text:
Bill Clinton backs gay marriage bill
Clinton: The U.S. 'search for a more perfect union' inspires his stance on gay marriage.
By Jennifer Epstein
Updated: 05/05/2011 11:33 AM EDT
Bill Clinton, the man who signed the Defense of Marriage Act into law as president, is joining the campaign to get gay marriage legalized in New York.
In a statement released by the Human Rights Campaign on Thursday, Clinton said that the next step in the expansion of rights in the United States should be same-sex marriage in his adopted home state. While Clinton opposed gay marriage while in the White House, he has in recent years shifted his views, something he makes clear in backing the bill in New York.
"Our nation's permanent mission is to form a 'more perfect union' — deepening the meaning of freedom, broadening the reach of opportunity, strengthening the bonds of community," Clinton said. "That mission has inspired and empowered us to extend rights to people previously denied them. Every time we have done that, it has strengthened our nation. Now we should do it again, in New York, with marriage equality. For more than a century, our Statue of Liberty has welcomed all kinds of people from all over the world yearning to be free. In the 21st century, I believe New York's welcome must include marriage equality."
Clinton has had an evolving stance on the issue since the 1990s. "I changed my position," he said in 2009. "I am no longer opposed to that. I think if people want to make commitments that last a lifetime, they ought to be able to do it."
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton opposed gay marriage during her time as a senator from New York, and in her 2008 presidential campaign. Earlier this year, she said her position has not changed, even as her husband's has. But the Clintons' daughter Chelsea has made clear she supports the legalization of gay marriage.
Months before he signed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996 — which affects federal laws — Clinton said his views on gay marriage were not likely to change. "I remain opposed to same-sex marriage," he said at the time. "I believe marriage is an institution for the union of a man and a woman. This has been my long-standing position, and it is not being reviewed or reconsidered."
He has since said that he was hung up on the word "marriage."
The former president's statement in support of the New York bill comes as advocates push for its passage ahead of the end of the state's legislative session in June. It's passed the state Assembly three times in previous years, but failed in the state Senate the one time it came to the floor, in 2009. Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said that legalizing gay marriage is a priority for his administration, though the current Republican majority in the state Senate is largely opposed to it, along with some conservative Democrats.
Clinton is the highest-profile political figure to sign onto the Human Rights Campaign's lobbying efforts, but not the only one. In January, Barbara Bush, the 29-year-old daughter of former President George W. Bush, appeared in a 22-second video voicing her support for same-sex marriage in New York. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have also spoken out in support of the bill.
And he isn't the only Clinton joining the cause. Shortly after the former president's statement went out, another group called New Yorkers United for Marriage, announced that Chelsea Clinton will be among the 50 volunteers kicking off its phone-banking campaign in the state.
"As a New Yorker who not that long ago got married in New York to her best friend… I certainly believe that all of my friends should have the right, as Marc and I did, to marry their best friend," she explained to People Magazine. "I certainly expect my straight friends to help us achieve that for all New Yorkers, for all Americans, and for the children that, at least, Marc and I hope to have someday."
Bill Clinton,
Defense Of Marriage Act,


An unidentified militant was killed in an encounter with security forces in Sopore area of north Kashmir's Baramulla district on Friday.
The gunfight broke out in the morning when a joint team of army's Rashtriya Rifles, J&K police and paramilitary CRPF launched a cordon-and-search-operation (CASO) in Warpora, Sopore, 55 kms from here, after inputs about the presence of two militants in the area, reports said.
"As the cordon was tightened, the militants fired at the forces, triggering a gunfight. In the retaliatory action an unidentified militant killed," a police official said and added the body of the slain militant is yet to be recovered.
"There is possibility of one more militant hiding in the area and operation is on," he said.
Clashes erupted in Warpora after some youth tried to march towards the site of the gunfight to rescue the militants, reports said.
The market remained closed in Sopore town due to the gunfight. However, traffic was plying on the town roads.
The latest encounter comes days after four soldiers, three Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants, one of them being suspected of having plotted last week's terror attack terror attack on the national highway, a police constable and a civilian were killed in an 18-hour-long gunfight in Pinglina village of south Kashmir's volatile Pulwama district on Monday.
Last Thursday, Adil Ahmad Dar, a 21-year-old local militant, had rammed a car packed with huge explosives into a CRPF convoy killing 49 paramilitary personnel and injuring dozens of others. It was the deadliest single attack on security forces in Kashmir. Jaish, the terror group that operates from Pakistan, had claimed responsibility for the attack.


text:
<?php

	class Contratante_model extends CI_Model
	{
		public function adicionar($contratante){
			$this->db->insert('tb_contratantes',$contratante);

			if($this->db->error()["code"] == 0){
				return "SUCESSO";
			}else{
				return "ERRO";
			}
		}

		public function retornar_todos(){
			$this->load->database();
			$query = $this->db->query('
				select
					tb_contratantes.contratante_id,
					tb_contratantes.contratante_nome,
				    tb_contratantes.contratante_sobrenome,
				    tb_contratantes.contratante_CPF,
				    tb_contratantes.contratante_cargo,
				    tb_emails.email_descricao,
				    tb_telefones.tipo_telefone_id,
				    tb_telefones.telefone_ddd,
				    tb_telefones.telefone_numero
				from tb_contratantes
				inner join tb_emails on tb_emails.email_id = tb_contratantes.email_id
				inner join tb_telefones on tb_telefones.telefone_id = tb_contratantes.telefone_id
			');

