the internets is a belief that forsythia flowers contain lactose. This would be most unusual, as this is normally only found in milk, but there seem to be several studies that suggest that the pollen of the plant does contain up to 25% lactose, or at least the component parts of the sugar. It's thought that the sugars might play a part in protecting the buds of the plant from frost damage. On the other hand, there are several other studies which have failed to isolate the chemical. The whole discussion is making my head hurt, so I will just leave it here. In Chinese medicine, Forsythia suspensa, a close relative of our forsythia, is used to treat problems of 'mammary welling-abscesses', and is generally thought to be useful for problems around breast-feeding.
You might be interested to know that we have just missed the 2017 Forsythia Festival, held in Forsyth, Georgia, in the second week of March. I particularly regret missing the Retro Eighties Night, and the visit from Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits. As we couldn't be there, here's a taste of what we missed (though I imagine that Mr Noone looks a bit older these days)
As my regular readers know, I love to finish off a piece with a painting or a poem, and this week I've found two! First up is American poet Billy Collins, one of my very favourite poets. It's taken from the Poem A Day blog.
Forsythia – Billy Collins
It caught my eye a while ago, lit up
against the gloom of the woods
in the corner of a wild field,
the pulsing color of caution.
And now that I have spent a little time
on this stone wall watching its fire
flare out of the earth
I begin to think about the long chronicle of forsythia
how these same flowers have blazed
through the centuries,
roused from the ground by the churning of spring.
I would rather not look around the next
corner of the year to see how this will die,
its lights going out,
its bare, arcing branches
waving like whips in the bitter wind.
So I sit facing the past,
letting my feet dangle over the wall,
beating time against stone with my heels
as the long gray clouds roll over me.
Remember how Arnold by the Channel
thought of Sophocles who must have heard
the same shore-sounds long ago,
walking by the edge of the Aegean?
Well, I am holding in the palm of my thoughts
all the others who once were stopped,
like me, by this brightness,
this sulfuric cry for help:
women in tunics, women gathered by a well,
men in feathers, men swimming by a river,
all speaking languages I will never know,
saying the different words for its color
as I feel the syllables of yellow form in my mouth
and hear the sound of yellow fill the morning air.
And here, from the The Herald, is 'Old Woman in a Forsythia Bush' by the Scottish poet, Vickie Feaver. How this speaks to me now that I'm getting older – 'the long dark corridors of another winter' indeed.
Old Woman in a Forsythia Bush
Bright bush of yellow stars
reaching out to me with long
bowed wands, among fields
ringing with blackbird songs;
where lambs, licked into life
by sheep's rough tongues,
leap like ballet dancers,
impossibly high, as if hung
on strings of a great puppeteer
who dangled me when young,
exciting me to strip of vest
and bra to celebrate spring;
and, now I'm old, whose arms
have dragged me through the long
dark corridors of another winter
to sit on this sunny seat, among
starry stems of forsythia,
buoyant again, as if sprung
from my body and floating
above it, like a seed flung
from the grey head of dandelion.
Photo One (Wild forsythia ) – By 4028mdk09 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo Two (Bruce Forsyth) – By SqueakBox at English Wikipedia, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7077865
All other blog content free to use and share non-commercially, but please attribute and link back to the blog, thank you!
Bugwoman on Location – At Crossbones Graveyard
On a Thursday lunchtime, the streets around London Bridge station are mobbed with folk heading for Borough market to pick up their artisan coffee and hog-roast sandwiches, but just a few hundred yards further on is the garden of the Crossbones graveyard, a place of pilgrimage for many and a space for quiet contemplation amidst the traffic, human and vehicular.
It is said that the site was originally a medieval burial ground for the sex-workers, or 'Winchester Geese' who worked in the area, and who were required to be buried in unhallowed ground. I went to an exhibition at the Wellcome Collection in the 1990's which showed a variety of skeletons, and told what could be learned from their condition. One of the bodies, exhumed from Crossbones, was of a woman estimated to be 16-19 years old, only 4 foot 7 inches tall, and with well-advanced syphilitic lesions of the skull. I remember being haunted by the delicacy of her bones as she lay exposed in a glass case. I have always been simultaneously fascinated by what these remains can tell us, and appalled at what feels to me like desecration. I imagine that the young woman now lays in a vault in the Museum of London – the circular building in the middle of the roundabout there is an ossuary, full of historical bones.