			$contratantes = array();
			foreach ($query->result() as $row)
			{
				$contratante = array('contratante_id' => $row->contratante_id,
									 'contratante_nome' => $row->contratante_nome,
									 'contratante_sobrenome' => $row->contratante_sobrenome,
	                                 'contratante_CPF' => $row->contratante_CPF,
	                                 'contratante_cargo' => $row->contratante_cargo,
	                                 'email_descricao' => $row->email_descricao,
	                                 'tipo_telefone_id' => $row->tipo_telefone_id,
	                                 'telefone_ddd' => $row->telefone_ddd,
	                                 'telefone_numero' => $row->telefone_numero
                                 	);
	        	$contratantes[] = $contratante;
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			return $contratantes;
		}
	}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
CFZ PEOPLE: J.T.Downes
My father would have been 87 today. Happy Birthday Dad
CFZ PEOPLE: Nick Wadham
Happy Birthday dude
WATCHER OF THE SKIES: Orioles, birdwatching and gamekeeper shame
As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time, Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... about out of place birds, rare vagrants, and basically all things feathery and fortean.
Because we live in strange times, there are more and more bird stories that come her way, so she has now moved onto the main CFZ bloggo with a new column with the same name as her aforementioned ones...
2011 – Farmland bird survey – a record breaking year
The results of the annual survey carried out by the RSPB's Volunteer and Farmer Alliance has called 2011 another eventful year. One farm in Lincolnshire set a new record with 85 species being spotted in one survey, and in another on the Devon coast one volunteer was lucky enough to spot a golden oriole - one of Britain's rarest birds.
Richard Winspear, senior RSPB agriculture advisor, said: "It's been a fantastic year for the Volunteer & Farmer Alliance with more and more farmers learning about the wildlife on their farms thanks to an army of dedicated amateur experts.
"These volunteers get up at the crack of dawn to carry out these surveys and do an amazing job. Every farmer gets a map of their farm showing where each species is breeding which they can use to plan conservation measures.
"It's great to hear all the stories we get back from our volunteers which over the past year have included encounters with some rare and spectacular birds like golden eagle, quail and even a golden oriole.
"But the most heartening thing is to see the enthusiasm farmers show for the wildlife on their land. With vital information from surveys like these and the right advice and support through the agri-environment schemes, they can make a real difference for farmland birds.
"This is a very popular service and we get a lot of requests from farmers, so much so that in some areas we are oversubscribed. Farmers have benefitted from this free service for a number of years however it does require investment and in these austere times we are looking to see how we can continue to support it into the future."
A more detailed report can be found at: http://www.rspb.org.uk/media/releases/302485-record-breaking-year-for-farmland-bird-survey
And for more information, to sign up for a survey, or to volunteer to carry out surveys, visit the Volunteer & Farmer Alliance webpage at www.rspb.org.uk/vandfa
Picture from Wikipedia
Beginners' Birdwatching
If you would like to learn some more about birdwatching, the RSPB has organised a special free four day course in February in south Dorset. Each day will be held at different outdoor venues in Poole and Bournemouth.
Organiser of the event, Sarah-Jane Buckle, said: "This is a great opportunity for anyone who's always wanted to learn a bit more about our feathered friends. South Dorset is a brilliant place for birds and birdwatching, and we're really keen to get more people out and about and enjoying what there is to see.
"We've got some excellent venues for the event and I'm really looking forward to it. We'll provide everything to start off with, and you don't even have to have your own binoculars as we'll have some to borrow. And best of all its free - although donations are always welcome!".
For more details please contact Sarah-Jane Buckle on 07703607630 or visit:
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/Birdwatching-Beginners.html
Second gamekeeper convicted of poisoning offences in a week in Lanarkshire
A second Lanarkshire gamekeeper has been convicted of possessing Carbofuran, a highly toxic pesticide that was banned in 2001. Cyril McLachlan, 63 years old and with 40 years experience, was find £635 at Lanark Sheriff Court after admitting the offence. He was arrested during an operation by Strathclyde Police, the National Wildlife Crime Unit and the Scottish Government in January 2011, when a plastic bottle containing the illegal substance was discovered in his vehicle. McLachlan claimed to have got the chemical "off a friend".
Speaking after the sentencing Bob Elliot, Head of Investigations at RSPB Scotland, said: "This is the second court case in the space of a week involving poisoning in South Lanarkshire, which must be very worrying for local residents. Not only do these illegal chemicals kill birds and other wildlife but they have the potential to poison domestic pets and endanger any people that come into contact with them.
"It is depressing that despite this substance being banned for over ten years it turns up with monotonous regularity, used to lace baits indiscriminately which are then laid in the open in our countryside to kill protected wildlife."
On 5th January 2012 at Lanark Sheriff Court, former gamekeeper David Whitefield, of the nearby Culter Allers Estate, Coulter, South Lanarkshire was successfully prosecuted for poisoning offences.
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/carbofuran-scotland.html
...and for those who don't know why 'The Watcher of the Skies':
Posted by Jon Downes at 1:10 PM 1 comment:
GIANT CROC
RICHARD FREEMAN WRITES: Sadly, this is forced perspective. If you look closely you will see that the people in the background are sitting on a wall with ground between them and the wall the crocodile is lying on. There is little close to the crocodile to indicate its length, but if the wall is the same hight as the one the people are sitting on in the background then it would seem that the croc is not remarkably large 14-15 feet; about average for an adult.
The Nile crocodile is the second larges living crocodile and just how big it gets is a matter of controversy. The largest known mesured between the pegs 21 feet 2 inches, suggesting that very large males could reach 23 feet or more. One such huge individual, named Gustave haunts Lake Tanganyika in Burundi. Wildlife Cameraman Cherry Kearton claimed to have filmed a specimen 27 feet long. Other claims have been made of crocodiles in the 23-26 foot range over the years. Though unproven they are far from impossible.
http://imgur.com/RYaZm
HAUNTED SKIES: Daily Telegraph 11.4.58.
http://hauntedskies.blogspot.com/2012/01/daily-telegraph-11458.html
On this day in 1993 the professional wrestler Andre the Giant died. Andre was billed by Vince McMahon Sr. as the 8th Wonder of the World on account of his height, reputed to be around 2.30 M.
Cat Shot With Arrow: 'Cupid' Expected To Make Full...
Bees 'could deter vandals' at Greenfield heritage ...
Pythons and Anacondas banned from US import and tr...
Airport proposals 'catastrophic' for wildlife
Tiny alcohol amounts double worm's life
Russian scientist claims signs of life spotted on ...
85-year-old woman wields shovel to stop moose stom...
An interview showing just how tall Andre was:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZ82JLb84ms
DALE DRINNON: New on Frontiers of Zoology/Anthropology
New on the Frontiers of Zoology, a brief piece of information on the Demon Ducks of Doom:
http://frontiersofzoology.blogspot.com/2012/01/devil-and-mr-waddles.html
Plus two rather longer articles on Frontiers of Anthropology, which I am afraid are going to lead to some more longer articles following. Not to worry, I shall probably intersperse them with smaller articles yet to come on the blog also:
http://frontiers-of-anthropology.blogspot.com/2012/01/some-largescale-migrations-into-new_25.html
http://frontiers-of-anthropology.blogspot.com/2012/01/more-on-uralics-part-1.html
Posted by Jon Downes at 9:34 AM No comments:
SHUKERNATURE: Karl Shuker vs the purple cow...
One of the shortest but most famous of all nonsense poems is 'The Purple Cow', penned by American author Gelett Burgess (1866-1951). It originally appeared in the first issue of The Lark, a magazine published in 1895 that was co-edited and (at least initially) largely written by Burgess.
WATCHER OF THE SKIES: Orioles, birdwatching and ga...
DALE DRINNON: New on Frontiers of Zoology/Anthropo...
► Mar 27 (6

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
BooBies Calendar Space Dandy
BooBies Calendar #3 – March
By Nearphotison on Saturday, May 31, 2014
Okay, so here's the third installment of the Boobies Calendar project I've been running. In this installment we finally break into the characters who are not only not named within Space Dandy, but also don't even have any lines. From here on out its all characters you won't recognize unless you spend a little too much time freeze-framing the Boobies waitresses in the show.
Mother Up! WWOTM
May '14 WWOTM – Rudi Wilson
By Nearphotison on Tuesday, May 27, 2014
The WWOEC Woman of the Month for May 2014 is Rudi Wilson from Hulu's Mother Up! Since WWOEC is currently down (for how long, I do not know), I'm posting my contribution for the month here in case the site isn't up again before June.
Rudi was nominate by Pandora's Box, an artist you all have seen me color a few times in the past. Knowing PBX's taste, I figured I had to go incest this month, and it wasn't a hard decision to make when I saw how cute her daughter Apple is. So both Apple and Dick ended up in the pic, but I think I'd like to do a separate Mother Up! pic at some point in the future featuring the neighbor Sarah, who is by far my favorite part of the series.
Speaking of the show proper, I hadn't heard of it before. I went in to watch a few episodes for this pic and, while I like a lot of the character designs and the animation is fine, it didn't really click for me. I think Rudi is just too unlikeable for me to root for her, and she's not funny enough for me to forgive her character flaws the way I would a Homer Simpson. Maybe these issues work out later in the series, but in the episodes I saw I couldn't really enjoy myself.
Also, I'd like to say I had very little time this month to work on this, so I decided to do flat colors like the show has instead of my usual approach. I think it turned out okay, but I may upload a different version in the future (though don't count on it). Enjoy!
By Nearphotison on Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Here's the newest page, where we see Wars and Siat sharing an intimate moment. I'm very happy to have gotten a few pages out in fairly quick succession, but I'm pretty sure it'll be a little while before I can get the next one ready. Hope this can keep you all entertained until then!
BooBies Calendar #2 – February
So here's the second installment of the Space Dandy-based BooBies Calendar series. This month is February, and features the only other Boobies waitress (to my knowledge) to get dialogue outside of group lines. She appears in the first half of the second episode, serving the main characters and taking selfies with them alongside Honey.
True to form for this series, I couldn't find any instance of her having a name. Since she's by far the second most important character I'll feature, you can be sure that none of the other images for this calendar will have character names in the tags. It's all background characters from here on out.
Like with 99% of the content I put out these days, I used a photo reference for this image. I mention it here only to say that I absolutely loved the way the models legs and feet were lit in the picture, and went through painstaking measures to try and recreate that look in this image. I am a bit concerned that it made the rest of the image (especially her face) look a little bit flat, but I think it paid off.
UPDATE: It looks like she was given the name Candy in the Space Dandy Picture Dramas (thank you, Anonymous), which means we now have two named BooBies waitresses! Now all we need is for them to name the other ten waitresses I'll be doing in this line, and my tagging OCD can finally be satisfied…
By Nearphotison on Sunday, May 4, 2014
BooBies Calendar #1 – January
By Nearphotison on Friday, May 2, 2014
So this is a side project of mine that I'm pretty excited for. I'm a big fan of Space Dandy, the new anime from Shinichirō Watanabe. In the show, the main character Dandy is a frequent visitor to BooBies, an obvious Hooters parody. The idea for this series is basically a twelve-part pin-up series featuring the waitresses of BooBies. The only problem is, Honey here is the only prominent member of the BooBies staff. That's right, I'm doing a twelve-part series featuring only one name character. I'm such a dork.
So, yeah, the other eleven entries in this series will all be actual characters from the show, but they'll also all be nameless background characters. I think February's girl has a couple of lines in one episode, but that's as relevant as any of them will get. Hell, a couple of them aren't even background characters, just designs shown in a panning group shot while the narrator explains what BooBies is in the first episode. This is obscurity for you, but the girls are hot so I hope you all can enjoy the pics anyway.


text:
Goephanes zebrinoides är en skalbaggsart som beskrevs av Stefan von Breuning 1971. Goephanes zebrinoides ingår i släktet Goephanes och familjen långhorningar.

Artens utbredningsområde är Madagaskar. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Långhorningar
zebrinoides

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
'Not The First Time I've Seen It', Tomlin Says Of Pickett's Killer Instinct In The Clutch
By Matthew Marczi
Did you know that Pittsburgh Steelers rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett is already up to three career game-winning drives? He has 10 starts (nine meaningful ones in terms of playing time; eight if you only count games he finished) and out of those, he's won the game in the fourth quarter.
Since 2013, only Baker Mayfield and Dak Prescott have had more game-winning drives as rookies. In fact, only nine rookies in total since 2000 have had more, and all of them started at least 13 games, most playing 16. That number does include Ben Roethlisberger, who have five game-winning drives in 13 starts in 2004. But none of this surprises this Steelers team that made him their first-round pick.
"I imagine he was born with it," Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said yesterday about Pickett's latest game-winning drive on Christmas Eve and his clutch instinct, via the team's website. "I know that it's not the first time I've seen it, and I know it's not the first time that people from Western PA have seen it. We've seen him do it next door."
He refers to Pickett's time with the Pittsburgh Panthers during his college career, who also plays inside of Acrisure Stadium as the Steelers do and who train right next door. They got plenty of inside evaluative experience with their future franchise hopeful so handily nearby.
"I think that's why we have such a great deal of comfort in his intangible quality from a draft-evaluation perspective," Tomlin insisted. "We were in close proximity to it, and when you're in close proximity to it, it becomes less intangible. You can almost feel it. It is real. I don't think any of us are surprised by it."
Tomlin loves to talk intangibles, especially when it's good to have intangibles, but making intangibles tangible can be equally exciting. It's one thing to say that somebody has 'the clutch gene', but it's another to break it down and actually figure out what that means and what it looks like on the field.
The Steelers understand how Pickett operates and how he handles pressure. They also understand that he's continuing to grow as he adjusts to the NFL level and that he's only going to get better as time goes on. It was a story when he got his first game-winning drive, but one easily expects that there will be many more to come.
Roethlisberger, his predecessor, retired after the 2021 season after posting a career-high seven game-winning drives in a year in which the team only won nine games. He ended his career with 53 of them in total, the fourth-most in NFL history behind only Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees.
Those are some lofty standards to live up to, but he certainly delivered an incredible moment in the final minute of Saturday night's game with a 14-yard go-ahead touchdown pass to fellow wide receiver George Pickens to secure a Steelers victory in honor of the late, great Franco Harris. It was a signature moment—and perhaps a sign of things to come.
Related Items:Kenny Pickett, Mike Tomlin, Trending


Our pups bring us together. At the park, out and about in the city, when we travel around the world.
2.8 design for dogs was born out of love for our furry friends.
Anna, professional photographer and devoted dog-lover, was looking for the right accessories to match her home interiors, as well as her stylish dogs, Quintale and Hermione.
Margherita, an experienced product developer, was always exploring new ways to put her vast knowledge of textiles and manufacturing processes to use. Along with her inseparable Fox Terrier Olivia, she started working on the right material.
Together they created a line of products for dogs that fits every interior harmoniously: beautiful objects that furnish and enhance the style of any kind of indoor spaces.
Their mutual creativity and fondness for high-quality design became the foundations of 2.8 design for dogs.
When you're inspired by two of the most beautiful places in the world, it's difficult to go wrong.
The pulsating heart of 2.8 design for dogs is in Tuscany: this captivating land - vibrant with spirit, art and history – possesses an outstanding legacy of handmade manufacturing and craftsmanship. It was only natural to choose it as the centre of our production department.
2.8's head, however, is in Venice: open-mindedness and entrepreneurial spirit are the city's trademarks. Merchants and travellers have been inspired by Venice's spirit for centuries, and the creators of 2.8 design for dogs have followed in their footsteps.
We believe Made in Italy to be far more than just a label. It's an idea of beauty, elegance, craftsmanship and quality.
Here at 2.8 design for dogs, Made in Italy is a lifestyle and a choice.
Each product of 2.8 design for dogs is the result of hours of research and artisanal handmade work. Having our articles completely made in Tuscany means employing the best craftsmen and choosing the best techniques and materials.
This ensures the highest quality and the best performing textiles, because we create products that are above all practical and dog-friendly: our pets' well-being is our primary intention. All items are washable, removable and fully guaranteed. Easy to clean and available with spare linings, they are made to be used and enjoyed by all dogs.
The materials we use are unrefined and environmentally friendly: their own variations highlight the naturalness of the fabric, as well as the value of handmade manufacturing.
2.8 design for dogs chose to implement certified B Corporation standards of responsibility, performance and transparency. We believe in preserving the long-lasting traditions and values of our community and territory, as well as making our own contribution to a better and greener world for everyone. Especially for our furry friends.


Kent Swigard, head of The Kent Swigard Team, utilizes a highly effective mix of acquired skills in his 15-year career as a real estate agent.
Two years of service as a U.S. Navy public affairs officer in Hawaii, coupled with 10 years as a newspaper reporter for The Spokesman-Review in Spokane, taught Kent how to effectively verbally communicate and get along with a broad spectrum of people. He also learned how to convert complex subject matter into simple, thoughtfully crafted writing.
More than a decade of subsequent service as a marketing manager for the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle and the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency fine further enhanced Kent's ability to persuasively advertise properties and negotiate favorable outcomes.
Three decades of personal experience as a real estate investor, renovator and property manager has empowered Kent to help his clients acquire, schedule and direct assorted contractors to stage, restore and remodel personal homes and investment properties.
Oh yes, Kent also spent three years playing the guitar and singing in lounges. If things ever get stressful, ask him to sing you a soothing tune. He'll probably decline but might do it anyway if pressed.
Bracha Swigard, Kent's assistant and wife for 30 years, is a fully licensed John L. Scott real estate agent. Bracha helps to coordinate all aspects of each transaction, including escrow set up, inspection details and closing. She also provides a wide variety of customer service functions for all of the Team's clients before, during and after each transaction.
Bracha has a master's degree in clinical counseling from California State University, Hayward. Prior to joining Kent's real estate team, she compiled 17 years of experience doing direct client counseling at group homes, mental health agencies, Jewish Family Service and in private practice. Those who wonder how psychology applies to real estate have not experienced the benefit of Bracha's input, insight, and involvement in The Kent Swigard Team's frequent successful real estate negotiations!
David Greene, a mortgage broker for Guild Mortgage Co., fills the essential role of empowering The Kent Swigard Team's buyers to obtain exceptional mortgage loans at low interest rates under favorable terms. Scores of Kent Swigard clients attest to David's ability to help them analyze complex financing options and to choose options with payments for which they qualify and, equally important, feel comfortable paying.
Like Kent and Bracha, David Greene has been placing great emphasis for years on building long-term relationships with all of his clients. As is the case with Kent and Bracha, most of David's clients are sent to him on recommendation from his many highly satisfied past clients.
The Kent Swigard Team takes pride in David's ability to obtain every loan he seeks on behalf of his clients and to close every one of them on time.
For more than a decade, Loreli Tarsiuk has served The Kent Swigard Team as its transaction coordinator. Loreli is a trained and experienced escrow specialist and also a fully licensed Realtor with John L. Scott. Her primary job is to carefully oversee the development of every contract, ensuring that every clause and condition is addressed and every deadline is met. Loreli's eye for detail enables our clients to rest assured every component of every transaction is being properly handled with professional care in a timely fashion.