The site was subsequently used as a pauper's graveyard. Over 15,000 people too poor to afford burial were buried here, many of them children under a year old. The graveyard itself fell into disuse after 1853, at which point it was said to be absolutely full of remains, with one body thrown on top of another.When the site was used for the Jubilee line extension in the 1990's, 142 bodies were disinterred, among them the young woman mentioned above. The ribbons attached to the memorial gates of the site record the parish records for some of the people buried at the site.
'A poor man taken out of the street, December 2,1725'
'Margaret Keen, Fishmonger Alley, 22'
'Mary Ann Jupp, Silver Street, Age 4 months'
People also attach remembrances of those who have died more recently, so that the gates are covered with tokens of those who are no longer on this earth.
Inside the garden there is a quiet space, where the rattle of trains en route to London Bridge is interspersed by the flapping of a wood pigeon's wings and the song of a blackbird.
The entrance to the garden is via an elegant 'goose's wing' shelter. There is a feeling of hopefulness and renewal, as the plants break into flower and the bees go about their work once again.
A queen wasp resting in the euphorbia
The willow tree was positively abuzz with honeybees collecting pollen to feed the larvae back in the nest. I love the little orange 'baskets' on their legs. It just goes to show that even in such an urban spot, insects will be attracted if we grow the right plants.
There were some other excellent pollinator plants in the garden as well.The early spring bees were all over the periwinkle, but were a bit too fast for me to get a photograph.
Vinca major (Periwinkle)
The brunnera was doing a great job of attracting pollinators as well – this is a great woodland plant, and mine is just popping up again in my garden (though it's well behind this one).
Brunnera macrophylla
The green men statues are honoured at a ceremony in the autumn giving thanks for nature's generosity.
The boards at the end of the site shows a map of the area in medieval times, and two poems taken from the 'Southwark Mysteries', a contemporary Mystery play written by local author John Constable, and performed by 50 professional actors and a cast drawn from the local community, at the Globe Theatre and Southwark Cathedral in 2000, and again in 2010. The plays, with their ribaldry and boisterous nature, attracted a great deal of controversy, as you can read here. However, the overall message of the production was that no one is beyond redemption, and I'd have thought that this was something that was intrinsic to Christian belief. In 2007, before the garden was officially 'a garden', one of the on-site security guards, Andy Hulme, began to construct 'the invisible garden' behind the gates and shrine which were at that time the main focus of the site. One of his works was the Pyramid, into which seeds have been scattered over the years. One side of the pyramid is covered in oyster shells from Borough Market – oysters were once the food of poor people, washed down with gin or stout. Many of the people buried in the graveyard would have eaten them.
The pyramid built by the Invisible Gardener
The most moving part of the garden though, for me, was the shrine behind the gates. A statue of the Virgin Mary tenderly cradles a goose, surrounded by flowers and tokens, and by broken chains. For many people, the statue also represents the Goddess, and it is typical of the inclusivity of Crossbones that, if you look, you will find symbols of many faiths. The principle here is divine love, whatever form it comes in.
The garden is currently leased from Transport For London (who recognise its role as public space) and is managed by Bankside Open Spaces Trust and the Friends of Crossbones, who provide volunteers to open the garden between 12 and 2 pm on weekdays, and for a longer period at weekends. The garden is free to enter, but do sign the visitors book on your way out – when the usage of a space is recorded, it's much easier to protect it from the 'powers that be'. There have been many times in its history when Crossbones has been under threat.
Crossbones role as a memorial garden for the outcast dead is what makes it unique. We are all just one mental illness, one financial catastrophe, one crushing bereavement, one addiction away from becoming outcasts ourselves. And in a city where everything moves too fast, and follows the money too enthusiastically, it is easy for people to be left behind. Only by including everyone can a city or a community thrive, and Crossbones is a powerful symbol of those who were not, and are not, included. Ceremonies of remembrance are held on the 23rd of each month at 7 p.m., not just for those buried in the garden but for all our outcast, dead and alive.
All blog content free to use and share, but please attribute and link back to the blog, thank you!
This entry was posted in Bugwoman on Location, London Invertebrates, London Places, London Plants on March 18, 2017 by Bug Woman.
Look Who's Been Interviewed on Cabbieblog This Week
I was asked to take part in 'The London Grill' on Cabbieblog, and I was delighted to contribute. This is a blog by a real London cabbie, and what he doesn't know about London isn't worth knowing. The blog is full of fascinating tales, intriguing facts and London trivia of the highest quality. Pop over and have a look….
http://www.cabbieblog.com/the-london-grill-bugwoman/
This entry was posted in Uncategorized on March 17, 2017 by Bug Woman.