text:
Q: Hide / remove space taken by div from html with css only after animation I'm trying to "physically" remove, or have the div (for example) not take up space on the screen after hidden.
I added another div below the #test div to show that after #test is hidden, it still takes up space on the screen. Is there a way to have that space be gone, with css only?

#test {
  opacity: 0;
  -webkit-animation: fadeinout 3s;
  /* Safari, Chrome and Opera > 12.1 */
  -moz-animation: fadeinout 3s;
  /* Firefox < 16 */
  -ms-animation: fadeinout 3s;
  /* Internet Explorer */
  -o-animation: fadeinout 3s;
  /* Opera < 12.1 */
  animation: fadeinout 3s;
}

@keyframes fadeinout {
  from {
    opacity: 0;
  }
  50% {
    opacity: 1;
  }
  to {
    opacity: 0;
  }
}

@-moz-keyframes fadeinout {
  /* Firefox */
  from {
    opacity: 0;
  }
  50% {
    opacity: 1;
  }
  to {
    opacity: 0;
  }
}

@-webkit-keyframes fadeinout {
  /* Safari and Chrome */
  from {
    opacity: 0;
  }
  50% {
    opacity: 1;
  }
  to {
    opacity: 0;
  }
}

@-o-keyframes fadeinout {
  /* Opera */
  from {
    opacity: 0;
  }
  50% {
    opacity: 1;
  }
  to {
    opacity: 0;
  }
}

hide me after 3 seconds

After 3 seconds I don't move up.

A: You could also animate the max-height - just make sure that the middle max-height is taller than your tallest fading div

#test {
  opacity: 0;
  -webkit-animation: fadeinout 3s;
  /* Safari, Chrome and Opera > 12.1 */
  -moz-animation: fadeinout 3s;
  /* Firefox < 16 */
  -ms-animation: fadeinout 3s;
  /* Internet Explorer */
  -o-animation: fadeinout 3s;
  /* Opera < 12.1 */
  animation: fadeinout 3s;
    max-height: 0;
}

@keyframes fadeinout {
  from {
    max-height: 0;
    opacity: 0;
  }
  50% {
    opacity: 1;
    max-height: 5em;
  }
  to {
    opacity: 0;
    max-height: 0;
  }
}

hide me after 3 seconds

After 3 seconds I don't move up.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


We have a great variety of French Overnight Camps and French Immersion Trips to choose from.
Come experience an overnight French immersion adventure with Camp Tournesol, the leaders in French camps in Ontario!
Camp Tournesol offers exciting travel adventures for French-speaking students who want to engage in a truly memorable French Immersion experience. These are sleep away summer camps for campers ages 8-15 . We have an exciting selection of overnight camps to choose from, including an action-packed cottage retreat at the countryside of Schomberg, or the gorgeous Muskoka lake.
A day in the life of a Camp Tournesol overnight camper at one of our sleep away summer camps is filled with fun activities like rock wall climbing, campfires, sing-a-longs, archery, and much more – all in French. And unlike most overnight camps, Camp Tournesol also offers a partial week overnight option for campers who prefer a gradual transition into the full week away-from-home experience.
Take the time to visit the sections below to discover the perfect formula for your child!
A full week "away-from-home" French Immersion experience in Ontario, from Sunday afternoon to Friday afternoon. For French immersion or Francophone students.
In these programs the week is separated in 2! 1 or 2 days spent at one of our day camps, and the rest of the week at one of our awesome overnight camps.
For French immersion or Francophone students.
A 4 day/3 night trip away for French-speaking middle school students, specially designed to develop leadership skills and to prepare for the CIT program. Offered in 2 locations and dates to accommodate the growing demand. For French immersion or Francophone students.
Take a look at some of our videos and photos from past French overnight trips to see why our campers come back year after year. You can also read the daily recap we maintain to keep our parents in the loop.
Come and make some memories of your own that will last forever!


The Beijing Opera Percussion Pattern (BOPP) dataset is a collection of audio examples of percussion patterns played by the percussion ensemble in Beijing Opera (Jingju, 京剧). The percussion ensemble in Jingju plays a set of pre-defined and labeled percussion patterns, which serve many functions. The percussion patterns can be defined as sequences of strokes played by different combinations of the percussion instruments, and the resulting variety of timbres are transmitted using oral syllables as mnemonics. More information on the percussion instruments used in Beijing Opera can be found at http://compmusic.upf.edu/examples-percussion-bo.
The dataset presented here was used as the training dataset in the folllowing paper. A detailed description of percussion patterns in Jingju can also be found in it. If you use the dataset in your work, please cite the following publication.
 Ajay Srinivasamurthy, Rafael Caro Repetto, Harshavardhan Sundar, Xavier Serra, "Transcription and Recognition of Syllable based Percussion Patterns: The Case of Beijing Opera," in Proceedings of the 15th International Society for Music Information Retrieval (ISMIR) Conference, Taipei, Taiwan, Oct 2014.
The audio files are short segments containing one of the above mentioned patterns. The audio is stereo, sampled at 44.1 kHz, and stored as wav files. The segments were chosen from the introductory parts of arias. The recordings of arias are from commercially available releases spanning various artists. The audio and segments were chosen carefully by a musicologist to be representative of the percussion patterns that occur in Jingju. The audio segments contain diverse instrument timbres of percussion instruments (though the same set of instruments are played, there can be slight variations in the individual instruments across different ensembles), recording quality and period of the recording. Though these recordings were chosen from introductions of arias where only percussion ensemble is playing, there are some examples in the dataset where the melodic accompaniment starts before the percussion pattern ends.
Each of the audio patterns has an associated syllable level transcription of the audio pattern. The transcription is obtained from the score for the pattern and is not time aligned to the audio. The transcription is done using the reduced set of five syllables described in Table 1 of  and is sufficient to computationally model the timbres of all the syllables. The annotations are stored as Hidden Markov Model Toolkit (HTK) label files. There is also a single master label file provided for batch processing using HTK (http://htk.eng.cam.ac.uk/).