Wednesday Weed – Procumbent Yellow Sorrel
Procumbent Yellow Sorrel (Oxalis corniculata)
Dear Readers, in my search for a Wednesday Weed I have written about some tiny plants: chickweed, shepherd's purse and hairy bittercress all come to mind. But this tiny survivor, with its chocolate-coloured heart-shaped leaves, almost escaped my attention. It was inching its way along the edge of a wall, accompanied by general detritus and some busy black ants, and seemed far too dainty for a city environment, but there it was.
Later in the spring, it will have bright yellow, five-petalled flowers, but for now it's just a bracelet of leaves. They aren't always as dark-coloured as in my plant, as you can see from the example below.
Procumbent yellow sorrel in flower (Photo One – see credit below)
It seems hard to imagine, but this miniscule plant is apparently a ferocious weed given half a chance. It fires its seeds explosively (leading to a German name that translates as 'red jumping clover') and it also roots at the stem nodules, spreading laterally. It will grow from a tiny stem fragment, and so is hard to eradicate. Because it is so inconspicous, it is often introduced into the garden in the soil that surrounds plants purchased from garden centres, and this is thought to be a popular route for several other related species, such as the least yellow sorrel(Oxalis exilis) from New Zealand and the upright yellow sorrel (Oxalis stricta) from North America. Once here, yellow sorrels seem to be able to thrive in the merest teaspoonful of soil.
Not an ideal plant habitat.
Procumbent yellow sorrel is also known as creeping wood sorrel, or as sleeping beauty. It was already a weed in Somerset in 1585, but it is so ubiquitous that its area of origin is unknown, though it is thought to be from the Old World. It is now the 24th commonest alien weed in London (out of a list of 30 such plants) according to my copy of 'Alien Plants' by Clive Stace – it is just beaten to 23rd place by michaelmas daisy, but gets in above red valerian in 25th place. In number one position is…….buddleia! Out of those 30 'weeds' I have covered 18 in the Wednesday Weed, so I have some ideas now for other plants I should look out for.
But I digress, as usual.
There are apparently many medicinal uses for procumbent yellow sorrel: it has been used as a cure for intestinal worms, as a treatment for cancer and to stop vomiting. That it has also been used as an insecticide should give us a heads up that this is a potentially poisonous plant: it contains oxalic acid, which in vast quantities can cause kidney damage and gout. However, as the Oxalic Acid website says, the only plant which contains enough of this substance to cause a problem is rhubarb, and then you'd have to eat an estimated eleven pounds of the leaves (not the stalks) to get a lethal dose.
Photo Two (credit below)
There are a lot of recipes for sorrel out there on the internet, but one problem is confusion with that other sorrel, Rumex acetosa, a member of the dock family and the usual chief ingredient of Sorrel Soup. I shall have to do a separate post on 'proper' sorrel when I next find some in the cemetery, but in the meantime, do not waste your time picking those tiny purple leaves. It will take you about three hours to get enough (if you can find them) and I fear that, in East Finchley at least, the chance of dog contamination is astronomically high.
However, in India (where the plant is known as Changeri) the leaves are used seasonally in salads and, like all wood-sorrels, they do have a slightly acidic, lemon-like taste. Maybe they would work as a sprinkling of oh so trendy micro-greens if you could find a clean source. They would certainly be very pretty.
Sorrel Soup with egg and croutons. Not made with procumbent yellow sorrel. Sorry. (Photo Three – see credit below)
As you might know, I am a great lover of words, and this whole post had me pondering about the word 'sorrel'. We know that it's used for two separate kinds of plants, but it's also used to describe the coppery chestnut colour of a horse. This gives me a chance to share one of my favourite paintings, 'Whistlejacket' by George Stubbs. Whistlejacket is undoubtedly a sorrel horse, and I love that Stubbs has depicted him without the usual bridle and saddle and rider. This feels like a true portrait of an animal as an individual, rather than as something owned and being used as a status symbol, though this is what the horse was. Stubbs seems to reach over the head of his owner, and to see the horse as a 'person'. All great art, I would argue, alerts us to the particular, and allows us to make connections to our own lives.
Whistlejacket by George Stubbs (Public Domain)
But why 'sorrel'? One theory is that is nothing to do with our little plant, but is because of the colour of the ripe seedheads of that other sorrel, the member of the dock family. I shall leave you to decide if this is credible or not.