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Tag: Kensington
Guest Review: The Princess Knight by G.A. Aiken
Posted November 25, 2020 by Tracy in Reviews | 0 Comments
Reviewer: Tracy
The Princess Knight by G.A. Aiken
Series: The Scarred Earth Saga #2
Also in this series: The Blacksmith Queen, The Blacksmith Queen
Source: NetGalley
Point-of-View: Third Person
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Ripped Bodice | Google Play Books
Series Rating:
Gemma Smythe dedicated her life to the glory of battle. With her fellow War Monks, she worshipped the war gods, rained destruction on her enemies, and raised the dead when the fancy took her. Until her sister Keeley became the prophesied Blacksmith Queen, and Gemma broke faith with her order to journey to the Amichai Mountain and fight by Keeley's side.
The Amichai warriors are an unruly, never-to-be-tamed lot, especially their leader-in-waiting, Quinn. But when the War Monks declare support for Gemma's ruthless younger sister Beatrix, the immaturity of her key ally is the least of Gemma's problems. She has to get to the grand masters, dispel their grudge against her, and persuade them to fight for Keeley and justice. If her conviction can't sway them, perhaps Quinn's irritating, irreverent, clearly unhinged, ferocity will win the day . . .
Gemma Smythe is a war monk. She left her Order when she found out that her younger, unhinged sister, Beatrix was going to be named as the next queen. When both her sister Beatrix and her sister, Keeley, are named as queen the battle begins.
In this story Gemma has found out that her War Monk order is supporting Beatrix, the psychopath. Gemma heads back to her order to try to sway them to follow Keely instead. Along with her, she takes Amichai warrior, Quinn as well as her sister, Ainsley who is amazing with a bow and arrow. Quinn is irreverent and annoying, but he's tough and knows how fight, which is what Gemma expects to have to do when she gets to her order.
On the way back to the home base Gemma and Quinn run into dwarves, nuns, more monks, virgins, witches, priests and assassins that are all there to help Keeley's cause. They discover that they must infiltrate Beatrix's castle and work together to bring her downfall.
Another great book in the Scarred Earth Saga. I love that the fight continues between the two queens and that so many different factions are involved on both sides.
The story revolved around Gemma and Quinn and their helping Keeley and fighting the good fight again Beatrix. This series doesn't seem to have romance per se, but the couples do end up falling in love, or a version of love. Lol It's not everyone's idea of romantic, but I honestly feel that it's a good representation of the characters and what would actually happen.
Aiken draws the reader into a world that is fantastical but believable. Most of the time I can honestly think that this was something that might have happened (except for the fact that I know it's fantasy!). The fantasy-based beings and the magic are wonderful, but so is Aiken's signature snark. I love that the characters aren't serious 24/7. They know the consequences of not winning against Beatrix but it doesn't stop their personalities from coming through loud and clear and I love that.
The Scarred Earth Saga so far is a good one and if you love fantasy and sarcasm you'll love the series.
Tagged: 4.0 Reviews, Fantasy, G.A. Aiken, Guest Reviews, Kensington, Reviews, The Scarred Earth Saga, Tracy's Reviews
Sunday Spotlight: The Cowboy Who Saved Christmas by Jodi Thomas, Sharla Lovelace and Scarlett Dunn
Posted October 25, 2020 by Holly in Features, Giveaways | 3 Comments
Sunday Spotlight is a feature we began in 2016. This year we're spotlighting our favorite books, old and new. We'll be raving about the books we love and being total fangirls. You've been warned. 🙂
An ex-soldier, has lost his way, and Emery, a woman running to find a new life, and five little rich girls just wanting to get home before Christmas.
When I started THE COWBOY WHO SAVED CHRISTMAS, I knew it would be a historical set in 1867, starting in a small inland port when Trapper Hawkins takes a job to haul freight. The pay is good, maybe enough to give him a start, but the cargo is five girls.
I've driven the roads from Jefferson, Texas to Dallas many times. But this time, in my mind, I was making the journey in a wagon with outlaws determined to kidnap my cargo, the little girls.
The story came alive in my mind and I laughed then cried, then fell in love with my characters. I learned to survive in the untamed land and fight off outlaws.
I drove as the story played out in my head. In three hours I'd covered a month by wagon while fighting storms and hunting for my supper every night.
By the time I stopped in Dallas and pulled into a hotel, my head was packed. It took me two months to write it all down and I think "Father Goose," the story of one broken soldier and a runaway woman risking their lives to save five little girls may very well be my favorite short story ever.
Celebrate the holiday by making the journey across Texas with me this Christmas.
Jodi Thomas
The Cowboy Who Saved Christmas by Jodi Thomas, Sharla Lovelace, Scarlett Dunn
Genres: Westerns
In these Texas-set stories of romance and adventure, the Civil War is over, Christmas is coming—and it's time for three rugged fighters to become lovers...
FATHER GOOSE by New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Jodi Thomas
Dispirited by war, when Trapper Morgan accepts a job hauling five little rich girls to Dallas, all he cares about is the money. He doesn't expect they'll awaken his spirit—or that their intriguing nursemaid, Carolina, will awaken his heart. And when danger strikes as Christmas Eve nears, he definitely doesn't expect Carolina and the girls to risk their lives—for him . . .
THE MISTLETOE PROMISE by Sharla Lovelace
A catastrophic storm, an ailing herd, and a failing cattle ranch have left Texas rancher Josie Bancroft in danger of losing everything her father worked for. Still, she'd rather die than merge with her neighbor rancher Benjamin Mason, the man who broke her heart years ago, on Christmas Eve. As old sparks fly and secrets are revealed, however, Ben is determined to help Josie—and prove that this time around can be different. That the misunderstandings of Christmas past need not define their future...
CHRISTMAS ROAD by Scarlett Dunn
Yellow Fever has hit Clint Mitchum's Texas hometown and taken his father and siblings, leaving Clint ever more cynical. Racing homeward to be by his mother's side, Clint finds only a note from her, asking that he help her caregiver, a young woman named Amelia. Assuming his mother has passed, in his grief Clint ventures out to search for Amelia—and finds the best of gifts—just in time for Christmas...
The Cowboy Who Saved Christmas by Jodi Thomas, Sharla Lovelace, & Scarlett Dunn
Excerpt from "Father Goose" by Jodi Thomas
Trapper spent the morning preparing for his new job as if it was an assignment during the war. He studied maps, learned a bit about his employer, the girls' father, Colonel Gunter Chapman. He'd been an officer in the Mexican–American War back in the 1840s.He was ruthless and came home with injuries. But that hadn't stopped him from moving farther west from the protection of even the forts and starting a huge ranch.
Trapper had seen that kind of man many times in the war. A king on his land.
Trapper bought clothes for winter, a new hat and a warm coat from his winnings last night. He'd worn most of his clothes too long for them to be presentable. Now, when he got to Dallas, he'd be dressed more like a cowboy, a Westerner. And, if the raiders killed him along the way, he'd have a fine funeral outfit.
Walking toward the dock, he planned. He'd meet the little ladies, tell them the rules for the trip, and get underway. He decided he only needed three rules. One: Be ready to travel at sunup. Two: Stop at midday for thirty minutes to rest, take care of private needs, and drink water. Three: At sundown make camp. He'd cook a meal of whatever he shot along the way or use the supplies.
When Trapper had checked the wagon, he noticed the teamster hadn't packed but two blankets, so he bought the girls each one. After all, they were little girls, and they'd need comfort.
He also added apples and canned peaches to his load.
Trapper was feeling hopeful about the journey. He'd bought two extra rifles and several boxes of bullets. He'd get these girls home safe and collect his five hundred dollars. Then he'd drive away in his new wagon with Midnight tied to the back.
A man who has a wagon, a horse, and enough money in his pocket to buy land was rich indeed. For the first time since the war he allowed himself to dream. He thought about something besides surviving one more day.
As he waited, he saw a small widow lady sitting on a bench near the dock. Trapper remembered the teamster had told him to hire a woman to travel with him, but surely he could handle five little girls.
There were so many women in black right after the war, it seemed like every woman dressed the same. Strange, he thought; the men wore blue and gray, but all the widows wore black. Mourning had no side, no color.
The paddleboat pulled up to yells and waves from the waiting crowd. As cargo began to roll off the side, passengers walked off the front in a thin line. It wasn't long before he saw a tall woman in a light blue cape marching with five little girls behind her. She had to be the nurse traveling with his cargo. They all wore a uniform of sunny blue and white. They reminded him of a mother goose and her goslings. He guessed he was about to become the father goose.
Trapper had no doubt these were his charges. The first girl was tall, only a head shorter than the nurse. Her blond hair was tied back, as if she was trying to look older. The next two were shorter, with auburn hair. The younger and thinner of the pair wore an old wool cap and seemed to be crying. The fourth girl was probably about five and was round as a goose egg. The last one, and the smallest, seemed to be having trouble staying in line. She weaved back and forth as she kept jumping up and down as if she could see everything if she was two inches higher.
Trapper straightened and removed his wide-brimmed hat. There were several families meeting travelers, but he was the only man standing alone in front of a small covered wagon. Eventually, the nurse would find him.
The tall woman weaved her way around groups of people and the girls followed in a row. Well, all but the last one followed. The littlest one seemed to be having trouble keeping up.
Finally, the lady noticed him and headed his way. She stopped three feet from him and the girls lined up behind her. Except number five, who bumped into four and almost knocked two and three out of line.
"Are you the driver for Colonel Chapman's girls?" The woman's voice was cold and held no hint of a Southern accent.
"I am." Trapper bowed slightly, not sure what to say or do. He decided to keep the poker game quiet. "I'm Trapper Hawkins, ma'am."
"I understood there would be a nurse traveling with you to take care of the girls' needs."
He thought of saying he could handle them, but for the first time he wasn't sure. Number five had lost her shoe and was starting to cry. The tall one, number one in the line, was glaring at him and the chubby one, number four, was laying her head on one shoulder, then the other, as if trying to see if he might look better from another angle.
"Mr. Hawkins, I'm sure you got the instructions. I assure you I will not be releasing my charges to you until you fulfill your part of the bargain. A woman to tend to their needs is essential."