Flowerhead of common sorrel (Rumex acetosa) (Photo Four – Credit below)
Photo One (Yellow procumbent sorrel flowering in paving crack) – I, Uwe W. [CC BY-SA 2.0 de (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/de/deed.en) or CC BY-SA 3.0 de (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons
Photo Two (Yellow procumbent sorrel in flower) – By picture taken by Olaf Leillinger – Own work, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2199050
Photo Three (Sorrel soup) – By Michał Sulik (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Photo Four (Common sorrel) – By Michał Sulik (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
All other blog content copyright Vivienne Palmer. Free to use and share non-commercially, but please attribute and link back to the blog, thank you!
They're Back…..
There are many signs of spring. The first time that I get up at 6.30 a.m.to catch a train to Dorset and it's not pitch dark. The first time that I notice the snowdrops in the garden. The increased urgency in the song of the blackbird, the way that the blue tits and robins seem to have paired up. The lambs in the fields, and the slight softness of the air. The way that my husband has started to need his hayfever medication. But for me, early spring only starts with the sound of a plop in the pond, and the first small heads gathering at the shallow, stony end. It's not until the first frog croaks that spring is truly on its way.
You can hear it most clearly in the evening, when the other sounds have died down. The frogs suck air into their bodies, so that they swell up, and then let the air out. Each species has a different call. In the tropics, the song of the frogs can be almost deafening, and the 'spring peepers' of North America don't do a bad job either. The common frogs in my garden are a little more discrete, almost as if they feel embarrassed to be making such a fuss. But as the females are attracted to the loudest and longest 'croaks' they soon get over their hesitation.
The males acquire a greyish-blue tinge during the mating season, and also develop handsome white throats, which help to emphasise their appearance when calling. They also develop 'nuptial pads' on their 'hands' which help them to grip the females. When I took the photographs, there only appeared to be one female in the pond, but the huge quantity of frogspawn that has appeared since makes me think that there have been other visitors.
The male frogs tend to hibernate in the mud at the bottom of the pond, so that they can be on the spot when the females (slightly larger and allegedly browner/redder in colour at this time of year) appear. The females are more inclined to hibernate away from the pond, and seeing the way the males behave when one makes an appearance makes me think that they are absolutely right. A lone female can be absolutely mobbed by eager males, who are in a frenzy of lust. I have been watching the frogs from my upstairs window as they clamber over the heaps of frogspawn and attempt to attach themselves to anything that moves. One male frog even entered the water riding piggyback on a female, but he was soon booted off by a bigger, tougher frog. The male frogs take two years to reach breeding age, so every year counts.
Last year, the death toll was staggering in my pond. There was a heap of dead frogs under the hedge on several mornings, whether fished out by a cat, or taken as a stash for a fox, or even plucked out by a crow or magpie, I have no idea. This year, fortunately, I have not seen any casualties so far – I decided not to cut back the dead waterplants around the pond until spring, so maybe this has given them a bit more cover. Anyway, I am keeping my fingers crossed that this happy situation continues.
The fresh-laid frogspawn is always delightfully turgid, as if it's going to burst at any moment, and I love seeing the tiny tadpoles already developing in the jelly. The outer layer of the spawn gradually breaks down, so that the tadpoles are released into the water after about two weeks. In the meantime, it's fortunate that almost no warm-blooded predators like a snack of frogspawn, although there are videos of cats tucking in on the internets, and I have known of ducks who would visit a pond once a year to tuck into the eggs.
I have one rather idiosyncratic frog in the pond at the moment. One of his eyes is cloudy, and I'm sure that he's blind on that side. It doesn't seem to bother him as he croaks away as part of the froggy chorus, but I suspect it will make him more vulnerable to predators. I just hope that he manages to breed – I always have a soft-spot for the underfrog.
It's no wonder that frogs have long been symbols of fertility. The ancient Egyptians had a frog goddess called Heqat, and I can well imagine that the annual flooding of the Nile brought a great chorus of frogs, signalling another year of good harvests.
Statue of Heqat, the Frog Goddess, from pre-Dynastic Egypt (approximately 2950 BCE) (Photo One – Credit Below)
The Chinese frog spirit Ch'ing-Wa Sheng is associated with good luck and prosperity in business, but many cultures also have proverbs about frogs such as 'sitting in the well, looking to the sky', which means a person who knows little of the world and has a very limited outlook. I much prefer the delightfully characterful Japanese frog in the illustration below, who looks as if he has had too many worms for dinner.