He thought of giving up. Letting the oh-so-proper lady take them back. They'd be safer on the boat, if the rumors were true. "If I don't have a lady with me, you planning to turn around?"
"No. I'm going to file charges on you for breach of contract. Then I'll notify the girls' father and wait here until proper escort can be arranged. Colonel Chapman will not be happy if his exact orders are not followed."
Trapper didn't even know if there was a crime called breach of contract in Texas. They had too many murders, robbers, and cattle thieves to mess with a breach of anything.
The woman pushed out her chest and made her stand. "If the colonel doesn't have his daughters home by Christmas, there will be hell to pay."
Trapper had no idea what she was talking about. He was starting to look forward to the outlaws on the trail.
"I'm loaded and ready, ma'am. I'll get them to Dallas."
She opened her mouth to fill him in on all the facts when number five started limp-walking on one shoe and fell over her bag. Her foot went through the handle, so now she limped with one leg and dragged the bag with the other.
He just watched her. This last kid had the coordination of a day-old calf.
To no one's surprise, the tiny girl started crying.
The chubby one, number four in line, started to help the littlest one up, but the nurse cleared her throat so loudly several people turned in her direction.
Number four looked like she might cry too, but she let go of number five.
The nurse said to him in her lecture voice, "We don't baby our girls. Not even the littlest one. Understood? These girls are Texas princesses. Born in this wild state. They'll grow up to be strong women, not crybabies."
Trapper thought of pushing the nurse off the dock and seeing how strong she was, but he figured she'd file charges for that too.
Before anyone could move, a lady in black knelt down and lifted number five off the dock, freed her foot from the bag, and cradled the crying girl in her arms. "Come sit on the back of the wagon, child, and I'll put your shoe back on. It's far too cold a day to go without it."
The nurse glared at the woman for a moment, then seemed to relax. "I see the traveling companion for the girls has finally arrived. She'll be too soft on the girls and we'll have our work cut out for us when they come back to school in February. However, it is good to see you picked a proper lady."
As the widow tied the little girl's shoe, the nurse stepped away to direct the luggage to be loaded into the wagon.
Trapper leaned toward the widow. "Lady, if you have the time, would you act like you're traveling with me? Just till we get out of sight of that woman. I got to get these girls to Dallas and I'm not sure that nurse will let me do my job without a proper lady traveling with us."
"I was going to Dallas also." The widow's voice was low, almost a whisper. "The stage doesn't seem to be running this week. If you'll let me ride along with you, I'll play the part all the way."
Trapper was shocked. "You would?"
She nodded. "I'd be safer with you and five girls than traveling alone. If you prove to be a not-so-honorable man, I have a weapon and will shoot you."
He smiled. Her voice had a bit of the South in it and she could shoot. She had to be a born Texan. They understood each other. If he broke his word, she'd shoot him, no breach of contract needed.
"I'm Mrs. Adams."
Trapper removed his hat. "I'm Trapper Hawkins. You're doing me a great favor, ma'am."
The nurse came back as men finished loading the wagon. "I'd like to introduce my little ladies before I leave them with you."
She started with the oldest. "Catherine Claire, thirteen. Anna Jane, eleven. Elizabeth Rose, ten. Helen Wren five." The nurse pointed to the smallest, still in the widow's arms. "Sophia May is four. Colonel Chapman had three wives. All died in childbirth and none gave him a son. Poor man."
Trapper studied them as the nurse gave instructions to Mrs. Adams and marched back to the boat. The tallest daughter, with her blond hair, would probably be from the first wife. Two and Three from a redheaded wife. And Four and Five from the third wife. He'd guess that wife had brown hair and big brown eyes.
Trapper turned to his charges. "Look, little ladies, I doubt I'll straighten those names out in three weeks, so how about I call you in order by number?" He pointed to the tall blonde, first in line. "One." Then the two auburn-haired girls. "Two and Three." He smiled at the next and couldn't help but laugh as she giggled, waiting for her number. "Four," he said, touching her nose. The tiny one waited for her new name. "You're Five. It's a game we'll play." He glanced at the widow. "A secret game. Like code names."
When he noticed the widow asked no questions, he added, "Only we have to call her Mrs. Adams. She deserves our respect. She lost her man in the war."
All the girls nodded except Five. She was spinning around again like an unbalanced top.
Giveaway Alert
We're giving one lucky winner their choice of one of our Sunday Spotlight books. Use the widget below to enter for one of this month's features.
Bane's Choice by Alyssa Day
Are you as excited for this release as we are? Let us know how excited you are and what other books you're looking forward to this year!
Tagged: Jodi Thomas, Kensington, Scarlett Dunn, Sharla Lovelace, Sunday Spotlight, Westerns
Sunday Spotlight: (im)Perfectly Happy by Sharina Harris
Posted April 26, 2020 by Rowena in Features | 2 Comments
Sharina Harris contacted us a couple of months ago and brought her book to my attention. After reading through her email and then checking out her book, I knew that I was going to read it. I'm a big fan of books that feature a strong set of female friendships and (im)Perfectly Happy looks like it fit the bill. This book comes out on Tuesday so you don't have a long wait but check out an excerpt from the book.
Imperfectly Happy by Sharina Harris
Publisher: Davina
Genres: Women's Fiction
When four college friends formed the Brown Sugarettes Mastermind Group, they had very different goals--but matched each other in ambition. Yet ten years later they can't help wondering what happened to the hopeful, confident, driven women they used to be--and how to get them back . . .
Radio personality Raina, known as "the black Delilah," hates the wholesome persona that's made her a success. Doling out syrupy versions of her grandma's wisdom feels worlds away from the sarcastic, tell-it-like-it-is woman Raina really is.
Kara Jones was sure she'd be a master sommelier by thirty. Life and loss interfered with that plan. Now she has one more chance--but it's taking a toll on her self-esteem and her marriage.
Nikki Grayson hardly recognizes the stay-at-home mom she's become. When her band signed a record deal, she swapped the limelight for a minivan and a sensible 'do. Now she's wishing she had followed her heart. Instead, she's drowning her regret in alcohol.
Public defender Sienna Njeri willingly put her city council aspirations aside to support her fiance's bid for office--and now she's wondering if her loyalty is misplaced.
Longing for the support, advice, and tough love they once shared, all four resolve to start meeting up again. After all, their dreams may still be within reach. But are they worth the price they'll pay to achieve them?
What in the hell have I gotten myself into? My palms were a soupy mess, I wiped them on my shorts, while my heart pounded against my chest. The screechy squawks of packing tape being ripped off cardboard and the sound of occasional grunts coming from Cameron, who was unpacking boxes and shifting furniture, forced tendrils of guilt down my spine.
He was grinding away getting things done while I sat motionless, alternating between Disney Princess happy and trembling like a frightened kitten. My phone buzzed, and I grabbed it from the pocket of my cutoffs. Nikki's name flashed across the screen. I pressed the answer button, but before I could greet her, she said, "How's your scary ass doing?"
"I'm good. Just getting things organized." I lied easily to my best friend from college. And like all best friends, she knew I was full of shit.
"You're a damn lie."
"What's up, Nik?" My annoyance was clear in my tone. "You know I'm busy."
"The girls and I were talking . . . and anyway, I volunteered as tribute." The girls she was referring to were my two other best friends from college, Sienna and Kara. We were always up in each other's business, so I wasn't surprised they'd gotten together to discuss God knows what.
"Volunteered for what?"
"Volunteered to talk some sense into you. We know you have cold feet about moving in with Cam."
What did they think I would do—run away from home? I squelched down the flare of irritation that prickled my skin. My friends meant well, but I wasn't in the mood for the all men aren't like your daddy lecture. I knew that already. Otherwise, I wouldn't be doing a bunch of domestic shit like buying mulch and analyzing a dozen gray paint samples with stupid names like Mole's Breath. A roll of sweat trickled from my neck onto my chest. I used my hand as a fan. I was pretty sure the sweat was from the heat, not anxiety.
"Hellooooo, Raina? You still there?"
"Yes." I modulated my tone to my late-night radio personality I used for my job. "I'm perfectly fine."
"Sure you aren't. And don't take on that bougie-ass radio therapist tone with me. You're talking to a friend, not a caller from your show." She smacked her lips. "Anyway, can you talk?"
I looked at my guy, who was whistling as he drilled studs above the fireplace to mount our big screen TV. "Not right now," I whispered.
"Good. You can just listen. Cam is a great guy, and this is a good step. You've been together for six years, and he's been more than patient with your crazy ass. Who else would propose three times, get rejected, and then buy a house with you?"
"First of all—" I stopped myself when I caught Cameron's attention. His eyebrows crinkled, and his eyes scanned me. I knew he was checking to see if everything was good. I gave him a smile and thumbs-up. "It's Nikki. She's just wishing us good luck."
"No, I'm not. I'm convincing your crazy-ass girlfriend to calm down," Nikki yelled over the phone line.
Sunday Spotlight: April 2020
About Sharina Harris
Sharina Harris earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgia State University. After college, she pursued a career in digital marketing and public relations. Although her profession required writing, she decided to pursue a career in writing in 2012.
Sharina's contemporary romance series under the pen name, Rina Gray, was named Book Riot's 100 Must‑Read Romantic Comedies. When Sharina's not writing, she can be found with her head stuck in a book, rooting for her favorite NBA teams, and spending time with friends and family.
Sharina resides in Atlanta with her husband and son. Visit her at SharinaHarris.com.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Tagged: Davina, Excerpts, Kensington, Sharina Harris, Sunday Spotlight, Women's Fiction
Guest Review: The Temptation of Lady Serena by Ella Quinn
Posted February 10, 2020 by Tracy in Reviews | 0 Comments
The Temptation of Lady Serena by Ella Quinn
Series: The Marriage Game #3
Also in this series: A Kiss for Lady Mary
Point-of-View: Third
Genres: Historical Romance
Ella Quinn's bachelors in The Marriage Game series are charming and cunning when it comes to the ways of love--until the right woman captures their unsuspecting hearts. . .
Custom-made gowns. . .nights at the theater. . .and a host of eligible bachelors. Accustomed to living a quiet life in the Scottish Borderlands, Lady Serena Weir has never had any of these luxuries. But when Serena's brother demands she finally have a Season in London, she's thrust into a glamorous world she's only dreamed of. . .
Robert, Viscount Beaumont, remembers all too well what it feels like to be in love. That is why he must keep his distance from Serena. He's only felt his pulse stir the way it does now when he made the mistake of loving the wrong woman once before. Yet the more he strives to resist his feelings, the nearer he is to falling under Serena's seductive spell. . .
Lady Serena gets sent to London from Scotland for a season when she is 26 years old. Her parents had passed and she'd taken care of the family estate and dependents since she was 14 years old and her brother was off being a soldier. When he returns with his new wife, the wife gets rid of Serena by sending her off to London.
Serena is not sure how to handle herself as she's never been in any kind of society. Luckily she has an aunt and a cousin from her mother's side of the family who are sponsoring her and getting her ready. She may not have the social wiles, but her kindness and innocence shine through and make her the talk of the ton.
Robert, Viscount Beaumont, is struck by Serena's beauty from the moment he sees her. He had eschewed ton events for years but he now attends as many as possible, just to dance and stare at Serena. He is charming and soon Serena is in love with him. He wants her desperately, but has stated that he'll never love again (after a fiasco when he was a young man). Robert decides he'll ask Serena to marry him but before that happens, he compromises her. Serena is pissed off and says she'll not marry him because he doesn't love her. She then leads him on a chase, but in the end he realizes he loves her.
This would have been a great end to this story and would have happened about 50% of the way through the book. But no, the book continued on for another 200 pages and gave us another romance, local country children getting kidnapped and the resolution of that, as well as an old bed partner of Robert's causing trouble. It was ridiculous. If we could have just had the story wrap up after Robert told Serena he loved her I probably would have given this book a better rating. Unfortunately with all of the unnecessary parts that were added into the book, the rating didn't dip down, it took a huge dive.
I did love Serena in this book. She was kind, generous and all that was good. You would think that she would have been over the top, but she wasn't. She just knew her business when it came to running an estate, and she wasn't afraid to tell Robert her thoughts. Robert was a bit of an ass at first, but he settled down and became a good man. I was happy for the two of them.
The romance was worth reading in this book but the rest…not so much. I can't recommend this one unless you plan on just reading the first half of the book.
The Marriage Game
Tagged: 2.0 Reviews, Ella Quinn, Guest Reviews, Historical, Kensington, Reviews, The Marriage Game series, Tracy's Reviews
Review: Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn
Posted January 23, 2020 by Rowena in Reviews | 2 Comments
Reviewer: Rowena
Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn
Format: eARC, eBook
Source: NetGalley, Purchased
Point-of-View: First
Cliffhanger: View Spoiler » No « Hide Spoiler
Reading Challenges: Rowena's 2020 Goodreads Challenge
In this warm and witty romance from acclaimed author Kate Clayborn, one little word puts one woman's business—and her heart—in jeopardy . . .
Meg Mackworth's hand-lettering skill has made her famous as the Planner of Park Slope, designing beautiful custom journals for New York City's elite. She has another skill too: reading signs that other people miss. Like the time she sat across from Reid Sutherland and his gorgeous fiancée, and knew their upcoming marriage was doomed to fail. Weaving a secret word into their wedding program was a little unprofessional, but she was sure no one else would spot it. She hadn't counted on sharp-eyed, pattern-obsessed Reid . . .
A year later, Reid has tracked Meg down to find out—before he leaves New York for good—how she knew that his meticulously planned future was about to implode. But with a looming deadline, a fractured friendship, and a bad case of creative block, Meg doesn't have time for Reid's questions—unless he can help her find her missing inspiration. As they gradually open up to each other about their lives, work, and regrets, both try to ignore the fact that their unlikely connection is growing deeper. But the signs are there—irresistible, indisputable, urging Meg to heed the messages Reid is sending her, before it's too late . . .
Love Lettering has been on my TBR list for a while now and I've been hearing such great things about it so I was really looking forward to reading it. I read the entire thing in one day and while I enjoyed the book as a whole, I thought the beginning really dragged and it took me until chapter 9 before I started warming up to Meg, to Reid, and to everything that was happening in the book.
Our heroine, Meg Mackworth is the Planner of Park Slope. She's made a name for herself with her custom planner business. She's a hand-lettering specialist who handwrites party invitations, personal planners and she used to handwrite wedding invitations but her during her last wedding invitations job, she did something she shouldn't have and so she made sure it wouldn't happen again by quitting the wedding invitation side of her business. From now on, she's only doing custom hand-lettering for clients who want custom planners, she's working on a portfolio of ideas for a stationary line that she's hoping to get a big sponsorship contract for. She tries not to think about the hidden pattern she wrote into that last wedding invitation and it's been a year so she thinks she's moved on from it until the groom shows up, wanting to know why she wrote that hidden code into his invitation.
Meg and Reid spark up a friendship that begins with Meg needing to find inspiration for her stationery line. She invites Reid along with her on walks around New York City so that she can find inspiration for her line and so Reid can discover the beauty of New York for himself. Reid is not happy in New York and Meg wants to show him that if he gave New York a fair shot, he would come to love it just as much as she did. They got to know each other on these walks around New York. They played games while they searched for signs around the city and ultimately, they fell in love on these walks.
Like I said before, it took me quite a while to get into this story. I just wasn't all that interested in the beginning and that's weird for me because I LOVE planners. I love all things planning and hand-lettering but I really struggled with this book at the start. I'm really glad that I stuck with this book though because I really came to love Meg, to love Reid, and to love New York. I'm a West Coast girl through and through but while I was reading this book, I could totally see myself moving to New York and falling in love with the city and the signs. This was a slow burn romance and I guess I was too anxious for the romance to pick up but Kate Clayborn has a writing style that flows nicely. This story unrolls slowly and picks up steam with each passing chapter. When I finished the book, I had a big ol' grin on my face and I loved the heck out of Reid and Meg. I loved seeing Meg come into her own and I really enjoyed seeing Reid and Meg come into their feelings for each other. This was a good romance and I definitely recommend.
Grade: 3.75 out of 5
Tagged: 3.75 Reviews, Contemporary, Kate Clayborn, Kensington, Romance, Rowena's Reviews
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Current and forecast values for each market in the Nigerian cards and payments industry, including debit and credit cards.
Detailed insights into payment instruments including credit transfers, checks and payment cards. It also, includes an overview of the country's key alternative payment instruments.
Analysis of various market drivers and regulations governing the Nigerian cards and payments industry.
The competitive landscape in the Nigerian cards and payments industry.
The report provides detailed analysis of market trends in the Nigerian cards and payments industry. It provides values and volumes for a number of key performance indicators in the industry, including credit transfers, checks and payment cards during the review period (2012�2016).
The report also analyzes various payment card markets operating in the industry, and provides detailed information on the number of cards in circulation, transaction values and volumes during the review period and over the forecast period (2016�2020). It also offers information on the country's competitive landscape, including the market shares of issuers and schemes.
The Nigerian payment cards market is anticipated to slow down, as a result of a ban imposed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in December 2015 on the use of debit and credit cards abroad, and on transactions denominated in foreign currencies. This prevented Nigerian consumers from using cards to make purchases during overseas travel, or from foreign e-commerce sites. However, following a severe consumer backlash, the ban was partially revoked in January 2016, with banks enabling consumers to use foreign exchange services, but with limits on transaction values. In January 2016, for instance, GTBank permitted customers to transfer foreign currency via online banking, its mobile app, or at any branch nationwide, subject to a daily limit. Similar restrictions were imposed by other banks, such as First Bank of Nigeria and Sterling Bank. Yet again, with the escalating foreign exchange crisis, in October 2016 GTBank, Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria and Stanbic IBTC Bank suspended use of payment cards abroad and for online transactions.
While banks in Nigeria still focus on traditional bricks-and-mortar branches to deliver services, SunTrust Bank launched a mobile-only bank in 2016, allowing consumers to conduct transactions purely by mobile phone. Another digital bank, Lidya, was introduced in 2016; it offers an online platform for consumers to open bank accounts, access credit and save money. Furthermore, the bank aims to partner with other bricks-and-mortar Nigerian banks to provide an online platform to small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). The advent of mobile-only banks is likely to accelerate a shift towards electronic payments in Nigeria.
Alternative payments that offer security and convenience are gradually gaining prominence in Nigeria, with banks and payment solution providers launching services. The latest of these is the launch of MasterPass by Mastercard in association with Ecobank in 2016. Similarly, Visa and Nigeria-based technology company JORG Technologies launched mVisa and Nairabox respectively in the same year. Other alternative payments available in the market include PayAttitude by six banks: UBA, Access Bank, FirstBank, Zenith Bank, Skye Bank and Diamond Bank, Verve World and PayPal.
This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the Nigerian cards and payments industry.
It provides current values for the Nigerian cards and payments industry for 2016, and forecast figures to 2020.
It details the different demographic, economic, infrastructural and business drivers affecting the Nigerian cards and payments industry.
Make strategic business decisions, using top-level historic and forecast market data, related to the Nigerian cards and payments industry and each market within it.
Understand the key market trends and growth opportunities in the Nigerian cards and payments industry.
Assess the competitive dynamics in the Nigerian cards and payments industry.
Gain insights into marketing strategies used for various card types in Nigeria.
Gain insights into key regulations governing the Nigerian cards and payments industry.