Frog and Mouse by Getsuju, a Japanese artist of the Edo period (Public Domain)
The presence of frogs signals the great rush to breed that is taking place all around us at this time of year. We tend to think that spring kicks off in April, but by then many animals will already have bred. We humans are a little on the sleepy side with regard to what's going on around us, but frogs have a limited window to get on with passing on their genes – they are cold-blooded, and the tadpoles need the water to be warm for them to mature, something that can take a good few months in these unpredictable times. In fact, when I reared some tadpoles in a tank a few years ago, they matured a good month earlier than the ones in the much colder waters of their natal pond. So I wish my frogs success in their breeding, avoidance of predators and disease, and a warm summer. The world would be a much sadder place without the annual frog chorus.
Photo One (Heqat the Frog Goddess) – By Daderot – Daderot, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23403227
All other blog content copyright Vivienne Palmer. Free to use and share non-commercially, but please attribute and link back to the blog, thank you.
This entry was posted in London Amphibians on March 11, 2017 by Bug Woman.


Does William Walton Sharman Smoke? - Do They Smoke?
William Walton Sharman is one of the most unforgettable players in the history of the National Basketball Association. He is well known for his unique moves to the rim. Sharman is a high scorer basketball player in NBA as well. He is a very talented point guard in NBA and he can make excellent plays for his team. He became a member of two different basketball teams in the history of NBA. His professional basketball career started in 1950 when Washington Capitols selected him as 17th overall pick in the NBA draft. After two years, he transferred to the team of Boston Celtics. The best moments in his professional basketball career occurred in the whole period of 1950's. The professional basketball career of William Walton Sharman ended up in 1961 when he decided to retire in National Basketball Association as a sign of contentment for all of his achievements.
We did not find any proof that William Walton Sharman smokes or used to smoke.
Do They Smoke Real Cigarettes on Sons of Anarchy?


PLEASE FIX YOUR PAYPAL ADDRESS IF IT DOESN'T MATCH YOUR DISCOGS ADDRESS!
All items must be paid within 7 business days. If you need more time, please e-mail your request as soon as possible. If items are not paid within 7 business days, your item(s) will be re-listed and negative feedback will be given.
Prices for additional records will vary - Shipping cost all depends on weight of the final package!
(typically 7-9 records) - you MUST ship Priority Rate over 4 Pounds weight.
check www.usps.com for rates (domestic & international) we will typically use these rates to determine shipping.
INTERNATIONAL TRACKING is an additional cost!
**DELIVERIES TO FRANCE TEND TO TAKE LONGER THAN ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD** I WISH I KNEW WHY - BUT I DON'T!


Are you looking for some new ways to energize your marriage?
If you are on board with love and respect as the two essential ingredients in your marriage, you may still be asking how it works.
How do we show love and respect in practical ways?
Following are several real-life examples that I hope will bring more clarity to how these principles play out practically.
He was crushing his wife's spirit.
When I come home or talk with her during the day, I talk to her in a loving way. I communicate that I love her and respect her opinion. If things get out of hand – which they sometimes do – I reflect after the fact and approach her in a loving way. We talk back over the incident and move forward, usually in agreement. Even if one of us has to give in, we are both comfortable with the outcome.
If I need something from him like time or attention or specific encouragement, I have the confidence to bring those requests to him because I know his greatest desire is to be my knight in shining armor. This seems like such a simple principle, yet it has freed me from the huffing and puffing and waiting for him to get a clue. Now I have the freedom to respectfully request things I need and not set him up for failure (mind reading…).
I asked my wife if she felt loved. (We have been married thirty-seven years, and I have even done some teaching on marriage relationships.) Because I do so many things to demonstrate my love for her, I expected to hear a hearty "Of course, Jim!" so I was shocked when she was just silent. I reminded her of all the things I do to show her love, and I told her I couldn't understand why she wasn't giving me an answer. When she finally did answer, it changed my entire approach to demonstrating love to my wife. She said, "I do appreciate all the things you do for me, but the way I feel loved is…by the way you talk to me. When you talk to me the way you do to your men friends, I don't feel love." Wow! What an eye-opener that was!
Take the first step to energize your marriage.
What will you do this week to improve your communication style so that you can stay on the Energizing Cycle?
Stop and listen to your tone.
Ask your spouse what he/she needs from you.
Communicate your own needs more lovingly and respectfully to your spouse.
Love and respect will interact and flow back and forth on both sides in order for a marriage to stay energized. But someone has to make the first move. Will you be first?