text:
In Style in the Stone Age
By ERIC A. POWELL
Even Paleolithic people knew that while fashions fade, style is eternal. A team led by University of Bordeaux archaeologist Marian Vanhaeren found that beaded necklace patterns changed in a relatively short time around 75,000 years ago, possibly within a few generations.
Vanhaeren and her colleagues analyzed shell beads from Blombos Cave, South Africa. Beads from two separate layers displayed patterns of wear distinct from one another, which suggested that they had been strung and worn differently at different times. The archaeologists made some beads of their own and strung them in a variety of styles. They then subjected them to use, and exposed them to a water-and-vinegar solution meant to mimic human sweat and accentuate the marks that came from everyday wear. "Voilà," says Vanhaeren, "we had the wear patterns." From the experiment, she concluded that in the older layers, shells hung freely on a string (above), while in the upper layers the shells were knotted together in a more complex pattern (top). Vanhaeren notes that the beads in both layers probably came from numerous necklaces. "All the people respected the rules and wore the beads in these specific patterns," she says. In other words, the Blombos Cave people were slaves to fashion.
The First Vikings
Miniature Pyramids of Sudan
Lost Tombs
Letter from China
Not Quite Ancient
Chilling Discovery at Jamestown
Origins of the Maya
Seeds of Europe's Family Tree
France's Wealthy Warriors
Did the "Father of History" Get It Wrong?
Apollo Returns from the Abyss
Afterlife of a Dignitary
Spain's Lead-Lined Lakes
Portals to the Underworld
Roman London Underground
Whale-Barnacle Barbecue
The Human Mosaic
The first evidence of cooking pots in Japan, Indonesia's earliest farmers, a 600-year-old Chinese coin found on a Kenyan island, and how El Niño plagued South America's Moche people
A 13th-century limestone sundial is one of the earliest timekeeping devices discovered in Egypt


Tasks Priority Matrix is a prioritization system that helps you improve your productivity.
Very clever! It's just what I needed for my task lists! I bought a number of files in size A5, and was anticipating being able to just print, fold and the either staple or punch. The files aren't formatted for efficient print jobs. I hope to be able to fiddle with setting on my pc to overcome this issue.
A great insert for planning priorities - many thanks.